The Papua New Guinea National Museum director says the removal of traditionally carved heads adorning the country's parliament building amounts to sacrilege.
The Speaker, Theo Zurenuoc, has directed the removal of the anthropomorphic faces because they are what he calls ungodly images linked to a lack of positive virtues in the parliament.
But the Museum director, Dr Andrew Moutu, told local media at the weekend that the Speaker's order is cultural sacrilege and could be illegal under PNG laws.
The anthropologist says the panel of faces, which has been cut up on the Speaker's order, is a treasured collection of images representing various parts of PNG.
Dr Moutu has called on Mr Zurenuoc to halt other plans to remove totemic poles inside the parliament.
