Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
PORGERA VALLEY, Papua New Guinea – Amnesty International says Papua New Guinea (PNG) police abused their power and acted outside their authority when they evicted people from their homes near the Porgera gold mine.
Last year, police conducted an operation to restore law and order around the Porgera gold mine in Enga Province. Amnesty International contends that police in PNG illegally and forcibly evicted people from their homes.
Amnesty International released a report documenting how PNG police burned down approximately 300 homes of people in the gold mine area.
A mining and human rights specialist, Shanta Martin, says that the report is based on evidence from 180 people, medical reports, and other data.
Martin stated: “There was significant evidence of forced evictions that people had certainly been living there, that they were well established houses that were burned down. Police acted contrary to search warrant, which would not in any way give the police power to destroy property, that they failed to ensure that there was notice and consultation with those who are going to be affected.”
Many residents reported that they had no forewarning of the raids, had no time to collect their belongings, and their food gardens were all destroyed. The families – including children, pregnant women, and the elderly – had no alternative housing made available for them by the government.
Martin says that because of the abusive acts of the PNG police, the families have become victims of human rights violations.
The Porgera Joint Venture manages the Porgera gold mine, and supplies accommodation, food, and fuel to police in exchange for security in the remote area under an agreement. Amnesty International says that the company should have reported the police eviction activity to PNG authorities as soon as company officials became aware of it, but instead, the company supported the police.
Amnesty International calls on the Porgera Joint Venture to cease supplying accommodation, food, and fuel to the police immediately.
Martin further calls upon the government to investigate the matter. She emphasizes the “need for the [PNG] government to carry out a full investigation, to prosecute those responsible and provide remedies for those affected.”
The Governor of PNG’s Enga Province, Peter Ipatas, supports Amnesty International’s call for an independent investigation into the evictions at the Porgera gold mine.
Ipatas says that Amnesty International’s call for an investigation makes sense.
“If anything happened and if people think that a government agency has acted outside our laws then obviously every one is subject to scrutiny. So I would assume that if there is an allegation that police mistreated their lawful duties then obviously government authorities need to investigate.”
Ipatas further stated that the unique situation of people living within the mine area will continue to cause problems, and the government should relocate them to a more appropriate area.
For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Political backing for Amnesty call for investigation of controversial PNG police action – 04 February 2010
ABC News – PNG police ‘torched village near mine site’ – 03 February 2010
Radio New Zealand International – Amnesty criticises PNG police over Porgera evictions – 03 February 2010
Yahoo News – PNG police ‘torched village near mine site’ – 03 February 2010
Associated Press – Papua New Guinea Police burn homes at gold mine – 02 February 2010
