PNG gold mine resumes operation following tribal violence

Firmin Nanol, Port Moresby

Last Updated: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:55:00 +1100

The Hidden Valley gold mine in Papua New Guinea has resumed operations after being disrupted by a tribal clash over the week end.

PNG's Watut and Biangai tribes are locked in a dispute over land at the McAdam's National Park between the towns of Wau and Bulolo, which they claim has mineral deposits.

Tensions between the tribes flared up this weekend when about 500 Watut villagers attacked and killed three Biangai villagers.

The conflict forced the PNG's Hidden Valley Gold Mine in the Morobe Province to suspend its operations for almost three days.

Although the tribes involved also own the land where that mine is located, acting General Manager Charles Hennessey says the clash was not over that land and they have now resumed normal operations.

"The dispute is not over the ownership rights over the Hidden Valley Mine," he said.

"Our understanding is that the conflict is primarily related to alluvial mining at the McAdam's Park near Wau."

A police riot squad has been deployed to the area to avoid further disruptions.