"They said the company (Nautilus) sent them, and if we don't sign then we'll loose our chances of getting the benefits from the project. We didn't agreed to this Experimental Seabed Mining to happen, what makes them think we'll agree to move away from our village that we've lived in for centuries?" said a Danu Village Clan Leader.

By Junior Ukaha

The PNG Eco-Forestry Forum (PNGEFF) wants the Government to speed up the report of an inquiry into the special agricultural business leases (SABL).

PNGEFF communications manager Samson Mark yesterday said affected landowners and the general public wanted to know the status of the inquiry as it has taken more than two years to have a final report ready.

Post Courier Editorial

THE revelations from research by the James Cook University on oil palm being used by developers as a cover for logging should not come as a surprise to Papua New Guineans.

The controversy relating to the Government’s Special Agriculture and Business Lease (SABL) is well documented in PNG, compelling the government of then acting Prime Minister Sam Abal in 2011 and a year later PM Peter O’Neill to support and establish a commission of inquiry.

ACT NOW! Media Release

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has received over 1,000 emails over the last two weeks calling on him to publish the SABL land grab Commission of Inquiry Report.

The emails have come from all four corners of the globe, reflecting world-wide concern about the land grab in PNG which has seen rights to over 5 million hectares of customary land given to foreign companies.

The emails have been organized by community advocacy group ACT NOW!

By ROMULUS MASIU

BOUGAINVILLE leaders both in the National and Autonomous Bougainville Government’s (ABG) need to have faith in the small Bougainvillean businesses and support them in every way to grow and create wealth for the region. 

Outspoken Central Bougainville Business Association vice chairman Dickson Siparu made the call on Wednesday, at the same time reminding Bougainville parliamentarians that the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is a very good alternative to mining.

Australia is to send its asylum seekers to Papua New Guinea where those found to be refugees will be resettled. But, reports Jo Chandler*, the policy shift has sparked concern and some anger in the new host nation.

BBC World News

ACT NOW! media release

The government is rushing major new mines without properly understanding the costs and benefits of an export led economy or the possible alternatives.

Community advocacy group ACT NOW! wants the PNG government to commission a proper study of the full costs and benefits of existing mines and other natural resource industries before committing to continue along the same development path.

Report exposes widespread violence that touches the lives of most women, and a 'culture of complicity'

Helen Davidson in The Guardian

Research into Papua New Guinea's epidemic of domestic and sexual violence has found few women or children are unaffected by abuse and that education is the biggest challenge in ending a "culture of complicity".

By Rochelle Jones

West Papua – officially under Indonesian rule since 1963 – is located in the Western half of the island of New Guinea – 250km north of Australia. In 2012, West Papua Media conducted interviews with four West Papuan women who are active in the nonviolent movement for freedom. Here, AWID gives some background, and excerpts from the interviews.

Act of No Choice