Politics in PNG

[John Abi]

Old Somare should leave now ias he has run out of self esteem, ideally time to leave is now.

[Random]

You must be a very ignorant citizen,of the improvements and developments Sir.Michael Somare has brought to this nation,Somare hasnt ran out of self esteem and its his decision as to when to leave the political front, as he has given this nation more than anyone could expect from him,he has delivered to the people of East Sepik and PNG! We salute you Sir.Michael!

[Ommie]

I do beleive that Sir Micheal Somare is indeed a very talented leader who has brought PNG to prominance within the South Pacific region he has done so much good for the country but when people look at him they only try to pin point the mistakes he has done. Please try to appreciate the good he has done I can assure you they will outweigh the bad. We are only human everybody makes mistakes now and then.. Sir Micheal Somare we salute you...

[Renaissance]

Definitely it is about time he must leave the office. We are really heading no way in this country. For those two Random & Ommie who have saluted Somare, I think they must have come from a very rich and a wealthy family and more over they must have benefited alot from Somare and I guess East sepik is well developed, just next to New York. Look at Somare! After 40 years in politics and he has done nothing good for PNG. Really all the basic services in the country are deterioting.
Look at great world leaders like Joseph Stalin of former USSR, Mao Zeodong for China, and Hitler of Germany. They had great plans for their country of what they want to achieve for their country.
Note that before the 1917 revolution in russia, the country was very much backward and almost 95% of russians were peasants just like the subsistance farmers in PNG. The government system of russia was controlled by the Tsar( emperor). All most all russsians were uneducated because they had no enough money. All little money that they had were all being ripped off by the Tsar and his officers through paying heavy taxes and so there was a very huge gap between the poor and the rich. The rich got richer and richer while the poor got poorer and poorer. The rich got richer from teh hard work of the peasants. From 1924 to 1953 until the death of Stalin, Russia became the most power country in the world next to USA. It just took them 30 years to be that and Stalin had done great for Russia. Look at our country,PNG! we are going though the same system. Enough is enough is enough!!PNG is very rich and has all the necessary resources we need to develop our country and yet we are tagged as one of the poorest country in the world. i realy hate this.
China was also in the same shoe with russia before the revolution in 1949. Teacher Mao, who was a son of a peasant, in his childhood days really felt the pain of being neglected by the government and so when he grew up he took up the revolution, not for power, not for politics and not for wealth but for a better CHANGE in China. Now look at China, Russia, Cuba and other countries, they are really well off.PNG can change just with in 25 years.
I really pray with my whole heart that Somare must leave the office. He is really dragging the country down. He has lost his human sense!!
To those guys who support the current government, i would like you to read more on the history and politics of countries such as russia, china, cuba, italy and japan. look at why they have changed their system of governments and how they have developed very fast.I also would like to ask those people who support, the current government to visit all parts of PNG and see how the people are facing real life! Really you will feel like crying if you are really a nationalist of your peopla and your country. Beacuse this government is full of corrupt bearucrats who think of noboday but themselves.
As for us the youths let us not support the corrupt, greedy and self centered people. Let us work towards changing this country. God bless PNG and i love my country. I am for Change PNG!!

[Major VIII]

Perhaps if you take another look at the system of government these leaders you seem to greatly admire, i.e., Stalin, Chairman Mao, Hitler, etc., you will realise some fundamental flaws in the system of government these people promoted. These leaders were ruthless exponents of political ideologies which had very little room, if not none at all, for basic human rights and dignity.

Development must take place in any economy, but not at the expense of individual freedoms and rights. The USSR, China, and other communist countries boasted in the international media of massive economic gains through the previous century, but the realities faced by their own rural masses were regularly hidden from internal and international scrutiny. The USSR did indeed become a global power as you correctly relate, however, for the majority of their landless class, the ordinary working class and to a certain extent, the middle and upper middle class, there was very little difference in the lifestyle they enjoyed (or endured, depending on which strata of society they were unfortunate enough to be born into). A literary caricature of the situation in Russia during the Communist era is classically potrayed in the book "1984" by George Orwell (I think). Please read this book. It should provide some enlightenment for you.

China's emergence as a global power, both economically and militarily, came about largely due to them having far greater government control over just about every aspect of society. Over the years, they have come up with a fine mix of capitalist/communist ideals, the benefits of capitalist free trade allowing their economy to grow exponentially, whilst strict communist ideals of control and collectivism ensure the existence of an "orderly" society. Read daily reports of human rights abuse in China in our daily papers. These should provide for interesting reading. Also, China's traditional socio-economic culture of vastly different from ours. Whilst Chinese people are traditionally hard workers, having had to endure life in extremely harsh environs and climate through the centuries, we have this great reliance on the "wantok system", propagated through the ages and very much alive in all levels of our society. This is one of the main factors behind corruption, laziness, incompetence, and a whole host of other "national" characteristics which continue to hinder our development as a nation.

Whilst we can learn from developmental lessons of other countries, we do not necessarily have to emulate them in every aspect, nor should we try to compare our development path to theirs. By international standards, we are still a young country. Contrary to your assertion that these countries developed their economies within 25-30 years, etc., China, Russia, the USA, etc., developed their countries and economies over centuries, not decades like ours. We also shouldn't blame our economic woes on one person or grouping within society. We all have a responsibility in contributing to developing our country. Importantly, we are all also responsible for the type of people leading us in Parliament. It was us, members of the electorate that voted them in. If there is to be change, it should start with each individual person, community, town/city, province, region, etc., up to that national level.

Cut this rubbish about youths working against the rest society because of corruption, etc.; this is self defeating, rebellious, and isolationist thinking. The notion of "youth" has been romanticised far too much. These group is not the only one much maligned.

Webster Mai said:

Definitely it is about time he must leave the office. We are really heading no way in this country. For those two Random & Ommie who have saluted Somare, I think they must have come from a very rich and a wealthy family and more over they must have benefited alot from Somare and I guess East sepik is well developed, just next to New York. Look at Somare! After 40 years in politics and he has done nothing good for PNG. Really all the basic services in the country are deterioting.
Look at great world leaders like Joseph Stalin of former USSR, Mao Zeodong for China, and Hitler of Germany. They had great plans for their country of what they want to achieve for their country.
Note that before the 1917 revolution in russia, the country was very much backward and almost 95% of russians were peasants just like the subsistance farmers in PNG. The government system of russia was controlled by the Tsar( emperor). All most all russsians were uneducated because they had no enough money. All little money that they had were all being ripped off by the Tsar and his officers through paying heavy taxes and so there was a very huge gap between the poor and the rich. The rich got richer and richer while the poor got poorer and poorer. The rich got richer from teh hard work of the peasants. From 1924 to 1953 until the death of Stalin, Russia became the most power country in the world next to USA. It just took them 30 years to be that and Stalin had done great for Russia. Look at our country,PNG! we are going though the same system. Enough is enough is enough!!PNG is very rich and has all the necessary resources we need to develop our country and yet we are tagged as one of the poorest country in the world. i realy hate this.
China was also in the same shoe with russia before the revolution in 1949. Teacher Mao, who was a son of a peasant, in his childhood days really felt the pain of being neglected by the government and so when he grew up he took up the revolution, not for power, not for politics and not for wealth but for a better CHANGE in China. Now look at China, Russia, Cuba and other countries, they are really well off.PNG can change just with in 25 years.
I really pray with my whole heart that Somare must leave the office. He is really dragging the country down. He has lost his human sense!!
To those guys who support the current government, i would like you to read more on the history and politics of countries such as russia, china, cuba, italy and japan. look at why they have changed their system of governments and how they have developed very fast.I also would like to ask those people who support, the current government to visit all parts of PNG and see how the people are facing real life! Really you will feel like crying if you are really a nationalist of your peopla and your country. Beacuse this government is full of corrupt bearucrats who think of noboday but themselves.
As for us the youths let us not support the corrupt, greedy and self centered people. Let us work towards changing this country. God bless PNG and i love my country. I am for Change PNG!!

