By PETER KORUGL*

New Opposition Leader Belden Namah has blasted the Government on its decision to set up a Commission of Inquiry into the Special Agriculture and Business Leases (SABL).

However, he may be in a conflict of interest situation because a company connected to him had such a lease and was logging in his electorate, it emerged yesterday.

The National newspaper, owned by Malaysian logging giant Rimbunan Hijau, seems to be struggling to present a fair and balanced coverage of the issue of Special Purpose Agriculture and Business Leases (SABLs).

On Thursday, May 5, Papua New Guinea's Acting Prime Minister, Sam Abal issued a press statement just before 4pm, announcing a Commission of Inquiry into the controversial issuing of SABLs covering over 5.2 million hectares of customary land.

Local leaders representing communities around the site of the proposed Pacific Marine Industrial Zone in Madang Province have issued a signed declaration of their opposition to the project. The PMIZ will be Papua New Guinea's first Special Economic Zone under laws being drafted by the World Bank.

Warke Isaac

Papua New Guineans are being exploited by Australians and other foreign countries.
 We are treated as cheap labour and are forced to look on as bystanders as Australian mining companies mine our natural resources.


Due to the lack of vision and poli­tical will of our leaders, many fo­reigners are taking advantage of our lack of enforcement.


Our oil, natural gas and gold will continue to be exploited by others.


Acting Prime Minister, Sam Abal’s decision to appoint a Commission of Inquiry into  Special Purpose Agriculture and Business Leases (SABLs) and subsequent suspension of forest clearance permits issued under such leases, has come under scathing attack from vocal Opposition MP, and PNG Party leader, Belden Namah.

Namah also says more stiff opposition is expected from stakeholders throughout Papua New Guinea.

Attorney General, Arnold Amet's apology for his racist attack at the PMIZ forum directed at MP Ken Fairweather, which was captured on video, has not stemmed the public criticism of his remarks as these two letters from Friday's newspapers show:

Arnie apology too late for world opinion

Teik Soba

By Lester Seri

Minister Lucas Dekena’s denial that “there is no scam, con or land grabbing in PNG” is the worst denial of the century made by any Minister in PNG. To make statements of denial while there are scores of documented evidence on land fraud starring at him is beyond comprehension.


By PMIZ Watcher

While the Papua New Guinea government has recently reaffirmed its commitment to the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone project in Madang, despite some vociferous local opposition [1], it seems major international companies are rejecting the project and choosing instead to invest in Lae.

The government claims that the PMIZ will become a major hub for tuna processing in the Pacific region with up to 10 processing factories that will create 30,000 jobs.