ROADS were blocked and PMV buses ordered to stop operations into ATS as the grace period of 120 days given by Waigani National court ends today for the eviction to proceed.
The settlers in 8-mile at ATS Oro block that have been living for almost over their third generations in the area particularly potion 695 were asked to move out and make way for the developer.
Dunlavin limited, an Asian company who already acquired the title from Lands Department for the land portion 695 is awaiting the eviction as per the court order in placed for the company to move into the area and develop it.
This morning (Tuesday April 27, 2021) the road leading into ATS from first block was blocked off by the settlers not allowing vehicles to have access into the area. The students and workers were also asked not to go to work and schools in fear of what would happen if the eviction took place.
A community member and a father Jonah Kuman who lives in the area expressed his concerns over the matter.
“We the ATS community has lived here for a long time ago. We have wives and children born in this place. There are more than 600 students living here and goes to school that has no place else to go, this is our home,” Kuman said.
He said there are over 5,000 people not only from Oro living there but from 22 provinces of PNG that live in the land portion 695 at ATS and go to work and the matter will really affect their lives.
This matter has been an ongoing issue for about 10 years and the Waigani court has already issued orders in favor of the developer for the people to be evicted.
Parliamentary member for Port Moresby North-East when visiting the community today said the Lands Department has already given land title to the foreign company, Dunlavin limited. Whether in due course or not but the title has already been given to the investors.
“The matter has gone as far as Supreme Court and the court has given 120 days for the people to move out and today is the final day.
“However, we are in talks with the Ministers in charge including Prime Minister James Marape and the investor Dunlavin limited to find a land somewhere for them to develop which will not affect the people,” Kaupa said.
He added that at this time amidst Covid-19 pandemic is not a good time for demolition and displacement of humans.
Kaupa said even he has no authority to act against the court issued order, his lawyer is working on getting a stay order to give the people more time to deal with the matter on hand.
More over National Capital District Metro Superintendent Gideon Ikumu explained to the settlers at ATS that police will always follow what the court order says.
“It is the duty of the police in such case to enforce the court order. If not we will be in contempt to the court. Police are in the community to work with the people to make sure things are done to prevent law and order issues,” Ikumu said.
Meanwhile, the roads have been cleared and normalcy restored as the community awaits the response from the negotiations between Dunlavin limited and the Ministers in charge.
What about the Gov launching the SME for Nort East Electorate, ATS portion 695 alone we have 30 registered women association groups, finishing all the requirements task in order to receive the funds, Now look at us,,??? Where is all the promise, you TALK about to defend your very OWN people in this Black Nation PARADISE of PNG ?? With due respect to all our PNG leaders
we appeal to you all, do what is right of us ,stand together and do want is right for your country, stay with us. GOD BLESS PNG.
Foreigners are slowly circling the airport. Once the airport is intact, PNGeans will have no place to go and stay.
The people are the constituents of this constituency, the very reason of the ‘existence’ of legislative members in Parliament, to represent them and work for them.
These constituents are the very reason of the establishment of the constitution, the definition of this Country – Papua New Guinea to become independent.
Of course these people are the generation of the people who built this very country during colonial times, sacrificing their home villages for the good of the nation’s development.
The leaders are supposed to be developing good homes for these people to live in. What is human development if you cannot build a simple home for a simple person? Human development starts with homes and a place to stay. Leaders do not know how to lead their people. They only boast of pride and power and hunt for fame and wealth for themselves and their immediate families, and their crooked partners. Leaders are supposed to be leading the people to live better lives in peace and harmony, instead of evicting them and chasing them out to another place, where a lot of social issues can arise from – causing problems! What kind of leaders do we have in this country – PNG? Just what kind of leaders do we have???
The very leaders have demolished Paga Hill already, affecting many lives. (Foreigners are slowly circling the Ports now. Once intact, PNGeans will have no place to go.)
The leaders, through systematic corruption and dealings have evicted many people (constituents of this nation) already, eg: at Arts Centre – Erima. Two mile hill eviction. 14 mile eviction. 6 mile eviction. 9 mile eviction. And now ATS eviction. (What about the Pandemic Act??? Are we sleeping???)
All in the name of development, we are killing ourselves, literally. Honest, I cannot understand this.
Make things worse is that only few elites gets to get the benefits from investors. These few many elites go behind the Lands Department with fraud dealings to get land lease titles, without even paying proper rentals annually. The state is not getting anything from these benefits too, but rather the public servants working in there. They manipulate the system, writing up false paper works to obtain land under false pretense, only to sell to the corporate investors with big money.
These crooks (PNG Leaders) then bribed all the heads looking after various departments to give authority to have the innocent people (the constituents) evicted from their homes, which they have been living innocently for more than 20 to 30 years.
The police says ‘we acted upon court order’ – good for them, no blame for them.
The court says ‘we acted upon judgments,’ based on evidences and findings from lawyers representing parties. One party is poor (the simple people), so the lawyers cannot make money out from them. The other investor party (parties – because of crook leaders’ involvement) have a lot of money to play around and deal with the force and court system to manipulate and gain. Because of money, the unfortunate party – the people – the constituents of this very constitution – even though have the universal right to stay on the land given by God, now have to move out from the land. Where will they go? Where will they send their children to school? Where will they stay to work and earn small income for their families? How will they afford to rent out other places – when looking at the rental fees at K500 to K1000 per week for a small simple home? It’s all too much!!!
In the end, the affected ones are the very pure people of Papua New Guinea.
A simple fact needed to be grasp by all is that – WE NO LONGER HAVE ANY LEADERS ANYMORE! (The leaders belonged to the business houses and investors now. The leaders belonged to money now.)
Note: This article does not pin point any particular leaders. Leaders stands for every leaders in this country.