A Filipino national who is acting as a consultant for a Malaysian logging company operating in the Ramu has told the SABL Commission of inquiry that no site visit was done before a Special Agriculture Business Lease (SABL) was granted.

There are diverse issues that concern individual Papua New Guineans in different ways, but the one issue that will always be of great cultural and emotional significance to all of us is our land. Taking away someone’s land or their right to it, is as good as amputating all four of their limbs.

Melchior Warre, a Papagraun (customary landowner) from Papua New Guinea's Madang Province, is attending a commission of inquiry investigation hearing into the use of Special Agriculture Leases (SABLs).

In this video clip Mel says why his Ramu People are against 99-year Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABL). 

Source: The National, Thursday 23rd Febuary 2012

By GABRIEL LAHOC

POLICE will find out why six officers allegedly assaulted a seven-month pregnant woman then abandoned  her on a roadside.

Lae metropolitan commander Supt Nema Mondiai deplored the assault after the woman, Nora Duran, reported the matter to the police. He has advised Duran to lodge a formal complaint with the police ombudsman.

“I was not aware of this incident but I don’t condone such activities.

Martyn Namorong

Take a look at that child above: in theory he could have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, if his father owned the land that is now Port Moresby.

Instead, he lives in a slum. Literally living on top of shit.

By Martyn Namorong

Special Purpose Agriculture Business Leases (SABLs) are granted under sections 11 and 102 of the Land Act 1996. In other words these sections of the Land Act enable the conversion of customary land into SABLs.

The process by which that happens is roughly as follows.

An application is made by the landowners to the Lands Department in Port Moresby, for their land to be taken up under an SABL.

A Land Investigation Number is then given by the Land Department in Port Moresby.

People from the Raicoast in Madang failed yesterday to get a court order to stop the export of logs which they say have been stolen from their traditional land.

Local leader, Fuguman Gau (brother of Madang governor James Gau) and his lawyer did not manage to get the court order they wanted in time to stop the shipment on Friday.

Martyn Namorong

The Commission of Inquiry into Special Purpose Agriculture business leases ended its hearings in Wewak yesterday. It heard further evidence related to Portion 144C, Sepik Oil Palm – Turubu SABL.

There is a new environmental and human rights catestrophy looming in the Pacific and we need to stop it happening!

Experimental seabed mining is being pushed by foreign companies despite the risks of an environmental disaster and the fact it is not a sustainable development option for indigenous peoples.

Civil society groups across the Pacific, inclusing ACT NOW!, are calling on our leaders to slow down on this dangerous and untried new industry - but we need YOUR support. 

Martyn Namorong

Landowners from the Turubu and Saussi areas have submitted sworn affidavits to the Commission of Inquiry through their lawyer, Mr. Hubert Wali. These villagers are affected by the Sepik Oil Palm Project, Portion 144C COMMONLY REFFERED TO AS THE Turubu Oil Palm Project.