Office of Censorship

This was highlighted by the Office’s Enforcement & Compliance division, when destroying all confiscated illicit materials in Port Moresby recently.  

Acting Manager Enforcement & Compliance Division, Gerea Kapa said most of these items are imported by individuals and the grim reality is that most of these items are ordered online by Papua New Guineans, with few brought in by expatriates, which are confiscated during security cargo checks at the Airport and at Konedobu Post Office Mail Exchange.

The artist faced a setback on the 15th of June, 2023, as the Office of Censorship, acting under the authority of the Chief Censor, imposed a temporary ban on all his songs, in response to grave complaints of assault and ongoing emotional abuse made by Mr. Suisui's partner of four years, Hazel Schulz, and her family.

In a notice issued to all radio and television stations, nightclubs and bars, Chief Censor, Jim Abani, said the New Ireland artist, Jason Suisui, popularly known as Jayrex, composed publications (songs) causing emotional and psychological issues to a person, or certain class of persons, to or for whom, it is published or intended to be published.

The directive has been issued under section 17(2) and section 18(1) (b) (d) (e) and 18(2) of the Classification of Publication (Censorship) Act 1989.

This was highlighted at the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signing between the Office of Censorship and PNG DataCo Limited last week. 

Managing Director for PNG DataCo, Paul Komboi said, “In our expansion. We understand that what we are doing also comes with risks. Risks has been highlighted by the censorship office in their function and role. Illicit or indecent information that is passing through our network. That also cyber security issues and so we are very well aware and alert on this nature of the disadvantage that it brings.”

The MoA, will particularly focus on preventing the circulation of indecent online material within the country via DataCo's digital infrastructure, specifically the National Transmission Network (NTN).

As the operator of the digital infrastructure, DataCo has control and rights over key telecommunication digital infrastructure, including international cables and internet gateways for the passage and transit of information to PNG from outside of PNG and from the cyber world as well as within PNG.

The suspect (anonymous) was apprehended at the Vision City Mega Mall where the officers discovered two penis pumps in his possession.

With the assistance from the Drug & Vice Squad of the Royal PNG Constabulary and the PNG Customs Officers, the suspect led the officers to his place of residence where the remainder of the shipment was being kept, with a total of 21 x Penis enlargement pumps, 2 x Latex vagina and 10 x Latex penis rings which are worth more than K10, 000.00 on the street market.

The Office of Censorship, in partnership with the National Drug and Vice Squad and members of the Boroko Magisterial Services, also set fire to more than 9.5 kilograms of marijuana.

The illicit materials were confiscated by the Enforcement & Compliance Division of the Office of Censorship in their daily operations.

The marijuana destroyed was confiscated by the National Drug and Vice Squad and some were taken from the exhibits of the Boroko Magisterial Services.

The campaign slogan is ‘Self Respect & Human Decency’.

Between 2014 and 2016, six schools within Port Moresby, Lae and Rabaul were part of this awareness program.

Similar programs were also carried out respectively to stakeholders and partners, mainly the Royal Constabulary of Papua New Guinea, including the Port Moresby General Hospital, who was also part of a preliminary research carried out by the research team from the Office. 

This follows the approved revised restructure which Mala said will enable the Office to work more effectively and efficiently.

“As the Chief Censor of this growing organisation, I am adamant that the Office is capable of delivering respective outcomes despite setbacks such as funding, which all of us are currently experiencing.”

He said the three main objectives of the Office for 2016 are slowly but surely being carried out.

They are; 1) Decentralisation of Chief Censor’s powers 2) Concept Paper on Internet Filtering and 3) Development of Awareness Strategy.

The first workshop took place in May this year.

The workshop gauged views from various stakeholders including government agencies and the private sector to come up with a better way to formulate the policy.

Chief censor Steven Mala said that the upcoming consultative workshops will gauge other views before they start drafting the policy.

He said they are yet to decide on the next meeting and a notice will be sent out when they’re ready.