PNG soldiers retrace historic 1975 ‘Exercise Antap Lo Ol’ ahead of 50th independence anniversary

Soldiers from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force [PNGDF] are retracing the historic 1975 “Exercise Antap Lo Ol,” a symbolic journey that originally marked the lead-up to PNG’s independence.

The modern-day retracing began on July 7 in Wewak, with 19 soldiers from the 2nd Royal Pacific Islands Regiment based at Moem Barracks.

They are walking the original 1,200-kilometre route led by Lieutenant Geoffrey Key in 1975 — a journey that spanned from May 8 to September 16 that year, ending in Port Moresby.

The original march was a powerful gesture, delivering messages of independence from the then Chief Minister, the Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, and the then Minister for Defence, Foreign Relations and Trade, the Late Sir Albert Maori Kiki, to the Government Administrative Complex in Waigani.

This year’s retracing carries the message that 50 years on, PNGDF remains an enduring state institution committed to the security of a sovereign PNG against all forms of threat.

The group arrived in Bogia earlier this week and continued on foot into Madang. This morning, they will hand over the symbolic independence baton to their fellow soldiers from the PNGDF Engineering Battalion based at Igam Barracks.

Ahead of the official handover, the soldiers visited several schools in Madang yesterday, speaking with students about the value of independence and the historical significance of the walk they are undertaking.