Thousands people Along PNG's Sepik River File Human Rights Complaint Against PanAust

Over two thousand people in over 60 villages along the Sepik River – where the proposed largest gold-copper and silver mine will be built, have filed a human rights complaint with the Australian Government against developer – PanAust.

Thousands people Along PNG's Sepik River File Human Rights Complaint Against PanAust [ photo by Winduo Aaron/fb]

The landowners of the proposed Frieda River mine, a tributary to the Sepik River, allege that PanAust failed to obtain their consent to the proposed Frieda River Mine.

Coordinator of Project Sepik, Emmanuel Peni, told NBC News “the failure by PanAust and its subsidiary Frieda River Limited to obtain consent from the Sepik River communities violates their right as Indigenous peoples to give their Free, Prior and Informed Consent to developments that affect them.”

The complaint, filed on behalf of the affected villagers by local organisation Project Sepik Inc. and Australian NGO Jubilee Australia Research Centre with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Australian National Contact Point also highlights that “the proposed mine poses a serious risk for communities living on the Sepik River.”

Executive Director Jubilee Australia Research Centre Dr. Luke Fletcher told NBC News, The Sepik River communities have clearly voiced their concerns about this mine, but so far, those concerns have fallen on deaf ears.

The Sepik people are now calling for an immediate pause to all further mine development and that the Company undertake independently monitored consultation with all potentially affected communities.

Read more Mining news >> Pacific Mining Watch 

NBC / PNG Today

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