The Pacific Freedom Forum has called for justice after shock revelations at the funeral service for a senior Papua New Guinea journalist.
The Post Courier office in Konedobu, Port Moresby. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
Post Courier Business Editor Rosalyn Abaniel-Evara reportedly died in her sleep on 15 October after complaining of head pains.
But the regional media grouping said information and testimony given by an outraged relative during Monday's funeral service in Port Moresby revealed a pattern of marital abuse inflicted on the 41-year-old mother.
The PFF chair, Monica Miller, said they welcomed a move by police to halt the burial of their colleague and an order seeking a post-mortem.
The media watchdog also paid tribute to the bravery of Ms Abaniel-Evara's family in raising the allegations.
The forum said it saw the death of a colleague as a wake- up call to the media industry.
Ms Miller said Post Courier staff, News Corporation management in Sydney, Australian shareholders and Pacific newsrooms needed to ask questions about their reaction to female colleagues who bear emotional and physical wounds associated with abuse.