By Scott Waide – EM TV, Lae
Calls to allow a prisoner–student to attend his University of Technology graduation, yesterday, were refused by Lae’s Buimo jail’s prison administration in a move seen by his family and friends as contrary to the spirit of prison rehabilitation.
Yesterday, Lengtry Kintau, spent graduation day in the prison’s high risk section. He was moved there days before the graduation and after his requests to continue with the university’s master’s program were also refused.
According to the prison administration, the rationale behind moving Kinatu to the high risk was due to the possibility that he could escape after permission to continue with a Masters in Communications program was denied.
Four days earlier, Lengtry Kintau’s parents, Michael and Mary, appealed to the jail commander to at least allow him to continue with his education.
“This is a good thing for the prison and other prisoners who wish to study in future,” said Michael Kintau. “He has set a path and he should be allowed to continue.
“He is still a prisoner. If he disobeys orders, the prison can remove his privileges and confine him.”
Yesterday, his family were present to receive his degree, presented in front of a crowd of more than 2000 people.
While this has been a fight lost, this story could influence how Papua New Guinea’s prison system views rehabilitation and prisoner education.
