The government has tried to bury and forget the SABL land grab scandal in which more than 5 million hectares of land has been stolen from rural communities.

It is using a well tested formula that we see employed almost every time a new corruption scandal is exposed:

1.  First a long-drawn out official inquiry that is delayed by funding and other logistical problems.

2.  Then a further delay before the inquiry findings are tabled in Parliament.

Fraudulent SABLs that the government has failed to cancel despite the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry are still causing conflict and injustice - see stories below.

This is what the Commission of Inquiry said about the SABL over Portions 2465C and 2466C.  

“There was misrepresentation and fraud involved in the whole process” [Report p164]

Landowner signatures were forged in “a criminal act” [p150].

Communities affected by three Special Agriculture Business Leases in the West Pomio District of East New Britain Province have assessed the economic damage caused by logging and oil palm planting at more than K2.4 billion.

Hon. Jelta Wong MP via FaceBook

Court Order against Bruno Niu Wirka, Lamus Incorporated Land Group & Tzen Niugini Limited successful; restrained from conducting any eviction, destruction of property, Oil Palm planting whatsoever in Portion 910C Millinch Pondo, Fourmil Rabaul ENB. 

Tzen Nuigini Limited remove all its machines and employees from the above stated portion / Millinch

Source: Scott Waide, My Land My Country

A group of  customary landowners in Papua New Guinea have regained access to their land following a significant legal victory against supporters of a logging company.

Source: Martyn Namarong / Namarong Report

The International Justice and Human Rights (IJHR) Clinic at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia has released a manual that explores the novel idea of prosecuting land grabbing as a crime against humanity.

IMAGE: Map showing new logging roads and tree cover loss in 2017

SOURCE: Global Witness

February 21st is the first anniversary of the presentation of a 10,000 signature petition to the Department of Lands demanding the cancellation of the SABL leases. 2018, also marks five-years since the SABL Commission of Inquiry exposed the full extent of the illegal land grab, which affects more than 10% of the whole country.

Pepetua Marangona, Tavolo village, Pomio

Source: Scott Waide, My Land, My Country

Tavolo village in Pomio, East New Britain, is a place not many in Waigani know about.

Source: Scott Waide, My Land, My Country