land grab

Malaysian firm to make US$72m from Inland Pomio logging

On 13 Jan, 2012 By rait man

Kayu Mas (PNG) Ltd, which has a timber concession in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and is being acquired by Takaso Resources Bhd, has projected a net profit of US$72 million over nine years, reports the Sun Daily in Kuala Lumpur.

Kayu Mas executive chairman Datuk Abdul Manaf Hamid said the projected earnings from its timber concession of up to 42,000ha in PNG was based on the pricing of logs and sawn timber from that country.

Papua New Guinea is a tinderbox

On 16 Dec, 2011 By rait man With 1 Comments

By Doug Hendrie

The violence in PNG this week is the eruption of long simmering tensions, says Martyn Namorong. Doug Hendrie talks to the fearless political blogger who sells betel nut by day and tackles the country's corrupt ruling classes by night.

Martyn Namorong is angry.

LAND: That is what makes us special

On 19 Oct, 2011 By rait man With 1 Comments

By Martyn Namorong*

What is the first question a Papua New Guinean would ask another when they first meet?

“Where are you from?"

This question as innocent as it may sound had major consequences during those days of tribal warfare. For it was forbidden that one should trespass in another’s land or extract resources from it. The penalty was DEATH! That was the Law of the Land.

Foreign policies are killing us fast

On 09 Oct, 2011 By rait man With 1 Comments

By Elizabeth Tongne

Lots of things are happening around the country in Papua New Guinea at the moment and it seems different names are being use for the same thing.

Foreign policies promoted by global corporations and aided by the World Bank and overseas governments are killing us fast and we need to hold hands together so that we are not pulled apart.

In defense of customary land in Papua New Guinea

On 15 Aug, 2011 By rait man

By Martyn Namorong

The phrase “landowner issues” is a misnomer and gives the wrong impression that Papua New Guineas traditional land owners are somehow a deterrent to progress. Next week I travel to the Lower Ramu region to see for myself the land of a rainforest tribe of New Guinea being taken from them without proper consent.

ABAL: Commission of Inquiry into SPABL commences work

On 01 Aug, 2011 By rait man

Abal announces commencement of Commission of Inquiry into SABL

On 28 Jul, 2011 By rait man

Acting Prime Minister Hon. Sam Abal has announced the commencement of the Commission of Inquiry into the Special Purpose Agricultural & Business Leases (SPABL).

Post Courier asks: Why stop the probe?

On 23 Jul, 2011 By rait man

On June 29, 2011, acting Prime Minister Sam Abal announced the Commission of Inquiry into the Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABLs) and Urban Development Leases. 

Mr Abal appointed John Numapo as Chairman, Nicholas Mirou and Alois Jerewai as Commissioners and several other people were appointed to provide technical advice to the Commission. Abal expressed confidence in the team he had appointed that they will do a good job. The Commission was given three months to complete the task and present its report to the Government, which will then present it to Parliament.

Commission to begin soon

On 15 Jul, 2011 By rait man

By Luana Paniu

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Special Purpose Agriculture and Business Leases (SPABL) will use relevant court documents and information from research institutes and various organisations including landowners to begin investigations.  

Director for CoI and Investigation branch of the Prime Minister’s Department, Mathew Yuangu said this will be a foundation for the CoI, which will include visitation to specific SPABL sites in the country. 

SABL Inquiry starts off under fire

On 13 Jul, 2011 By rait man

By Luana Paniu (Post Courier)

THE Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Special Purpose Agriculture and Business Leases (SPABL) was recently announced and is scheduled to be completed by September but it has come under fire by a civil and legal rights organisation and a former academic. 

The former academic, who was a lecturer at the University of PNG and is also a naturalised citizen, said that references within the CoI were ambitious for the government to achieve. 

Search form

Pages