PNG: REMOVE THE NEO-COLONIALISM IDEOLOGY
Papua New Guinea has a proud traditional history dating back more than 5000 years ago. The early agricultural activities from Kuk in the Western Highlands province is a proof of our existence before civilization.
Our ancestors have lived through the test of times until ships starts boarding at our shores.
Colonialism crippled our systems of chieftaincy, a formidable structure that ensures the people have control and power over their land and sea areas. Missionaries were not just those that brought the Word of God, but many others who came on a mission to take over our resources for their personal gain.
They replaced our chiefs and kukurais with their priests, tultuls and luluais. The early missionaries were skillful builders, farmers, doctors, teachers etc. They replaced kunai thatched roof with haus kapa, uses medicine to cure diseases and heal wounds, give alcohol and cigarettes etc. to infiltrate our ancestors minds and weaken their judgement.
They led us into their churches and classrooms and set out laws for us to follow. Our minds opened up like Eve after taking a bite at the apple. We realised we were naked and use their systems to hide our shame. We were forced into it, we were never going to succumbed to colonialism if they didn't bring their alcohol and guns.
Our people were employed as slaves like what they did in Africa. They showed us pictures that Jesus Christ was white and our people thought white men are heaven sent for liberation.
They used us during the war and our people were caught in between a battle that is fought for greed, self interest and world power. Our people were tortured and killed and lost their villages, families and loved ones.
A few of our own people despite being educated by the colonizers decided to fought for our independence. Independence was something even Australia would not have considered offering to PNG if there's no Sir Michael Somare and others.
Do you think despite giving us Independence, Australia and others washed their hands and left? No they introduced their education system that no kanaka would be able to be educated up to the level. They introduced systems that were bound to fail and would need Australia's assistance to provide support.
Australia has always been there for PNG even up till today.
China who was never part of our history saw the void created by the boomerang aid from Australia and decides to negotiate it's way in. Yes, thanks to our government a Look North Policy was introduced inviting China to be a major player in our economy. What we dont have, China will make. What we have China will always make a cheaper version of it.
Not long mining companies from outside started operating in PNG. Chinese conglomerates started setting up their businesses throughout the country. The fisheries, logging and SME businesses etc. that should have been reserved for Papua New Guineans have all been taken up by foreigners.
Foreigners have made our own people to turn against each other. Expatriates are still getting first preferences in supermarkets, bars and hotels while we wait as if our K1 has no value.
They feed our people with low quality food and dress them up with cheap counterfeit products. They made us to work only to be paid below minimum wages with no savings and income tax being paid.
Our mineral resources, marine and forests are being raped by illegal immigrants while we are suppressed by our own government.
Government agencies have somewhat became agents for foreign immigrants. RPNGC is providing security for foreigners while killing and torturing our own people. PNG has became a safe haven for high profile and transnational criminals. Those who try to stop these are being blackmailed, locked up or even killed.
Now in contrast, we have lost everything as a nation. Not long we might sell the sky as one PNG underground rapper sang. Millions of kina have been squandered through scrupulous means by those in authorities and power, while buai sellers are being brutally beaten and charged a massive K10,000.
If I had one wish for the better, I would love to see some seriousness in Take Back PNG. Start individually, your family, your community and your town as a gift for our mamagraun and its people - PNG.
#TakeBackPNG
Hi Sylvester,
ReplyDeleteI would highly recommend you do a little bit more research on the history of PNG BEFORE you put pen to paper and write things that are not factual.
A little bit more research would have given you some meat for the bones of an argument you make and also ended up giving you a more complete knowledge of your fantastic country's history. It would have also coloured your argument a little differently.
The United nations was talking about PNG gaining Independence in the 1960's and, unlike the majority of countries which had colonial masters, PNG's Independence was violence free.
So do a little bit more research and write another article to provide your peers with some more factual education.
Cheers and Happy Independence Day.
P.S. Kuk's example of agriculture is probably 10,000 years old making it possibly the oldest in the world.
Support..it was United Nations that granted PNGs Idependence , not Australia.
DeleteLike An Exkiap suggested, a bit more research into our history would have helped shed some your biases from facts. Facts are more important than mere perceptions. For instance, farming in the Kuk valley was explored some 10-15,000 years ago (Waiko, 1993). I disagree that you squarely blame everything bad happening in our country on external encounters. Nowhere in your article did you take time to acknowledge our inaction and failure to embrace some of those life changing activities brought about by the "outsiders". We are our worst own enemies of progress if you ask me. Take corruption for instance. This I think is our number one enemy, and is manufactured right here in PNG. Some things must not be taken lightly if we are to blame others, but fail to locate our own mistakes.
ReplyDeleteHappy 45th anniversary.
P/S: In stanza 17, I suppose you were confused between the meaning of unscrupulous and scrupulous. I would take "unscrupulous" to be the right word in this particular context. context.
Like An Exkiap suggested, a bit more research into our history would have helped shed some your biases from facts. Facts are more important than mere perceptions. For instance, farming in the Kuk valley was explored some 10-15,000 years ago (Waiko, 1993). I disagree that you squarely blame everything bad happening in our country on external encounters. Nowhere in your article did you take time to acknowledge our inaction and failure to embrace some of those life changing activities brought about by the "outsiders". We are our worst own enemies of progress if you ask me. Take corruption for instance. This I think is our number one enemy, and is manufactured right here in PNG. Some things must not be taken lightly if we are to blame others, but fail to locate our own mistakes.
ReplyDeleteHappy 45th anniversary.
P/S: In stanza 17, I suppose you were confused between the meaning of unscrupulous and scrupulous. I would take "unscrupulous" to be the right word in this particular context. context.
Australia could not have claimed the outright ownership of the decision for PNG's Independence. The reason been that Australia, which had Its own problems, was facing a chronic strain in guiding and carrying PNG forward.
ReplyDeletePNG had Its own share problems and challenges; among them were the concerns of the illiterate population, the terrain and the geographical locations.
Although UN had spearheaded the Melanesian nation's independence, Australia had already initiated idea and was cooperating with the UN to facilitate and prepare PNG in the qualification of being eligible to receive Independence.
Yes, it was the UN that accelerated the developement of frameworks in PNG to be able to achieve independence. But, Australia, an young and emerging economy in the Australasia, had to free itself off the mounting pressure and challenges that PNG presented towards Its own internal and external challenges and strains.
As a result, there was no resistance and no delay in obtaining independence. In fact, Australia provided the last puzzle to complete the criteria to enable Independence. The last act was the Landing of the first PNGDF military plane which gave the all clear for Independence.
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