Families left homeless and properties destroyed as ATS eviction continues

A family sitting on a mattress in an open air after their home was demolished. Photo: Charlie Dumavi/PNG Bulletin

OVER 2,000 families are left homeless and properties worth thousands of kina destroyed as eviction continues at the Air Transport Squadron (ATS) Oro block in the Moresby North-East electorate with no government intervention.

Many block holders lost their investments that they have been building and living on the land portion 695 for over 20-30 years.

The eviction came about after the Asian investor called Dunlavin Limited obtain the portion 695 land title from the Lands Department and a court order from the Waigani National Court to clear the land.

School students, public servants and the informal sector in the area are badly affected as permanent structures in the likes of family homes, rental apartments and mini trade stores are demolished.

*School students and working class people residing at the ATS Oro block on land portion 695 forced to remove their permanent structures. Photo: Charlie Dumavi/PNG Bulletin*

Randolph Sunana, a father who lost his family home that cost him about K30,000 to build. A shelter that housed his extended family of 17 children told The PNG Bulletin that he is now confused where to take his family to.

“We are lost and we don’t know where to go. We spent money to build all these things but the government has no relocation plan to compensate for all this,” Sunana said.

The settlers are instructed to comply with the court order and vacate the area. Those that did not comply had their properties forcefully demolished under the watchful eyes of the police personnel deployed there to implement the court order.

The manner in which the eviction is done has been widely criticized on social media, questioning the current government of its “Take Back PNG” agenda.

Port Moresby North-East MP John Kaupa visited the affected community once, prior to the actual eviction and assured to assist the people. However, the people are still waiting for the help he assured them to do.

“Eviction order is in place, but there are other avenues that we can talk about with the investors. I assure you that we are working with the Lands Minister and the investor to find a win-win situation or find a land somewhere for the investor to develop. If we fail, I will come back and inform the people that there will be no demolition,” Kaupa said.

However, Kaupa never visited the affected people in his electorate again since the eviction started.

Giam Eringe, a mother with his three year old daughter and husband along with his dependent parents are helpless that they have to remove their permanent family home.

“We bought this land for K5, 000 and the building of our family home cost over K40, 000. All my family we have been devastated. We have nowhere else to go and we are still searching for a place to go and reside. That’s for us the working class but the people who depend on marketing, they are greatly affected.

“All I can say is that the current government hasn’t done enough for the people. The government should compensate the affected community. Just compensate us so we can move on to another place to resettle,” Eringe said.

*Giam Eringe’s family home that cost the family K40, 000 to build is now gone leaving them homeless. Photo: Charlie Dumavi/PNG Bulletin*

Moreover, the displaced settlers are questioning why the government is silent about the issue and other similar issues that are happening in the country.

They are now calling on the Marape-Basil government, the NCD governor Powes Parkop and their local MP John Kaupa to come out and address this issue.