It seemed that the president was implying that his uncle was devoured by cannibals subsequent to the crash of his aircraft during the Second World War.
Prime Minister Joe Biden of Papua New Guinea has been accused of denigrating his nation following the vice president’s implication that his uncle was consumed by cannibals on the island in the 1940s.
Mr. Biden made the remarks last week while visiting a war memorial in Pennsylvania, where he was speaking about his uncle, Ambrose J. Finnegan.
Mr. Finnegan, an individual with Second World War Army Air Corps service, perished in a plane accident that occurred in Papua New Guinea in 1944.
“They were unable to locate the remains due to the historical prevalence of cannibalism in that specific region of New Guinea,” Mr. Biden explained, alluding to the principal island of the country.
On Sunday, Prime Minister James Marape issued the following statement: “It appeared that Mr. Biden implied that his uncle had been consumed by cannibals.”
Mr. Marape stated that while President Biden’s remarks may have been an unintentional lapse of the tongue, his nation does not merit to be labelled as such.
He further stated that although his people did not cause World War II, they were unnecessarily drawn into a conflict of which they had no control.
Additionally, the prime minister urged the United States to locate its war deceased within the country and to clear the debris of conflict.
Mr. Marape further stated that remnants of World War II are strewn throughout Papua New Guinea, including the plane carrying President Biden’s uncle.
“In light of President Biden’s remarks and the strong international and Papuan reaction, it may be time for the United States to locate as many artefacts from World War II as feasible in Papua New Guinea. This includes the remains of fallen soldiers such as Ambrose Finnegan.
“Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are replete with remnants of World conflict II, including aircraft and ship crashes, tunnels, and bombs, which litter the numerous theatres of conflict in those regions.
Our people face the daily threat of death at the hands of detonated World War II explosives.
The US Department of Defence states that there is no evidence to suggest that cannibals contributed to the inability to recover the remains of Mr. Finnegan or that his death was caused by hostile action.
According to military records, he perished in May 1944 when the reconnaissance aircraft he was piloting experienced an engine failure and plummeted in the Pacific Ocean near the northern coast of New Guinea.
As Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese began his visit to Papua New Guinea, Australia’s nearest neighbour, on Monday, the rift emerged.
Before departing for Australia, Mr. Albanese told reporters, “I am certain that Papua New Guinea has no more reliable ally than Australia, and our ties in the areas of defence and security have never been stronger.”
The United States has not commented on Mr. Marape’s statement as of yet.
