The head of a landowners group near the Panguna mine in Papua New Guinea's Bougainville says they have no idea what an agreement signed with a Chinese company, Beijing Aerospace Greatwall Investment Ltd, entails.
The arrangement has been concluded by the PNG communications minister, Jimmy Miningtoro, who is the MP for central Bougainville, and the head of the umbrella group for Panguna landowners, Lawrence Daveona.
The move has angered the Bougainville president, John Momis, who says it undermines months of work to bring together all stakeholders in a possible re-opening of the huge mine.
And Therese Jaintong, who heads an Arawa-based landowners group, agrees.
"We don't believe in what they have signed. It is not properly consulted. My association is working very closely with the ABG and we have come a long way, and if a national parliamentarian wish to come they should come through the ABG. They should talk with the President, Honourable Mr Momis, and then they can talk with us. Altogether. Consultation."
Therese Jaintong of an Arawa-based landowners group in Bougainville
