From Little Green Palai

THE Madang Indigenous People's Forum (MIPF) have commended the Acting Prime Minister, Sam Abal, for his move in calling for a Commission of Inquiry into the Special Agriculture and Business Leases.

Speaking through their chairperson, Mr Alfred Kaket, the people said: 

"Mr Abal has saved us. He is a true Papua New Guinean who understands the value of land. Mr Abal knows that the bulk of Papua New Guinea's population live in rural areas and their main support system is the land. So we want to thank Mr Abal for responding favourably our calls."

Through newspaper advertisements the MIPF and other community groups in Madang called on the government to stop the SABLs and Mr Abal listened to us, Mr Kaket said.

"I want to say that, the commission of inquiry must be carried out quickly and must not include persons from the four government departments; forestry, lands, environment and conservation and agriculture and livestock. He said they were involved in taking land from the people and how can they be involved in the investigations".

Mr Kaket said through his network in Madang, he will be telling the people of Madang that the Acting Prime Minister has suspended the issuing of new SABLs and has called for investigations into the current SABLs. He will also tell the people that the forest clearance authorities have also been suspended.

Furthermore, Mr Kaket called on other members of parliament to uphold this decision and let this inquiry happen.