VILLAGERS along the renowned WWII Kokoda Trail have resolved to keep the trail and trekkers safe from individuals who intentionally try to mar the good name of the trail through their planned activities.

The villagers made this commitment following the incident which happened at Hoi village last month whereby two trekkers were held up by four men who demanded some money. The incident which received big publicity from the Australia?s Courier Mail and PNG?s daily, Post Courier has triggered landowners, village chiefs/councillors to join forces with the Police in Kokoda to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

It is understood the investigations into the matter is still proceeding. ?Police are still looking for the perpetrators and will make further reports on their investigation once they apprehend the suspects,? this was the report from the Kokoda police station.

Hoi village chief and a guesthouse owner with the people on the trail have expressed disappointment over the act of violence on the trail and vowed to help police find and punish the attackers. The villagers were concerned that the trekking companies would avoid camping overnight at Hoi as result of what happened.

But trek master and owner of Kokoda Trekking Limited ? the host company to the two trekkers that were help up ? Russel Eroro said the incident didn?t stop them from camping at Hoi village and bringing back services to the people in village.

?We will still be camping overnight at Hoi. It is the first time we have encountered this problem. This time our boys are alert and we will make it our business that nothing like this will happen again in the future,? Mr Eroro said.

And he assured the guesthouse owner and the villager councillor that they will continue to benefit from the trekking services along the trail.

Meanwhile the kokoda trail is trouble-free and Mr Eroro and his team of expert porters and guides are currently on the trail with international trekkers.

The company host has decided to put the incident behind them and look to bringing in more international trekkers to walk and experience life along the trail.

And they have the full support from the police, the councillors and the administrator of the Kokoda station to continue their services along the trail.

Kokoda Trekking Limited is currently employing boys from Kokoda as porters and guides who totally depend on the trekking services.

Ends

Pete Sanders; Andrew Harrison; Gerard Groth; Luke Minto; Brad Dorahy; Anthony Dorahy & Domonic Groth on the Kokoda Trail June, 2004 seen here at Kokoda Station with their porters:
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