Pacific Freedom Forum

Palau: President urged to lift gag rule on AG

2012-02-12T13:15:00.000-10:00

Pacific Freedom Forum, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- A presidential order banning Palau's Attorney General Ernestine Rengiil from giving her legal opinion directly to those seeking raises serious concerns over access to information and freedom of information for the island nation, says regional media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

The order, issued on January 27 now bans the Attorney General from issuing a legal opinion on any matter unless it is specifically authorized by the President or his Ministers. Under the Executive Order, the AG now has to confer with President Johnson Toribiong or a Minister on all requests. If a green light is given, the legal analysis still has to go back to the President with copies to the Ministers for final clearance before it can be provided to the person or group who first requested it.

"Controlling and restricting how the public's leading expert on the constitution can communicate with the people of Palau not only ends a well-established relationship for public access to the office of the AG, but now leaves all pending questions hanging,"says PFF chair Titi Gabi of PNG.

"Journalists wanting to have a quick legal insight into news of the day are not the only ones who will be affected by this ban. It's a blow for the right of Palauans to know what their elected leaders are
doing and we urge President Toribiong to reconsider his decision and reconsider the impact of this executive order, and revoke it,"

The lack of an explanation for the gag order raises questions around timing. National elections are set down for November 6.

The ban comes in the wake of questions from news broadcaster OTV regarding Palau's political campaign law. Current campaign laws provide for equal airtime between privately owned radio and TV for candidates. OTV had sought a legal opinion clarifying how the law applies to Senator Alfonso Diaz, a former journalist who runs talk back and promotion of his policies for several hours from his privately owned Radio Diaz station each morning, without similar access for other political candidates.

"The media ownership and campaign questions were relevant and all in a days journalism, but now Palau's voters may never have the answers -- or because of the vetting process involved, may not know until after the elections," says PFF co chair Monica Miller.

"Our media colleagues in Palau share the common situation of their journalism family across the developing Pacific. The office of the Attorney General can often be the only information link for sharing accurate legal information with the public on how their elected leaders are applying the rule of law. Gagging the Attorney General robs people of their right to know, and opens up room for speculation and misinformation." --ENDS

CONTACT:PFF ChairTiti Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New GuineaMail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.comPFF co-ChairMonica Miller | KHJ Radio | American SamoaMob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.comThe Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Defamation protections for Fiji regime unwelcome, says PFF.

2012-02-09T14:54:00.003-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Fiji's journalists are being warned to steer clear of the latest
media-related decree and stick to ethical standards to guide their reporting of regime speeches and statements.
The warning comes in the wake of the country's new state proceedings decree, which grants Fiji's regime leader and his ministers exemption from defamation suits over anything they may say in public or private.
Signed off on January 19th by the nation's President, the regime issued a statement this week claiming the decree will strengthen public discussion and consultation in the lead-up to planned elections in 2014.
"Defamation and libel restrictions are a cornerstone of journalism ethics training and the practice applies whether a country has defamation laws or not. A leadership which protects itself but not its
people from defamation suits cannot expect that to be welcome news. We urge and support our colleagues in Fiji to apply caution in interpreting this decree, and to resist any confusion with parliamentary privilege which is only applied by democratically elected leaders, only in their official capacity, and only from the Parliament floor," says PFF chair Titi Gabi from Papua New Guinea.
"Of all the decrees introduced by the regime this is the most blatant in its elitist protection of the regime leader and his ministers. The claim it will foster and open public debate because the media won't be facing defamation lawsuits over any stories quoting the regime leadership is a farce. Along with the Media Decree, this one should be immediately revoked."
"The best way to open public debate towards meaningful progress is to ensure the right to speak and be heard, to ask questions and to challenge ideas and policies, is to ensure everyone involved is able to openly do so. " says PFF co-chair Monica Miller from American Samoa.
"This is yet another regime decree which adds to the current Media and other decrees shaping what is expressed in public and who says it. We stand by those media colleagues in Fiji who will strive in difficult times to uphold ethical standards, especially as they seek balance and right of reply from individuals and groups who may soon bear the brunt of the latest edict", she says.--ENDS
LINKS
Decree announced: http://fijivillage.com/?mod=story&id=0802129451fb595af42a6c83cc7e4e

CONTACT:PFF ChairTiti Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New GuineaMail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.comPFF co-ChairMonica Miller | KHJ Radio | American SamoaMob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.comThe Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

PNG: Investigation into media shooting threat needed says PFF

2012-01-31T12:51:00.000-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- Journalists in Papua New Guinea must be able to report the ongoing political tensions in the country without fear or intimidation, says Pacific media monitoring watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

Speaking from Port Moresby, PFF chair Titi Gabi has called for an investigation after soldiers at the Murray Barracks in Port Moresby reportedly threatened to shoot PNGFM reporter Tauna George on Thursday 26th January. George, a resident at the Barracks, had rushed to the front gates to see why shots were being fired randomly on the same morning. As he approached the main office to request an interview, four soldiers ordered him to sit down, searched him, removed his phone, notebook and biro, and threatened to shoot him.

The act of aggression was raised by PNG FM News Director Belinda Kora at a press conference called by ex-army colonel Yausa Sasa the same day. Sasa was taken by surprise, apologised and ordered the return of Tauna's equipment.

"An investigation into the officers who took it upon themselves to threaten the life of a journalist going about his job would help them better understand how to treat civilians and media workers during times of tension and upheaval," says Gabi. "Anyone who has a gun pulled on them and a threat to shoot is a victim of a criminal act, regardless of timing or who is behind the firearm."

She says other incidents and comments on social networking sites from PNG journalists have raised the need for media workers to "be vigilant of their safety and rights, and lean on the rule of law to help them do the best job possible."

ABC PNG stringer Firmin Nanol was also denied access to a Press Conference organised the same day. In front of other media colleagues, Nanol was shouted at by the PRO of Defence Dept and former journalist Benny Sandeka, who was blaming ABC for 'coup' adjectives used to report last weeks event.

The threats to PNG media in recent days come on the back of increasing incidences of self-censorship and intimidation in recent months within industry ranks. Journalists in the National Broadcasting Corporation and EMTV have noted unusual management decisions delaying or
pulling news bulletins for perceived 'imbalance'. In two cases, talk-back callers to an NBC live show were asked on-air if their comments were going to be for or against the O'Neill government. The troubled times for PNG newsrooms are compounded by the current leadership void for the nations once strong national media watchdog, the PNG Media Council.

"We encourage our PNG colleagues to discuss and report all acts of intimidation and harassment and promptly make all concerns known to other colleagues in the media," says PFF co chair Monica Miller, from American Samoa. "Self-censorship often results when intimidation, threats and silence become an accepted norm amongst journalists. We need to deal strongly and consistently with this on all fronts if we want to remain credible, independent and free."--ENDS

CONTACT:PFF ChairTiti Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New GuineaMail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.comPFF co-ChairMonica Miller | KHJ Radio | American SamoaMob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.comThe Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

As 16 Days global campaign ends, newsroom vigilance on violence against women journalists needed: PFF

2011-12-09T13:19:00.001-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- As the global 16 days of activism campaign against violence against women for 2011 ends this weekend, Pacific journalists reporting on violence against women are called on to expose abuse of their own colleagues.
"Globally, newsrooms are often majority staffed by women, so violence against women reporters has deeper implications for the rights of any citizen to stay informed," says Titi Gabi, chair of the Pacific Freedom Forum.
"Silence from many media outlets and violence victims on abuses they face, often from their partners, represents a deep shame and silence which all journalists must unite to condemn. PFF calls on journalists to continue to uphold ethics and integrity in reporting gender-based violence as a leading story in Pacific nations – and to be more vigilant, vocal and supportive of colleagues facing similar problems.."
Marking 16 days of activism against violence against women, Pacific impetus to the global campaign from November 25th to December 11th every year tends to come from civil society, gender advocacy and human rights networks.
Internal PFF alerts and those shared among a fledgling regional grouping for Pacific women journalists, called Pacific WAVE, reveals many incidents, particularly amongst women journalists in Melanesia, suffering from harassment, emotional and physical partner abuse.
“This is creating an ethical and cultural challenge for monitoring media freedom," says Gabi, from Port Moresby.
“Strategic and evidence-based actions to fight gender inequality in the media is difficult if the ones who are supposed to be shining the light on issues that need airing are also swallowed up in the silence on violence against women.”
The regional media freedom monitoring network which launched in 2008 has found a growing trend of reluctance from women journalists to report threats, harassment, abuse and violence, especially those suffering in their own homes.
The PFF concerns are confirmed by the WAVE Media Network which in its founding sessions and on going networking, reveals compelling but private stories of women journalists forced out of their workplaces after personal experiences linked to their professional calling.

PFF co chair Monica Miller of American Samoa says it's "Distressing that virtually all these alerts do not progress to statements because the information cannot be verified when women and their own colleagues in the workplace don’t feel they can make a stand for their rights and dignity, for whatever reason.”

“We call on women, and men, in the media to report threats, violence and abuse as soon as these events happen," says Miller.

"We encourage media colleagues aware of these events to speak out. Let perpetrators know their actions are criminal, not a ‘private’ or ‘domestic’ matter. And we ask media organisations to uphold gender equality in the workplace."

Secure journalists are more productive journalists, says Miller, which makes for better news reporting and well-informed, more productive communities.--ENDS

CONTACT:PFF ChairTiti Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New GuineaMail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.comPFF co-ChairMonica Miller | KHJ Radio | American SamoaMob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.comThe Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

PNG: complaints process, ethics highlighted in defamation case

2011-11-21T11:53:00.001-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Another defamation suit filed against a PNG media organisation has raised questions on why public complaints are not being taken up with the national media complaints committee, says regional media freedom Monitoring network, the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

Major logging, trading and media interest Rimbunan Hijau (RH) has filed a defamation suit against Papua New Guinea’s Post Courier newspaper over its coverage of an official investigation into logging interest by an RH Company in the Pomio district, in the West New Britain Province. The Post Courier reported several stories of police brutality on landowners unhappy with logging operations in the area. It was alleged the police were sent there by Rimbunan Hijau.
Defamation threats were also levelled at reporters covering the sale of the former Prime Minister's official jet. The threats were made by Air Niugini’s CEO, Wasanthra Kumarasiri when pressed to explain what the sale plans were and the cost involved.
And in August, a provincial governor named The National (which is owned by RH) in his defamation suit over stories he was unhappy with.
“The spate of defamation suits is a worrying trend. Using legal offices and language against journalists reporting the facts can lead to self-censorship by PNG media at a time when their investigative iournalism is badly needed,” says PFF chair Titi Gabi, of Papua New Guinea.
“The national Media Council manages a complaints process on behalf of news organisations who are its members who follow a code of ethics which members of the public are able to call on in their complaints,” says Gabi. “It’s a model of self-regulation which has worked in the past and should be strengthened because it works. We encourage the current claimants, and the public – especially leaders and companies with grievances over reportage, to take up the media council complaints process.
Under the PNG Constitution, freedom of speech, press, and information are guaranteed and defamation is not a criminal offense. However, journalists can be sued for defamation in civil cases but complaints are usually settled out of court before proceeding to hearings.
PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa says the PNG Media Council serves the region’s largest nation and spread of media organisations, and provides a model from which other developing media councils can learn.
“We are all interested in taking our cue from what works and what needs improving in all our own Pacific contexts – and it’s clear that a strong and transparent public complaints process beats a costly legal battle every time,” she says.--ENDS

LINKS:

Defamation against Post Courier: http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2011/November/11-11-09.htm

Defamation against the National: http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2011/08/png-provincial-governor-sues-the-national-for-defamation/

Fiji: Regime media bullying continues with contempt case: PFF

2011-11-14T08:34:00.001-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Fiji’s regime continues to cement its own repressive image with the latest contempt case filed against Fiji Times says regional media freedom monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum, or PFF.
Regime Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has taken offense at an article originally published in New Zealand’s Sunday Star-Times newspaper and republished in the Fiji Times on Nov 7th . The article dealt with an interview on Oceania Football staffer Dr Sahu Khan, who is appealing a regime decision disbarring him for a decade over professional misconduct charges. Oceania Football General Secretary Tai Nicholas made comments on the Fiji judiciary which have angered the military regime and offended its Attorney General.
“Once more we have the Fiji Times bearing the brunt of a regime tantrum against freedom of expression when it disagrees with their ‘journalism of hope’ branding,” says PNG’s Titi Gabi, chair of the PFF.
“Nicholas brings a long legal career to his role in Oceania football. He was expressing his opinion on the state of the judicial system in Fiji and the story seems to have passed the checks of regime censors as per the PER regulations which put the onus on newsroom censors to ensure reportage is screened for ‘offensive’ content,” Gabi says.
PFF repeats its call on the regime to repeal the PER and Media Decree to demonstrate meaningful efforts to restore Fiji to democracy.
“We believe in direct and in mediated complaints processes for complaints over breaches of media ethics and standards is the best way forward,"says PFF co chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
“The ability to take criticism and respond to it maturely is what pacific communities demand of their leaders. Applied well, this skill would have a tremendous and valuable influence on public perceptions around leadership more powerful that the current practice of targeting media operators such as Fiji Times”, she says.
The contempt case will be heard on Monday, November 28th. --ENDS

LINKS

Fiji Sun -- http://www.fijisun.com.fj/main_page/view.asp?id=64602

Radio NZ International -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=64514

Fiji: PFF condemns unionist arrests, detentions

2011-11-08T18:30:00.000-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS: The arrest and detention of Fiji’s trade union movement leaders Daniel Urai and Felix Anthony continues the harassment and intimidation of citizens by the military regime, says regional media freedom monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) president Daniel Urai was arrested on October 29, 2011 at Nadi International Airport after returning from the Commonwealth Heads of Government events in Australia, a move condemned as politically motivated by Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd.
Urai was held incommunicado at an undisclosed location for eight days until he appeared in the Suva Magistrates' Court on Monday, November 7, 2011. He has been charged with "urging political violence” under the regime’s Crimes Decree. Bail was initially refused and he was granted release on bail with curfew and other conditions on Wednesday afternoon Fiji time.
“It took more than a week of being held without charge, with no contact from family members, friends, colleagues, and legal support, for the regime to decide what to do with Urai. This deplorable situation raises obvious questions over charges being concocted out of politically motivated harassment. There just isn't enough information to suggest a timely process of evidence and investigation has taken place prior to his arrest,” says PFF chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.
“Pacific communities outside of Fiji continue to freely express ideas and opinions which may be critical of their governments, free from the fear of being ‘disappeared’ from their loved ones at a moment’s notice. We urge the regime to cease the arbitrary detention of selected citizens on sham charges, and repeat our call for lifting of the Public Emergency Regulations of April 2009 and the Media Decree which should have replaced the PER when it was introduced last November.” says Gabi.
“We are also concerned at news that FTUC general secretary Felix Anthony has also been made incommunicado and has yet to face charges since being ‘detained’ by the military at his office in Lautoka on Friday, November 4 and taken to Suva under heavy guard the following morning.”
"The right to meet in public places, to organise, to share opinions, ideas and express them no matter how critical or unpopular they may be, is the most obvious sign that our Pacific leaders have come of age and accept criticism as an essential part of public life, “says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
“As the regime leaders continue to target citizens who express ideas and opinions that do not support their views, a culture of compliance and silence is being manipulated and misrepresented to future generations as the 'Fijian' way. The 'disappearing' of citizens held without charge or court appearance, rendered incommunicado by the military, is a madness that Pacific leaders must strongly condemn."ENDS

LINKS
ACT NOW campaign
http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=1155

Radio NZ International
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=64267

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=64279
CONTACT:PFF ChairTiti Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New GuineaMail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.comPFF co-ChairMonica Miller | KHJ Radio | American SamoaMob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.comThe Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Media pressure needed on West Papua: PFF

2011-11-08T06:11:00.000-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS --Pacific journalists are urged to pay more attention to the humanrights tragedy unfolding on Papua New Guinea's borders in Indonesia’smineral-rich province of West Papua, says regional media freedom monitoringnetwork the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
Both the Melanesian Spearhead Group and Pacific Forumleaders meetings this year revealed a silence from Pacific leaders on thisissue, despite strong civil society lobbying, and despite Indonesia being anObserver to the Melanesian Spearhead Group because of West Papua.
“With the killings and human rights abuses reported in recent weeks and the continued threats to journalists there, more Pacific journalistsoutside of West Papua should pressure their leaders to start explaining why apocket of indigenous Melanesians are unable to freely speak, share and gatherin peaceful protest, in their own land,” says PFF chair Titi Gabi, of Papua New Guinea.
The challenge comes as tensions around strike actions at the Freeport mine continue and more revelations of soldiers attacking and abusing indigenous Papuan villagers are reported in Indonesia’s Jakarta Globe. In October a pro-independence meeting in Jayapura sparked more armed force against unarmed civilians which left more than six people dead and hundreds more injured and arrested. Separately, strike actions at the Freeport mine has also sparked violence and led to armed action by security forces against unarmed civilians. The long running failure to investigate and prosecute those responsible for these crimes and breaches of Indonesia's human rights commitments has been condemned by groups in the region and across the globe, including Amnesty International.
“In solidarity with our colleagues in Indonesia and in support of the national Media Association of Vanuatu in their recent statement, PFF also condemns these brutal attacks on people determined to exercise their human their right to freely gather, and freely speak, in the province of West Papua. Journalists there are already experiencing threats and have been killed in the course of their investigations into what is happening," says Gabi.

Historically Melanesian, the province of West Papua is governedby Indonesia and classified by the UN as part of South East Asia. Indonesia’scontrol of West Papua was sealed during a controversial UN referendum in the60's. Many indigenous Papuans who’ve led the call for autonomy from Indonesiahave been forced to flee for their lives and live in exile in nations like Australiaand Vanuatu, where a leading West Papuan NGO is housed. Vanuatu is also hostcountry to the MSG secretariat.
Also in the lastmonth, the Pacific Journalism Review of the Pacific Media Centre at Auckland’sUniversity of Technology has highlighted West Papua in a special edition onPacific media freedom. In the last year in West Papua two journalists have beenkilled, there have been five abductions or attempted abductions, 18 assaults (includingrepeated cases against some journalists), censorship by both the civil andmilitary authorities and two police arrests without charges.
Speaking from Pagopago in American Samoa, PFF co-chairMonica Miller described the situation in West Papua as horrifying.
"It is hard forus in Polynesia to comprehend the horrific scale and severity of the violencedestroying the lives of our sister and brother wantoks. West Papua remindsjournalists of the call to ethics in seeking out the voiceless in Pacific communities,and bringing the powerful to account.”
“As Pacific journalists continue to question the impacts ofour colonial past on the Pacific politics and realities of today, authorities in New Zealand and Australia also need to look past the interestsof powerful investors and make human rights in West Papua a priorityissue." .--ENDS

LINKS

Vanuatu Daily Post on MSG and Indonesia

http://www.dailypost.vu/content/don%E2%80%99t-discuss-west-papua-behind-our-back-ayamiseba

Jakarta Globe articles

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/editorschoice/at-papuan-congress-a-brutal-show-of-force/473327

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/7-soldiers-detained-for-abuse-in-papua/476877

Amnesty International

https://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/indonesia-must-investigate-mine-strike-protest-killing-2011-10-10

Pacific Scoop

http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2011/09/pacific-will-not-be-free-until-west-papua-is-free-from-atrocities-say-activists/

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1109/S00254/mccully-plays-down-fiji-west-papua-issues.htm

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1110/S00776/australia-should-challenge-military-violence-in-west-papua.htm

Pacific Media Watch/Pacific Media Centre

http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/articles/west-papua-ignored-fiji-poll-condemned-forum-leaders-emerge

http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/nz-media-blindfolded-over-west-papua-violence-say-critics-7692

Pacific Beat/Radio Australia

Push for West Papua to gain MSG status http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201103/s3172200.htm

NZ Pacifica journos reach ten-year milestone

2011-11-02T08:59:00.000-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Pacifica journalists in New Zealand celebrating ten years ofbetter networking and a space to share their concerns have reached a regionalmilestone, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.

