Superintendent Sika said people aggrieved by Tkatchenko's comments could take their grievances to court. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
Papua New Guinea Police are on alert for a possible protest march relating to comments from Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko.
The Chief of the Police in the National Capital District Silva Sika said police operations in the city will be ramped up from today.
PNG Police said rumours and suggestions of the planned protest march began circulating over the social media with regards to "primitive animals" comments made by Tkatchenko over the recent trip to London for the coronation of King Charles III.
A group calling themselves the 'Coalition of Concerned Citizens' delivered a letter to Sika's office, requesting police to grant approval for the planned protest march.
Sika said the organisers of the planned protest march are using the social media to persuade city residents to form up at the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance in Waigani tomorrow and walk to the National Parliament.
He said the NCD Law & Order Committee has not approved the march because the organisers have not submitted the request within the required seven days, and also cannot guarantee the march will be peaceful.
"We also took into consideration the social impact on the community," he said.
"The business community may suffer losses, and children's education may be disrupted should such a protest be allowed to go ahead."
Superintendent Sika said people aggrieved by Tkatchenko's comments could take their grievances to court and seek redress, or petition the government, without going on a public protest march.
He said police will not allow any public demonstration to take place, especially at this time when world leaders are coming into PNG for the Forum for India Pacific Islands Countries on May 21 and 22.
