PNG landowners threaten energy projects - Breaking News - World - Breaking News

Landowners in a PNG province set to supply gas to Australia are threatening to shut down energy projects unless the national ombudsman drops allegations that their governor stole public money.
Southern Highlands landowners warned they would force the energy company Oil Search to close down its Kutubu oil field project on their lands unless PNG's Ombudsman Commission withdrew its referral of provincial Governor Hami Yawari to the public prosecutor.
They also warned they would stop negotiations on the proposed PNG-Queensland gas pipeline set to feed from Southern Highlands fields.
Yawari is alleged to have taken money from a local government authority, spent it on himself and failed to disclose personal income details to the Ombudsman as required of public leaders.
The governor has launched court action against last week's referral, saying it ignored his explanations over the allegations and he had never stolen or wrongfully used public monies.
Foe (Foe) Landowners Association executive officer Roy Magari said a formal protest would be lodged with the Ombudsman and the national government by 226 land group chairmen this week, PNG's Post-Courier newspaper reported on Monday.
Landowner leaders would charter a plane to fly to Port Moresby on Tuesday to pursue their protest, he said.
Yawari has been widely criticised for giving cash handouts in his province rather than ensuring funds go to maintain schools, hospitals, health posts and roads which are among the most run-down and neglected in PNG.
He is also in legal dispute over the appointment of an alternative provincial administrator by the national government which has signalled an investigation into the province's administration.
The controversial governor last week warned the national government not to disturb his administration because that might disturb the PNG-Queensland gas pipeline project.
"Southern Highlands is a very important province, don't come and disturb me, it might disturb the gas project," he said.
The public prosecutor will assess the Ombudsman's referral of Yawari to determine if there was sufficient evidence to ask the chief justice to appoint a leadership tribunal to inquire into the allegations.
The maximum penalty the tribunal can impose is a ban on holding public office for three years.
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