Rights group ready to risk lives to protect environment

A CIVIL rights group campaigning against mine waste being released in the Huon Gulf Peninsula says it is prepared to risk the lives of its members in its bid to force the company and the Government to adhere to the wishes of the Morobe people, the group’s senior official says.
The group claims it has 700,000 members and has experience in rallying support from around the province as evidenced by the Klinim Morobe campaign.
Their solution is for the Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture to accept their proposal on building a dry cake tailings facility instead of the deep sea tailings placement (DSTP) plan the company and the Government have advocated.
The group made a presentation during the recent DSTP forum in Lae.
Group spokesman Peter Seske said they had the backing of the majority of Morobeans who were against DSTP.
He said Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu opposed the DSTP plan and wanted to safeguard the province’s marine resources and environment.
“We have built our position with all the concerns from the people even if it means putting our bodies on the line to defend our environment and our future generation,” Seske said.
“Our campaign is genuine as we have provided a common sense proposal to the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa), Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) and the Mining Ministry and we stand ready to face them.”
He said neither the MRA nor Cepa had done enough awareness to Morobeans on the DSTP and other options.
“The only awareness we know about is the issuing of shopping vouchers to families who were in the way where the pipeline will be placed by (the project).
“How about the clearance of war remains in the pipeline access area?
“The area has to be de-mined and commissioned for use.”