Special correspondent
PORT MORESBY: “We don’t want photos taken at the Ramu Nickel Mine site to be used in the media or anywhere else.”
That was from the MCC Ramu Nickel lawyer, Australian Charles Sceri, yesterday in court, straight after the visit to the Kumbukari mine site and the Basamuk refinery.
The landowner’s solo female lawyer, Tiffany Nonggorr, argued that the photos should be used, as the Landowners’ case against the mine plans to dump its tailings or wastes into the sea is already public, and the public has the right to know what was seen on site in the visit.
Justice Cannings responded, saying he would not give any direction as to how the photos should be used, but says, they must not be misused.
Justice Cannings, his associate, the MCC lawyer, Charles Sceri, the state lawyer, Davis Stevens, and the landowner’s lawyer, Tiffany Nongorr, visited the Kumbrukari and the Basamuk sites on Wednesday.
All lawyers agreed in court that the expedition should not be used as supporting evidence for Ramu Nickel, but only to assist the court.
Justice Cannings ruled that the mine site expedition would go into the court records, as it did not always happen in other cases.
The next hearing is set to take place on March 23, where all lawyers will present their submissions, for Justice Cannings to look through before he can make his final decision on the outcome of the DSTP trial.
* The Chinese Metalurgival Construction company (MCC) plans to dump 5 million tons of hot tailings into Basamuk Bay in Madang Province every year and was about to start blasting coral reefs to allow the laying of the tailings pipeline before an injunction last year. - PNG Mine Watch/Pacific Media Watch
Pacific Media Watch
