PAPUA New Guinea and Germany are set to collaborate on uncovering colonial-era land records to support land reform efforts in PNG.
This development follows a recent high-level meeting between PNG’s Justice Minister, Hon. Pila Niningi, and Germany’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Katja Keul in a meeting held in Port Moresby.
The meeting focused on a range of issues, including the critical topic of land ownership in PNG, a lingering issue from the colonial era.
Minister Niningi noted PNG’s ongoing efforts to establish a land commission to address land ownership disputes rooted in colonial history.
Hon. Niningi said access to archival records from Germany, which colonized the northern part of PNG, is vital for these efforts.
“We intend to visit Germany and recoup some of the available records,” Minister Niningi said.
“As we all know, the northern part of Papua New Guinea was colonized by Germany, and I believe you will have the information that the Land Commission of Papua New Guinea needs to recoup for our orientation as a nation.”
In addition to addressing historical land grievances, the meeting also touched on important issues, including international law, climate change and historical cooperation.
The cooperation is expected to facilitate PNG’s efforts to clarify land ownership issues, ensuring justice for traditional landowners affected by colonial land acquisition practices.
Minister Keul stressed the importance of multiculturalism and international law, particularly in light of recent conflicts in Europe and expressed gratitude to PNG’s supportive stance in the United Nation.
“We appreciate very much the clear stance of PNG on the international right, when it comes to war of aggression that that we’re seeing in Europe and Ukraine, something that touches our security interest really deeply”, Minster Keul said.
“And we appreciate very much that in the United Nations, the Pacific Islands and PNG stand side by side, when it comes to condemning war of aggression.”
Both ministers recognized the importance of working together to foster mutual respect and understanding while addressing historical injustices.
Looking ahead, a delegation from PNG is scheduled to travel to Germany in September to engage with federal archives and institutions. This visit aims to uncover historical documents related to colonial land acquisition, which will be instrumental in supporting PNG’s land reform initiatives.
Both sides expressed optimism about future collaborations, not only in historical and cultural contexts but also in broader areas of mutual interest, including climate action and legal reform.
