The Prime Ministers failure to implement the SABL Commission of Inquiry recommendations by revoking the unlawful SABL leases and stopping the illegal logging of PNG forests was put into stark relief by the visiting head of the United Nations Development Program, Helen Clark, last week.

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.

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.

By Catherine Wilson and Inter Press Agency

Photo: Customary land tenure underpins subsistence and smallholder agricultural livelihoods for many Pacific Islanders. Credit: Catherine Wilson/IPS.

A new 30-second radio advert is being broadcast in Papua New Guinea this week as part of the campaign against the SABL land grab.

The advert calls on Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to implement the Commission of Inquiry recommendastions and revoke the unlawful SABL leases and stop the illegal logging. 

The advert is being broadcast on the popular Nau FM and Yumi FM stations and also on Legends FM.