Bougainville

The Governor stated that he and his party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), will focus on rejecting the Rio Tinto offer.

Speaking at a press conference upon his arrival in Buka last week, he said the people of Bougainville cannot be offered shares over a mine that doesn’t exist.

“It’s more like a ‘catch-22’, a share that amounts to nothing but if it does amount to something then we will be forced to re-open the mine,” Parkop said.

“We need an offer that is fair and equitable that suits us better in the lives that were lost and the destruction caused culturally.

The event was held at the Hahela Youth Centre in Bougainville. 

“This 5-day event is a tremendous opportunity for the young people of Bougainville - the leaders of tomorrow - to build networks and to advocate for their human rights. They are learning important life skills which will enable them to make better decisions on issues that affect their future,” said Koffi Kouame, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative, PNG Country Office.

Justin Tkatchenko said PNGFA president David Chung and John Kapi Natto both have a heart for soccer but unfortunately, they cannot work together and are making the sport fail, affecting players and clubs.

Tkatchenko said the best solution is for FIFA to intervene and say enough is enough.

“FIFA must be concerned with what’s happening in PNG as we are now having two different, separate identities running football,” said the Minister.

“How can sponsors come on board and how can the sport keep moving forward when you got two different groups running the same thing.

This advice follows claims by residents that dangerous chemicals are being smuggled into the mining area.

Miner Martin Deforest Nilee told Loop PNG: “Some people are now trading these chemicals for gold and a lot of miners also need these chemicals and are giving away gold for it”.

“The thing we’re concerned about is the threat to human lives and also the environment. What will happen to the ecosystem, the fish and prawns, our daily food from rivers and creeks? Most of these chemicals are being used upstream,” he claims.

Bougainvilleans against influx of ‘redskins’

http://www.looppng.com/content/bougainvilleans-against-influx-%E2%80%98redskins%E2%80%99

Alluvial gold buying, the betelnut trade and even church crusades have been bringing people in and some of them haven’t returned home yet.

The islanders are fearful that a settlement might bloom on Bougainville, just like in the other provinces of Papua New Guinea.

Bougainville hardliners recently held an awareness at Arawa market on the subject. They talked about many outsiders (redskins) coming into Arawa and Bougainville for an event, and are still here long after the completion of their activities.

O’Neill throws down gauntlet for 2017

http://www.looppng.com/content/o%E2%80%99neill-throws-down-gauntlet-2017

The series of films titled ‘The Price of Conflict, The Prospect of Peace,’ features ARoB, among two other communities in the Solomon islands and in the Philippines, affected by conflict.

The films aim to highlight how conflict continues to exact a heavy toll long after bloodshed and turmoil.

In ARoB, the film features women from rival communities torn apart by ethnic conflict, coming together to help halt the violence.

This is the message from the Bishop of the Bougainville Catholic Diocese Bernard Unabali at the mass of our lady of Fatima on Saturday in Buka.

Thousands gathered in Buka for the mass.

“We always pray and praise the Lords name but then it’s just our mouths making a lot of noise deep in our hearts there is no faith,” says Bishop Unabali.

“That’s the whole reason why we’re always stuck with problems and don’t move forward.

A lot of con activities are also happening in and around Bougainville spoiling the good name of honest alluvial miners.

In a recent incident, a highlander was conned into buying iron oxide instead of gold and a hundred thousand of his money gone wasted.

When he went into testing in Moresby, it was confirmed that what he bought wasn’t gold at all.

An alluvial gold miner who wishes to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the issue said a lot of these type of people are spoiling the good name of honest dealers and miners.