Over the past year a range of foreign operators have been courted by leaders on Bougainville, to the anger of everyday people sick of outside exploitation. Now it’s the turn (again) of Bougainville President, John Momis, who has contracted a little known Hong Kong company to advise his government on economic and development issues.
The Seagate controversy erupted with the following post on the popular Facebook ‘Bougainville Forum’:
‘Friends, a story was posted here on the Hong Kong company, Seagate Global, who is evidently planning to build a number of bridges on Bougainville. The odd thing is, I checked out their website and the following claim appears:
“Seagate Global is the economic and Development Advisor to the President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, the location of the Panguna mine, one of the largest copper and gold mines in the world, and a country rich in numerous resources”.
They also claim:
“Seagate Global entered the mining business as one of the best ways to help people. Seagate Global has access to capital and markets for mineral output. Many communities have resources, but no capital or expertise to develop them. Seagate Global acts as the bridge between the two”.
“Seagate controls over 10,000 acres of mineral-rich mines, including large deposits of: Gold, Copper, Iron ore, Chromite, Manganese”.
The company also boasts that is has close connections with the People’s Bank of China, and the China Development Bank.
The company’s Chairman use to run a US Hedge Fund.
I am not suggesting there is anything untoward here, but its the first time I have heard about Seagate playing a key role in the ABG. Seagate has very little online footprint, given it boasts to being an innovative community centred company that places a premium on environmental protection. Also despite claiming to be a large conglomerate its company officials have gmail addresses. Odd.”
John Momis meets with his Economic and Development Advisers at Seagate Global.
This posting sparked a long list of outraged comments from concerned Bougainvilleans who have had enough of these backroom deals with foreigners.
One forum member commented:
‘I just went onto the comprehensive company databases at Hoovers and Bloombergs, to check on Seagate Global’s annual financial reports. Surprisingly there is none. How is that for a company that is dressing itself as a global entity?’.
Another noted:
‘I did a Nexis news searches on Seagate Global; it produced almost nothing. I then searched Seagate’s senior corporate officialdom, once again few returns. The only name that obtains any serious traction is the head of their Malaysian operations, Haider Isnaji. Someone by the same name was done for kidnapping and money laundering … we should put this Seagate episode in context; how many times over the past couple of years have we come across stories of questionable international companies, be it Invincible Resources, Beijing Aerospace Great Wall Mineral Investment or Rio Tinto, entering into agreement with leaders in Bougainville, the contents of which are never made public. ‘.
Lawrence Daveona, Michael Pariu and other Panguna Mine Affected Landowners Association leaders hug officials from Beijing Aerospace Great Wall Mineral Investment Ltd after an alcohol fuelled MOU signing.
The general tenor of the 40+ comments were captured by one contributor:
‘I think Mr Momis is encouraging activity with his Chinese contacts for his own gains. Im sorry – But Its Time to Go Mr Momis – There seems to be a lot of questionable activity surrounding his name and movements. Its Time to Take Bougainville Back People! and Return a 100% Bougainvillean Person to Lead Bougainville – with a vision to restore Bougainville to a productive place for Bougainvillean Peoples Interests- not for Foreigners casting shady business deals, underhand tactics, to get a piece of the action ( white elephant), by undermining the people through lack of transparency’
People are fed up with secret business deals. Its time the ABG and landowner leaders look not to foreigners, but their own people; that is where the island’s future lies.
