Mt Kare LO’s query exclusion

By Ramcy Wama

ONE landowner and a major clan member of the Mt Kare Alluvial Gold mine are questioning why they have been dumped from the upcoming Summit Development and Land Study programs.
 
The Haja Etape Clan have asked for an immediate explanation and also want an inclusion into the programs.
Haja Etape clan chiefs Philip Wale, Waraja Igipe, Tamita Lai and Greg Timangu warned yesterday that if they do not get a proper response from those involved they will go to the courts to take legal action against those responsible.
“We want to ask the mine executives and we also want to ask the other clan members,” the clan chiefs told the Post Courier. “This will not end, and we mean our fight to get us back on track will not stop as we sacrifice for the well being and rights of our Haja Etape clan members.”
The Chiefs claimed yesterday that they have a clan membership of more than 30,000 and for the responsible authorities to exclude them from the program would be a disaster.
 
But Mt Kare Alluvial Gold mine executives advised they had nothing to do with this issue and haved asked that the Haja Etape clan members sit down with their other colleagues and responsible leaders, including the National MPs to work through this so that they sort out their grievances.
Mt Kare is an alluvial gold mine located between Enga and Southern Highlands provinces in Papua New Guinea.
The mine has a long and colourful history as recorded in the book, 'Gold, treachery and warfare' see below.
Ace Mining of Australia announced an agreement with local landowners to start mining.
 
The MT Kare landowners will have a 47% stake in the mine with Ace Mining holding the other 53%.
Ace Mining still has to obtain government approval through the Mineral Resource Authority for a special alluvial mining lease.
 
Under the agreement with the landowners, when it starts operations, Ace Mining will build roads and bridges, schools, health centres and a hydro-power system to light up the local areas and supply the new Hela province.
This will be paid for from the landowners equity in the project which will also fund school fees for children attending elementary, primary and high schools in the project area.