[Random]

Let me stress Webster Mai,you cannot solely blame Somare, for PNG being a third world nation,this great man has contributed to this nation more than you'll ever know...He brought PNG to independence,as the founding father he layed the foundations for this country,because he is such a charismatic leader the people of East Sepik have elected him into parliament ever since 1975,that says alot.......You cant expect one man to change a culturally diverse nation into a 1st world country within 30 years,that takes alot of time for the people to adapt to changes thus bringing development,right now our fellow countrymen and women are still getting there.....If you feel so fit to challenge the father of this nation,why not stand for the elections and develop this country to your own understanding.......This nation needs optimistic charismatic leaders not critics.........See what you can do for your country, not what your country can do for you........We Salute you Sir Michael!

[Renaissance]

It is really sad to hear a fellow Papua New Guinean speaking as a real puppet of someone who has betrayed the 6millon people of PNG after 34 years of independence.Really it is fortunate for such person like Random and Ben Howard who is saluting the government. Because you are benefiting alot from the corrupt practices of the present government. And for sure you are one of them i guess. That is why you twos are saluting.Just by looking at POM, Lae, Madang & Hagen, you are realy say that PNG is fine. What about the rest of PNG! Almost the 90% of the people in this country are the rural people and they are suffering the most while the self - fish, greedy & selfcentered bearucrats make use of the opportunites to divert the funds into their pockets and i guess you are one of those! We are becoming the the victims of corruptions everyday.
Look at the K230 million that was budgeted for Education rehabilition in the country. that money is no longer there and itis gone into the hands of the few selffish people making the vast young human resources of this country suffer. Look at all the youths on the streets, they are not supposed to be roaming around the streets as street boys as they call, they are supposed to be doing something worthwhile if they had been given proper education. Blames for all sorts of crimes rising in the country should be put upon the government for not creating enough employment opportunities.They are the cause of the high rise in the unemployment.
Further more i would like you two to go all around PNG and visit all the provinces and see for yourself how the government services are flowing in those provinces, rather than sticking only in one place and making a selffish, greedy and corrupt comment.
It would be a very stupid and a shameful thing for a father to spend millions of kina on drinking , going to party and spending on very expensive items when his family is suffering. It is exactly the same with the current government, spending almost K128 million kina on buying the jet plane which will not benefit the 6million people of Papua New Guinea. Look at all the services that are deterioting through out the country. That action shows that the current government does not care for the citizen of this country. What a selfish government.
I would like to kindly ask you to cut of that selffish, selfcentered thinking and if you are one of those involved in ripping from the poor, stop right now and get what is yours and let what belongs to the people flow to the people. Please Random and Ben Howard don't be the puppet of the government.Please dont bleed us!!

[Random]

Who you calling 'puppet'? We speak for ourselves....It isnt sef-centered thinking its logical reasoning,something which you obviously cant comprehend.......

[Renaissance]

I think you have run out of logic reasoning ! Let me tell you, the logic is we are heading noway under the current government. As honourable Bart Philemon and Sir Mekere said, Somare is in a dream world and furthermore in a fantasi world. I believe you are also in a dream world thats why you can't comprehend and realise how serious the problems are in this country.
Try put your self in the shoes of those poor majority of subsistance farmers and youths on the street. How would you feel if you were in their shoes! that will give you some logical reasoning! Please don't bleed us!!

[Renaissance]

I believe you (Random, Ben Howard and Ommie) are blind and thats why you speak like a blind, Now look at this as well and make your comment!!

Masalai i tokaut
Number Fifty: 1 February, 2007

Pruaitch demands K500, 000 bribery 1 February 2007 (PDF)

