27 May 2002

PNG's Forest Watch says government is making empty promises about illegal logging

8:25 am on 27 May 2002

The Papua New Guinea group Forest Watch has accused the government of making empty promises about closing illegal logging operations.

Last Friday, the attorney general failed to attend a court sitting aimed at closing the Kiunga-Aiambak logging project in western province.

This followed assurances by the prime minister that the government would close the project.

A ruling in favour of the state would have meant that an injunction taken out by Concord Pacific could be lifted, paving the way for the Forestry Authority to shut the project.

The absence of the attorney general means that the case has now been adjourned indefinitely.

Forest Watch says this shows that the prime minister seems to be unable to atop the corruption which destroys the country's forests.

A ruling in favour of the state would have meant that an injunction taken out by Concord Pacific could be lifted, paving the way for the Forestry Authority to shut the project.