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No site visit before lease issued for Ramu SABL

A Filipino national who is acting as a consultant for a Malaysian logging company operating in the Ramu has told the SABL Commission of inquiry that no site visit was done before a Special Agriculture Business Lease (SABL) was granted.

Martyn Namorong who is at the inquiry hearing in Madang reports that the Company was given rights to over 100 thousand hectares (portion 16C) of customary land belonging to the Ramu people. It was also revealed that the "consultant" a Mr. Lejero, does not have a registered consultancy firm nor a contract proving that he was working for the Malaysian logging company, Urasir Ltd. 

Lejero has told the Inquiry he was given information by the Company Manager, Mr. Wong to prepare a desktop agriculture plan. 

Customary landowners led by Michael Kasuk who are also attending the inquiry are furious that their land was taken without their knowledge. 

The SABL Commission of inquiry was previously in East Sepik where it uncovered how customary landowners were unaware of agreements that had given away their land rights.

So far more than 5 million hectares of land has been given away to foreign companies through Special Agriculture Business Leases.