by Rachael Shisei – EM TV Madang
People from the Bel area in the Madang Province, who believe they are directly and or indirectly affected by the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ), have gathered at the Riwo village today, with Senior Statesman, Sir Angmai Bilas, the Member for Sumkar Ken Fairweather, Nancy Sullivan, Tuna Expert and Director of Nancy Sullivan & Associates, along with three other defendants in the current PMIZ court case.
Much was said in the gathering by representatives of villages in the Bel area, with questions mostly aimed at knowing and understanding why the Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry (DTCI) restrained certain landowners among them, defendants in the case from talking about what they need to know.
A call from the people is going out to the Madang MP, Nixon Philip Duban and the Madang Governor Jim Kas, to hold a public gathering and make their stands clear regarding the PMIZ issue.
The Sumkar MP, Mr Fairweather and Ms Nancy Sullivan, as an update, explained to the people what the matter before the court means, and that three of them (defendants) have filed Human Rights Applications against the DTCI.
The Bel people are currently awaiting answers to a petition containing 5,000 of their signatures, which they have previously passed on to Mr Fairweather, to which he presented in last parliament’s sitting; as well as the outcomes of the restraining order by DTCI; and the Human Rights Applications filed by the defendants against the DTCI.
Meanwhile, Ms Sullivan also made mention that they, the defendants in the PMIZ case against the DTCI have received support from overseas, especially from America and Australia.
She feels this is a positive sign.
The Sumkar MP Mr Fairweather also in line with Ms Sullivan’s statement, made mention on Friday when filing his Human Rights Application to court, that he will do everything necessary and take the case to the Judiciary Level, as well as to the International Communities.
The court hearing regarding the restraining order by the DTCI on the 11 defendants, is set to take place on the 21st of July, at the Madang National Court House.
