Members of the Porgera Special Mining Lease Landowner Association have demanded the closure of the Porgera Gold Mine, in a letter sent to PM Michael Somare in late March. The landowners claimed that more than 21 people have been killed in the mine area, accusing the mine's joint venture developer PJV of serious human rights violations. "They come and take our gold, why do they need to kill us?", PSMLLA chairperson Mark Ekepa said at a March 29 press conference.
From Green Left Weekly, April 6, 2005.
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