Media Releases

Seven reasons why govt plan to convert SABL leases must be rejected

Submitted by ACTNOW on Thu, 21/04/2016 - 07:11

The government is planning to convert unlawful SABL leases into registered land. Community advocacy group ACT NOW! says there are seven strong reasons why the government’s plan is wrong and should be rejected.

“The Department of Lands is drafting amendments to the Lands Act which will allow the government to endorse the unlawful SABL land grab”, says ACT NOW! Program Manager Effrey Dademo. 

SABL land grab, illegal logging and seabed mining on the agenda in Geneva

Submitted by ACTNOW on Wed, 30/03/2016 - 04:03

The government’s human rights record and its failure to protect the interests of customary landowners is under the spotlight in Switzerland this week.

Community advocacy group ACT NOW! is in Geneva briefing diplomats at the United Nations on the SABL land grab, illegal logging and experimental seabed mining.

“The PNG government must appear before the United Nations Human Rights Council in May as part of a process called a Universal Periodic Review (UPR)” explains Eddie Tanago, Campaign Coordinator with ACT NOW!

Forest Minister incorrect over The Great Timber Heist 

Submitted by ACTNOW on Wed, 09/03/2016 - 08:42

Community advocacy group ACT NOW! says Forest Minister Douglas Torumiesa’s attack on a report alleging the logging industry is failing to pay hundreds of millions of Kina in taxes is full of errors.

“The Forest Minister’s statements attacking The Great Timber Heist are full of inaccuracies and must be challenged”, says ACT NOW! Program Manager, Effrey Dademo.

Great Timber Heist emphasizes failure to cancel SABL leases

Submitted by ACTNOW on Wed, 17/02/2016 - 18:30

An explosive new report exposing tax evasion and financial misreporting by logging industry in PNG only emphasizes the need to cancel the unlawful SABL leases and stop the illegal logging says community advocacy group ACT NOW!

The Oakland Institute report The Great Timber Heist: The Logging Industry in Papua New Guinea, exposes how the logging industry avoids paying hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes, depriving the country of much needed revenues.

Prime Minister's SABL excuses sound old and very lame

Submitted by ACTNOW on Fri, 15/01/2016 - 20:17

The Prime Minister is again giving excuses for why the unlawful SABL leases have not been cancelled. The PM is reported as saying despite an NEC decision in June 2014 ordering the cancellation the Department of Lands has been "dragging its feet" and some leaseholders have caused delays by taking legal action.

But Community advocacy group ACT NOW! says the Prime Ministers excuses are old and very lame.

APEC forest ministers urged to press PNG government to act on land grabbing and illegal logging

Submitted by ACTNOW on Thu, 22/10/2015 - 00:00

APEC Forest Ministers are being urged to question the PNG government about widespread land grabbing and illegal and unsustainable logging and press for action when they meet in Port Moresby next week

Community advocacy group ACT NOW! has written to sixteen APEC Forest Ministers explaining the history of the SABL land grab and the continuing problems of illegal and unsustainable logging in PNG.

Government announcement on SABL just more excuses and delays

Submitted by ACTNOW on Tue, 06/10/2015 - 11:29

The Chief Secretary has announced the government has a new way forward on implementing the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the Special Agriculture and Business Lease land grab.

But community advocacy group ACT NOW! says the government's statement lacks any substance and is just the latest in a long series of excuses and delays.

New Lands Secretary must cancel SABL leases

Submitted by ACTNOW on Mon, 05/10/2015 - 11:59

Community advocacy group ACT NOW! has welcomed the suspension of Lands Secretary Romily Kila Pat but says his replacement, Luther Sipison, must act immediately to cancel the unlawful SABL leases.

"We are pleased to see the government finally taking action by suspending the Lands Secretary but we are still waiting for the illegal SABL leases, many of which were signed off by Kila-Pat, to be cancelled" says Effrey Dademo, ACT NOW! Program Manager.

Vision 2050 'grossly misrepresents' our National Goals

Submitted by ACTNOW on Mon, 14/09/2015 - 10:42

The government's long-term strategic plan, Vision 2050, grossly misinterprets the National Goals and Directive Principles in our Constitution.

This is the major finding of a new study conducted by Patrick Kaiku from the University of Papua New Guinea.

"Vision 2050 ignores the visionary work of the Constitutional Planning Committee and does not embrace the five National Goals and Directive Principles enshrined in the Constitution", says Patrick Kaiku.

ACT NOW! welcomes announcement of APEC forestry meeting in Port Moresby

Submitted by ACTNOW on Mon, 27/07/2015 - 17:42

Community advocacy group ACT NOW! welcomes the government’s announcement it will be hosting the Third APEC Meeting of Forestry Ministers in Port Moresby in October.

“This is the first APEC Ministers meeting to be held in Papua New Guinea and will be an excellent opportunity to remind the region of our government’s terrible record on the SABL land grab and illegal logging” says ACT NOW! Campaign Coordinator, Eddie Tanago.