By Melissa Martin in the Post Courier

The delay in executing the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the controversial special agricultural business leases (SABL) has prompted landowners to protest.

Landowners from the areas of Pomata and Ralopal in East New Britain Province expressed their concerns in a peaceful protest last week.

Clan leader of Bairaman village Jacob Samo, during the protest, expressed concerns about the ongoing destruction of forests and human rights abuses suffered by his people.

And he highlighted the need for immediate implementation of the inquiry’s recommenda-tions.

"The Government has taken too long to deliver and implement the recommendations and we cannot wait any longer," Mr Samo said.

"We’ve looked at all options to get our land back but as village people we cannot go further."

Mr Samo said Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has assured the landowners that he was going to ensure that they get their customary land back.

"When will we see this talk become a reality? We are all in the dark and we don’t know what is going on, therefore we want the Prime Minister to take immediate action to implement the findings of the Commission of Inquiry," he said.

Mr Samo said the people of Pomio in the West New Britain Province have given overwhelming evidence and have testified at the Commission of Inquiry that their land was stolen from them without their consent.  "When is our Prime Minister going to implement what he has promised?" he asked.

The PNG Eco-Forestry Forum and those representing affected landowners concur with the sentiments raised and support calls that this investigation has taken too long.

They say it is now time for Peter O’Neill to show the country that he is serious to act on his word and nullify all the SABLs fraudulently taken, and give land back to customary owners.

Customary landowners across PNG have lost over 5.2 million hectares of their land to foreign owned companies allegedly for agri-forestry projects through the controversial special agri-cultural business leases.

Records show that a total of 78 SABLs were investigated at a cost of K15 million by the Commission of Inquiry; 42 were presented for investigation with recommendations.

Only four out of the 42 leases were found to follow due process while the remaining 38 were found to be fraudulent.

It has taken more than three years from investigation to recommendation.

On February 6, 2014, there was a sound of hope when the PM announced that a committee has been appointed to act upon the recommendations and cancel the illegal SABLs.

That committee was also appointed to restart the process with strict guidelines to protect landowners.

This was welcome news for the affected landowners who were losing thousands of hectares of their customary lands to foreign owned companies.