Since the production of The OK Tedi Mining, the OK Tedi river is the outlet of the mine’s waste, seriously damaging the whole local ecosystem.

The mine has brought many changes in the developments and in the lifestyle, however has a very big impact on people’s lives.

The OK Tedi River has been polluted with sediments from the mine and fish in the river and the aquatic life is completely dead.

Those people who lives near the river are greatly affected. They can no longer drink from the river, nor can they swim, bath or do laundry.

The local people are unable to replace the protein that they get from the river on their diets that was formerly provided by the aquatic and terrestrial resources.

The sediment load in the river is high and the river is completely dead.

All social and economic benefits from OTML and the PNG Government are only directed to the immediate lease landowners as they are entitled to that and forget about the affected river people.

The whole indigenous OK Tedi river people’s lives is in total disarray.

Gardens are no longer made near the river banks which used to be fertile.

The wildlife and its habitat were destroyed. The rich flora and fauna in the forest including rare species of trees, medicinal plants, sago swamps and potential economical forest products has been destroyed by the mining.

It is clear that the PNG Government and the OK Tedi Mining Ltd (OTML) have violated the Constitution of human rights of indigenous people and customary land rights. The National Government has violated its own law of Customary Land Rights because it does not practice it.

The social and economic situation is seriously affected by the mining waste, heavy metals and crushed rocks have been dumped on fertile gardening land. The most fertile customary land is being covered with sediments from the mining.

The indigenous people’s lives depend on the use of the natural resources including land, forest and water and their livelihood and lifestyle has changed a lot.

Although the National Government benefits a lot from OTML where it receives its biggest portion of revenue after closure of the Panguna mine in Bougainville, the local people however have not seen or feel any form of economic and social development coming from the mine and so have become the victims of the mine.

Flora Kageni

Melanesian Institute