PFF joins other regional colleagues in congratulatingthe Pacific Islands Media Association, PIMA, for reaching a decade of networkingand solidarity. “Already a minority in a country which has a strong Pacificpopulation and is host the world’s largest Polynesian centre, a relatively small cadre of Pacific Islands journalists working in New Zealand have come through a tough decade forjournalists, let alone New Zealand journalists and Pacific journalists. That is inspirational," says Papua New Guinea’s Titi Gabi, who chairsthe regional media freedom network.

“PFF is not even half the age of PIMA. But the concerns overkeeping professional standards in an industry facing high turnover and lack ofinterest as a long term career are shared. And the networking offered by linkingwith other journalists is definitely something which has marked the development of Pacific media in recent years."

The emergence and growth of institutions such as the Auckland University of Technology's Pacific Media Centre is helping to lead quality tertiary training and debates for Pacific journalists in New Zealand and the region, and continues to help boost membership and support for PIMA, says co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.

"We celebrate with our Pacific colleagues this week, and look forward to more shared efforts in future," she says.

Miller was amongstthose attending the May 2011 UNESCO World Press Freedom Day regional events in Apia,where PIMA formed part of the inaugural membership of the Media Alliance of thePacific. The MAP grouping provides a common platform for the different Pacific regional media networks to come together on issues and concerns they share, such as media freedom and training actions. -- ENDS

LINKS:
PIMA website www.pima.co.nz
Pacific Media Centre website www.pmc.aut.ac.nz

CONTACT:PFF ChairTiti Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New GuineaMail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.comPFF co-ChairMonica Miller | KHJ Radio | American SamoaMob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.comThe Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

NZ press ban sets dangerous precedent - PFF

2011-10-30T11:06:00.001-10:00

Speaker Lockwood Smith

. . .

A ten day parliamentary ban on reporters from the largest daily newspaper in New Zealand sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of the region, warns the Pacific Freedom Forum.

"Banning all or part of the news media is a risky option for any parliamentary Speaker to take," says Pacific Freedom Forum chair Titi Gabi.

"As a regional leader, New Zealand decision makers need to be aware there are wider implications, including whether they are setting a precedent for partner countries."

Dr Smith imposed the ban on 7th October after a beneficiary leapt off the upstairs public gallery, protesting against government policies. A long-time Herald press gallery reporter, Audrey Young, snapped the moment with her phone camera and it was published online later that afternoon.

PFF has reviewed commentary from news media and other institutions since Dr Smith announced the ban earlier this month. PFF joins the New Zealand Press Gallery, the Commonwealth Press Union, and other news media in expressing concern.

"As part of the Fourth Estate, journalists attend Parliament for the same reason as honourable members", says Gabi.

"We are there to hold the government of the day to account", says Gabi.

New rules placing more restrictions on coverage will further hinder journalism from doing its job properly, says the PFF chair, speaking from Port Moresby.

"In the fortnight or so since the ban, this is being seen as especially worrisome, coming as it did six weeks before a general election."

PFF agrees with the Commonwealth Press Union and its Media Freedom Committee that the ban should result in a review of rules that must be followed by the press gallery.

"There may have been good reason to limit House coverage in the past," says Gabi.

"Journalists used to act as gatekeepers to most public awareness. But the question must be asked whether this still stands good today, in an era of almost unlimited access to public information, via internet and social networks," she says.

PFF applauds Dr Lockwood Smith for what is widely recognised as a robust and independent approach to the role of Speaker, even when dealing with MPs from his own party.

Dr Smith last year attacked government MPs for "reckless misuse of official data" - criticism that went unreported, with the New Zealand parliamentary press gallery instead focused on a visit to parliament, the same day, by beauty pageant contestants.

PFF co-chair Monica Miller also welcomed a decision by the Speaker to pull back from a total ban, but says relatively muted reaction to the ban in New Zealand shows up a lack of news media governance.

"Sad to say, there is not a strong voice for journalism in New Zealand."

The only union to represent journalism, the EPMU, the Electrical, Printing and Manufacturers Union, features just three press releases on its journalism site this year, with only six last year.

MEAA, the Australian media, entertainment and arts organisation, does have representation in New Zealand. But a PFF volunteer was advised during a brief, informal visit to the Auckland office this week that they are focused on actor equity issues, rather than news media or journalism.

There has not been a professional association for journalists in New Zealand since 1987.

Miller notes that an EPMU journalism review promised for 2008 has yet to appear.

"It is an irony that the only news media organisation to respond publicly to the journalism review is the New Zealand Herald chapel, strongly suggesting a political economy where there is a chilling effect on news media."

Some 30 other news media who responded to the journalism review did not want to be identified.

LINKS

Press Gallery Calls on Speaker to Reconsider Herald Decision

Editorial: Media ban should concern everyone

Watch the original footage of the Parliament jumper

Parliamentary security injured in scuffle – read more

Key makes hand gesture to throat following scuffle

. . .

PFF calls on Temaru to reconsider media shutdown

2011-10-04T02:36:00.002-10:00

Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Closing down state media outlets is a short-sighted reaction to cost cutting pressures in French Polynesia, says regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum.

State-owned news service Agence Tahiti Presse will close at the end of the year and broadcaster Tahiti Nui Television may later face the same fate. According to news reports from the capital, Pape'ete, the decisions to axe the news agency has come from cost-cutting pressures from Paris as the global economc crisis affects budgets in France's territories.

"News media are an essential part of keeping the public informed and should be a last resort, not the first, for cost cutting," says PFF chair, Titi Gabi.

"Other island states are coming to realise their mistake in putting local media in the firing line."
French Polynesia is currently ruled by the pro-independence party of long-time campaigner Oscar Temaru.
Gabi says it would be "sadly ironic" for moves towards independence to begin with the closing down of local news media, "a time when independent scrutiny is needed most."
"Does the Temaru administration really want the main source of information to be coming from RFO radio and television, both services mainly staffed and run from Paris?" asks Gabi, from Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.
PNG has recently seen an upswing in funding for state media, essential for informing a disparate and widely dispersed population, says PFF. Funding was increased after a 2006 review of Australian aid to the region found that populations were under more threat from natural and other disasters because of failing state media.
From American Samoa, PFF co-chair Monica Miller notes that French Polynesia faces financial pressures similar to other island nations.
"During the 80's and 90's, many islands were encouraged by aid donors like New Zealand and Australia to privatise government services and leave the market to fill the gap," says Miller.
"As some have found, a lack of strong state media to independently inform citizens about current events, especially disasters, has cost lives and much money."
PFF is calling on the Temaru administration to reassess the role of state media in cost cutting plans. "The founders of France long ago recognised the role of a strong news media when they outlined a constitution which calls not only for an independent media, but also media plurality - a variety of sources of information and views for citizens to consider," she says.
"It's essential for the efficient and effective development of French Polynesia for local media to be supported towards professional and independent journalism, rather than using budget pressures as the excuse to close the doors on a news outlet serving Tahiti and the region."
Such support might include the establishment of a professional journalism society for locals and long-time residents, and an independent media monitor to ensure news media remain accountable to their community, suggests PFF.
"In an information age, we all need more relevant and credible sources of information, not less. Our thoughts are with our news colleagues and their families in Tahiti as they face the prospect of being jobless for Christmas." says Miller.--ENDS

LINKS
AusAID Pacific AID findings on media
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jfadt/pacificaid/report/chapter5.htm

French constitution
http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/fr00000_.html

CONTACT:PFF ChairTiti Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New GuineaMail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.comPFF co-ChairMonica Miller | KHJ Radio | American SamoaMob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.comThe Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

PINA 2012: Fiji venue a concern says PFF

2011-09-30T04:48:00.001-10:00

Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Updated arrangements for the Pacific Islands News Association biennial meeting have been welcomed by the Pacific Freedom Forum, but the regional media monitoring network is concerned over the potential pitfalls of hosting the event in Fiji.

The Pacific Islands News Association which has its coordinator, secretariat and regional news service based in Fiji's capital city, announced this week it would be postponing its 2011 Pacific Media Summit til early 2012 and relocating it from host country Papua New Guinea.

"Many PFF members trace their active advocacy of media freedom back to PINA, which is why we are concerned that media freedom will not be a leading agenda item given the current situation in Fiji" says PFF Chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.

"We support the optimism with which some colleagues have greeted the news. But a mutual dialogue best happens where both sides feel free to speak from their hearts, and skilled mediation is present," says Gabi. "As we saw in PINA 2009, the attendance by Fiji military personnel sparked a walkout and changed the tone of the whole event. What will happen next year?"

Under the media decree application process for a regional media meeting , every session of PINA 2012, every speaker presenting and the name of every delegate planning to attend has to be vetted by the regime, who can also be there 'monitoring' what is said.

Since April 2009, emergency regulations have suspended media freedom and the right to peaceful assembly, installed military censors in newsrooms, and led to a media decree which controls who can practice journalism and how they work. The last major media conference event hosted by Fiji was the Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcast Development event in July 2009. Local media were notably absent, and were largely represented by state media and military information officers.

Regional media events where freedom of expression has featured, originally planned for Fiji around World Press Freedom Day, have twice been relocated to Samoa. The last event, planned for World Press Freedom Day in May 2011, had its application rejected without explanation by Fiji's Ministry of Information just days after organisers were advised it had been accepted.

"PFF have previously called for a regional media mission to Fiji to allow for some direct and frank dialogue with the regime, Fiji's people, and our media colleagues," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa, "If having PINA 2012 in Suva can help to progress such a mission without compromising its independence, we would welcome it."--ENDS

CONTACT:PFF Chair Titi Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New GuineaMail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.comPFF co-ChairMonica Miller | KHJ Radio | American SamoaMob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.comThe Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Solomon Islands: Police action urged on 75,000 compensation demand

2011-09-28T18:45:00.000-10:00

Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum has welcomed news that Solomon Islands newspaper the Islands Sun has referred a $75,000 SBD (about 7,500 AUD) compensation demand against them to the Police.
The compensation demand was made on Thursday 21 September by supporters of West Honiara MP Namson Tram, following the front-page publication by Island Sun of a report into Tram's purchase and private registration of his government vehicle. Island Sun and other media outlets had quoted Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Mathew Wale referring to the deal as criminal, with the paper's headline reflecting that label.The Media Association of the Solomon Islands, MASI has issued a statement denouncing the compensation demand as a form of harassment against journalists and media organisations which is 'inappropriate and disrespectful to media freedom in Solomon Islands."
"We stand by our colleagues in their stance against compensation threats of this kind which are clearly nothing more than attempts to extort money and have nothing to do with a custom arrangement," says PFF chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea."We call on Police to complete their investigation in a timely manner mindful of the fact that this compensation demand involves an MP, and threats to personal safety of journalists involved," she says.She says harassment, abuse and threats against journalists should not be accepted as part of the news beat, and must be reported immediately to Police.
"While the context of media ethics and traditional customs will inform the Police investigation, we have to refer back to the rule of law. If journalists don't report threats and harassment to Police,they are effectively signalling that an illegal behaviour against themis acceptable."
"As Pacific journalists, it's important to understand that elements of culture are always going to be a point of contention in our work, but the bottom line is culture should make us better -- not worse, at doing the best job for our communities," says PFF co chair Monica Miller.
"Leading and award-winning journalists in the Solomon Islands havehelped to develop one of the best national media associations in thePacific. We commend MASI's important work in developing training and codes of ethics andpractice for journalists in the Solomons, and urge our colleagues inall outlets to advertise complaints procedures to their audiences so that more people understand what their choices are when they are offended by what is reported as news." ENDS.

LINKS--
ISLAND SUN report
http://www.islandsun.com.sb/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3622:wale-labels-tran-qa-crimminalq&catid=36:latest-news&Itemid=79
MASI statement
http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/12355-masi-denounced-compensation-demand-on-island-sun-newspaper

CONTACT:PFF ChairTiti Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New GuineaMail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.comPFF co-ChairMonica Miller | KHJ Radio | American SamoaMob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.comThe Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

PFF welcomes UN concern on Vanuatu media--next steps important

2011-09-22T14:49:00.000-10:00

Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS----The 'serious concern' voiced by the United Nations over media rights abuses by Vanuatu's government is a milestone moment for Pacific media freedom work.
Regional monitoring watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF and other media groups have led ongoing campaigns calling on serious abuses to media freedom in Vanuatu. PFF says the opinion expressed this week by the UN's Pacific Office for Human Rights regional representative Matilda Bogner is a welcome step by a key regional development partner opening up on an issue that's usually left to journalists to handle.
"It's good to see that the key regional body of the UN agency tasked with human rights is helping to raise the rights of journalists in this way," says PFF chair Titi Gabi of PNG.
"The ability of journalists to do their work without fear or favour means the public they serve can be informed without fear or favour. Vanuatu's leadership and other Pacific nations need to know that assaults and harassment of media workers undermines governance itself and lessens the credibility of leaders who allow it to happen on their watch," she says.
In her opinion published this week, Bogner notes the key basis of a free media to governance and accountability and points out guidelines for leaders in Vanuatu to help tackle the culture of impunity
surrounding harassment of journalists.
The Pacific Freedom Forum would especially welcome a country or regional visit by the UN Special
Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, says Gabi.
"Journalists doing their jobs free from interference or censorship are one of the core features of thriving democracies. A country or regional visit by the UN special rapporteur assigned by Ban ki Moon to investigate and advocate around freedom of expression would really help Pacific governments understand their responsibility to protect, not control, a free media."
PFF has previously called on Pacific agencies who partner with media workers on training and development to raise their concerns with Pacific governments on their development commitments which rest on the support for human rights.
"We are mindful that regional agencies based in Fiji, where military censorship and leadership by decree continues to suppress freedom of expression and other key human rights, may themselves be
self-censoring and fearing for their personal and professional safety." says PFF co-Chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"It's the work of all of us, not just media and monitoring networks like PFF to sound the warnings when our governmentsbacktrack on their promises and agreements, especially on basic human rights. So we look forward to more opinions from the UN on Article 19 in the Pacific, including the country where the regional office is hosted-- Fiji."--ENDS
LINKS:

UN Pacific OHCHR opinion: Free media essential for any society:
http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2011/09/%E2%80%9Ca-free-media-is-essential-for-any-society%E2%80%9D/

PFF on Vanuatu assault -- March statement
http://www.pacificfreedomforum.org/2011/03/pacific-govts-must-distance-themselves.html

CONTACT:PFF ChairTiti Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New GuineaMail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.comPFF co-ChairMonica Miller | KHJ Radio | American SamoaMob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.comThe Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

ABC tragedy a loss for Pacific: PFF

2011-08-18T19:05:00.002-10:00

Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- The Pacific Freedom Forum joins with our Australian colleagues in mourningthe tragic deaths of three universally respected and highly experienced mediaworkers in a helicopter crash in far northern South Australia.

Reporter Paul Lockyer,camera operator John Bean, and pilot Gary Ticehurst had returned to Lake Eyreto continue their coverage from this remote location when the ABC helicopterreportedly crashed.

Over the two years, theteam had reported on how the usually dry Lake Eyre and the rivers and streamswhich feed into it were flooding as water from further north travelled southinto Australia's outback. Their work produced acclaimed television news andcurrent affairs stories, and breathtaking, world standard, documentary lengthprogrammes.

"We are especiallysaddened because this team's work has been seen on Australia NetworkTelevision, operated by the ABC, and brought the sights and sounds ofAustralia, especially rural and regional Australia, to the developingPacific," PFF co-chair, Titi Gabi, said from Port Moresby.

Over his 40 yearcareer, Paul Lockyer amply earned the respect of all with whom he worked, mostrecently with his reportage from the Queensland floods and cyclone disastersearlier in 2011.

Camera operator JohnBean had recently filmed in Papua New Guinea with Pacific Pulse presenter TaniaNugent and had also visited other Pacific countries, including Nauru, withreporters like Sean Dorney. Through his work on ABC TV's rural programme,Landline, he demonstrated great sensitivity with the issues and concerns ofpeople who rarely feature in mainstream journalism.

"The tragedy istruly a loss for the Pacific region and reminds us all of the risks mediaworkers run when travelling to report on stories of importance," Ms Gabisaid. "The team weren't caught up in a conflict, or a disaster, but werecontinuing their coverage of one of nature's great, and rare, phenomena, theflooding of one of Australia's great inland lakes, and the natural resurgencethis brings when it occurs."

"But even withmeticulous planning, in the hands of respected and highly experienced pilot,Gary Ticehurst, travelling to such remote locations, which require longdistance helicopter flights, is dangerous, as this tragedy has so sadlydemonstrated," Ms Gabi said.

"Our thoughts andprayers are with the three media worker's families, and our Australian ABCfriends and colleagues as they mourn, remember, and praise the lives, exemplarycareers, and example all three set," co-chair, Monica Miller, said fromPago Pago.

"The best way toremember Paul, John, and Gary is for all media workers to seek to emulate themin their professionalism and humanity.

"They will besorely missed," Ms Miller said.--ENDS

LINKS:

ABC website tributesflow:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-19/tributes-for-three-of-abc27s-finest/2846408

IFJ Joins AustralianJournalists in Mourning Loss of News Crew

http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/ifj-joins-australian-journalists-in-mourning-loss-of-news-crew

CONTACT: PFF Chair TitiGabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New Guinea Mail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD,Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.com PFFco-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are aregional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with thespecific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacificpeople to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independentmedia. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, andthe vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders intheir endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance.In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedomand bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional andinternational community.

New chair for Pacific media freedom watchdog

2011-08-17T17:07:00.005-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS --The Pacific Freedom Forum has a newchair – Ms. Titi Gabi, an experienced journalist from Papua NewGuinea.

She replaces the group's first chair,Susuve Laumea, also from PNG.

A former journalist turned publicrelations worker, Laumaea resigned after objecting to internalcriticism from members.

“This is a tough role, advocatingfreedoms of expression for news media and other sectors, a causeoften finding itself embroiled in controversy with governments andbusiness,” says Gabi, from Port Moresby.

“I would like to thank Susuve Laumaeafor his contributions, and the confidence of my colleagues fromaround the region.”

