Papua New Guinea's opposition leader says the government's recent purchase of the privately owned television station EMTV is a backward step for media freedom in the country.
After almost a year of negotiations, Telikom PNG confirmed its purchase of Media Niugini Limited from Fiji Television before Christmas for what the opposition says was US $6.6 million dollars.
In a statement, Don Polye says with only months to go until the national elections he believes the purchase is an attempt by government to control the media.
However the Post Courier reports the Public Enterprise and State Investment Minister Ben Micah as saying the opposition leader's fears are misplaced and inviting Mr Polye to make full use of the services provided by PNG's most watched television station.
Mr Micah says EMTV has always been a communication channel for everyone in Papua New Guinea and says it is now simply fully owned by the people of PNG
