tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87331713293577601072024-03-13T18:52:42.280-11:00Pacific Freedom ForumPacific Freedom Forum is a regional media body, monitoring threats to press freedom and journalism ethics across Oceania. Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.comBlogger230125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-10176615340570336772017-11-05T16:01:00.001-11:002017-11-05T16:01:05.540-11:00Editor autopsy needs independent review - PFF<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img alt="" height="361" src="https://scontent.fakl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/23270508_1863927623647428_3759711992818491061_o.jpg?oh=e85b94322306e7a8c38344c7271d4d5a&oe=5A6A6172" width="642" /><br />
<strong>Fought the good fight: </strong>- next to a red anti-violence ribbon, a colour print-out memorialises Evara with a verse from the Bible: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2nd Timothy 4:7" Photo / PNG Echo<br />
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<strong>20171106 </strong><br />
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>An autopsy finding no signs of trauma in the death of a Papua New Guinea editor should be independently reviewed, says PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum.</strong></span><br />
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“We welcome the autopsy taking place, but challenge a preliminary finding that cause of death was undetermined”, says PFF Chair Monica Miller.<br />
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A copy of the report from Chief Pathologist Seth Fose claimed to find no trauma, injuries or other issues.<br />
Miller says that there “are just too many witnesses to our colleague Rosalyn Albaniel Evara suffering severe domestic violence.<br />
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“Photos taken after her death, and shown at her funeral, showed extensive bruising.”<br />
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PFF joins calls from within the PNG media and wider community for an independent review of the preliminary findings.<br />
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“We are advised from PNG that the chief pathologist, another attending doctor at the autopsy, and her alleged attacker, all come from Gulf Province. <br />
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“Given how close ties of kinship are across PNG, this is a significant conflict of interest that could and should have avoided.”<br />
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Miller says PFF is speaking out against the preliminary finding because of risks that staying silent will send the wrong message.<br />
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“At PFF, we usually restrict ourselves to issues around freedom of expression, not medical controversy.<br />
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“But we must all, as colleagues, stay vigilant about anyone in circumstances surrounding the death of a working journalist.”<br />
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To be effective, an independent review should undergo mediation, with support from the family, or risk suspicion of conflicts of interest.<br />
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<img alt="" height="350" src="https://scontent.fakl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/23244132_1863921090314748_8034223963854942769_n.jpg?oh=0220bab9c4fca4eca882903f4e0491da&oe=5AAB4D42" width="622" /><br />
<strong>A death in the clan </strong>- family, friends and colleagues were at the funeral for Rosalyn Albaniel Evara. Photo / Lydia Veali via Facebook<br />
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Miller says she is also disturbed by reports that the Post Courier has shut down the email account for Evara already.<br />
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“What is in the email account that so urgently needs deactivating?”<br />
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Again PFF joins calls from Papua New Guinea, for police to urgently seek forensic access to the account of Evara. <br />
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“For the newspaper to deactivate what may include incriminating evidence amounts to an obstruction of justice.”<br />
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“Any attempt to delete the contents of that account should be regarded with deep suspicion."<br />
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News of the “undetermined” preliminary finding broke as PFF was preparing an earlier statement in response to claims from the Post Courier.<br />
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"Stop shifting blame", says Miller.<br />
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The paper had claimed that the only evidence of domestic violence was when under former management.<br />
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Asks Miller, “How can management possibly prove when domestic violence started and stopped less than a week after the death of an employee?”<br />
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<img alt="" height="358" src="https://scontent.fakl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/23316269_1863926273647563_2306847809383022674_n.jpg?oh=d8c4c435bff0e365cf52c667acb5b68d&oe=5AA798A0" width="641" /><br />
<strong>Attack: </strong>in an editorial, the Post Courier claimed the family had "high-jacked" their own funeral. <br />Photo / LoopPNG<br />
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“High-jacked”</h3>
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The Pacific Freedom Forum also rejects a further claim, against the former editor, Alexander Rheeney, now a co-chair of PFF.</div>
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“We are satisfied at an explanation from our co-chair that the only incident of domestic violence brought to his attention during his time as editor involved another staff member, and was not fatal.”</div>
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“We note, with sadness but understanding, that the staff member chose not to pursue prosecution of her partner - further contributing to a culture of silence surrounding domestic violence.”<br />
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Worse, Miller says, is that instead of supporting the family, the Post Courier chose to attack them in an editorial for “high-jacking” the funeral ceremony. <br />
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The editorial attacked former employees for criticising an alleged lack of action against domestic violence on its own staff.<br />
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Describing the criticisms as a “tirade of accusations” the Post-Courier identified a former managing director and a reporter, who both “sarcastically berated and belittled Post-Courier as a leading advocator against GBV and allegedly doing nothing to stop the treatment of a passed colleague from being one such victim.”<br />
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GBV is an abbreviation for gender-based violence.<br />
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In what it claimed was the “proper perspective”, the Post Courier said she “was a completely private person, never one to talk about her personal experiences, life, marriage or what goes beyond the limits of the workplace.”<br />
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Responding, PFF Co-Chair Bernadette Carreon, speaking from Palau, says that respect for employee privacy should never interfere with due care for employee safety.<br />
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“We are deeply disappointed that management at the Post Courier appear to be using the same sort of tactics that News Corp outlets have long been criticised for”, says Carreon.<br />
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“All over the world when it comes to ethics - distract, deny, and delay.”<br />
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News Corp cannot be allowed to repeatedly avoid responsibility for their actions, she says.<br />
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PFF understands that the autopsy was attended by a family member, and a colleague, who photographed the proceedings. <br />
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PFF is also calling on the Post Courier to review its safety procedures for women employees, and use a two-step alert system at work and in the company compound - connected with police and colleagues. <br />
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In doing so, PFF says the Post Courier review should acknowledge factors that keep otherwise educated and empowered women in abusive relationships - cultural pressures, lack of economic support especially for parents, and stereotypes of being a single career mother.<br />
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<img alt="" src="https://scontent.fakl2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/23172491_1863915053648685_4247079358709585884_n.png?oh=1ddc7c83dff0065f3e45da2b5be9789c&oe=5A64E224" /><br />
<strong>Keeping the faith:</strong> the death of Rosalyn Albaniel Evara prompted worldwide scrutiny, including from The Guardian newspaper. Screenshot / Guardian<br />
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<strong>LINKS</strong><br />
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<strong>Parkop rejects autopsy report </strong><br />
<a href="http://www.thenational.com.pg/parkop-rejects-autopsy-report/">http://www.thenational.com.pg/parkop-rejects-autopsy-report/</a><br />
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<strong>Death of PNG journalist sparks national debate about domestic violence</strong><br />
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/25/death-of-papua-new-guinea-journalist-sparks-national-debate-about-domestic-violence">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/25/death-of-papua-new-guinea-journalist-sparks-national-debate-about-domestic-violence</a><br />
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<strong>PNG journalist Rosalyn Albaniel Evara's death sparks outrage, investigation</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-26/png-journalist-death-sparks-domestic-violence-conversation/9089030">http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-26/png-journalist-death-sparks-domestic-violence-conversation/9089030</a><br />
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<strong>The (not so) mysterious death of Rosalyn Albaniel Evara</strong><br />
http://www.pngecho.com/2017/10/24/the-not-so-mysterious-death-of-rosalyn-albaniel-evara/<br />
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<strong>Prominent PNG journalist dies; sparks Pacific domestic violence debate</strong><br />
http://www.ifj.org/nc/en/news-single-view/backpid/1/article/prominent-png-journalist-dies-sparks-pacific-domestic-violence-debate/<br />
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<strong>Funeral of Post-Courier journalist overshadowed by abuse allegations</strong><br />
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/png-funeral-post-courier-journalist-overshadowed-abuse-allegations-10016<br />
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<strong>Post Courier editorial: The fight against gender-based violence </strong><br />
http://postcourier.com.pg/fight-gender-based-violence/<br />
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<strong>CONTACTS </strong><br />
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Monica Miller <br />PFF Chair <br />News Director <br />South Seas Broadcasting <br /><a href="mailto:monica@southseasbroadcasting.com">monica@southseasbroadcasting.com</a> <br />+6842584197 <br />American Samoa <br />
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Alexander Rheeney <br />PFF Co-Chair <br />President Media Council PNG <br /><a href="mailto:alexander.rheeney@outlook.com">alexander.rheeney@outlook.com</a> <br />+67578045266 <br />Papua New Guinea <br />
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Bernadette H. Carreon <br />PFF Co-Chair <br />Pacific Island Times /Pacific Note <br /><a href="mailto:carreon.bernadette@gmail.com">carreon.bernadette@gmail.com</a> <br />+ 6807794304 <br />Palau <br />
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Netani Rika <br />PFF Coordinator <br />Communications Director <br />Pacific Council of Churches <br /><a href="mailto:netrika66@gmail.com">netrika66@gmail.com</a><br />
Fiji<br />
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<strong>ABOUT PFF </strong><br />
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The Pacific Freedom Forum is 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 <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forumsec.org%2Fpages.cfm%2Fstrategic-partnerships-coordination%2Fframework-for-pacific-regionalism%2F%3Fprinterfriendly%3Dtrue&h=ATNmiuVcNUtcxfPZ2O682ldHlIgbf4KKN0G3KZfNGjqnKM6VKENuE9lnjJyrnjVTecj9BsucFHqxKKvSuztFVGGiSywLeN0_YcwVZcBoqp0g0lupf2xtgHIqi9QgUYhwXf7OP2ljOzotLQ">Framework for Pacific Regionalism </a>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.<br />
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Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-82275677291081430762017-05-03T16:26:00.001-11:002017-05-03T16:42:20.552-11:00PFF statement on WPFD 2017<p> </p> <p><img alt="Image result for #mediaaccess2papua" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C-ee5LXUwAE6b49.jpg"><br><em><strong>Hand written - </strong>Pacific press standing by colleagues in West Papua.</em> </p> <p><em></em> </p> <p><em>3rd May 2017 * <br>Rarotonga, Cook Islands<br>#wpfd2017 #pressfreedom </em></p> <p><strong><br>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></p> <p>Enemies of the press - foreign and domestic - are behind the failure of Indonesia to live up to press freedom promises for West Papua, says PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum.</p> <p>"Indonesia can now be confirmed as a failed state when it comes to freedom of expression," says PFF Chair Monica Miller.</p> <p>"President Joko Widodo promised open access for foreign press to West Papua two years ago, but today sees another World Press Freedom Day without progress."</p> <p>PFF joins RSF, Reporters Sans Frontieres, in condemning Indonesia's "double-dealing" hyprocrisy. The RSF report joins those from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Freedom House and others noting declines in press freedom in Indonesia, regionally, and worldwide.</p> <p>"Government of Indonesia obviously feels safer dealing with a press fail in Jakarta than risk fully exposing security forces' endless brutality in West Papua."</p> <p>PFF is calling for efforts to "redouble" support for press freedom in West Papua.</p> <p>"Foreign press unable to get into West Papua should instead focus beyond national borders to include the many foreign investors in Indonesia."</p> <p><img alt="Image result for #mediaaccess2papua" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C-p6sA5UAAALZTM.jpg" width="657" height="494"><br><em><strong>Fist for freedom –</strong> a Papua press campaigner, Victor Mambor, pictured in front of a free press poster. Image / Twitter</em></p> <p> </p> <p>In recent days, weeks and months, PFF notes Indonesia;</p> <p>> arresting of hundreds of people in West Papua, and assaults on dozens, including journalists,</p> <p>> entering its five yearly Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations Human Rights Council, due by 12th May,</p> <p>> BPS, the central statistics agency, reporting that West Papua is still at the bottom of HDI rankings on the national Human Development Index - despite domestic and foreign owned companies reaping billions from the two eastern provinces each year,</p> <p>> blocking of at least eight legitimate news sites, and,</p> <p>> continuing to fail at arresting, charging and prosecuting security forces who arbitrarily detained and assaulted thousands of West Papua protestors exercising their right to freedom of expression.</p> <p>Since WPFD last year, there has been strong support from Pacific Island states for a United Nations rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to look into abuses in West Papua.</p> <p>Reflecting on the official WPFD theme of 'critical minds for critical times', Miller commented that "Indonesia is just one example of a critical time for press freedoms, and critical minds must think global and act local."</p> <p><strong>Bright point </strong></p> <p>Outside of West Papua, PFF Co-Chair Alexander Rheeney says that a bright point was the announcement on World Press Freedom Day of a media ombudsman in the Solomon Islands.</p> <p>"We are excited that the Solomon Islands has taken up a concept PFF raised in 2013 and has started to put that idea into action.<br></p> <p>"There will of course be challenges for any media ombudsman but our hope is that news media report on steps to ensure such an appointment is made independently."<br></p> <p>In that respect, PFF also welcomes the selection of an independent board for a media council in Samoa.<br></p> <p>"Board members have yet to meet their first ethics test, but the first step taken by Samoa proves government is, so far, keeping it's hands off." <br></p> <p><strong>Suspension, shut down threats</strong></p> <p>Showing ups and downs across the region, Tonga improved in global rankings but has ended the press freedom year with a reported suspension from the public broadcaster, amidst threats to shut it down completely.</p> <p>“The government of Tonga needs to keep reminding itself that criticism is not a controversy, and that not all criticism needs to be constructive to qualify as free speech."</p> <p><strong>Short wave bye</strong></p> <p>Undoubted low point for regional press freedom was the scrapping of shortwave services from Radio Australia.</p> <p>“Australian Broadcasting Corporation appeared to have forgotten its own promise to improve engagement with the Pacific region," says Rheeney.</p> <p>PFF has gained more than 1,000 signatures in support of restoring short wave, including from leading politicians, officials and private sector managers.</p> <p>“It is to be hoped that public hearings into restoring shortwave broadcasting are met with support in parliament.”</p> <p>“If not, Australia again needs reminding by the international community to remember its own backyard.”</p> <p><strong>Contempt</strong></p> <p>Another Australian low point was blocking of Papua New Guinea media from asking questions at prime ministerial press conferences.</p> <p>“This shows contempt for the role of a free press.”</p> <p>Troubling law changes in Australia and New Zealand open up domestic surveillance laws to include journalists, says Rheeney, as well as punitive measures against whistleblowers.</p> <p>“As regional leaders, both countries are taking increasingly hostile actions against news media and the rights of citizens to access information.”</p> <p><strong>Next 12 months</strong></p> <p>For years, Rheeney says that PFF members have warned about a crisis in journalism, and now global press freedom surveys have finally begun to admit that's not just a third world problem.</p> <p>Over the next 12 months, PFF remains focused on the region's leading issue, freedom of expression within West Papua. </p> <p>Other initiatives include continued consultation on media freedom, and ethics, across the Pacific Islands region.