The National Court has issued a restraining order stopping any forest logging operations by Rimbunan Hijau in two controversial Special Agriculture and Business Lease areas in the Pomio district of East New Britain.

The orders have been obtained by landowners from Portions 196C and 197C who claim the SABLs were obtained by fraud and forgery and without their consent and without following the proper processes under the Lands Act. 

Dept confounding land grab problem

By MELISSA MARTIN, Post Courier

LAND titles continue to be fraudulently issued to businesses and private individuals in the National Capital District, says Governor Powes Parkop.

At a media conference yesterday, he said these titles would not be recognised by the National Capital District Commission, thereby denying the land basic council services like water, sewerage and associated infrastructure services.

Source: AID WATCH

Picture: The Australian 

Good to see the World Bank admit increasing levels of violence are a consequence of rapid economic growth (which they have promoted incidently!). This is yet another indication that our current model of develpment has serious negative consequences for most of us while it is only our elite and foreigners who see the benefits...

Source: Islands Business

The Bob Brown Foundation and the Australian Forests and Climate Alliance (AFCA) today held a demonstration outside the Asia Pacific Rainforest Summit. Lorraine Bower from AFCA said that while the groups welcome the Summit on protecting rainforests taking place at a regional level, it is disappointed in the Australian government’s performance in protecting rainforests at home and in our region.

Source: Radio Australia

Several Papua New Guineans who travelled to Australia for the Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit say little attention was paid to PNG or the Pacific.

The Summit is billed as a get-together of ministers from forest nations, donor countries, corporate leaders and NGOs with a focus on practical action to reduce forest loss.

Despite public statements to the contrary, the PNG government is failing to take meaningful action to address the SABL crisis that is harming its people and environment…

Source: Global Witness via PNGExposed

Summary

By Nikana Kansi