We called it: government changes the law. Landowners rights smashed
George Ireng
On 18 April we asked the question “Where
to the Chinese go next?” in response to the injunction stopping the
construction of a system to dump the waste from the Ramu nickel mine in
the sea. One option that seemed likely was a change in the law to take
away landowners rights to demand protection of their natural
environment.
On Friday afternoon this prediction proved correct
as the government rushed emergency legislation through Parliament that
disenfranchises landowners and gives the government total control over
their land and seas.
This is how George Ireng, the campaigner who
has led the landowners campaign against the Ramu mine waste dumping,
explains the legislation:
“This is to inform you of the latest
developments that occurred yesterday in Parliament.
“The
government through the Environment minister, Benny Allan, made changes
to sections the Environment Act 2000 to prevent landowners and concerned
Papua New Guineans from “interfering” with developing project like the
Ramu Nickel Mine and LNG in the Southern Highlands.
“This comes
after a petition against DSTP was presented to the Deputy Prime
Minister, Puka Temu and Environment Minister, Benny Allan, in Bongu
Village on 10 April. The petition deadline is on Monday 31 April. But
the government has seen fit to insult landowners by changing the law!
"The explanatory notes provided to the media make no secret of the
fact that this is an attempt by a corrupt regime to suppress the rights
of landowners who are concerned about their lives and the environment to
which they are connected.
“It states: “THE LAW IS BEING MADE IN
LIGHT OF THE RECENT COURT DECISION THAT HAS EXPOSED RESOURCE PROJECTS TO
THE RISK THAT ANY PERMITS GRANTED BY THE STATE IN SATISFACTION OF LEGAL
AND SCIENTIFIC REQUIREMENTS MAY NOT BE ENFORCEABLE…”
“It goes
further to say: “A THIRD PARTY (FINANCED BY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS),
ALTHOUGH NOT STAKEHOLDERS CAN NOW CHALLENGE THE VALIDITY OF LEGAL
PERMITS AND FRUSTRATE WORKS CARRIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE LAWFUL
PERMITS…
“…ALL MAJOR MINING AND PETROLEUM RESOURCE PROJECTS (SUCH
AS LNG) ARE PARTICULARLY AT RISK AFFECTING THE ECONOMY AND THEREFORE A
MATTER OF NATIONAL INTEREST….”
“This is a direct insult to the
people of Raikos and all Papua New Guineans who are landowners.
Personally, I am angered by the government’s actions! The law change is a
serious attack on our ability as landowners and Papua New Guineans to
speak out against problems created by the actions of government and
developers.
“This is the first of many public messages that I
will deliver to various audiences. Our first course of action is to
create a national awareness of this change in the law as it affects all
Papua New Guineans. A public Forum will be held on Tuesday (1 April) in
Madang town. Then on Wednesday (2 April), a team of landowners will
travel to Port Moresby to publicly express our anger in the media over
the law change.
“We seek your assistance in the following manner:
1) If you wish to assist us further, please provide your DIGICEL
numbers to my number mob: 7349 9437 so that messages and updates can be
sent to you personally. I am seeking your help in sending that same
message to your contacts.
2) We also ask you to send this email
to as many of your contacts as possible.
Thank you
George
Ireng
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