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| Public forum - Provincial Administrator (left) Luthern General Secretary (centre). Image: Bryan Kramer, 2018. |
The settlement is on land owned by Lurtheran Church. Over the years a local man illegally sold portions of the land to people from other provinces.
This gave rise to an influx of people squatting on land, followed by law order problems being reported in the area.
In early 2017 the Lutheran Church took the matter to court and obtained an eviction order.
To avoid any issues arising from the eviction I decided to get involved to ensure eviction was carried out properly to avoid any human rights abuses, giving cause for further court injunctions.
In April 2018 the Madang District Project Office carried out social mapping exercise of the area to ensure eviction notice was duly served and understood by those affected.
Following the mapping exercise 693 houses were identified and documented both by GPS and photos taken on the ground.
The settlers were given more than 6 months notice that an eviction exercise would be carried out.
This week we announced the eviction exercise will be carried out on 16th February 2019, giving a further one month notice.
I requested a unit of Mobile 14 from Goroka be deployed to Madang to carryout awareness of the planned eviction as well debriefing them of the outcome of social mapping and to carry out early reconnaissance and a patrol of the area.
A month from today a full unit of 40 plus members of Mobile 14 will return to Madang to work in partnership with Madang Police to carryout the eviction.
Madang District Project Office will assist those who agree on voluntary eviction to transport their properties and belongings from the land. Steps have also been taken to assist with the transfer of any children who are enrolled and reside in the settlement to other schools in their respective Provinces.
Following the eviction exercise at Nagada Madang District and Provincial Administration will carryout full social mapping of all settlements in and around Madang in an effort address urban drift, petty crimes and land grabbing.
In early 2017 the Lutheran Church took the matter to court and obtained an eviction order.
To avoid any issues arising from the eviction I decided to get involved to ensure eviction was carried out properly to avoid any human rights abuses, giving cause for further court injunctions.
In April 2018 the Madang District Project Office carried out social mapping exercise of the area to ensure eviction notice was duly served and understood by those affected.
Following the mapping exercise 693 houses were identified and documented both by GPS and photos taken on the ground.
The settlers were given more than 6 months notice that an eviction exercise would be carried out.
 |
| Public gathering to discuss process of the planned eviction. Image: Bryan Kramer. |
I requested a unit of Mobile 14 from Goroka be deployed to Madang to carryout awareness of the planned eviction as well debriefing them of the outcome of social mapping and to carry out early reconnaissance and a patrol of the area.
A month from today a full unit of 40 plus members of Mobile 14 will return to Madang to work in partnership with Madang Police to carryout the eviction.
Madang District Project Office will assist those who agree on voluntary eviction to transport their properties and belongings from the land. Steps have also been taken to assist with the transfer of any children who are enrolled and reside in the settlement to other schools in their respective Provinces.
Following the eviction exercise at Nagada Madang District and Provincial Administration will carryout full social mapping of all settlements in and around Madang in an effort address urban drift, petty crimes and land grabbing.
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| Map of the area 693 houses 3,000 people. |
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