No other nominations were received forthe position, with multiple messages of support received via theforum's online group.

Gabi gained a degree in Journalism fromthe University of Papua New Guinea, was a long-time News director and producer at PNG's EM-TV. A national and regional media trainer, she moved to radio as News Director at PNGFMLtd from 2005 until taking up freelancing in 2010.

“I look forward to working withcolleagues and further highlighting debate on freedom of expression,and how essential that is to stable democracy and economies.”

Changes at the top mark the thirdanniversary of founding of the Pacific Freedom Forum as an online network in August 2008.

Co-chair Monica Miller welcomed theappointment.

“PFF is pleased to maintain a balancebetween Melanesia and Polynesia at the leadership level of the forum,and we hope to also involve Micronesia to a greater extent.”

Speaking from Pagopago, Miller said theonly thing remarkable about having two women at the top at PFF washow unremarkable the nomination process was.

“Apparently, no one, man or woman,had any concerns about two women co-chairs, or even cracked a joke,which was most welcome.”

While gender balance might have beenpreferred, Miller notes that most newsroom workers around the worldtoday are women, even if management remains mostly dominated by men.

PFF released its first statements underthe new chair this week. Miller acted as interim chair after theLaumaea resignation.

Still a young network, PFF has put outmore than 100 statements covering all sub regions and with more than130 members online and at partner group, PIJO, Pacific IslandsJournalism Online.

PFF acts as the leading pacificassociate for the IFJ Pacific Human Rights and Democracy project,which took its cue from our Samoa meeting in 2009, and is also one oftwo Pacific-based members for IFEX, the global media alerts body.--ENDS

Another Fiji decree hurts human rights: PFF

2011-08-15T15:48:00.001-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum has renewed its call on Fiji's regime leadership to repeal its Public Emergency Regulations and the 2010 Media Decree.

"Two years on from the public emergency these regulations were supposedly aimed at addressing, the PER and Media Decree have turned out to be nothing more than a military gag on journalists and the right of Fiji's people to express their ideas and opinions freely," says PFF chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.

"Now another decree is on its way and we are concerned over the lack of public debate and discussion especially by unions who will be most affected by the new Essential Industries decree, " says Gabi.

Fiji trade unionists Daniel Urai and Dinesh Gounder were arrested and detained earlier this month for trying to publicly discuss the new decree which has roused international concern on workers rights.
They will appear in court on September 2 on charges of gathering without a permit.

"Effectively, using the PER as a pretense, the regime continues to make things we take for granted -- meeting and openly sharing ideas and information, a criminal offence. A permitis not going to be granted to any space where potential disagreement with regime policy or action might happen. We denounce that as bullying, aimed at silencing those who should be leading the public discussion and debates by Fiji's people of what's going on in their own country," says Gabi.

"We've long been concerned over the impact of the PER and Media Decree on our colleagues which robs them of their ability to report freely on what is happening in Fiji," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.

"Free speech is tightly linked to the freedoms of association and assembly, and we stand in solidarity with workers groups in Fiji who are basically being cornered with no room to discuss how they will be affected bythe new decree."

"A leadership which stops it's own people from meeting and sharing frank and honest opinions in public, is clearly uncomfortable with a nation where free and fair comment is enjoyed by all."--ENDS.

RELEVANT LINKS:

Concern over Fiji Trade Union arrests: http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201108/3288155.htm?desktop
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201108/s3285741.htm

Australian Trade Unions write to Prime Minister Gillard on Fiji :http://www.actu.org.au/Campaigns/International/InternationalSolidarity/LettertoPMondeterioratingsituationinFiji.aspx

Amnesty release on workers rights in Fiji: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA18/003/2011/en/7c5fe764-3ac5-4128-a944-f8a0c64f9c60/asa180032011en.html

CONTACT:PFF ChairTiti Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New GuineaMail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.comPFF co-ChairMonica Miller | KHJ Radio | American SamoaMob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.comThe Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Fiji: Fatality highlights news support roles

2011-08-14T16:55:00.002-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- The Pacific Freedom Forum is extending condolences and sympathy tofamily, friends and media colleagues of the Fiji Times circulations staffer killed in a vehicle accident on Monday 8 August in Fiji.

The deceased has been confirmed as 24-year old Kaveni Korovou, of Nabouciwa Village in Tailevu. He was part of a Fiji Times collections team doing runs when the vehiclereportedly lost control and overturned in Nalovo, near Nadi. Two other passengers in the vehicle were treated forinjuries at the Nadi Hospital. In keeping with tradition, the newspapers management visited Korovou'swidow and father as part of the police team relaying the direct news of his death.

Police are still investigating the cause of the accident and have charged the driver, a 50-year-old Fiji Times employee related to Korovou, with careless driving.

"Korovou was one of many behind the scenes staff who make daily newspapers such as the Fiji Times a key information source for tens of thousands of readers who have little notion of those who do the behind the scenes work of news delivery," says PFF chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.

"We are reminded that news journalists are only a small part of the many teams involved in news production, and extend our deepest condolences to his colleagues, village, and family at this time of
bereavement,"

It's understood Police are dealing directly with the Fiji Times newspaper management as Korovou died while on work assignment for the company where he was a casual staffer.

Korovou's funeral arrangements are still being finalised.

"It's our hope that the company's insurance policy covering workplace and work related accidents will cover Korovou's widow and their two young babies," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.

"We commend the actions and sensitivity of management so far."--ENDS

CONTACT:PFF ChairTiti Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New GuineaMail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.com

PFF co-ChairMonica Miller | KHJ Radio | American SamoaMob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Vanuatu state media must serve public, not politicians-- PFF

2011-08-11T12:48:00.000-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- Another episode of newsroom intimidation in Vanuatu by a government minister has been strongly condemned by regional media monitoring watchdog, the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF. And politicians must be reminded that state media outlets funded by taxpayers should be able to do their jobs without interference or pressure.
According to news reports (see links below), Vanuatu's Minister of Ni-Vanuatu business, Pastor Don Ken visited the newsroom of the state-owned Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation demanding that a story covering his arrest and jailing on the eve of Vanuatu Independence day celebrations last month be censored.
"We stand in solidarity with the Media Assosiasen Blo Vanuatu statement noting this action is unacceptable, and call on ministers to set the example to other public officials on upholding editorial independence of all media," says PFF chair Titi Gabi, of Papua New Guinea.
"Whether they work for a state or private media outlet, journalists should be able to impartially inform the public freely and without fear or favour -- especially when it comes to highly paid and powerful public servants whose actions breach a nation's law, or codes of conduct," she says.
According to news reports, journalists at Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation are concerned over ongoing political intimidation in the wake of threats of legal action by Minister Ken. His highly publicised arrest and jailing during Vanuatu's 2011 independence celebrations prompted his visit to the newsroom of the state broadcaster. In recent weeks, PFF had also condemned and questioned the court fine against Vanuatu's Minister of Public Utilities and Infrastructure Harry Iauko, who was involved in the assault on the publisher of the Vanuatu Daily Post in early March. He was fined the local equivalent of about 150 US dollars after he pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the assault on Marc Neil Jones while more serious charges to which he entered a not guilty plea were withdrawn by prosecutors.
"We implore the Prime Minister to stamp out the political intimidation undermining his own leadership" says PFF co-chair Monica Miller, of American Samoa.
"Sadly, without an immediate and well-coordinated official investigation into the incident, we fear that this abuse of position and power will continue. Vanuatu's people need to know that the ongoing culture of impunity and intimidation amongst their elected leaders is not just damaging the credibility of their government. Their right to be told the truth is also at stake."--ENDS

LINKS
VBTC Act: http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.jsp?file_id=197758#LinkTarget_195

Vanuatu media calls on govt to stop threats: http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=62350

CONTACT: Pacific Freedom Forum

Chair Titi Gabi | Freelance Journalist, PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, PNG | PNG Mob (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.com

Co-ChairMonica Miller | KHJ Radio | American SamoaMob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

News Corp scandal brings ethics home for Pacific: PFF

2011-07-20T14:35:00.003-10:00

Pacific Freedom Forum, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Pacific journalists following the global coverage over the News Corp phone-hacking scandal are putting pressures on newsroom practice around ethics and conduct codes for journalists, says regional media monitoring body the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
"The unravelling of the credibility of newsroom practice in the News Corp fallout should serve as a lesson for all of us in the media and a reminder that self-regulation needs to mean something more than a mere promise to behave." says PFF acting chair Monica Miller, of American Samoa.
While many news organisations across the region have codes of conduct and ethics guidelines, few have procedures for monitoring and dealing with breaches of self-regulation.
"As well as the need for stronger self-regulation, the latest resignations within the News Limited organisation and the historic appearance of Rupert Murdoch before the British Parliamentary select committee this week are a wake up call on relationships between journalists and the powerful in small island communities. This is fraught with complex issues and we note the need to support journalists to confirm that boundaries are a necessary part of the ethics in newsrooms -- and to clarify what those boundaries are," says Miller.
PFF has welcomed news of codes of ethics training in Vanuatu and last weekend in Fiji.
"These initiatives, developed in partnerships between senior journalists and the International Federation of Journalists, reveal that media colleagues are taking up the challenges over self regulation in tune with global events. The intentions of the Media Alliance of the Pacific -- of which PFF is a member, to develop a regional ethics code can only help spread advocacy and awareness of strong self regulation," she says.
"As the News Corp saga continues, we expect it will continue to highlight the gaps and challenges of regulating the media industry and support any call for updated and relevant research into the current state of Pacific media ownership and diversity of media outlets," says Miller.--ENDS

LINKS
Quick guide to Newscorp scandal-- http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/18/us-newscorp-quickguide-idUSTRE76H5SA20110718

CONTACT:PFF Acting ChairMonica Miller | KHJ Radio | American SamoaMob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.comThe Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Justice denied in Vanuatu publisher assault: PFF

2011-07-05T19:50:00.001-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS- A minimal fine given to a Vanuatu cabinet minister who entered a guilty plea for his part in the bashing of Daily Post publisher Marc Neil-Jones represents a clear victory for bush justice over the rule of law, says regional media monitoring group the Pacific Freedom Forum.

Government minister Harry Iauko was fined the local equivalent of 150USD late last week after he entered guilty pleas to aiding and abetting the March 4 assault on Neil-Jones at the Daily Post premises. Under Vanuatu law, the applicable sentence for an assault where no permanent damage is caused to the victim is a fine or prison term of no less than 12 months. Seven other men sentenced along with Iauko received fines of up to 1,000 USD for their roles in the group attack.

"PFF joins those in Vanuatu and globally who condemn the clear message from this sentence -- that it's OK for high level leaders of Vanuatu to lead mobs into newsrooms and bash up people whose job is to keep the public informed -- and that justice can be turned on its head to keep the powerful in power."

"After months of uncertainty and concerns over an interference with due process, the Vanuatu justice system has delivered a verdict which shows that Neil Jones and media colleagues had every right to be worried that justice would not be served," says Miller, "and we are very concerned over comments by the Deputy Prime Minister Ham Lini to a New Zealand journalist noting he felt media had 'exaggerated' the case which wasn't serious as no-one had died. Does a journalist have to die before media freedom and the conduct of leaders is taken seriously?"

"It's especially disturbing that prosecutors dropped charges of unlawful assembly, unlawful entry and criminal trespass against the minister simply because he entered a not guilty plea. Others in his group plead guilty to the same charges, so surely this provided clear grounds for the prosecution case to be heard?"

"Again, we raise the issue of equality before the law. If the reverse had happened and Minister Iauko had been assaulted by the Daily Post publisher, it is certain that Neil-Jones would not be dealt a 150USD fine and have other charges for which his accomplices had already entered guilty pleas, withdrawn for no compelling reason."

Miller says the matter should not rest. "Vanuatu's Prime Minister should know that this issue has cost him and his cabinet a huge amount of credibility. This isn't just about a Vanuatu citizen being denied justice by his own nation's legal system. This sentence tells Vanuatu's people and all of us that a rule of law which exists for all people, can bow down to the rule of thuggery. It's not an attractive look for any government and we urge the leadership and relevant leadership tribunal bodies in Vanuatu to follow through on this case as PFF intends to bring this matter before the Office of the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner."--ENDS

LINKS:
Radio NZI coverage--http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=61586

CONTACT: PFF Acting Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

New Public service broadcasters network a positive sign: PFF

2011-06-26T14:07:00.001-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- A newly-formed Pacific regional network for Public Service Broadcasters is a positive move for the industry and Pacific audiences, says regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
State-owned broadcasters from Vanuatu, Tonga, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands launched the new group from their inaugural meeting in Port Vila this month.
"The history of Pacific media and public information has its roots in Public service broadcasting and this move from government stakeholders is a sign that public service broadcasting is getting some renewed attention," says PFF acting chair Monica Miller, of American Samoa.
"Public service broadcasting is people-service broadcasting, and has a special mandate to ensure it gives voice and participation to the silent," she says.
Market competition from commercial broadcasters, shrinking revenues for program production, staffing and technical standards, and resources to handle the switch from analogue to digital broadcasting are key priorities for the new network.
"We especially welcome any moves to address the levels of public confidence in state-owned media through guidelines and protocols which better define the roles of managing boards, and limit government interference," says Miller.
"Our news colleagues in public service broadcasters receive the same media ethics and news training as their colleagues anywhere else. It's important that we are all clear on standards, rights and rresponsibilities so they are able to maintain editorial independence as the best way to serve the public interest. And they should be able to do so without second guessing how political leaders may react to their work, and the flow on impacts for their jobs and families," she says.
"PFF looks forward to working with the new group to help strengthen free expression by Pacific people via the media systems which are managed in their interest," she says.
--ENDS.

CONTACT: PFF Acting Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

PFF welcomes ethics focus in Vanuatu media monitoring training

2011-06-22T15:52:00.002-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS- A just-completed ethics and media monitoring workshop in Vanuatu is welcome news for regional media freedom monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
30 participants completed the ethics and media monitoring workshop held this Wednesday in Port Vila. It is a joint effort between the national media association in Vanuatu, MAV, Transparency
International, and the International Federation of Journalists Asia-Pacific project for Media, Democracy and Human Rights in the Pacific. As part of its support for in-country workshops aimed at
improving journalists awareness of media rights violations, the IFJ also funded leading media trainer Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea as a resource trainer to the Vanuatu workshop.
"Newsroom codes of ethical practice set guiding principles for journalism standards in any community, and build a strong awareness of the impact of news on public debate," says PFF acting chair Monica Miller, of American Samoa.
"We congratulate our news colleagues and all involved in the Vanuatu training workshop for taking on the issues of media responsibility; and urge all to share existing codes more widely."
The call for increasing awareness of existing media ethics codes comes as serious media ethics breaches continue in Pacific media.
The Solomon's Star daily newspaper gave extensive reportage this month revealing the identity of a woman and her teenage son -- the woman had suffered massive physical abuse and trauma at the hands of her husband, including loss of an eye and forced sex with a dog.
"All the court reportage named the husband, which ensured the identity of the woman and their child has also been made public. Of extreme concern is the fact their child, a teenager, has been robbed of his right to privacy at this time," says Miller.
Other local media outlets including national broadcaster SIBC also named the husband in their radio coverage of the case and the information has been shared widely via social networks for Solomon Islands communities.
In Papua New Guinea, leading daily newspaper The PNG Post Courier featured full frontal nude colour photos of two obese children in its June 16 issue -- images which also gained followings and commentary on social networks.
"Sensitivity to victims of violence and to young children are key clauses of ethical coverage and its important that the editorial front line of our newsrooms is vigilant in that regard," says Miller.
"We encourage all media newsrooms to dust off their ethics codes and apply them. Importantly, we should support public access to complaints procedures," says Miller.
PFF and other regional networks in the founding membership of the umbrella Media Alliance of the Pacific, MAP, endorsed the creation of a regional code of ethics for journalists in May this year.
"Journalism codes of ethics share the same common concerns. A Pacific code makes sense and in terms of monitoring and complaints, could lead to a more effective space for addressing concerns over industry standards," says the PFF chair.--ENDS

Solomon's Star: http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/11125-hubby-who-forces-wife-to-have-sex-with-dog-gets-8yrs
PNG Media Council Code of Ethics: http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110615/wehome.htm
Media Assosiasen blong Vanuatu: www.mav.org.vu

CONTACT: PFF Acting Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

PFF welcomes progress on Vanuatu publisher assault

2011-06-01T17:28:00.000-10:00

Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--Regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF, has welcomed progress in Vanuatu over the March 4 assault of Daily Post publisher Marc Neil-Jones.

"News of a June 10 hearing date for the charges against the cabinet minister and eight other accomplices is progress, albeit incremental," says PFF Chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.

"Any assault complaint should expect a timely and clear process for action from investigating Police officers. Two months after he was beaten, Marc Neil Jones is still waiting for justice to take its
course and the allegations made against those involved, including Vanuatu Minister Harry Iauko, should be dealt with as soon as possible."

The Daily Post reported a new date of June 10 had been set for hearing the charges against Iauko and eight others connected to the assault of Daily Post publisher Marc Neil-Jones on March 4. Iauko hasn't appeared in court yet to enter a plea after the magistrates court had to postpone Friday's planned hearing because of an extraordinary sitting of Parliament.

The charges reportedly cover unlawful assembly, unlawful entry, intentional assault and threatening gestures, with it likely there may be amendments to that list. If the criminal case against Iauko succeeds, he may also face charges under Vanuatu's Leadership Code Act which calls for national leaders to observe the law, and follow fundamental principles of leadership contained in Article 66 of the Constitution.

"It's in everyone's interests, including the Vanuatu government, to ensure the hearings proceed so that people can have access to the facts of what took place, according to Vanuatu's own rule of law,"
says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa, "We are not suggesting that special treatment be given to fast-track this case, but simply that it be heard in keeping with Vanuatu's own laws
covering all citizens whatever their ethnicity or job title."--ENDS

LINKS:

Pacific media watch article--http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/2011-03-05/vanuatu-pacific-media-condemn-minister-and-his-thugs-attack-daily-pos

IFJ, PFF condemn attack on publisher: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/group-attack-on-journalist-editor-threatened-in-vanuatu

CONTACT:
PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

'Think Fiji first' regime call must first 'Free Fiji media'-- PFF

2011-06-01T09:00:00.000-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Regional media monitoring body the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF, has challenged the Fiji regime to free its own media first as the best solution towards achieving their latest instruction to Fiji media to 'Think Fiji first.'

PFF responded to the Fiji regime's press conference this week featuring a statement by Information secretary Sharon Smith-Johns calling on all journalists there to 'Think Fiji first' and report in a 'fair and balanced way'.

"The statement is ironic, coming from a regime which has basically done its best to ensure that our media colleagues are mostly only able to report what the regime -- not news editors -- deems as fair or balanced," says PFF's Susuve Laumaea.

"It's clear in Fiji's case that balance and fairness are defined as content which lets a leadership avoid scrutiny and debate over its decisions. Sadly, that's not unique to Fiji or the Pacific. Gaps in perceptions between political leaders and journalists over what a free media does and whom they serve will always be a key challenge for media freedom," says Laumaea, of Papua New Guinea.

