Peoples’ rights deprived

I AM from a district far away.
The benefits of Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture (WGJV) in Morobe may never be felt by my people, me or my children.
But the Wafi-Golpu people are my countrymen, they are human beings with rights to their land just like me.
I am beginning to imagine how hard their fight is getting.
Hopefully, their concerns will be taken into account.
Papua New Guineans should support their brave stand for basic rights.
The explanation given in the media that all the forum processes, negotiations and consultations are to be made after the A memorandum of understanding (MoU), should not go unchallenged.
This is wrong from the outset as far as negotiations are concerned.
Here is my view on the recently-signed MoU.
Foreseeing delays and to lessen their subsequent impacts on their schedules, what the developer has done essentially is engaged people to intimidate, exert undue influence, hand out sweets and bulldoze agenda through all forums.
It has seized outcomes to its favour ensuring that the perceived targets are met.
This is nothing short of calculated bigotry.
If the motive was such, it is extremely distasteful.
It is only proper that the aforementioned forum processes precedes the a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and not the other way round.
The people inevitably stand to have a lesser say, which ultimately destroys indigenous identity.
The developers must deal with the landowners first before all else.
To the Morobe people: do not relent.
Our children’s future is in our hands.

Moru J Kokoro
Gokata