Conflict near Porgera mine kills at least 20 people
The mine has temporarily halted operations
Conflict between rival tribes in the Porgera Valley in Papua New Guinea over mining access intensified this weekend, killing dozens of people.
The Porgera Valley is home to rich gold deposits, including Barrick Gold's Porgera gold mine. Tensions between the Sakar and Piande clans escalated after illegal miners and settlers "terrorised" traditional landowners and communities last month, according to the local police.
According to the UN, between 20 and 50 people have been killed.
The authorities have sanctioned the police to use ‘lethal force' to bring an end to the violence. UN official Mate Bagossy told media that security forces have started moving into the area but that it remains to be seen what effects that will have.
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The Porgera gold mine has temporarily suspended operations. Production at the mine restarted last year following a solution to a four-year mining dispute over the mine's license. In 2020, operations were halted because the government refused to renew Barrick's license and awarded it to a state-owned miner instead.
The Porgera area and mine have a legacy of violence. Earlier this year, 26 people – including 16 children – were killed in a series of attacks on villages in the nearby East Sepik province over land disputes. At the mine itself, violence between security and villagers has persisted – at least eight people have been killed by the mine's security. Previous owners Placer Dome and Barrick Gold have been repeatedly accused of human rights abuses, including gang rapes and burning homes carried out by the mine's security personnel, for which the former Barrick set up a compensation fund for survivors.
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