Updated 13 June 2014, 17:26 AEST

A mine watchdog, Mining Watch Canada, says the operators of the Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea have ignored the advice of their own consultants on resettling villagers near the mine for the last seven years.

It accuses Barrick, which has its headquarters in Canada, of taking out a restraining order against landowners, shortly before PNG's notorious police mobile squads allegedley burnt down 200 homes near the mine last week.

Barrick Gold has confirmed it has an injunction against the Porgera Landowners Association but says it's unrelated to the recent raid. It says the injunction is in response to threats to close down the mine made during the review of the Memorandum of Agreement. Barrick says that agreement is only between the state of PNG and Porgera landowners.

Presenter: Richard Ewart

Originally posted by Radio Australia