By Jim Baynes in Port Moresby
April 05, 2003
JOURNALISTS and diplomats yesterday condemned Papua New Guinean plans to introduce laws to prosecute critics of the country.
The move, if implemented, could include criticism of PNG in overseas media.
On Thursday, a PNG parliamentary committee said it would recommend the introduction of laws following widespread negative publicity over a report titled "Papua New Guinea: On The Brink". The report's co-author Mike Manning – a former Australian but now a PNG citizen – was referred to the committee by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare after uproar in parliament over the report's criticisms of PNG.
Appearing before the committee on Thursday, Mr Manning, one of the country's best known social analysts, was ridiculed by MPs for being so outspoken.
PNG Media Council president Peter Aitsi said the council was "totally opposed" to the proposal and was harnessing international protest.
Mr Aitsi supported Mr Manning and said he was the victim of a kangaroo court. One committee member who lambasted Mr Manning's report, Kimson Kare, admitted he had never read it.
"(Mike Manning's) 30 years of contribution to this country is given that amount of regard?" asked Mr Aitsi.
"I think the level of preparedness by the committee itself just didn't give us any level of confidence."
The US Ambassador to PNG, Susan Jacobs also backed Mr Manning.
"I support Mike's right to express his views," Ms Jacobs said. "Freedom of the press and freedom of expression, which are enshrined in the Constitution, are very important rights" in PNG, she said. The US keeps a low profile in PNG, rarely making public comments.
Managing director of The Post-Courier newspaper Bob Howarth said the proposed move was "frightening".
"This is the most frightening thing I've seen in my career as a journalist," Mr Howarth said.
"We've always taken great pride in saying PNG has one of the free-est media anywhere in the world."
Before Mr Manning put his case to the committee, chairman Nick Kuman said he would "come down very hard" on critics of PNG "who persistently and knowingly publish damaging articles (in) Papua New Guinea and abroad".
The Prime Minister's son, MP Arthur Somare, described Mr Manning as an "agent of doom".
The Courier-Mail
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