The Opposition Leader and Member for Kandrian-Gloucester, Joseph Lelang has welcomed the news of Moresby South MP, Justin Tkatchenko stepping aside from the position of Foreign Minister, however he along with the Opposition believe that this is not enough.
In a statement released this week, the opposition leader stated that he will be making a submission to the Citizenship committee to determine the status of the disgraced MP and for him to be deported.
“Nothing less than that is acceptable.”
“Tkatchenko, who is a naturalized citizen must be dealt with for his insulting, derogatory, racist, and offensive comments describing the people as “useless” and “primitive animals” on international media.”
These statements received widespread criticism from prominent Papua New Guineans across the country, many of whom have also called on the Prime Minister to sack and revoke Tkatchenko’s citizenship.
“He must be deported so that in future, such comments should never be uttered against the country and it’s people.”
He added that it is shameful that the prime minister is trying to deflect the situation and protect Tkatchenko.
“The country is bigger than Prime Minister and Tkatchenko and that the interest of the country, it’s cultures, heritage and it’s peoples must be protected at all times.”
“The Opposition will lay an official complaint against him for misconduct in the coming days with the Ombudsman Commission.”