Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Michael Somare has placed himself and his government at the centre of a growing diplomatic row after declaring a veteran Solomon Islands journalist, Alfred Sasako, persona non grata.
The ban on Sasako and the SBS television network followed their unauthorised visits to the secessionist island of Bougainville.
At the same time Somare was loudly announcing the ban, Sasako was in the process of being appointed to the position of information and publications officer at the South Pacific Forum Secretariat. This is a high-profile regional job which would require regular travel in and out of PNG.
Sasako, who has worked as a senior journalist in the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Australia, was one of nearly 80 applicants for the job.
Somare attacked the appointment, saying PNG was not consulted. He told journalists that if he had the chance he would slap Sasako's face and would refuse to speak to him. He would recommend that Prime Minister Rabbie Namaliu refuse to issue a visa to Sasako.
Namaliu said the permanent ban on Sasako would remain until the government was satisfied that foreign journalists complied with the laws of PNG.
Solomon Islands leaders reacted angrily. The former ambassador to the United Nations, Francis Saemala, now a member of parliament, suggested that the Solomon Islands government make a formal protest and demand an apology.
The Pacific Islands News Association expressed concern over the comments, saying that if journalists were not faced with so many travel restrictions in the Pacific, some of the misunderstandings that have happened might not have occurred.
PINA was particularly concerned by the threat of physical violence from Somare, noting that he "has used violence in the past against a journalist".
The issue could sour forum affairs for some time. It also highlights the growing strains between PNG and the Solomon Islands over the sensitive Bougainville question. — SPANS/PEGASUS