Archive
Forest Minister looking to block SABL report?
From Thomas Imal on Facebook
From reliable sources, the Forest Minister has sought legal advice from two Queens Counsel in Australia and he will be pushing to stop the Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Special Purpose Agriculture & Business Leases from being tabled and made public, on a number of legal grounds.
One of their main arguments for seeking to nullify the report is that the COI final report was not completed and tabled within the time set and there was no valid extension of time granted.
This is a similar situation with the NPF Inquiry, but the situation can be rectified by the government passing a short piece of legislation to validate the Report.
It will be interesting, as it unfolds and we have to make noise about it so the pollies know that we are watching…
Draft National Forest Plan pathetic and insulting
Forest Analyst
The PNG Forest Authority is touring the country presenting its draft National Forest Plan (download a pdf copy below).
The draft document is pathetic and an insult to the Nation and our people.
The plan is based on a forest area and condition assessment that has been done using data first produced in 1972 and then (very inaccurately) updated in 1995.
This means the plan is not only based on flawed data, it is flawed data that is 17 years out of date.
What about all the forest logged or cleared since 1995?
When challenged, Forest Authority staff just say that the National Forest Board has approved the use of the flawed and outdated data, as if that makes everything okay….
But this is not the only failing in the plan.
The draft National Forest Plan also ignores all the forest clearing that has been occurring under the fraudulent Special Agriculture and Buisness Leases that cover over 5 million hectares. The Forest Authority has chosen to pretend this forest clearing is not happening because, they say, they have no idea where it is occurring…
The Forest Authority has no idea where the forest clearing is happening when they are the agency that hands out the Forest Clearance Authorities – documents that have maps attached to them?
No idea where the forest clearances are happening when they employ Swiss company SGS to count every log that gets exported?
If the Forest Authority has no idea where the clearance are occurring then who is managing our forest resources?
It is also very worrying the draft Plan contains no prescriptions for bringing logging operations into line with the Logging Code of Practice let alone making them sustainable in the long term. Most logging areas continue to be logged out within 10 years of logging starting and then they are either abandoned or logged repeatedly.
The Forest Authority it seems has no interest in challenging this business as usual by the foreign owned logging industry.
The draft Plan also contains no indication that any meaningful reforestation of logged over areas has occurred over the last 20 years. This is despite tens of millions of kina being collected in reforestation levies. So what has happened to all that money?
The sad truth is that rural people have nothing to show for two decades of logging by Rimbunan Hijau and other foreign owned forest rapists – and the PNG Forest Authority is happy to see that continue….
Download a copy of the Draft National Forest Plan
Dept of Lands still issuing SABL leases
Despite a government Moratorium and a Commission of Inquiry the Department of Lands is still issuing Special Purpose Agricultural and Business Leases (SABL) over customary land.
Two of the latest were announced in the National Gazette on 27 July. Covering an area of 21,520 hectares and 16,830 respectively, the two leases in the Tufi area of Oro Province have been granted for a term of 50 years and rent free.
The Commission of Inquiry, which has yet to present its final report, found widespread illegality in the granting of SABLs covering a total land area of more than 5 million hectares.
Clearly the new government’s promises of effective action on corruption will be seen to be meaningless unless they do something immediately to stop this FRAUD.
Is international fugitive Tjandra Joko Soegiarto back in PNG?
N8989N sitting on the tarmac at Jacksons airport, Port Moresby
A Gulfstream private jet N8989N is currently parked at Port Moresby International Airport. It is alleged this aircraft has brought international fugitive Tjandra Joko Soegiarto back to PNG.
It is alleged Joko is closely associated with a number of PNG politicians and arrived in PNG with large quants of cash. It is further alleged he is trying to negotiate the purchase of 4 million hectares of land.
Is Joku in PNG and if so why is he here?
The allegations
International Indonesian fugutive Joko Chaundra Soegerto wired some Indonesian Government funds offshore from the Reserve Bank of Indonesia for Investment offshore. When the regime changes in Indonesian politics Joko Chaundra Soegerto ran away overseas and hide in Malayasia and then to other countries because the Indonesian Government wanted him to return that Investment funds back to Indonesian people.
In PNG 90 percent of logging companies are owned by the Malayasians in partnerships with PNG politicans who are corrupt and are directors of most of the logging companies, retailing and oil palm industry. Joko Chaundra Soegerto has family members in connection to some of these operations in PNG and in retailing business. Joko Chaundra Soegerto is related through blood family lines and investment in PNG through PAPINDO group of companies and Super Value Stores (SVS) group of company’s diversfying to Real Estate companies and now into rice production through the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Central province. They are now applying for oil and gas industry with mining exploration in Papua New Guinea.