He and PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa invited Smith-Johns and the regime leadership to consider allowing a team of Pacific journalists to visit Fiji and discuss these issues with colleagues and the regime.

"Such a group would be able to have a dialogue with the Ministry of Information on how the tools for journalism are better applied when the laws allow journalists to do their jobs and report freely and fairly," he says.

The 'Think Fiji first' call from the regime has come in the wake of reporting over the defection to Tonga by former regime and military insider Ratu Tevita Mara, son of the nations founding Prime Minister.

The call follows other media developments in recent weeks which have shown how the Media Decree is taking its toll amongst Fiji's media ranks. The Fiji Times website, averaging three quarters of a million hits a month, went offline without explanation on April 18 and its Managing Editor Fred Wesley had only this week confirmed that the need to meet the requirements of the Media Decree had forced its suspension. Decree clauses on cross ownership are also casting more media jobs into uncertainty, with employees for Mai Life Magazine affected by the looming deadline by which founder Judith Ragg must relinquish her founding stake in the magazine because her husband Richard Broadbridge leads Mai TV.
"The cross ownership clauses have worrying implications for media convergence issues and raise more questions than answers, " says Miller.

"Overall, the issue that's clearly emerging from all the confusion and uncertainty is that efforts to gag the media via decree, censorship, or constant press conferencing over controlling definitions of balance and fairness are not working. Fiji will once more come 'first' when its media are free-- there's no simpler way to say it."--ENDS

LINKS:
Full statement by Sharon-Smith Johns, PS for Information, Fiji: http://www.fiji.gov.fj/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4195:statement-by-ps-smith-johns-think-fiji-first&catid=50:speeches&Itemid=168

Fiji Times Online 'upgrade' behind suspension :http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/2011-05-29/fiji-offline-fiji-times-makes-digital-upgrade-comply-media-decree

Mai Life on market: http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/2011-04-30/fiji-mai-life-market-comply-media-decree

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Let Fiji media report freely -- PFF renews call on Fiji regime

2011-05-26T09:39:00.000-10:00

Rarotonga, Cook Islands--Regional media monitoring body the Pacific Freedom Forum has renewed its call on the Fiji regime to lift the Public Emergency Regulations which were to have been replaced by the 2010 introduction of the Media Decree.
Both the decree and the continued PER have kept journalists from reporting freely on news which isn't passed by the regime censors, such as the defection this month of Fiji's Lieutenant-Colonel Ratu Tevita Mara to Tonga.
Fiji-based journalists were amongst the first to find out about the defection but had to wait more than 24 hours until a regime press conference 'announced' the news.
Meanwhile the story had already broken outside of Fiji.
Editors in Fiji have been told to stop reporting statements from Tevita Mara as a 'matter of national security' and some individuals have been warned that commentary on social networks such as Facebook is being monitored.
"We commend those colleagues whose resourcefulness and investigative approaches around the gag laws have helped to reveal the facts of the matter to Fiji's people," says PFF co-chair Susuve Laumaea of PNG.
"The draconian nature of Fiji's media gag laws have been shown up by the Mara saga. If any Pacific nation has to get the first news on its own activities from outside journalists when the best journalists to do the job are already in-country, that's a sure sign that something needs fixing," he says.
Fiji's media decree has effectively shut down independent and free media in the country, and despite earlier promises has not replaced the Public Emergency Regulations which put censors into newsrooms across the country after a military takeover in April 2006.
"If the regime didn't censor and restrict the media in Fiji, the world wouldn't have to depend on outside media and social networks for their information," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller, of American Samoa.
"Pacific media are standing in solidarity to commend the perseverance of Fiji-based colleagues trying to do their jobs under needlessly difficult circumstances. We call on the regime to recognise that the path to sustainable democracy must involve free and fearless reporting of the facts from all sides of a story."--ENDS

Note to Editors:
Lieutenant-Colonel Ratu Tevita Mara, also known as Roko Ului, was charged with making seditious comments and appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court on May 4. He appeared with co-accused Lt-Col Pita Driti who is charged with making seditious statements and inciting mutiny.
They were released on bail to appear in court again on June 1, with conditions to report to a police station and surrender their passport, which Ratu Tevita Mara had done. A fortnight later, he made his way to Tonga by boat and remains there as a guest of the King -- a family relative. The witch hunt in Fiji for those who aided his flight from his homeland continues and he has been classed as a fugitive from justice by his former Military commander, regime leader Col Frank Bainimarama.

LINKS
Stories and related coverage : http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/page/2/

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Vanuatu govt urged to resolve lengthy delay in publisher assault case

2011-04-13T20:21:00.000-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, Cook Islands--Safety concerns are on the rise as regional media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum continues to urge Vanuatu's government to address the assault allegations linking cabinet minister Harry Iauko Iaris to an attack on Daily Post publisher Marc Neil Jones last month.
"It is now almost six weeks since the Daily Post carried its front page coverage of the Ministers role in a group assault on Marc Neil Jones at the newspaper premises in Port Vila; and we've yet to see progress or clarity in ascertaining whether the Minister is being charged, and what he's being charged with," says PFF co-chair Susuve Laumaea, of Papua New Guinea.
"The eyes of the region and the world are on Vanuatu and its leadership as the credibility of the judicial process and government continues to be held hostage by the lack of due process in this matter," he says.
"Meanwhile, given the circumstances around the assault and the implications for the government of the day should the Minister face a conviction, we remain concerned for the safety of Mr Neil Jones and
his family, those media colleagues who witnessed the assault; and others involved in the Police investigation," he says.
A Magistrates court sitting on the case scheduled for Thursday 7th April came to nothing and there has been no progress apart from an invitation to Vanuatu media, including the Daily Post, to meet with the Minister this week in a conference organised by his supporters.
"We understand the reluctance of the Daily Post to be involved in that conference given emotions are running high and due legal process has yet to be observed in this matter," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller, of American Samoa.
"Had the situation been reversed, with Marc Neil Jones or any other citizen of Vanuatu being linked to an assault on a cabinet Minister, there is little doubt someone would be in jail right now. The fact that we have a national leader who potentially is in breach of his own leadership code as well as the Vanuatu law should be even more reason why the government must rise above its own conflicting interest in this case,"she says.--ENDS

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Vanuatu: PFF welcomes rule of law in publisher assault

2011-04-05T09:49:00.001-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- As a government minister faces the Magistrate's Court in Port Vila this Thursday linked to the March 4 assault of newspaper publisher Marc-Neil Jones, the Pacific Freedom Forum has welcomed the observance of Vanuatu's rule of law.

The magistrates court hearing will decide whether charges against Infrastructure and Public Utilities Minister Harry Iauko Iaris over his alleged role in the widely reported and condemned assault last month of Daily Post publisher Marc Neil-Jones, will proceed.

"The Vanuatu Police investigation into this matter has taken a month, and the Pacific Freedom Forum welcomes today's hearing as a significant sign of progress. We now await the matter's prompt passing through the Vanuatu legal system," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.

"Observers internationally were concerned that the alleged assault of Mr Neil-Jones would join other reported attacks on Pacific media and journalists and disappear into a 'culture of impunity', with nobody being charged and the matter disappearing, until the next time," says Laumaea.

"We now call on all observers to let the Vanuatu legal system deal with this matter, and we also call on the media to report this matter's passage through the courts with appropriate professionalism," Mr Laumaea said.

"Given the international attention and condemnation the alleged assault attracted, no doubt this will be a test for the Vanuatu authorities to demonstrate that nobody is above the law, and also is a demonstration of how similar attacks on the media in other Pacific countries should be handled," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller, of American Samoa.

"We commend the perseverance, courage and professionalism of Neil Jones and Daily Post Editor Royson Willie, as well as those officials who upheld due process into the complaint." she says.

LINKS

March 5 reports and coverage: http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/category/vanuatu/

Vanuatu govt on Radio Australia: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201104/s3183115.html

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Solomon Islands: PFF welcomes prompt Police action over car-burning

2011-03-27T16:38:00.001-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Solomon Islands police are treating the early morning torching last Thursday of a private vehicle owned by senior journalist Dorothy Wickham as suspicious; and are still ascertaining whether the vandals had personal or professional grievances with the ONE News Television manager.
Wickham had been up all night with relatives visiting her home on Wednesday 23 March and had just gone to bed in the dawn hours of Thursday 24 when she was alerted by loud crackling and smoke. Her security worker had also just gone to sleep from his night shift, as it was daybreak. They could only watch as the flames engulfed the vehicle, which was uninsured. Another vehicle owned by ONE News and items which could have been easily stolen were left untouched.
Wickham has spent some two decades in journalism and has provided extensive coverage to the regional and international community, breaking stories around the internal armed conflict of the late 90's and the post-conflict recovery and governance issues.
She is the Radio New Zealand International correspondent for the Solomon Islands as well as General Manager and a founding owner of the ONE News TV service which is a leading news provider there.
No threats had been received in the lead-up to the car-burning, and Police have taken statements and are carrying out their investigation.
Regional media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum welcome the serious and prompt attention given by the Police in this matter. "An act such as this; taking place in broad daylight, is an unusual and extreme way of signalling grievance against any person in this region and we welcome the serious
attention which Solomon Islands Police are giving this incident," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.
"In an environment where the professional and personal lives of those in the media can often be closely linked to the communities they cover, it's important that journalists are able to work without concerns for their safety and the safety of colleagues and loved ones," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"Importantly, the Solomon Islands Police are showing their colleagues in neighbouring Melanesia states that media workers are also human beings with the same constitutional rights to protection and state services available to all citizens."
Wickham was also the target of vehicle-tampering some ten years ago, when the brake lines in her car were cut. The discovery happened while she was driving along one of Honiara's many mountainous ridge roads.--ENDS

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Editorial ethics breached in Vanuatu tragedy

2011-03-24T16:08:00.001-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, Cook Islands -- The front page publication of the image of a dead child photographed where he died is a clear breach of media ethics in Vanuatu and must remind Pacific newsrooms to balance news journalism with decency in reporting, says regional media freedom watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum.
The call to uphold established media codes which govern news journalism comes after the front-page publication of a full colour photo of a dead child, by the Vanuatu Times newspaper in its Saturday 18 March issue (number 74). The Times article highlighted the fact that the child, referred to only by the name Kaloran, died in an unsecured timber yard premises, and that relatives were seeking a claim for compensation.
"The codes of ethics developed by the Media Assosiasen Blong Vanuatu commit to special considerations for coverage of children, and for decency and sensitivity to govern decisions to publish images of the dead. We urge all practitioners in Vanuatu to uphold the ethics they have developed, and for the Times to make its apology to Kaloran's family and readers clear and immediate," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.
"The Vanuatu Times is led by senior members of the Vanuatu media and includes regional media leadership in the form of PINA President Moses Stevens on its editorial team. We welcome confirmation from the President that publication of the image was a breach of ethics." says Laumaea.
"There is a line between sensitive reporting to the issue of preventable deaths, and gratuitous coverage which goes beyond the bounds of decency in any society," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa, "It takes a standard of maturity and courage by newsrooms to admit when the
lines have been blurred, and we encourage MAV to ensure its code of ethics is widely accessible in Vanuatu newsrooms to help editors and journalists stand by the excellent codes they've initiated."--ENDS

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

PFF condemns climate of impunity in Papua

2011-03-09T15:56:00.001-10:00

Investigative reporter Banjir Ambarita exposed police
officers in a week long pack rape of a 15 year old girl. He
was stabbed and is in intensive care.

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Pacific Freedom Forum members condemn the blatant stabbing of an investigative journalist in west Papua and are joining ongoing calls for Indonesian authorities to investigate a series of attacks against news media.

"A climate of impunity against journalism will not become a reality across a region watchful as it is widespread," warns PFF chair Susuve Laumaea.

Banjir, a freelance reporter and contributor to the Jakarta Globe, was attacked in Jayapura Thursday 3 March 1am local time by two men riding his motorcycle home shortly after midnight last week. He was stabbed twice in the chest near his shoulder, and once in the stomach, before attackers sped off.

The attack comes on top of five other attacks on news media in Papua this year alone, notes Laumaea.

One of Banjir's recent stories had been about a woman detainee forced to give oral sex to three officers, following on from an earlier exposing days of pack rape of an underage girl by other officers, who locked the 15 year old in a room for a week.

Laumaea said the stabbing and sexual assaults reinforced an impression police, security forces and other linked interests were "out of control."

"An inability to enforce rule of law within its own judiciary strengthens questions surrounding the credibility and capacity of Indonesia to properly administer a culturally distinct area and its indigenous people," said the PFF chair from Port Moresby.

Laumaea expressed "cautious optimism" for due process with news of a "rare" resignation by the local police chief.

However it is too little, too late, he said.

"Accountability for Papua people victim to an extensively documented history of human rights abuses is overdue, and PFF backs criticism from bodies like Amnesty International against a climate of impunity," said Laumaea.

From American Samoa, co-chair Monica Miller praised the efforts of colleagues in Jayapura who raised US$1,747 towards hospital costs.

"This represents 15.5 million Rupiah, roughly 12 months salary, a huge amount to fundraise in what must be enormously difficult circumstances, uniting journalists and other newsroom workers in Papua against injustice."

A fundraising coordinator has estimated surgery costs alone may be as high as 40m Rupiah.

Miller also praised news media in Papua for their courage.

"Unlike cousins and colleagues to their east, newsroom workers in Papua face daily threats against the freedoms we take for granted - freedom of the press really is a life or death issue in parts of Melanesia."-- ENDS

LINKS

Police Chief Resigns in Wake of Oral Sex Scandal
‎
Scoop.co.nz (press release) - 6 days ago
The Jakarta Globe March 2, 2011 by Banjir Ambarita Jayapura Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Imam Setiawan resigned on Tuesday in the wake of criticism over a

Papua-based Journalist Stabbed

‎
VIVAnews.com - Nezar Patria - 5 days ago

VIVAnews - A Papua-based journalist, Banjir Ambarita, was stabbed in his chest and stomach by an unidentified person on Thursday, March 3, at around 1 am

Indonesian journalist who covered police sex scandal hospitalized ...

‎
The Canadian Press - 5 days ago

Banjir Ambarita, a reporter for the English-language daily The Jakarta Globe and the news portal Vivanews, was ambushed by two men on a motorcycle early

Amnesty urges govt to investigate Papua journalist stabbing
4 days ago

International rights group Amnesty International has strongly urged the ... stabbing of journalist Banjir Ambarita, which took place in Jayapura on March 3. ...

Jakarta Post - 3 related articles - Shared by 5+

Papua journalists raise money for injured reporter

9 hours ago - ... million (US$1767) to care for fellow journalist Banjir Ambarita, who was hospitalized after he . ... Papua journalists raise money for injured reporter ...
www.thejakartapost.com/.../papua-journalists-raise-money-injured-reporter

PFF welcomes no-gag ruling on PNG mine photos

2011-03-08T04:39:00.001-10:00

Rarotonga, Cook Islands -- A judge's instruction backing fair use of photos snapped by landowners at a controversial mining project in Madang, Papua New Guinea, is being welcomed by the Pacific Freedom Forum.
"The judiciary in Papua New Guinea deserve praise for refusing to gag use of photos," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea, of Papua New Guinea.
PFF has reviewed background into the case brought by MCC, the Metallurgical Corporation of China, who co-own Ramu Nickel Mine with an Australian company, Highlands Pacific.
A US$1.5 billion project seeking to discharge five million tons of waste into coastal waters, MCC has generated years of controversy and allegations of seeking to avoid due process.
Asked by mining project lawyers to ban publication of photos, PNG national court judge Justice David Cannings told the court on March 5 he would not rule on how photos should be used-- only that the photos should not suffer "misuse".
"His only warning about photos taken at Ramu Nickel Mine - against misuse - is entirely correct. The photos are not a state secret. Similar photos have graced the pages of two daily tabloids, a weekly and the screens of two TV networks in the past", he says.
Justice Cannings ruled against a ban soon after visiting the mining site with members of the court. Reports sighted by PFF state the judge also instructed that evidence from the court visit to the mine be entered into the record, as this does not always happen in other cases.
"The ruling sends a clear message to mining and other resource interests of the independence of the judiciary in refusing to support a "gag" on free expression, and should be taken note of by Pacific neighbours as investor interest in resource mining grows," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
The photography ruling sought by MCC is all part of a larger legal wrangle involving the landowners, over their concerns on environment impacts of the project. The next hearing is scheduled for 23 March 2011.--ENDS

LINKS:

PNG Mine Watch : http://ramumine.wordpress.com/2011/03/03/ramu-mine-mcc-tries-to-stop-photos-being-published/

Islands Business coverage: http://www.islandsbusiness.com/islands_business/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=19136/overideSkinName=issueArticle-full.tpl

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

2011-03-08T02:45:00.002-10:00

_______________________________

THE PACIFIC FREEDOM FORUM

We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

_______________________________

Palau newspaper closedown highlights media freedom concerns

2011-03-05T06:15:00.002-10:00

_______________________________

Rarotonga, Cook Islands -- Saturday 5th March 2011

The fragility of media freedom and news industries in some Pacific states has been highlighted in Palau, says regional monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

The forum says concerns arising from two high level court cases in Palau need a closer look, after a February 2011 Supreme Court ruling finding an "alien" registration fee scheme led by President Johnson Toribiong's government was unconstitutional.

The class action suit leading to the Supreme Court decision was filed in late 2010 by Palau Horizon senior journalist Bernadette Carreon and others. Carreon is from the Philippines and had worked at the Horizon for a decade. She was 'terminated' not long after the suit was filed. However her other news colleagues followed suit when the whole newspaper printed its last edition on 20 November 2010.

"Media freedom concerns centre on job loss for the journalist - and loss of her newspaper", says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.

"Independent sources of information for people of Palau can only be provided by a free and pluralistic media industry. To lose a key operator such as the Palau Horizon, and a journalist of Carreon's calibre, leaves a void where a quality news provider used to be."

Online reports reviewed by PFF state that her former employer, long time newspaper Palau Horizon closed after 12 years, printing a last edition on 20 November 2010. Publisher Abed E. Younis cited a "negative business atmosphere" and the slow economy. He continues to run his publishing business.

In another case reported by the Palau Horizon before it closed, the Attorney General stepped in to halt prosecution proceedings into alleged money laundering involving US 22 billion.

"A journalist involved in a successful claim at the Supreme Court level underscores the need for vigilance under press freedom laws of the Palau constitution," says Miller.

"Specifically, section 2 of Article 4 under fundamental rights states that government shall take no action to deny or impair the freedom of expression or press."

Both cases need re-examining for impact on freedom of the press in Palau, says the PFF.

"In some instances it's physical or psychological trauma against an individual journalists. In others, it is big business or political boycotts and interference against publishers which spills over into newsrooms."

"We salute Carreon's courage in standing against injustice, and sympathise with her and colleagues of the Palau Horizon at this time," says Miller.

