Kokoda rape and attack not true

[Rico]

Many of you read the recent story of the english and american hikers attacked by cannibals in the Kokoda corridor, gang raped and mutilated...

Well it seems like that the real story was quite different...

http://www.cairnspost.com.au/doubts-rai ... 4161215b2b

[wayno]

there was an event in NZ, while not as serious in its allegations, had some similarities about how people create stories.
a group of trampers were trying to get out of the mountains, they had plane flights to catch and were going to miss them because they couldnt get across a flooded river. they were in a hut with a DOC radio, they used it to call for a rescue helicopter.
the radio operator at the other end passed on the request to DOC who had to give permission for a helicopter to land for that park, DOC and the police decided not to send the helicopter. the people wanting rescue then convinced the radio operator that there was a travesty and they needed rescueing and the radio operator put them in contact with the media who then took up the side of the stranded trampers, publishing articles in their favour even going to editorial level to slam DOC for negligence of peoples safety and refusing to rescue trampers who needed rescueing..
the stranded trampers were at no time in any danger, they were warm and safe in a hut with spare food. being delayed in your trip by a flooded river does not constitute cause for a helicopter rescue. park rules banned helicopter landings for non DOC business or emergency related landings.

[GPSGuided]

That's so pathetic! I remember reading the story too and wondered what a coincident that the victim was a reality show star. I wondered the authenticity. So glad to hear my hunch proved correct and that the reputation of the region and people may be restored.

[north-north-west]

Ummmmm, hate to nit-pick, but that article doesn't actually say it's been proven a false accusation, just that the story is being questioned. The questions raised are valid, and there's a good chance the investigation will show it was all fabricated, but the results aren't in yet.

[Rico]

Hi NNW, while I agree with you that it is still not proven that the story has been fabricated, it is also true that there were terrible consequences for the local people as a result of those accusations.
The medias, happy to have such a juicy story in their hands, already condemned the PNG people, picturing them as cannibals and rapists. Those accusations already damaged their small tourism industry, which is mainly composed by hikers.
I think it is fair enough to consider the local tribes 100% innocent until proven otherwise, and in the main time give peace of mind to any reader of this public forum looking for informations on personal safety in PNG.

[Lindsay]

Unfortunately there is already a well established extortion/protection racket run by local villagers against trekkers in PNG so its easy to believe the worst.

[GPSGuided]

Extortion is quite different to accusations of rape and cannibalism.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[wayno]

potential crimes and criminals are supposed to be referred to as "alleged" in all media unless they are proven true in a court of law.
running with just one side of the story is unprofessional.
but what would northern hemisphere journalists know about the reality of papua new guinea beyond a cardboard cutout understanding.
there was the story about violent attack on porters on a track in PNG, there was a lot of history leading up to it though that was left out of most reporting until outside magazine did an article. locals had been left out of portering for the guided walks despite there being agreements that locals should be portering to help the local economy
http://www.outsideonline.com/1922566/tr ... new-guinea

[flyfisher]

The Outsideonline story is a fascinating insight into the background problems with running these treks.

Agreat read.

FF

[wayno]

the culture in PNG has been one of retribution for wrong doing. that is what they know and understand.. then foreigners come in and apply their own sense of justice which requires a lot more patience and no guarantee that justice will be served the way they want it.