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TI pushes for SABL land probe in PNG

Transparency International has added its name to the list of organisations pushing for the government to make good on its promise of a Commission of Inquiry into the huge land grab which has seen over 5 million hectares of customary land locked away in Special Agriculture Leases. TI Chairperson, Lawrence Stephens says there is huge concern that the leases were improperly executed and will result in large scale logging without providing agricultural development.

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IT IS APPARENT THAT SOME OF THE SO CALLED LANDOWNWER COMPANIES
THAT HAVE BEEN FORMED BY THE LANDOWNERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WERE REALLY HIGHJACKED INTO TENDERING THEIR INCORPORATED LAND GROUPS CERTIFICATES FOR SUBSTANTIAL CUSTOMARY LAND AREAS TO BE GIVEN UP FOR MASS LOGGING.IF THIS GOOD COMMISSION OF ENQIRY COULD REALLY GO DOWN TO THE BOTTOM AND CHECK ON THE GENUINESS OF THOSE SO CALL LANDOWNER COMPANIES IN RELATION TO THEIR SUPPOSED AND PROPOSED LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENTS OF AGRICULTURE ESTATES SUCH AS COCOA AND OIL PALM. BASICALLY IF THE COI CAN CHECK ON THE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILTIES OF THOSE LANDOWNER COMPANIES TO DEVELOP THOSE LARGE SCALE ESTATES IN THE LONG RUN.THE COI COULD ALSO CHECK IF THOSE LANDOWNER COMPANIES HAVE CONSULTED AND ARE CONTINUOSLY WORKING IN CONSULTATION WITH THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS THE FORESTRY,AGRICULTURE,CONSERVATION AND WILD LIFE, AND LANDS FOR PURPOSES OF FEASIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE PLANNING OF SUCH DEVELOPMENTS WHICH INVOLVES MASSIVE FOREST AREAS SOME OF WHICH ARE VIRGIN FOREST LIKE THE MARIENBERG HILLS IN ANGORAM DISTRICT IN THE EAST SEPIK PROVINCE. OTHERWISE TO PUT IT SIMPLY,IS THAT IF THE COI COULD REALLY VERIFY THE GENUINESS OF THOSE LANOWNER COMPANIES OF REALLY DEVELOPING AGRICULTURE PROJECTS AND NOT ACTING AS DECOYS AND SCHEMES SET UP BY FEW CORRUPT AND GREEDY INDIVIDUALS WITH THE HELP OF THOSE FOREIGN LOGGING COMPANIES TO LEGITIMISE MASSIVE CUSTOMARY LAND ALIANATION THUS DEFRAUDING THE STATE AND ITS PEOPLE OF THEIR VALUABLE FOREST RESOURCES.IF ANYONE VIEW THIS PLEASE HELP LET THIS MESSAGE GET TO THE COI COMMISSIONERS.