Examination shows villager was not shot at

I REFER to your report “Dead at mine  site” (Aug 30), which alleges that Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) security personnel shot and killed a man whose body was found in the Porgera area on Aug 26.  
We are very concerned that your reporter failed to contact PJV management prior to publishing this news blaming Porgera mine personnel for this fatality.
In fact, the deceased, Andaiya Yakuwari, was not shot.
A medical examination at the Paiam Hospital confirmed that no bullet wounds were identified and that the deceased likely died as a result of trauma injury. 
This crucial fact was not included in a subsequent story by the same reporter who continues to describe the case as “an alleged shooting to death of a villager”.
Readers should know that the company’s own investigation indicated that on the night in question, firearms were not discharged on mine property and no contact between mine personnel and the deceased had occurred.
Community members contacted by PJV personnel also stated that the body of Yakuwari was originally discovered near his dwelling, outside the mine’s fenced perimeter. 
We have requested the police investigate the cause of Yakurawari’s death and hope that all parties will exercise restraint and await the  outcome of this investigation before rushing to judgment.
We also hope that, in future, such sensitive, important matters are handled by journalists with the standard of care and fairness they deserve. 
Finally, we wish to express our respects to the family of the deceased during this difficult period.  

 
Mark Fisher
Executive general manager Papua New Guinea
Barrick Australia-Pacific