Source: Post Courier
Published Data: 03 March 2011
Link: http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110303/news.htm
ARMED men are now guarding what is believed to be the last resting place for aviator Amelia Earhart in Bougainville’s low-lying Matsungan Island.
Security has been beefed up on the island by the local group carrying out the expedition as the diving investigation continues.
As the investigation continues on the island, interest in the relic has picked up all over the world, with many journalists, organisations and researchers calling to inquire about the Post-Courier report and also to come over to PNG.
And yesterday the Autonomous Bougainville Government warned that the relic belongs to the State and everything must be done under the PNG laws.
The Post-Courier Buka office has been flooded with reactions from the world, with many saying it was untrue while others gave in to the news.
The Post-Courier Buka office received calls and emails from international journalists, organisations and others who wanted to know about the plane, while some are already interested in making their way to Bougainville.
One of the biggest question callers and those online were asking was “how do this Bougainvillean local group know that’s Amelia Earhart’s plane?” The group had been given a checklist to carry out since their mission 11 years ago. There were given 11 points to confirm by a US agent (named) who has been working with the Amelia Earhart group in the United States. According to the Buka group, eight of the 11 checklists have been done and only three were not completed.
The dive is very difficult for the divers because of the coral covering the left side of the plane. But the group is optimistic the expedition will achieve its objective, now that the world knows about the crash site.
The Autonomous Bougainville Government is fully aware of the relic but has warned that everything is under protection and the Government of PNG remains the legal custodian.
Bougainville’s Minister for Culture and Tourism Joseph Egilio, in a press conference yesterday, appeared worried that the issue may get out of hand. He was referring to the alleged Amelia Earhart plane purportedly found North West of Buka Island.
On an official level, Mr Egilio as the Minister responsible and his officials have not been fully briefed on what is happening but advised they would now have to take charge because it will involve a lot of issues. Egilio said he has been aware of the plane wreck for a long time and commended the local group and the local businessman for taking the initiative to investigate the crash. But he warned that the Government will still have to take charge of the issue once confirmation is made but because the ABG had no policy of its own the National Government was the automatic custodian of the wreck.
“Everything comes under protection. The Government is the custodian of every historical relic. The ABG does not have its own policy so the National Government automatically takes over, which means it is still the legal custodian,” Mr Egilio said.
Published Data: 03 March 2011
Link: http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110303/news.htm
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| Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Electra 10E. During its modification, the aircraft had most of the cabin windows blanked out and had specially fitted fuselage fuel tanks. (Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Earhart ) |
ARMED men are now guarding what is believed to be the last resting place for aviator Amelia Earhart in Bougainville’s low-lying Matsungan Island.
Security has been beefed up on the island by the local group carrying out the expedition as the diving investigation continues.
As the investigation continues on the island, interest in the relic has picked up all over the world, with many journalists, organisations and researchers calling to inquire about the Post-Courier report and also to come over to PNG.
And yesterday the Autonomous Bougainville Government warned that the relic belongs to the State and everything must be done under the PNG laws.
The Post-Courier Buka office has been flooded with reactions from the world, with many saying it was untrue while others gave in to the news.
The Post-Courier Buka office received calls and emails from international journalists, organisations and others who wanted to know about the plane, while some are already interested in making their way to Bougainville.
One of the biggest question callers and those online were asking was “how do this Bougainvillean local group know that’s Amelia Earhart’s plane?” The group had been given a checklist to carry out since their mission 11 years ago. There were given 11 points to confirm by a US agent (named) who has been working with the Amelia Earhart group in the United States. According to the Buka group, eight of the 11 checklists have been done and only three were not completed.
The dive is very difficult for the divers because of the coral covering the left side of the plane. But the group is optimistic the expedition will achieve its objective, now that the world knows about the crash site.
The Autonomous Bougainville Government is fully aware of the relic but has warned that everything is under protection and the Government of PNG remains the legal custodian.
Bougainville’s Minister for Culture and Tourism Joseph Egilio, in a press conference yesterday, appeared worried that the issue may get out of hand. He was referring to the alleged Amelia Earhart plane purportedly found North West of Buka Island.
On an official level, Mr Egilio as the Minister responsible and his officials have not been fully briefed on what is happening but advised they would now have to take charge because it will involve a lot of issues. Egilio said he has been aware of the plane wreck for a long time and commended the local group and the local businessman for taking the initiative to investigate the crash. But he warned that the Government will still have to take charge of the issue once confirmation is made but because the ABG had no policy of its own the National Government was the automatic custodian of the wreck.
“Everything comes under protection. The Government is the custodian of every historical relic. The ABG does not have its own policy so the National Government automatically takes over, which means it is still the legal custodian,” Mr Egilio said.
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| Earhart in the Electra cockpit, c. 1936 Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Earhart ) |
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