PALM OIL AND CORRUPTION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA: The local communities in Collingwood Bay have been fighting to save their lands from oil palm projects and illegal land grabs for more than 3 decades. After a four year court battle with indigenous people, a court declared two large land development leases by palm oil company Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK) illegal. KLK was forced to give up two leases on customary lands, but they still claim a third lease in Collingwood Bay called Lot 5. Faced with strong opposition, KLK has stated that it has no intentions to leave Lot 5, despite the fact that it is within customary indigenous lands and holds primary forest. As a member of the RSPO and through its own voluntary commitments, KLK has also pledged not to clear primary forests. Clearing this land violates RSPO standards and KLKs policy. Papua New Guinea has a long, sordid history of resource extraction by mining and forestry companies. Many of the large land deals for palm oil have been acquired by forestry companies. Papuas governments are active players in helping these companies to secure lands and override local opposition. Politicians are often financially involved in the deals with oil palm companies, and rarely is consent sought or given from the affected communities where the land leases are taken. In 2011, public protest forced the government to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate the awarding of land leases. In its report to parliament, the commission said the land lease system was marred by shocking corruption and mismanagement. Of the 42 leases it examined, only four had secured consent from local landowners and had viable agricultural projects. Sign the petition- Tell KLK to Leave Collingwood Bay Now! ran.org/tell_klk_leave_collingwood_bay_now Kuala Lumpur Kepong, please leave Collingwood Bay: consumer.org.my/index.php/development/environment/806-kuala-lumpur-kepong-please-leave-collingwood-bay Modern Land Grabs in Papau New Guinea: oaklandinstitute.org/sites/oaklandinstitute.org/files/OI_Report_On_Our_Land.pdf Video On Our Land: https://youtube/watch?v=KWoZmq1lYdw New frontiers for oil palm: grain.org/article/entries/5036-new-frontiers-for-oil-pal
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 01:50:22 +0000
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