Rio Tinto Limited and Bougainville Copper Limited facing multi-billion dollar class action lawsuit

Lawyers representing over 3,000 residents of Bougainville, an island of Papua New Guinea, have filed a class action lawsuit against Rio Tinto and Bougainville Copper, seeking compensation, expected to be in the billions

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Bougainville may use other means to gain independence 

The Autonomous Bougainville Government(ABG) is warning it might use other avenues to gain its independence should the PNG government continue to be mischievous in dealing with the Bougainville Independence agenda.  The

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Oceanic Refractions: A transcendent dive into Pacific realities

Mere Nailatikau and Amer Kanngieser Unveil Immersive Exhibition Blending Art and Environmental Activism In a captivating intersection of art, environmental awareness, and cultural storytelling, Mere Nailatikau and Amer

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Bougainville anniversary

The fourth anniversary of the historic referendum on Bougainville was on 11 December.  Ninety-eight per cent of Bougainvilleans voted for Independence in the non-binding Bougainville Referendum – Post Courier

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Bougainville referendum vote non-binding, says Minister

Minister for Bougainville Affairs Manasseh Makiba Tuesday reminded parliamentarians that the Bougainville Referendum results are non-binding, and the National Parliament is the only authority that will determine the

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House welcomes first Bougainville woman MP

The people of Bougainville have set a record when they for the first time in the 48 years’ political history of this country voted a women leader to the National Parliament, newly elected Member for North Bougainville

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Polls vital to vote for leaders to fight for independence: says Bougainville AG

A total of 161,737 eligible voters in Bougainville are expected to participate in a by-election in October this year. The two electorates are North and South Bougainville. The poll in North Bougainville will be to elect

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What is your fear on independence for Bougainville: President Toroama

Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama has called on Prime Minister James Marape to spell out clearly and honestly his fears about Bougainville obtaining Independence from Papua New Guinea. Toroama made the call based

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Bougainvilleans urged to evacuate after eruption at Mt Bagana

The government in Papua New Guinea’s autonomous Bougainville (ABG) region has issued a stage three alert seven days after Mt Bagana began a mild eruption. The government said on Monday there has been a significant

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A matter of conscience? Jerry Singirok, Sandline and Bougainville

In May 1989, PNG’s Bougainville copper mine was permanently shut down after disgruntled landowners supported by the Bougainville Revolutionary Army began sabotaging critical mine infrastructure. A secessionist war

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Bougainville results to be tabled in PNG parliament this year

Bougainville Affairs Minister Manasseh Makiba says the referendum results will be tabled in Parliament before the end of the year. “In accordance with section 342 of the Constitution, the minister responsible for

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Rio Tinto facing suit from Panguna landowners

The sheer environmental degradation and considerable loss of life that followed Rio Tinto’s running of Bougainville’s Panguna gold and copper mine must rank it as one of the world’s greatest mining debacles. Seven

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Embarking on writing a new Bougainville Constitution

The Bougainville Constitutional Planning Commission has conducted a consultation with Bougainvilleans in Lae on matters regarding the country’s constitution. The commission was represented by vice president of the

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Consultations on constitution begin outside Bougainville

The Bougainville Constitutional Planning Commission (BCPC) has begun consultations with Bougainvilleans outside Bougainville. The consultation is to gauge views and contribution of Bougainvilleans to draft an

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New hope for explorer sitting on huge deposit in Bougainville

Enigmatic Bougainville Copper (BOC) was up as much as about 30 percent on Wednesday morning, despite no solid news. It was still up more than 20 per cent at 3pm, perhaps related to reports about the company’s

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Independent assessment of former Bougainville mine due to open

An independent environmental and human rights legacy impact assessment of Rio Tinto’s former Panguna mine in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region Bougainville is due to begin this week. Last year, Rio Tinto

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Overcoming suspicion: reconciliation for Australia and Bougainville

The angry reaction to Richard Marles’ comments should be a warning to Canberra about the need to settle past grievances.  During a visit to Papua New Guinea earlier this month by Australia’s Deputy Prime

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Bougainville open for business: President Toroama

Bougainville is open for business. This was the undertaking given to potential investors by the Autonomous Bougainville Government President Ishmael Toroama when opening the 2022 Bougainville Trade and Investment

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Opinion: Bougainville signals tough line on independence

In the last 100 years we have had to endure hardships from oppressive regimes who sought to take away our resources, our rights and even our lives. Our struggle for independence has been a long one. In 2019, a

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PNG Govt position on Bougainville

Bougainville’s push for independence has hit a constitutional snag with top legal advisors telling the National Government that nothing can usurp the power and authority of the Constitution. The PNG Government’s

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No need for public consultation over Bougainville: Masatt

The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has rejected a suggestion by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape that a nationwide consultation be held regarding the outcome of Bougainville’s 2019 Referendum

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In our February issue

In this issue of Islands Business, lessons from Tonga where people continue to rebuild their lives after the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami. Kevin McQuillan looks at movement to reopen the

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Panguna mine reopening

Landowners from the Panguna Mine area and the Autonomous Bougainville Government have reached a historic agreement to re-open the Panguna gold, copper and silver

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Bougainville independence date set

Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama has set 1 September, 2025, as the tentative date for the declaration of independence for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. He told the House of Representatives that the

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