PNG trek attackers 'will face death'

THE murderers of two Papua New Guinea porters will face the death penalty, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said yesterday.

THE murderers of two Papua New Guinea porters, killed during an attack on a group of Australians and New Zealanders trekking on the Black Cat Trail, will face the death penalty, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said yesterday.

The attack on Tuesday was believed to have been led by prison escapees armed with bush knives, spears and World War II-vintage .303 rifles who descended on the group walking the old prospectors' trail used by Australian troops to repel the Japanese in 1943.

"These are appalling crimes, and they attract the death penalty under laws passed by the parliament since the last election," Mr O'Neill said.

"At a time when we are seeking to increase tourism these crimes are an obvious setback -- but we must not let them deter tourists visiting PNG, and our own people helping visitors in their travels."

The Black Cat, PNG's latest trekking challenge, in Morobe province, has been closed by the government following the attack.

The porters -- who were hacked to death with bush knives -- were among 11 locals accompanying the eight trekkers.

Four of the trekkers received minor injuries and were able to return with their companions to the town of Wau, from which they had walked 10km on the first stage of the trail.

The trekkers were flown to Port Moresby late yesterday and are due back in Australia today.

A police helicopter is leading the hunt for the attackers, working alongside a mobile squad dispatched from Bulolo to investigate the assault, during which the trekkers' equipment and valuables were stolen.

Sam Basil, the MP for the area, said the assault had been led by escapees from the prison in Wau.

The tour from Wau across harsh mountainous terrain to Salamaua on the coast was organised by PNG Trekking Adventures. The track was developed almost a century ago by gold prospectors.

The leader of the group was Australian Christie King, a nurse based in Lae.

The Kokoda Track is by far the biggest trekking attraction in PNG but the Black Cat presents a greater physical challenge and usually takes about five days.

Tourism Promotion Authority chief executive Peter Vincent said he believed the attack was an isolated event but has closed the the track until police investigations are complete.

He said PNG tourism was vulnerable in the face of such incidents, which "feed the perception that everywhere in PNG is dangerous," and affects tourism in the rest of the country.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said: "Our travel advice for PNG advises Australians to exercise a high degree of caution because of the high levels of serious crime."

The PNG police commissioner Toami Kulunga said: "The Black Cat Track is a popular route, and not once has something like this happened before.

"We will catch all those criminals involved and bring them to face the full brunt of the law."