Police minister asks LNG project landowners to respect rule of law

 By SAMUEL RAITANO

INTERNAL Security Ministry Mark Maipakai has appealed to disgruntled landowners of the multi-billion-kina liquefied natural gas (LNG) project not to take the law into their own hands over delays and the non-payment of their business development grants and outstanding memorandum of agreement funds.

“There are proper processes and procedures to follow, and threatening the government and the developers is not the way forward,” he said.

Maipakai said landowners should think about the long-term benefits of the project and not invite police to use force on them.

He said police manpower at the project sites was intact and additional assistance would be given if there was a need.

Three police mobile units, comprising about 100 men, were at the LNG sites.

He urged landowners issuing threats to approach the issue as matured adults because their actions now would affect the future of their children and grandchildren.

Maipakai, however, could not say whether there were strategies in place to curb any escalating lawlessness.