</p> <p><strong>NOTE </strong>:</p> <p>PFF publishes it's statements from the dateline of original registration, in the Cook Islands, one of the last places in the world to celebrate World Press Freedom Day, followed by Niue, and, the very last, American Samoa. </p> <p><strong><br><br>NEXT </strong>:</p> <p>Sign PFF petition to restore ABC shortwave - 5th May 2017 deadline<br><a href="https://www.change.org/p/abc-chair-hon-james-spigelman-save-lifesaving-shortwave-radio-to-the-pacific">https://www.change.org/p/abc-chair-hon-james-spigelman-save-lifesaving-shortwave-radio-to-the-pacific</a></p> <p><strong><br>WPFD HEADLINES </strong>:</p> <p><strong>Indonesia is double dealing on media freedom - RSF<br></strong><a href="http://asiapacificreport.nz/2017/05/03/indonesia-is-double-dealing-on-media-freedom-says-rsf/">http://asiapacificreport.nz/2017/05/03/indonesia-is-double-dealing-on-media-freedom-says-rsf/</a></p> <p><strong>No talk of Papua at press freedom day<br></strong><a href="http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/05/03/no-talk-of-papua-at-press-freedom-day.html">http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/05/03/no-talk-of-papua-at-press-freedom-day.html</a></p> <p><strong>Violence against Indonesian journalists remains worrying<br></strong><a href="http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/05/03/violence-against-indonesian-journalists-remains-worrying-aji.html">http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/05/03/violence-against-indonesian-journalists-remains-worrying-aji.html</a></p> <p><strong>Jakarta urged to ensure against journo attacks<br></strong><a href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/329850/jakarta-urged-to-ensure-against-journo-attacks">http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/329850/jakarta-urged-to-ensure-against-journo-attacks</a></p> <p><strong>Indonesia under pressure during universal periodic review and world press freedom day<br></strong><a href="https://www.freewestpapua.org/2017/05/03/indonesia-under-pressure-during-universal-periodic-review-and-world-press-freedom-day-over-record-in-west-papua/">https://www.freewestpapua.org/2017/05/03/indonesia-under-pressure-during-universal-periodic-review-and-world-press-freedom-day-over-record-in-west-papua/</a></p> <p><strong>Media Freedom critical for Human Rights struggle in West Papua - PANG<br></strong><a href="http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=314963637590931712737082a01f66">http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=314963637590931712737082a01f66</a></p> <p><strong>Human Development Indicators for Papua </strong><a href="https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/04/18/056867174/BPS-Human-Development-Gap-Still-Exists">https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/04/18/056867174/BPS-Human-Development-Gap-Still-Exists</a></p> <p><strong>In 'post truth' era, leaders must defend objective, independent media, UN says on Press Freedom Day</strong><br><a href="http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=756553951590a4c50dda925289c1b0">http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m=read&o=756553951590a4c50dda925289c1b0</a></p> <p><strong><br>CONTACTS</strong> <p>Monica Miller <br>PFF Chair <br>News Director <br>South Seas Broadcasting <br>American Samoa <br><a href="mailto:monica@southseasbroadcasting.com">monica@southseasbroadcasting.com</a><br>+6842584197 </p> <p>Alexander Rheeney <br>PFF Co-Chair <br>President Media Council PNG <br>Papua New Guinea <br><a href="mailto:alexander.rheeney@outlook.com">alexander.rheeney@outlook.com</a><br>+67578045266 </p> <p>Bernadette H. Carreon <br>PFF Co-Chair <br>Palau Correspondent <br>Guam Business <br><a href="mailto:carreon.bernadette@gmail.com">carreon.bernadette@gmail.com</a> <br>+680779430 </p> <p>Netani Rika <br>PFF Coordinator <br>Communications Director <br>Pacific Council of Churches <br>Fiji <br><a href="mailto:netrika66@gmail.com">netrika66@gmail.com</a> <p><strong></strong> <p><strong>ABOUT PFF </strong> <p><em>The </em><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpacificfreedomforum.info%2F&h=ATNhFWr35o_M6TXaQXbKugHpORPNwFFrFSroe6E-cpfibjIXvt-P-HiYSvKH0a6k_6zfdwwVsj5dUAOa6xq9B5kDO9RpveYUKqcnRUjR2z6mnGwKqMHWMwInVfK0fkc8KB2G694YPcETEqFc6orRb8YP"><em>Pacific Freedom Forum</em></a><em> is 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 </em><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forumsec.org%2Fpages.cfm%2Fstrategic-partnerships-coordination%2Fframework-for-pacific-regionalism%2F%3Fprinterfriendly%3Dtrue&h=ATNhFWr35o_M6TXaQXbKugHpORPNwFFrFSroe6E-cpfibjIXvt-P-HiYSvKH0a6k_6zfdwwVsj5dUAOa6xq9B5kDO9RpveYUKqcnRUjR2z6mnGwKqMHWMwInVfK0fkc8KB2G694YPcETEqFc6orRb8YP"><em>Framework for Pacific Regionalism </em></a><em>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.</em> <p>. . .</p>Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-85458030013750773172017-04-27T10:40:00.001-11:002017-04-27T10:40:38.294-11:00Let media council do its work - PFF to Samoa Police<p> </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y5LDc-XNgTw/WQJlMee5ChI/AAAAAAAAPIk/9UtoMFURJ6odAR6IaHEGaBNN06V__SJUgCHM/s1600-h/PFF%2Bsamoa%2Bobserver%2Bwarrant%2B02%255B3%255D"><img title="PFF samoa observer warrant 02" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PFF samoa observer warrant 02" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aBS-wfT1Kso/WQJlNxWT7II/AAAAAAAAPIo/BZ-X5pBIp6glvgVy4omy8nr61775dAjkQCHM/PFF%2Bsamoa%2Bobserver%2Bwarrant%2B02_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="543" height="375"></a><br><em>Harassment - a copy of the warrant served on the daily newspaper. Image / <br>Samoa Observer</em> </p> <blockquote> <p><font size="5"><em>“.. after accepting public support, she and her family must also accept there will be public questions, and even criticism - one goes with the other .. ”</em></font></p></blockquote> <p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></p> <p>Samoa police must stop abusing their powers and let the national media council address free speech concerns, says regional media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.</p> <p>“Citizens of Samoa are guaranteed the right to debate issues of public concern", says PFF Chair Monica Miller, in response to police actions on a case involving stigmata claims. </p> <p>“Police should do nothing to deprive them of those constitutional rights, especially when recent actions against Samoa’s largest media outlet are raising questions over where their legal advice is coming from." </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u4FXdB-sVb0/WQJlPSog2uI/AAAAAAAAPIs/YemhNu-gcxoxKPN52me8yLpr07tuIxIJACHM/s1600-h/PFF%2Bberre%2Bisopo%2B02%255B2%255D"><strong><img title="PFF berre isopo 02" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PFF berre isopo 02" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uUVWPgoWxoE/WQJlQqNIrzI/AAAAAAAAPIw/fogS0axRnxkm6pRWyFv3xM5Bw7EcoVGlgCHM/PFF%2Bberre%2Bisopo%2B02_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="108"></strong></a><br><em><strong>Threats </strong>- a screengrab of the police<br>officer’s Facebook profile, included <br>with an official complaint under <br>investigation by the Police Standards <br>Unit. Image / via O Le Palemia</em></p> <p><strong></strong> </p> <p><strong>Abuse, bullying and threats</strong></p> <p>Since last year, Police have allowed an officer to continue abusing, bullying and threatening people online.</p> <p>In recent weeks, police started an investigation into the identity of a blogger who exposed the officer, arrested one woman on the basis of Facebook comments, and, taken action against a letter to a newspaper.</p> <p>PFF is especially alarmed at police serving a warrant against daily newspaper Samoa Observer over a harassment complaint.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1V8OTT6Znk0/WQJlRTyYdkI/AAAAAAAAPI0/j5sdXfficTsPbgUoaJon6pNwSMDbTVZCACHM/s1600-h/PFF%2Bberre%2Bisopo%255B8%255D"><img title="PFF berre isopo" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PFF berre isopo" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3QfuPFnt-c8/WQJlSdQbXCI/AAAAAAAAPI4/8L8QFLFhLJ8nqUtNzGBMyxbfIGcRdta8gCHM/PFF%2Bberre%2Bisopo_thumb%255B4%255D?imgmax=800" width="363" align="right" height="274"></a><br><em><br></em><br></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p align="right"> </p> <p align="right"><br><br><strong><em>‘I wish I have a gun’ </em></strong>– <em>the officer has removed <br>a photo of herself in uniform from her Facebook <br>profile, but left up a public comment from 2013, <br>expressing the desire to get hold of a firearm. <br>Image / Facebook</em></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Public interest</strong></p> <p>“Harassment laws were never intended for use against news media but were originally designed to protect people from abusive phone calls, often women suffering stalking from men."</p> <p>Miller says this is obviously not the case with a young woman at the centre of the case against the newspaper.</p> <p>“There is huge public interest in her claims of suffering stigmata," she says.</p> <p>“But after accepting public support, she and her family must also accept there will be public questions, and even criticism - one goes with the other."</p> <p><strong>Last option</strong></p> <p>Miller questions why police agreed to take the complaint, and did not refer the complainant to the country's newly established media council.</p> <p>“Going to the police should be the last option, not the first option."</p> <p>She is especially critical of court officials for agreeing to the warrant.</p> <p>“Court approval for search warrants is intended to act as a protection against police abuse of their powers", says Miller, "not act as a rubber stamp for whatever the police bring them."</p> <p>“In this case, court officials have failed in their duty to respect the law."</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PytN1mFGMcY/WQJlT0Ewx-I/AAAAAAAAPI8/cyPxyzyk7qYi_A5FzWL6xvIQv4cmRpuRwCHM/s1600-h/PFF%2Bsamoa%2Bobserver%2Bwarrant%255B4%255D"><strong><img title="PFF samoa observer warrant" style="display: inline" alt="PFF samoa observer warrant" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gZq4PLkR7O8/WQJlVDzzlQI/AAAAAAAAPJA/L1dOMElXA1sx7spgWqLjh9fWB_NAJHxmQCHM/PFF%2Bsamoa%2Bobserver%2Bwarrant_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" width="240" height="135"></strong></a><br><em><strong>Top story – </strong>public interest in the <br>stigmata story is huge, ‘most read’ on<br>the Samoa Observer site at more than<br>30,000 hits. Image / Samoa Observer<strong> </strong></em></p> <p><strong></strong> </p> <p><strong>Millions in aid</strong></p> <p>PFF says the Samoa police cases again raise wider questions about policing in the region.</p> <p>“Millions of dollars of tax payers money have been spent by Australia and New Zealand to improve policing in the region.</p> <p>“Yet we are seeing more and more cases of police abusing their powers against news media, including in Australia and New Zealand."</p> <p>PFF has previously criticised police actions in Samoa, including officers smashing the phone of a member of the public using it to film police, and doing nothing when members of the press are threatened and assaulted in front of them.</p> <p><strong>Media council</strong></p> <p>From Papua New Guinea, PFF Co-chair Alex Rheeney says Samoa, as a member of the United Nations, must ensure it fully observes article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees people's freedom of thought, conscience and speech. </p> <p>“Our Samoa media colleagues leading the new media council are well-respected regionally,” he says. </p> <p>“They are more than capable of assisting Police through a dialogue aimed at building awareness by law enforcers of the role of the news media as the Fourth Estate, acting as a check and balance on the powers of parliament, government and the justice system."</p> <p><strong>HEADLINES</strong></p> <p>Police execute search warrant of Samoa Observer<br><a href="http://samoaobserver.ws/en/23_04_2017/local/19230/Police-execute-search-warrant-of-Samoa-Observer.htm">http://samoaobserver.ws/en/23_04_2017/local/19230/Police-execute-search-warrant-of-Samoa-Observer.htm</a></p> <p>Female Officer investigated for abusive language on social media<br><a href="http://www.talamua.com/female-officer-investigated-for-abusive-language-on-social-media/">http://www.talamua.com/female-officer-investigated-for-abusive-language-on-social-media/</a></p> <p>Police still in the hunt for ‘O.L.P.’ blogger<br><a href="http://samoaobserver.ws/en/24_04_2017/local/19282/Police-still-in-the-hunt-for-%E2%80%98OLP%E2%80%99-blogger.htm">http://samoaobserver.ws/en/24_04_2017/local/19282/Police-still-in-the-hunt-for-%E2%80%98OLP%E2%80%99-blogger.htm</a></p> <p>Crimes Act 2013 2013<br><a href="http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/ws/legis/consol_act_2016/ca201382/ca201382.html?stem=&synonyms=&query=%20Crimes%20Act%202013">http://www.paclii.org/cgi-bin/sinodisp/ws/legis/consol_act_2016/ca201382/ca201382.html?stem=&synonyms=&query=%20Crimes%20Act%202013</a></p> <p>Police Woman Being Investigated<br><a href="http://olepalemia.weebly.com/blog/police-woman-being-investigated">http://olepalemia.weebly.com/blog/police-woman-being-investigated</a></p> <p>The Letter of Complaint to Police<br><a href="http://olepalemia.weebly.com/blog/the-letter-of-complaint-to-police">http://olepalemia.weebly.com/blog/the-letter-of-complaint-to-police</a></p> <p>Incompetent and Corrupt Officers Destroy Integrity of the Police Force<br><a href="http://olepalemia.weebly.com/blog/incompetent-and-corrupt-officers-destroy-integrity-of-the-police-force">http://olepalemia.weebly.com/blog/incompetent-and-corrupt-officers-destroy-integrity-of-the-police-force</a><br></p> <p><strong>CONTACTS</strong> <p>Monica Miller<br>PFF Chair<br>News Director<br>South Seas Broadcasting<br>American Samoa<br><a href="mailto:monica@southseasbroadcasting.com">monica@southseasbroadcasting.com</a><br>+6842584197</p> <p>Alexander Rheeney<br>PFF Co-Chair<br>President Media Council PNG<br>Papua New Guinea<br><a href="mailto:alexander.rheeney@outlook.com">alexander.rheeney@outlook.com</a><br>+67578045266</p> <p>Bernadette H. Carreon<br>PFF Co-Chair<br>Palau Correspondent<br>Guam Business<br><a href="mailto:carreon.bernadette@gmail.com">carreon.bernadette@gmail.com</a><br>+680779430</p> <p>Netani Rika<br>PFF Coordinator<br>Communications Director<br>Pacific Council of Churches<br>Fiji<br><a href="mailto:netrika66@gmail.com">netrika66@gmail.com</a> <p><strong>ABOUT PFF</strong> <p><em>The </em><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpacificfreedomforum.info%2F&h=ATNhFWr35o_M6TXaQXbKugHpORPNwFFrFSroe6E-cpfibjIXvt-P-HiYSvKH0a6k_6zfdwwVsj5dUAOa6xq9B5kDO9RpveYUKqcnRUjR2z6mnGwKqMHWMwInVfK0fkc8KB2G694YPcETEqFc6orRb8YP"><em>Pacific Freedom Forum</em></a><em> is 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 </em><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forumsec.org%2Fpages.cfm%2Fstrategic-partnerships-coordination%2Fframework-for-pacific-regionalism%2F%3Fprinterfriendly%3Dtrue&h=ATNhFWr35o_M6TXaQXbKugHpORPNwFFrFSroe6E-cpfibjIXvt-P-HiYSvKH0a6k_6zfdwwVsj5dUAOa6xq9B5kDO9RpveYUKqcnRUjR2z6mnGwKqMHWMwInVfK0fkc8KB2G694YPcETEqFc6orRb8YP"><em>Framework for Pacific Regionalism </em></a><em>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.</em> <p>. . . Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-1131026755162523432017-04-11T10:11:00.000-11:002017-04-11T10:15:01.889-11:00Indonesia bans yet another journalist<p>#alert | #westpapua #wpfd2017</p> <h3><img src="http://asiapacificreport.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Jack-Hewson-300wide.jpg"></h3> <p><strong>News alert :</strong> France24 journalist Jack Hewson <br>is the latest to be banned from visiting West <br>Papua, despite Indonesia hosting World <br>Press Freedom Day in less than a month. <br><em>Photo / Twitter</em></p> <p><strong>Alert status : </strong>greenlight for statement</p> <p><strong>Links : </strong>Limited</p> <p><strong>Foreign Reporting in Papua</strong><br><a title="https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/04/07/314863531/Foreign-Reporting-in-Papua" href="https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/04/07/314863531/Foreign-Reporting-in-Papua">https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/04/07/314863531/Foreign-Reporting-in-Papua</a></p> <p><strong>Blacklisting of freelance journalist on Papua mission ‘paranoid’<br></strong><a title="http://asiapacificreport.nz/2017/04/11/blacklisting-of-freelance-journalist-covering-papua-paranoid-says-tempo/" href="http://asiapacificreport.nz/2017/04/11/blacklisting-of-freelance-journalist-covering-papua-paranoid-says-tempo/">http://asiapacificreport.nz/2017/04/11/blacklisting-of-freelance-journalist-covering-papua-paranoid-says-tempo/</a></p> <p><strong>Editor note :</strong> The Tempo piece gives Al Jazeera as Hewson’s employer, but Twitter and LinkedIn profiles both lead with France24. </p> <p>. . .