Gang who captured Prof Bryce Barker and his research team wanted compensation after two members shot at logging site
The decision to take the Australian-based New Zealand archaeologist Prof Bryce Barker and his research team hostage near remote Mount Bosavi inwas a “spur of the moment” decision by their captors, two of whom had been shot in an earlier encounter with security guards at a logging site.
Barker’s group were doing fieldwork – researching the history of human migration to Australia – in the highlands on the border of Hela and Southern Highlands provinces. Four of the guides taken hostage were released on 20 February, while Cathy Alex, a representative of the Women Leaders Network who was with the research group, was set free on the afternoon of 22 February.
“Due to the issue of not having phone network coverage in the area, it was hard to communicate, the professor had a satellite phone but the battery was flat, so all communications were through third parties,” Undialu said. A joint security taskforce of PNG defence force, police and St John’s ambulance personnel was sent into the area early last week but they could not gain access to the group as the kidnappers threatened to kill the hostages if they were approached by anyone in uniform.
He said the potential prosecution of the captors was a matter for the national government and police.
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