WUNRN
Where are the voices of women
"on the ground" amidst these neoliberal models of economic growth
that may well not include a human rights paradigm for protecting and honoring
the rights of villagers, small farmers, rural people, fisherfolk +. Economic
development promises, trade agreements, privatization, may rule. Follow the
money and power, and look for the poor women. Who listens? Who cares?
Please Read 2 Parts of This WUNRN
Release.
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PAPUA NEW GUINEA - WOMEN FEAR EVICTION FOR ECONOMIC ZONE
By Joshua Arlo*-
March 31, 2011
Women
and children from the Rempi area of Madang fear eviction as the government
presses ahead with plans for
Together with their men, the women met to air their
grievances about the government sanctioned US$300 million Pacific Marine
Industrial Zone which promises to bring in 10 new fish canneries and about
30,000 jobs.
The Pacific Marine Industrial Zone is a special economic
zone development driven by the national government of PNG. PMIZ will add to the
existing RD Tuna cannery plant which has been in the province for the last 15
years. PMIZ was first introduced as a 'marine park' concept but now
appears to be much larger in scope, incorporating a new shipping dock and other
industrial developments as part of the SEZ.
While the government is still developing its SEZ
legislation, it is understood SEZs will be allowed to operate outside the
jurisdiction of many PNG laws.
According to the government, PNG stands to benefit a lot
from the project. It says the project should maximize the value of tuna through
downstream processing, creating economies of scale opportunities, secure
collective bargaining power over markets and tuna resources and create
opportunities for small
But local families are confused and upset after hearing
that they may have to be evicted from their homes because they have found out
their land is no longer theirs but RD Tuna's. They revealed that there was
never any awareness or real consultation process taken on by the government
with the resource owners as to the benefits and negative impacts the project
will bring to the people.
They say they oppose the project, stating that they have
not seen any real benefits from RD Tuna since it has been operating in the
country for the last 15 years.
RD Tuna owns over 800 hectares of land along the
People do not know if they will soon have to get permits
to enter land which was once theirs - and they say is rightfully theirs -
because already fencing has begun for several hundreds of acres. Along the
road, as far as the eye can see, iron fencing supported by a base of cement and
painted blue has been put up. Some villages have been fenced in; they face the
dilemma of being evicted but have no place to be relocated so continue to live
behind bars.
They say now they cannot travel to gardens which are in
the fenced area, cannot catch fish, the sago leaves that is used for thatching
their hamlet roofs are no longer accessible.
For the village elders , where their women and children
will be evicted or relocated to is a notion they do not want to contemplate in
the near future.
* Post Courier
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ISIS International - Women in Action
Publication
Women in a Weary World - Climate
Change & Women in the Global South
Direct Link to Full 8-Page Article
When
Blessing Becomes a Curse in the Niger Delta
by Betty Abah
