Landowners stage peaceful rally over clan vetting

 LANDOWNERS from the PNG LNG Project site in Hela yesterday staged a peaceful protest over clan vetting in Port Moresby.

They sat outside the Department of Petroleum and Energy at Konedobu as the PNG LNG gas production began at the plant outside the capital. 

They were not happy with the vetting process carried out by the department last December, which collected names of  landowner beneficiaries of the project.

The landowners camped outside the department office but were later told by police to leave.

Councillor Erenest Malingi, the deputy president of the Hayapuga local level government, said they had nothing against gas production but were concerned about the way clan vetting had been done by the department.

“Clan vetting has not been done properly and our gas is now being produced for export,” he said.

“Who’s going to benefit? 

“Papua New Guinea benefits and the whole world benefits but the gas is on our land.

“Where do the landowners come in?”