THE NAMORONG REPORT: LAND: That’s what makes us special

19.10.11

THE NAMORONG REPORT: LAND: That’s what makes us special: What is the first question a Papua New Guinean would ask another when they first meet?

“Where are you from?”

This question as innocent as it may sound had major consequences during those days of tribal warfare. For it was forbidden that one should trespass in another’s land or extract resources from it. The penalty was DEATH! That was the Law of the Land.

However, even our so called kanaka forefathers who are referred to as ‘savages’ weren’t absolutely savage. It’s hypocritical that Europeans would call them savages when Europeans were trading African slaves and committing genocide against indigenous communities that they colonized. Who are the real savages then?

Many Papua New Guineans live with the inferiority complex gained from the biased brainwashing they receive at school. Even today many so called educated elite are suckers to foreigners. Politicians and Public Servants still say ‘yes Masta’ to so called Consultants also known as Technical Advisors. What's the point of having an education if you’re still going to behave like a colonized kanaka?