PNG mine closes as local, foreign workers clash
Updated
A mining project in Papua New Guinea has been shut down after a violent clash between local and foreign workers. Several people are in hospital, and facilities at the Ramu nickel mine in Madang have been extensively damaged. Police chief superintendent Anthony Wagambie says a traffic accident sparked the violence.
Presenter: Liam Fox, PNG correspondent
Speaker: Anthony Wagambie, Chief Superintendent of Madang police
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WAGAMBIE: Last Friday there was a traffic accident, apparently a tractor driven by a Chinese worker accidentally I think ran over a PNG national worker over there and he sustained some injuries to his lower part of the body, which caused him serious injuries. But the other national workers there, they demanded that he be immediately Medivac to Madang by helicopter. But apparently, the Chinese they decided to put him on a boat and send him back direct - angered the workers and I think this thing was bound to happen. It was bound to happen, because there was a lot of outstanding labour issues regarding pay and working conditions, and safety issues and things like that.
FOX: And what are the details of the violent incidents?
WAGAMBIE: There is extensive damage that has been done to facilities, buildings. Most of the glasses have been broken down, walls broken. The national PNG workers used sticks and stones, iron bars, broke a couple of vehicle glasses, damaged some vehicles and equipment. They also broke into some buildings and looted some properties like computers, laptops and other things, small machineries. So whilst that was going on, a couple of Chinese were also seriously assaulted. Three of them have been moved to Port Moresby to get further medical attention there. But then the Chinese they also retaliated. They also injured a couple of PNG workers as well, about six or seven of them.
FOX: Have operations at the mine been shutdown?
WAGAMBIE: The mine operation has been shut as of Friday after the incident. When the incident occurred, we were alerted here. I deployed a couple of policemen to the area. We went in there and that's when everything cooled down. Workers they stopped. I think they are reviewing the situation may be today. I will be going out to myself to see what's going on there. Maybe by today or during the week, they might think about starting work.
FOX: And how is the investigation going? Have there been any arrests or anything like that?
WAGAMBIE: So far, we have deployed two CID personnel into the area as a strategy to commence investigations. But the problem lies is that it was a mob attack, so we are looking closely. There are some pictures taken from cameras, so the problem now is that the national workers when they attack the Chinese and when the police responded, they all ran away. So they are not around the camp area or anywhere. I am confident we will make some arrests very soon. We are working very closely with the community that is over there and they have assured us that they will assist us to bring in the suspects voluntarily and report back. Most of these are being returned now, the stolen ones, they have been returned back, but I am confident that we will still make some arrest on a couple of suspects.
