Tue May 23, 2006 8:02 pm
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Tue May 23, 2006 10:29 pm
Government grounds swamp ghost
RELEVANT government agencies, including the Internal Revenue Commission, have been directed by the government to prevent the shipment of a war relic, a World War II fighter aircraft, to the United States.
Acting Prime Minister Sir Moi Avei announced yesterday that the national government would review the decision by the National Museum and Art Gallary board of trustees to approve the shipment of the B-17 E Boeing bomber, dubbed the swamp ghost to the US.
In a statement released yesterday following revelations by the media about the shipment of the war relic out of Popondetta, where it had been resting in the Agaiembo Lake since 1942, Sir Moi said: “Like many Papua New Guineans, I was shocked to learn that PNG would lose this very important relic from PNG’s World War II past.”
The acting PM said his office was yesterday inundated by phone calls from concerned citizens following the media coverage on the salvage operation.
He said he was very surprised that such an important matter had not been brought to the attention of the national executive council well before the salvage operation was granted approval.
Sir Moi said he had directed the Minister for Culture and Tourism David Basua to use whatever powers available to suspend the shipment of the aircraft, until the issue had been considered in full by the government.
“I have directed the minister to prepare a detailed briefing paper on the matter, and to explain why the National Museum and Art Gallery approved the salvaging and shipment of the aircraft.”
He added that the government would also closely examine the legal basis behind the decision.
He said the aircraft was a very important historical relic for PNG and it would add to the country’s World War II memorabilia that attracts thousands of visitors to the country every year.
He said in this regard, he found it very difficult to comprehend the decision by government authorities to allow the war relic’s shipment to the United States.
The acting PM acknowledged that his decision would cause concern for the US-based salvaging group, but added that he was acting in the national interest and the public expected the decision to be reviewed by the government.
Sir Moi said in accordance with his decision, the director of the national museum had instructed relevant government authorities, such as the Internal Revenue Commission, to prevent shipment of the aircraft.
Tue May 23, 2006 10:37 pm
PM must intervene: Jojoga
By JULIA DAIA BORE
LANDOWNERS from the Agaiembo Lake area have called on Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to intervene and stop the shipment of the Swamp Ghost to the United States.
The Swamp Ghost refers to the remains of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber that was shot down over the Musa area of Northern province in 1942 after carrying out a raid on a Japanese base in Rabaul, East New Britain province, as it was heading back to Townsville in Australia.
All nine crew members of the plane reportedly survived the crash and made it back to safety after crossing the Kokoda Track.
Karaisa landowners representative Willington Jojoga said the relic rightfully belonged to Papua New Guinea.
“Under no circumstances should any foreigner be allowed to have it removed and taken out of the country,” Mr Jojoga, a former UPNG academic and PNG historian, said yesterday.
He said the whole issue on the B-17 E Boeing 41-2246 bomber should not have been allowed to have advanced this far.
According to available documents and reports, Mr Jojoga said there were three different American groups interested in the Swamp Ghost, beginning in 1980.
One group was led by a Bob Gonzales from the Travis Air force Base Historical Society, who dealt with a senior officer at the war museum.
The Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation (MARC) group was the second, although its members did not clearly identify themselves and initially said all they wanted was to make a documentary movie based on the recollections of the two remaining crew members still alive today.
The documentary, they had said, would involve the local people.
This group was led by a Fred Hagen which dealt directly with a senior officer at the National Museum and Art Gallery.
From this deal came a payment of about US$100,000 (K301,000) in June 1999.
It was at this time that former PNG ambassador to the US Sir Nagora Bogan became aware of what was going on and ordered an investigation. Washington-based diplomat Graham Michael was assigned the job in 2000, which resulted in the suspension of the travel plans by the Americans to PNG.
Sir Nagora yesterday confirmed the investigation, adding that everything was put on hold because the embassy wanted to establish with local landowners and PNG authorities the claims made by the foreigners.
Mr Michael had also written to PNG authorities advising against proceeding with anything until all was properly established.
He also advised that the passports of Mr Hagen and his colleagues had been withheld by the PNG embassy in Washington DC.
On May 5 this year, 28-year-old Justin Taylan and his group from New York also came out publicly in the media expressing their interest in the Swamp Ghost.
“Now, it’s quite shocking,” Mr Jojoga said.
“Only the PM can stop this; it seemed that all other parties have an interest in the matter.”
Tue May 23, 2006 11:22 pm
Tue May 23, 2006 11:48 pm
Wed May 24, 2006 12:01 am
Wed May 24, 2006 2:43 am
Leave our war relics alone
WE condemn in the most strongest terms the removal of our war relics under the disguise of preserving them in foreign countries. World War II was fought on our soil and those who died and the remains of their war machines must remain in Papua New Guinea. Foreigners who want to see the relics or pay respects to the war dead should be given all the encouragement to visit this country and do so. But, to allow anyone to remove anything such as the Oro “Swamp Ghost” and move it to the United States is a total disrespect for the war dead. It also removes a historical link between the people of Oro and those who came and fought on Oro land. The place will become a desert of no interest to tourists. Yet, this is what we are promoting! What a shame. The National Museum is being utterly irresponsible in allowing the removal of important war relics from PNG without fully understanding the full implications on tourism to the country. We call for a total stop to all future removals of war relics from this country. We have lost far too many priceless pieces of war relics to foreigners who now sit back and enjoy their new treasures at the expense of the simple PNG villagers. No tourist will ever venture into the swamp left behind by the B17E. It is no longer there, thanks to the National Museum and Art Gallery. It claims to be acting under the authority of its own Act in giving the green light for the removal of this war aircraft. We say the museum has been misguided and it has acted in a way that does not serve the best interests of PNG. What is it that in this country while one arm of the government is trying to promote tourism — encouraging foreign visitors to visit PNG and see the unique and diverse cultures of this land, including the war relics — another arm of government is encouraging foreigners to remove these attractive features of our country. We cannot bring in more visitors if government agencies are not working together in unison and ensuring that they co-operate with each other to do what is best for the people of this country. The National Museum needs to rethink the way it is encouraging the removal of war relics from PNG. It must take a different approach and ensure whatever is still there in the jungles, are preserved and left as they are. Then tell the world to come and see for themselves.
News
Weekend Edition Fri - Mon May 05th - 07th , 2006
Dispute over Ghost Swamp
A dispute has arisen between the National Museum and an American tourist over the salvaging of an American World War II plane that crashed in a swamp in Oro Province. The dispute began when 28-year-old New Yorker Justin Taylan provided information on a feature story in the Post-Courier and a video tape aired on EMTV on the American B-17 bomber aircraft nicknamed Ghost Swamp that crashed at Agiambo Swamp. Mr Taylan was keen to promote tourism in Papua New Guinea and urged the Museum to keep war relics, especially the Ghost Swamp intact and in the country. He said the plane was valued at about K15-20 million. He said it was “best to leave the Swamp Ghost in the swamp so it can be visited by tourists. The local people had agree and have established rules and fees for visitors. Mr Taylan said he had raised public awareness about the aircraft’s historical value, dollar value and tourism potential. “The people of PNG must instruct the Government and the museum on these matters,” he said. Mr Taylan’s comments has angered National Museum and Art Gallery acting director Simon Poraituk who said the Museum Board of Trustees had allowed another American, Fred Hagen, to salvage and restore the plane.