Source: Jimmy Kalebe
The current logging operations in Turubu LLG in Wewak District and parts of Sausso LLG in Yangoru Saussia District East Sepik Province are still going despite it being nullified by the national government last year.
During the 6years of massive logging and round log export, millions of Kina damages were done to the environment, affecting livelihoods of local people.
To date, promises of improved infrastructure and other benefits as stated by the landowner company in the beginning were never materialized.
Many landowners have laid complaints with the company for damages done to properties, sacred sites, fishing and hunting grounds and above the maximum benefits that they are entitled to
Much of this complaints fell on deaf hears, while police brutality at logging camp sites were an on-going thing to suppressed the landowners’ rights in order to drive the interest of the company.
The landowners since then have mobilized and taken the matter up with the court after learning that the claim by the landowner company to do oil palm was just a pretext to do logging.
Pictured above: Turubu landowners meeting with thier lawyers to map out steps involved in taking legal actions relating to the damages done to the environment and properties.
On 04th of July last year, the landowners through their lawyer obtained a National Court order to stop all logging and oil palm operations on portion 144c.
The landowners through this order went ahead and ceased all operations at the log pond area and stop the loading of round logs onto the ship for shipment overseas.
The landowner company retaliated by taking a Supreme Court order over this issue which resulted in the matter still pending in court and will be heard this month.
Regardless of the matter pending in court and the national court decision, the landowner company and its foreign partner currently are pursue their interest in luring landowners with money to surrender forested land for logging.
Meanwhile, the lawyer representing the landowners in an interview lately said the court case on SABL portion 144c is progressing well.
He said with the national court decision on nullifying the operations of oil palm and logging, it should be also clear to both parties the landowners and the companies involved.
The lawyer said in the essence of law, SABL 144c does not exist anymore adding appellants have to patient and are not to trespass into customary land in relation to sections 143,144 and 145 of the Land Act.