Here, I am reproducing an article that was published earlier this year. What has happened since? Does anyone know?
Original by Susan Merrell and Chris Baria
As this article goes to print [last May] there is a constitutional crisis being faced by Autonomous Bougainville Government after it has allegedly been entertaining a proposal from a small mining developer from Western Australia – ‘Caballus’.
According to my information: Caballus, believed to be headed by Western Australian businessman, Jeffrey McGlinn, arrived in Buka with pre-written amendments to the Bougainville Mining Act that apparently will do away with landowners’ rights to their mineral resources and the recognition of traditional leadership of clans and community. These amendments violate the Bougainville Constitution.
Many Bougainvilleans are against the Autonomous Bougainville Government tampering with the mining law to benefit a foreigner at a time the autonomous region is preparing for a referendum that means more to the people than the promised benefits from mining.
The real challenge now facing the Autonomous Bougainville Government is to carry out the preparations for referendum – not the re-opening of Panguna.
The connections
Jeffrey McGlinn of ‘Caballus’ known business links put him in affiliation with Somalian, Qamar Khan (aka Stephen Khan) for whom McGlinn acted as director in AUSPNG Holdings Ltd. Siniwok Ltd acquired 100% of the shares in this company in 2015.
Siniwok’s current sole shareholder and director is Hon. Belden Namah, MP – member for Vanimo/Green in the Papua New Guinean Parliament. Qamar Khan is a former director of Siniwok.
Belden Namah, the self-professed millionaire and former deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, who made his money in logging, is a controversial figure whose antics have seen him make headlines in Australia for his alleged crass drunken behaviour at Sydney’s Star Casino while gambling with a stake of $800,000.
He has recently been charged with numerous offences under the Leadership Code of Papua New Guinea and found guilty – including the storming of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea while in session in an attempt to arrest then Chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia who was sitting on the bench, presiding.
The Tribunal recommended Namah be dismissed from his parliamentary office and the Governor General signed his dismissal papers awaiting the advise of the courts.
In July 2018, the National Court granted a stay order pending a Judicial Review by the Supreme Court of the Leadership Code’s verdict. The Judicial Review is yet to be heard as I write.
Namah is rumoured to have been in Bougainville recently having discussions with President Momis ahead of the Joint Supervisory Board meeting in Port Moresby on March 1.
This helpful report was published by Ramumine back in April:
Bougainville to set up local company to reopen mine
There’s been no other reports that I can find.
