Wednesday, August 31, 1994 - 10:00
Bougainville
updates
Bougainvillean soldier (eco-action.org)
Radio Free Bougainville reported on August 19 that the
Papua New Guinea military operation "High Speed" to recapture the
Panguna mine, having hit the brakes, is now in reverse. The report claims that
the Bougainville Revolutionary Army damaged a helicopter of the National
Emergency Service bearing an Australian flag in heavy fighting. It is alleged
that the pilot injured in the shooting is New Zealander Dennis Killip, and that
he is now recovering in a Cairns hospital.
Three PNG soldiers were killed in fierce fighting in the
Panguna area on August 24.
UN calls on PNG
to negotiate
The Sub-commission on the Prevention of Discrimination
and Protection of Minorities of the UN Human Rights Commission, meeting in
Geneva in August 19, passed by consensus a resolution calling on the government
of Papua New Guinea to return to the negotiating table and to immediately allow
medical supplies into the areas of Bougainville presently under PNG military
blockade. It urges PNG to cooperate with the special rapporteur on
extrajudicial executions and the special rapporteur on torture to enable them
to investigate the reports of human rights violations on Bougainville.
The resolution also endorses the decision of the Human
Rights Commission to request the secretary-general of the UN to consider the
appropriateness of appointing a special representative concerning the human
rights situation on Bougainville.
Copper company
wary of future
In its half yearly report Bougainville Copper Limited
noted that while the directors intend resuming and continuing operations at
Panguna, this was subject to economic viability, political stability and a
consensus in favour of mining by Bougainvilleans. These conditions will be
difficult to achieve in the short term, the directors concede.
Barclays de Zoete Wedd Australia, in its research update
of August 17, reacting to Wingti's premature claims of reoccupation of the mine
site, noted that restarting the mine "will be no easy exercise, as the
remaining orebody is low grade and the start-up capital will be considerable —
the economics appear marginal".
Further, again basing its analysis on Wingti's false
assertions, Barclays assumes that "a feasibility study commences in 1995,
with limited production commencing in 1997 phasing up to pre-shutdown
production levels by 1999".
From GLW issue
157
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