The head of the Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee in Papua New Guinea believes police in East Sepik are closing ranks to protect their own after allegations a teenager was raped by four officers.
PNG's acting police commissioner has set up a high-level investigation into the alleged rape of the girl, by Wewak-based policemen, which will also look into the detention of a woman activist at the Wewak police station.
Ume Wainetti says the president of the East Sepik Council of Women went with the girl's relatives to lodge a complaint but was arrested for supposedly leading an illegal protest.
She says her organisation has tried repeatedly to phone the police station but calls are going unanswered.
However, she says she is pleased with the national response from police.
"This is the first time I've seen police officers actually being sent immediately to investigate when they're not hearing from the province, it's never been done before, usually they wait for the letters and things to come."
The head of the Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee in PNG, Ume Wainetti.
