Stephanie Elizah
PORT MORESBY: Autonomous Bougainville Government's Vice-President Patrick Nisira has called on the media to take extra care when writing about issues that affect the lives and welfare of the Panguna people.
Nisira said Panguna mine was a sensitive issue and that the media must refrain from sensationalising news and showing favour to "certain interest groups" in Bougainville.
"To infer that Bougainville Copper Ltd is the company that will reopen the mine is already highly sensitive because the decision to reopen Panguna mine belongs to the landowners themselves and the ABG," Nisira said.
He suggested that the media sought both PNG government's position on the matter and Panguna landowners' position.
"We, in ABG, have no hidden agenda. Panguna will be reopened but only when all outstanding issues are addressed and the landowners satisfied.
"ABG will also have wider consultations with the communities in the region, including the churches, youth and women leaders and former combatants," Nisira added.
He further cautioned all members of the Bougainville House of Representatives and ministers of the ABG to refrain from making media statements concerning the Panguna mine reopening and added that ministers and members had the duty and responsibility to support the efforts of the ABG.
A decade long-civil war was fought in Bougainville over the mine after rebel landowers closed it in 1989 in protest over royalty demands and environmental degradation. - The National/Pacific Media Watch
Pacific Media Watch
