Tensions were high after a prominent supporter of the controversial Ramu nickel mine near Madang in Papua New Guinea died suddenly on January 3rd 2012.
This comes after the PNG Supreme Court rejected an appeal on December 22nd 2011 against the decision to allow the Ramu mine operators to dump 100 million tonnes of toxic mine tailings into Basamuk Bay over 20 years.
PNG Mine Watch said on January 6th 2012 that police burned homes of local people in a bizarre attempt to restore order, after the mysterious death of mine supporter Mr David Tigavu. The Post Courier said on January 6th 2012 that Mr Tigavu's death was believed to be caused by diabetes. However, tensions rose due to claims his death was the result of sorcery.
As the head of the Kurumbukari Landowner Association, Mr Tigavu led a small group of representatives chosen by the PNG government and Ramu mine owners to counteract community dissent against the mine. Many of the rightful landowners have not been correctly identified.
Mr Tigavu had recently served a 12 months prison sentence for threatening lawyers and plaintiffs challenging the mine owners' plan to dump waste into the sea.
Days before his death, Mr Tigavu praised the Supreme Court decision in favor of the mine owners, claiming landowners have suffered badly from the delay to the mine development.
However, most locals opposed Mr Tigavu and the mine, and 1040 people joined an application for a permanent injunction against the dumping, which was rejected by the National Court in July 2011.
The damage caused by dumping highly toxic mine tailings is likely to be catastrophic. Basamuk Bay is a key site for biodiversity and is vital for the livelihood and food security of locals. It is set to put the environment and people's lives at permanent risk.
Locals have campaigned against the project since 2005. The mine is owned by the Chinese Metallurgical Construction Company. Australian company Highlands Pacific and the PNG government hold minority stakes.
MCC was banned last year by the World Bank from taking World Bank financed contracts for three years. Its Sanctions Board cited fraudulent misconduct during MCC's work on the Dhaka Urban Transport Project in Bangladesh.
Despite promises of development and infrastructure for the Medang area, the Ramu mine has brought social dysfunction. Racial tensions have risen. Local people resent Chinese migrants who have been drawn in by the mine project.
Many locals have also been forced from their homes to make way for mine development. Mine owners have been accused of using police and thugs to intimidate opponents.
The project has also come under fire for the alleged use of Chinese convict labor, appalling health and safety, and poor construction standards. Photos posted at PNG Mine Watch on August 15th 2011 showed the mine's tailings disposal pipeline starting to collapse only 18 months after it was built.
The decision over the Ramu mine came during a constitutional crisis over who was the legitimate government in PNG. Prime Minister Mr Peter O'Neill was sworn in by parliament in August after former PM Mr Michael Somare had been seriously ill in a Singapore hospital since March.
(Sourced from www.greenleft.org.au)
