Source: PNG Mine Watch

While it is fairly certain a few champagne corks were popped Friday night, as a conspiratorial session of parliament finally passed a legislation designed to uphold Rio Tinto’s leases in Panguna, and pave the way for other industrial mining operations.

But even those party to this conspiracy will be aware, in the absence of a significant armed force, which the ABG does not have, legislation is a compact that can only function if it represents the will of the people. Otherwise it is just a very expensive piece of paper.

Expect to see now the ABG and its foreign benefactors attempting to manufacture consent on the ground in Panguna. They have been, and will continue, to groom certain so called landowner ‘leaders’ (paper leaders to compliment a paper law), who they will invite in to renegotiate Rio Tinto’s re-entry. Those who refuse to follow the company line will be marginalised.

Then they will encourage the pro-Rio Tinto ‘leaders’ to start using customary lines of influence to rally consent, producing a large wedge within communities. Like in any resource swindle, the key is to divide communities, and have them bickering amongst each other, always throwing ample resources your allies way to ensure they have the competitive edge.

Pro-company ‘leaders’ will act both as agents of consent, and spies, sending back information on who is behind the opposition.

New-Dawn will continue to air its fantasy-like pronouncements, for their paymaster Rio Tinto, while the international media will be fed you know what, provided by you know who.

The tactics being used are right out of the 1960s playbook, but this is not Bougainville circa 1967. The fault-lines are more tender, and the consequences of growing conflict, could be catastrophic.

The ABG is out of touch, and doesn’t see it is sleep walking into chaos.

Rio Tinto has nothing to lose. If it all goes belly-up, they can abandon the island, without losing their capital, which is stored safely abroad.

Friday has initiated a dangerous period in Bougainville’s history, only fools would celebrate this