Journalists attacked

THE assault on a female journalist of The National yesterday is an attack on Papua New Guinea’s democracy, says former prime minister and Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill.
The journalist was harassed and threatened by supporters of former Gumine MP Nick Kuman outside the Waigani Court House yesterday.
A complaint was lodged by the reporter at the Gordon Police Station yesterday.
O’Neill said the media was the only “way to inform our people”.
Steven Matainaho, the Secretary to the Department of Information and Communications Technology, said they strongly condemned “any act of harassment and violence on any one in the media fraternity”.
“As we expect our media to report with high standards, we also expect them to be treated and respected to the highest regard as they are expected to be our fact-checkers and truth-seekers,” he said.
“As we are finalising our Freedom of Information policy, we may recommend to the ministry to include specific and strong penalties for any violent act towards our journalists.”
The reporter was in the committal court covering a criminal case against Kuman when she was confronted by his supporters.
“I was traumatised by what happened. I felt violated because the supporters invaded my private space and assaulted me in close range,” the reporter said.
She was with a male reporter from the Post Courier inside the court room where Magistrate Paul Puri Nii had heard the case.
After the case was adjourned, the reporter walked out and was holding her phone when she was confronted by a man.
“He took my phone and since the camera was on, it took a blurry picture of them (Kuman, his lawyer and supporters). Another man took the phone again and went into a car,” she said.
“I just stood there and asked if I could have my phone back. The supporters ganged up (on me) and told me that such media publication spoiled the name of Nick Kuman and it should not be reported.
“(A woman) who was also there, told me that they did not want any media publication on the case.
“She said the case had just started and it was a false allegation (which would be dismissed).”
She said the police prosecutor in charge of the Kuman case told his supporters outside court that what they were doing was wrong.
She was then ushered to a vehicle where a man was holding her phone. She saw Kuman sitting in the front seat.
“Nick Kuman said he didn’t want the case to be (published in the) media and social media. His supporters in the car told me that I didn’t know what I was doing and this publication should not be done and were saying all sorts of things to assault me,” she said. A Post Courier reporter was also threatened, harassed and intimidated.