The National newspaper has been cautioned not to be biased in its reporting over the Commission of Inquiry into Special Agriculture Business Leases in the Pomio District of East New Britain Province, reports the Post Courier.

Commissioner Alois Jerewai, presiding over the Commission of Inquiry into the SABL in the Pomio District, cautioned yesterday and urged The National newspaper which is owned by Rimbunan Hijau, the giant Malaysian logging company that holds most of the timber licences in the country, “to be more responsible’’ in its reporting following an article that appeared in the paper yesterday.

Just before the commencement of the hearing in Kokopo yesterday morning, Commissioner Jerewai said he was not happy with the article, saying the report was incorrect.

He asked The National newspaper’s reporter, who was present at the hearing yesterday and “the editors and owners of the newspaper to be responsible in what it reported, reflected what was being said at the commission of inquiry hearings otherwise they could be pulled up for contempt.

Commissioner Jerewai said it was important that articles “pertaining to this sensitive issue must be fairly represented and not to be seen to be influencing the findings of the commission in anyway’’.

The commission of inquiry hearings in Kokopo began on Monday, with East New Britain provincial administrator Akuila Tubal being called up to certify a lands investigation report which bears his signature. The Commission of Inquiry continues today and is expected to wind up on Friday.