By Jemimah Sukbat in Port Moresby
A group of male students attacked the media covering a harassment protest by female students at the University of Papua New Guinea today.
The rowdy group said they did not want the media to report on an issue of sexual and physical harassment by males, claiming it was an “internal matter”.
Media personnel were made aware of the protest that was to take place on campus.
They showed up to capture what the female student protesters wanted to address about the continuous harassment by some male students.
After the female students had marched from the Games Village into the university’s Forum square, a group of rowdy male students also entered the area and charged angrily at journalists, cameramen and photographers, demanding that they leave.
Members of the governing University Council were present, but were outnumbered and were unable to contain the clash as it escalated.
The frustrated male students said the media did not need to be there to cover an issue that could be solved internally.
Media personnel were unharmed.
The PNG Media Council is expected to release a statement condemning the attack.
Jemimah Sukbat is a reporter for Loop PNG.
The UPNG protest meeting today. Video: Michael Kabuni
Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz
