Theonila Matbob Photo: Supplied
A Bougainville politician has urged the Papua New Guinea government to pay attention to the root causes of dissatisfaction within Porgera, saying that if left unaddressed, it could lead to broader security problems.
Porgera has been under a state of emergency since September of last year in response to ongoing violence between illegal miners and local landowners.
Theonila Matbob, member for Ioro constituency in Central Bougainville, where the Panguna mine is located, said the ingredients for widespread conflict are already evident and the PNG government needs to pay close attention to what the people are saying.
Matbob, who grew up during the Bougainville Civil War, has raised the issue several times in various forums, drawing attention to the influx of weapons and the displacement of women and children.
She said if the PNG government deployed 300 personnel to go and fight in Bougainville, it could deploy more than that in Porgera.
"The Bougainville Civil War was an exercise that had no historical reference. Bougainville was the first conflict, so the know-how wasn't there."
She believes if there is a repeat of such violence, it will be worse than what the government is perceiving right now.
"Please learn from the mistakes of Panguna mine. One mistake for our country is enough."
Papua New Guinea K-9 Unit member guards at the Porgera mining site as protesters from warring tribes gather. September 2024 Photo: Screengrab / supplied
Last month, PNG's Enga Province governor Sir Peter Ipatas warned that the security and sustainability of the Porgera goldmine are threatened by the failure to finalise the Porgera community development agreement.
PNG Prime Minister James Marape, in January, said: "I want to inform everyone in Porgera that it is a new Porgera and it has a better benefit-sharing agreement for the landowners of Porgera and the big work will be happening in the first six months of 2025."
