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| Court bans logging on island’s sacred sites | |
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THE Kavieng District Court has
banned logging on Tatau Island in New Ireland province. The ban came last week after two clans on the island complained that logging was threatening some of their sacred sites, including their burial grounds and their source of food. They claimed that logging was also endangering their environment, their river and marine life. The landowners of Tatau Island belong to Damok and Barbar clans. Restrained from logging are Tavak Investment Ltd, a purported landowner company owned by John Same and his brother Joseph Panga, the Niugini Forest Planning and Management Ltd and Vanimo Jaya Ltd. The logging ban is for one month during which time the clan members are to meet and resolve issues with the developers. The court also noted that there were no detailed and exhaustive consultations among all stakeholders before loggings licences were issued. Commenting on the court’s decision, candidate for Ward 2 on Tabar Islands King Pawut urged Minister for Forests Belden Namah and the provincial forest authority in New Ireland to exercise thoroughness when screening timber companies and their landowner counterparts before issuing logging permits. Mr Pawut questioned the actions of New Ireland police officers posted to protect the company on Tatau Island. He said these policemen were housed at the logging camp and were fed by the timber companies, placing them in a position of compromise. |
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