Across Melanesia, the Pacific and Papua New Guinea, our rights as indigenous peoples have been violated on many occasions from destructive and exploitative development. Our forests stripped, oceans polluted, rivers poisoned and cultures threatened as corporations and other countries meddle with trade rules, rules of engagements and laws given to us by our colonizers. Of all these struggles, I bring one call from my home: it is the call to save the Sepik River.
I am an Indigenous Representative from Papua New Guinea, here supported by the UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples. I stand with Sukundimi, the guardian spirit of our river, carrying the voices of my ancestors, our unborn children and more than 400,000 Sepik people who depend and on the river for life itself.
The Sepik is not just water. It is our mother, our soul and our lifeline. Yet, the proposed Frieda River Gold and Copper mine threatens with plans to build one of the world’s largest tailings dams in one of the world’s seismically active, earthquake-prone rainforest. A collapse would poison our water, destroy our food systems and erase our culture; our memory. This is not just an environmental threat; it is a human rights crisis intending to be unleashed on people, species and planet.
We refuse to become victims, we are in solidarity and we have rejected this mine openly, boldly and are persistent with our resistance. This proposed mine will never get a social license, no Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), no legitimacy.
Excellencies, we demand justice:
- Condemn the Frieda River Mine as a violation of human rights and recommend its permanent rejection by Papua New Guinea.
- Recognize the Sepik River as a living entity linked to the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and urge UNESCO to protect it as a World Heritage Site.
- Mandate Special Rapporteurs on environment, Indigenous Peoples and toxics to monitor the situation and report back to this Council.
- Support Indigenous-led stewardship of rivers and forests, ensuring FPIC is respected under UNDRIP.
The Sepik is a sacred being, a living spirit. To destroy it is to commit genocide. To protect it is to safeguard humanity, culture, climate and justice. I ask you: stand with us. Stand with Sepik, PNG, the Pacific and Melanesia.
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