The church governing council is just implementing what the synod has resolved.
The highest structure within the church is the synod, the synod is the general assembly which comprised of 50 members who are from 17 districts in Papua New Guinea.
This was a statement from Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea’s General Secretary Bernard Kaisom as clarification for the eviction exercise at the Malahang in Lae.
He said the decision to carry out the eviction was not done by individuals within the administration.
“The last synod has resolved to take back the land thus I as the General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the church administration acted on the highest command of control to implement eviction,”
“Legal processes of implementing eviction exercise started in 2011. A court order to vacate land portion 354 was given to occupants in April this year.”
“Four months period was given to the occupants to appeal and voluntarily vacate the area however the occupants have failed to respond.”
He made this statement to clarify widespread rumors from settlers that the move has some connections to business deals with church individuals running the church administration.
Kaisom said the church has plans to develop the area for commercial purposes and only genuine people or businesses will be invited to lease once the project is completed.
Eviction exercise commenced on Saturday.
Already two shops situated at the area have been evicted and the exercise continues on this week.