Landowners of four large timber project areas in the Aitape-Lumi electorate of West Sepik Province want the Malaysian developer out.

The landowners of the South West Wapei, Romei-Tadji, Aitape East and West are strongly opposed to the Malaysian logger Samas Limited, and have called on Forest Minister Patrick Pruaitch to intervene to halt the operations.

They claimed the company did not follow proper procedures in obtaining the permit and licence to harvest logs and build roads in the area, totalling 410, 790 hectares.

They also claimed the company's activities in the area were in breach of the forestry laws.

The landowners said they had amalgamated to form a large forest management area to be able to attract a developer.

They said they did not invite Samas Limited to go in to develop the resource.

Forest Minister Mr. Pruaitch has said the company was brought in at the initiative of the landowners.

He said Samas Limited was contracted to build and maintain roads in Aitape-Lumi area.

The Minister also said the company was not a logger but a construction company, whic also wants to re-develop the existing oil palm and other agro-forestry projects.

The landowners, headed by Robert Sai (South West Wapei) and Ignas Numo (Romei-Tadji) have, however, rejected the Minister's explanation.

They pointed out that an agreement was signed between the company and Aitape-Lumi Consolidated Forest Resources in November last year which stated that the company would undertake logging operations, apart from building and maintaining roads and developing agro-forestry projects.