The Only Dissenting Judgement

When Justice Catherine Davani handed down the only dissenting judgment regarding the Ramu Nickel case, she suggested that the Environment be protected.

In paragraph 111 of SCA 84 of 2011, Louis Medang v. China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) she stated:

“I find that Environmental damage is imminent; that this damage will be substantial and irreparable and finally, that violation of the appellant’s rights is inevitable. The Quia Timmet injunction must be awarded to the appellants.”

Out With The Old, In With The New… Gov’t!

Yesterday, Minister for Environment in the O’Neil-Namah Government, Hon Thompson Haroquave, carried through on his promise to the People of Papua New Guinea.

He ensured that Parliament will repeal amendments to the Environment Act made in favour of China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC).

The former Somare regime bulldozed amendments to the Act in July 2009 to deny landowners the right to question damaging activities on their land.

According to Mine Watch blog, the amendments were drafted by Allens Arthur Robinson at the behest of China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC). They already faced a legal battle over a plan to dump toxic mine waste into the Bismarck Sea.

Lawyer Tiffany Twivvey who had represented Madang Landowners in the case against China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) was ecstatic about Parliament’s decision.

Posting on Facebook she wrote:

“Thankyou Thompson Haroquave, the Minister for Environment and also the NEC who approved Thompson’s submission and all MPs who voted in Parliament today. Thank you for caring about the people’s land and their survival into the future.”

As the news filtered through social networking sites, Facebook, Twitter, etc. many pundits expressed satisfaction with Parliament’s decision and praised the O’Neil-Namah Government for putting the interests of the people first.

Of course some were cynical of this move and commented that it was the same MPs who voted in the amendments at the first place. However those views were quickly rebutted by others who said that the MPs were bound by sections of the Organic Law on Political Parties, to vote with former Prime Minister Somare. Now that those sections of Law have been deemed unconstitutional-

MPs can vote freely and yesterday they expressed that freedom by repealing the Somare/Chinese amendments.

Meanwhile, text messages were been sent to the people along the Madang coastline from Rai Coast to Bogia, informing them of this latest development in their FIGHT against China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC).

Many expressed satisfaction with the ONeil-Namah Government for its bold decision.

MCC outside National Court in Madang, Papua New Guinea