State minister and member for Yangoru Saussia Richard Maru is against the Special Agriculture and Business Lease (SABL) device being used to acquire customary land in the country.
Logging companies have been asked to show the government the number of developments carried out as part of their community obligation in communities they work in.
Forest Minister Douglas Tomuriesa says companies will have to show cause or their licence to log will be suspended.
He says for far too long local communities have been ignored on their own land and now it’s time to “show and tell’’.
Papua New Guinea's National Court has declared two leases held by Malaysia-based Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK) null and void, and ordered the government to cancel the licenses to convert nearly 40,000 hectares of rainforest and community forest for oil palm plantations, reports the Rainforest Action Network (RAN).
A new billboard with a clear message for the Prime Minister has been erected in central Waigani, right under the noses of Papau New Guinea's MPs.
The billboard is on the busy roundabout outside the Somare Foundation Building on Sir John Guise Drive - right in the path of everyone travelling to Parliament and infront of the offices of the Department of the Prime Minister and NEC.
Leading Australian banks are financing companies accused of land grabbing, child labour and illegal logging, according to an Oxfam report released today.
Leading Australian banks are financing companies accused of land grabbing, child labour and illegal logging, according to an Oxfam report released today.
The Commission of Inquiry into Special Agricultural and Business leases criticised many of the companies involved in back-door logging activities in PNG.
But it also laid the finger of blame for the situation on corrupt government officials and local brokers who facilitated the land deals.
Dr Colin Filer, Convenor of the Australian National University's Resource Management in Asia-Pacific program has spent many decades studying land issues in Papua New Guinea.
