Panguna landowners say they are opposed to the plans of the Papua New Guinea and Bougainville governments to revive the Panguna mine.
Panguna mine. Photo: Wellington Chocolate Factory
This followed reports that the PNG government was in favour of the formerly Rio Tinto-linked company BCL being given exploration rights at the Panguna site.
The President of the Special Mining Lease Landowners Association Philip Miriori said his group was 100 percent opposed and that many other Bougainvillians shared this view.
Mr Miriori said his group owned the land and the mineral rights for the minesite and nothing could happen on the site without the landowners' permission.
He said they would never accept BCL as it was the same company that caused turmoil in Bougainville which lasted more than 10 years.