Volkswacht Bodensee - Bougainville leader says violence won't stop Panguna mine reopening

Harbouring one of the world's largest copper deposits, the Panguna mine in autonomous Bougainville has been shuttered since the outbreak of civil war in the late 1980s.

Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama has vowed to revive the mine, a crucial source of revenue as the region vies to declare independence from Papua New Guinea.

Images posted to social media appeared to show rows of mining trucks and heavy machinery set ablaze at Panguna over the weekend.

"The government and people of Bougainville will not be intimidated by individuals or factions seeking to undermine our efforts to redevelop the Panguna Mine," Toroama said in a statement on Sunday.

"We will not cower to terroristic acts of violence designed to cause disunity and distract us from our agenda of creating a socio-politically and economically viable Bougainville."

Toroama brokered a deal that would see Indian resources company Lloyds Metals and Energy lead efforts to resume mining at Panguna.

But not everyone in Bougainville -- an island region of some 300,000 people east of Papua New Guinea's mainland -- is happy to see mining return.

"While the majority of Bougainvilleans look forward to this development, certain elements have chosen to undermine the authority of the government and the collective efforts of our people," said Toroama.

A Panguna leader said the mine was crucial to Bougainville's economic future.

"We respectfully distance the five land-owning clans from those responsible for this criminal act," said Samson Kaissy, from the Panguna Landowners Council.

"The legitimate interests of the Panguna land owners must not be confused with the actions of individuals who choose to break the law."

About 97 percent of Bougainville voters supported declaring independence from Papua New Guinea in a 2019 referendum.

Panguna was touted as one of the world's largest copper mines under the ownership of Rio Tinto from 1972 to 1989.

But anger among locals over widespread environmental contamination and the unfair distribution of profits triggered an uprising that forced its closure.

The ensuing civil war left as many as 20,000 people dead -- about 10 percent of Bougainville's population at that time.

Lloyds Metals and Energy did not respond to a request for comment.

I.Stoeckli--VB