A US appeals court has ruled that mining giant Rio Tinto can be sued in the United States on allegations it aided the government of Papua New Guinea in genocide and war crimes.
SBS Senior Correspondent Brian Thomson travelled to PNG to in August, revealing that
Prime Minister Michael Somare accused Rio Tinto of playing an active role in military operations during the Bougainville uprising, in previously unseen documents.
The lawsuit was filed by residents of the island of Bougainville, who accuse Rio Tinto of aiding Papua New Guinea.
The decade-long civil war began after islanders sabotaged a gold and copper mine they claimed was fouling the environment.
Brian Thomson's June revelations:
They sued Rio Tinto in 2002 in federal court in Los Angeles under an obscure US law called the Alien Tort Statute of 1789.
It allows foreign nationals to sue over conduct that allegedly violates international law or treaties.
The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling on Tuesday reverses a lower court decision to toss the lawsuit.
"The complaint alleges purposeful conduct undertaken by Rio Tinto with the intent to assist in the commission of violence, injury, and death, to the degree necessary to keep its mines open," Judge Mary Schroeder wrote, Reuters reported.
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