Lands issue unease Lange

 By MALUM NALU

MADANG administrator Bernard Lange has expressed concern at the status of the Yandera Landowners’ Association and other issues concerning social mapping, land study reports, and identification and social impact studies.

Lange said in letters to Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) managing director Philip Samar, dated May 27 and June 4, the issues were important and should not be bypassed.

“As you can understand, the Yandera landowners’ land ownership will become an issue if we rush to allow for the landowners’ association executive election,” he said.

Lange urged MRA to:

• Confirm with Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) about the status of the association constitution, registration, and certificate;
• Check lands study reports, social mapping, and other studies to date;
• Confirm funding of three studies to be made available by the national government;
• Confirm status on all land issues and ownership to date; and
• Release specific details on and about the Bamdi clan and how businessman Peter Yama and his family will be absorbed.

“The status quo of land issues must be solved meaningful and by way of proper social mapping and land boundary studies, with specific reference to the current laws we have in administering and managing our natural resources in the country,” he said.

In the June 4 letter, Lange said there was a misunderstanding between MRA and IPA towards the registration of the association.

He said IPA registrar Alex Tongayu had confirmed the cancellation of the association’s certificate.

Yama told reporters yesterday that he fully endorsed the views of Lange.

“The real issue is the registration of the association,” he said.

“How they went about conducting elections is completely wrong. This is not a recognised association.”

Yama said outside parties should not use the association for their own interests.