Head of the Catholic Church in PNG, Cardinal Sir John Ribat, has called on the National Government, the Office of the NCD Governor, and the Police to immediately stop forced evictions in the National Capital District unless proper and humane relocation plans are in place.
He questioned how a responsible government could evict thousands of its people in a settlement today and tell them the next day that the it will relocate them to a new place while vulnerable people such as women, girls, children and people living with disabilities have no place to sleep.
Cardinal Ribat stated that destroying houses of innocent families at 2 Mile Hill Settlement and in other settlements in NCD was a gross violation of human rights without proper planning of what happens before, during, and after an eviction in compliance with human rights standards.
He called on the authorities to stop these planned eviction exercises in NCD.
“Only a minority of young people and adults in settlements engage in petty crimes, criminal activities, and violent behavior while the majority of the settlers are law-abiding citizens, and there are parents who struggle to make ends meet to put food on the table and send their children to school,” he said.
Sir John expressed sympathy for citizens and members of the international community who have been victims of criminal attacks in settlement areas.
He also acknowledged the dedication of police officers who continue to provide public safety despite being outnumbered by the city’s growing population.
He stressed that youths and adults who engaged in criminal activities in settlements around NCD were the target group of people who have been neglected for far too long and were not at the center of discussions on law and order issues in NCD.
“Let’s stop the evictions in NCD as it will only put more burden on innocent law-abiding families who are displaced and homeless,” Sir John said.
“If our Government and the Office of the Governor of NCD are serious about addressing law and order in NCD in the short, medium and long term they should invest funding and resources in programs and projects that specifically target youths engaged in criminal activities, violent behavior, and substance abuse who live in the settlements in NCD, which is not difficult to identify and mobilize to engage in effective ongoing Community Policing Programs.
“PNG is a state party to both the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
“These rights cover a broad range of human rights, including freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial (Civil and Political), and the rights to work, education, and health (economic, social, and cultural).”
Archbishop Ribat also urged genuine landowners and foreign investors to include settlers in their development plans and budgets. He said development should place people at the center, not remove them without support.
He also urged the National Government to host a National Settlement Conference, bringing together key stakeholders to develop a National Community Policing Strategy and long-term plans to transform settlements into proper suburbs in line with human rights standards.
“Settlements are a development issue, not just a crime issue,” Sir John said. “If handled properly, they can become opportunities for inclusive national development.”