Pruaitch shows how the corruption works
K 967,700 demanded for Timber Permit

We have all heard about the terrible plague of corruption that is afflicting our Nation and former Treasurer, Bart Philemon, has described the logging industry as the most corrupt sector of the economy.
Masalai I tokaut has often been asked how the corruption works in practice and to provide the evidence. Now, after exhaustive research we have obtained the documents that show how controversial Forest Minister, Patrick Pruaitch, makes corruption works for him.
Forest Minister Patrick Pruaitch has been criticised over the past four years for committing just about every sin in the Book.
He has unlawfully interfered in due process, bullied the National Forest Board, abused his position, and lied and cheated – all to protect the Malaysian owned logging industry from proper scrutiny. He has also handed out illegal logging permits against the advice of his own officials and the Chief Secretary, prevented lawful debate and even cheated on his own expenses and entitlements.
But how has he been able to justify his self-styled image as ‘bagman’ for the National Alliance government and maintain the copious sums of cash that literally drips from his pockets?
Below, we reveal how Mr Pruaitch unlawfully demanded two separate illegal payments totalling K 967,700 from a logging company before he would hand to them a TimberPermit.
In September 2003 Minister Pruaitch signed a new Timber Permit granting the logging rights in the East Awin timber concession to a company named G.L.Niugini.
Signing Timber Permits is one of the very few functions that the Minister has in the administration of the forestry sector. Under the Forestry Act, the day to day supervision of the forestry industry is taken care of by the National Forest Service whose Managing Director reports, not the Minister, but the National Forest Board. The role of the Minister is in fact, largely ceremonial - he signs Permits and reports to the National Executive Council and table documents in Parliament and that is about all.
The East Awin Timber Permit was signed by the minister on the 11th of September – as shown below.




After it had been signed, the Permit should have been immediately delivered to the logging company to allow them to take the next steps in preparation for harvesting, including lodging a performance bond with the NFS.
In this case, instead of handing over the Permit the Minister hung onto it, seeking an opportunity to personally profit.
The first that the logging company knew of the signing of the Timber Permit was six weeks later when they received a highly unusual letter from the Minister himself.
The letter made two highly suspicious and totally unlawful demands. The Minister informed the logging company that the Timber Permit had ‘been granted’ but demanded two cash payments be made in exchange for the Permit and before any formal announcement could be made.
LETTER FROM THE MINISTER WITH HIS UNLAWFUL DEMANDS

Firstly the Minister directed the logging company to make a payment of K 467,700 to the PNG Forest Authority as a ‘Performance Bond Fee’.
Although the terms of the Timber Permit did require a ‘Performance Bond’, this was to be provided AFTER the company received the Permit not BEFORE.
Equally strange was the Minister’s demand for a payment to the Forest Authority. This is not the way Performance Bonds are normally lodged with government agencies. Developers simply provide a Bank Guarantee.
Why was the Minister unlawfully demanding the Bond be lodged before rather than after the Permit was given and why was he demanding a payment to his Department rather than the usual Bank Guarantee?
It is important to remember that the PNG Forest Authority has not presented any audited accounts since the year 2000 and Pruaitch has been accused by the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee of personally blocking plans for an internal audit of the Forest Authority books.
The second demand made by Minister Pruaitch in his letter is even more blatant. He instructed the logging company to make “an additional payment of K 500,000 to Landowner company Apka Limited as up front landowner assistance”.
The letter went on to state “a formal announcement will be made once the above requirement is finalised”, i.e. if you don’t make the payments as demanded you will not get your Timber Permit.
The demand for a payment of K 500,000 to Apka Limited was totally unlawful on a number of grounds:
The Minister had no lawful power to make such a demand
The Timber Permit did not require any payments to Apka Limited
Landowner companies are no longer recognised under the Forestry Act and resource owner payments for East Awin are supposed to be paid to a trust fund
Apka Limited is not a landowner company as claimed
• • • •
It is perhaps unnecessary for us to ask the question why the Forest Minister would make two separate unlawful demands for cash payments to be made to third parties before he would perform his legal duty and hand over a Timber Permit that he had already signed.
It was bad enough that he wanted K467,700 in cash sloshing around in the Forest Authority while he blocked any internal audits; to demand an additional K500,000 be paid to a small private company was just greedy.
Of course this is just the latest scandal concerning our Forest Minister – a man who is clearly dishonest – and further proof the forest industry is completely riddled with corruption on a massive scale.
Other scandals concerning the Forest Minister
Masalai has previously revealed how Rimbunan Hijau has direct access to senior Government figures and public servants and regularly directs them on how they should act (Masalai 28).
We have shown how Pruaitch has unlawfully manipulated the National Forest Board to protect Rimbunan Hijau from sanction over its illegal logging operations (Masalai 29).
We have also exposed how an independent audit of the Forest Authority accounts found Pruaitch was ‘double dipping’ and branded him “wrongful, dishonest and corrupt” (Masalai 36).
Last year we exposed how Pruaitch allows Rimbunan Hijau to write his media releases (Masalai 48) and how he gags public servants to prevent them discussing the logging industry and possible reform (Masalai 49).

