Source: Post Courier March 26 2025

The Media Council of Papua New Guinea convened its latest Press Club event focusing on the alarming increase of Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP) lawsuits.

Held at the Lamana Hotel, in Port Moresby, earlier today, the council highlighted the detrimental impact these lawsuits have on freedom of speech and public discourse.

Eddie Tanago, Campaign Manager

Papua New Guinea’s rating as highly corrupt in the latest global assessment published by Transparency International reflects the complete failure to tackle widespread forest crime

Transparency International recently released its 2024 Corruption Perception Index which reveals PNG is still languishing in 127th place out of 180 countries with a CPI score of just 31 out of 100, the worst in the Pacific region.

Source: CIVICUS Monitor

An injunction issued against community advocacy group ACT NOW! to prevent publication of reports on illegal logging has been stayed by the National Court.

In July 2024, two Malaysian owned logging companies obtained an order from the District court in Vanimo preventing ACT NOW! from issuing publications about their activities and from contacting their clients and service providers. 

Image: Part of a Public Notice published in the Post Courier newspaper by the PNG Forest Authority on 29 November, 2024.

The PNG Forest Authority has recently confirmed a moratorium on issuing new Forest Clearing Authority licences is still in force while it completes its audit of existing FCA projects.

Image: Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago at a recent Global Dialogue meeting at the INTERPOL headquarters in Singapore

ACT NOW Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago has been charged by police under the Cybercrime Code Act for allegedly publishing defamatory remarks on social media about the Managing Director of the PNG Forest Authority.

Papua New Guinea is at risk of international sanction for its failure to control money laundering risks with major negative impacts on business and the economy.

According to the Bank of Papua New Guinea, the country could be grey-listed if it fails to meet the recommendations in an assessment report from the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering.

Three senior officers from the PNG Forest Authority have failed to provide any answer to allegations of widespread illegal logging during a 40 minute appearance on live radio.

Civil society organisations and community representatives have demanded government action on the widespread abuse of Forest Clearing Authorities (FCA).