Illegal miners

Marape announced this through a media statement Wednesday evening.

“This is in response to incursions by illegal miners into the SML area,” he said.

In highlighting the gravity of the situation, he stated:

“This endangers both the lives of illegal miners as well as the mine workers. Last week has seen an extraordinary increase of illegal miners encroaching into the mine area and uncontrolled movement of people amidst many tribal disputes.”

Marape said the decision for a military-police call out stems from a cabinet meeting today.

This follows the killing of a woman and clashes between illegal miners at the Porgera gold mine site.

Porgera mine operator, Barrick Niugini, has also called for Government intervention.

On Sunday 23rd December, 2019, the Porgera Mine security personnel and Royal PNG Constabulary officers recovered the body of a woman who died of significant injuries, including gunshot wounds. These injuries were allegedly caused by tribal enemies from Tari in Hela Province.

Provincial Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Joseph Tondop, highlighted this after he paid a special Christmas visit to security operations in the mine areas, saying this is posing a threat to workers’ safety.

Reports of rape incidents, home brewing, murder and break-and-entering into company premises, is frequenting the surrounding mine area at Pogera Gold Mine.

According to PPC Tondop’s security assessment, these serious issues are likely to affect mining operations as illegal mining activities increase.