June 18, 2010

Indigenous clans on Papua New Guinea’s Rai Coast and along the Ramu River ask us to support their struggle by sending letters to PNG’s Prime Minister.  In your letter, please: 

Express your support for the customary landowners who live on the Rai Coast and along the Ramu River, whose lands and waters could be disastrously contaminated by toxic waste from CMCC’s Ramu mine and refinery under the current license agreement. 

Demand that for the sake of democracy and Indigenous Peoples’ rights under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the government repeal the May 28, 2010 amendments to the Environment Law. 

Urge them to revoke CMCC’s permit to dump tailings from the Ramu mine and refinery into the sea because scientific studies by the Scottish Association of Marine Science, the Lutheran Church, and the Mineral Policy Institute all conclude that the toxic waste could harm marine life and imperil coastal communities.  

Urge them to require CMCC to comply with industry best practices to prevent and monitor siltation and contamination of the Ramu River during construction and operation phases of the Ramu mine. 

Note: A model letter is available here.

SEND LETTERS TO:

H.E. Rt. Hon. Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare
The Prime Minister
Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council
Morauta House
Po Box 639
Waigani National Capital District
Papua New Guinea
Fax: +675-323-3943

betha_somare@pm.gov.pg


Note: Postage from the US is 98 cents.


Please send copies of your letter to:


Benny Allen
Minister for Environment and Conservation
Po Box 6601 Boroko
National Capital District
Papua New Guinea
Email: infotech@daltron.com.pg

Sir Arnold Amet, Governor
Madang Provincial Government
PO Box 2139
Madang
Papua New Guinea
Email: arnoldamet@datec.net.pg

Madam Luo
CMCC Director
Ramu Nickel Mine
Po Box 1229
Madang
Papua New Guinea
Email: luoshu@mccgrd.com


Aldo Dell'ariccia
EU Ambassador to PNG
European Union
Po Box 76
Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea
Email: aldo.dell'ariccia@ec.europa.eu

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