Image: Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago attends a regional forest crime seminar at INTERPOL headquarters in Singapore, Dec. 2024
A criminal charge of identity theft against ACT NOW Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago has been struck out by Magistrate Mr. Paul Puri Nii, in the District Court at Waigani.
A prominent civil society advocate, Tanago was arrested and charged by police in December 2024 following a complaint made by the Managing Director of the PNG Forest Authority.
This was after ACT NOW had hosted a public seminar highlighting the abuse of Forest Clearing Authorities by foreign-owned logging companies who use the licences as a cover for large-scale illegal logging.
The charge against Tanago alleged that he had committed identity theft by reposting on social media an advertisement for an FM100 talk-back show where the Managing Director was due to appear and which included his photograph.
Eddie Tanago is delighted that the court has dismissed the charge against him and has thanked his family and all those who have supported his fight for justice.
Tanago says that he was always convinced that justice would be done and that the charge against him would be dismissed.
He has also expressed his gratitude to his lawyer, Carlos Tsora from Posman Kua Asi Lawyers.
Tanago says that the criminal charge against him has only reinforced his determination to speak out against corruption, widespread illegal logging and the abuse of FCA licences.
He also says the criminal charge against him was a further example of the growing use of SLAPP lawsuits in PNG.
SLAPP lawsuits, or Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation, are a misuse of the legal system by people in positions of power who want to silence their critics through intimidation and unwarranted but costly legal proceedings. While common in some overseas countries, SLAPPS have until recently been rare in PNG.
In 2024, ACT NOW was the victim of two civil SLAPP lawsuits brought by Malaysian logging companies trying to prevent circulation of reports about their logging activities. Neither of those lawsuits was successful.
Tanago says the dismissal of the case against him is another win for freedom of speech and democracy in Papua New Guinea.
Tanago is urging the PNGFA to take effective action to prevent illegal logging under FCA licences rather than trying to intimidate and silence public debate on a national issue of critical importance.
