13/05/2012 22:56

 

By Carol A. Kidu, DBE, Dr (Hon), MP

No law in PNG supports what happened today. It was not an eviction. It was a demolition and the company's so called relocation package is laughable. No land has been allocated for them.
This does not only involve the so-called illegal settlers (in fact original Paga settlers were put there in colonial days by the traditional owners of the area and there are now fourth generation living there.)

In my 15 years as MP I have always told the people that they would eventually have to be relocated BUT NOT like this. If people want more information I could tell them the wonderful "deal” offered to these third and fourth generation people by the company (and NO land to move to so they will have to float to other already overcrowded "settlements").

In 2000 I started the process of producing an Urbanisation policy for PNG - after 10 years of really hard work that policy was completed but neither government has funded the policy. I believe the present PM will be launching the policy in Minj soon (I have been invited by the Office of Urbanisation which I established). He had nothing to do with the production of the policy but let's hope the next PM after elections will see the importance of budgeting such an important policy.
Paga Hill also houses many families of public servants who have lived for years on the Housing Corporation land further up the hill. They have also been fighting the company in court. On Friday (yesterday), the District Court found in favor of the company but all three challengers in the case
had started the process of appealing to the National Court and had given notice of their intention to appeal. Early today, in spite of that, the police and bulldozers were sent in - targeting the "settlers" first but undoubtedly intending to move on to the Housing Corporation block because they have been issued with eviction notices also.

While I was fighting to stop the demolitions the lawyers for the public servants and the settlers were working flat out and eventually obtained a Stay Order on humanitarian grounds. Both the settlers and public servants are struggling with their legal fees.
The police were executing orders but they did not know the matter was being appealed. Many police were reasonable and when they left they were thanking me and saying they wished someone would be there if needed to fight for their families rights.

A few police were inexcusably heavy handed because the people were actually very restrained considering what was happening to them. I realize that the police were trapped in the middle as they were executing orders from the metropolitan superintendent.
The people are already in poverty and the leaders very rich and supporting any commercial deal that will make them richer. What sort of PNG is this? The rich get richer at the expense of the poor. Tonight spare a thought for the hundreds of women and children ... Happy Mother’s Day!!"
 

--
Carol A. Kidu, DBE, Dr (Hon), MP
Member for Moresby South Electorate
Papua New Guinea National Parliament 

 

• This statement was posted on PNG Facebook group Sharp Talk by Dame Carol Kidu in response to the social media debate on issues relating to the unsuccessful eviction exercise at Paga Hill, Port Moresby on Saturday May 12, 2012.