Special Agriculture and Business Lease; SABL; Department of Lands; land grab

Another foreign company buys up forest rights in Papua New Guinea

On 10 Jan, 2012 By rait man

Malaysia's leading English language newspaper, The Star, is reporting that a Malaysian company, Takaso Resources, is buying the rights to log 40,000 hectares of forest in the Inland Pomio District of New Britain Island. There is no mention of how local people have been consulted about the sale or how they will benefit from the trade in their land rights.

Takaso into timber ops in Papua New Guinea

By Yvonne Tan

Logs don't lie: foreign corporations are pillaging Papua New Guinea

On 10 Jan, 2012 By rait man With 1 Comments

By Hannah Brooks, VICE media

Papua New Guinea is currently experiencing what may be the most brazenly illegal land grab since its colonial days. Foreign corporations—specifically, logging companies—are allegedly falsifying signatures, paying off police, and lying to the government about their intentions to cut down every tree in the country.  

Lands Officer approved SABL without Minister's consent

On 06 Jan, 2012 By rait man

By Luana Paniu

A senior Government officer signed SABL approvals without the knowledge of the Minister for Lands and Physical Planning, the Commission of Inquiry in SABLs heard yesterday.

The CoI Commissioners while questioning the officer were frustrated to learn that approvals were granted without due processes being followed.

Hundreds of new SABL cases popping up

On 03 Jan, 2012 By rait man

By Luana Paniu

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Special Agriculture and Business Leases (SABL’s) has revealed that there are hundreds more SABL’s beside the 75 cases now currently before them.

According to Chief Commissioner John Numapo about one million hectares of land under the SABL had suddenly ‘popped up’ throughout the five months that the inquiry had been conducting investigations into these matters.

Baina SABL project deal suspicious

On 03 Jan, 2012 By rait man With 1 Comments

By Luana Paniu

All necessary requirements for the granting of a Special Agriculture and Business Lease (SABL) to the Baina Agro Forestry project may hold political interest, according to the Commission of Inquiry last week.

During questioning of former Central Provincial Lands Manager, Cliff Boutau, the inquiry discovered the discrepancies with this particular SABL proved that plans had already been underway for Oil Palm development under the SABL on portion 29C Milinch Kase and Fourmil Buna for the term of 45 years.

Civil society slam loggers access to controversial SABL leases

On 23 Dec, 2011 By rait man

Environmentalists in Papua New Guinea have raised concerns about foreign companies investing in controversial land leases, reports ABC Radio.

  In the latest investment, Hong Kong logging firm Pacific Plywood has joined forces with China's largest state owned timber company, Longjiang Forest Industry Group.  

The investors plan to develop a 628 square kilometre lease in the East Sepik Province.   The companies say the region has more than 2.5 million cubic metres of timber.   

Information on Vanimo SABL hearings not available

On 23 Dec, 2011 By rait man

No information pertaining to the Inquiry into Special Purpose Agriculture and Business Leases (SPABL) in Vanimo have been made available to the media since its proceedings last month, reports the Post Courier

It has been revealed that two boxes, containing the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) recordings made during the hearing had in fact been diverted by Air Niugini from Vanimo to Wewak’s Boram Airport where it was off loaded and remained in the Cargo office for two weeks.

Western Province people want their land back

On 15 Dec, 2011 By rait man

Three landowners companies sign duplicate logging sub-leases

On 14 Dec, 2011 By rait man With 1 Comments

By John Pangkatana

Three separate landowner company executives have made questionable sub-lease arrangements with international forestry developers that have the same company secretary in the Gulf Province, reports the Post Courier.

Their respective sub-leases are an exact replica of each other, the Commission of Inquiry in SABLs in Gulf Province established in Port Moresby yesterday.

The developers are also believed to be subsidiaries of a prominent Malaysian logging company in Papua New Guinea.

Commission hearings to end by March 21st

On 14 Dec, 2011 By rait man

By John Pangkatana

THE Commission of Inquiry (CoI) secretariat said they had a target to complete all listed hearings into Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABLs) by March 21, due date set by the National Government, reports the Post Courier.

Chief Commissioner John Numapo yesterday gave the assurance that despite some recent hiccups they were projected to complete all hearings listed.

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Special Agriculture and Business Lease; SABL; Department of Lands; land grab

Takaso into timber ops in Papua New Guinea

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