28 Feb, 2026– The Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF) strongly condemns the alleged assault of senior journalist Rebecca Kuku by officers of Papua New Guinea’s Correctional Service in Port Moresby.
Kuku was hoping to attend a presser at the CS offices on Friday, 27 February 2026 to follow up on an earlier bylined piece in the National newspaper reporting human rights concerns from PNG Prime Minister James Marape over assault and treatment of inmates at the nation’s Bomana remand facility. In his interview four days before,
PM Marape had told the National he wanted an independent investigation into the issue. Kuku says she was confronted by a group of five officers at the main gate of the Correctional Service headquarters, questioning her about the news report on the Prime Minister’s remarks and the source of a video documenting assaults on inmates, leaked to the National and shared on Meta.
During the encounter, Kuku told PFF that she was verbally attacked, then punched from behind, and threatened by officers. PFF has also received information showing the assault on Kuku was intentional and planned.
PFF Chair Robert Iroga, Solomon Islands, described the alleged assault as “a shocking attack on press freedom and the safety of journalists doing their jobs.” “No journalist should ever face intimidation or physical harm for reporting on matters of public interest,” he said,
“Ms Kuku has filed a statement to Police and authorities must act swiftly to identify those responsible. This will demonstrate that such behaviour has no place within state institutions.”
Pff also Iroga called for the protection of journalists, especially female reporters who may be soft targets
PFF urges the Papua New Guinea Correctional Service and national police to take any grievances through written and direct complaints to media organisations to allow media to carry out a transparent, independent investigation and ensure the safety of all journalists covering public agencies.
“We also commend the National team and all editors and publishers who take swift action and call out these threats to their front line staff, particularly women journalists who are often targeted with specific verbal abuse, shaming and sexualised threats in ways that men do not suffer,” he said.
A widely respected senior reporter amongst Pacific colleagues, Kuku is well known for her analysis and coverage of governance and gender-based violence.—ENDS