Koiaris to impose poaching law
Copyright 2000 The National (PNG)
December 11, 2000
THE KOIARI local level government council in the Central province is now processing an environmental law for the protection of its natural resources from poachers.
In a recent council assembly meeting held last week at the Central provincial assembly hall, councillors and presidents resolved to introduce the law.
The proposed legislation will protect the rights and interests of the Koiari people with respect.
Councillor Selu said animal poachers were recently caught in the area but released due to lack of evidence.
There are also no rules in place to empower councillors against poacherss.
Mr Selu said that there have been intruders in the area without the landowners knowledge.
He said that major private companies and individuals have been fooling the people by signing shallow Memorandum of Agreements which are not benefiting the people.
"In doing so they are creating inter-clan disputes over land ownership. They are causing widespread environmental damages."
"In PNG, the people and the environment are interdependent in many ways therefore it is advisable that we have some kind of rules in place to protect our environment and environmental issues affecting the people," he said.
Mr Selu said the local level government has been empowered under the reforms to make rules and he would do everything possible to have an environmental law in place to protect the rights of the people.
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