Papua New Guinea's largest superannuation company is evicting more than 5,000 people from an illegal settlement on the outskirts of Port Moresby. Residents in the area, known as Bush Wara, say they now have nowhere to go.
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00:00The one final protest. The next day, signs of defeat. More than 5,000 settlers on the
00:13outskirts of Port Moresby have been ordered to rip down their homes and leave.
00:21Machines are coming to destroy our homes. When we see them we will leave, but where
00:25will we go?
00:27The land known as Bushwara is owned by PNG's largest superannuation company, Number One
00:33Super.
00:34They have not developed it or haven't developed it for a long time.
00:38People here purchase land sold fraudulently by people claiming to be customary landowners.
00:44Over decades they've built houses, schools and churches, all worth millions of dollars.
00:51We spent our own money. We made these roads. We got the water. We connected the power.
01:03A court case in 2019 upheld the superannuation company's right to the land. Number One Super
01:09says it's tried to negotiate with stakeholders.
01:13Having exhausted all options, it's now necessary to secure the vacant possession of these lands,
01:19which are valued assets owned by the members of NSL.
01:23PNG's Prime Minister James Murape says his government offered almost $30 million to buy
01:30the land, but the company refused.
01:33Doctors, nurses, teachers and public servants all live in this settlement. Some are even
01:39members of the superannuation fund that's trying to evict them.
01:43But leaving 5,000 people without homes could lead to crime and disorder. Provincial Governor
01:50Pallas Parkhop has asked the national government to intervene.
01:54I believe there will be a solution that is win-win for everyone.
01:58For these families, it's far too late.