Kutubu landowners remain at loggerheads
The National, Copyright 2000
November 16, 2000
By CHRISTINA KEWA-EVEKONE
LANDOWNER issues in Papua New Guinea are amongst the hardest to deal with especially when it comes to resource development in the country, and the Kutubu project in the Southern Highlands province is no exception.
This week two different groups of executives for the Namo'Aporo Association, the principal association owning about 90 per cent of the Kutubu project, have been at loggerheads trying to work out who the true executives of the association were.
A report by Chevron Niugini, the developer of the Kutubu project, said on Tuesday that John Kapi Natto's executives were the legitimate executives of the association, but another group of landowners called a press conference yesterday saying they were the duly elected executives of the association.
The group, with their newly appointed Chairman Lori Tipi and his executives including, David Sakana (Deputy Chairman), Mark Sakai (Secretary), and Ronny Mutu (Treasurer) with up to 20 major landowners in Kutubu produced documents which showed that Mr Tipi's executives were the ultimate executives of the association and that any issues regarding the project, developers, and landowners should be channelled through Mr Tipi's leadership.
At the press conference, Mr Tipi pointed out four major issues saying:
The Namo'Aporo landowner leadership dispute as it was called in Chevron Niugini's report "was not a dispute, but that everything is in order and that his executives were the ultimate leaders;
Chevron Niugini as a project developer should stay out of landowner issues;
Petroleum and Energy Secretary Joseph Gabut should stay neutral and not get involved in landowner issues;
The Petroleum and Energy Minister should set up an investigative team to look into the affairs of Mr Gabut and his affiliation with "false landowner groups who are trying to disturb the Kutubu project."
Mr Tipi produced copies of letters written by the current Administrator of the Southern Highlands province, Pila Niningi, acknowledging and recognising him (Mr Tipi) as the chairman of the landowner group, and that any landowner issues to do with the Kutubu project must go through him.
Mr Niningi, who is the political and administrative head in the resource-rich Southern Highlands province, wrote four letters of recognition dated Oct 30 to relevant authorities on the appointment of Mr Tipi as the chairman of the association.
The signed letters were sent to, Isikeli Taureka (Country Manager of Chevron Niugini), Madiu Andrew (Managing Director of MRDC), Joseph Gabut (Secretary for Petroleum and Energy) and Dr Fabian Pok (then Minister for Petroleum and Energy).
Mr Niningi's letter carried the same message for all the four addressees, and a portion of the letter read:
"I have the pleasure to inform you that Mr Lori Tipi has been appointed chairman of the Principal Landowners Namo'Aporo Association of the Kutubu project.
"My administration has officially recognised the Lori Tipi executives who were constitutionally and legally elected on Oct 5 and declared on Oct 11 by the Electoral Commission of Papua New Guinea.
"Sir, do not be distracted by media releases because they are intended to create confusion initiated by the former executives of the association.
"I am committed to work with the Lori Tipi administration and not the former."
Mr Tipi further said that he was ready to work with all authorities and bodies as far as the Kutubu project was concerned.
"I am ready to work with Mr Gabut or any Secretary appointed by the government in the best interest of the project which in turn will bring benefit to the people of Southern Highlands and PNG as a whole," Mr Tipi said.