27 Peren villages clarify on timber ban

Following the ban imposed by civil society organisations in Peren district on movement of unprocessed timber from Peren district to other districts, 27 villages under Peren district have clarified that “material forest products sold out to the contractors with an agreement made for the operation of log/timber under certain condition and period cannot be banned by any individual or groups as contractors have every right to operate until validity period is over.”In a press release issued on behalf of the 27 villagesMbaupungchi village chairman Ipeu and Nkio Lodi village chairman Dileu cautioned that in the event of any case of violence or intimidation taking place in near future involving the villagers or timber contractors, the ban imposers would be held sole responsible.Further, the signatories said that the “imposer of the ban” would also be responsible with regard to issue of “refunding the price of the area purchased”. The list of villages included Old Ngaulong, Ngaulong Lodi, Bamsiakilwa, Nkio B, Nkio Lodi, Ngam, Old Sohget, Lower Sinjol, Nsenlwa, BeisumpuiZandi, Songsang, Beisumpuilwa, Upper Singol, Old Nkio, Heiranglwa, Lalong, Nchen, Azailong, Mbaupungchi, Nchangram, Nsong, Old Nzau, New Nzau, Old Tesen, New Tesen, Mbaulwa and Tening Village.