Provincial Police Commander for Central Province, Superintendent, Laimo Asi has condemned the protest by landowners of portion 152 at the PNG LNG plant site today.
Asi said there is no approval given by authorities to stage the protest.
The PPC, who was at the site this morning told Loop PNG that he had warned landowners not to cause any damage to the plant site but to allow the operation to continue as normal.
He had advised them that the protest was illegal and while the landowners have been reluctant to back off, they promised to do it peacefully.
Asi said his men are on the ground to protect facilities and to ensure the protest does not turn rowdy.
As of the writing of this report, landowners have not taken any action except the sit in protest with placards under the heat of the sun.
The villagers are from Boera, Porebada, Rearea and Papa.
They claimed that the government hasn’t paid their royalties since the first shipment of the LNG in May 2014.
They are demanding the government to look into this and provide answers to their demands.