-- ENDS

LINKS

Supreme court case :
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201009/s3017237.htm%3Eruling
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201009/s3017237.htm

Money laundering case : http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=17236/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl

Palau Constitution : http://www.paclii.org/pw/legis/consol_act/cotrop359/

PFF CONTACTS:

PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea
| Sunday Chronicle Newspaper
| Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168
| Office: 675-321-7040
| Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com

PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller
| KHJ Radio
| American Samoa

| Mob 684 258-4197
| Office 684 633-7793
| Email: monica@khjradio.com

THE PACIFIC FREEDOM FORUM

_______________________________

Pacific govts must distance themselves from Vanuatu media bashing: PFF

2011-03-05T05:15:00.003-10:00

_______________________________

Rarotonga, Cook Islands -- Saturday 5 March 2011

The Pacific Freedom Forum calls on Pacific leaders and the Vanuatu government to distance themselves in the strongest possible terms from the serious assault of Vanuatu Daily Post Publisher, Marc Neil-Jones, and threats against Daily Post editor Royson Willie on Friday 4th March 2011. The attack was initiated by a group of men led into the Daily Post offices by Vanuatu cabinet minister Harry Iauko, and was reported on by the Daily Post in its Saturday 5th March issue.

Neil Jones was left shaken and with visible injuries after he was struck to the head from behind, kicked, and strangled by his assailants during the assault. The Minister who witnessed the attack which took place in Neil Jones' office, had screamed abuse and threats over the Daily Post exposure linking him to maladministration in Port Vila. The men also confronted and threatened Daily Post Editor Royson Willie.

The Daily Post documented the attack in its Saturday newspaper and has filed a statement with the Police. It is the second bashing of the newspaper publisher in recent years.

"The Pacific Freedom Forum calls on the Vanuatu Government, other Pacific government leaders, and development partners, especially those based in Port Vila to denounce this vile attack and distance themselves from this shameful thuggery," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.

"The role of the media as the fourth estate, the fourth arm of governance supporting a watchdog 'eyes of the public' function on the legislature, the judiciary, and the executive governing arms of a country, is under threat of being trampled into fear and silence across the region. At a turning point in Pacific history, we call on our leaders to uphold the rule of law, not take it into their own hands and turn to vigilante justice."

Laumaea says the assault on Jones, who lives with diabetes and is semi-retired from his publishing role with the Daily Post, "is more than a violent act of cowardice. It is a crime in breach of the Vanuatu Constitution and the Leadership Code of Vanuatu, and sends a chilling signal to other Pacific leaders and development partners that their silence is being taken as support for the the systematic abuse of human rights and in particular on the right to freedom of expression and information in Vanuatu," he says.

"The manner in which the Minister and his team went by government vehicle, in open view of the general public and Daily Post staff, and of a government official who has brought shame onto himself, his office, and his country. We say the government should suspend Harry Iauko from all Ministerial and Parliamentary duties and responsibilities pending the final outcome of the police investigation, including any prosecutions arising. Any public servants involved should also be immediately suspended."

"The Pacific Freedom Forum stands with the Media Association of Vanuatu and our global freedom of expression partners in total outrage at this latest and extremely serious incident threatening media freedom and Government - media relations in Vanuatu," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.

This is not the first time Marc Neil-Jones has been assaulted by Vanuatu government employees. In January, 2009, he was bashed by a group of prison guards angered by stories in the Vanuatu Daily Post implicating them in the death of a prison escapee and mismanagement of the Port Vila Jail. In 2001, Neil-Jones, who is a naturalised citizen of Vanuatu, successfully challenged his illegal deportation from Vanuatu after the then government was angered by his reportage on corruption and transparency.

The Pacific Freedom Forum also calls on the Vanuatu Police to act on the detailed statement from Mr Neil-Jones, to promptly and thoroughly investigate this outrage and bring all those responsible before the courts without delay.--ENDS

LINKS:

Vanuatu Publisher vows to press assault charges against minister :
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/2011-03-05/vanuatu-publisher-vows-press-assault-charges-against-minister

Iauko disgraces Vanuatu govt--Daily Post :
http://www.dailypost.vu/sites/default/files/Issue%203182.pdf
Pacific media condemn attack :
http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2011/03/pacific-media-condemn-minister-and-his-thugs-for-attack-on-daily-post/
Vanuatu Leadership Code 1998 :
http://www.paclii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/vu/legis/num_act/lca1998131/lca1998131.html
Opinion piece, Vanuatu Daily Post : http://www.dailypost.vu/content/when-will-destruction-stop
Daily Post publisher attacked by Prison Guards : http://cafepacific.blogspot.com/2009/01/assault-on-vanuatu-publisher-shocks.html
Deportation of Neil Jones from Vanuatu, Ombuds report :
http://www.paclii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/vu/ombudsman/2001/5.html
PINA speaks out over assault on Vanuatu publisher
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/2011-03-08/vanuatu-pina-
speaks-out-over-assault-publisher

CONTACTS:

PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea
| Sunday Chronicle Newspaper
| Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168
| Office: 675-321-7040
| Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com

PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller
| KHJ Radio
| American Samoa
| Mob 684 258-4197
| Office 684 633-7793
| Email: monica@khjradio.com

_______________________________

THE PACIFIC FREEDOM FORUM

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.

We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

_______________________________

Regime intimidation of Fiji journalists continues

2011-02-22T14:36:00.001-10:00

Rarotonga, Cook Islands-- The continued campaign of fear and intimidation against journalists in Fiji has been denounced by regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum, after the detention last week of a Fiji Times journalist for his investigative business reporting.

Felix Chaudhary, 41, a journalist for the Fiji Times in Lautoka was taken by military officers on Friday 18th Februray, while covering a public function where regime leader Frank Bainimarama was also present.

During his one-hour detention he was told the regime was not happy with the stories that had been appearing under his byline on the sugar and aviation industries in Fiji.

"PFF understands Chaudhary was released physically unharmed but we are in no doubt that he was subjected to intimidation and threats which will have an impact on his ability to freely report on his areas of expertise and interest as a journalist," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.

"We condemn the continued use of the Public Emergency Regulations allowing the military to arbitrarily detain and question a select group of civilians who are merely doing their jobs as journalists, and especially abhor the abuse of human rights and the rule of law when it comes to detaining people in such a manner."

Chaudhary is the first known detainee in 2011, but continues an ongoing trend of regime detentions since April 2009, of those whose reportage leaves the regime 'unhappy'. The PER was to have been replaced by a new enforcement body for 'media responsiblity' -- the regime-appointed Media Industry Development Authority, MIDA

"The Pacific Freedom Forum repeats its call on Fiji's leadership to honour its own promise to withdraw the PER, now that the new media authority members have begun their work in earnest. We can only look forward to the day when industry values and ethics are upheld by all editors and journalists as the core standard for self-regulation," says Laumaea.

"We stand in solidarity with our Fiji colleagues who maintain media ethics and codes of journalism under extreme duress, despite threats to their safety and the well-being of their families," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.--ENDS

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Solomon's intel report coverage a wake up call for media ethics-- PFF

2011-02-13T16:32:00.002-10:00

Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Pacific journalists and government information officers have had a sombre wake up call on media ethics and codes of conduct; after mainstream newspaper the Solomon's Star decided to name the source of a controversial 'intelligence report' leaked to them by the Prime Ministers press secretary Alfred Sasako.

The press secretary to Prime Minister Danny Philip says he leaked the report to the Star as part of a confidentiality agreement. The Star says he also handed over a press article by himself, bylined as a 'special correspondant' and had been keen to see that feature as the coverage of the leaked report. The daily newspaper had refused to run the article as is and its journalists took on the story and subsequent news coverage into the reports allegations. They also named Sasako as the source of the report. Follow up stories have focused on a series of responses from those the report mentions, highlighted errors of fact and lack of evidence; and raised questions over who wrote it.

The Solomons Star stands by its decision to name Sasako, citing his position and agenda, and the political and diplomatic repercussions of the reports allegations. The editorial decision as well as Sasako's own intentions have drawn unprecedented debate on a regional media online discussion group for Pacific journalists.

"PFF expresses concern over the clear attempt of a public official in a position of power to manipulate and subvert the news agenda of a leading media outlet in the Solomon Islands given the current political situation there. We appreciate the difficulty that the Solomons Star had in deciding to out him as the source of the report. But media codes of ethics protect the confidentiality of sources and are one of the most critical tenets of journalism practice," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of PNG.

"Material from confidential sources has to be put to the test of verification to avoid manipulation of the news or public opinion and while journalists should always be aware of the agenda guiding the provision of material from sources, they should be made aware they will be named, or be given the choice to have their information returned. We urge our media colleagues to apply codes of ethical practice in all situations, to clarify what to do in terms of checking the veracity of so-called reports, and dealing with confidential sources."

High level diplomatic meetings between the Solomon Islands government and RAMSI to defuse the impact of the report have been held -- but to date there's been no gathering of media practitioners to clarify what took place and ensure it doesn't happen again.

"MASI is one of the strongest national media associations in the region and we look to its leadership and solidarity for inspiration and guidance in clarifying this matter -- especially for young journalists watching the issue play out within the industry," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller.--ENDS

LINKS
Solomons Star updates on the government report: http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/10097-pm-still-silent
Island Sun updates on the government report: http://www.islandsun.com.sb/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2100:wale-files-suit-over-so-call-intel-report&catid=36:latest-news&Itemid=79
Papua New Guinea Media Council code of ethics: htttp://www.postcourier.com.pg/mediacouncil/media.htm

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

PFF commends Guam's lifting of gag rule

2011-02-13T15:58:00.001-10:00

Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- The repealing of gag-rules for public servants in Guam provides a new model for public accountability to inspire Pacific leaders, says the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
The online media monitoring network says Guam's transparency directive, issued this month by the Governor of the US Pacific territory, Eddie Calvo, provides leadership and an example to other Pacific leaders on transparency and accountability measures as part of providing public information.
And the lifting of gag rules aimed at freeing up media and public access to government documents goes a step further -- the directive allows public employees to share their opinions about their work.
Guam's Pacific Daily News media outlet reported Troy Torres, the governor's spokesman, saying the administration wanted to send the message that it's OK for all government employees to share their opinions.
"We applaud the move by Guam affirming the spirit of the human right to free expression and sharing of opinions within the guidelines of the public service, as a way for governments to best do the work of keeping those it is accountable to freely and factually informed. Allowing government employees to share not just their work, but their opinions on it, represents a major step forward for the Guam Sunshine Act on Freedom of Information introduced in 1987," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea.
In recent years, Guam has seen a growing tendency under previous adminstrations for a culture of self-censorship and secrecy to dominate the public service, with various gag rules controlling what could be shared.
While Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, and PNG (and previously Fiji) make specific references to the right to freedom of expression and/or access to official information in their respective constitutions, the Cook Islands is the only one to have a specific Freedom of Information legislation in place, enacted in February 2008, to facilitate access. Vanuatu is also keen to develop Freedom of Information legislation.
"The transparency directive from the Governor of Guam is news worth celebrating for the Pacific nations, and something many of us can hope will become a trend," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa. "It is a major leap past the culture of secrecy and power which too many public officials attach to the information held in government ministries around the region."--ENDS

LINKS:
Coverage, background info and comment: http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011102090334

Read the transparency memo: http://www.guampdn.com/assets/pdf/M017010429.PDF

See Pacific updates on the right to know: http://www.undppc.org.fj/_resources/article/files/FOI_Workshop_Report.pdf

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

PFF to Fiji regime: remove news censors

2011-02-07T12:29:00.003-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--Fiji's regime is being reminded of its promise to remove censors from newsrooms once its media decree came into force, says regional media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF).

"Fiji's media and the public were repeatedly promised that once the Media Decree was introduced, the Public Emergency Regulations would be lifted. But since June 2010, the Fiji media operates with two layers of regime control, the PER and the Media Decree. That's hardly a basis for building mutual respect and open communication between media workers and the media authority," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.

The renewed call on scrapping the censors comes after news reports the regime-appointed Fiji Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA) tasked with enforcing the media decree, begin regular meetings with stakeholders and media representatives.

In the media report, MIDA chair Professor Subramani said 'safeguarding the interests of women and children, sensitivity in reporting of Fiji’s multi-ethnic communities and protecting the national interest are all worthwhile goals that require an educated media, and that the media needs to exercise discipline and objectivity in carrying out its responsibilities'.

"Responsibility is a critical aspect of how all newsrooms do their work. Our Fiji media colleagues have been well aware of this for decades, and PFF continues to support the global standard of a free and independant media. We continue to support self-regulation via codes of media ethics and standards; and a media council to oversee complaints over breaches of media standards," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.

"The Pacific Freedom Forum has already raised its grave concern that the Pacific Islands News Association is directly represented on the Fiji regime's MIDA ,and our position on that has not changed," says Miller.--ENDS

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

TONGA-- Stronger complaints process will keep media out of court

2011-01-31T09:05:00.003-10:00

A strong and active public feedback process to media operators in Tonga could have helped avoid the current defamation proceedings being heard in the Kingdom this week, says the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
"A media industry which welcomes and responds to public complaints sets a standard of credibility, and is a valuable bridge-building strategy because it helps raise public awareness of what a free and vibrant media achieves," says PFF Chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.
"Without that willingness to self-regulate and a transparent, active process for complaints, the option of defamation hearings as a first step rather than a last resort on media grievances will continue to be a costly and time consuming process for all," he says.
"The current defamation case between Cabinet Minister Clive Edwards and the Kele'a newspaper provides an example of a conflict that could potentially have been solved through a robust and credible complaints process facilitated out of court, saving on court costs and resources involved for all parties".
"PFF strongly recommends that both the Ministry of Information and Communication and the Tonga Media Council, work together to promote a clear and effective complaints process for members of the public to air concerns over media coverage."
"A complaints process shows that the fourth estate takes its role seriously, and keeps media on their toes in terms of ethics and professionalism. It also gives a more accessible avenue for members of the public, who cannot afford a lawsuit, to air grievances to authorities,"says co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"The PFF urges the Ministry of Information and Communication and the Tonga Media Council to continue dialogue on prioritising a media complaints procedure. There has been next to no use of the provisions under the Ministry Act to investigate written complaints, but the Tonga Media Council 's Complaints Committee must be supported to take the lead on a complaints process.
"We commend the work so far. Lack of time and resources can be a key challenge for newsrooms; but the current situation highlights the urgency of action to ensure a well-resourced complaints process led by an independent media council can resolve grievances out of court."--ENDS

CONTACT: PFF Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com
PFF co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

More Public talking needed on Tuvalu's Public Order ban

2011-01-24T17:17:00.003-10:00

An historic 14-day ban on large public meetings or gatherings ending this week in Funafuti must put Tuvalu's leadership on notice that freedom of assembly and expression are key to democratic rule, says the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

The regional media freedom monitoring network says Tuvalu's first-ever invocation of its Public Order Ordinance on January 13 banning public gatherings or meetings on the capital island of Funafuti will have trickle down impacts on free speech and free expression in the small island nation.

The 1973 ordinance has never been used -- til now. It was applied in the wake of a public protest march demanding the resignation from government of the Finance Minister Lotoala Metia on January 13. It's been reported such a move would topple the government's one-seat majority in Tuvalu's Parliament and allow Opposition MP Enele Sopoaga to take up the leadership. Metia and Sopoaga live in Funafuti, as MP's for the outlying island constituency of Nukufetau. Sopoaga, responding to the refusal by the Senior Magistrates Court in Tuvalu to rule on an application from the protestors on the Public Order, says the ban amounts to a gagging of the people of Tuvalu by the government.

"Governance and governments benefit when people have access to information from a free and independant media, and can freely share their opinions in private or public. Issuing a ban in a small place like Tuvalu may villainise those who chose to be part of the protest and warn off others who would want to stand up for their causes in future. Thus, a situation like this would actually need more and not less dialogue and debate around the issue," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea.

"We are glad to hear that colleagues at Radio Tuvalu feel they able to report freely at this time and encourage the government to support editorial independance of the media," he says.

The Tuvalu Media Corporation is the only mainstream media organisation in the country, and is owned and controlled by the government. National broadcaster Radio Tuvalu falls under the Ministry of Information -- whose Minister is the current PM.

"It's important for governments across the region to apply the governance and human rights principles of the Pacific Plan they themselves endorsed in 2005," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller.

"Tuvalu, like many Pacific nations where the state controls the main media outlets, should also look to its own Constitution guaranteeing freedom of assembly and freedom of expression to guide what happens after the ban ends. It's clear that more Tuvaluans need to feel heard by their leaders and provide input in ways that both voters and their elected leadership are happy with."--ENDS

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

PNG: Reinstate Masseung, let media do its work, says PFF

2010-12-14T08:14:00.003-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, Cook Islands--Government officials responsible for the sudden suspension of senior news editor Dorah Masseung from her management position in the Papua New Guinea national broadcasting corporation must let the national media do its work without fear or political pressure.

Masseung, the Executive News Director for NBC, was 'relieved' of her duties on Tuesday 14 December after officials alleged NBC had been 'biased in its reporting on current political activities'. She was sent home on full pay. All political stories will now be 'checked' before going to air, with NBC Managing director Memafu Kapera telling local journalists this was to ensure balance in reporting. He has also denied a gag is in place for NBC, the largest broadcast organisation covering Papua New Guinea's 6 million-plus population.

"There is little doubt that the media attention to the leadership issues facing Prime Minister Somare, and his recent commentary against the media, has led to the current backlash against the state broadcaster. As a journalist in management, Masseung is merely a scapegoat for this misdirected anger," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.

"PFF calls on the incoming prime minister to treat political interference in the public right to know as an urgent constitutional matter and make sure that the editor is reinstated."
Masseung is a longtime journalist with the National Broadcasting Corporation. She was with the organisation in the days before independence, when the former NBC was little more than an information arm supported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"We also strongly urge media and officials to step up public awareness of the role of the PNG Media Council as a key point of contact on media complaints," says Laumaea.

Without a clear and open complaints process, allegations of imbalance and biased reporting are often just an excuse for officials to bully and control the media, especially government-owned media says PFF co-chair Monica Miller.

"To go straight from complaints being received to sending key people home and controlling editorial news values is clearly robbing the people of Papua New Guinea of their right to being fully and accurately informed on the issues of the day."

"We stand in support of the commitment to professional standards of media reportage by our PNG media colleagues, and condemn this breach of human rights for Ms Masseung, her news colleagues, and NBC's audience."--ENDS

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Tonga government and media must support complaints process, says PFF

2010-12-13T11:26:00.001-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, Cook Islands--Regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum says an open and transparent media complaints process for Tonga could have helped to keep 12 Tongans working, and controversial Tongan talkback-FM station ONE-FM88.1 on-air.

The FM station was shut down on December 4, a day after the owner of its broadcasting license cut short the agreed timeframe for its return and wanted it back, citing complaints against program content as one of the reasons for his decision. The operating company for FM ONE,Broadcom Ltd, was set up by Maka and Katalaina Tohi, both former employees of the state owned national broadcaster. The Tohi's and Broadcom have been waiting on the outcome of their application for a license to Tonga's government since last year, and had been broadcasting using a license owned by Taimi Media Group's Kalafi Moala.