</p>Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-84545691697336176072017-04-11T07:55:00.001-11:002017-04-11T08:47:26.782-11:00Stop failing Pacific press test–PFF<p align="center"><font size="5"><em>“Standing on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/stop-failing-pacific-press-test-pff/1593405507366309">sacred ground</a> is no place to deny freedoms that many died defending ”</em></font> <p><img alt="" src="https://scontent.fwlg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/p720x720/17855535_1593415954031931_6223765454650203656_o.png?oh=b6b1db08100a1740e8d9b83c56b9e53b&oe=594FAD30" width="575" height="329"><br><em>Angry headline on the press ban in Papua New Guinea. Screenshot / https://poboxblog.wordpress.com</em></p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/stop-failing-pacific-press-test-pff/1593405507366309">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</a> :</strong> <p>Australia and Papua New Guinea must review media relations after two separate but equally "shocking" bans on PNG press, says PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum. <p>In the first ban, PNG news media were told by Australian embassy officials to leave a press conference held at a war cemetery. <p>“Standing on sacred ground is no place to deny freedoms that many died defending”, says PFF Chair Monica Miller. <p><strong>Arrogant</strong> <p>In a second ban after the cemetery visit, local news media were told by an official from the office of the PNG prime minister that they could not ask questions at a “joint” press between Peter O'Neil and Malcolm Turnbull. <p>“Australia has long faced criticism from the region for arrogant, neocolonial attitudes,” notes Miller. <p>“Issuing bans is no way to disprove those criticisms.” <p><img alt="" src="https://scontent.fwlg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17861490_1593418824031644_7403217267228648755_n.png?oh=46a18bf792596112969705e0235f6097&oe=59852E38" width="610" height="353"><br><em>Media anger - an ABC employee publicly criticises the prime ministerial press ban. Screenshot / Facebook</em> <p><strong>Blame and shame</strong> <p>PFF condemns the bans, and expresses disgust at the actions of both governments. <p>“The government of Papua New Guinea must share the blame - and the shame - with Australia for agreeing to ban PNG press from press conferences that should have been open to news media from both countries.” <p>In background briefings given to PFF, Port Moresby sources state that PNG press were told to leave by Australian officials after taking photos of a visit by Alexander Turnbull to Bomana cemetery, a major war graveyard, with thousands of dead from World War II. <p>PNG journalists who questioned the order were told that a press conference with Turnbull at the Bomana site was “only” for Australian press, because only Australian issues would be discussed. <p>After the Bomana visit, Turnbull held a second press conference with host prime minister Peter O'Neill, at Airways Hotel. <p><strong>Astonished</strong> <p>PNG media were then instructed they were not allowed to ask questions at the second, "joint" press conference. <p>“PFF is astonished at having to remind Australia, as a former chair of the UN Security Council, that a joint prime ministerial press conference involves not just the leaders but also the press of both countries. <p>“Having to even say that beggars belief. A press ban amounts to a diplomatic insult, in any democracy.” <p><img alt="" src="https://scontent.fwlg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/p720x720/17880334_1593484000691793_6906483646179450740_o.png?oh=1f08480fb773a3cab8decc1533b88cb4&oe=5990A033" width="578" height="330"><br><em>Racism in her face - veteran PNG journalist Gorethy Kenneth gets told to leave press conference. Screenshot / Daily Telegraph</em> <p><strong>Contempt</strong> <p>PFF regards the bans as representing two failures in basic freedoms. <p>“Two failures. One day. Two governments,” says Miller. <p>“Both bans show contempt for a free press, guaranteed under constitutional protections, and article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” <p>Miller praises a journalist who defied the ban, saying Gorethy Kenneth from the PNG Post Courier should get answers to her questions. <p><strong>Submission</strong> <p>“We also feel for Australian media colleagues who have been embarrassed by this diplomatic blunder.” <p>News of the press ban comes the same month as a PFF submission to an Australian senate committee remains held back from the public. <p>“Our submission is to a public inquiry, yet we have been told to stop sharing our submission with anyone else, until given approval by the committee.” <p>It is not clear how many other submissions, if any, are also being held back. <p>PFF offers the reminder that parliamentary procedure does not apply to press practice, which demands immediate release. <p><img alt="" src="https://scontent.fwlg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17884030_1593457534027773_4971264352464113172_n.png?oh=0d3fabc72628de23dc92ae597fadcfa3&oe=595568F4"><br><em>Australian newspaper describes media ban as a "debacle". <br>Screenshot / Daily Telegraph</em> <p><strong>Policy laundering</strong> <p>“Australia claims to be a regional leader yet stumbles over even the basics of human rights, such as freedoms of speech”, says Miller. <p>PFF regards the three press freedom failures as reinforcing long-standing questions about relations between Australia and the rest of the Pacific. <p>“Heavy handed tactics with the press may work in Australia, but we do not need that kind of policy laundered to the rest of the Pacific.” <p><strong>Ranking media</strong> <p>PFF states that the press bans goes beyond diplomacy, and applies to all seven million citizens of Papua New Guinea, all twenty two million in Australia, and an "appalled" regional audience. <p>“How are citizens of Papua New Guinea supposed to stay informed if their prime minister fails to ensure their own news media gets in? <p>“How are Australian tax-payers supposed to learn if their aid dollars are being spent properly, if they don't hear local questions, from local media, challenging both leaders with local knowledge?” <p>PFF states that the bans reinforce the need for governments to rank media as a first priority, not last. <p>“Our message is simple - stop failing the Pacific press test, stop failing democracy.” <p><strong>HEADLINES</strong> <p><strong>PM’s Kokoda trip just a hasty PR exercise </strong>http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/rendezview/miranda-devine-pms-kokoda-trip-just-a-hasty-pr-exercise/news-story/3cfa22ee50677d1ec26cd72e837f3699 <p><strong>Turnbull in PNG: media snubs, refugee jitters & money problems </strong>http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2017/04/turnbull-in-png-media-snubs-refugee-jitters-money-problems.html <p><strong>Opinion - Turnbull, the neocolonialist, bans #PNG media from conference in their own country <br></strong>https://poboxblog.wordpress.com/2017/04/10/turnbull-the-neocolonialist-bans-papua-new-guinea-media-from-press-conference/ <p><strong>CONTACTS</strong> <p>Monica Miller <br>PFF Chair <br>News Director <br>South Seas Broadcasting <br>American Samoa <br><a href="mailto:monica@southseasbroadcasting.com">monica@southseasbroadcasting.com</a><br>+6842584197 </p> <p>Alexander Rheeney <br>PFF Co-Chair <br>President Media Council PNG <br>Papua New Guinea <br><a href="mailto:alexander.rheeney@outlook.com">alexander.rheeney@outlook.com</a> <br>+67578045266 </p> <p>Bernadette H. Carreon <br>PFF Co-Chair <br>Palau Correspondent <br>Guam Business <br><a href="mailto:carreon.bernadette@gmail.com">carreon.bernadette@gmail.com</a> <br>+680779430 </p> <p>Netani Rika <br>PFF Coordinator <br>Communications Director <br>Pacific Council of Churches <br>Fiji <br><a href="mailto:netrika66@gmail.com">netrika66@gmail.com</a> <p><strong>ABOUT PFF </strong> <p><em>The </em><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpacificfreedomforum.info%2F&h=ATNhFWr35o_M6TXaQXbKugHpORPNwFFrFSroe6E-cpfibjIXvt-P-HiYSvKH0a6k_6zfdwwVsj5dUAOa6xq9B5kDO9RpveYUKqcnRUjR2z6mnGwKqMHWMwInVfK0fkc8KB2G694YPcETEqFc6orRb8YP"><em>Pacific Freedom Forum</em></a><em> is 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 </em><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forumsec.org%2Fpages.cfm%2Fstrategic-partnerships-coordination%2Fframework-for-pacific-regionalism%2F%3Fprinterfriendly%3Dtrue&h=ATNhFWr35o_M6TXaQXbKugHpORPNwFFrFSroe6E-cpfibjIXvt-P-HiYSvKH0a6k_6zfdwwVsj5dUAOa6xq9B5kDO9RpveYUKqcnRUjR2z6mnGwKqMHWMwInVfK0fkc8KB2G694YPcETEqFc6orRb8YP"><em>Framework for Pacific Regionalism </em></a><em>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.</em> <p>. . .</p>Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-49271389741398934442017-03-24T07:23:00.001-11:002017-03-24T07:23:52.814-11:00Action needed now against Indonesia press ban "farce" - PFF<p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PacificFreedomForum/">PACIFIC FREEDOM FORUM</a>·<br><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/action-needed-now-against-indonesia-press-ban-farce-pff/1567644126609114">SATURDAY, 25 MARCH 2017</a><br><br><em><font size="4">“ Are world press supposed to attend World Press Freedom Day, sip fruity drinks in Jakarta, and pretend our colleagues in West Papua are not being seriously mistreated? ”</font></em> <p><img alt="" src="https://scontent.fwlg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17522588_1567653849941475_526611251515916661_n.png?oh=81626567b24c6a07ab3cfef30c9bde31&oe=596387F5"> <p><em>Tragedy to farce - an Indonesian immigration official shows how to fill out official forms for APOA, Foreign Reporter Applications. Photo / Antara / Irsan Mulyadi</em> <p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :</strong> <p>World Press Freedom Day co-host Indonesia must issue a written directive to fulfil promises for free press access to West Papua, says PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum. <p>“Latest deportation of two French journalists is an embarrassing reminder of how little Indonesia respects press freedoms,” says PFF Chair Monica Miller. <p>“Especially embarrassing because the two journalists were producing a documentary for Garuda, the national airline of Indonesia.” <p><strong>Put it in writing</strong> <p>PFF is calling on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/wpfd2017?source=feed_text">#WPFD2017</a> co-host UNESCO to push for urgent action on the long promised but never delivered written directive from Indonesian President Joko Widodo. <p>Without any directive, the credibility of both UNESCO and Indonesia must come under serious question, says PFF. <p>“Indonesia cannot seek to enjoy favourable attention as hosts to world press while continuing a de facto ban on the same people,” says Miller. <p><strong>Pretend</strong> <p>“Nor can UNESCO stand aside and let this issue slide silently by.” <p>PFF notes the lack of any specific sessions in the existing WPFD programme to address the issue of West Papua. <p>“Are world press supposed to attend World Press Freedom Day,” she asks, “sip fruity drinks in Jakarta, and pretend our colleagues in West Papua are not being seriously mistreated? <p><img alt="" src="https://scontent.fwlg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17457489_1567663599940500_8635256467973955977_n.png?oh=a09d1e6e877ef36e4487a2d82ef434e7&oe=5963F60A"> <p><em>Two French journalists Franck Escudié and Basille Longchamp are put on display at an Indonesia police press conference in Tembagapura, Papua. Photo / AFP / Irsul Aditra</em> <p><strong>Farce</strong> <p>"Press freedoms in Indonesia have gone from a tragedy to a farce." <p>PFF supports the call from Human Rights Watch for Joko Widowi to issue a long-delayed written directive lifting restrictions on foreign media access to Papua, and appropriately punish government officials who refuse to comply. <p>“Criticism is not enough, action is needed. Nor is it enough to state that the latest deportation raises questions,” says Miller. <p><strong>Half a century</strong> <p>“News media, press freedom advocates and human rights activists have been raising questions for half a century.” <p>Enough, is enough, says Miller. <p>"Indonesia has been warned already. <p><strong>Mockery</strong> <p>“Unless UNESCO and Indonesia take action to immediately address this issue, PFF will have no alternative than to declare this event a mockery of world press freedom, unworthy of attendance.” <p>Instead of ignoring West Papua, Indonesia should mark World Press Freedom Day 2017 by allowing credibly independent observers from overseas to arrange free, unhindered and unmonitored news media access to the provinces. <p>“Stop watching the watchdogs,” Miller tells Indonesian security forces, long documented harassing, arresting, and persecuting West Papua press. <p><img alt="" src="https://scontent.fwlg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17457956_1567816026591924_4813360195743100130_n.png?oh=e0bad472463bc2f0db7c5e2e5d90b4cf&oe=5959A22D"> <p><em>West Papua has suffered censorship in the form of travel bans on foreign press for more than five decades. Image / Free West Papua campaign</em> <p><strong>Deported</strong> <p>Jean Frank Pierre, 45, and Basille Marie Longhamp, 42, were charged and deported with violating Article 75 (1) of the 2011 Immigration Law. <p>This is despite Indonesia having extensive press freedom protection laws, which are mostly sidelined in Papua under various other laws, such as security for local media, and immigration for foreign press. <p>Indonesia is also a member of the United Nations, with article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guaranteeing that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” <p>HEADLINES <p>Indonesia Steamrolls Media Freedom in Papua, Again <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hrw.org%2Fnews%2F2017%2F03%2F20%2Findonesia-steamrolls-media-freedom-papua-again&h=ATOu6wYEBySAsSvTrKyBzfeYVKDbXnVSeEiQR4HUk789gVFxqFT2r5r_CJ-yjqVpbCpCy9Xfm26OzZ-wSrISu13RxqrN1HxP3AGLyCInyTz8OO4M6Q2gNGdBFFYnMebSnllegaIqxO6Jh3Xc24fehUo&s=1">https://www.hrw.org/…/indonesia-steamrolls-media-freedom-pa…</a> <p>Two French journalists deported from Papua over alleged immigration violations <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thejakartapost.com%2Fnews%2F2017%2F03%2F19%2Ftwo-french-journalists-deported-from-papua-over-alleged-immigration-violations.html&h=ATNPOckvwSzT942ZzJH2bXlq8w3e_ILmzhsOmjKEjrxavoQOphWCOTot_AcQcjkDczZ21JGguyM-6vMiMX_KPBOPr4bcgorhG1K81SfL1Bj577IiNiTKmfGnZajEyrpYGRWJgN16ADikcLHbYdeHor8&s=1">http://www.thejakartapost.com/…/two-french-journalists-depo…</a> <p>Indonesia deports 2 French journalists from Papua province <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%2Fworld%2Fnews%2Farticle.cfm%3Fc_id%3D2%26objectid%3D11821394&h=ATOViy_i9bAmilunJ0nPTUOHtVrGOBxoIOi7Acz7_YE9Wx28ODyySHRTiJvajsMmmtsSmWeAvOfQ4cjB2JMQU6m0oeXtBeNYe_j1E9QelS_KHQh_D28fczrExv-dvNTl78sMN2SMRUlkXhYoVfZJ-8c&s=1">http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm…</a> <p>Two French Journalists Banned From Papua Over Visa Violations <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pireport.org%2Farticles%2F2017%2F03%2F20%2Ftwo-french-journalists-banned-papua-over-visa-violations&h=ATPnK7yG-afHPmZT1InbHZInc1jFMRmscOkYf9spz4adX_-RJlASmtG3uOFYzsNWFwa2JmcHHH0M98nONKUqyXNCudL7CNsfKcSDrH4ooisJqdAL9sB9OHRWKtRH1vWqB4s5bs9jK-Cy7wu1_zSPfsw&s=1">http://www.pireport.org/…/two-french-journalists-banned-pap…</a> <p>French journo pair deported from West Papua <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.radionz.co.nz%2Finternational%2Fpacific-news%2F327015%2Ffrench-journo-pair-deported-from-west-papua&h=ATO3BdjYJY3O-peSGz8pnjK2-LLNLrfAHRK3xW6G2WpnI4cg7Avok89QPIsHTS4Xhzt2uxKEXkLKkm1Ir7_SHwP0cRQBtYzom-b5U1bgDT9DpSuIO5m9VcGnUX1GV-EOO9ZhO9BFIq5m5-yCK3P3es8&s=1">http://www.radionz.co.nz/…/french-journo-pair-deported-from…</a> <p>Two French journalists deported from Papua over alleged visa violations <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fasiapacificreport.nz%2F2017%2F03%2F20%2Ftwo-french-journalists-deported-from-papua-over-alleged-violations%2F&h=ATN8VONAUP-LUe0j4F2ffv3vdpq550dr4g0PA5TlWK2jPHBgeIAP4qtErBnlSCLKCGG9xenHHXNrkwhs66NL4U01BEGHl9_XACIByYbxtZsamd2A-ds_XkmpiLtRCoRv9yeRbHnv9bdLm_COpYfNKgw&s=1">http://asiapacificreport.nz/…/two-french-journalists-depor…/</a> <p><strong>CONTACTS</strong> <p>Monica Miller <br>PFF Chair <br>News Director <br>South Seas Broadcasting <br>American Samoa<br><a href="mailto:monica@southseasbroadcasting.com">monica@southseasbroadcasting.com</a><br>+6842584197 <p>Alexander Rheeney <br>PFF Co-Chair <br>President Media Council PNG <br>Papua New Guinea<br><a href="mailto:alexander.rheeney@outlook.com">alexander.rheeney@outlook.com</a><br>+67578045266 <p>Bernadette H. Carreon <br>PFF Co-Chair Palau <br>Correspondent Guam Business<br><a href="mailto:carreon.bernadette@gmail.com">carreon.bernadette@gmail.com</a><br>+680779430 <p>Netani Rika <br>PFF Coordinator <br>Communications Director Pacific Council of Churches <br>Fiji <br><a href="mailto:netrika66@gmail.com">netrika66@gmail.com</a> <p><strong>ABOUT PFF </strong> <p>The Pacific Freedom Forum is 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. <p>. . . Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-78762588840280440292017-03-21T18:16:00.001-11:002017-03-21T18:16:34.492-11:00Open dialogue clears air over protocol - PFF<p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PacificFreedomForum/">PACIFIC FREEDOM FORUM</a>·<a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/open-dialogue-clears-air-over-protocol-pff/1563948303645363">WEDNESDAY, 22 MARCH 2017</a> <h2><em></em> </h2> <h2><em>“Our first responsibility is to listen to views from the public, not take orders from career officials or political appointees.”</em></h2> <p><img alt="" src="https://scontent.fwlg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17362369_1563956560311204_616367552145949458_n.png?oh=6b9096606577df254d5a5305a7ee84df&oe=5951C1AF"> <p><em><strong>Whose department?</strong> Senior PNG officials have been 'reminded' that the news media are not their department. Image / Post Courier website</em> <p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :</strong> <p>Governments should see news media as a partner – not one of their departments, reminds PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum. <p>“Departmental heads have to remember an old saying in government when it comes to news media,” says PFF Chair Monica Miller - <p>“- that’s not my department.” <p><strong>Warning vs. warning</strong> <p>PFF is responding to news from Papua New Guinea, quoting Health Secretary Pascoe Kase, describing him as having “warned” all media not to talk to “any” person unless he authorises them. <p>That warning was backed up by Finance Secretary Dr Ken Ngangan, who was reported as having “reminded” news media to “always” follow “protocol.” <p>But PFF is responding with a warning of its own. <p><strong>Much worse off</strong> <p>“Papua New Guinea will be much worse off from corruption and mismanagement if news media wait for departmental heads all the time,” says Miller. <p>“Our first responsibility as news media is to listen to views from the public, not take orders from career officials or political appointees.” <p>Instead of seeing media as the enemy, Miller says governments should see news like a frontline against corruption, as called for by citizens and endorsed by island states at multiple international meetings, over decades. <p><strong>Listen to the public</strong> <p>“May we also remind departmental heads they are there to listen to the public, which pay taxes funding their salaries.” <p>PFF welcomed other news last week of a meeting, hosted by Pacmas, the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme, and UNDP, the United Nations Development Fund, that was held in Fiji to improve relations between Parliament and media. <p>“Governments need to hold more of these meetings, and regional partners should look at widening the scope to include more news media”, says Miller. <p><strong>Balanced, objective and impartial</strong> <p>In a country still heavily dependent on public broadcasting for information, Papua New Guinea has long had laws requiring that the government provide “balanced, objective and impartial broadcasting services” including that “adequate” access be given to public opinion - with questions of “accuracy” to be set by the NBCPNG. <p>Section 5d of the Constitution calls for “freedom of conscience, of expression, of information and of assembly and association.” <p>Papua New Guinea is also a member of the United Nations, with the article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guaranteeing that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” <p><strong>Media and government relations</strong> <p>PFF is repeating calls for governments across the region to revisit a 1990 media relations conference, held in the Cook Islands, as a long overdue step towards better mutual understanding. <p>Hosted by the Cook Islands with the Pacific Islands Forum, the conference saw comprehensive objectives laid out for improving relations between news media and island governments. <p>However there was never any follow up, with both governments and news media failing to act on the recommendations. <p><strong>LINK</strong> <p><strong>Media warned to follow protocols </strong>(subscription) <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.postcourier.com.pg%2Flogin%2F%3Fref%3D%252FStories%252Fmedia-warned-to-follow-protocols%252F&h=ATNCGFeiox-vIi_dYLz2PQVOk3uR9uc_hksz-itHB8yfCd2RAzRO42C9ogEC1m6K8U4unRqTFaudH2aS-NoQVtnXmCNpiidQosv5afqLsrw6dZjNjyr4TghS0MS2QBKZ2X52xro&s=1">http://www.postcourier.com.pg/login/?ref=%2FStories%2Fmedia-warned-to-follow-protocols%2F</a> <p><strong>CONTACTS</strong> <p>Monica Miller PFF Chair News Director South Seas Broadcasting American Samoa monica@southseasbroadcasting.com +6842584197 <p>Alexander Rheeney PFF Co-Chair President Media Council PNG Papua New Guinea alexander.rheeney@outlook.com +67578045266 <p>Bernadette H. Carreon PFF Co-Chair Palau Correspondent Guam Business carreon.bernadette@gmail.com +680779430 <p>Netani Rika PFF Coordinator Communications Director Pacific Council of Churches Fiji netrika66@gmail.com <p><strong>ABOUT PFF </strong> <p>The Pacific Freedom Forum is 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. <p>. . . Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-55700182679035292362017-03-16T05:07:00.002-11:002017-03-16T05:11:53.195-11:00Fiji police should face suspension - PFF<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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“We’re calling on Fiji police to follow normal procedure in this case and suspend any officer under investigation.”</blockquote>
