Why doesn't the police arrest these SHP hooligans threatening the existing and new resource projects in that province? The govt should say enough is enough - we cannot let corrupt politicians like Hami Yawari treat the SHP provincial treasury as if it were his personal account. I'm told these landowner ILG chairmen/representatives calling for the withdrwal of the Ombudsman Commissison's referral of Yawari and threatening the stoppage of the project developments have all been bribed by Gov. Yawari to do so. The Govt should not be intimidated by such uncivilizedthreats. If it gives in, the next time it will be Enga's Gov. Ipatas and his supporters/tribesman threatening to shut down the porgera mine. Or Peter Yama and his supporters threatending the Ramu Nickel project or some corrupt politician in New Ireland threatening the Lihir gold mine... and where does this dangerous precedent stop? Investor confidence will fly through the roof by such threats. The Govt should decide right now to deploy extra number of police/solders in the project areas in SHP and let Yawari defend his case legally and in a civilised manner. And not behave like the illiterate landowner that he is and was before he got elected through corrupt means. - souths
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Threat to shut down oil, gas projects over Yawari referral (the post courier, 3 july 2006)

TRADITIONAL landowners are threatening to shut the oil and gas projects in the Southern Highlands over the referral of Governor Hami Yawari by the Ombudsman Commission. Executive officer of the Foe landowners Association Roy Magari said yesterday a formal protest will be lodged with the Ombudsman Commission and the National Government by 226 chairmen of the Incorporated Land Groups this week. Mr Magari said the landowners will travel to Port Moresby on chartered aircraft on Tuesday. He said the referral of Mr Yawari was a big mistake and called on the Ombudsman Commission to withdraw the referral. In a statement, Mr Magari said if the referral is not withdrawn, the landowners will jointly force Oil Search to close down the Kutubu project. The other actions the landowners will take are: l THE negotiations on the Gas project will also be stopped. l The National Government to pay the Kutubu landowners K18 million, the amount alleged to be outstanding Special Support Grants and l The review on the Kutubu project will not be signed adding that it was operating under an expired agreement. Mr Magari said Mr Yawari was a Foe landowner who was party to the signing of the Kutubu Project Agreement representing the Foe people and that he was given the powers to run the affairs of the Foe Landowners on matters relating to Kutubu project. “He (Mr Yawari) is still the general secretary of Foe Association Incorporated and that he is entitled to receive all benefits derived from the Kutubu project and the powers to distribute the benefits to the landowners. Mr Yawari on his return from the Philippines and Malaysia last week, called on the government not to disturb his administration. The Ombudsman Commission referred Mr Yawari last week on allegations of misconduct in office. It is alleged that Mr Yawari, among others, misappropriated funds belonging to the Kutubu Local Level Government Special Purposes Authority. Mr Yawari is the second Highlands governor to be referred by the Ombudsman Commission. Enga Governor who was referred was found guilty by the leadership tribunal.

While I don't at all like Hami Yawari because of the things he does, I'm beginning to think that it is high time to shut down all these so called "development" projects that have brought close to zero development to the people around those mines, oil wells, etc.

We should have zero tolerance for any further such projects that basically exist to make people rich in Waigani.

I would say that your criticism of Hami Yawari should be separated from whether or not it would be good to shut down those projects.

On the bright side, Hami Yawari's threat will be widely reported, find its way to the big banks of the world, and they'll be scared to death to lend any money to start up any more "development projects" that give no development to the local people.

What has all these oil and gas translated to ?? NOTHING for the people of Southern Highlands Province. I mean I need not to explain what I am saying here so who cares if the oil and gas project is shut down or not. If the masses benefit then YES we would care about what the Governor and his boys are saying but if not PHUCK IT,,who gives a **** what happens there. Gas or Oil,,the people of SHP have seen nothing so please don't use them for your political and selfish gains.

True Southern Highlander.

But what makes me so puzzled is why you Southern highlanders let it all happen after all this didn't start happening yesterday. It's been going on for years. Were you people asleep or what when Anderson "Christian" Agiru was making off with his money.