Image taken from an SBS Dateline documentary “Blood and Treasure” where the President claimed “A vast majority of Bougainville, I would say over 97% want the mine to be opened”

James Laluai

By Buin Ogoi

From a Special Correspondent

By Lester Seri, OCEAN*

This country risks totally losing the five million hectares of customary land that has been allocated as Special Agriculture and Business Leases but which have been determined illegal by the Commission of Inquiry. The Government, especially our Prime Minister, has promised the nation that all illegal SABL will be canceled but to date, many remain to be canceled.

Source: Caroline Tiriman, Radio Australia

Heve ol papa graun long Papua New Guinea i wok long stap insait aninit long ol Special Agriculture Business Leases blong gavman oa SABL, ol i autim gen long wol iken harim.

Source: Radio New Zealand

A Papua New Guinea NGO says a large rainforest summit in Australia failed to discuss the urgent threats facing PNG rainforests.

Act Now's comment follows an Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit in Sydney this month, which was hosted by the Australian Government.

A spokesperson for the NGO, Eddie Paine, who attended the summit, says the meeting was a complete disappointment from a Pacific perspective.

He says there were no Pacific Island speakers and the issue of illegal logging in PNG was not discussed.

Forest Minister Douglas Tomuriesa needs to ensure all logging in SABL areas is immediately stopped says community activist group, ACT NOW!

This follows assurances from the Minister that 74 Special Agriculture and Business Lease that were illegally obtained have been revoked and customary landowners would retain their land.

The National Court has issued a restraining order stopping any forest logging operations by Rimbunan Hijau in two controversial Special Agriculture and Business Lease areas in the Pomio district of East New Britain.

The orders have been obtained by landowners from Portions 196C and 197C who claim the SABLs were obtained by fraud and forgery and without their consent and without following the proper processes under the Lands Act. 

Dept confounding land grab problem

By MELISSA MARTIN, Post Courier

LAND titles continue to be fraudulently issued to businesses and private individuals in the National Capital District, says Governor Powes Parkop.

At a media conference yesterday, he said these titles would not be recognised by the National Capital District Commission, thereby denying the land basic council services like water, sewerage and associated infrastructure services.