Me’ekamui Tribal Government has insisted it will not allow anyone to reopen the Panguna mine until all outstanding issues are resolved. President Philip Miriori said today that as opposed to reports by Australian newspaper on May 19 that BCL owns the Panguna mine, “BCL – Rio Tinto has no rights to Panguna and any discussions or commitments with anyone including PNG or ABG was counterproductive.” He added that the Me’ekamui government who control the assets at Panguna and all natural resources within its borders, refute Bougainville president John Momis’ authority to enter into any understandings or agreements with Me’ekamui owned land.
See http://mekamui.wordpress.com/2011/05/29/meekamui-invites-stakeholders-to-panguna-mine-talks/.