Land group in court bid to be recognised

AN incorporated landowner group in Tabubil, Western, has again called on Ok Tedi Mining Ltd to recognise them as legitimate landowning clan of the giant mine, this time in the National Court.
The Kimka Sepiyan Sub-Tribe Land Group Incorporated (KSSLGI), led by clan chief Kambomyap Allolim and Paul Eddie, were in court to pursue their case to be recognised as a legitimate landowner group to receive benefits from
the mine.
Yesterday, their lawyer Roddy Koaru argued their case before Justice Derek Hartshorn in the National Court in Waigani.
Koaru asked the court to ensure their (KSSLGI) interest was taken into account and allow parties to settle the matter through mediation, saying his clients had a genuine case.
“The land in PNG is owned in groups such as clans and not individual persons,” Koaru said.
He said it was unjust and unethical for lawyers acting for the first defendant (Biul Kirokim) and other defendants to file motion to dismiss the case because landownership issues between groups must be carefully sorted out in court.
Koaru said this while defending KSSLGI, in their bid to be recognised as legitimate landowner clan group.
Kirokim and other defence lawyers have applied to dismiss the case, saying it (KSSLGI) was not a recognised land group.