Political support https://postcourier.com.pg/minister-condemns-actions-k92-landowners/
Minister for Mining and Member for Kainantu Johnson Tuke has condemned the actions of his people for the closure and destruction of property at K92 mine yesterday.
Mr Tuke told the Post-Courier last night that issues surrounding K92 mine in Eastern Highlands were not new after the mine had been operated by two other developers that encountered the same problems with regards to landowner benefits and community obligations.
He has had dialogue with the landowners and the chairman and Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) on different occasions asking if they can sit down with the current developer for a review.
“The situation with the mine is a familiar issue and landowners cannot blame the current developer on certain things the past developer did not deliver on their commitments.
“These are past issues and they can’t use this as base of their arguments; because the current developer might have different intentions to develop the area.
“As the local Member I am calling on my people to put their grievances aside and let’s hold a review with the developer to know their plans and commitments so that we can amend and come to an agreement with developer’s memorandum of agreement.
“I am appealing to the people at the mine site not to take law into their own hands because what they did today is a criminal offence and is a matter for the police to deal with therefore, I condemn the actions of my people.
I told them I will get there on Monday and for them to put me on notice is uncalled for,” he said.
Mr Tuke said he will be travelling up later today to be officially sworn in at Eastern Highlands Assembly and will continue on to the site to address the landowners.