Micah offers land to refugees in PNG

By LOUISAH FRANK
Former Kavieng MP Ben Micah has offered a portion of his plantation in New Ireland to refugees in Papua New Guinea.
He made the offer during World Refugee Day in Port Moresby yesterday.
“I have a plantation in the west coast of Central New Ireland,” Micah said.
“I want to open my 1600 hectares of land, with two hectares each for every refugee who wants to settle in the province to start a normal life.”
Micah said he had seen issues with the refugees in Manus.
He urged the Government and individual Papua New Guineans to “act like Christians as we claim”.
Minister for Immigration and Border Security Petrus Thomas, who was present at the event, said: “Just like Christians who have the 10 Commandments, every sovereign government has laws to guide them and Papua New Guinea’s constitution is no different.
“We would love to bring all the refugees into the country and put them everywhere, but we have laws that we abide by,” he said.
Thomas told those present at the event that the Government had not “turned a blind eye to the refugees”.
He said the Government has made offers to refugees to resettle in the country, however, they refused.
“So far, Papua New Guinea has granted 1259 nationalised citizenships to West Papuans who have lived in the country for many years as refugees,” Thomas said.
“Another 115 nationalised citizenship certificates are still in the process of registration.”
Thomas thanked all organisations and partners that worked with his department in facilitating and ensuring that refugees in Papua New Guinea were well looked after.