Developers of the revoked Special Agriculture and Business Lease (SABL) portion 144c in the East Sepik province will have until Dec 1 to vacate the customary land.
The people of Turubu LLG in the Wewak District and half of Sausso LLG, in the Yangoru-Sausia district, have given developers, Limawo Holdings of the Sepik Oil Palm project, a grace period of 30 days to vacate the 116, 144 hectares of customary land. The area has been restored to them by the Courts.
All motor vehicles, light and heavy machines, personnel and chattels that are movable are to vacate or be moved out from SABL 144c, including the logging sites and oil palm sites.
Permanent structures, including houses, may be dismantled within 30 days.
Lawyer representing the Kowiru villagers and other customary landowners, Herbert Wally, made a request to the Police Commissioner to assist them implement the orders of the Supreme and Waigani National Court.
“All persons who are outsiders and not members of the villages within SABL 144c, associated with logging and oil palm planting, are to immediately vacate the subject land,” Wally said.