PNG Social Media activists file notice in Court to defend defamation proceedings

PNG Prime Minister Peter O'neill:

Two social media administrators Sonja Barry Ramoi and Noel Anjo have filed a notice in the National Court to defend defamation proceedings filed against them by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

Lawyer Tiffany Twivey, representing the Prime Minister, obtained interim orders – ex-parte – against Mr Anjo and Mrs Ramoi on April 8, restraining them from publishing any defamatory imputations against the Prime Minister in mainstream media and social media pending the hearing and determination of the proceedings.

Activist and administrator of The Voice of PNG Noel Anjo, who is facing 10 charges, said he welcomes the case and will be proud to stand before the court on April 24.

Mrs Ramoi, an administrator of PNG NEWS – PNG’s largest social media forum on Facebook currently with more than 72,000 members – is facing four charges.

Mrs Ramoi said the case filed against them will be an important benchmark case, particularly concerning political liberty, media freedom and freedom of expression by all Papua New Guineans.

“I have every confidence that our lawyer Mr Tony Christie Waisi is a fine lawyer and will competently represent us in this matter,” Mrs Ramoi said.

Mrs Ramoi also instructed Mr Waisi, a former student of the Prime Minister’s lawyer, to sue Ms Twivey for defamation against her and to apply to have her disqualified from representing the Prime Minister in the case filed against Mr Anjo and herself.