Most of us by now would be aware of the issue over the Kokoda Track/Trail.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/07/2156377.htm

LOCALS WANT COPPER MINE. (Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels)

The Koiari landowners say they will stop tourists who try to pass through the track until the PNG Government gives a proposed copper mine the green ligh

SENTIMENTAL BLOKE wants TOURIST DOLLARS.

Canberra is lobbying the PNG Government to kill the mine project in favour of the tourism dollar.

Questions arise out of this:

1/ Cultural Imperialism ?
2/ Rights... sentimental outsiders verses pragmatic indigenous interests.
3/ To what extent if any, do 'outsiders' who have a sentimental connection to 'the land' (be it Gallipoli or Kokoda or Tobruk) have a right to impose their sentimentality on a local population of a soveriegn nation ?
4/ But but.. 'we saved them'...err did we ? or did we save "ourselves".
5/ Deception. Why do we emphasize 'Tourist dollars' when the people against us can also COUNT? Its plain deception, and an insult.

One of my favorite 'themes'.. "Who's rights should prevail" ? :)

To me, there is no validity whatsoever in the idea that we Aussies have any "right" in regard to foreign soil. The only thing we have is a memory which lives on in the many images taken at the time, and which are in our war memorial.

Would it not be rather sad, if 'our sentimentality' became a source of eternal ill will toward us, among those who helped us save ourselves from the Japanese? Perhaps they might be thinking "Well.. what good did it do us to help those white foreigner pella's"?

I have to agree David. Kokoda is a horrendiously important cultural thing but really it's not our land to voice ultimatums over, and like you say, create eternal ill will because of sentimentality. It will always be there, but obviously there is a need for them to have income.

Not so long ago they had a natural disaster there.

Yes they saved us and we have done bugger all for them in return.
Shame on The Australian Government.

They have just as much right to progress as we have and its their land.

Sure its sad but who are we to tell them what they can do.
I reckon some of the old diggeres that they risked their lives to litterally cary them out would say would say=

Go for it Wuzzies and thanks mate.

For those who might be interested, if need be the Kokoda Track can be diverted along the ridge to the NW by about 3-4km. It's no major diversion. The key thing is that the landowners own the land. It's their decision and Australia has to respect this, irrespective of the wishes of the Australian owners of the main trekking company using the Track and Australia's maudlin sentimentality about being the world's best fighting men. Howard and Downer created genuine ill-will against Australians during the last 10 years by being paternalistically arrogant, and that feeling has gone into the bush in PNG.

Henry *Paternatilistically Ignorant*.. interesting point.

It raises a dilmemna we face in life which is most difficult to resolve.

Paternalism often arises out of a lack of confidence with the 'child' being able to cope with, or be responsible for the management of resources, life and competing interests in a way which keeps the peace. (not to mention the fear of our own vested interests being threatened)

Paternalism tends to be 'very slow' to release, and Idealistic Nationalism leavened with personal interest and lust for power is very quick to rise up. Usually the result is (from my observation) chaos for a quite a while because the institutions of the Rule of Law have not had time to mature, and those in positions of influence and power, are still linked too strongly to tribal connections or pressures in multi tribal nations. I cannot imagine anyone in PNG keeping a straight face of the judge was a Chimbu and the Chimbu defendant was 'miraculously' cleared of all charges.

Good to hear that a slight diversion can pretty much solve the problem.

Thats most likely the best all round solution.

Just one point of order though, I don't think we derive 'Worlds best fighting men' from Kokoda.. or anywhere.. that kind of myth is as dangerous as the macho BS surrounding pre and post Cronulla.

Most of our diggers at Kokoda were relatively poorly trained Militia who were more the clerical/support staff types than warriors.. but they did hang in and learn pretty quick eh.

Extraordinary. I find myself largely in agreement with Boazy on this isssue.

However, I think that the landowners are having themselves on of they think that an expanded copper mine and the royalties that come with it are going to improve their lives in any way. I've had some close involvement with other landowners in PNG whose lives are considerably worse on virtually every indicator since major mines have been established in their territories, notwithstanding the payment of millions of kina in royalties and compensation.

But it's their choice. Some people even call it progress.

Boazy: "I don't think we derive 'Worlds best fighting men' from Kokoda.. or anywhere.. that kind of myth is as dangerous as the macho BS surrounding pre and post Cronulla."

While I agree with the sentiment, Boazy's certainly changed his tune from when he was positively salivating while egging them on from the sidelines at the time.