Porgera Issues Represented by Asia Pacific Caucus at United Nations

The Asia Pacific caucus statement at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues urged the Special Rapporteur to investigate the human rights crisis near Barrick’s Porgera mine.

Whilst the Special Rapporteur has not yet visited the Indigenous peoples of Papua New Guinea for a country report, on 19 August 2008 a special communication was made by the Special Rapporteur regarding the situation concerning Mr. JethroTulin, the CEO of a NGO based in Porgera that has been documenting human rights violations associated with a Gold Mine there. Mr. Tulin had travelled to Canada to express concerns about the mine and on his return in August 2008 was attacked, told not to return to Canada and received further anonymous threats. The Special Rapporteur wrote to the Government of Papua New Guinea, but there was no reply. A formal complaint on other human rights violations was also filed with the Human Rights Commission by Barrick Gold of Canada who also the sought ordinance with the Special Rapporteur last year. Despite these actions, reports of gross human rights violations at the mine continue.

Read full Asia Pacific Caucus statement here.