“Papua New Guineans need to do away with the practice of having family members tag along on official travels overseas.”
The Board President of PNG Leaders Network and staunch Human Rights Advocate, Ms. Ruth Kissam offered up a fair observation of the current uproar regarding the now stood down Foreign Minister and the delegation that attended King Charles III’s Coronation.
This was official event that was also attended by the Foreign Minister’s daughter, who accompanied her father to this official event.
“I would not have a problem with this, if Ms. Savannah attended this official event in her own capacity and represented herself.”
“If her accompanying her father went against the general orders, procedures and processes in place, then this is not right, and it must be investigated immediately.”
Ms. Kissam told PNG HAUSBUNG that there are proper processes and procedures in place which dictate how and when the family of a sitting member of Parliament can attend an official event.
In saying this, Ms. Kissam further expressed disgust about the online hate directed towards Ms. Tkatchenko.
“The personal attacks and naming calling on her, were uncalled for and all the memes that were created about her, may be criminal in intent.”
She said, while she understood the backlash surrounding this incident, she maintains that two wrongs don’t make a right.
“If you are a representing Papua New Guinea, you must portray yourself as a Papua New Guinean and not tag yourself as being from another country.”
Ms. Ruth also condemned the words of used by Justin Tkatchenko’s comments in response to online critics of his daughter.
“I understand that this would have been a highly emotional situation for the Foreign Minister to be in but his comments were uncalled for and unbecoming of a high standing Minister.”
Ms Ruth said she had read Justin Tkatchenko’s statement of an apology and still found his explanation and behaviour unacceptable.
“He did explain that his comments were directed towards online critics of his daughter, but he seems to have missed the fact that the people who were talking about this issue online, were all raising legitimate concerns. His comments were used as an umbrella term.”
She said, irrespective of the circumstances, the Foreign Minister should have parked aside his emotions and practiced tact and diplomacy instead.
“Such blanket terming of Papua New Guineans doesn’t have a place in the country.”