Moala rejects any notion that government pressure made him decide to take back his license from Broadcom before the agreed end date of January 2011. In new developments, Broadcom's application for another available FM frequency in Tonga is undergoing more delays by the outgoing government.

"Until a complaint over material is seriously looked into by a tribunal representing the public interest, the current situation is confusing. The complaints never seem to move beyond being serious allegations against media operators whose bread and butter is information," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.

"Without putting a complaint or the information that started it all under investigation, there is nothing there to help Tongans, let alone Tongan journalists, understand the rights and responsibilties of the media," he says.

"It can only benefit all of us if allegations and complaints go through a process which gives a fair and objective space for the complainant and media owner to present their points of view. The ruling of a tribunal provides a more democratic way past the often emotional and other side-issues around the complaint itself, and can help all of us to more clearly see and understand the nature of media's roles and responsibilities. It's a win-win situation."

"We are witnessing a new Tonga being born -- similarly, a stronger democracy needs to be served by a stronger media. It's timely that the winds of change sweeping through Tonga are also now indicating the need for a contestable media complaints process which can help all Tongans understand the nature of media freedom and responsibilitiy," says Laumaea.

"It is with sadness and dismay that we learn of the further delay by Tonga's current government on Broadcom's application for the FM 88.5 frequency," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa. "The application, coming in the wake of the FM 88.1 licensee wanting his license back, would have given 12 Tongan media workers--some of them leading journalists with decades of experience, the chance to keep Tonga's people informed at a critical time in their history."

"We can only urge the government of Tonga to enforce a timely and transparent process on license applications from all media operators who like Broadcom are awaiting decisions. It should not take more than 12 months, or a change of government, for a decision to be made."

"As we enter the festive season, our thoughts are with our 12 colleagues and their families, forced off air by allegations and complaints which never stood the test of a complaints process. What an irony for a media organisation which has contributed much to public debate and discussion leading to the historical November 25th elections, that it should now be shut down and its listeners shut out, without any fair hearing on the complaints made."-ENDS

CONTACT:

Tonga Broadcom: Katalaina Tohi, 676-7714826

PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Pohiva offers new momentum to media freedom in Pacific: PFF

2010-12-01T18:43:00.000-10:00

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Signs that Tonga's new leadership will look into clarifying the status of a longtime entry ban on New Zealand journalist Michael Field are being welcomed by the Pacific Freedom Forum, or PFF.

In one of his first interviews after a landslide win to his Democratic Party last week, party leader Akilisi Pohiva said the ban on Field was a bad move, and that media freedom is an 'important part of democracy'. However, the ban was apparently lifted during the hosting of the 2005 Pacific Islands News Association conference in Tonga. Field did not attend.
"We warmly congratulate our media colleague Akilisi Pohiva on his win at the polls in the historic elections held last week in Tonga. His insights and perspectives as a journalist and media leader in Tonga brings a different dimension to his political leadership. It can only boost media awareness by other Pacific leaders", says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.

"Pohiva's inspiring crusade for transparency and access to information in Tonga has now gained momentum with his election victory. He's holding a fantastic entry point now to remind elected officials everywhere that a free media, able to do its job without fear or favour, is what thriving democracies are all about."

Pohiva is a former broadcaster and publisher imprisoned for contempt of Parliament and charged with sedition during his media career. He's a founding member of Tonga's Human Rights and Democracy Movement and leads the Democratic Party which commanded a majority at the polls on November 25.

"It's early days yet, but there have been encouraging signals of a leadership committed to transparency and we hope it ushers in an open-door policy for media no matter how controversial or sensitive the issue to government officials," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa, "It's an inspiring example for other Pacific leaders who are watching Tonga."--ENDS

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Vanuatu Times right of reply breach 'alarming' -- PFF

2010-10-29T12:31:00.003-10:00

Pacific Freedom Forum, Rarotonga COOK ISLANDS -- The refusal by the Vanuatu Times newspaper to allow the subject of a front page article right of reply is an ‘alarming’ breach of media ethics, says the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

Issue 57 of the Vanuatu Times singled out Vanuatu Daily Post Publisher Marc Neil Jones and his application for a broadcast licence, featuring his photo but not his comment. In the Times coverage, the Times Director who also leads FM107 Saby Natonga was one of three journalists featured. Vanuatu’s national Media Association President Evelyne Toa and PINA President Moses Steven also supported the call for government to reverse the process of granting Neil Jones his broadcast FM license. Noting what’s happened in Fiji as a positive move, they want to shut out anyone who isn’t ni-Vanuatu from the media industry.

"PFF trusts the Vanuatu government would maintain the provisions of the mama law, or Vanuatu's own constitution which guarantees equality for all citizens, and freedom of expression," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.

Neil-Jones, who has taken on the establishment and his own media colleagues on media freedom issues, penned a Letter to the Times Editor. This was published in his Daily Post media outlet after his letter was ignored.

“Refusing anyone the right of reply to a news story where they are discussed and have their images published raises alarming concerns over professional standards and media ethics,” says Laumaea.

“The right of reply is a basic tenet of maintaining balanced reporting and journalistic integrity. We encourage the editorial team of the Times to support the code of ethics supported by the Media Asosiasen Blong Vanuatu, which commits to uphold this central key to balanced reporting."

But MAV President Toa has also defended the decision by the Times to deny Neil-Jones his right of reply, saying it’s the controversial publisher who has breached media ethics for choosing not to publish MAV or PINA press releases in his newspaper.

“A press release is not a letter to the editor, especially when the letter aims to provide a missing part of an already-published story,” says PFF co-chair Monica Miller. “What’s especially disturbing is the call for Vanuatu to do what Fiji is undergoing with media ownership under the current regime and the impact of that on media freedom."

“It would help audiences appreciate the issues more if the PINA President declares his interests when he does his opinion pieces on matters where his position conflicts with the issue he's commenting on. He is an employee of the Times and FM107, which would be in direct competition with the Daily Post and the new FM operation planned by Neil-Jones,” says Miller.

“We implore the PINA and MAV presidents to practice dialogue and engagement with all media colleagues in Vanuatu regardless of their skin colour. This is especially important given the commitment to freedom of expression and journalistic ethics are the founding mission of both MAV and PINA.” --ENDS

***
CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Spin and silence reign as Fiji clampdown on free speech continues, says PFF

2010-10-06T09:21:00.001-10:00

Regional media freedom watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum is concerned over the increasing confusion spread by Fiji's regime over the departure from Fiji Times of its long-serving editor Netani Rika.

Comments by the regime's spokesperson Sharon Smith-Johns over the departure of Rika are "appalling in their clear revelation of a pro-regime agenda and heavy bias in this matter," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea.

"Claiming that a Pacific journalist at the pinnacle of his career, forced to leave his job because of extraordinary pressure is 'a good move' simply because he did not tow a pro-regime agenda, is dangerously misleading,"says Laumaea.

"The forced sale of the Fiji Times and the stance taken by the new management show there is no longer an independent news media outlet in Fiji. We can appreciate that people need to stay in jobs at a difficult time, but to claim that Netani Rika's departure was a good thing, and that the Times was not 'pro-Fiji', creates confusion and mis-information."

"There is little doubt that Rika and the Fiji Times news team have worked in difficult times to be nothing less than the best journalists possible for their Fiji audiences -- reporting without fear or favour and under the cloud of repressive military tactics clearly aimed at shutting them down."

"In any nation, a leadership that goes all out to define anything or anyone that does not step in with its views as being 'anti-nationalist' is using confusion and fear to peddle its public image, and that's not a public image that no person in a position of power should be paid taxpayer dollars to push without being questioned," he says.

Laumaea says the sudden and unexplained 'absence' of leading Fiji Times journalist Sophie Foster from the news team this week will also put new pressure on the new Editor as team leader to walk the balance between Fiji politics and media ethics.

In other Fiji news headlines this week, PFF co-chair Monica Miller has also flagged concern and dismay over the unlawful assembly charges facing former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhury. "The connection between the media controls and regime attempts to curb free speech are already well established with Fiji's regime leader on the record justifying his silencing of the churches and chiefs in Fiji as part of his leadership strategy. Silencing voices by restricting freedom of assembly is just taking control over free thinking and debate to the next level. In that regard, we are dismayed to see the charges laid and its implications for anyone wanting to exercise their human right to speak freely and share opinions with each other."

"We can only repeat our call on Fiji's regime to set up its own media and publishing outlets if it is unhappy with the job done by independent news media. Allowing people their human right to freely hold and share their own opinions is a cornerstone of credible leadership and governance," she says.-

-ENDS

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Govt must step up investigation into journalist deaths in Indonesia: PFF

2010-08-31T11:20:00.002-10:00

Pacific Freedom Forum, Rarotonga-- The Pacific Freedom Forum is expressing grave concern about the deaths of three colleagues in two Indonesia provinces in recent weeks.
“Indonesia needs to see these deaths as a wake up call,” says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea.
In particular, PFF joins international groups like the International Federation of Journalists, Reporters Sans Frontiers, and UNESCO in condemning the deaths and calling for investigations by Jakarta.
"Indonesia's government must ensure enough resources are given to independently investigate recent deaths of the three journalists in West Papua and Maluku," says Laumaea, based in Papua New Guinea.
Deaths of environmental journalists Ardiansyah Matra’is and Muhammad Syaifulla in Papua were followed by that of TV reporter, Ridwan Salamun after filming a confrontation between villagers in Maluku.
PFF says the deaths cannot be treated as singular events.
They take place against a background of decades of extensively documented human rights abuses in Indonesia, where Papua journalists have received numerous death threats for uncovering illegal logging, mining and environmental destruction.
From Pagopago, co-chair Monica Miller says PFF members “join our colleagues and cousins in west Papua in their sadness and loss.”
“All three deaths are the more serious, stemming from their professional duties with the first two receiving multiple death threats,” she says.
“Concerns over an alleged lack of independent investigation are very strong on the ground,” says Miller, noting a “boycott” by Jayapura media.
“Local journalists boycotting police stories sends a powerful message to the international community: human rights are breaking apart in a vital region worth many billions to Indonesia and the global economy.”
PFF members strongly support the right of West Papua media to protest alleged cause of death in their colleagues disappearance, as well as express concerns over threats against news media and others.
“This is freedom of speech, plain and simple” says Miller.-- ENDS

Country background:
“West Papua” is common media reference to distinguish the Indonesian province from Papua New Guinea, the other half of this large Melanesian island. Now officially known as “Papua”, the western half was changed from West New Guinea (1962–63), West Irian (1963–73), Irian Jaya (1973–2001), and Papua (2002–2003). Districts within Papua are also routinely redrawn and renamed by Indonesian authorities.

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

. . .

PFF welcomes engagement with new Pacific media body

2010-08-12T09:17:00.002-10:00

The launch of a new Pacific media body this week has been welcomed by regional media freedom watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum. The Pacific Media Association, or PacMA, features former PINA executive members and media freedom awardees in its new leadership, who launched PacMA this week in Samoa after hosting their inaugural meeting.
"The work of promoting, monitoring and reporting media freedom requires many hands," says PFF Chair, Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea, "and the PFF operates as an online network with a specific focus on media freedom alerts and advocacy of UNDHR Article 19. The broader context of training and promotion of standards and ethics by more regional colleaguesis more than welcome."
"We stand by ready to engage and partner with Pacific news leaders who are already involved with the Pacific Freedom Forum," he says. "Through our shared goals, membership and resources, the task of networking, monitoring and reporting threats to a free media can be better shared by more media workers."
The PFF Chair has confirmed a partnership on monitoring media freedom is to be formally offered to the new regional association. The same partnership offer to assist and build on monitoring threats amongst the Pacific countries has been sitting without a reply from the PINA executive for more than a year. Hints of high-level political support for a Samoa-based regional body followed the departure from PINA of the Vice-President John Woods, in July 2010.
"It's heartening to see the support shown the inaugural commendation of the regional organisation by Samoa's Prime Minister and leaders of development corps. It speaks well of the recognition of the link between media standards, governance work, and thriving democracies," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller, of American Samoa.
"The establishment of PacMA reiterates the sense of solidarity amongst Pacific media which PFF strives to support through its own monitoring work. The recent announcement by the IFJ of its Pacific Media and Human Rights monitoring project also adds to the signs that monitoring and reporting of press freedom violations in the Pacific is stepping up to the next level. And Pacific media practitioners must be the ones taking it there."--ENDS

CONTACT:

PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

. . .

PFF urges PINA to return to its mandate and withdraw from Fiji Media Decree body

2010-08-03T06:55:00.001-10:00

Regional media freedom watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum are urging the Pacific Islands News Association to return to the mandate of supporting a free media; and withdrawing from any involvement with Fiji's new Media Industry Development Authority, MIDA. The Authority is a key part of the Fiji regime's Media Decree.
"The announcement this week of the appointment of PINA Coordinator Matai Akauola as the Fiji media representative to the regime's MIDA has shocked and dismayed colleagues who feel PINA's founding commitment to media freedom for the Pacific community has been betrayed," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.
"As coordinator of a regional association whose key objective is promotion of freedom of expression and information, Akauola now faces the difficult task of choosing his regional appointment or his regime one," he says.
"It is painfully clear that his usual stance of 'engagement from within' to explain PINA's silence on Fiji has now reached the point where wearing the regime hat means he can't effectively wear the media freedom one."
Confirmation of appointments came from regime information channels and not via PINA. It's understood the decision to accept the appointment was an executive one and has yet to be formally shared with all PINA members.
"We sympathise with the difficulty and complexity of the Fiji situation, but remain duty-bound to our colleagues in Fiji and the Pacific to raise the alarm on the appalling lack of judgement by someone who has just renewed a full time contract position to uphold regional values on media freedom and standards. We encourage the full PINA membership to call for a review of this decision by their Coordinator," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"PFF is not disputing the issue of the Media Industry Development Authority members from Fiji. We note that a former employee of the University of the South Pacific, a regional agency, is chairing the MIDA. But Akauola is currently a regional servant of an organisation whose mandate is to resist threats to media freedom, not welcome them", says the former PINA President.
"PINA and PFF are the only Pacific-specific members of the Global freedom of expression body, IFEX. The decision by the PINA coordinator to accept the regime appointment not only shames the body he is employed by, but calls PINA's membership of IFEX into question." --ENDS

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Fiji: PFF calls for clarity over 'police questioning' of journalists

2010-08-02T05:43:00.004-10:00

The overnight detention of Fiji journalist Richard Naidu over a news story on the FijiLive website is stirring concern over the continuing campaign of intimidation and fear against Fiji's journalists says the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
Police confirmed Naidu was taken into custody on Friday 30 July, after the FijiLive site where he serves as News Editor ran a story stating Fiji's military head of the Police Esala Teleni, had been suspended. A government release on Monday 2 August, hours after the FijiLive site returned from a weekend of going offline, stepped out its version of why the two events were unrelated. But PFF remains concerned over the signals sent out by the process of 'police questioning' and its implications for Fiji's journalists.
"If Police are going to use up their taxpayer-funded time questioning journalists overnight for every error of fact that is published, surely the public has a right to demand more clarity on the efficiency and priorities of their public officials," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.
"We call on the regime to make public the reasons and the rules which govern the continued impromptu detainment of journalists for Police questioning. It's a human rights issue, and will help Police better understand their own responsibility to uphold professional integrity."
"In the news and information industry, it's impossible to get it right, all the time. Standard practice is that we say'sorry' when we get it wrong, run a correction, and learn from it," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"We hope the regime who replaced the former Public Emergency Regulations with the new Media Decree will be open to ensuring their own officials understand that the PER is over -- and that a media-led process for raising concerns and running corrections already exists."--ENDS

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Media freedom threatened in Tonga as elections loom

2010-07-14T20:02:00.000-10:00

Any plans for removing Tonga's constitutional protection of a free media must be exposed and fully discussed in public, says the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
The regional media freedom online network says the historical and political back-story to comments on TV Tonga last week by Information and Communications Minister 'Eseta Fusitu'a must be fully reported to Tonga's people as they gear up for historical elections later this year.
"The Minister's mention of plans to legislate controls of Tonga's print media industry to match a government-regulated broadcast environment must be fully exposed and debated by the people of Tonga in a free and open media environment," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.

"Worldwide, Government control over press freedom in the name of 'sensitivity' and 'responsibility' always translates into shutting down debate on the issues that matter most to citizens -- and restricts them of their universal human right to freedom of expression,"

he says.
"Making these plans in the context of impending elections in Tonga directly contradicts the spirit of democratic freedom for voters in the Kingdom because it takes away press freedom, which is an essential indicator of thriving democracies," says Laumaea.
"The Justice Minister has reportedly denied that media controls through Constitutional amendment are being looked at. We urge the Tongan authorities to clarify which position is being acted on and engage directly with the Tonga Media Association for an open and honest dialogue to address concerns from both sides of the debate."
Under current legislation in Tonga, the government controls the broadcast environment including content. Attempts to enforce similar controls over the print media with similar laws introduced in 2003 were tested when media publishers took their case to the Supreme Court -- and won.
"The lessons from that experience surely resonate for Tonga and other Pacific nations. Any attempts to tamper with the Constitutional protection for a free press, which the Supreme court based its decision upon, should be worrying for all media outlets and the audiences who depend on them," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller, of American Samoa.
"On the positive side, the current situation allows Tonga's government to initiate and prepare to listen to public discussion and debate on what media freedom and free speech means to Tongan journalists and their audiences. We all need to know more could all benefit from more understanding about media ethics and laws that already govern slander and defamation. In Tonga's case, with the elections coming up, it's important that political and media leaders get to the same page where a free media reporting without fear or favour means the voices of Tonga's people can better feed into the dream of democracy they are working towards."--ENDS

Note: Read Clause 7 of the Tonga Constitution guaranteeing media freedom and free speech in Tonga

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com
PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Media by decree robs Fiji of the right to free and fearless journalism: PFF

2010-06-29T08:49:00.005-10:00

Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- Legislation of new and sweeping controls over journalists and the media industry by the military regime governing Fiji deepens the loss of free speech and fearless public debate there, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.

"Sadly, the new Media Industry Development decree confirms the regime targeting of anyone raising a hand for transparency and the rule of law since Fiji's constitution was replaced by a Public Emergency Regulation and military decree in April 2009," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.

"Clauses on inclusion of women and children, conduct and media standards, are window dressing. These critical issues are already a central core of journalism training and media council work. Most of the decree reveals it is really about doing away with watchdogs. It will now monitor and control who says what in Fiji's media through a new structure that is going to cost money, even as the decree will take its toll on media sector investment," he says.

The decree legislates registration of all media outlets with a regime-endorsed 'authority' given sweeping powers to protect the national and public interests, including searching premises and seizure of equipment and documents, to court-imposed fines or imprisonment for journalists who fail to divulge sources if required in the 'national' interest to do so.

