President of Lovongai Local Level Government, Hon. John Aini has welcomed the court challenge by people and organisations who have taken him to court.  He is adamant the court case against him will be watered and justice for his people and land will prevail.

From The National

From Post Courier

An environmental conservationist from East New Britain has suggested that the highly controversial special agriculture business leases (SABL) should be abolished and replaced with special economic leases for specifically prescribed food crop farming, animal husbandry and other non logging commercial projects.

Pacific Plywood Sees Higher Profit In 2013

From RTT News

Pacific Plywood Holdings Limited said that consolidated net profit for the year ended 31 December 2013 may increase as compared with the year ended 31 December in 2012...

By Jessy Pendene for Radio Australia

Photo: Ol land owner long PNG ibin protes agensim SABL (Credit: ABC) 

Nathan Matbob

Illegal logging activities continue to squander PNG natural rainforests as Prime Minister O’Neill sits on the SABL issue. It has been more than 3 weeks since the Prime Minister made an attempt on the SABL Inquiry recommendations. To date, no action has been taken by the ministerial team appointed to act on the inquiry’s recommendation.

The Department of Lands is one of the most corrupt government Departments in PNG.  It has been slammed by the SABL Commission of Inquiry for its role in facilitating a huge illegal land grab. Yet Minister Benny Allen is urging people to register their land with his corrupt officials...

Lands Minister urges landowners to cash in

By Freddy Mou - PNG Edge

Our photos show more illegally felled timber being shipped out of Papua New Guinea.

These images are from East New Britain where Malaaysian logging company Rimbunan Hijau is taking logs from an SABL lease area declared void by a Commission of Inquiry.

Simon Konkas | President – New Hanover Forum, Kavieng Branch

Environment Advocate and President of Lovongai Local Level Government, Hon. John Aini was arrested and charged by Kavieng Police and currently on K200 bail for threatening to kill Malaysians involved in logging and to destroy logging company machinery on Lovongai Island.

The President has admitted to the charges.

Stolen logs continue to be shipped overseas under the watchful gaze of politicians, bureaucrats and the police while landowners look on wondering what justice and the law mean for them.

The SABL Commission of Inquiry has declared 66 leases covering some 5 million hectares of land to be illegal. But the government and its agencies are ignoring the findings and allowing foreign logging companies to continue stealing valuable timber resources.