Push made to probe Tumbuan fashion shoot

EAST New Britain Governor Nakikus Konga wants police to investigate how a Chinese fashion company went to the province and exploited the sacred Tumbuan sect for commercial purposes.
Konga, said the company showed no respect for the sacred Tolai Tumbuan sect when it used it for advertising.
The French-base Chinese company ICircle had used images of models posing with the scared Tumbuans for its product branding, which went viral online.
In the Tolai culture, it is forbidden for females to go close to the Tumbuan (sacred mask dancer).
Konga called on Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Rimbink Pato to intervene at the diplomatic level as well.
Konga has written to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Chinese Embassy to assist police in their investigation.
He also wrote to Police Minister Jelta Wong.
Konga said the situation must not recur.
Konga wants police to investigate the East New Britain Tourism Promotion Authority and the ENB Tourism Board on whether they had authorised the company to use the video and pictures captured in 2017 at the Mask Festival.
He said the action of the company had made a mockery of the Tolai Tumbuan culture.
Konga said the probe would help them know how it was used.