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<a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/fiji?source=note" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">#fiji</span></a><span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"> </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/media?source=note" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">#media</span></a><span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"> </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/assault?source=note" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">#assault</span></a><span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"> </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/pacific?source=note" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">#pacific</span></a><span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"> </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/journalism?source=note" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">#journalism</span></a><span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"> </span><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/safety?source=note" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">#safety</span></a><span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :</span></div>
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Praneeta Prakash interviewed after being struck in the stomach with a stone. Photo / FBC via Pacific Media Watch</div>
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Police failing to take action against a prisoner that assaulted a Fiji journalist should face immediate suspension, says PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum.</div>
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“Once again police are failing to uphold the law,” says PFF Chair Monica Miller.</div>
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“Refusing to answer a complaint from a journalist, hit in the stomach right in front of them, outside the country’s main courts, is a serious dereliction of duty.”</div>
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Filming a man sentenced on a corruption case, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation journalist Praneeta Prakash was struck in the stomach with a stone thrown by a remand prisoner.</div>
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The prisoner was under police escort at the time.</div>
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They refused to take action even as the prisoner swore and verbally abused Prakash.</div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Immediate</span></div>
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PFF welcomed quick condemnation from the Fiji Media Assocation over the attack, and the failure by police to take immediate action.</div>
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“All too often, media fail to raise any protest when a colleague is threatened or assaulted”, says Miller.</div>
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“Quick responses from FMA puts pressure on FBC to follow up and insist on official action against the prisoner, and the officers who failed to do their duty.”</div>
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FBC carried news of the attack this week, exposing police inaction. Image / FBC</div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Endorsing</span></div>
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PFF supports a statement from Fijian Media Association general secretary Stanley Simpson that reporters cover court cases to inform the public and ensure justice is served.</div>
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Simpson said that journalists “need to be left to do their work because in the end it benefits everyone.”</div>
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He referred to incidents where a Fiji TV reporter was manhandled, and a Fiji Sun reporter also got attacked attacked recently.</div>
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<img alt="" class="_h2z _297z _4lh5 img" id="u_jsonp_13_4" src="https://scontent.fwlg1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/p720x720/17310134_1556788811027979_1113411916299183276_o.png?oh=da2948d087197d62d11d0ee5edbfeb8b&oe=592F6889" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; max-height: 400px; max-width: 400px;" /><br />
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Police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro - "journalists have every right" to film in public. Screenshot / FBC</div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Public interest</span></div>
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“Now we see the terrible incident of a stone being thrown at a journalist”, said Simpson.</div>
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“In these public spaces, and especially in the public interest, the journalist has every right to be there to take footage.”</div>
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PFF welcomed a promise from Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro that a thorough investigation would be carried out. </div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Suspend</span></div>
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Naisoro said that they “have had some incidents where members of the public have attacked journalists again. We would request them to respect the rights of the journalist. They are simply doing their jobs, they’re not breaking any law.”</div>
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PFF says that Police leadership needs to send a strong message to its officers that they need to take action when they see crime - and punish those that don’t. Says Miller, “We’re calling on Fiji police to follow normal procedure in this case and suspend any officer under investigation.”</div>
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Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission Director Ashwin Raj was quoted as saying that it was “deeply concerning” that journalists are exposed to such incidents, and calling for a safe environment where media are able to discharge their duties.</div>
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An officer turns towards the camera, just after the stone was thrown. Image / FBC</div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Regional perspective</span></div>
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Assaults against news media in Fiji join similar incidents in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and, most seriously, in West Papua.</div>
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From a regional perspective on journalism safety, Miller noted that Indonesia was this week hosting police chiefs from Melanesian states.</div>
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“In the lead up to World Press Freedom Day being hosted in Indonesia this May, there should be much greater effort among police chiefs to uphold safety for members of the press.”</div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">HEADLINES</span></div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Journalist attacked - FBC </span><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F2z1_zlTW6n8%3Ft%3D162&h=ATNtH7G4ZSYgS0_VggKqP0UlQ2AP4h02VcKQkwEdv-t_ohuu99iMEjf6YoAXYyegSQaXk3kclCN6PuxpdSHdWcIhmKze4Hl8P6w1fI-3bmrBe3RZWf3g6wADgz4-uGpjvDFV8ofrPOMlQA0&s=1" rel="nofollow noopener" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/2z1_zlTW6n8?t=162</a></div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Safety of Fiji media personnel comes under the spotlight</span> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pina.com.fj%2F%3Fp%3Dpacnews%26m%3Dread%26o%3D148854970258c85fd1e53a712b46dc&h=ATOzhYMnQmto1H0mumPrshMN3m91GKeFxN79_y-tvqwyOuwbRCDqy6Qi_ZTbONxpTlFdbCDYEXgqS8vI8dIM15wEC1T1EcNOFeT30ZRZovFgULPZSUcuEFhEUerpIJ0el3MaWYkSTm93CUo&s=1" rel="nofollow noopener" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m...</a></div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Condemnation of attack on Fiji journalist outside Suva courthouse</span> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2017-03-16%2Fcondemnation-of-attack-on-fiji-journalist-outside%2F8359288&h=ATNqhVNJ7Gcet-CtEfDCz9ooBRey5KH2MUuuU2W51AME4BxXfzGJQH7GW3s5uE88-096ETAiJKupupkB0GePe1FDPtmSa6uddUVpRdJaS4brk0tRJ12Oe2dW7dBUBBm5VTKFtPmknEH7ZyE&s=1" rel="nofollow noopener" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-...</a></div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Attack on FBC reporter outside court stirs media protests</span> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fasiapacificreport.nz%2F2017%2F03%2F15%2Fattack-on-fbc-reporter-outside-court-stirs-fiji-media-protests%2F&h=ATNTVeJqGOwWmfPTm1tcY2gcN0aeeFYyqkJQMcbA7sebU0x7Jg45S0g7eSKVaJGNPiFRCDo8yuUZvNnEAleUk_FfiACcSMT-yE6nNOQIrUgbV0-O2CUcKjJICpGL0vQIz6Zom0G3IopOZpM&s=1" rel="nofollow noopener" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://asiapacificreport.nz/2017/03...</a></div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">CONTACTS</span> </div>
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Monica Miller
PFF Chair
News Director
South Seas Broadcasting
American Samoa
monica@southseasbroadcasting.com
+6842584197 </div>
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Alexander Rheeney
PFF Co-Chair
President Media Council PNG
Papua New Guinea
alexander.rheeney@outlook.com
+67578045266 </div>
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Bernadette H. Carreon
PFF Co-Chair
Palau Correspondent
Guam Business
carreon.bernadette@gmail.com
+680779430 </div>
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Netani Rika
PFF Coordinator
Communications Director
Pacific Council of Churches
Fiji
netrika66@gmail.com</div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">ABOUT PFF </span></div>
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<span class="_4yxp" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">The Pacific Freedom Forum is 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.</span></div>
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Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-90023754604936089882017-03-14T03:32:00.001-11:002017-03-14T11:04:21.552-11:00Independent review for public broadcaster – PFF<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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PACIFIC FREEDOM FORUM</a><span class="_4_mg" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 0px 6px;">·</span><a class="uiLinkSubtle" href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/independent-review-for-public-broadcaster-pff/1554356724604521" style="color: #90949c; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;">WEDNESDAY, 15 MARCH 2017</a><span class="_4_mf" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 8px; text-transform: none;"><span display="inline" style="font-family: inherit;"><a aria-label="Public" class="uiStreamPrivacy inlineBlock fbStreamPrivacy fbPrivacyAudienceIndicator" data-hover="tooltip" data-tooltip-content="Public" href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/independent-review-for-public-broadcaster-pff/1554356724604521#" role="button" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none; zoom: 1;"><i class="lock img sp_xWGdfdP4lDL_1_5x sx_8e9f32" style="background-image: url("/rsrc.php/v3/y3/r/0c3_Aiw4G68.png"); background-position: -32px -126px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 64px 156px; bottom: -1px; display: inline-block; height: 12px; margin-bottom: -5px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 12px;"></i></a></span></span></div>
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“ It is not the job of any news media to support the government of the day, but to represent the public - and they must be ethical when reporting criticism - PFF”</blockquote>
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Biased? Tonga Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva says the public broadcaster is overly critical and not supportive of his government. Photo / Radio New Zealand</div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :</span></div>
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Government in the Kingdom of Tonga should seek independent review before privatising or shutting down the national broadcaster, says <span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum.</span></div>
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“Threatening to shut down the Tonga Broadcasting Commission sends the wrong message”, says PFF Chair Monica Miller.</div>
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“As a former pro-democracy reform movement, the current government should remember it’s roots.”</div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Review bias</span></div>
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PFF is calling for Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva to seek an independent review from regional and international media, into allegations that commission staff are biased against his administration.</div>
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“Mr Pohiva could very well be right to allege there are old royalists in the TBC who act unethically in their reporting,” says Miller.</div>
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“But shutting down or privatising the commission is no way to prove those allegations.”</div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Ethics and independence</span></div>
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An independent review could establish what codes of ethic and conduct are in place to prevent unethical reporting – and what mechanisms are in place to protect the tax-funded broadcasting commission, says Miller.</div>
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“It is not the job of any news media to support the government of the day, but to represent the public - and they must be ethical when reporting criticism.”</div>
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Fair or not, criticism is essential to a free flow of debate in any democracy, and is guaranteed under the constitution of Tonga, as well as the country’s membership of the United Nations.</div>
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From royalist to disloyal? Pictured here during a disaster communications workshop supported by Japan, the Tonga state broadcaster used to suffer censorship, but now reports on issues such as corruption claims. Photo / Facebook / TBC</div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Wrong message</span></div>
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“At a time when Australia has abandoned its responsibilities to the region by cutting shortwave, it sends the wrong message for Pacific leaders to be threatening their own information services.” </div>
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Miller says the Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva was famous in opposition for asserting his right to freedom of expression despite legal threats, imprisonment and censorship. </div>
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Pohiva needs to rediscover that spirit of free speech, and a free press, guaranteed under the constitution, she says, and not let criticism affect proper governance.</div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Oldest constitution</span></div>
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Tonga has the oldest constitution in Oceania, and is one of the ten oldest constitutions in the world. Clause 7 of the Tonga constitution states:</div>
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“Freedom of the press - It shall be lawful for all people to speak write and print their opinions and no law shall ever be enacted to restrict this liberty. There shall be freedom of speech and of the press for ever but nothing in this clause shall be held to outweigh the law of slander or the laws for the protection of the King and the Royal Family.”</div>
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Under UN membership, Tonga has also pledged guarantees under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states:</div>
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“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”</div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">LINKS :</span></div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Tonga PM wants public broadcaster closed for not supporting government </span><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmobile.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2017-03-13%2Ftongan-pm-wants-public-broadcaster-closed-for-not%2F8350258%3Fpfmredir%3Dsm&h=ATM0z08Azomnj4e3dwtTRL1zy38GaAPdGdMgBo0amw6lAaJ8BzJm9jJ-VJkjag5AEANXF10COrhE---hPbimanXo7GHy6w85bquLVfaRpv86fnRWQAJka-rOI7zuu_ztrWHEMAI&s=1" rel="nofollow noopener" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-13/tongan-pm-wants-public-broadcaster-closed-for-not/8350258?pfmredir=sm</a></div>
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‘<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">E fa’u ha lao ke tamate’i ‘a e Letiō Tonga – Palēmia ‘Akilisi Pohiva</span> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fnepituno.to%2Findex.php%2Fopinions%2Fitem%2F1947-e-fa-u-ha-lao-ke-tamate-i-a-e-letio-tonga-palemia-akilisi-pohiva&h=ATNp108sBeVF-zpys951mwgNM4udQLiVjfAjaS09P5BQr3gVh69HVhnQLEVWr6VnbmjHwMMluWYha5iBGa4RATEjbB7KE6tiflSAkaJ786FyXOpIa6Zo_hD6qo44IgAKCp4Oi84&s=1" rel="nofollow noopener" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://nepituno.to/index.php/opinions/item/1947-e-fa-u-ha-lao-ke-tamate-i-a-e-letio-tonga-palemia-akilisi-pohiva</a></div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">Tonga among world’s 10 oldest constitutions </span><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldatlas.com%2Farticles%2Foldest-constitutions-still-being-used-today.html&h=ATP6tLOG0aKvfW8sSdASrgC9XKBeNy90WbpJqxGDDQM_swWxdhvfAA-9NV-SPQIuA_j4cNnNFeIZKUyx16kCsQ4jDbnQWB8VOWlkZRAhtjkL_IFksCOi8cYVTlQCRpUqtEhMGmI&s=1" rel="nofollow noopener" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/oldest-constitutions-still-being-used-today.html</a></div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">CONTACTS</span> </div>
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Monica Miller
PFF Chair
News Director
South Seas Broadcasting
American Samoa
monica@southseasbroadcasting.com
+6842584197 </div>
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Alexander Rheeney
PFF Co-Chair
President Media Council PNG
Papua New Guinea
alexander.rheeney@outlook.com
+67578045266 </div>
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Bernadette H. Carreon
PFF Co-Chair
Palau Correspondent
Guam Business
carreon.bernadette@gmail.com
