RD TUNA CORPORATE PROFILE
July 28th 2010: RD Managers Threaten Workers In Their Own Village
July 27th 2010: Trouble at RD Tuna as workers strike over minimum wage
6 RD Tuna Workers Face Murder Charges In Death of PNG Government Official
PNG Official sought to protect dolphins
Six RD Tuna workers - all Filippino - are facing murder charges in the death of National Fisheries Observer, Charlie Lasisi of New Ireland Province.
The incident took place on 29 March of this year on board the RD Tuna vessel FV/Dolores 838 inside the Bismark Seas in Vanimo, along the Indonesian/PNG border.
Police said Mr. Lasisi had been strongly objecting to the fishing of dolphins by RD Vessels. The catching of dolphins, sharks and other prohibited fish has been one of the many criticisms of RD over years.
The summary of facts said it was between 6pm-7pm when he went missing after he left the ship’s mess hall. It said when he left the room, two Filippino crew members - Ramil Lumactod and June Alon left with him, but returned to report he had “gone missing.” The captain searched the area and ship and could not locate Lasisi or the body.
On 31 March a report was sent to the Managing Director of National Fisheries Authority (NFA) Sylvester Pokajam and the National Maritime Safety Authority who sent officers to investigate on “suspicion of murder”. Also charged with murder in addition to Ramil and June were Bonfacio Gelvoko, Franz Olivia Oyao, Jerwin Famini and Francisco Famini.
The six were remanded at Beon jail in Madang for several days until K500 bail each with TEN CONDITIONS were granted by Justice David Cannings. They were released under the care of the senior Vice President of RD Tuna Canners Limited in Madang. Justice Cannings ordered that RD Canners pay surety of K10,000 because they were all foreigners. Cannings said the amount should ensure they six do not escape because not only would the money be forfeited but it would proven bad for the corporate reputation of RD Tuna if the six did not return. The accused will appear again for mention on 30 July.
July 13 2010: Filipinos face murder charges. SIX Filipino fishermen are in remand at the Beon jail in Madang. They appeared for the mention at the Committal Court last Friday ona charge of the murder of a National Fisheries Authority officer. The Government worker, from New Ireland, was an observer abroad the RD Tuna fishing vessel, Dolly 838. He had gone missing between Vanimo and Madang early this year. Police files tendered in court accused the six Filipinos of murder. They said the fisheries officer had objected to the fishing of dolphins. Although police admitted to having only circumstantial evidence, they said they had enough to commit the accused to trial. The accused will appear again for mention on July 30. (Source: The National).
July 5 2010: The Indigenous People within the Madang Lagoon-Rempi, Budup, Midiba and Kananam are angered over Gabriel Kapris and the RD Tuna as Share Holders to the Marine Industrial Zone in Madang Papua New Guinea.
June 29 2010: PMIZ Hits Legal Hurdle
October 23 2009: Sir Arnold Amet grants PMIZ green light
October 15 2009: Over 700 Protest in Madang over PMIZ
Oct 15 2009: International Alert Regarding PMIZ
September 9 2009: Youtube RD Tuna Video Hits the Internet
"Blessed Are the Meek For They Shall Inherit The Earth" Jesus Christ
Site shutdown due to legal threats: November 13-November 15 2007.
RD Tuna attempts further legal action against this website and a similar site April 15 2008 (and again April 2009). RD believe the entire site is defamatory. Does this mean that RD also considers that the above quote by Jesus is also defamatory?
This was an advertisement placed in the Post Courier newspaper October 15 2009. More historical information can be found here
Sep 19 2009: Local graffiti outlining concerns about tuna canneries
Sep 09: Original Government/Industry Propoganda
New article regarding PMIZ here
RD Tuna attempts further legal action against this website and a similar site April 15 2008 (and again April 2009).
Feb 08: RD Tuna facility bombed in Philippines
November 2006: Local graffit in Madang targeting RD Tuna
RD Tuna Fails Inspection?
RD Tuna Drops NGO Lawsuit/RD Tuna Concedes Defeat Feb 08
March 2006: Part of the crowd of 3000 people protesting RD Tuna at Vidar Port.
March 2006: 3000 Kananam People Take Action
National Court Orders RD Tuna To Compensate Landowners (December 2004) see here
Three Killed in Boat Fire
Also Dead Fishermen in Freezers
(Above) RD Tuna fishing boats at Vidar on the north coast of Papua New Guinea in the Madang Province.
(Above) The quality of tuna that RD sells to Papua New Guineans themselves, versus to export markets, is clear here. 'Diana' tuna is the RD tuna brand sold to unsuspecting Papua New Guineans... full of red tuna meat (high in mercury levels?) just like the tuna given to cats in developed countries (compare against the Figaro cat food in photo. RD reserves the 'good quality tuna' for developed countries -- see the 'Western Family' tin, full of RD's very best. In fact, even cats in developed countries sometimes get better quality tuna (note the 'Fancy Feast' tin) than Papua New Guineans who unsuspectingly buy the Diana brand tuna.
An Independent Corporate Research Report
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