The National court has declared two agriculture and business leases of SABLs covering over 38, 000 hectres of land in Northen Province null and void, and further ordered the State to cancel thier titles.
Moves by the government to review the Lands Act and introduce revised legislation* are premature and focus attention away from the real problem - corruption, says community activist group, ACT NOW!
Changes to the law ignore the corruption which is at the root of most of the current problems with land administration and any changes will do nothing to stop the ongoing abuses.
Both the SABL land grab and the growing number of violent urban evictions in Papua New Guines are the symptoms of a misguided and destructive model of development.
The Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNG FA) will not cancel the Forest Clearance Authorities it has granted allowing logging inside Special Agriculture and Business Lease areas and thus is not defending the rights and interests of customary landowners.
This was made clear in a recent meeting of NGOs with the PNGFA.
The PNG Forest Authority will not take responsibility and stop logging in Special Agriculture Business Lease (SABL) areas despite overwhelming evidence the logging is unlawful, says community activist group ACT NOW!
"We have met with the Managing Director, Kanawi Pouru, and senior managers and made a detailed submission but they seem more interested in protecting the interests of the foreign logging companies than defending the rights of local people", says Program Manager, Effrey Dademo.
On 26 September ACT NOW! led a delegation to meet with the Managing Director of the PNG Forest Authority and his senior managers to explain to them why the Forest Clearance Authorities issued by the Authority are null and void and should be cancelled.
The Forest Clearance Authorities have been issued to allow clear felling of forests in areas leased from customary landowners under Special Agriculture and Business Leases.
Picture: Logging i bagarapim wara long Inaina Wildlife management Area long Kairuku Hiri District long Central province (PWM Photo)
Source: ABC Radio Australia
Direkta blong dispela NGO grup Partners With Melanesians, Ken Mondiai i sutim strongpela toktok long PNG gavman na ol agensi blongen i nating putim strongpela tingting long konsevesen wok long kantri.