+680779430 </div>
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Netani Rika
PFF Coordinator
Communications Director
Pacific Council of Churches
Fiji
netrika66@gmail.com</div>
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<span class="_4yxo" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;">ABOUT PFF </span></div>
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<span class="_4yxp" style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">The Pacific Freedom Forum is 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.</span></div>
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Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0Tonga-21.178986 -175.198242-28.862761999999996 174.4746095 -13.495209999999998 -164.8710935tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-62343988467186044102017-03-11T13:59:00.000-11:002017-03-11T14:00:07.821-11:00Open letter to civil society<p><font size="4"><em></em></font> <p><font size="4"><em>“ At a time when CSOs also face increasing </em></font><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.civicus.org%2Findex.php%2Fmedia-resources%2Freports-publications%2F1776-core-civil-society-rights-violated-in-109-countries-civil-society-watch-report&h=ATM8QCHcpjsvXDMYvUJ-iQZtzklRB9Y4X23ysunWoh1-vOqkDAmhO0ZiYuT1xBIKwVaGXCPM0fW0ZtlZwFooAniKYBnAOBRWv51ISlJ6UYHjrkISBD1KHHRkrtyqFBVb7sHE7t0&s=1"><font size="4"><em>pressure</em></font></a><font size="4"><em>, please help our colleagues at the ABC help keep your audiences </em></font><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.humanrightsinitiative.org%2Fprograms%2Fai%2Frti%2Farticles%2Finforming_citizens_report.pdf&h=ATOnhgo321KKr7RwJ-2SsehZ41FLOZ17lOwP19nxYxgFnlGiZGSF8OBkIHPcMTXEJgHpDkUtTIXk2iWvd6vfv6kyJEHQkgUhKnFz-AJdWcHJabk81tkINnPeRLpsCwx39KIxhD4&s=1"><font size="4"><em>informed</em></font></a><font size="4"><em>, </em></font><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fedev3.socialsciences.hawaii.edu%2Ftemp%2Fhazards%2F5%2520Publications%2FHCEwebsite%2FAnderson_climatecommunication_paper.pdf&h=ATMtrN9rVU3nTEXmiF9Z5bAZh192GNJVfWTnuBmStw4FHBnGBvtj4KizpuJ22mxcmCdCKiiwnMiEeALb2KNho3Bk9ush8nKB_UbwvgI3MK9f9iyZvGj74Y-DefY18LCF5CajlmY&s=1"><font size="4"><em>engaged</em></font></a><font size="4"><em>, and </em></font><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdevpolicy.org%2Fwhat-went-on-at-the-challenges-for-participatory-development-conference-20121210%2F&h=ATPtpds0aLL0PBdCfJFNXC4G10Xrr6Jfl2BT7mu0ImEOfldF7vkm11J_onWBEtlxEvrrj1_n4PvPnHFk6qLHz20AX2fCvAfNPoG3H8RT2Q79UU08zWtCKNL6xX6ELIRVPpN2yVQ&s=1"><font size="4"><em>participatory</em></font></a><font size="4"><em>. </em></font> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PacificFreedomForum/">PACIFIC FREEDOM FORUM</a>·<a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/open-letter-to-civil-society/1551210378252489">SUNDAY, 12 MARCH 2017</a> <p><i></i> <p><img alt="" src="https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17264173_1551216538251873_153498872450600411_n.jpg?oh=a7fb8b06db845f304da3dd683c89e86a&oe=596D9129"> <p><em>Civil society across the region - PIANGO Executive Director Emele Duituturaga, presenting at high level UN event on post-2015 agenda. Photo / PIANGO</em> <p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : </strong> <p><em>Talofa, greetings civil society partners,</em> <p>For decades, news teams across Oceania have helped create awareness around <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2Fj.ctt2jbj6w.24&h=ATPPTZCFU4KpCt_HMbpPI5DPlbmluWF5JlO3j4iha-ldsNe-o0RhXwIpXhGkVcf8mqP0493pPfJQMFH3hLEicyn-CmebRZ-d993rBYeMiqdF_7muUX6ctv6s_dHI1L2KYOLiQzg&s=1">civil society issues</a>, promoting <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pina.com.fj%2F%3Fp%3Dpina%26m%3Dprogram%26c%3Dmediafreedom%26s%3Dread%26o%3D110677586948e596a342f5ca596b3d&h=ATMB6u7Y-gSoSfEqhog2XbHVbwo5IPHt9QgymfYNW6K2Ewicruz2C2eskGnd77uWA0G4bxZZSzwNUfRsn7GCDJHcEjrP52jpWjfosHz1tJEDx-C-hDSD_var7rmz7seUVKlC_IY&s=1">vital debate</a>, far beyond CSO board rooms. <p>Not always in ways some feel that media '<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdevpolicy.org%2Fin-brief%2Fwhat-aid-workers-think-of-what-journalists-really-think-20150310%2F&h=ATP9NiCYTKD6BUF1uamA7jH2SXhLO4ZVWXKDbHAnI_fbOINRSNgmjDOGhwmHyoOl1tLPeiiq6Qh2RoRs5ry-UgoKRkbIGrZlAE9Qg0EdV-Rg5rdOtDfpwbzuKIyGBH-MyRmAx9c&s=1">should</a>', but how media '<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fejournalist.com.au%2Fv8n1%2FDuffield.pdf&h=ATMMMPgjwSwrJ9YbStKFjlvRvhU4eBFqQEbLT5uCMxxaJJJ3Jg6bUwn7z2abSehJGJ4WMHxaOx-YfW6QW09GsxgvxpgpGPLwfniEfzbo1F1wiLDfB9OUql5qNAygiPVOvOYjxNc&s=1">could</a>' with shrinking capacity - and nearly always for public good. Now, news media need help from civil society organisations - to <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.nl%2Fsearch%3Fq%3D%2523saveshortwave%26rlz%3D1C1CHZL_enNZ734NZ734%26oq%3D%2523saveshortwave%26aqs%3Dchrome..69i57j69i59l4.580j0j4%26sourceid%3Dchrome%26ie%3DUTF-8&h=ATPQzycF6dyGW-RBV7-fgFzBvu18EEA7bttVHooRtXSqqzepP3q9NkV9SCJtpt6kJmFbyyuGXX2RnWgLkBWxyLXZ3cOepGYS4-HPZrg3X0yvPoAqkVb9ZY6YWfTZ4-EAh2sYne0&s=1">#saveshortwave</a>. <p><strong>Here's why : </strong> <p>On 31st January, ABC, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, cut off shortwave broadcasts to the Pacific region – the latest in <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Finsidestory.org.au%2Fthe-gutting-of-radio-australia&h=ATOirM6jPRt5jNm99OxLWHfNa4rWhxHC1vOgghecfOSizZWNTsHQ_hTaZr6mIkn1qZ50f4A0ijU4MWhjBRX3NoymQzcyP6gaCe-wyd0xbRrcyZDxGU3g05FTtq-xBlGFBb9nfpI&s=1">years of cutbacks</a>. This means there is just one regional shortwave service remaining - RNZI – now in its seventh year of a <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stuff.co.nz%2Fnational%2Fpolitics%2F77035685%2FRadio-NZ-will-not-seek-extra-cash-in-May-Budget-despite-seven-year-freeze&h=ATPGnxV5XqaFC8FC6sLTD90Rppqo0kWzhDeme1Hd-H9xjT95HSpuVD3R-G7H4FteJrUhLbVyOxin9xopZ5_glb6mFL5avJqZ31DHKjgFvj7KHyM4s75ch0z94P2sL0ULI-F7YTw&s=1">funding freeze</a>. <p>That leaves RNZI more isolated, and increasingly vulnerable to <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stuff.co.nz%2Fnational%2Fpolitics%2F3345553%2FPolitical-interference-in-Radio-New-Zealand&h=ATMTUYz63ojOMRU3eRAfTvIQ9fPCOIZQPWYDZCfzhBClyvtZRlnCLVh2OC_PcYKa3jHJGHibVDPaUI8ZvuXPKn2wWTLs8YprMjVi70SlS5emhBifmYilN3TnmuON4xOrYWjkRLs&s=1">political pressure</a>. Both stations act as an <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pacmas.org%2Fresources%2Fpacific-state-of-the-media-communication%2F&h=ATOmUdC-H_3RsWT6-nwgOPDbiWi02RsYS1ISIX-k0P4kdaWB2xzHDlu-Wo67L3naelJT-Y4jXBnwMQZ3BpIE6YXg1OcUO3cIv3avDgp8RxwKju0qo0M4ksAX6GnyhGzBF_MnLOM&s=1">information lifeline</a> during times of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PacificEM/posts/1162895973769010">natural disasters</a>, and <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesaturdaypaper.com.au%2Fnews%2Fmedia%2F2015%2F07%2F18%2Fvanuatus-radios-active-decay%2F14371416002137&h=ATMCf-fr6W0MWuVERzvxzTlRq6Rr1jxeGjsT196kNjsETGeL-SDi_xvwG8AxTVKEG2mY0V0KNyc_8HUVOHaiCF9GKS4o6QwlBO81woJIqvOq4KHtxhsDZ0IqVG1e0uGnqZNlmhQ&s=1">political crisis</a>. <p>Ending nearly <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fjohngaltfla.com%2Fwordpress%2F2017%2F01%2F30%2Ftonight-radio-australia-shortwave-shut-down-ceding-the-pacific-to-china%2F&h=ATO3rGyaljG1Q8AFJEZY8gXCCGPw3TY8LylBXvvztTiaRNJfv1AF77E_EtpKCOqsSxycaPbOSIt3MFyGPmiJ26g1EwjGzHDG-D5uCosciFP6oXM18pm1gOsFE4ZuER4YrZiHWss&s=1">80 years of shortwave service</a> has been <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fpacific-nations-lose-shortwave-radio-services-that-evade-dictators-and-warn-of-natural-disasters-70058&h=ATOtWt13kZdWsyOxNi0KAQ8uubw_wAOe6BcfRTD_aEGgtFsj0hs5TK5YNzBShalYuec87M38HFu8lOrZa03XnvCD9bKVHIa_nD-hJJy8yi3RyrCxXBIZEAIYNrewG-emHOacb1Q&s=1">widely criticised</a>, with just over 1,000 supporters joining our petition already. Among them, Cook Islands Prime Minister <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.change.org%2Fp%2Fabc-chair-hon-james-spigelman-save-lifesaving-shortwave-radio-to-the-pacific%2Fu%2F18861050&h=ATPx9nYW6Ll-LlC62Ww7eIAOgImTec4nmRK6vkwF7Mih9KBZsTZd5HD4OM1h9_CO4xAJmMZhCB6hPOigdu2bi8MKgHGW0c7DD-9SLdBvxi_8Hpig9f_WWRwp1uHdbgWvFMa-cq4&s=1">Henry Puna</a>, and senior officials from around the island region. Even Australia's own Foreign Affairs minister Julie Bishop has <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbs.com.au%2Fnews%2Farticle%2F2016%2F12%2F22%2Fbishop-presses-abc-pacific-concerns-over-shortwave-radio-cut&h=ATMohrKTPqnPshbcnRf86klX2u27luOHKrk4p7FQk22zlxOk-V9pm-GZwowVdAiMDRXioDRKEsccl2ohrQ3CXk3tgkwGnPL9LD6zJdW-yf0lO1MgsL5ik4ReRdQsfrAHkvfOTOw&s=1">expressed concern</a>. <p><strong>Please consider formally signing our PFF petition, here : </strong><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.change.org%2Fp%2Fabc-chair-hon-james-spigelman-save-lifesaving-shortwave-radio-to-the-pacific&h=ATOl1AEeOuQbfU-sgK0skmoexISKe00Yqhx2dyZCte7ERgcq8MaxsWbFR7cSquqFfItLi2CLgKW3fdrnB9KxtW48nSztOx0Jnb-PsBYcY1r0JyzCUv8ErKvslLmtiXXx3df0Elo&s=1">https://www.change.org/p/abc-chair-hon-james-spigelman-save-lifesaving-shortwave-radio-to-the-pacific</a> <p><strong>Please consider making a submission to the senate hearings by 10th May later this year, here : </strong><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aph.gov.au%2FParliamentary_Business%2FCommittees%2FSenate%2FEnvironment_and_Communications%2FShortwaveradio&h=ATPcZY5bcG2BCvKvhtS4qHRZVZhQalhgwe9Uk1ZxFk-v5lEMtcP-vVdlEwwvSAthBBtZ9U7pTfqBtvdKIEasQSgBocjMFuxpL6Klne4Azh9EN6j4W6WOGLXXRuEOSB_nambT_qw&s=1">http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/Shortwaveradio</a> <p>At a time when CSOs <em>also </em>face increasing <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.civicus.org%2Findex.php%2Fmedia-resources%2Freports-publications%2F1776-core-civil-society-rights-violated-in-109-countries-civil-society-watch-report&h=ATM8QCHcpjsvXDMYvUJ-iQZtzklRB9Y4X23ysunWoh1-vOqkDAmhO0ZiYuT1xBIKwVaGXCPM0fW0ZtlZwFooAniKYBnAOBRWv51ISlJ6UYHjrkISBD1KHHRkrtyqFBVb7sHE7t0&s=1">pressure</a>, please help our colleagues at the ABC help keep your audiences <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.humanrightsinitiative.org%2Fprograms%2Fai%2Frti%2Farticles%2Finforming_citizens_report.pdf&h=ATOnhgo321KKr7RwJ-2SsehZ41FLOZ17lOwP19nxYxgFnlGiZGSF8OBkIHPcMTXEJgHpDkUtTIXk2iWvd6vfv6kyJEHQkgUhKnFz-AJdWcHJabk81tkINnPeRLpsCwx39KIxhD4&s=1">informed</a>, <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fedev3.socialsciences.hawaii.edu%2Ftemp%2Fhazards%2F5%2520Publications%2FHCEwebsite%2FAnderson_climatecommunication_paper.pdf&h=ATMtrN9rVU3nTEXmiF9Z5bAZh192GNJVfWTnuBmStw4FHBnGBvtj4KizpuJ22mxcmCdCKiiwnMiEeALb2KNho3Bk9ush8nKB_UbwvgI3MK9f9iyZvGj74Y-DefY18LCF5CajlmY&s=1">engaged</a>, and <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdevpolicy.org%2Fwhat-went-on-at-the-challenges-for-participatory-development-conference-20121210%2F&h=ATPtpds0aLL0PBdCfJFNXC4G10Xrr6Jfl2BT7mu0ImEOfldF7vkm11J_onWBEtlxEvrrj1_n4PvPnHFk6qLHz20AX2fCvAfNPoG3H8RT2Q79UU08zWtCKNL6xX6ELIRVPpN2yVQ&s=1">participatory</a>. <p><em>Fa'afetai lava,</em> <p><strong>Monica Miller <br>PFF Chair</strong> <p>. . . Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-28806313665303259162017-03-07T13:19:00.000-11:002017-03-11T13:20:26.744-11:00Women’s rights are human rights<p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-16_sOj4wDiY/WMSURLxTGkI/AAAAAAAAO70/XdSHbF69WOE/s1600-h/20170309%252520PFF%252520IWD%252520PR%252520womens%252520rights%252520are%252520human%252520rights%25255B3%25255D.png"><img title="20170309 PFF IWD PR womens rights are human rights" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="20170309 PFF IWD PR womens rights are human rights" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-89qpVDAgLoY/WMSUSR2MNhI/AAAAAAAAO74/QIcRmVRBNSM/20170309%252520PFF%252520IWD%252520PR%252520womens%252520rights%252520are%252520human%252520rights_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="561" height="315"></a><br><em>Women in media - PFF Chair Monica Miller, centre, and FFA Media Officer Lisa Williams, left, with PINA President Moses Stevens, at the 2016 Pacific Media Summit. </em> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PacificFreedomForum/">PACIFIC FREEDOM FORUM</a>·<a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/womens-rights-are-human-rights/1546327042074156">THURSDAY, 9 MARCH 2017</a><em></em> <p><em><font size="4">“I am making this plea to the women who go through any situation where their rights as workers and journalists are under threat, to please reach out and report these incidents”</font></em> <p><strong>ARCHIVE UPDATE :</strong> <p><img alt="" src="https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17191138_1546351135405080_3844353785593134461_n.jpg?oh=6dcb5fa3fa21c354eb7c4a21c06b93f4&oe=59616E67"> <p><em>Women journalists may appear to have a glamorous job, but reality behind the scenes includes bullying, sexual harassment and lower pay. Photo / RNZI / Johnny Blades</em> <p><strong>#IWD Message from PFF Chair Monica Miller</strong> <p>Women’s rights are human rights. <p>Reminding ourselves and our communities of that simple statement every March 8 is a call that is necessary for two reasons: we need to celebrate the achievements and progress that has been made. <p><strong>Decent pay</strong> <p>And we need to recharge ourselves, organize, and act to rise up to the challenges that remain. <p>Pacific women in the media, through the promise of our Pacific leaders when they went to Beijing, China for the UN's action call on women in 1995, have a right to leadership and decision-making roles in the media. <p>They have a right to decent pay and working conditions while employers implement gender equality polices in newsrooms. <p><strong>Fair, balanced</strong> <p>And as media consumers, we all have the right to fair, balanced news content speaking to gender balanced news content and values. <p>They a right to all these things not because they are women, but because they are human. <p>International Women's Day isn't about creating a space where our men and boys feel left out. <p><strong>Threats</strong> <p>It's about addressing the spaces where our women and girls are left out. <p>This time last year, as we have in previous years, PFF issued an alert specific to the threats against women's voices and women's work in the news. <p>That hasn't changed. <p><strong>Volunteer</strong> <p>Our media release this year highlights a focus issue of concern for balance in gender portrayal in news content, and calls on more Pacific newsrooms to support the Global Media Monitoring Project, to ensure results are more reflective of our realities. <p>PFF is a volunteer network, led by journalists for journalists on the Article 19 watchdog role at the core of our work. <p>I want to thank my co-chairs Alex Rheeney from PNG, and Bernedette Carreon from Palau, for their support and advisory role for the Melanesia and Micronesia subregions. <p><strong>Violence</strong> <p>In the focus that PFF takes on industry-led, industry-focused solutions to the problems of violence, intimidation, and working conditions facing our Pacific women in journalism, there remains an insidious silence and denial that the problems women in media face are worth reporting. <p>I am making this plea to the women who go through any situation where their rights as workers and journalists are under threat, to please reach out and report these incidents. <p>About IWD The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March during International Women’s Year 1975. <p><strong>United Nations</strong> <p>Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. <p>International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe. <p>Since those early years, International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. <p><strong>Acts of courage</strong> <p>The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas. <p>Increasingly, International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made. <p>To call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> <p>PFF - registered in the Cook Islands - dateline today is 8th March, International Women’s Day <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/iwd?source=note">#IWD</a> <p><strong>PFF HEADLINES ON WOMEN IN MEDIA</strong> <p><strong>News leaders must stop bullying women </strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/news-leaders-must-stop-bullying-women-pff/1147845468588984?hc_location=ufi">https://www.facebook.com/notes/paci...</a> <p><strong>Stop assaults on free speech </strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/stop-assaults-on-free-speech-pff/1153008884739309?hc_location=ufi">https://www.facebook.com/notes/paci...</a> <p><strong>Deadline looms on Papua Press blocks </strong><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pacificfreedomforum.info%2F2017%2F02%2Fdeadline-looms-on-papua-press-blocks-pff.html&h=ATNd66WE6R0eQfu7TC-aFeSD15DYv40i-iDRic1kiYi_OC87U_Nvy7Tp3dpzB8igSMcYY6gy_-1uVC6x_BwWMDUoxNMJU939x8UQvdUe_WIJOCWW_xtunZhOYM4mglUmnPmjW-0&s=1">http://www.pacificfreedomforum.info/...</a> <p><strong>CONTACTS</strong> <p>Monica Miller<br>PFF Chair<br>News Director, South Seas Broadcasting American Samoa <a href="mailto:monica@southseasbroadcasting.com">monica@southseasbroadcasting.com</a><br>+6842584197</p> <p>Alexander Rheeney<br>PFF Co-Chair<br>President, Media Council PNG<br>Papua New Guinea <a href="mailto:alexander.rheeney@outlook.com">alexander.rheeney@outlook.com</a><br>+67578045266 <p>Bernadette H. Carreon<br>PFF Co-Chair<br>Palau<br>Correspondent, Guam Business<br><a href="mailto:carreon.bernadette@gmail.com">carreon.bernadette@gmail.com</a><br>+680779430 <p>Netani Rika<br>PFF Coordinator<br>Communications Director<br>Pacific Council of Churches Fiji <a>netrika66@gmail.com</a> <p> <p><strong>ABOUT PFF </strong> <p><em>The Pacific Freedom Forum is 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.</em> <p>. . . Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-20135186778943148472017-03-06T21:12:00.000-11:002017-03-11T10:41:39.635-11:00Abandon outdated Fiji sedition laws - PFF<p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-geSn-SuPHo4/WMRvCbxT3UI/AAAAAAAAO7c/Wk46vyjsM3I/s1600-h/20170308%252520PFF%252520Fiji%252520Times%252520Hank%252520Arts%25255B3%25255D.png"><img title="20170308 PFF Fiji Times Hank Arts" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="20170308 PFF Fiji Times Hank Arts" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VbKxG77l8qQ/WMRvEGepoHI/AAAAAAAAO7g/yiTzhL7uPbw/20170308%252520PFF%252520Fiji%252520Times%252520Hank%252520Arts_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="631" height="354"></a><br>Fiji Times publisher Hank Arts, centre, outside the High Court. Photo / <a href="http://fijisun.com.fj/2017/01/26/hank-arts-denied-travel-a-second-time/">Fiji Sun</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PacificFreedomForum/">PACIFIC FREEDOM FORUM</a>·<a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/abandon-outdated-fiji-sedition-laws-pff/1543527942354066">WEDNESDAY, 8 MARCH 2017</a></p> <p><i></i> <h3 align="right">“Outdated seditious libel laws inherited by Fiji from the United Kingdom should be left back in the colonial era where they belong” - PFF</h3> <p><img alt="" src="https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17201135_1543555235684670_5502131337191478817_n.png?oh=e7b81c54a06a54d407d3643da62a4af2&oe=59616041" width="473" height="428"></p> <p><em>Fiji Times Publisher Hank Arts and Editor Fred Wesley exit the High Court yesterday, after hearing of plans to look at sedition charges over an opinion column. Photo / <a href="http://fijivillage.com/news-feature/DPP-looks-at-sedition-charges-for-Fiji-Times-Hank-Arts-and-others--k952rs/">Fiji Village</a></em> <p><strong>ARCHIVE (from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/abandon-outdated-fiji-sedition-laws-pff/1543527942354066">PFF FB page</a>):</strong> <p>Judicial partners should encourage the Fiji prosecution office to pull back from sedition charges against the country's leading newspaper, says PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum. <p>"Fiji's judiciary is again out of step with the rest of the region", says PFF Chair Monica Miller, speaking from American Samoa. <p>"Colleagues from around the region need to extend what they've learn from many millions in aid spent on improving judicial services." <p><strong>Incitement</strong> <p>Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde, was this week given 21 days leave by the Fiji High Court to consider whether or not existing charges of "inciting communal antagonism" should be upgraded to sedition. <p>The charges stem from an opinion piece in an indigenous language newspaper, Nai Lalakai, published criticising the role of Muslims in the Fiji government. <p>In iTaukei, the column includes the passage which raised incitement charges: <p>“Muslims are not the indigenous of this country. These are people that have invaded other nations, for example, Bangladesh in India, where they killed, raped and abused their women and children. Today they have gone to the extent of having a part in the running of the country.” <p><strong>Unfair</strong> <p><img alt="" src="https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17190799_1543544249019102_8447186210813711710_n.png?oh=7f3c0729b94b0493c494cec195caa678&oe=5970B6FD"> <p><em>Anti-muslim opinion - former politician Josaia Waqabaca outside Fiji High Court this week. Photo / Rama / Fiji Times</em> <p>Column author Josaia Waqabaca faces incitement charges along with Nai Lalakai editor Anare Ravula, The Fiji Times Editor-in-Chief Fred Wesley, along with Fiji Times Ltd publisher and general manager Hank Arts. <p>Miller says the opinion piece has already been attacked in public as deeply unfair to Fiji Muslims. <p>"And that's where unfair opinion should be challenged - in the court of public opinion - not the actual courts themselves," says Miller. <p><strong>Colonial</strong> <p>PFF is repeating earlier calls to drop the incitement charges, and abandon any move towards sedition charges. <p>"Outdated seditious libel laws inherited by Fiji from the United Kingdom should be left back in the colonial era where they belong", she says. <p>The United Kingdom abolished the offence of seditious libel in 2009. <p><strong>Press</strong> <p>Miller describes leave given by the court as sending the completely wrong message about the role of the press. <p>"Hopefully, other courts around the region do not see this as a precedent for dealing with the Fourth Estate." <p>The case returns to court on 23 March. <p><strong>LINKS</strong> <p>DPP looks at sedition charges for Fiji Times, Hank Arts and others <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ffijivillage.com%2Fnews-feature%2FDPP-looks-at-sedition-charges-for-Fiji-Times-Hank-Arts-and-others--k952rs%2F&h=ATPzmW0TPmkcVI4VMxQ9i2yqJv2-cneWvrGM7GRRKkpTU-cf870CQzkFKhD-P0BBSK-fHRzHzZQpJAMNdDQLaWC1xKyc047HVb1rDGFJl0ZIQ3mQ7Q-fx_YrEYOqAMeqMLD1UXU&s=1">http://fijivillage.com/news-feature...</a> <p>DPP plans to amend charges in media case <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fijitimes.com%2Fstory.aspx%3Fid%3D391902&h=ATP9JBKaqMlY_aq_nYU9NT7f-q_OzlFP4GuO8-Myl4xpA2AHi2Vj6TQ-BLV5hdNssEnjHP9sTngovuRFpinj1vGPWDJAmqA4WYSOnNZwL_1G6uIvAWjUl3eU7vFsxKn6M1-e-7k&s=1">http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx...</a> <p>Charges against Fiji Times and four others may be amended <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ffijione.tv%2Fcharges-aganist-fiji-times-and-4-others-may-be-amended%2F&h=ATNH81Q1lrZrBrWEgnhJywI6rhqEVwKnHygfoj_3QDrq4QlmEbswyCOrnSVkM_iq2NTGjTtOMv_DyzT17Ch5wJGleWocNT3NPYiaI01wlXkkpfVthgiea3VQJ8hqhb1bmAShQ_c&s=1">https://fijione.tv/charges-aganist-...</a> <p>I did not instruct my lawyer to challenge caution interview: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fbc.com.fj%2Ffiji%2F48805%2Fi-did-not-instruct-my-lawyer-to-challenge-caution-interview-waqabaca&h=ATNAd1QUtm-_0-iI7JVMDljRcOje-3ipB2dLd9PwMJ4ANnjAb9597G-RLk9Bakd71FIQ8Iha4j_qiX9HaeZI6tT38oIcNiLQKFbxBpUwnJ4UMcxi0vSaIp6EH2MUuh_CZIMwKEQ&s=1">http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/48805/i-...</a> <p><strong>CONTACTS</strong> <p>Monica Miller <br>PFF Chair <br>News Director, South Seas Broadcasting American Samoa <a href="mailto:monica@southseasbroadcasting.com">monica@southseasbroadcasting.com</a><br>+6842584197 <p>Alexander Rheeney <br>PFF Co-Chair <br>President, Media Council PNG <br>Papua New Guinea <a href="mailto:alexander.rheeney@outlook.com">alexander.rheeney@outlook.com</a><br>+67578045266 <p>Bernadette H. Carreon <br>PFF Co-Chair <br>Palau <br>Correspondent, Guam Business <br><a href="mailto:carreon.bernadette@gmail.com">carreon.bernadette@gmail.com</a><br>+680779430 <p>Netani Rika <br>PFF Coordinator <br>Communications Director <br>Pacific Council of Churches Fiji <a href="mailto:netrika66@gmail.com">netrika66@gmail.com</a> </p> <p><strong>ABOUT PFF</strong> <p>The <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpacificfreedomforum.info%2F&h=ATOxzN4qeWoSCMgO1dzEtFmzLLWxJnIOTaCP5Ui-iKPiFlJq97eqRiUD2ovzWci-kbYTXdB7cjagRO1tJvXqFAKbaRvTsivNelQufK4iZfU61FkwFZFNCJ1UPsPTRd64E9WXzNM&s=1">Pacific Freedom Forum</a> is 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. <p>. . . Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-11215220204079288042017-02-21T20:42:00.001-11:002017-02-21T20:42:29.257-11:00Media gag not constitutional – PFF<p> </p> <p><font size="4"><em>“Public servants owe their loyalty to the public who pay the bills, not bureaucrats who spend their taxes” – PFF<br> </em></font></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7tXNI-al5s0/WK1A2RhpYsI/AAAAAAAAO5A/d9tWgE5xtMU/s1600-h/jacques%252520gideon%252520acting%252520psc%252520vanuatu%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="jacques gideon acting psc vanuatu" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="jacques gideon acting psc vanuatu" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dODgegjn9iQ/WK1A4u3fZNI/AAAAAAAAO5E/upXZIQzKxDw/jacques%252520gideon%252520acting%252520psc%252520vanuatu_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="237" height="269"></a><br></p><strong></strong> <h3><br>Vanuatu threat :</h3> <p><em><font size="2">Acting PSC Secretary Jacques <br>Gideon says public servants posting <br>comments on social media face <br>“disciplinary” action for airing <br>“dirty laundry” in public. Photo / Vanuatu Daily Post</font></em> </p> <p><font size="2">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE </font> <p><font size="2"></font> <p><font size="2">Warning public servants against making public statements goes against fundamentals of public service, says PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum.</font> <p><font size="2">“We call on the acting head to withdraw their media gag,” says PFF Chair Monica Miller.</font> <p><font size="2">“Public servants owe their loyalty to the public who pay the bills, not bureaucrats who spend their taxes,” says Miller.</font> <p><font size="2"><strong><em>Warning</em></strong></font> <p><font size="2">Earlier this month, Jacques Gideon, the Acting Secretary of the Office of Public Service Commission, warned public servants against using social media to express concerns.</font> <p><font size="2">He threatened “disciplinary action” under PSC regulations against those who speak out.</font> <p><font size="2">Miller rejected the reported PSC statement that public servants expressing an opinion on social media was airing “dirty laundry” in public. </font> <p><font size="2"><strong><em>Laws of the land</em></strong></font> <p><font size="2">Miller says senior officials need to reread the laws of the land.</font> <p><font size="2">Vanuatu constitutional provisions guarantee freedom of expression, and demand that all citizens fulfil their duty to safeguard national wealth, resources and environment in the interests of present and future generations.</font> <p><font size="2">“This is only possible if all citizens, including public servants, can speak their minds fairly and freely, without fear of prosecution or persecution,” says Miller.</font> <p><font size="2"><strong><em>Governance</em></strong></font> <p><font size="2">Social networks are now an accepted part of the media and governance landscape.</font> <p><font size="2">Senior government officials need to embrace that, rather than fight history, says Miller.</font> <p><font size="2">Vanuatu recently became the second Pacific nation to adopt freedom of information laws.</font> <p><strong><font size="2">MORE</font></strong> <h3> </h3> <h3><font size="2">Media gag on public servants by PSC<br></font><a title="http://dailypost.vu/news/media-gag-on-public-servants-by-psc/article_888f9ba3-eff9-55aa-9ac3-15f30ff91506.html" href="http://dailypost.vu/news/media-gag-on-public-servants-by-psc/article_888f9ba3-eff9-55aa-9ac3-15f30ff91506.html"><font size="2"><font style="font-weight: normal">http://dailypost.vu/news/media-gag-on-public-servants-by-psc/article_888f9ba3-eff9-55aa-9ac3-15f30ff91506.html</font></font></a></h3> <p><font size="2"><strong>Vanuatu constitution</strong><br></font><a title="http://publicofficialsfinancialdisclosure.worldbank.org/sites/fdl/files/assets/law-library-files/Vanuatu_Constitution_en.pdf" href="http://publicofficialsfinancialdisclosure.worldbank.org/sites/fdl/files/assets/law-library-files/Vanuatu_Constitution_en.pdf"><font size="2">http://publicofficialsfinancialdisclosure.worldbank.org/sites/fdl/files/assets/law-library-files/Vanuatu_Constitution_en.pdf</font></a></p> <p>. . .</p>Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-26740712328248021922017-02-11T20:45:00.001-11:002017-02-11T22:29:35.816-11:00Deadline looms on Papua press blocks - PFF<p><font size="5"></font> </p> <p><a title="Australia West Papua Association | Photos of Islands Business magazine article" href="https://awpasydneynews.blogspot.co.nz/2017/02/indonesia-fails-media-test-in-west-papua.html"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BAmJQMuVLec/WJl_NApHbcI/AAAAAAAAGhI/6AVI6EyBB3g8z8Js2Oui9pOzQSuZUxVTQCK4B/s1600/IMG_3031.JPG"></a><br><font face="Calibri"><strong><font size="5">‘The clock ticks’</font></strong> <font size="2">– Islands Business magazine notes the fast approaching deadline for World Press Freedom Day events in Indonesia, on 3rd May 2016, to be hosted in Jakarta. <em>Photo / Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)</em></font></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Calibri"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</strong></font></p> <p>Indonesia has less than three months to deliver "full and free" press access to Papua provinces, says PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum. <p>"Jakarta risks global condemnation if it continues to ignore the facts," warns PFF Chair Monica Miller. <p>"A visit last month by media freedom campaigners proves that access for Papua press is still far from full and free", she says. <p><strong>VIOLENCE, BULLYING, SEXUAL HARRASSMENT</strong> <p>An eight person delegation from MFCI, the Media Freedom Committee Indonesia, visited the Papua towns of Jayapura, Merauke and Timika, between 29th January to 3rd February. <p>Their reported findings include : <p>- Ten cases of violence against journalists that are still not resolved. <p>- Only 16 foreign press were given permits to visit Papua last year, with 11 forced to accept government guides. <p>- Different treatment from Indonesian officials for indigenous journalists versus Indonesian journalists - such as stigmatisation and intimidation of "OAP" - 'original Papua persons'. <p>- Local press still need police permits to cover public gatherings, including protests. <p>- Women journalists routinely suffer bullying and sexual harassment from government sources, but rarely report it to police because they "take it for granted." <p>- In an atmosphere of surveillance, intimidation and harassment, media outlets find it impossible to recruit new reporters. One training session for newcomers saw 30 people on the first day, 12 the second day and none the third. <p>- Business models threaten independence of Papua media, including in Timika, where ad revenues are sourced from Freeport mine, its subsidiaries and local government. <p>- Threats against independence include pressure from "certain parties" on mass media not to cover environmental issues. <p>- Isolation from other media due to a lack of access to communications resources causes ethical lapses. <p><img alt="Jurnalis di Papua Belum Bebas dari Intimidasi" src="http://cdn2.tstatic.net/makassar/foto/bank/images/wan-ifra_20170206_093338.jpg" width="310" height="176"><br><font face="Calibri"><font size="2">Members of the Media Freedom Committee Indonesia present findings from their visit to three towns in Papua. <em>Photo / WAN-IFRA</em></font></font></p> <p><strong>‘DO MUCH MORE’</strong> <p>Supported by WAN-IFRA, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, under its Strengthening Media and Society programme, the MFCI visit was also backed by the Denmark ministry of Foreign Affairs. <p>PFF welcomes the input from WAN-IFRA, and praises the leadership role played by Denmark. <p>"Other diplomatic partners in Jakarta need to do much more to support press freedom," says Miller. <p><strong>SHAMEFUL</strong> <p>"Their continued silence on abuses against the press and other human rights compares shamefully with billions in profit being made from Papua by outside interests." <p>Findings from the MFCI visit join recent wide concern expressed about Indonesia blocking access to 800,000 websites. <p>Among blocked sites is SuaraPapua - the Voice of Papua - a news outlet exposing human rights abuses. <p><strong>VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS</strong> <p>PFF praises LBH Pers, the Legal Aid Institute for the Press, for representing SuaraPapua as a "voice for voiceless." <p>Last year, <a title="PFF | 2017 deadline for Papua press freedom in “rogue” provinces - PFF" href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/2017-deadline-for-papua-press-freedom-in-rogue-provinces-pff/1238619012844962">PFF laid down a deadline</a> for open access to Papua, in the lead up to Indonesia hosting World Press Freedom Day on 3rd May 2017. <p>The deadline was reportedly rejected by a minor official at the Indonesian embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. <p><img alt="Atmosphere dissemination programs implemented reporting Papua Indonesia Team MFC-WAN IFRA, Saturday (01/04/2017)." src="http://cdn2.tstatic.net/makassar/foto/bank/images/wan-ifra_20170206_103938.jpg" width="291" height="165"><br><font face="Calibri">Indonesia media members delve into the MCFI findings, at the Aone Hotel, central Jakarta. <em>Photo / WAN-IFRA</em></font></p> <p><strong>THINK CAREFULLY</strong> <p>However, PFF has not been able to get confirmation of the alleged rejection from Jakarta. <p>"Instead of speeding up preparations for World Press Freedom Day, Jakarta appears to be slowing down", says Miller. <p>"Make no mistake, Jakarta needs to think very, very carefully about its continued failure to fulfil its own promises, its own guarantees for media freedom under the Indonesian constitution, and its signature to many international treaties." <p>‘BAD’ <p>Ahead of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/wpfd2017?source=feed_text">#WPFD2017</a>, PFF is calling on journalists everywhere to focus attention on one of the world's least reported areas. <p>"This year, global journalists must all prove themselves <em>wantoks </em>of the Papua press", she says.</p> <p>Indonesia improved eight places between 2015 and 2016 on the <a title="RSF | Indonesia" href="https://rsf.org/en/indonesia">RSF, Reporters Sans Frontiers World Press Freedom Index</a>, at 130 of 180 countries, but is still coded red for a generally “bad” situation. </p> <p><strong>HEADLINES </strong></p> <p>Most journalists discriminated against in Papua<br><a href="http://suarapapua.com/2017/02/05/jurnalis-papua-sering-didiskriminasi/">http://suarapapua.com/…/jurnalis-papua-sering-didiskrimina…/</a> (Indonesian) <p>Indonesia fails media test in West Papua<br><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fawpasydneynews.blogspot.co.nz%2F2017%2F02%2Findonesia-fails-media-test-in-west-papua.html&h=ATOAuve6y0_JeFtTp_DyvCrjY6J1Q6KF8JJwzEfbim44D8jM13d8Zm56GJdFYVrfdoNSQzrbJxP9hWPK1Ysp4IcnqgZP5FGc7dF4PSlxPkdPnv7gvJIIc0nIHalWvOnfiXwF1B9cqJvP7eI7IjY&enc=AZMDv5Uykyvv3BXyckuFrepnRfkzLyDr4HLKq2F3alxoGRrFgEZLCJzeKnks7lI_IevZoIm_OjkImiYbrAGtW_DpaG_TUQqMIJWb85Y7Om7C3PwZf492iRCqSr6_Tpd2plAP4e3Opp4u8rMa8-I9BN7eJijAsxxG-lSIlXYVz4JZ2g&s=1">https://awpasydneynews.blogspot.co.nz/…/indonesia-fails-med…</a> (English) <p>A voice from Papua<br><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wan-ifra.org%2Farticles%2F2017%2F01%2F05%2Fa-voice-from-papua-indonesia&h=ATOgXrL-OmsH_V9arJbwgNS0Mkq8fLfSVZ8ynU9yVbuBi7-ANF5OZMyhZYAu7jsF1BRTkatmBW6Y-OpDhU8EkYMIZoGPhzXnYC8hdCZVNKFWW7udVC__gZO3p541v1peYlLEGASFB85jU4tFNt8&enc=AZNEfFFo-9oaAP5_hyXm-1IzhsN2HX1FrTfc1uHPYp5JJakuQphN3wjRvBSVo3CD8aGiehm6KZK2Wb3XNw9_UEYeKmSKs6W2VkrnCAa-s8DotILyFY26-njawwiPdpLmsFYOpNWOyCpULwgYoX8OXm5L52rqKYEq8mksEqZLaTEOvg&s=1">https://www.wan-ifra.org/…/…/05/a-voice-from-papua-indonesia</a> (English) <p>In Papua, sexual harassment often occurs against women journalists<br><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftabloidjubi.com%2Fartikel-3458--di-papua-pelecehan-sexual-sering-terjadi-pada-jurnalis-perempuan-.html&h=ATPHPdAbAcc-G_sbS9MxpXXe8Ar8ADUeBUcK_cXvYPwgHvEQyYC8akLCG3_oW5BsJ_eJEPWZ8u6I5XoxNVrBtNG0s6KM6VzEuydF1wT_bBr7Ennqdd3I6vOrny8Zlo6NVAzMx0M94sFLaEtMui4&enc=AZOvC-0RQZ8B0OuEqObatwNsoOcxFpCzVwbcqs57PZcILB2l11CigNw244AETicN5JYOHC7CAgFbtQbVIoQQp7HQ0RX2qJu0tocFYNgqp7EQGhhT8h3Jn23g5snE43ZxKKra_TSr-uOlnVhOjFRTM9na4VXcP0z0uuwn3DS2wR6Pgg&s=1">http://tabloidjubi.com/artikel-3458--di-papua-pelecehan-sex…</a> (Indonesian) <p>Journalists in Papua Not Free of Bullying<br><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmakassar.tribunnews.com%2F2017%2F02%2F05%2Fjurnalis-di-papua-tak-terlepas-dari-intimidasi&h=ATMA9w9KeIDnVtlZbIZ5JGMv2MFW9UgR7lpAKAXVEwcEuVNOpMhVulCf1O-Ob8PeHyyT3yloUMLyrKy9T5V9gR6L3QVzKh-jDmiHOV-zboc8zdXjOLo9iws74pnlI6vHjuRqkZ0cgOGG8GPCJx4&enc=AZOyHw5my1ScGwnR0ulrhwt5-RfqUEc3acvrqckUGwYsZcuQ4TIwn4qAesh7y85XEL0Vz-GhviWSDw6BqWKDY4w_SqsInJBFcd52hiubNeuBRzUloTxEmll7cXTSMjQo_pRBU2J89IYOX3ybnA0KHGWyq2WCNsE23QXvzjEcprZXAA&s=1">http://makassar.tribunnews.com/…/jurnalis-di-papua-tak-terl…</a> (Indonesian) <p>Jakarta keeps strong grip on Papua as rallies intensify<br><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thejakartapost.com%2Fnews%2F2016%2F12%2F21%2Fjakarta-keeps-strong-grip-on-papua-as-rallies-intensify.html&h=ATNDLNrzMJtOgqnNhfDo4LQxAOFiXCc0Q4IQCkTXQw-Q2l9N-WX3zeoWzy9x-PZlf_a88OSSiQref_gCg52cTd4zRXLXGyfjTPW33as1JW2JIT0UNWa0fZ2o5pqM7rO0wUdb1riFD9OvGL6LYGA&enc=AZMGyKVMyIaOHF7AyCy28ldzjysDcepugvNmF13fFrhGZlYFnRxCFoVGb1as2kkkv9DonffEtaz_Knv0TQ0QOXaxPxSNuOqerYdudp2uV5bv3hKrmq9HKuq8Elsco9sH-FfPNDFwYUrnS-mEmwFbkWS723-vPJxFHQFsoHseM_MXhA&s=1">http://www.thejakartapost.com/…/jakarta-keeps-strong-grip-o…</a> (English) <p>Releasing Papua perspectives: Eight Indonesian journalists report their journey<br><a href="http://www.tribunnews.com/regional/2017/02/05/perspektif-pers-dari-tanah-papua-laporan-perjalanan-delapan-jurnalis-indonesia">http://www.tribunnews.com/…/perspektif-pers-dari-tanah-papu…</a> (Indonesian)</p> <p>. . .