By PNG Eco-Forestry Forum

Customary landowners across Papua New Guinea (PNG) have lost over 5.2 million hectares of their land to foreign owned companies supposedly for Agro-forestry projects through the controversial Special Agricultural Business Leases (SABLs) and have long waited for the government to decide on the fate of their land through the implementation of the SABL Commission of Inquiry (COI) recommendations.

Records showed that a total of 78 SABLs were investigated at a cost of K15million by the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and was able to document the findings of 42 out of the total 78 leases presented for investigation with recommendations. Only 4 out of the 42 leases were found to follow due process while the rest (38) were found to be fraudulent.

It has taken more than three years from conducting Investigations to having the recommendations implemented. On the 6th of February this year, there was a sound of hope when Prime Minister Peter O’Neill announced through FM 100 talk-back show published on Post – Courier the following day that a committee has been appointed to act upon the COI recommendations and cancel the illegal SABLs, and restart the process with strict guidelines to protect landowners.

This was welcome news for affected landowners who were losing thousands of hectares of their customary lands to foreign owned companies.

Concerns have been raised by affected landowners around the country that, foreign logging companies are still logging using heavy police presence to suppress resistance from landowning communities despite these leases were under investigation, and a moratoria placed them.

The Pomata and Ralopal SABLs in West Pomio in Kimbe, WNBP are among the affected areas. One week ago from now, 400 landowners from the areas Pomata and Ralopal expressed their concerns in a peaceful protest, the delay in executing the recommendations of the COI as announced by the Prime Minister.

During the protest, clan leader of Bairaman Village, Mr. Jacob Samo expressed the ongoing destruction of forest and human rights abuse suffered by his people highlighting the need for an immediate action of the COI recommendations.

“While we are waiting for the Prime Minister to take the action he promised based on the outcome of the SABL Commission of Inquiry report, our environment is being destroyed at an alarming rate. We are seeing our forest being cleared and our rivers being crossed by bulldozers. My beautiful Bairaman River is next on the line to be polluted.”

“The government has taken too long to deliver and action the recommendations. We cannot wait any longer. We've looked at all options to get our land back but as village people we cannot go further. Prime Minister of PNG, you have said you are going to ensure that we get our customary land back. When do we see this talk become reality?” Mr. Samo said.

“We are all in the dark. We don't know what is going on. We want the Prime Minister to take immediate action to implement the findings of the Commission of Inquiry on SABLs.

“The people of Pomio have given overwhelming evidence and have testified at the Commission of Inquiry that their land was stolen from them without their consent. When is our Prime Minister going to take the action he promised and show us that he really is the leader of this country?”, Mr. Samo said.

The PNG Eco-Forestry Forum including its members and partners on behalf of affected landowners concur with the sentiments raised and support affected landowners’ calls that this investigation has taken too long.

They say it is now time for Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to show the country that he is serious and act upon his word by Nullifying ALL the SABLs fraudulently taken, and give lands back to customary owners.