From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier:
On page 7 in an article printed in the Post-Courier yesterday, it was stated in connection with a case before the National Court that the chairman of a landowner group was allegedly forced into signing a forest management agreement by an executive of a foreign logging company.
The proceeding referred to by the Post-Courier relates to the Middle Ramu Block 1 Forest Management Area, which is the subject of National Court proceeding OS (JR) No.504 of 2007 involving Timbers (PNG) Ltd and other parties.
The Post-Courier published yesterday s article on the basis of an affidavit filed in the proceeding on behalf of the plaintiffs.
The Post-Courier acknowledges that it should not have published extracts of that affidavit in circumstances where the affidavit has not yet been tendered and accepted into evidence, and where matters alleged in that affidavit have not been tested by cross-examination.
Timbers (PNG) Ltd, which is a subsidiary company of the Rimbunan Hijau (PNG) Group wishes to state that it has complied with all necessary procedures under the Forestry Act leading up to the signing of the project agreement. Furthermore Timbers (PNG) Ltd is strenuously defending the proceeding.
Timbers (PNG) Ltd also denies the allegation in yesterday s article that the landowners were not consulted by the PNG Forest Board regarding the selection of the developer.
The Post-Courier also acknowledges that the substantive issues in dispute have not yet been determined and a decision will not be handed down next Monday, as was reported.
It is expected that next Monday, the court will hand down a decision on a procedural point of law as to whether the court has the power to issue ex parte interim injunctions prior to the grant of leave for judicial review.
In relation to the correction to yesterday s article, the Post-Courier regrets any negative perceptions which may have arisen from the article.
