Moem clan groups protest over Boram airport land compensation

Two registered Indigenous Land Groups (ILGs) from Moem village in Ward 9 of Wewak Rural LLG have raised concerns over the Boram airport land compensation process, calling on the East Sepik Provincial Administration to establish the rightful landowners before any compensation payments are made.

The Mombui Clan Group and Pose Tamare Clan Group raised their grievances with the East Sepik Provincial Administration this morning, November 6, over land ownership, the identification of customary landowners and the compensation process.

The two groups are demanding a proper Land Investigation Report (LIR) to establish the traditional land boundaries and identify the legitimate landowners of the Boram airport area.

They also want the Provincial Administration to recognise the respective Indigenous Land Groups through proper landowner identification, including the verification of genealogy records and common land boundaries.

Moem Ward 9-member, John Kalsup, told NBC News that the Provincial Administration must first carry out a land investigation report to establish the land boundaries and identify the rightful owners.

“We believe what the East Sepik Provincial Administration must do is a Land Investigation Report (LIR) so we can identify the land boundaries,” Kalsup said.

He further stressed that land compensation payments must be made to the recognised Indigenous Land Groups and not into private company accounts.

The two clan groups have also engaged a lawyer to represent them in the matter and are calling for a proper land mediation process to establish the legitimate customary landowners of Boram airport.

They have also warned that work on the newly constructed road from the CIS area down to Pukpuk bridge will be stopped until the Provincial Administration addresses the outstanding Boram airport land compensation issue, including compensation relating to the airport extension.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the two registered Indigenous Land Groups told NBC News that their lawyer would deliver a Section 5 Notice to the East Sepik Provincial Administration before close of business today.

The notice, under the Claims by and Against the State Act 1996, formally informs the State of their intention to pursue legal action over the Boram airport land compensation dispute.

This is a developing story, and NBC News will continue to follow the matter and provide further updates as more information becomes available.