Claim made Panguna landowners reject BCL

Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) does not have the majority support of landowners in Panguna, says a landowner association in a statement.
About 90 per cent of landowners in Panguna have unilaterally rejected the involvement of BCL, said the chairman of The Special Mining Lease Osikayang Landowners’ Association, Philip Miriori, in the statement.
He said they had gone into the mine-impacted communities and undertaken a survey to get the views of the landowners.
The survey took three weeks to complete and it showed that of the 510 title holders, 428 supported the move to remove BCL from Bougainville, Miriori said.
“We have undertaken a substantive awareness programme over the past few months to address the confusion caused by Bougainville Copper Limited’s claims of having majority support.”
“This process is long overdue and we have been overwhelmed by its success with the majority of customary landowners united behind our leadership and redevelopment plan with RTG Mining Inc.”
Miriori said the efforts of the association’s leaders had enabled them to work together and present a redevelopment proposal to the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
He said the proposal focused on getting more benefits for the landowners.
He said the association’s legal advice is that the customary landowners, rather than the titleholders listed by Bougainville Copper Limited , would have the final say in the future of mining.
He said the association would ensure a comprehensive social-mapping programme was implemented after an exploration licence had been granted to the development partner.