Post Courier editorial

In the debate over the Special Agricultural and Business leases (SABLs), all the attention is focused on the Lands Department. This may have happened because the Lands Department, which is tasked to manage State and to some degree, customary land in Papua New Guinea, issues the SABLs.

Robert Nog Akuna

I AM a community leader in Port Moresby and I think that political graft or corruption is now becoming a serious and controversial subject in our history since independence.

The corruptive influence of political ambitions has haunted civilised men over the last 10 years. Politicians fall into two groups; there are those who use money to win and those who use power to win money. What is the truth about the men who govern our life?

ACT NOW! has issued a public call for all opposition MPs to declare their position on the Commission of Inquiry into Special Agriculture and Business Leases.

"We have heard from the leader of the Opposition, Belden Namah, that he opposes the inquiry'," says ACT NOW! Program Manager, Effrey Dademo, "but do leading opposition MPs like Sam Basil, Mekere Morauta, Bart Philemon and Jamie Maxton-Grahem support that position?".

By PETER KORUGL*

New Opposition Leader Belden Namah has blasted the Government on its decision to set up a Commission of Inquiry into the Special Agriculture and Business Leases (SABL).

However, he may be in a conflict of interest situation because a company connected to him had such a lease and was logging in his electorate, it emerged yesterday.

The National newspaper, owned by Malaysian logging giant Rimbunan Hijau, seems to be struggling to present a fair and balanced coverage of the issue of Special Purpose Agriculture and Business Leases (SABLs).

On Thursday, May 5, Papua New Guinea's Acting Prime Minister, Sam Abal issued a press statement just before 4pm, announcing a Commission of Inquiry into the controversial issuing of SABLs covering over 5.2 million hectares of customary land.

Local leaders representing communities around the site of the proposed Pacific Marine Industrial Zone in Madang Province have issued a signed declaration of their opposition to the project. The PMIZ will be Papua New Guinea's first Special Economic Zone under laws being drafted by the World Bank.

Warke Isaac

Papua New Guineans are being exploited by Australians and other foreign countries.
 We are treated as cheap labour and are forced to look on as bystanders as Australian mining companies mine our natural resources.


Due to the lack of vision and poli­tical will of our leaders, many fo­reigners are taking advantage of our lack of enforcement.


Our oil, natural gas and gold will continue to be exploited by others.


Acting Prime Minister, Sam Abal’s decision to appoint a Commission of Inquiry into  Special Purpose Agriculture and Business Leases (SABLs) and subsequent suspension of forest clearance permits issued under such leases, has come under scathing attack from vocal Opposition MP, and PNG Party leader, Belden Namah.

Namah also says more stiff opposition is expected from stakeholders throughout Papua New Guinea.