Editor’s Note We have posted articles about the legal trouble The Opposition has. For those of you who want their memories refreshed Here are the links our past articles:
Court Battle Surrounding Documentary The Opposition
Documentary The Opposition wins first court battle

The Opposition was due to screen Saturday afternoon 12th October at the PNG Human Rights Film Festival. At 6.12pm on Friday night, the producers of The Opposition received an email from the programmers of the festival stating that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General is stopping the screening of the film. The programmers gave the following reason:

“The Opposition” film is subject to a court proceeding ‘OS No. 365 of 2017’ and is awaiting a decision from the National Court. Under these circumstances we have been advised that we are unable to screen the film in the rest of the Film Festival program.”

Producer Rebecca Barry pointed out that there is no active case against The Opposition in the National Court of PNG, nor has there ever been. The case mentioned above refers to the proceedings between the Paga Hill Development Company and director Hollie Fifer.
Barry went on to explain that these proceedings were filed over a year ago and been left dormant since that time. It is disingenuous and inaccurate to suggest that these proceedings are ‘active’. The film has screened unencumbered in other parts of PNG. The last-minute ban on Saturday’s screening has raised many questions.
“We can only assume that the high-profile nature of this festival and with APEC around the corner that this is a film that the government does not want the PNG public to see.” Barry commented “We are devastated for the Paga Hill Community who were expecting to turn up on Saturday to see their story up on the big screen – to be heard and have their story listened to. But once again, the powers that be, have taken away this simplest of human rights … their story.”
Paga Hill leader Joe Moses, the main character in The Opposition film said, “The ban highlights the lingering limits on free speech in our country and the continued attempts to censor our story of resistance against gross human rights violations claimed.” Paga Hill leader Joe Moses, the main character in The Opposition film commented. Mr Moses continued, “We appreciate the PNG Human Rights Film Festival for choosing to screen The Opposition film at their Madang and Port Moresby screenings. It is shameful that our government continues to limit free speech and put such pressure on our country’s only annual arts and human rights event. How does this make us look to the world leaders who will be coming here for the APEC meeting in November?”
As notice was given after hours on a Friday, the filmmakers were unable to activate a challenge to get the film screened on Saturday. The Opposition film tells the story of the forced eviction of a peaceful community that lived on Paga Hill, Port Moresby. Since their forced eviction, the community has struggled to survive.