Pomio

Pomio: Logging, lawlessness & a crisis of legitimacy

Andrew Lattas gives an account below of logging, lawlessness and a crisis of legitimacy in one (out of a hundred other) areas of Papua New Guinea, where local land grab, has left a group of aggrieved locals intimidated and brutalized by members of the Royal PNG Constabulary.

State Agencies that are supposed to be Regulators of foreign investment activities, are actively facilitating human rights abuse in defense of foreign interests.

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More violence in East New Britain SABL

By Grace Tiden

TEN Pomio landowners were arrested by police few days ago for blocking a stream that flows through their customary land. 

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SABL: Over to you at the big Haus Tambaran

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.

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Lateline: PNG leases draw concern

ABC television Lateline:

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Commissioner warns Pomio executives against threatening witnesses

By Grace Tiden 

Members of West Pomio landowner company Memalo Holdings Limited including other locals have been warned not to issue any threats or statements that can be seen as an assault to the Commission of Inquiry into the granting of Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABLs). 

CoI Commissioner issued the warning last week following allegations of threats being made against women landowners in the West Pomio area. 

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Pomio women want land back

Women from villages in West Pomio affected by the SABL project have called on East New Britain Governor Leo Dion to help them get their land back, reports The National.

The women presented a petition to Dion on Saturday, seeking his help to take their land back. Women’s representative Bailo Enakia said their land was their mother, providing for their needs.

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SABL agreements discriminate against landowners

By Grace Tiden 

PRELIMINARY observations have revealed landowner company and developer agreements were largely in favour of Gilford Limited, a subsidiary of logging giant Rimbunan Hijau, with landowners of West Pomio getting less in benefits. Rimbunan Hijau owns The National newspaper

It was also observed that there was no legal representation of the landowners during the signing of the sub lease agreements. 

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Pomio landowners want their land back

By Grace Tiden

“We want our land back” was the response of two female landowner representatives when asked to comment during the extended Commission of Inquiry into the acquisition of Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABL) in Kokopo yesterday. 

Scolar Konpunrea and Sekunda Gwemor from Portion 196c (Pomata Investments Limited) in the Memalo Integrated Project area in West Pomio represented other women landowners and more are expected to give evidence today. 

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Pomio landowners take stand against Rimbunan Hijau

By John Pangkakatana

Jacob Samo of Bairaman Village is one of those prominent landowners taking a strong stand against foreign logging company Gilford Investment destroying their land in the hard-hit remote West Pomio, East New Britain Province, reports the Post Courier.

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Many unanswered questions about Pomio SABL

By John Pangkatana

Many “unanswered questions” were believed to have forced an extension to the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the acquisition of Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABL) in West Pomio, East New Britain Province.

This is due to revelations about forged signatures and lack of consent by women witnesses at the close of the inquiry at Vunapope, Kokopo on Friday.

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