Ramu NiCo tailings case far from over

THERE will be further delay to the construction of Ramu NiCo’s deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) system at Basamuk nickel refinery in Madang following a successful notice of motion by Rai Coast villager Louis Medaing at the National Court in Madang last Friday.
His lawyer, Tiffany Nonggorr of Nonggorr William Lawyers, was granted leave for the case to be heard on Oct 15, a week after three original plaintiffs in the DSTP battle withdrew their case which resulted in the lifting of an interim injunction against construction which had been in place since March.
Medaing’s fresh application means that Ramu NiCo would have to give an undertaking that it would not blast, pop coral reefs or rocks offshore for any purposes related to either building the DSTP, sinking or laying of pipes and the eventual discharge of the tailings until Oct 15 or further order of the court.
In related cases, Kurumbukari Landowners Association chairman David Tigavu and former chairman of coastal pipeline association Steven Saud appeared before Justice David Cannings last Thursday.
Tigavu was summonsed for contempt proceedings against him as a result of his Sept 23 outside the court premises where he shouted down Nonggorr and Ray Williams, both representing Medaing, and also made remarks about Cannings.
Before turning up at court in the morning, he had sent a letter of apology of Nonggorr.
The court claims that Tigavu had tried to lower its authority and charged him with four counts of threatening and inciting abuse against persons and parties with matters before the court.
In his written apology, he claimed that he was under undue pressure and stress from electorate members at the Kurumbukari mine site who wanted to know reasons for delay in the construction work and why there was a total breakdown in communication with Ramu NiCo community affairs programme in carrying out the re-settlement exercise for the displaced people, among other things.
“The arguments that I made were on the spur of the moment outbursts and I humbly and sincerely apologise to you and you law firm for any inconveniences caused,” the letter read.
Tigavu stated last week that he was only frustrated that the whole construction work was halted stopping any real progress work from continuing especially the resettlement exercise up Kurumbukari.
The matter will be heard on Oct 15.
Meanwhile, Saud pleaded guilty to five counts of assault against a non-governmental organisation worker in front of the Madang police station on Sept 23.
He was also charged with drunk driving, driving without a licence and driving an unregistered motor vehicle.
Saud’s case will be heard on Friday. He is on K500 bail.