PFF Condemns Police Bashing of PNG Journalist
PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS- The Pacific Freedom Forum condemns the brutal attack by uniformed Police officers on Papua New Guinea journalist Mark Kayok on the evening of Saturday 21 April, in Port Moresby. Kayok, a Police rounds reporter with the National Broadcasting Corporation, has reportedly sustained a broken nose amongst his injuries and is currently recovering at home. The incident was reported in the morning bulletin on NBC radio on Monday 23 April . Kayok had been on assignment on Saturday evening before meeting up with a friend who was wearing his Police uniform. Returning home, they were tailed by a mobile Police Unit who stopped them at a service station in 5-mile and began assaulting the Police officer. When Kayok tried to stop the attack, the assailants asked him who he was. He identified himself as an NBC journalist and was also beaten up by the group of Police officers who told him media were not reporting positively on them.