MINISTER for Defence Dr Billy Joseph in a statement today has condemned the brutal assault of a medical professional, Doctor Thomas Aiyaka.
Doctor Aiyaka was attacked by an alleged group of drunken members of the Police Force at the Gerehu Hospital in Port Moresby yesterday (Friday).
Minister Joseph said the attack on Dr. Aiyaka and the other hardworking health professional who were on their duties of serving people is ‘utterly heartless’ and condemnable in the strongest terms.
He said this kind of behaviour by members of the law enforcement agencies against civilians, especially doctors, is unacceptable, and will not be tolerated.
“As a medical doctor, seeing the photos of the victim with blood and bruises all over his face and body causes deep emotion of pain and anger in me and evokes my memories of the hardships these health workers go through every day, especially while on-call during the night,” Dr Billy said.
Police Commissioner David Manning visited the Gerehu Hospital yesterday and assured the public and staff of the hospital that the policemen involved in the assault will be identified and brought out to face the full force of the laws.
“I commend the Minister for Police, Hon. Peter Tsiamalili Jnr and Commissioner of Police David Manning, for their leadership and prompt actions to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice to account for their actions,” Minister Joseph said.
While condemning the behaviour of the policemen involved, the Minister also extended his sympathies to Dr. Thomas Aiyaka and his family and staff of Gerehu Hospital who are traumatized by the incident.