Listen up you fellow puppet of the corrupt governemnt, read carefully to the above report and think like a real Papua New Guinean. For further information on the corrupt dealings in the logging industry by the current government, please look up in the website given below.That will open your blindness, Random, Ben Howard and Ommie.
Serving the people since 2002: www.masalai-i-tokaut.com

[Major VIII]

If you had read my response to your post with abit more objectivity and less emotion, you would have realized that I was not defending Sir Michael or anyone in particular. Read through it again and point out to me exactly where it is that I defend Sir Michael, or show support for him and his coalition government to qualify your calling me a puppet of the Somare regime. I merely suggested that you do some more research into the background of the world leaders and the sort of political regimes they were proponents of before praising them. I also tried to point out to you that contrary to what you related, their economic growth was not a result of decades of growth or political/economic structural adjustments. Theirs are countries with centuries old traditions and well established systems of governance. Had you done so, you would realize that it would be unrealistic to compare our economic development with that of those countries you mentioned.

Whilst I empathize with economic and social woes our people are going through (and have been for many years now), I maintain that we cannot put the blame squarely on the shoulders of one man or particular grouping in society. All members of parliament are voted in by their respective electorates. If you and I are willing to accept K50 from a candidate in turn for our votes for him, even if we know that he/she is corrupt or does not have good leadership credentials, we are just as guilty of corruption as he/she is. If we willingly participate in feasts laid on by candidates during elections as a way of luring votes, we are guilty of corruption by association.

Papua New Guineans must learn to accept the consequences of our actions, and to stop shifting blame to others when things do not go our way. The endemic and systematic level of corruption we have in our country is culturally entrenched through the “wantok system”. This kinship based system has resulted in so many social and economic woes for our people, and yet we continue foster it. Demands of the wantok system are some of the factors that force many people, from your simple public servant, businessman, to political leaders to pilfer and squander public funds. We just do not realize that one small act of corruption, no matter how miniscule we may consider it in the whole scheme of things political, etc., such as accepting a K50 bribe during elections, will lead to so many repercussions, most likely negative.

And for the record, I am not a public bureaucrat, nor am I aligned to any political party in the current coalition government. Neither am I a puppet of this government. I hold liberal democratic views on economic and political affairs, and believe that discussions of such nature should be conducted in an objective manner so that pragmatic solutions can be realized. Your assumption that I am locked away here in Port Moresby and do not know the realities faced by rural communities not only indicates how emotive and shallow your argument is, but is also insulting as you do not know how much I have contributed as an individual towards development of rural communities in different parts of our country. I have traveled to almost all provinces of our country and have been to rural areas and lived among people whose lifestyles are far removed from that which city dwellers are used to. As such, I believe I can say that I do understand the hardships our people face without being untruthful, or be seen as living in a fantasy world as you put it.

If you wish to argue about the merits and demerits of the government of the day and your view of its contribution, or lack of, towards national development, let’s stick to data and facts as we know and not resort to personal attacks. Such emotive and subjective arguments do not lead to anything constructive. Since, like me, you seem to like Sir Mekere and Mr. Philemon, why don’t you take a leaf out of their book and try arguing with more objectivity and be less subjective.

But if you are going to still maintain the same vein of argument, then this will be my last reply post as I do not think it will be worth my time discussing such important matters without logical reasoning and objectivity.

[Vickey Kari]

Oh yeah, I definitely dont agree with you. He is old and his way of thinking is as in the stone ages. I now for sure that almost everyone here in PNG and maybe around the world, want him out. Lets give chance to the new young leaders who can make new and smart decisions rather than dwelling in the past. Young and energetic leaders is what we all want, right PNG? By the way, times are changing and we all need to adjust with time and not lacking behind.

[Renaissance]

Let me tell you my friendBen Howard, If you were a real Papua New Guinean nationalist you would be talking very emotive rather than just posting a comment. We must be very emotive of our rich country and talkfrom the bottom of our hearts and thus with the stream of our blood. I am talking with emotive because i am feeling the pains of corruption right in the centre of my heart. Everytime i read about corrruption in the current government i have sleepless nights.

