There are a lot of question remained to be answered in light of the recent Kokoda Track incident were two tourist couples were attacked. This is from the Minister for Sports and Tourism Justin Tkatchenko following surfacing of new reports from the Kokoda Track Authority according to the accounts of events that led to this attack by the people of Sogeri and along the track. “This is an unfortunate incident that happened and it is the Industry’s business to protect any tourists that comes into our country and the industry has done its part by assisting the police with the investigations.” “But it does not help the young American woman who was allegedly rape when her male companion falsely dramatises this incident. And I will personally get to the bottom of this issues and help the Kokoda Tracking Authority re-visit this issue to see nothing like this never, ever happens again in the future,” says Minister Tkatchenko. The reports by Kokoda Track Authority claims that everything was done for the couples to prepare them for the walk on the track, but they somehow ditched the KTA and did not adhere to their advice and step out on the track on their own will. According to Charlie Lynn of Adventure Kokoda, who has over 25 years of experience as a Trekker and Tour Operator on the track, they lied to the KTA to get a track permit even though they were advised that they did not have the proper trekking gears and they refused to go with Tour Guides. “It’s my opinion that they wanted something to happen so they could sell a story. And I’ll stand by that and argue with anybody because that is the cruelest hardy action that I have ever come across in my 25 years of association with the Kokoda Trail,” says Mr Lynn. President of the newly formed Kokoda Tour Operators Association, Mr Frank Taylor said the Association is very concern about this incident and the uncertainties surrounding it. “This incident damages the image of the country, damages the small people that make up the Kokoda community and I think the need for answers and the truthful situation reports is vital. And we need to learn from those answers what we do as an industry and I guess PNG as a country in what we do to preserve the image in the best possible way for Kokoda and its rich history,” says Mr Taylor. Meanwhile police investigations are still ongoing with one suspect formally charged on Tuesday with the faith of his accomplice yet to be made known by police. PNGFM
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