{"id":11171,"date":"2013-12-04T12:30:23","date_gmt":"2013-12-04T01:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?p=11171"},"modified":"2013-12-05T09:19:52","modified_gmt":"2013-12-04T22:19:52","slug":"trust-and-patience-are-the-keys-to-bougainville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/trust-and-patience-are-the-keys-to-bougainville\/","title":{"rendered":"Trust and patience are the keys to Bougainville"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m grateful to Peter Jennings and Karl Claxton for providing a superb example of the Phase Zero<\/a> planning in their proposal for Bougainville<\/a>. Their nine-point recommendation incorporates many of the features of a good Phase Zero plan, especially its paramount aim of forestalling the subsequent phases of a(nother) military intervention. In return, I\u2019d like to respond to their appeal for ideas to help the process.<\/p>\n

As Peter and Karl stress, one reason for attempting such a scheme is to save Australia the expense of another peacekeeping effort: spend now to avoid higher costs and risks later. But Bougainville\u2019s mineral wealth offers an opportunity to save some money in the short term as well, by engaging mining interests creatively to fund at least one of their proposals.<\/p>\n

Paradoxically, mineral extraction from the fabulous Panguna copper, gold and silver deposit was the catalyst for Bougainville\u2019s troubles going back to 1989. Recognising this, some utopian voices have advocated excluding the mine<\/a> from Bougainville\u2019s economic future lest the same problems recur. And as Joanne Wallis<\/a> and others point out, the Autonomous Bougainville Government has achieved some gains with limited resources that don\u2019t include mining revenues. But a good slice of the funds it does have are from sources such as Australian aid that can\u2019t (and shouldn\u2019t) be guaranteed indefinitely. And we shouldn\u2019t forget the economic benefits that Bougainville enjoyed pre-1989<\/a> from only a portion of the mine\u2019s revenues. It\u2019d be a tragedy to deny Bougainvilleans these benefits into the future for want of creative solutions to the old problems. As Dame Carol Kidu<\/a> has said, it\u2019s possible to learn from the past.<\/p>\n

Human development arguments aside, the economic potential of Panguna is energising domestic and commercial forces that won\u2019t be denied. Pressure to reopen the mine is growing: the department formerly known as AusAID is apparently funding research<\/a> with that objective and the ABG has been grappling with the necessary legislative framework for some time. Recommencement of mining seems inevitable\u2014and desirable. However, doing it right isn\u2019t assured.<\/p>\n

As multiple scholars have pointed out, there\u2019s still considerable mistrust of the external forces\u2014Australia and the miners among them\u2014seen as contributing to the civil war. Regaining that trust will be essential to a happy mining industry. But it will take time and must begin now. The third of Peter and Karl\u2019s recommended measures offers a way to offset the cost of that trust building to Australia, to our mutual benefit with the mining industry.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible for Panguna to be reopened and start new mining operations without repeating previous mistakes. Mining companies, AusAID and others involved shouldn\u2019t talk about mining until they\u2019ve established a solid relationship with all stakeholders. These include Sam Kauona, Ishmael Toroama and Chris Uma. This\u2019ll involve curbing enthusiasm to start turning a profit and instead investing in training facilities and youth training programs that will provide a short-term win in reducing youth unemployment (one of Bougainville\u2019s biggest problems) while demonstrating a long-term commitment to the island. By providing the bulk of the necessary funds, the miners could put their face on this investment, winning a trust dividend when the time comes to talk mining. This will also offset the costs in Australian aid, allowing us to either save money or spread existing allocations further and get us out of Bougainville quicker. Sticking to traditional approaches that marginalise or ignore local interests\u2014especially in ways that show disrespect or don\u2019t encourage trust\u2014may be a way to guarantee failure.<\/p>\n

Andrew Smith is an independent researcher.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m grateful to Peter Jennings and Karl Claxton for providing a superb example of the Phase Zero planning in their proposal for Bougainville. 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