"While there are exceptions, the punitive language of enforcement against media outlets and journalists who refuse to cooperate takes away from any benefits the decree drafters had in mind. If anything, it will grow a pervasive atmosphere of self-censorship where misinformation and rumour will thrive," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller, of American Samoa.

Restrictions on foreign investment in media mean the Fiji Times, one of the oldest media operators in the world, now has 90 days to turn a business that has existed for some 90 years over to 90 percent local ownership, or close down. Media convergence; the buzzword for industry development especially with digital and online news media, will also be an issue in Fiji affecting newer cross media operators who want to make the most of new media technologies to grow audience reach.

"Applying the 10% or less shareholding restriction on foreign ownership would collapse the Fiji investment industry if applied as a national policy and raises questions on the industry development label in the decree."

"We acknowledge our Fiji media and other colleagues who continue to uphold the founding principle to journalism: the universal human right to free speech and expression of ideas. We stand in solidarity with them at this time and continue to be part of the global watch on the continued stifling of democracy and a free media there."

ENDS

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

WPFD 2010 statement: Pacific Freedom Forum

2010-05-02T15:51:00.000-10:00

PFF applauds ex-Tonga Attorney-General, calls on stronger Pacific governance through action on Freedom of Information

PACIFIC FREEDOM FORUM

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY MAY 3 2010
Brisbane, WPFD 2010: As Chilean journalist Monica Gonzalez Mujica is officially recognised as the 2010 recipient of the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize today, the Pacific Freedom Forum applaud and honour the integrity of the former Tonga Attorney General John Cauchi, who this week publicly resigned his post in protest at the interference of Tonga's government in the judiciary.
"In resigning and stating his reasons for doing so, the Tonga AG has effectively blown the whistle on Pacific leaders who say one thing to their people and try to subvert a process which must be above political interfence and control. We commend him for using his right to go public on the shameful lack of good governance and transparency which this has uncovered," says PFF Chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.
"This year's global theme of Freedom of Information is timely for Pacific governments, not just media colleagues and our audiences. PFF remains committed to advocacy work to build bridges of understanding with our Pacific leaders on the positive impact of FOI legislation," says Laumaea.
Laumaea and other members of the PFF are in Brisbane at the University of Queensland this week joining the global commemorations of World Press Freedom Day 2010.
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova will formally present the 2010 award to Gonzalez Mujica in a special ceremony this evening. Assistant Director-General Abdul Waheed Khan, who leads UNESCO's Communication and Information Sector, head of the UNESCO office for the Pacific Visesio Pongi and the office's Communications and Information Adviser Paul Hector are also among those attending the meeting.
Pacific representation to panel events organised by the hosts at the University of Queensland has highlighted threats to free speech and freedom of information across the Pacific.
Continued media censorship in Fiji, anti-transparency legislation cutting back Ombudsman powers to implement the Leadership Code of ethical practice in Papua New Guinea, and legislation aimed at hampering free media in Samoa were among the issues which Pacific journalists have heard from regional speakers.
Transparency International head Marie Noelle Ferriux-Patterson described the chilling implications of the lack of accountability and culture of impunity over attacks on media in Vanuatu.
"These kinds of actions by leaders directly contradict commitments made under national, regional and global agreements, including signed support for freedom of information", says PFF co-chair Monica Miller.
PFF urges all governments to:
i. Step up legislative commitments to and implementation of FOI in the Pacific
ii.Independently review all media, defamation and accountability legislation in Pacific nations so that the aims of good governance are met.
iii. Foster bridges of understanding on the role of the media in assisting FOI work as a critical part of thriving democracies in our Pacific world. --ENDS.

CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Pacific media freedom soup: HIV/AIDS, media regionalism, and the right to know

2010-05-02T10:41:00.000-10:00

Below is the text of a statement given on Sunday 2 May in Brisbane at the University of Queensland by Lisa Williams-Lahari, founding member and Projects leader of Pacific WAVE (Women Advancing a Vision of Empowerment) Media Network. Her presentation followed that of PNG’s Susuve Laumaea, Chair of the Pacific Freedom Forum. Fiji's Sophie Foster, of the Fiji Times, Samoa’s Savea Sano Malifa of the SONG (Samoa Observer Newspaper Group) and Vanuatu’s Marie-Noelle Ferrieux-Patterson, former Ombuds and President for TI (Transparency International) in Vanuatu also featured on the afternoon panel.

***

Kia Orana tatou katoatoa it e aroa maata o to tatou Atua, Talofa lava, I bid you warm Pacific greetings. This week last year, the inaugural meeting of a regional media freedom watchdog group, the Pacific Freedom Forum, was happening in Samoa. 12 months later, to the exact week, we are witnessing the inaugural meeting of a regional network of women in Pacific media, called WAVE. We have delegates from both groups here at this event, one a regional media freedom monitoring and advocacy body – the other a newly confirmed network of women working in news and media in the Pacific region. Together, both groups form a constituency of almost 400 online members spread across the Oceania region’s 22 countries and 9million people – not forgetting many millions of square kilometres of saltwater in all that. So we are excited to affirm our place at this key event.
I’m going to dive in to the overall theme of this session with an invitation to have some media freedom soup with me.
I’ve spent the better part of the last year and a half as a founding member of the pacific island journalist’s online network, which gave birth to the pacific freedom forum, which gave birth to the Pacific WAVE media network. Like our founding coordinator Ulamila Wragg, this work; and most of my journalism, was able to be done from a computer set up to the internet from my kitchen. Many of my WAVE media sisters share the Pacific reality of juggling the hats of women balancing their unpaid work at home with the paid career in media work. I spice up my time with vast amounts of post-grad student, stir fried with the roles of activist, wife, mum, and freelancer. So welcome to my kitchen, and let’s get cooking.
The key ingredient which I’ll begin with is how we in Pacific media have approached coverage of HIV/AIDS. Yes, HIV/AIDS. What I have seen as a journalist, trainer and commentator is that HIV/AIDS, more than any other global trend for this part of the world, has created interesting parallels through which we can examine and better understand the main threats – and solutions, to media freedom in the Pacific.
The first key challenge which HIV/AIDS steps out for media freedom a la Pacific is that it can often give us in the media, the freedom to get it wrong. Throughout the late 80’s and into the following decade, pacific reportage of HIV/AIDS was geared towards a sense of it being someone else’s problem. Pacific media had reported it, but mainly along the lines of feeding misinformation that this was the death sentence delivered by God to gay men, adulterers and prostitutes. Of course, this situation was not exclusive to the media. It also highlighted the lack of media-friendly medical and development professionals able to break down what was also a new and emerging epidemic for the region; and the lack of quality statistics and surveillance data to draw on. It was creating all kinds of new questions around talking heads who were misinforming rather than informing the news agenda, and what reporting the truth in the public interest really is. It began to raise curly issues around objectivity, the credibility of traditional talking heads like church leaders and how we in our reportage were contributing – or not, to highly emotional issues. It underlined the lack of privacy and confidentiality in small islands communities, and the stigma, discrimination and fear which abound when people simply don’t have access to the information they need. And it was all gaining momentum as the key regional conference for Pacific media workers, called PINA, was hosted in French Polynesia at the end of 1998.
And it was at PINA, to a regional audience of Pacific journalists, that a young Journalism student by the name of Maire Bopp Dupont was to stand up in a plenary session, and declared her HIV-positive status. In asking her media colleagues to step back from fear mongering and get back to being journalists, Maire took a gamble and spiked a trend of new debate, thinking and reflection by Pacific colleagues in their work. Her stance also opened up spaces on the no go zones, the taboos around sexuality, culture and tradition, and our own attitudes and behaviours which inform the internal news-filters for us. Importantly too, it highlighted an issue which continues to define challenges around news practice to this day: given all the internal filters we face in gleaning what is news and how it is reported, how are all the commitments to ethics, accountability, truth and the public interest defined? Who monitors the notion of just how free, truthful and ‘independent’ independent journalists are? What about the language and words we use? And the gendered stereotypes and labelling we are dealing with? All these questions began to emerge, ticking the boxes –raised by the previous speaker, on media as partners in development, gender dimensions of media work, human rights and social justice issues.
In 1999, in recognition of her ‘breaking the silence’ on HIV and AIDS, Maire was awarded the PINA Media Freedom Award.
This takes me to my next key challenge: the need to respond to gaps and failures in order to address the challenges around media freedom work, FOI and the right to know.
Shortly after Maire’s wining of the Media Freedom Award, her journey as a pacific advocate and voice on HIV/AIDS was cemented. As an advocate she soon identified a regional gap that required a regional fix. A network of organisations and partners needed to work, and work effectively. Out of the absence of a regional entity for those with HIV/AIDS, the Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation formed, and got with addressing a problem. It had formed as a response to a clear need and has since become a secretariat for a regional coalition of partnering organisations, called the Pacific NGO Alliance on AIDS. It provides lessons at a critical time for us, of being responsive, current, owned by the pacific region we claim to represent, and transparent to our members.
Media freedom, free speech, the right to information and freedom of information – these challenges are a dynamic and changing set of issues, always changing, just as the PIAF organisation has done in approaching the HIV/AIDS crisis for our region.
I’m not alone in this room in knowing that Pacific media partnerships are now at the same crossroads where HIV/AIDS forced a regional, industry-led response that had to be strong, effective and transparent. Just as the most affected people got together and formed their own networks and chain of accountability, we as journalists and Pacific news and media organisations must do the same to ensure we remain true to the values and mission which are now no longer being met.
It’s at this point that our media freedom soup now comes to the boil. For a range of reasons, we have seen the relative lapse into silence and internal conflict of PINA, the regional media body which claims to represent our interests as a region. I say it’s a regional challenge of crisis proportions because any regional body which falls apart doesn’t do so silently, and we need to be honest and open about learning from failure. If there’s anything the global economic crash in recent years can teach us, it is that. I challenge us all, in truth and respect for the right to disagree, to urgently seek a space for mediation and most of all for transparency to resolve this situation. At this point in time, a fractured and poorly managed Pacific media regionalism is itself providing the biggest threat to media freedom and FOI. We will always have our dictators and tyrants to deal with; but we need to set our house in order. Some will have to decide if they even want a regional house to support our networking. Without a resourced and effective monitoring, advocacy and coordination effort owned and endorsed by all of us, from our different parts of the region, we will continue to remain in crisis mode. We will not be able to dream of excellence and standards outside of the ad-hoc pockets that do exist. We will not be able to hope to grow media literacy amongst our youth, leaders and communities so that the right to know is an accepted flip side to the right to ask the taboo questions.
As a last spoonful, I want to celebrate all the stirring with a dash of indigenous hope. I note the inclusion of another key forum at this WPFD event, that of indigenous voices and the need to close the gaps in ownership, participation, content creation, and diversity. Paying homage to the wisdom provided by our ocean-navigating ancestors, here’s a Cook Islands proverb often quoted by a former Cook Islands Prime Minister. His belief in the right of a free and independent media to exist meant he was accessible and accountable in ways that would put many current Pacific leaders to shame. It was the doors opened by Sir Geoffrey Henry in the early 90’s which helped pave the way for the Cook Islands to create history on FOI legislation more than 15 years later. The proverb goes like this: taraia to toki, ei toki tarai enua. Taraia to toki, ei toki tarai enua. Sharpen your adze, the adze to carve nations. In transforming that into the context of this session the toki, the adze, can be seen as the media. The right to know is the tool which keeps the adze strong and effective. When the toki is well prepared for its work, the impact on public debate and protection of media freedoms is strongest. The diversity of news outlets and talking heads in the public domain helps foster a sense of public participation; and ownership of the governance process. When the adze is blunted by lack of FOI legislation or media workers themselves pressuring for the public interest and the right to know, we have the deadening impacts many of us can attest to in our countries.
So, from the ancestors to us here today -- Taraia to toki, ei toki tarai enua: how sharp is your media freedom adze, and who is holding it? Is the adze sleeping in a corner somewhere, growing dull with lack of use? Has it left newsrooms and taken up residence in Ombuds offices, public auditing processes, or is it no longer to be found? I challenge us in this room today to reclaim the toki and locate it online, in digital spaces accessible for more of us, a toolkit for the future generations of Pacific journalists at events like this.

I hope you enjoyed that funky taste of Pacific media freedom soup; and I thank you.--ENDS

Death by decree for media freedom in Fiji, says PFF

2010-04-08T09:11:00.000-10:00

Rarotonga, Cook Islands -- A decree aimed at replacing censorship and human rights restrictions in Fiji will deal a death-blow to freedoms of speech if not changed, says regional watchdog PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum.

“The draft decree replaces newsroom censorship with something far more obvious and dangerous,” says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea, of Papua New Guinea.

“Saying censorship will no longer exist is misleading, because with this decree there isn’t a need for newsroom censors. Overly heavy fines and punishments thrown at those who don’t tow an arbitrary line will mean no independent newsrooms to censor.

“The entire media system will only say what the regime wants to hear,” says Laumaea.
“Our only hope is that media feedback into the so-called 'consultations' this week is seriously taken into account and impacts on the final form of the decree,” he says.
PFF co-chair Monica Miller says regional agencies and development partners involved in human rights and media development must not stay silent on the repression in Fiji.
“Fiji is a hub for regional agencies involved in human rights and freedom of information work. They can all do their part to leave the regime and other Pacific nations in no doubt about the massive impacts on human rights and governance of this media decree.”
“Openly or not, development partners must support all parts of Fiji media and other elements of society who believe free speech and freedom of expression are essential conditions of progressive governance.”
“As well, concerns from the Fiji Times on economic impacts of the media decree can hardly be surprising,” says Miller.
“It’s not rocket science. Restrictions on investment potential via foreign ownership, coupled with exhorbitant fines for those who upset the regime-controlled media authority, puts the livelihoods of working journalists and their families at risk.”--ENDS

CONTACT:
PFF interim Chair
Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea
Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com

PFF interim co-Chair
Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa
Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.
We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

FIJI: Regime must open up time window on draft media decree -- PFF

2010-04-06T09:27:00.001-10:00

Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS, --A two and a half hour time window for Fiji's media to have their say on their industry's future threatens the credibility of today's draft media decree 'consultations'. Regional media freedom watchdog, the Pacific Freedom Forum says it's not too late for those behind the decree to allow more time for feedback.
“We had seen a sign of hope when the regime lifted its ban on allowing the Fiji Times and Fiji TV to participate,” says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of PNG.

“But a two and a half hour time frame shoots your own process in the foot. It blocks off any meaningful input and raises the question of whether Fiji media houses should even bother to turn up. If you cannot truly participate and belong to a meeting to discuss your future, who really benefits from you being there?”

“We strongly urge the leadership to open up the time window for feedback and salvage the process from ridicule.”
The draft media decree is planned to replace regime controls on freedom of speech , expression and the right to assembly in Fiji since the abrogation of the Constitution a year ago this month.
Interim Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has told journalists the decree draft establishes a Media Industry Development Authority , an ‘independent’ Media Tribunal with the power to rule on breaches, a Television Programme Classification Code , provisions pertaining to cross-media ownership, a media code of standards including a Code of Ethics and Practice, and a General code of practice for Advertisements including advertising to children.

“Any of the above would entail a timeline covering weeks or months of feedback and consultation. We can only hope those behind this draft are willing to allow sense to prevail and grant more time for media outlets to prepare their responses and informed input,” says PFF co-chair Monica Miller.
“We wish our colleagues all the best with seeking that extension, at today’s meeting."--ENDS

CONTACT:

PFF interim Chair
Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea
Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com

PFF interim co-Chair
Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa
Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.
We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Tonga’s leaders must step up on disclosure over Ashika report: PFF

2010-04-05T12:37:00.003-10:00

Rarotonga, Cook Islands— Tonga’s Minister of Information and Communications Eseta Fusitua should consider a sincere apology to grieving families over her botched handling of the release of the official report into the Ashika Tragedy. 74 passengers, including all the women and children passengers, died when the ferry sank off the coast of Tongatapu on August 5, 2009.
According to news reports, Fusitua called a pre-Easter Press Conference to discuss the much awaited findings. Instead she used the time to talk about a set of ‘protocols’ which means Tongans won’t get the report via official channels until after Easter, late this week or early next. Ironically, as she was holding back her copy from Tongan journalists, they had already joined the rest of the world downloading the report from the internet.
“Any high-level Pacific leader holding the communications and information portfolio should have sought advice on how to best proceed with a report of this magnitude, and the overwhelming level of public interest in the results.

Sadly, we’ve just witnessed another avoidable sadness for the families of those who died. These people have just spent their first Easter without their loved ones, their lives still on hold despite the closure this report now offers them,”

says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea.
“This was a preventable maritime tragedy, and has repercussions for Tonga’s elected and appointed leadership. A process which leaves itself open to failure because everyone with an interest and an internet connection already has the report is hardly effective. It fosters a perception that government is acting in its own self-interest and delaying its own response and public discussion.”

PFF encourages Tonga’s leadership, in particular its Information Minister, to make the most of its leading journalists and independent media, and seek their advice for engaging and encouraging public debate and feedback to allow the nation to come to terms with the tragedy and families with their loss.
“Grieving families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy should have been the first to receive copies of the report, or at the very least, a summary of its findings and access to Tongan translation if needed,” says PFF co-chair Monica Miller.
“For them, the fact that the rest of the world is already debating the contents is a cruel joke, especially given the findings on culpability and responsibility for the tragedy.”
“Freedom of Information and timely access by robust, responsible and independent media to official reports is an important key to good governance and informed Pacific communities,” says Miller. “This report must go hand in hand with a decisive strategy from the government to place the findings quickly into the hands of those whose lives were turned upside down by what happened on that night of August 5 2009. They are the ones who most need to know."--ENDS

Links above:
Coverage of Info Minister’s Press conference on Ashika report, Matagi Tonga Online
Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika

CONTACT:

PFF Chair
Susuve Laumaea
Sunday Chronicle Newspaper
Papua New Guinea

Mobile: 675-684 5168
Office: 675-321-7040
Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com

PFF Co-Chair
Monica Miller
KHJ Radio
American Samoa

Mob 684 258-4197
Office 684 633-7793
Email: monica@khjradio.com

The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.

Fiji: PFF welcomes regime lifting of media ban, calls for open dialogue

2010-04-01T10:49:00.002-10:00

Removal of a ban on the two biggest media organisations in Fiji from taking part in regime-led consultations affecting the future of media and censorship there is welcome news, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.

"It's early days yet, but removal of the ban is the first sign of progress towards direct conversations between the regime and all media organisations in Fiji,"

says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea, of Papua New Guinea.
It is almost a year since the abrogation of the Fiji Constitution last April in a move which undermined free speech, free expression and the right to freedom of assembly. Interim attorney-general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, told Fiji's media it has been decided to drop a ban involving key media outlets the Fiji Times and Fiji TV in discussions over a proposed media decree. The lifting of the ban now gives the two outlets just over a week to read the proposed decree and prepare their inputs for tabling during the consultations.

