Landowners want out

 OK Tedi landowners have demanded the Government return their 63.4% shareholding in Ok Tedi Mining Ltd (OTML).

Leaders of the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) people in South Fly, North Fly and the mine villages, agreed on this following the Government’s recent takeover of OTML.

Their other demands are:

• All dividends to be paid directly to CMCA and mine villages;
• no payment and use of the 2012 dividend by any person or body other than the CMCA and mine village communities;
• an immediate halt to all dealings in the 63.4 shareholding pending outcome of meeting with the prime minister, and,
• Restoration of beneficial rights and the right to decide not to approve the continuation of mining.

In a statement yesterday, the CMCA leaders said the distribution of dividends was part of the environmental compensation to their communities and mine villages.

“We are entitled to benefit from the compensation due to CMCA and mine villages,” they said.

“In the interim, we demand the immediate transfer to us of the 2.5% shareholding plus any other outstanding commitments of the 2006/07 CMCA review outcomes, separate from the 63.4% shareholding granted to us by NEC decision No. 272/2006.”