Over 5 million hectares of richest biodiversity, deep forested (and already occupied) PNG community land is already under threat. Much already leased (99 yrs) to private sector with no landowner/community consent. We need strongest public pressure now as the PNG Govt has been more responsive to discussions with community reps of the past year to release the Commission of Enquiry report.
Take action: www.actnowpng.org/content/demand-justice-communities-robbed-huge-illegal-land-grab
Already public protests have led to a Commission of Inquiry – but now the government is sitting on the Inquiry report and it has done nothing to revoke the leases or stop the illegal logging. Over 5 million hectares of customarily owned land, much of it covered in dense rainforest, have been parceled up and given to foreign companies under 99-year leases without the consent of local people. This is both a gross violation of human rights and an environmental disaster.
Please ACT NOW! – send an email to the Prime Minister demanding he publish the Commission of Inquiry report.
Local people have lost the land they rely on for their food, water, building materials and ancient customs. Within the leased areas, over 2 million hectares of forest are being clear-felled and the logs sent to China.
As a result of public pressure, in June 2011 the Prime Minister ordered a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the leases. The Commission heard evidence of systematic fraud, forgery and a failure to secure the informed consent of customary landowners.
After several delays the Commission finally finished its hearings and promised a final report would be published by June 2012. But more than 12 months later the people of PNG are still waiting: the Commission report has been printed but not released and no action has been taken to revoke the leases or stop the forest clearances.
Please help the communities impoverished by the loss of their customary land and send an email to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill demanding he publicly release the Commission of Inquiry report, revokes the leases and stops the logging.
Please: Send your email now!
Your ACT NOW! team
Take Action!