Date: Fri, 16 May 1997 08:07:34 -0400
Subject: M-G: (Fwd) POLITICS: Students defiant on NGO arrests



>
>Subject:       643 POLITICS: Students defiant on NGO arrests
>To:            nius-AT-pactok.net.au
>
>
>Title -- 643 POLITICS: Students defiant on NGO arrests
>Date -- 16 May 1997
>Byline -- Gorethy Semi and Gorethy Kenneth
>Origin -- Niuswire
>Source -- Uni Tavur (PNG), 16/5/97
>Copyright -- Uni Tavur
>Status -- Unabridged
>-------------------
>
>STUDENTS DEFIANT ON NGO ARRESTS
>
>By Political Reporter GORETHY SEMI and GORETHY KENNETH
>Student leaders have defiantly challenged police to arrest them and angrily
>condemned the charging of four non-government organisation activists over the
>recent anti-mercenary protests, Uni Tavur reported today.
>
>Names of about six student activists purporting to be from a police list of
>+wanted+ people was pasted up in the University of Papua New Guinea+s forum
>+democracy wall+ this week, drawing angry responses.
>
>Student Representative Council members met to discuss the issue following the
>arrest of Individual and Community Rights Advocacy Forum director Powes Parkop,
>a former UPNG law lecturer.
>
>Mr Parkop and politicians such as Speaker Sir Rabbie Namaliu and Melanesian
>Alliance leader John Momis have described the arrests as  being politically
>motivated before next month+s general election.
>
>President Kevin Kepore told Uni Tavur: +I+m a true Papua New Guinean and I+m
>looking forward to being arrested. After all, it+s democracy and student rights
>that I+m fighting for.+
>
>Vice-president Paul Dom said: +Em nogat samting!+, adding, +I really want to
>see the police here on campus because I+m prepared.+
>
>Female vice-president Roselyn Daniel said: +I+m cautious about my movements as
>they might come at any time in force.+
>One named student activist, Valentine Samo, said: +Police arresting me is
>nothing new + and I look forward to it.+
>
>A group of students, who did not wish to be named, said: +If the police come
>and arrest these students then they might as well make room in jail for 3000
>students who will also be there. And it would cost the Government another K50
>million on top of the Sandline affair.+
>
>An official from the Ombudsman Commission said that if police did not have
>proper warrants during arrests, they would be breaching the constitution.
>
>Joe Waugla said when asked if the arrests of officials from ICRAF, PNG Trust
>and Melsol were a violation of human rights: +It really depends on how you see
>it. It can be seen as a violation of human rights under Section 57(1) of the
>constitution if the police do not have proper warrants.+
> 
>Mr Waugla also highlighted in a seminar on Accountability and Transparency this
>week that the commission also investigates violation of human rights.
>
>+We have successfully investigated and obtained redress for persons arrested
>and detained in violation of human rights by  the police,+ he said.
>
>He said the commission had assisted the public in the enforcement of guaranteed
>rights and freedoms enshrined under Section 57.
>
>+In cases of illegal detention, assault, wrongful arrests by the police and
>harassment of detainees by prison officers, the public can seek refuge under
>this section,+ he said.
>Mr Waugla said the commission had not received any complaints from the arrested
>NGO officials.
>+++niuswire
>
>This document is for educational and personal use only.  
>Recipients should seek permission from the copyright source for reprinting. 
>This service is provided by Journalism Studies, University of Papua New Guinea.
> Please acknowledge NIUSWIRE. Queries: niusedita-AT-pactok.net.au
>http://www.pactok.net.au/docs/nius/
> 
>
>



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