While returning from the parade marking the launch of the State of Emergency (SOE) at Porgera Station at noon today one had to ask why the government had to sanction a third SOE in a space of less than five (5) years. Why o why?
The popular opinion in the crowd is that this SOE call out was a request from the developer of the gold mine (Barrick) and it is to counter the aggressive escalation in trespassing on the Special Mining Lease (SML) that continuously puts the trespassers as well as the mining operations at risk. But to think in this skew is too shallow. There is bigger problem here and it is that Porgera is already social invasion but since it is concealed under benign terms the vast Ipili populace fail to see it.
If we look at illegal trespassing, more commonly referred to as ‘illegal mining’, and the majority of the people associate this with the governments lack of policy and strategy to resettle the landowners of the SML further from the SML areas, but this is just half of the net problem we have her in Porgera Valley. Even some young elites have made commentaries on social media, like Facebook , alluding to mass resettlement but I don’t believe that they understand the depth of the criminalization that is eating away the very social fabrics of the once peaceful valley to a point of no return, maybe they are speaking their mind (which I respect), but we must understand that “mass relocation” is not the sole answer to all of the social fabrics that supports law & order – mass relocation (which is SML focused) could be one options but it’s not the only answer.
This cheap mind set is breeding complacency and as a result you note that at the occurrence of any law and order associated incident the blame is quickly cast on ‘illegal mining’ even when the ‘illegal mining’ is not the root cause of the incident. The phrase ‘illegal mining’ has been the favorite scapegoat for all the unlawful and disorderly behavior that has almost become synonymous with the Porgera Valley.
The valley is suffering at the expense of bad decisions by narrow minded individuals hence any emerging leader in the valley should try and become immune to cheap comments from narrow minded people and continue to make informed decisions and choices for the community with courage holistic mindset based on sufficient knowledge/information.
Since ancient times, not only in Melanesia but in the world afar too, territorial invasions have been motivated by the three G’s – Gold, Glory & God. The disadvantaged society is said to have been subdued and invaded when the above three G’s have been achieved by the conquering party (or parties). The modern day progressive invasion is inflicted on my unaware Ipili people by a tribe or entity they affectionately refer to as the ‘epaorenes’.
The ‘epaorenes’ are expanding their empire at the expense of the unwitting Ipili ‘yuu
tennes’. This is almost likened to the colonial imperialism motivate by the the 3 G’s.
| The 3 G’s | Characteristics | Porgera Application |
| Gold | Gold merely refers to money or wealth or the accumulation of it thereof | Porgera indeed is a golden valley and alluvial mining activities started in the 1960’s. In spite of that the little wealth the gold discovery offered circulated within the Ipili tribe. Spin off activities were earmarked for the Ipili people. However the reality is that the Ipili have now become mere spectators or collect 10% Commissions of ludicrous business join ventures. Most spin off economic activities (like trade stores, contracts, etc,…) are owned and operated by ‘epaorenes’ and the ‘yuu tennes’ only wait for the next scheduled royalty payment. Their wealth creation opportunities or the channels thereof have been compromised to depletion and we pretend as if nothing is happening. And of course ‘illegal mining’ is the cancer that’s keeping majority the school age kids away from classrooms. What will become of the future of Porgera when the rest of Enga which is seriously investing in education smoothly sails with the rest of the modern world? |
| Glory | The rest of the world versus the Ipili identity. The quest for who reign supreme in the perimeter. | Most of the economically viable lots and sections in the valley seem to be occupied by the ‘epaorenes’and the ‘yuu tennes’ pushed to the peripheries. They inter-marry, build their houses, hit their chests with clenched fist and tell the tribal leaders of the villages to shut up. The ‘epaorenes’ have become the drivers of all activities (both good and bad) and shoved the ‘yuu tennes’ to the back seat as mere spectators. For all that I know many prominent ‘yuu tenne’s‘ are securing lands outside of the Porgera and moving their families out of home sweet home for fear of their lives because they have been displaced in their own homeland. When you are no longer proud of what you should rightfully be proud of it means your very essence pride and identity is under seize. |
| God | Religion is set of organised belief or ‘cultural system’ that defines human behaviour | The Ipili people, from my recollection in the early 90’s , are some of the very law abiding, orderly and God fearing people. Unfortunately the charm and welcoming spirit of the Ipili people has been taken advantage of by the ‘epaorenes’ and infiltrate its original cultural system with a lawless culture that has now attracted three consecutive SOEs in less than five years. The prevalence of evil over good was been exponential lately. While due respect must be given to the Christian Organisations in the valley, the commercialisation of almost everything in the valley is eating away the social fabrics of the once pristine Porgera Valley. |
However it must also be noted that it is not yet over or already too late to reclaim and restore the pride of Ipili. The only way invasions are defended is by persuasive aggression and courageous leadership (violence no longer necessary).
With the SOE thriving to restore law and order in the coming months it is also the opportune time for the genuine and authentic Porgeran leaders to courageously strategize and reclaim the pride of its people and restore structure and order in its communities. Of course strategic collaboration and corporation from government and corporate citizenship will be a big contributing factor and hence this SOE period must not be missed.
The playing field and the rules we define during this period should be the basis for all social interactions and community governance after the SOE period is over and thereafter.
Failing that we end up at the final destination were we find ourselves mere spectators and unwitting foreigners in our land drinking tea mixed with our own pitiful tears mixed with spilled milk.
I should conclude with my favourite quote from Edmund Burke:
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”
For how long can we do NOTHING?
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Disclaimer: This article is a personal viewpoint of the author as a private citizen and does not represent his employer. The author as lived and grew up in the valley in the early 1990’s and have seen the better days of Porgera and therefore published this comparative narration.
Balcony Perspectives 