Papua New Guinea Opposition Leader Hon. Douglas Tomuriesa has urged fellow Members of Parliament, including the Prime Minister and Ministers, to exercise caution and sound judgment before lodging cybercrime complaints with the police.
Mr. Tomuriesa made the remarks after observing a growing number of cybercrime cases being pursued in court, with many stemming from complaints by the Prime Minister or other politicians over social media commentary. He expressed concern over the rising trend of individuals being arrested for expressing criticism or comments against the Prime Minister and government leaders.
"It has become a worrying trend to see individuals expressing any form of criticism or comments against the Prime Minister or other government leaders getting arrested by police and having to defend themselves in court with minimal resources," Mr. Tomuriesa said. He acknowledged the frustration that can arise from unsubstantiated social media criticism but reminded his colleagues that criticism is an inherent part of political life.
Mr. Tomuriesa stressed the importance of free speech, stating, "We must remember we all have critics, naysayers, and opponents who constantly challenge our leadership. This is a fundamental right in a democracy to express discontent if required." He urged leaders, particularly the Prime Minister, to exercise greater restraint when dealing with negative criticism.
Mr. Tomuriesa also warned that the increase in cybercrime cases could discourage public discourse, as individuals may feel intimidated about expressing their views. "I regret these cybercrime cases have been used as a tool to intimidate political opponents and are unnecessarily consuming police time and resources when there are more serious cases that need attention," he added.
While he urged the public to be respectful and constructive in their criticism, Mr. Tomuriesa emphasized that responding appropriately to social media criticism, rather than involving the police, would be a more effective approach.
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