Kauona criticised by Europe-based BCL shareholders

Radio New Zealand International

A GROUP OF SHAREHOLDERS in Bougainville Copper Ltd has issued a scathing critique of a former Bougainville militant leader, Sam Kauona,  who this week described the provincial government’s new mining policy as one that could spark a constitutional crisis.

Mr Kauona (pictured) was reacting to news of Australian involvement in drawing up the document during a forum canvassing views on a possible re-opening of the moth-balled BCL-owned mine at Panguna.

Don Wiseman writes:

Mr Kauona, who led the Bougainville Revolutionary Army during the civil war, warned Australia not to meddle in Bougainville affairs.

The National newspaper reported him saying Canberra’s involvement in helping draft the policy, could lead to a constitutional crisis in the province.

But the European Shareholders of BCL call Mr Kauona a terrorist and claim he is spearheading a foreign criminal group that is trying to undermine the peace process for its own business interests.

However Mr Kauona’s deputy with the Bougainville Resource Owners Representative Council, Chris Damana, says what they want is to ensure that the people of Panguna have a say in the final policy on the resumption of mining at Panguna and have been assured that will happen.”

Comments

[Leonard Roka]

One thing I am well aware of about this man and others like Chris Damana is that they are big mouths who lack people's support.

But ignorance of the people accompanies their high rate of being lured by liars. That is a problem out there.

But time will tell who is doing good for the people of Bougainville.