Police have advised that the public demonstration aimed to protest the removal of the disgraced Moresby South MP, Justin Tkatchenko will not be authorized and police will be heightening alert from tomorrow onwards.
This follows rumours of a planned protest. This was the message from the NCD Metropolitan Superintendent, in a statement this afternoon.
The Met-Supt said police will not allow this demonstration, especially at this time when world leaders are coming into the country for their summit.
“Any disturbances by a minority group in NCD would be a major embarrassment to the whole nation in the eyes of the international community.”
Mr Sika said a letter from a group calling themselves the Coalition of Concerned Citizens was delivered to his office today, requesting police to grant approval for the planned protest march.
The organisers of this event are using social media to persuade city residents to form up at the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance Institute in Waigani tomorrow. They intend to walk from there to parliament house, Supt Sika said.
Sika stated the request is not approved because world attention is now focused on PNG.
“We also took into consideration the social impact on the community.”
“The business community may suffer losses, and children’s education may be disrupted by this event.”
The Met-Supt added that the people aggrieved by comments made by Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko can take their grievances to court and seek redress or write and petition the government without a public assembly.
Mr Sika said police will continue to work closely with the community in maintaining peace and good order across the city.