</p>Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-4394013688505421352017-01-14T15:30:00.001-11:002017-01-14T15:37:39.853-11:00Why France must rethink Polynesia radio shutdown - PFF<p> </p> <p><img alt="Image may contain: 1 person" src="https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12289652_913485705395779_3149456820239123355_n.jpg?oh=90c1ccf63960506b5a0be7b93b95531d&oe=5909476B" width="554" height="554"><br><strong>“It is criminal”</strong> – Te Tia Ara (French Polynesian Consumer Association) President Makalio Folituu has slammed the closure of AM radio, saying it endangers outer islanders. Photo / Te Tia Ara</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br></strong>14th January 2017 <p>France must rethink its shutdown of AM radio broadcasting in Polynesia, says PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum.</p> <p>“People in the outer islands of French Polynesia are rightly complaining against the closure,” says PFF Chair Monica Miller.</p> <p>“France must rethink its decision if it values the lives of all its citizens.”</p> <p>Miller says that France is ignoring the safety of outer islanders who rely on a strong AM signal from Radio Polynésie Première for emergencies, especially during frequent cyclones.</p> <p>French Polynesia has been hit by as many as five major cyclones in one season, back in the early 1980s. </p> <p>“What excuse has France got, really, for shutting down the main source of information for the region’s second largest territory?” asks Miller.</p> <p>“Surely the third largest economy in Europe can afford a few thousand for keeping all its citizens informed”, she says.</p> <p>PFF is welcoming calls from the government of French Polynesia to reconsider the closure, and joins criticism from consumer association, Te Tia Ara:</p> <blockquote> <p>"These decision makers - have they thought about these people living in harsh conditions, traveling by speed boat from island to island? Have they thought about our small scale fishermen going to sea, our workers in the transport sector? What about those who cultivate copra and who need to be reassured [of safe travel], have they thought of those people who do not want to be deprived of a bond [to the capital], to suffer in silence? Is it forgotten where isolation leads to? This decision is all the more serious because many of these inhabitants are only able to keep themselves informed with a small battery AM radio, with which authorities have invited these inhabitants to stay informed, to listen to the weather and take the necessary measures to avoid going to sea in case of a weather depression or cyclone and also to take care of themselves, to seek refuge when necessary. <strong>It is criminal to deprive them of the only means of staying informed.</strong> This relationship is vital, and so is the cohesion of our society and the security of these inhabitants." <em>- Makalio Folituu, President Te Tia Ara</em></p></blockquote> <p>AM signals were shut down in December, with the state broadcaster adding five stations to a territorial network of 48 other FM stations. </p> <p>“FM is vulnerable to disruption even in mild weather,” says Miller.</p> <p>“By shutting down its AM signal, France is also betraying constitutional guarantees for press plurality,” she says.</p> <p>French Polynesia joins a growing list of Pacific nations without long range radio broadcast capacity.</p> <p>The Cook Islands next door turned down its AM signal after the state broadcaster was privatised in the early 1990s.</p> <p>For years after, Cook Islanders outside the capital Rarotonga tuned into Samoa radio, 2AP. </p> <p>But then a decade later Samoa almost privatised state radio, eventually deciding to cut back signal strength and staff numbers.</p> <p>Australia is set to shut down shortwave broadcasting to the region on 17th January this month.</p> <p>Since 2008, PFF has also raised alerts over political interference in news media, including assaults, arrests, legal threats, censorship, suspension and sacking of staff in West Papua, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Vanuatu, Fiji, the Cook Islands and French Polynesia.</p> <p>"Governments need to stop seeing news media as their enemy", says Miller.</p> <p>Instead, she says, they should see the Fourth Estate as partners - frontline first responders to disasters, and the most effective and efficient protection for citizens and economies against corruption, waste and mismanagement.</p> <p>Radio Polynésie Première started broacasting as Radio Tahiti, for three hours a day, in 1949.</p> <p><strong>MORE</strong></p> <p>Loss of AM radio irks French Polynesia<br><a title="http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/321809/loss-of-am-radio-irks-french-polynesia" href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/321809/loss-of-am-radio-irks-french-polynesia">http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/321809/loss-of-am-radio-irks-french-polynesia</a></p> <p>Call to restore AM radio in French Polynesia<br><a title="http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/322025/call-to-restore-am-radio-in-french-polynesia" href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/322025/call-to-restore-am-radio-in-french-polynesia">http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/322025/call-to-restore-am-radio-in-french-polynesia</a></p> <p>Suppression de la radio AM : État et Pays montent au créneau (French)<br><a title="http://www.tahiti-infos.com/Suppression-de-la-radio-AM-Etat-et-Pays-montent-au-creneau_a156644.html#" href="http://www.tahiti-infos.com/Suppression-de-la-radio-AM-Etat-et-Pays-montent-au-creneau_a156644.html#">http://www.tahiti-infos.com/Suppression-de-la-radio-AM-Etat-et-Pays-montent-au-creneau_a156644.html#</a></p> <p>. . .</p>Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-62277710670539761422017-01-01T17:14:00.001-11:002017-01-01T19:39:05.716-11:00PFF starts 2017 with a new home<p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y3zYQ7hJVgs/WGnTXQQW3vI/AAAAAAAAOzY/WyIEcSbV_2Q/s1600-h/PFF%252520new%252520website%25255B12%25255D.png"><img title="PFF new website" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PFF new website" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OAhftaG0GOs/WGnTZ-oWsdI/AAAAAAAAOzc/XEs_t794FhM/PFF%252520new%252520website_thumb%25255B17%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="466" height="367"></a><br><font face="Calibri"><strong>New year – new site:</strong> PFF starts 2017 with a website to rebuild, and a new focus on action as well as scrutiny. <a title="PFF official website" href="http://www.pacificfreedomforum.info/" target="_blank">Image / PFF</a></font></p> <p> </p> <p>. . .</p> <p><font size="5">“Having highlighted freedom and ethics problems facing news media since 2008, PFF hopes to lead into its tenth anniversary next year by suggesting actions and implementing solutions.”</font></p> <p> </p> <p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>1st January 2017</p> <p><em>Mataora mataiti ou – happy new year !</em></p> <p>Pacific Freedom Forum starts 2017 with a new online platform.</p> <p>See <a href="http://www.pacificfreedomforum.info">www.pacificfreedomforum.info</a> – which we’re rebuilding from the interim PFF <a title="Facebook | Pacific Freedom Forum" href="https://web.facebook.com/pg/PacificFreedomForum/notes/" target="_blank">Facebook home</a>.</p> <p>The new site will act as a focus point for media freedom and ethics as we take action heading into a brand new year.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GYPcgjKdq80/WGnTeNQhvEI/AAAAAAAAOzg/sSskGoDeNJA/s1600-h/PIMA%2525202016%252520executive%25255B3%25255D.png"><img title="PIMA 2016 executive" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PIMA 2016 executive" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Kp2fJ020jjA/WGnTgjF0TUI/AAAAAAAAOzk/W0TRKHzH0OM/PIMA%2525202016%252520executive_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="295" height="216"></a><br><font face="Calibri"><strong>Helping out :</strong> PFF Editor Jason Brown, assisting PIMA, the Pacific Islands Media Association, at their AGM last month. From left, PIMA Chair Will ‘Ilolahia, adviser Manu Fotu, vice Chair Judy Bataillard, and board member George Vea. </font></p> <p><strong>PROBLEMS, ACTIONS AND SOLUTIONS</strong></p> <p>Having highlighted freedom and ethics problems facing news media since 2008, PFF hopes to lead into its tenth anniversary next year by suggesting actions and implementing solutions.</p> <p>“We are currently looking at our founding structures, and what we can do to ensure that our advocacy reaches the widest possible audiences,” says PFF Chair Monica Miller.</p> <p>“That means building on existing partnerships, with IFEX, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, and closer to home, PINA, the Pacific Islands News Association, and PIMA, the Pacific Islands Media Association.</p> <p>“We will also be forging new partnerships to build our capacity, including moving on from our volunteer-only status towards an established secretariat.”</p> <p><strong>PROBLEMS</strong></p> <p><a title="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/2017-deadline-for-papua-press-freedom-in-rogue-provinces-pff/1238619012844962" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/2017-deadline-for-papua-press-freedom-in-rogue-provinces-pff/1238619012844962"><img title="PFF west papua" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PFF west papua" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pH6pz-6WhVA/WGnTiVhpM_I/AAAAAAAAOzo/H44Wdh03_0A/PFF%252520west%252520papua%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="299" height="284"></a><br><font face="Calibri"><strong>Merdeka:</strong> Indonesia hosts 2017 World Press Freedom Day – but will it allow free access to West Papua?</font></p> <p>A leading concern remaining from 2016 is continued attacks on freedom of expression in West Papua. </p> <p>Indonesia’s Tempo magazine quotes a human rights organisation recording that : <blockquote> <p>“declining indexes were apparent from restrictions of freedom of expression, for instance criminalization of human rights activists, Papua residents and journalists. Setara Institute recorded that the highest number of human rights violations occurred in Papua, where <strong>29 people were criminalized, 2,397 people were arrested during protests, 13 people were killed, 68 were shot and [there were] two murder attempts in 2016</strong>.” </p></blockquote> <p>PFF has called on Indonesia to stop attacks on media freedom in West Papua, calling for foreign media to be given full and free access to provinces ahead of Jakarta hosting <a title="PFF | 2017 deadline for Papua press freedom in "rogue" provinces" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/2017-deadline-for-papua-press-freedom-in-rogue-provinces-pff/1238619012844962" target="_blank">World Press Freedom Day</a> in May this year. <p><strong>OTHER PROBLEMS</strong> <p><a title="PFF | Nauru observers must monitor media access" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/nauru-observers-must-monitor-media-access-pff/1239416926098504"><img title="PFF nauru" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PFF nauru" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pVafHO1TMNw/WGnTkWNPI-I/AAAAAAAAOzs/U46JBeetFTQ/PFF%252520nauru%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="272"></a><br><font face="Calibri"><strong>Local media:</strong> Nauru blocked opposition access to state news – but election observers still declared the elections ‘fair’. </font> <p>There were also attacks on media and freedom of expression in Papua New Guinea, <a title="PFF | Police should stay out of politics" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/police-should-stay-out-of-politics-pff/1247250008648529" target="_blank">Solomon Islands</a>, <a title="PFF | Build cross-party support for free media" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/build-cross-party-support-for-free-media-pff/1151349404905257" target="_blank">Vanuatu</a>, <a title="PFF | Free and fair media access for all" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/free-and-fair-access-to-all-media-pff/1253266618046868" target="_blank">Nauru</a>, <a title="PFF | Suspension of Tonga broadcaster betrays media freedom" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/suspension-of-tonga-broadcaster-betrays-media-freedom-pff/1189034484470082" target="_blank">Tonga</a>, <a title="PFF | Scrap the Fiji ad contract" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/scrap-the-fiji-ad-contract-pff/1127410243965840" target="_blank">Fiji</a>, and <a title="PFF | Samoa police should follow officer's example" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/samoa-police-should-follow-officers-example-pff/1146342575405940" target="_blank">Samoa</a>. <p>Other media challenges arose in <a title="PFF | Samoa suicide story shameful" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/samoa-suicide-story-shameful-pff/1226223294084534" target="_blank">Samoa</a>, <a title="PFF | Abandon 'overkill' case against Fiji Times – PFF" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/abandon-overkill-case-against-fiji-times-pff/1280810751959121" target="_blank">Fiji</a> and the <a title="PIRP | Cook Islands Herald publisher faces contempt of court charges" href="http://www.pireport.org/articles/2016/11/03/cook-islands-herald-publisher-faces-contempt-court-charges" target="_blank">Cook Islands</a>. <p>Three new elements of PFF scrutiny emerged this last year – an assault against a <a title="PFF | Stop assaults on free speech" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/stop-assaults-on-free-speech-pff/1153008884739309" target="_blank">social network user in Vanuatu</a>, and the arrest of a <a title="PFF | Police must drop child arrest" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/png-police-must-drop-child-arrest-pff/1244852755554921" target="_blank">12 year old girl in Papua New Guinea</a> over a Facebook post; a failure by Commonwealth and Pacific Islands Forum officials to fully scrutinise <a title="PFF | Nauru observers must monitor media access" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/nauru-observers-must-monitor-media-access-pff/1239416926098504" target="_blank">censorship of local news media</a> in the lead up to elections in Nauru, and the long neglected issue of <a title="PFF | News leaders must stop bullying women" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/news-leaders-must-stop-bullying-women-pff/1147845468588984" target="_blank">bullying in newsrooms</a>, especially against women, usually by male bosses. <p><strong>ACTIONS </strong> <p><a title="PFF | Pacific Media Ombudsman" href="https://web.facebook.com/Pacific-Press-Freedom-495988933782969/?fref=ts"><img title="PFF press ombudsman" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PFF press ombudsman" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KIvXSeiLkrw/WGnTmL6k2RI/AAAAAAAAOzw/IVrNHTVFbjE/PFF%252520press%252520ombudsman%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="282" height="268"></a><br><font face="Calibri"><strong>Funding: </strong>PFF is looking for support to help establish a Pacific media ombudsman.</font></p> <p>PFF is actively seeking funding this year to go towards its scrutiny of media freedom and ethics issues. </p> <p>Funding sought will support operations of the secretariat, and establishment of a Pacific media ombudsman, first mooted at a PFF conference in the Solomon Islands in 2013.</p> <p>Another significant development from 2016 was new levels of cooperation between the various Pacific media groups.</p> <p><strong><a title="PFF | Death of Samoa media pioneer unites media" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/death-of-samoa-media-pioneer-unites-media/1293274050712791"><img title="PFF joint statement" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PFF joint statement" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j1CzIMirsls/WGnTn9_8hwI/AAAAAAAAOz0/9hL7uMS1jVY/PFF%252520joint%252520statement%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="307" height="291"></a></strong></p> <p><strong>SOLUTIONS</strong></p> <p>A notable event was the first ever joint statement between the Pacific Freedom Forum, PINA Pacific Islands News Association based in Fiji and PIMA Pacific Islands Media Association, based in New Zealand.</p> <p>PFF also played a pivotal role assisting PIMA, proposing radical new levels of transparency and accountability, with members agreeing at their annual general meeting two weeks ago.</p> <p>PFF says that the three groups have had professional disagreements in the past, especially over ethics, and accountability.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3BWvPbStqvU/WGnTp0OR7CI/AAAAAAAAOz4/eb-OOZjJnXM/s1600-h/PFF%252520bullying%25255B3%25255D.png"><strong><a title="PFF | News leaders must stop bullying women" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/news-leaders-must-stop-bullying-women-pff/1147845468588984"><img title="PFF bullying" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="PFF bullying" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fwKgTBu9P6s/WGnTsSme91I/AAAAAAAAOz8/b0C55lx0knE/PFF%252520bullying%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="289" height="252"></a></strong></a><br><strong>Weakness: </strong>Newsrooms are often subject to bullying from management. </p> <p><strong>TURNING WEAKNESSES INTO STRENGTHS</strong></p> <p>“But there seems to be an agreement evolving to focus on building media strengths, as well as exposing weaknesses and suggesting potential solutions,” says Miller. </p> <p>Debate over professional standards should, for example, be seen as a strength, not a weakness, she says.</p> <p>Greater scrutiny improves news transparency, and media accountability adds to the credibility of the Fourth Estate, says Miller.