Barrick and Porgera Joint Venture Statement
on Amnesty International Report

February 2, 2010

Barrick Gold Corporation and the Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) today outlined their response to an Amnesty International (AI) report that claims police violence and forced evictions occurred during a Papua New Guinea police deployment to restore law and order in the central highlands of Enga province near the PJV.

Barrick and the PJV are each committed to protecting human rights and operating in alignment with the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. Throughout the police deployment, each has operated in a manner expected of companies and consistent with the Voluntary Principles. The companies have advanced international human rights standards through formal agreements with and training involving PNG police authorities.

The severe deterioration in law and order that led to the police deployment has been a source of serious concern among government officials, community and religious leaders, local landowners, non-governmental organizations, area businesses including the PJV, and residents. The PNG Government responded to this collective call for action by increasing police resources in April 2009 to address the escalating violence and threat to public safety.

As a direct result of the police deployment, tribal fighting and gun violence have been significantly reduced, alleged perpetrators of murder and other serious violent crimes have been apprehended, women’s safety has improved, and law and order has been largely restored. Thousands of tribal members have taken part in gun-handover and peace ceremonies to bring an end to the numerous tribal wars that had plagued the valley over the last ten years. In June 2009, approximately 5,000 community members in the valley petitioned the PNG Government to extend the police deployment beyond its original timelines. This widespread community support, which includes the support of PJV and Barrick, continues today. AI itself acknowledges in its report that there is general community support, including by former residents of Wangima and Kulapi, for an increased police presence in Porgera to address the significant law and order problems in the area.

Barrick and PJV personnel have acted in good faith and have engaged with AI on a number of occasions in an effort to share facts and information available from a wide variety of credible sources within PNG. In particular, Barrick and PJV note that AI has now acknowledged that the companies were not responsible for acts of police violence or forced evictions at Wangima.

We remain concerned that AI’s report does not address the complex social and law and order challenges in the central highlands of PNG, nor does it acknowledge the role of local landowners, clans, in-migrants and other interests. AI’s unequivocal assertion that police were solely responsible for the destruction of all structures totally ignores an array of local interests and appears to discount the involvement of individuals or groups that may be motivated by political or financial reasons. These omissions raise serious questions about the adequacy and objectivity of AI’s investigation and analysis.

Barrick and the PJV were not informed in advance of the police operation at Wangima that is the subject of AI’s report and did not request the destruction of any structures. Contrary to AI’s assertion that Barrick and PJV failed to respond adequately when company management became aware of police activity in the area, Barrick and PJV were concerned and undertook the following actions:

• Immediately communicated with PNG police authorities, inquired about the event, reiterating expectations that human rights be upheld in accordance with the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.
• Made enquiries and met with community members to obtain information about what occurred at Wangima.
• Maintained regular dialogue with police authorities, requesting that police observe all PNG law and international law enforcement principles, including the Voluntary Principles.
• With the support of the Commissioner of Police, appointed a prominent Papua New Guinean to act as an independent monitor to provide oversight of the police deployment in the Porgera valley.

Barrick and PJV would cooperate with an investigation into the displacement of people at Wangima, should the Government of PNG determine that further investigation is warranted and could be effectively undertaken nearly one year after the events in question.

In the interest of public safety, and in view of the broad support in the community-at-large, Barrick and the PJV do not agree with AI’s recommendation that the PJV withdraw its passive support to the current police deployment. This support is limited primarily to the provision of accommodation, meals and fuel to the deployment. Accommodation alternatives in this remote area of the central highlands are not sufficient. In the view of PJV and Barrick, the PNG Government and community leaders whom PJV has contacted, eliminating the police from these communities would be highly detrimental and dangerous to people in this region at this time. Given the potential security and safety consequences, it is regrettable that AI would advocate such a position.