Last week 400 landowners from Pomio gathered to protest against the delay by the Prime Minister in implementing the recommendations of the SABL Commission of Inquiry Report.

The landowners marched to the District Chamber with banners and placards highlighting the controversial land grabbing that is on going in their area.

The landowners were blocked by the police from staging a peaceful protest at the Drina logging camp.

Congratulations to the Unitech Student Representative Council and Student Body for consistently pushing your demand to the PNG Government in the most mature, orderly and persistent manner. You have INSISTED, PERSISTED and RESISTED until your good Vice Chancellor has returned to you. Well done! Papua New Guinea is proud of your unity, maturity and perseverance. The Government must now realize that “the people (students) have spoken” and respect that it is for the better. Onward!

The Oakland Institute and /The Rules, along with other NGOs, farmer and consumer organizations from around the world have launched a new campaign, Our Land Our Business, to hold the World Bank accountable for its role in the rampant theft of land and resources from some of the world’s poorest people — farmers, pastoralists and indigenous communities, many of whom are essential food producers for the entire planet.

Source: The National

By GABRIEL FITO

THE multi-million kina Turubu oil palm project in East Sepik is working on its central nursery at Nungawa village in the Sausso area.

Landowner company chairman Aron Malijiwi said this 20ha main nursery area would supply planting material to the entire project on the SABL portion 144c in the Sausso and Turubu LLG areas.

From Mongabay blog

Unlike other palm oil giants that have recently made strong commitments to eliminating deforestation and social conflict from their supply chains, Malaysia-based Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK) continues to source palm oil associated with forest destruction and community conflict, argues a new report published by the Rainforest Action Network (RAN). 

From Chatham House UK

Illegal logging remains a huge problem in Papua New Guinea according to new research published by the Chatham House research centre in the UK.

The research on PNG is part of six new country studies released today. 

In this latest research, undertaken in 2012-13, the six countries assessed were: Papua New Guinea; the Democratic Republic of Congo; Republic of Congo; India; South Korea; and Thailand.



From Post Courier

Trade, Commerce and Industry Minister Richard Maru says the Sepik oil palm project will go ahead despite opposition by certain landowner groups in the Sepik plains.

Mr Maru said the project has the backing of a large majority of the people and that the paid advertisements by a minority faction has sparked out cries by local people on the ground.

Little Green Palai 

Every Sunday we dress up and we go to that church down the road. We clap and sing praises to God and listen attentively to the preacher’s words.

Oh alleluia, outside the church building a woman in rags drags her children to a place somewhere but we do not want to be bothered. She is just a poor woman and right now… we are busy with God.

By Rachel Shisei from Bismarck Ramu Group

Goi Bal is just a driver who helps his people to travel from Jimi to Banz in the Jiwaka Province, to access the basic services. His transportation service is much valued by the people of Jimi but to him, that doesn't solve anything, especially when it comes to accessing and getting medical help in time to save the innocent lives.