Joko Chaundra Soegerto is the friend of many PNG national government ministers both in the current Oniell/Namah government as well as the faction with the Chief Somare and his son Arthur Somare in the opposition. Meaning most of the parlimentarians go to bed with the Malayasian and some Indonesian Businessman like Joko Chaundra Soegerto with his family members and associates.
All this has happened that has leaded the PNG Government Falcon Jet issue with the Indonesians military jets escorting the governmernt jet to PNG/Indonesian boarder last year. The basic truth is that when the PNG government Jet takes off the International fugutive Joko Chaundra Soegerto’s jet took off at the same time in one of the airport in Indonesia.
Some funds transferred from Malayasian Banks have been off loaded from the International fugutive Joko Chaundra private jet to PNG Government jet in Indonesia where both jets landed for the delivery of cash in suitcases.When the Kumul jets landed at the Jackson air port in PNG most of those suit cases have not been checked by the PNG Customs and Immagration officers.Therefore there are some facts associated in the movement of hard cash by Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah with his delegation last year to Malayasia.
On Friday April 27, 2012 at 7.45am International Indonesian fugutive Joko Chaundra Soegerto’s Jet all white with green stripes with registeration number N8989N landed in Port Moresby,Jackson International Airport with 3 suitcases may be full of cash and other items.He was met by Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Hon.Peter Oniell and his Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah.There was no Immagration and Customs checks and clearance because the officers were told by the Immagration Director General not to do any thing.
As of today Tuesday May 2, 2012 the International Indonesian fugutive Joko Chaundra Soegerto’s jet is still parked near the Air Niugini cargo Terminal manned by a Blue 10 Seater Vehicle LBD 337 all tinted.From the very relaible sources International Indonesian fugutive Joko Chaundra Soegerto has been given a PNG Citizenship passport and Joko Chaundra Soegerto has transmitted US$52 Billion from Dubai to Singapore awaiting to be transmitted from Singapore to Papua New Guinea.
This matter has been reported to Australian High Commission office in Port Moresby on April 28, 2012 and nothing has been done to date.Please we need assistance to crub money laundering and corruption in PNG politics and economy.
New interactive website tracks villages suffering SABL land grab
Via ACT NOW!
A new interactive website shows exactly which areas of PNG have been stolen under the guise of Special Agriculture and Business Leases and which villages have lost their right to their land for at least the next THREE generations. You can check out whether your wantoks are affected here – www.pngsdf.com/sabl
Foreigners false promises dressed up as economic development are destroying us
Gary Juffa via ACT NOW!
The warning bells signaling the end of life as we have known it, can be heard.
International organizations [are] created by the wealthy nations to enhance their coffers even further whilst posing as concerned benefactors for resource rich developing nation.
Elected leaders happily dance to [their] tunes as the vultures that hover over our Pacific nation calculate how best to enter, rape and pillage an economy, an ancient land, to suck its natural resources dry and displace maim and kill its people. Whatever it takes, “agree upon our terms or prepare for war, economic or military.”
The elected leaders of the soon to be victims, the people nations such as Papua New Guinea, whose leaders, eagerly and ecstatically pointing out where our riches are, having abandoned their people along with their hopes, dreams and aspirations in their hope for crumbs and perhaps access to the prestigious realm of the “rich ruling classes”.
The riches beneath our earth, becoming curses rather then the blessings they could be, spelling destruction of Our Melanesian Way of life. Now the bells toll louder.
Our only true form of security, land, about to be snatched from under us in elaborate schemes and scams designed by the tools of the oppressors. The international organizations cleverly designed by the most powerful economies who fund and ensure their very existence, wolves parading in their sheepskin, clear the path for the scavengers that teem and writhe and surge driven by insatiable greed.
Globalization has modernized piracy and resurrected the age of the Lord and the serf.
Enter Corporatedom…prepare Papua New Guinea to serve your new masters, sell your future and abandon your dreams. This is but reality. Our oceans, valleys, rivers and plains packaged and prepared for sale. The receipts received by liars who claim authority through ignorant ballot and have now but to deliver
Why do foreign owned companies pay no tax while PNG workers do and our health services crumble?
