Attack on journo condemned

TWO media organisations have condemned the alleged assault by police on a radio journalist last Friday.
The country’s newly-formed Media Workers Association and the Pacific Freedom Forum have reacted strongly to the reported bashing of National Broadcasting Corporation court reporter Joe Kayok in Port Moresby.
Kayok was with a National Capital District police officer friend when they were tailed from the venue of a night assignment to 5-Mile opposite the NBC headquarters.
The attackers, believed to be members of the Mt Hagen-based police actually targeted Kayok’s police friend.
When Kayok intervened, they demanded to know who he was. When he said he was a reporter with NBC, they reportedly turned on him, kicking and punching and said the media was not reporting nice things about them.
Kayok sustained a broken nose and other injuries.
“They were buai sellers from near the service station who started throwing stones at the police and saved them (Kayok and friend). Otherwise they would have been badly hurt,” a NBC staff member, who declined to be named, said.
NCD metropolitan commander Supt Peter Guinness could not be reached for comment. But an officer at his office said: “At this point in time, we have not received any such complaint although we are aware of the beating.
“You have to make a formal complaint at your nearest station or Boroko on this matter for us to look into it and investigate.”
Media workers association chairman Susuve Laumaea said in a statement: “We condemn strongly this attack on our colleague journalist and call for an investigation into the incident immediately.
 “There is no excuse for this barbaric action from a group of people whose duty is to uphold the law.
 “The media must be allowed to do its job without fear of intimidation from anyone, if the public is to rely on it for accurate and balanced information.”
Pacific Freedom Forum co-chair Monica Miller said: “We call on those in authority to let the rule of law prevail, and investigate and prosecute those behind this shocking act.”