MP receiving death threats

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By MALUM NALU
FINANCE Minister James Marape says he has been receiving death threats through mobile phone text messages also targeting his wife and children.
The Tari-Pori MP has sought the assistance of the police, mobile phone companies and experts to find out the perpetrators.
Marape said yesterday he had received similar threats in the past but the recent ones were very serious.
“We can’t brush this under the carpet and not raise awareness and speak on these issues,” he said.
He said the SIM card registration exercise must now be made compulsory by mobile phone companies.
“Threats – whether on a minister of State, prime minister or any other member of our society – are very serious and must be exposed,” he said.
“The suppression of discussing this in public is an injustice to many people like me who are receiving threats.
“I’ve been able to establish, from preliminary information and from police, the source of those threats.”
Marape said police had established that two armed groups wanted to assassinate him.
“I’m the target of this assassination attempt that has been passed on to known criminal elements in this country,” he said.
“Police have established leads into where these threats are coming from.” He said he was not “one bit intimidated by these threats”.
“These are threats coming from people with interests to sabotage Papua New Guinea LNG money for their own use and for their own gain.
“These are also threats possibly coming from people who are interested in the seat that I hold.”