The Papua New Guinea Government has approved a 10-year tax exemption for the developer of the Bewani Oil Palm project in West Sepik province. This was announced by the Parliament-elect Prime Minister, Peter O’Neil, during the official oil palm planting ceremony at the Imbio project site. Deputy Prime Minister Prime Minister, Belden Namah, is a major player in the Bewani Oil Palm Project. The tax holiday approved by Cabinet, will exempt the developer from paying certain taxes to the State Earlier, a company representative highlighted that they had so far invested K120 million (US$58 million), to kick-start this project. This capital investment, covered costs incurred in clearing the forest – one of the major ground works.It included planting costs, for the establishment of oil palm nurseries at the Bewani and Imbio sites, amongst other preparatory work for the project. The representative says, more work will be done for the set up of the third and fourth nurseries, with seedlings coming in from the New Britain Oil Palm plantation. He further assured the Government, that the company has plans to establish schools and houses for the local communities, besides other economic benefits. Meanwhile, Parliament elect Prime Minister, Peter O’Neil, has heaped praise on his deputy, Belden Namah, for spearheading the Bewani Oil Palm project, which took several years to gain fruition. He says the project will give a fair economic participation for the people of West Sepik, particularly the locals from Namah’s Vanimo Green River electorate. O’Neill challenged those gathered, to fully support Namah’s leadership during the coming elections, if they want Government services to continue flowing into their District. He is also grateful the Bewani Oil Palm project, will create a lot of income earning opportunities and jobs for the locals, among other spin-off benefits. O’Neill further called on the people of West Sepik to back this project, because it will provide assistance which the Government alone cannot give. He stated such partnership between the people, the developers and the National Government is vital, to promote development to take place throughout the country.
The truth about who is really guilty… and how THEY want You to see the world
With thanks to Martyn Namorong and PNG Mine Watch
The truth about who is really guilty of the destruction of Papua New Guinea:
But how THEY would rather you see the world:
Forest Minister personally pushed for illegal logging operation
Michael Somare’s Forest Minister Timothy Bonga, with the assistance of Forestry Officers in Port Moresby, personally pushed through the paperwork to allow illegal logging on the Rai Coast in Madang.
The logging is being carried out by a company called GNS Limited in the Rai Coast Timber Rights Purchase (TRP) area 12-18.
On 5th July 2011 the Minister personally signed the documents to cancel the timber licence of the former logging contractor in the area, Porche Enterprises. Two weeks later, on 18 July, the Minister signed further documents signing the timber licence over to GNS Limited.
This was completely illegal as the award of the new licence was not approved by the National Forest Board prior to the Minister signing and there was never any open tender and bidding for the licence as required under the Forestry Act.
The approval of the new contractors logging plan was then pushed through by officers in Port Moresby without any consultation or input from Provincial Forestry staff or the Provincial Forest Management Committee. The contractor completely failed to do any ground survey, landholder consultation or to properly describe its inteneded work plans.
The Forestry Office in Madang is well aware of local landholders frustrtaion over the TRP which stems from the fact the landowner company is made up of people who are not from the Rai Coast area. Instead they are paper landholders in Madang, who managed to get the original timber permit through their political connections. The actual resource owners from Rai Coast have not seen any benefits or development from the landowner company, despite the K10 million paid in royalties over the years
Despite the opposition from local people to the logging, GNS is being allowed to illegal harvest and export logs on the direction of the former Forest Minister and Forestry officers from Port Moresby.
To make matters even worse, GNS is even illegally logging outside the boundaries of the approved TRP. GNS is also failing to submit monthly logging figures so royalty payments can be calculated and is felling undersized trees.
Rai Coast landowners want justice over illegal logging
Something else from the ACT NOW! blog
By Dorotea Saidor
A company is illegally logging on land on the Rai coast in Madang without the consent of local people and is exporting their logs.
The illegal logging is happening at Bongu Village, Block 1 Raicoast, Astrolabay, Madang Province (near the crash site for Airlines PNG, Madang)
The logging contractor, G&S Limited, is blatantly and openly logging and cutting logs without consent from the landowners.
There has already been TWO high powered gun fights in the area, over this logging dispute between the landowners and the contractor.
In December 2011, the landowners managed to get a court order stopping the harvest and export of the logs. But the contractor is ignoring this, and still proceeding to harvest.
Now, they are preparing to export the logs. On Monday (6th Feb 2012) this week, the logging vessel was already at the logpond.
The landowners are prepared to mobilize and arm themselves to stop the shipment, using any means necessary. However, I hope that this can be resolved peacefully, through exposure and awareness in the media. Without violence and gunfights that may result in loss of life and property.
The landowners are already engaging their lawyer to file damages against the contractor, for illegal logging of resources. They are confident of winning the court case. Unfortunately, the court is just resuming from their break.
If the disputed logs are exported, the landowners will never see any money, even if they do win the court case later. They will only get a hollow victory. Like what happened to the unfortunate landowners who won 250 million kina against Concord Pacific in 2011, for illegal logging.
We call on the government to put a halt to the current log shipment, and wait for the coming court case against the contractor, G&S Limited.
Please help the landowners get justice.