Really we should point our fingers at the government for all the issues that are affecting our country. The government is the sole cause of all these problems and not the public servants, the unemployed youths and the rest of the ordinary citizens as you have said. Everytime, everyday, the public servants are the most hardworking people in this country and mind you it is not the prime minister, MPs, ministers and departmental heads who is running this country, it is the poor hard working publics servants who have sleepless days and sleep less nights doing the most dirtest jobs just to get few bunch of Kina while our politicians enjoy the luxury from the hard work of these poor people.

Just think of the poor informal sectors on the streets trying their very best to earn something for themselves and their family. They are the ones who is holding and boosting the economy of this country and not the huge business houses. Remember that the huge business houses motive is to make profit here and go back to their country.

For your information, I have served this country with my whole heart ever since and I still love this country. That is why i am speaking from the depth of my heart that this country is heading noway.For your information, i would like you to read more on corruption in this country involving the government ministers and department heads in the website given please. www.masalai-i-tokaut.com. If you are a real nationalist, speak from your heart with emotion and not just posting out general comments.
If so you would post out general comments, then you are ok and not a victim of corruption. Thus you are just wasting your time. Otherwise speak with emotion as a nationalist.

For your information read this out!!!

Masalai i tokaut
Number Forty Seven: 9 July, 2006
Pruaitch & Somare chopping down the Sepik
The Prime Minister and his lieutenant, Forests Minister, Patrick Pruaitch, are heavily implicated in a series of new illegal and unsustainable logging operations across their homelands in East and West Sepik Provinces.
In January, Masalai revealed how the Prime Minister and his family were involved in the illegal logging of the Lower Sepik by Malaysian logging company, Brilliant Investments.
Since then Masalai has uncovered evidence that Brilliant has started up a second unsustainable and illegal operation in the old Hawain forestry area.
Masalai has also uncovered the facts about the involvement of Minister Patrick Pruaitch in the illegal logging of the Aitape Lumi Consolidated concession area in his home region.
These revelations should greatly interest the International Tropical Timber Organisation which has accepted a personally invitation from the Forest Minister and the Government to hold its grand 2006 Council Session in Port Moresby.
Desperate for funds for the 2007 election, Prime Minister Somare and his lieutenant Patrick Pruaitch have facilitated illegal logging across the Sepik region.
Aitape Lumi
Since his election to Parliament in 2002, Patrick Pruaitch, The Minister for Rimbunan Hijau, has been desperate to cash in on the forest resources around his home area in the Aitape-Lumi region of the Sepik. However he has been frustrated by the PNG Forest Authority which regards the four proposed timber harvesting concessions in his electorate (Wes, Aitape East Coast, Tadji Romei and South West Wapei) as each too small to sustain a proper sustainable logging operation.
Find us on the web: www.masalai-i-tokaut.com
Undaunted, the Forest Minister instructed the Forest Authority to stitch the four areas together into one giant project covering more than 400,000 hectares.
This was totally illegal as the forest resource owners were not consulted and have never given their consent; the Minister does not have the lawful authority to direct the Forest Authority on such issues; it ignores the fact that the four areas are not even contiguous; and it breached a National Executive Council decision in 2002 that ordered the areas be put aside as non-priority areas for development.
Forestry officials tried to protest the Minister’s decision but they were cowed into submission by Pruaitch and his heavies and work was begun on the allocation of the newly named Aitape Lumi Consolidated Forest Management Area.
Regardless progress has been slow – in large part precisely because the landowners have not given their consent and do not want a consolidated project. Forest Officers have been also been plugging away trying to go through many of the proper processes and procedures – much to the frustration of Minister Pruaitch.
By late 2005, with time ticking down to the next election, Pruaitch decided he could wait no longer and he struck a private deal with Malaysian logging company Samas to immediately bring its logging equipment onshore and commence logging operations using phoney Timber Authorities issued with no due process (and which should not be issued in FMA areas).
While Patrick Pruaitch has been standing up in Parliament defending the Malaysian-owned logging industry against charges of illegal and unsustainable logging, he has been guilty of the ultimate HYPOCRACY as he knew that he had personally organised and approved the illegal and unsustainable logging of his own electorate!
