By LNG Watch 

LNG Watch has called for an independent investigation into the cause of the recent Tumbi landslide disaster.

By Jo Chandler

AS THE only female MP in Papua New Guinea's resolutely macho 109-member Parliament, Queensland-born Dame Carol Kidu is well accustomed to running a lonely race, reports The Age.

Now she's proposing to form a one-woman opposition and - in the absence of other contenders - be recognised by the Parliament as opposition leader.

The move was compelled by her distress over the political machinations behind the short-lived military mutiny on Thursday which aimed to restore Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare as prime minister.

Submitted by Ryu 

By reading some comments made by others, I believe people do not really understand what the underlaying problems are here in Papua New Guinea regarding the issuance of SABL.

• Large-scale investments in agriculture do not necessarily increase food supply, close yield gaps or expand production. Rather, such investments often negatively affect local populations, leading to dispossession and displacement. 

• The terms of the contracts and compensations for local populations are highly questionable.

Ousted Papua New Guinea prime minister Sir Michael Somare has defended ordering a failed military mutiny, again insisting Friday he was the country’s legitimate leader, reports AFP.

Political tensions flared on Thursday when an ex-soldier loyal to Somare staged a dramatic grab to re-take power from current premier Peter O’Neill.

Former colonel Yaura Sasa led a pre-dawn mutiny, taking captive the head of the armed forces, Francis Agwi, and declaring himself the new military leader, reinforcing the country’s reputation as politically dysfunctional.

By LNG Watch

While the facts surrounding the tragic Hides landslide remain sketchy, prima facie evidence is being produced which indicates this was not purely a natural disaster. While it is important at this stage that people remain focused on the rescue efforts, serious attention must be given to the cause of this disaster. LNG Watch, therefore, fully supports James Marape’s (Hela Transitional Authority Chairman) call for an independent investigation into the landslide.

By Luana Paniu

A massive total of 2 million hectares granted under four but bordering Special Agriculture and Business Lease (SABL) reportedly for poultry and vegetable farming is not practical according to former Lands Secretary, Pepi Kimas.

The sub-leased areas which are located in the Western Province and extends onto the borders of both the Southern Highlands and West Sepik Provinces, includes one individual SABL totalling a land mass of 790,800 hectares.

By Catherine Wilson

Although Papua New Guinea is known as a resource-rich country, 85 percent of the population depends on the informal economy for a living.

Photo: Women at Gordons market (Catherine Wilson/IPS)

The need for a grassroots-led economic enterprise to aid equitable and sustainable development is nationally recognised, but awaits better governance, infrastructure and facilities. 

THE majority of the people in the Sausso local level government in East Sepik want the Special Business Lease (SABL) granted by the government under portion 144C for development of oil palm on the Sepik plains to stay, claims The National (which is owned by logging giant Rimbunan Hijau).

They said a recent statement by Jimmy Harinagu, from Rofundogum village, claiming that the people of the LLG area were unhappy with the SABL was incorrect.

The Commission of Inquiry into the Special Agriculture and Business Lease will not be stopped, says the government.

Minister for Lands and Physical Planning Lucas Dekena told Parliament last Friday, in response to questions from Maprik MP Gabriel Kapris, that the inquiry was initiated by the former regime and the government had extended it for another three months to allow the commission to complete its work in the selected provinces.

He said the government would not stop the Commission but allow it time to submit its report to Parliament by March.