Talks between media and the regime are to take place over four days, 7th to 10th April 2010.
No reason has been given for the change, but only political parties will now be excluded from the talks expected to deal with advertising and media ethics. PFF urges the Fiji regime to use the removal of the ban as the first of many steps needed to restore real gains for restoring a free and independant media to the people of Fiji.
"Regional media colleagues have hoped for signs of a rational approach towards restoring a free media. We offer warm support for those no doubt working hard behind the scenes to bring Fiji back into line with generally accepted concepts of freedom of speech, and the contribution this makes to a stable and sustained democracy," says Laumaea.
The latest change of heart on media in Fiji must be followed by real intent and restoration of other democratic processes and freedoms for the people of Fiji, he says.
"The door for engagement is now open; but media organisations in Fiji still tread on uncertain ground as they walk through that door. After all, it is still a media decree they are going to be discussing. Inviting all media players to the table is one thing. Opening up to what they have to offer is another, and we look forward to the outcome of the consultations and hope there is a respectful dialogue which may pave the way for more of the same." ENDS

NZ: State Radio and TV funding cuts threaten regional security

2010-03-23T17:40:00.003-10:00

New Zealand needs to review strategic importance of public broadcasting before forcing further cuts to already depleted news services, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.

"Failure to support state radio and television threatens New Zealand's ability to help maintain regional security."

State-owned TVNZ this week announced plans to sack 75 newsroom workers for a planned savings of NZ$5 million.

"Losing more than six dozen news room workers from a single organisation will see New Zealand fall further behind other developed countries."

"On top of a quarter century of restructuring to news media, these cuts leave New Zealand's ability to deliver independent and credible information to the region dangerously impaired."

"This impacts regional security among island nations that rely heavily on bigger partners for good governance leadership."

A 2005 study ranked New Zealand at 14^th among 30 countries in the OECD, the Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation.

PFF says funding cuts since then may have pushed New Zealand even further down the OECD broadcasting ranks.

TVNZ cut $30 million from its budget last year, for a loss of 90 jobs.

A funding freeze at Radio New Zealand has been put at place despite a KPMG review that shows RNZ is already operating at maximum efficiency – and in fact recommended funding increases to meet its statutory obligations.

"The fact that the current government ignores the advice of one the world's big four accounting companies strongly suggests New Zealand is not as in step with free market models as it likes to think."

"In continuing to freeze funding and require dividends, New Zealand is also out of step with its closest economic partner, Australia.

State broadcaster ABC, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, last year announced a "record funding boost" for its operations.

"Unlike New Zealand, Australia recognises that economic crisis is a time to invest in identity and information – not make cutbacks."

"If New Zealand truly wants to match Australia for economic performance, as it says, then governments needs to urgently review the strategic importance of its state broadcasting services."

"Information is the frontline of any national interest."

"In the case of New Zealand, those interests include the world's largest region.

PFF says the corporate profit and dividend model ruling TVNZ also needs urgent review, and may have outlived its usefulness.

Cuts are to restore "profitability."

The cuts and funding freeze at Radio New Zealand compare with hundreds of millions spent on "strategic" state assets like Air New Zealand and New Zealand Rail.

Meantime, TVNZ is still expected to pay government a "dividend" despite some $270 million disappearing from the advertising market in the last year.

PFF says that the islands are also dependent on organisations like TVNZ and RNZ for independent information following a decade or more of corporatisation and privatisation pushed by New Zealand and Australia.

"These measures seem to have fallen heavily on public media in the islands, with countries like Samoa and the Cook Islands having no state broadcasters at all."

"This has caused a dramatic and continuing loss of good governance information, in some cases leading to loss of life, and may arguably have added to regional insecurity."

"The first line of defence against regional insecurity is and always will be information – free, fair and without favour."

PFF calls on New Zealand to follow the KPMG recommendations and drop the TVNZ dividend to avoid further loss in regional public broadcasting capacity.

ENDS

Fiji Government misrepresents human rights record to UN: Amnesty International

2010-02-10T13:09:00.000-10:00

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE , ISSUED UNDER STRICT EMBARGO 00:01 GMT Wednesday 10 February 2010--The Fiji Government has misrepresented its human rights record in a report to the United Nations, Amnesty International said today.
The government has submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Council ahead of a formal review of the state of the country’s human rights scheduled for Thursday 11 February in Geneva.
Amnesty International disputes many of the claims made in the Fiji Government’s National Report, including assertions that religious freedom is enjoyed in Fiji; that the right to free speech is respected; and that the censorship of the media is a necessary security measure.
“Government assertions that human rights are protected in Fiji are an insult to its citizens, who have had to endure surveillance, intimidation and threats by the military,” said Apolosi Bose, Amnesty International’s Pacific Researcher.

Amnesty International rejects government claims that that the abrogation of Fiji’s constitution, in April 2009, did not have an impact on the respect and enjoyment of human rights, and that the independence of the judiciary remains intact.
“The abrogation of the constitution dealt a devastating blow to the enjoyment of human rights, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary in the country,” said Apolosi Bose.
The entire judiciary was sacked in April 2009 and since July, a number of magistrates have been summarily dismissed without any official explanation. Local media continue to face censorship on a daily basis and people are fearful of voicing an opinion that may be contrary to government’s view.
“In an assault on religious freedom, the authorities have specifically targeted the Methodist church of Fiji and have banned the church from holding its annual conference until 2014. Since July 2009, more than 25 pastors and senior administrators of the church have been arrested, briefly detained and charged under the Public Emergency Regulations,” said Apolosi Bose.
The Public Emergency Regulations (PER) which came into force in April 2009, have enabled the government to violate key human rights, while ensuring impunity for those committing these violations. Amnesty International maintains that the interim government has applied the PER to protect itself from any criticism or dissent and to suppress any comment or news item that may be critical of the government or the security forces.
“More than a thousand people have been assaulted, threatened, intimidated or subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment, arbitrary arrests, and detention by the military for either being critical of the authorities or on trumped-up charges,” said Apolosi Bose.
As recently as January 2010, senior officials in the Fiji military have openly threatened critics and dissidents. The government has also begun terminating benefits to pensioners who have been critical of the regime, violating their rights to freedom of speech and social security.
“This speaks volumes about the Fiji government’s lack of commitment to respect human rights,” said Apolosi Bose.
Amnesty International urges the Human Rights Council to conduct a rigorous examination of Fiji's fulfilment of its human rights obligations and commitments and to call for practical measures aimed at addressing serious shortcomings.
The organization also calls on the government of Fiji to engage in the examination in a spirit of openness and frankness and to act on recommendations to improve the human rights situation in Fiji.
Amnesty International has documented a litany of human rights violations since the military overthrew the elected government in December 2006. As part of the UN Committee’s review of Fiji, Amnesty International has prepared a submission to the committee which examines in detail the human rights situation in that country.
ENDS
Note to editors:
The UN Human Rights Council formal review of Fiji’s human rights record is part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process by which the United Nations Human Rights Council examines the human rights record of each of the UN’s 192 Member States. Each State is reviewed once every four years on a rotating basis.
Amnesty International’s submission on Fiji may be found at:

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA18/001/2009/en

PFF on Fiji: Free speech, expression clampdown continues with Jalal case

2010-01-26T15:44:00.007-10:00

Wednesday 27 January:

The court appearance this week of a leading Pacific human rights lawyer and trainer continues the clampdown against free speech advocates in Fiji, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.

Leading Pacific human rights trainer Imrana Jalal (left) is due to reappear in court tomorrow Thursday 28 January to continue hearings on the case brought against her by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

Jalal told Australia and New Zealand media earlier this month (links at end ) the court proceedings are a 'trumped up' attempt to silence her and other regime critics.

She has spoken out in support of human rights and democracy in Fiji since the current regime staged its coup at the end of 2006.

The initial hearing in early January, on similar charges against her husband Sakiusa Tuisolia, had been adjourned after the magistrate involved had questioned why FICAC wanted to pursue the issue of a minor city council infringement.

The magistrate, Mary Muir, was sacked two days later.

No explanation has been given as to why she and two other magistrates were terminated.

“Every Pacific nation with a news outlet boasts a journalist who has heard of, interviewed, or been trained in media, governance and human rights by Imrana Jalal,”says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea. “Her dedication and hard work has inspired and informed many of the founding members of the Pacific Freedom Forum and indeed, our regional umbrella, the Pacific Islands News Association, PINA.”

Jalal, a regional public servant who travels the Pacific and worldwide as the Human Rights Adviser for the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, had her passport seized on January 11.

A global outcry from Amnesty International and other human rights defender networks (see links below) has called on the Fiji authorities to stop the harassment of Jalal and other human rights defenders in Fiji.

PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa says it is “ironic that a Pacific light for freedom of expression and the rule of law is now proving to all of us through her own life what happens when these universal human rights go out the window. We honour her courage, her determination to denounce her oppressors in public, and her refusal to be silenced; and will continue to condemn the campaign of harassment, intimidation and fear being waged by a regime against citizens whose work is so important to an entire region, not just to Fiji.”

The Pacific Freedom Forum calls on the regime to:

 Return the focus of FICAC to corruption in public office and prosecute within its mandate

 Stop the harassment of human rights defenders in Fiji and return freedom of expression, movement and assembly for all

 Revoke the media decree, remove military censors and give control of news content back to editors.

Background | links

Fiji lawyer says prosecution meant to shut her up
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201001/2788431.htm?desktop

Fiji court orders ICJ lawyer to surrender passport
www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=51335

Human rights lawyer charged, magistrate sacked
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=51234

Amnesty International statement:
http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2010/01/amnesty-condemns-downward-spiral-with-persecution-of-fiji-human-rights-lawyer/

Joint AWID/APWLD/WLUML statement:
http://www.awid.org/eng/Women-in-Action/Announcements2/Fiji-End-harassment-of-women-human-rights-defenders

PHOTOCREDIT: http://www.greenpeace.org/

. . .

Regional media watchdog repeat call on Fiji regime to drop the decree 'sham'.

2010-01-26T13:21:00.003-10:00

January 25th, 2010-- Fiji’s military regime can save time, money and credibility by dropping plans to rehash a ‘media’ decree and doing away with the whole thing, says the Pacific Freedom Forum. Leading mainstream media outlets Fiji Times and Fiji Television have been banned from a “consultations” process on a new media decree expected to take effect next month, a move which renders the whole process “meaningless”, according to the Pacific Freedom Forum. “Let newsrooms do their own editing, not military censors,” says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea. “It is a new year, the chance for a new page. We say to the regime leaders: give your people back their right to free speech and freedom of assembly; and ditch the punitive decree agenda. It does your credibility no favours.”
The current media decree ‘allowing’ regime censors into newsrooms is part of the Public Emergency Regulations (PER). This has gone through multiple extensions since it replaced the rule of law in April 2009. The Fiji Court of Appeal had declared the military leadership unlawful and called for fresh elections to be held. Regime leader Frank Bainimarama responded by doing away with Fiji’s constitution, and putting newsrooms under army censorship via the current media decree. “By saying they will block out the Fiji Times and Fiji TV the regime has unveiled their plans to step up the draconian measures which have
seen them condemned by the global community, including Pacific leaders,” says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of Samoa. “We will continue to urge the regime leadership to free Fiji's media. Without a change of heart, the next decree will no doubt make life tougher for our colleagues, and those who dare to speak out in Fiji”
she says.--ENDS.

UK law changes should prompt defamation review in Pacific: PFF

2009-11-15T08:27:00.000-10:00

Nov 16, 2009:The Pacific Freedom Forum welcomes news of law changes dropping criminal defamation in the United Kingdom, as reported by media freedom organisation Article 19. "Pacific lawmakers and leaders in nations where criminal defamation still exists should look at doing the same and we would welcome and support a review building on the scoping done by the AusAID 'Informing Ctitizens' report of 2005," says PFF Chair Susuve Laumaea, of Papua New Guinea.

"Not only are many of our jurisdictions based on the Westminstersystem, but a review will also help Pacific people understand they are already protected from libel and slander by civil defamation laws, which rely on truth as a defence." This is not the case in criminal defamation, where plaintiffs have to prove truth as well as convince a court their information was published in the public interest. "This gray area of what the public should and should not know can be open to abuse and as we see in the Pacific, is most often used by governments to silence and censor media outlets. This leads to the well-known 'chilling effect' where journalists and their bosses self-censor because of the threat and cost of a criminal defamation case," says Co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"PFF is keen to assist progress on the initial work research presenting the Pacific media situation and the legislation chapter in the AusAID report. It's clear there are questions and changes which have come up since 2005 and the implications of the law change from the UK should be looked at in an objective way," she says. "Importantly, a regional legislative update on decriminalising defamation must also take into account the need to raise public awareness on defamation, and the issue of information published on the internet." ENDS
Link to Article 19 release:

Papua New Guinea: ‘Aliens’ story needs independent review, says PFF

2009-11-15T08:19:00.001-10:00

Nov 16, 2009: Papua New Guinea’s Post Courier daily newspaper is being urged by the Pacific freedom Forum to seek an independent review into a story which turned out to be a journalistic nightmare.
The Post Courier's November 10 front page '16,000 Aliens' headline and news story has caused controversy in Papua New Guinea, where a Parliamentary inquiry is being held into widespread anti-Asian race riots in May. The report placed the Philippines ambassador to Port Moresby Shirley Ho-Vicario before the committee on Friday 6 November, claiming she said out of 19,000 Filipinos in Papua New Guinea, 16,000
are illegal immigrants. Another paragraph said inquiry member MP Phillip Kikila had ‘confirmed’ the situation. Both the ambassador and the chair of the inquiry have since verified that she has never appeared before the inquiry. A follow up story printed by rival newspaper The National says the actual figures of
Filipinos in PNG is 10,120 in total with about 2,850 ‘illegals’. PFF Chair Susuve Laumaea of PNG says an independent review would help "address questions about how the media does its work and reassure the
public that when journalists get it wrong, we have a process in placefor getting a story back on track."
“Blame for the misreporting is being shifted to the MP mentioned in the initial report. But coverage of a parliamentary inquiry into anti-Asian riots has to focus on nailing the basics of journalism: getting the facts right. This is especially critical when reporting such an issue to a community already dealing with unemployment, violence and law enforcement problems,” he says.

"In calling on the Post Courier to embrace media accountability, PFF strongly suggests the paper show information leadership by seeking declaratory judgement on the report and its handling of it, from the
Independent Media Standards Committee." Co-Chair Monica Miller of American Samoa says it appears Ambassador Ho-Vicario doesn’t wish to take up her right to lodge a complaint to the PNG Media Council or the standards committee. "Therefore, responsibility for accountability must rest with the industry itself.
The buck stops with the Post Courier.” She says the media should not be the only institution facing serious
questions about their handling of the illegal immigration issue. "Misleading parliament is a serious offence under Westminster tradition, in which Papua New Guinea plays a historic part. That seriousness is underlined when it involves fabricating evidence implicating a diplomatic representative of an accredited and sovereign nation, like the Philippines." “While the responsibility for fact checking and corrections rests with
the Post Courier, especially given the potential impacts on the safety of communities, MP Philip Kikila must be accountable for the source of his statistics through the house Privileges Committee,” says Miller.
ENDS
For full coverage and links:

Fiji regime, the world is watching -- PFF

2009-11-04T18:46:00.000-10:00

November 5th 2009 – The illegal detention,assault and deportation of respected and leading Pacific academic Professor Brij Lal from Fiji (left) must be strongly condemned by the Pacific and global community, says regional media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum.
Sources in Fiji confirmed Professor Lal was taken without reason late yesterday afternoon from his Suva Point home where his wife Dr Padma Lal resides. Dr Padma is based in Suva as the Chief Technical Advisor to the Oceania office of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. It was not until 7pm that the military confirmation on her husband’s situation came when the Australian embassy received information that Professor Lal, a Fiji-born Australian citizen, would be deported on the next available flight.
Professor Lal becomes the first academic to be detained and deported from Fiji. Just hours before his detention, he was on ABC Radio being asked his views on the Fiji situation, after the military regime gave marching orders to the Australian and New Zealand High Commissioners
this week.
"We are saddened and shocked by reports that Professor Lal was abused and threatened. An internationally renowned academic whose life’s work has been the history of Fiji; is plucked from his home without reason and is subjected to abuse to the extent that his ‘signature’ glasses are smashed during a detention. One would expect his interrogating officers to have maintained a minimum standard of conduct when telling detainees their views are unpopular and unwelcome," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea of Papua New Guinea.

"The military regime must know the world is watching in disgust as free speech is ripped, through acts such as this, from the heart of Fiji."

"Free speech is a basic and universally acknowledged human right. Professor Lal gave an expert opinion and as a leading Pacific scholar, was well within his rights to do so," he says.

"We applaud Professor Lal for his courage in giving so honestly of his expert opinion; despite the obvious repression amongst the media and other civil society sectors," says PFF co chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.

"Fiji’s leaders should take their cue from Pacific Forum leaders; get out of newsrooms and manage their own, and claim their right of reply via their own if not the mainstream media. The fact they took a Pacific treasure and treated him so shamefully, sends a clear message to all in Fiji and outside it as to who the real regional bullies are."

"There are no independent courts to which Professor Lal could appeal to challenge his deportation and abuse. This proves the dire state of the 'rule of law' in Fiji, about which he was commenting to Radio Australia. Again, this completely confirms many earlier reports about
how the Fiji regime operates with respect to human rights and media freedom," she says. ENDS

FIJI: Attorney-General self-destructs in media freedom speech

2009-10-31T21:09:00.001-10:00

1 November, 2009-- Fiji's Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum (right) has erased his own credibility with 'delusional' notions that Fiji has a free media, says regional media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum.

According to media reports, Khaiyum told a regional journalism seminar at the University of the South Pacific on Friday 31st October Fiji's media were free to report on any issue, asking “Is there a restriction? Are journalists being locked up? Are journalists being told what to write? No!"

But in the same presentation on the Public Emergency Regulations (PER) introducing regime censorship of all newsrooms in April 2009, he admitted the "fundamental issue as far as the media control at the moment is concerned is that you do not have politicians being reported."

"The fact that his monologue went unchallenged by his audience only proves that self-censorship is thriving under the PER. Mr. Khaiyum should know his claim Fiji journalists have not been restricted, locked up, or told what to write, is clearly delusional and out of touch with reality," says PFF Chair Susuve Laumaea of PNG.

The latest global media freedom index compiled by global watchdog Reporters Sans Frontiers has Fiji ranked 152 out of 175 nations. In 2008, Fiji ranked 79th.

"We can only stand in solidarity and sympathy for those who organised the debate, and offer our technical support help build understanding amongst the regime leadership that the right to freedom of expression and speech has specific universal indicators which can't be mucked around with,” says Laumaea.

"The Pacific Freedom Forum and our networks warmly congratulate Fiji Times, for their award winning free speech campaign as announced on Friday night in Australia," says co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa. "The irony for us all is that only a few hours before this cause for celebration, the regime AG in Fiji went public saying the media is free to report anything -- so long as they don't report on the leadership. In saying that, he proved so powerfully why Fiji Times deserve the award, and our continued support." --ENDS

Links: http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2009/10/think-outside-box-to-cover-real-stories-about-social-change-says-sayed-khaiyum/

http://www.rsf.org