The deal that has been struck between the hoax landowner company Aitape Lumi Consolidated Forest Resources Limited (set up by Patrick Pruaitch using his political cronies) and Samas allows the logger to unlawfully clear-fell whole areas of forest which is totally illegal under the Forestry Act.
The agreement also includes a specific clause under which Samas advanced K 100,000 to be used as bribes and ‘gris moni’ “to expertise the issuance of the relevant approval” as soon as possible.
Find us on the web: www.masalai-i-tokaut.com
Meanwhile the pleas of the genuine resource owners have been ignored.
A petition to the National Forest Authority has simply been filed away by Officers too scared to confront their Minister.
The Genuine Landowners Petition Find us on the web: www.masalai-i-tokaut.com
While Forestry Officers admit privately that the logging is illegal and certainly not sustainable, the Forest Authority has taken no action to stop the illegal activities. Instead the Forest Authority is patiently going through the proper allocation process seemingly unaware that the Minister has already stitched up the logging deal.
Hawain
The Hawain concession in East Sepik is currently being logged by a company called Uni Rise Limited.
This operation is completely illegal as the original Timber Permit for Hawain expired in April 2002 and there is no power under either the repealed Forestry (Private Dealings) Act or the Forestry Act 2001 as amended to extend timber permits granted for Local Forest Areas.
The operation is also breaches the law as the logging is completely unsustainable – at its currently projected logging rate of 106,000 cubic meters per year the remaining forests will be totally decimated within 3-5 years – and it is not in accordance with the National Forest Plan which claims Hawain was logged out in 1999.
Hawain was first logged between 1962 and 1982 by Sepik Timbers and then again in the 1990’s by Rimbunan Hijau subsidiary Sovereign Hill. The Hawain Local Forest Area was declared in April 1992 - in breach of a Government moratorium on new logging licences and while then Prime Minister, Rabbie Namaliu, was overseas and while a new Forestry Act was still awaiting gazettal!
Uni Rise is owned or controlled by Brilliant Investment Ltd which is itself logging in the Lower Sepik (although no connection is shown between the two companies in the records of the Registrar of Companies).
Uni Rise has been exporting its illegally harvested logs since November 2005. Find us on the web: www.masalai-i-tokaut.com
Lower Sepik
In June 2005 Brilliant Investment began moving logging equipment in to the Lower Sepik area that is the home base of the Somare family and the central part of Sir Michael’s electorate.
Brilliant Investment Limited was registered with the Investment Promotion Authority in July 2004 and is wholly owned by Gohill Timber, a company registered in Sarawak in Malaysia. Brilliant has two Moresby based directors, Mr Yu and Mr Ling.
Felling began in July, with the company specifically targeting only the highest value species with the forest. The first logs were exported in August and since then an average of 8,000 cubic meters of logs, with a declared value of over half a million US dollars, have been exported every month.
Brilliant Investments is using a Timber Permit which expired in October 2001 but which is still held by Michael Somare through the Sepik River Development Corporation, LFA 1-11.
This timber operation, which is illegal for a whole host of reasons, has been personally organised by the Somare clan to provide election funds for 2007 and profit their clan.
The logging is illegal on a whole host of different grounds. There is no valid Timber Permit; the logging is unsustainable; local people have not consented to the new timber operations; the procedures and requirements of the Forestry Act have not been followed; and the logging of the Lower Sepik is not part of the National Forest Plan.
The Barnett Inquiry in 1988 revealed how Michael Somare had abused his position as a Minister to block the abolition of Local Forest Areas which were being used by politicians to defraud local landowners and profit themselves and the foreign owned logging industry.
Barnett also found that the company which had pushed for the declaration of the Lower Sepik LFA and was ultimately successful in obtaining the timber rights was called the Sepik River Development Corporation Limited and that Michael Somare was one of three Directors in this company and the MAJORITY shareholder. Somare was also found guilty of abusing his position as a Minister to ensure that his company was awarded the logging rights - against the advice of the Department of Forests.
Having persuaded the NEC not to repeal controversial legislation until he had personally profited, Michael Somare then abused his position to force the Minister to unlawfully issue logging rights over an area of forest that he did not solely own and against the advice of the Department of Forests. Somare then granted those illegal logging rights to a Chinese company part owned by his son.
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