Source: LUKE KAMA, The National (owned by Rimbunan Hijau)
LANDOWNERS who were deprived under the controversial Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABLs) want to know when the Government will implement a Parliament a decision to cancel all existing leases.
Lands Minister Benny Allan told The National that he would make an announcement soon on the subject.
Police officers working on behalf of Malaysian logging giant Rimbunan Hijau are continuing to intimidate, attack and detain landholders trying to protect their land against illegal logging in the Pomio District of East New Britain, according to reports from the area.
This is despite an order from Police Commissioner Gari Baki that police should not be permanently deployed to logging camps.
Senator Patrick Leahy is the most senior member of the United States Congress
Two United States Senators, Senator Patrick Leahy and Senator Jeff Merkley, have written to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill calling for action to end the SABL land grab and illegal logging.
The Prime Minister has again announced the government is cancelling controversial SABL leases and returning the land to its customary owners.
“I am pleased to say that all the SABL leases to be cancelled, instruction has now gone to the Lands Dept and as of today (last Friday) I can assure you that leases are now being cancelled”– see story below.
Police stationed at logging camps in the Pomio district of East New Britain are continuing to intimidate and threaten landowners protesting against illegal SABL leases and wide spread logging.
Logging on New Hanover: "This is our customary land. Why would they do this to us?"
New Ireland Provincial Government has sent in armed police to defend illegal logging and road clearing operations on New Hanover island. Local people have been engaged in a long struggle to defend their land and reclaim what is rightfully theirs from the foreign logging companies.
Paul Pavol, with MP Gary Juffa, at a protest outside the Rainforest Summit in Sydney
Mr. Paul Pavol, from the Pomio District of East New Britain, has been awarded the Alexander Soros Foundation Award for Environmental and Human Rights Activism at a ceremony in New York city.
RH Consultant and ex Managing Director of the PNG Forest Authority, Kanawi Pouru, addresses villagers in the Pomio district
SABL Story Project*
PNG’s largest logging company and multi-sector business group is telling rural communities that human rights and sustainable business principles impede rural development and should be ignored if people want to get rich.
