The Commission of Inquiry (“the Commission”) hearing on SABL in Kiunga, Western Province which commenced on Wednesday (16/11/2011) has already revealed some very disturbing information.

Summoned before the Commission of Inquiry to give evidence in relation to the issuance of SABL covering Portion 27C, Awin Pari, Mr. Iman Ite Papa (pictured), Acting Principal Advisor for Lands in Western Province made some startling revelations on how the initial scheme was hijacked and manipulated by the Developer – International Timbers & Stevedoring Limited (“ITSL”).

Mr. Papa, reading from the response he had prepared in relation to Summons No. 157 issued to him by the Commission, stated that the initial scheme was for the construction of the Trans Papua Integrated Highway which was to run from the South Fly to the Middle Fly areas of the Western Province. The initial proposal was introduced by Former Politician Mr. Kala Swokin wherein the people were willing to give their land and with Government intervention, construct a highway in exchange for log/timber extraction. Under the proposal, the developer would construct the road and using a Timber Authority Permit (“TA”), harvest logs within one (1) kilometre on each side of the road. The log harvest was to enable the developer to recoup some of its costs. Mr. Papa stated that while this proposal was being worked on, some landowners in Port Moresby hijacked the whole scheme and engaged ITSL as the Developer.

Mr. Papa stated that the scope of the project changed during the time the feasibility study was being conducted. Mr. Papa said the initial feasibility study was conducted by ITSL and during this time Incorporated Land Groups (“ILG”) were registered with the Dept. of Lands in Port Moresby with assistance from ITSL. Mr. Papa said too that also this time, ITSL officials held meetings with Leaders of Landowner groups and promised to deliver on projects including the construction of an electronic bridge across the Fly River that would open up to allow ships to sail up and down the river, that ITSL would maintain all outstations within the proposed SABL area identified as Portion 27C Awin Pari covering a total of 149,117 hectares and that the Provincial Government as well as ILGs would hold equity in the project. To date, ITSL is still to deliver on these projects and despite the fact that the SABL has already been granted to North East West Investment Limited (“NEWIL”) with whom ITSL may have signed an Agreement as the Developer, logging is yet to commence because of disputing landowner factions.

Mr. Papa further stated that the Land Investigation Report (“LIR”), relied on by the Department of Lands and Physical Planning in granting the SABL which he signed, was never prepared by him. Commissioner Mirou asked if he was aware that the process of Land Investigation Reports required him as the duly appointed officer of the Department of Lands and Physical Planning within the province to conduct the investigation himself and then sign off on the report. Mr. Papa answered that he did understand this requirement but when queried further by Commissioner Mirou and the Lawyer assisting the Commission of Inquiry Mr. Jim Bokomi as to why he signed off on the Land Investigation Report when he did not conduct the investigations on the ground himself, Mr. Papa said that he assumed the investigation to be in order as the Land Investigation was supposed to have been conducted by Government agency officials - that is, Officers from the National Departments of Lands and Physical Planning and Environment and Conservation and the PNG National Forest Authority so he proceeded to sign the report. Mr. Papa also stated that the LIR carried the consent of the Landowners which was a requirement and therefore he further assumed the LIR to be for Benefit Sharing for Landowners within the localities of the proposed Trans Papua Integrated Highway and so he signed. He said he was never aware that the LIR was for granting of the SABL. In addition, Mr. Papa said that the report was presented to him for his signature while he was on duty travel in Port Moresby by officials of ITSL. Mr. Papa further stated that for all he knew, the Land Investigation Report could have been prepared by ITSL because Government officials from respective National Departments and Agencies involved in the project were only meeting in Kiunga without any visits to the actual sites covered under the Land Investigations Report.

Mr. Papa, in giving evidence, also alleged that the SABL area also covered Petroleum Resource Licence No. 4 (PRL 04) – the Stanley Gas Field, and that ITSL was already talking about being the developer of that property and hence the real motive of ITSL in seeking the SABL may have been to acquire that property. Commissioner Mirou however stated that a separate Forestry Licence would be granted for this location, if that has not yet been done.

The hearing continues.