</p> <p><strong></strong> </p> <p><strong>MORE</strong></p> <p>29 October 2016<br><strong>Free access call for Fiji - PFF<br></strong><a title="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/free-access-call-for-fiji-pff/1362264390480423" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/free-access-call-for-fiji-pff/1362264390480423">https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/free-access-call-for-fiji-pff/1362264390480423</a> <p>2 October 2016<br><strong>Fiji action against gag letter shows leadership - PFF</strong><br><a title="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/fiji-action-against-gag-letter-shows-leadership-pff/1331661253540737" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/fiji-action-against-gag-letter-shows-leadership-pff/1331661253540737">https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/fiji-action-against-gag-letter-shows-leadership-pff/1331661253540737</a> <p>22 September 2016<br><strong>Regional journalists push job safety for PNG media<br></strong><a title="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/regional-journalists-push-job-safety-for-png-media/1321431701230359" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/regional-journalists-push-job-safety-for-png-media/1321431701230359">https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/regional-journalists-push-job-safety-for-png-media/1321431701230359</a> <p>29 August 2016<br><strong>Death of Samoa media pioneer unites media<br></strong><a title="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/death-of-samoa-media-pioneer-unites-media/1293274050712791" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/death-of-samoa-media-pioneer-unites-media/1293274050712791">https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/death-of-samoa-media-pioneer-unites-media/1293274050712791</a> <p>19 August 2016<br><strong>Abandon 'overkill' case against Fiji Times – PFF<br></strong><a title="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/abandon-overkill-case-against-fiji-times-pff/1280810751959121" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/abandon-overkill-case-against-fiji-times-pff/1280810751959121">https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/abandon-overkill-case-against-fiji-times-pff/1280810751959121</a> <p>28 July 2016<br><strong>PNG police should protect press, people - PFF</strong><br><a title="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/png-police-should-protect-press-people-pff/1256944894345707" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/png-police-should-protect-press-people-pff/1256944894345707">https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/png-police-should-protect-press-people-pff/1256944894345707</a> <p>24 July 2016<br><strong>Free and fair access to all media - PFF<br></strong><a title="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/free-and-fair-access-to-all-media-pff/1253266618046868" href="https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/free-and-fair-access-to-all-media-pff/1253266618046868">https://web.facebook.com/notes/pacific-freedom-forum/free-and-fair-access-to-all-media-pff/1253266618046868</a> <p>. . .</p>Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-25563878321826594632016-12-29T14:26:00.001-11:002016-12-29T14:26:27.696-11:00PFF tributes for two press legends<p> </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-12ATS4iaHZQ/WGW3vtNsMEI/AAAAAAAAOxQ/1uz_ug3K8qE/s1600-h/oseah%252520philemon%252520and%252520susuve%252520laumaea%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="oseah philemon and susuve laumaea" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="oseah philemon and susuve laumaea" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RuRLrKdF1i4/WGW3wiHYcCI/AAAAAAAAOxU/k0iDUis1w18/oseah%252520philemon%252520and%252520susuve%252520laumaea_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="478" height="279"></a></p> <p><font size="2"><font face="Calibri"><strong>Giants:</strong> Oseah Philemon and Susuve Laumaea were two giants of the Papua New Guinea press – PFF is paying tribute to their long careers promoting media freedom. Photo / <a title="Loop PNG | ' PM pays tribute to two outstanding media icons '" href="http://www.looppng-sb.com/png-news/pm-o%E2%80%99neill-pays-tribute-two-outstanding-media-icons-49152" target="_blank">LoopPNG</a>.</font> </font></p> <p><font size="5"><em></em></font> </p> <p><font size="5"><em>“.. the passing of these two legends is a huge loss not just to Papua New Guinea but to the Pacific regional media scene”</em><br>- PFF</font></p> <p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br></strong>Friday, 29th December 2016<br></p> <p>Pacific Freedom Forum is joining tributes to two leading media icons of Papua New Guinea, after they both died within days of each other this month.</p> <p>“Like most icons, both men had numerous nicknames across the huge range of people they knew, helped and loved, at all levels of society” says PFF Chair Monica Miller.</p> <p>“Known most affectionately by their acronyms – OP and SL – the passing of these two legends is a huge loss not just to Papua New Guinea but to the Pacific regional media scene.”</p> <p>Miller says Philemon and Laumaea made many contributions to regional awareness in support of media freedom, and the vital role the Fourth Estate plays in national development.</p> <p>PFF’s statement on Oseah Philemon can be found <a title="PFF | ' Oseah Philemon–another Pacific press loss '" href="http://www.pacificfreedomforum.info/2016/12/oseah-philemonanother-pacific-press-loss.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p>PFF’s statement on Susuve Laumaea can be found <a title="PFF | ' Pacific press legend passes in PNG '" href="http://www.pacificfreedomforum.info/2016/12/pacific-press-legend-passes-in-png.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>CONTACTS</strong> <p>Monica Miller<br>PFF Chair<br>News Director<br>South Seas Broadcasting<br>American Samoa <a href="mailto:monica@southseasbroadcasting.com">monica@southseasbroadcasting.com</a> <p>Netani Rika<br>PFF Coordinator<br>Communications Director<br>Pacific Council of Churches Fiji<br><a href="mailto:netrika66@gmail.com">netrika66@gmail.com</a> <p>Jason Brown<br>PFF Editor<br>Islands Business correspondent<br>Aotearoa, New Zealand<br><a href="mailto:jasonbrown1965@live.com">jasonbrown1965@live.com</a><br>+64224340831<br><strong><br></strong><strong>ABOUT PFF </strong><br><em><br></em><em>The Pacific Freedom Forum is 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.</em></p> <p>. . .</p>Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-27891868978711580162016-12-29T13:59:00.001-11:002016-12-29T13:59:01.576-11:00Pacific press legend passes in PNG<p> </p> <p><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U_Il6qf8xUI/Uy4dqhzeHyI/AAAAAAAAED0/EBPII7RpdyAhO1zHKnun8V73rZtpd0mKACL0B/s572-no/288fd9ed-3142-4d44-9a8f-615d6b261df0"></p> <p><font face="Calibri"><strong>Post-Laumaea:</strong> Susuve Laumaea, pictured right, at a function in 2014. His death attracted dozens of messages of condolence from colleagues in PNG and around the region.</font></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="5"><em><strong>“My heart is broken” <br></strong><font size="2">– former PFF Chair Titi Gabi</font></em></font><font size="2"> </font></p> <p>. . .<br><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br></strong>PFF Friday, 29 December, 2016<br>. . .</p> <p>Island media communities are mourning a loss from the Pacific press – longtime Papua New Guinea journalist Susuve Laumaea.</p> <p>“My heart is broken,” says former Pacific Freedom Forum Chair Titi Gabi, who succeeded Laumaea as head of PFF in 2011.</p> <p>Laumaea was, she says, one of “the only senior journalists in PNG to care enough to give our efforts time and advice and leadership.”</p> <p><strong>GRIEF</strong></p> <p>Gabi joined dozens of Papua New Guinea media and communications colleagues, friends and family in an outpouring of grief. </p> <p>She praised him as founding chair of the <a title="Radio Australia | PNG media reporting without fear or favour" href="http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/png-media-reporting-without-fear-or-favour/937836" target="_blank">Papua New Guinea Media Workers Association</a>, providing leadership until his death.</p> <p>First messages of sympathy appeared on his <a title="Facebook | Susuve Laumaea" href="https://www.facebook.com/susuve.laumaea" target="_blank">personal profile</a> around 5am, Port Moresby time.</p> <p><strong>LION HEARTED</strong></p> <p>Current PFF Chair Monica Miller says Laumaea will be remembered for a lion-hearted voice not just in Port Moresby, but capitals around the Pacific.</p> <p>“He was equally fearless telling off the oil industry – which he worked for – as he was his own profession of journalism – which he also worked for,” says Miller, recalling his impact from her home base in Pagopago.</p> <p>Laumaea was a founding member of the Pacific Freedom Forum. </p> <p><strong>REELING</strong></p> <p>Colleagues were still reeling from his death, when another press legend Oseah Philemon also died, just days later, attracting <a title="The National PNG | ' Senior journalists die '" href="http://www.thenational.com.pg/senior-journalists-die/" target="_blank">top level</a> <a title="Loop PNG | ' PM O’Neill pays tribute to two outstanding media icons '" href="http://www.looppng-sb.com/png-news/pm-o%E2%80%99neill-pays-tribute-two-outstanding-media-icons-49152" target="_blank">tributes</a>, including from Prime Minister Peter O’Neill:</p> <blockquote> <p>“The late Susuve Laumaea and the late Oseah Philemon each made great contributions to the communication of essential information to our people.”</p></blockquote> <p>In one of his last emails, posted online by Gorethy Kenneth, Philemon praised Laumaea as a “A great writer, thinker, friend, citizen – no word or words can best describe his character.”</p> <p><strong>DARK SIDE</strong></p> <p>Laumaea also worked as PR for an oil company, and once stood as a political candidate for Gulf Bay, laughing off challenges by fellow journalists about conflicts of interest.</p> <p>Susuve Laumaea may have ‘crossed to the dark side’ of public relations but a journalist he was, and a journalist he remained.</p> <p>Even when he worked for 'their' side, behind the scenes, Susuve Laumaea was always also working, if not fighting, for media freedom. </p> <p><strong>UNIVERSAL RIGHT</strong></p> <p>He translated journalism voices into governance contexts that newcomers to power ignored at their peril.</p> <p>In one of his most comprehensive speeches to remain online, Laumaea in 2010 laid out his vision for <a title="UNESCO | Susuve Laumaea | World Press Freedom Day 2010" href="http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/WPFD2009/pdf/wpfd2010_background_SLaumaeaThreats+to+Media+Freedom+and+Freedom+of+Information+in+the+South+Pacific.pdf" target="_blank">media freedom in the Pacific</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>“Freedom of Information and the right to know is a universal right of every man, woman and child on God Almighty’s Planet Earth.”</p></blockquote> <p><strong>ROBUST</strong></p> <p>Even as a PR person Laumaea was robust in his criticism of attacks against the media.</p> <blockquote> <p>“When powerful economic and political forces turn against the media for what is written, said or viewed, they forget that they create the news and the media merely reports what’s said and done by the same economic and political players.”</p></blockquote> <p>On his Academia profile as an <a title="Academia | Susuve Laumaea" href="https://independent.academia.edu/SusuveLaumaea" target="_blank">independent researcher</a>, Laumaea listed his interests as <br>anti-corruption, human rights and corruption, and anti-money laundering.</p> <p>In the words of another colleague, Franzalbert Joku, posting on his profile, “Till we meet in the next edition…”</p> <p><strong>CONTACTS</strong></p> <p>Monica Miller<br>PFF Chair<br>News Director<br>South Seas Broadcasting<br>American Samoa <a href="mailto:monica@southseasbroadcasting.com">monica@southseasbroadcasting.com</a></p> <p>Netani Rika<br>PFF Coordinator<br>Communications Director<br>Pacific Council of Churches Fiji<br><a href="mailto:netrika66@gmail.com">netrika66@gmail.com</a></p> <p>Jason Brown<br>PFF Editor<br>Islands Business correspondent<br>Aotearoa, New Zealand<br><a href="mailto:jasonbrown1965@live.com+64224340831">jasonbrown1965@live.com<br>+64224340831</a><br><strong><br></strong><strong>ABOUT PFF </strong><br><em><br></em><em>The Pacific Freedom Forum is 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.</em></p> <p>. . .</p>Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-47038594273029095172016-12-29T12:46:00.001-11:002016-12-29T12:46:00.137-11:00Oseah Philemon–another Pacific press loss<p> </p> <p><img src="http://looppacificassets.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_large/s3/thumbnails/image/28_-_oseah_philemon.jpg?itok=A6k0kEXd"></p> <p><font face="Cambria"><strong>Press pioneer :</strong> death of Oseah Philemon is the second major blow for the Pacific press, following that of a Papua New Guinea colleague, Susuve Laumaea, this same month.</font> Photo / <a title="LoopPNG | " Oseah Philemon leaves a legacy in journalism "" href="http://www.looppng.com/png-news/oseah-philemon-leaves-legacy-journalism-49061" target="_blank">LoopPNG</a></p> <p><font size="5"><em></em></font> </p> <p><font size="5"><em>“OP was an inspiration for generations of news and other media workers in Papua New Guinea”<br>- PFF</em></font> </p> <p><strong></strong> </p> <p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br></strong>PFF, Friday 29 December 2016</p> <p><strong></strong> </p> <p> </p> <p>Papua New Guinea press pioneer Oseah Philemon has died, to <a title="EMTV | ' Governor Naru Passes Condolence to late Veteran Journalist, Oseah Philemon’s Family '" href="http://www.emtv.com.pg/news/2016/12/governor-naru-passes-condolence-to-late-veteran-journalist-oseah-philemons-family/" target="_blank">deep grief</a> at <a title="PNG Loop | ' Oseah Philemon leaves a legacy in journalism '" href="http://www.looppng-sb.com/png-news/oseah-philemon-leaves-legacy-journalism-49061" target="_blank">home</a> and around the <a title="RNZ | ' Former editor of PNG's Post Courier dies '" href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/321310/former-editor-of-png's-post-courier-dies" target="_blank">Pacific media</a> community.</p> <p>“OP was an inspiration for generations of news and other media workers in <a title="PNG Post Courier | ' Former Post-Courier Chief and veteran Journalist passes on '" href="https://www.facebook.com/South.Pacific.Post/photos/a.195587753917142.53683.195574833918434/832305016912076/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Papua New Guinea</a>,” says Monica Miller, Chair for PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum.</p> <p>“He was also a strong regional voice for spreading ethics and independence among his colleagues, in newsrooms all over the Pacific.”</p> <p>As a vice-president of PINA, the Pacific Islands News Association, the region’s oldest news organisation, Philemon was quick to <a title="Bulunganatamlam | ' Professional female investigative journalist '" href="https://bulunganatamlam.wordpress.com/professional-female-investigative-journalist/" target="_blank">praise</a> and <a title="Pacific Media Watch | ' Fiji's Chaudhry duels with news media '" href="http://www.davidrobie.org.nz/cafepacific/resources/aspac/fiji2459.html" target="_blank">defend</a> colleagues, including foreign <a title="Radio Australia | ' Too many whites in media says academic '" href="http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/onairhighlights/too-many-whites-in-media-says-academic" target="_blank">editors</a> working in the islands. </p> <p>Philemon was a confirmed <a title="1988 | Pacific Islands Monthly" href="https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=i4h0AAAAMAAJ&q=%22oseah+philemon%22+%22pacific+island%22&dq=%22oseah+philemon%22+%22pacific+island%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiUhILph5nRAhXBHpQKHSH9ATwQ6AEIGzAA" target="_blank">regionalist</a> from the <a title="Iowa State University Press | Existential Journalism" href="https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=z8-7QgAACAAJ&dq=%22oseah+philemon%22+%22pacific+island%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiUhILph5nRAhXBHpQKHSH9ATwQ6AEIJDAC" target="_blank">earliest</a> days, encouraging regionalism at the media meetings he attended, and the many more meetings he referred staff and other <a title="Pacific Journalism | Oseah Philemon - OP - A Chief with a Big Heart" href="https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=U1hlAAAAMAAJ&q=%22oseah+philemon%22+internet&dq=%22oseah+philemon%22+internet&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi19IKViZnRAhUBNZQKHTV-DYMQ6AEIMjAE" target="_blank">colleagues</a> towards.</p> <p>As well as a regionalist, Philemon was also a realist. During a 2005 gun summit, he expressed <a title="ANU | ' Globalisation and Governance in the Pacific Islands '" href="https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=ScP3AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA386&dq=%22oseah+philemon%22+region&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiBxsTGhpnRAhXBHpQKHSH9ATwQ6AEIGTAA#v=onepage&q=%22oseah%20philemon%22%20region&f=false" target="_blank">scepticism</a> about the power of the media to influence society:</p> <blockquote> <p>“Newspapers were available only in towns; radio was listened to by those who could afford it, while TV was a luxury to many Papua New Guineans.” </p></blockquote> <p>He may had have similar scepticism about the advent of the internet, and it’s creation of a new divide, this time digital.</p> <p>Already saddened from the loss of <a title="Google | Susuve Laumaea results for last month" href="https://www.google.co.nz/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=%22oseah+philemon%22+#q=%22susuve+laumaea%22&hl=en&tbs=qdr:m" target="_blank">Susuve Laumaea</a>, Papua New Guinea news media were stunned with the news that “OP” had also died.</p> <p>Tributes poured in for both men, including from <a title="PNG Loop | ' PM O’Neill pays tribute to two outstanding media icons '" href="http://www.looppng-sb.com/png-news/pm-o%E2%80%99neill-pays-tribute-two-outstanding-media-icons-49152" target="_blank">Prime Minister Peter O’Neill</a>. </p> <p>Described by some sites as ‘retired’, the last piece written by Philemon appeared online <a title="PNG Daily Updates | ' PNGEC sets new date for candidates '" href="https://pngdailyupdates.com/?s=oseah+" target="_blank">just four days</a> before his passing – still with an eye to a headline pun.</p> <p>It was the other daily, The National, that linked the passing of Philemon with an earlier PNG media memorial – that of <a title="The National PNG | ' Senior journalists die '" href="http://www.thenational.com.pg/senior-journalists-die/" target="_blank">Susuve Laumaea</a>, a former Chair of the Pacific Freedom Forum. </p> <p>If Laumaea was renown for his volcanic criticism of journalism ethics, Philemon was an entire mountain range of media ethics and independence.</p> <p>Perhaps his most compassionate moment in service of both those qualities came during the 1999 PINA convention held in Pape’ete, French Polynesia.</p> <p>His embrace of <a title="Islands Business | media" href="https://books.google.co.nz/books?id=W9K2AAAAIAAJ&dq=%22oseah+philemon%22+online&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=%22oseah+philemon%22" target="_blank">Maire Bopp Dupont</a>, a journalism student; the first Pacific Islander to go public with HIV, set the tone for sympathetic press coverage from some 200 news media leaders from all over the Pacific Islands.</p> <p>A quick online search reveals just over 120 links to <a title="Google books | Oseah Philemon" href="https://www.google.co.nz/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=%22oseah+philemon%22+" target="_blank">Philemon and his stories quoted in academic studies</a>, and other sources under Google Books. </p> <p>Overall, there are 3,310 links online for Philemon.</p> <p><strong>CONTACTS</strong></p> <p>Monica Miller<br>PFF Chair<br>News Director<br>South Seas Broadcasting<br>American Samoa <a href="mailto:monica@southseasbroadcasting.com">monica@southseasbroadcasting.com</a></p> <p>Netani Rika<br>PFF Coordinator<br>Communications Director<br>Pacific Council of Churches Fiji<br><a href="mailto:netrika66@gmail.com">netrika66@gmail.com</a></p> <p>Jason Brown<br>PFF Editor<br>Islands Business correspondent<br>Aotearoa, New Zealand<br><a href="mailto:jasonbrown1965@live.com">jasonbrown1965@live.com</a><br>+64224340831<br><strong><br></strong><strong>ABOUT PFF </strong><br><em><br></em><em>The Pacific Freedom Forum is 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.</em><br>. . .</p>Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-39775432231447347412016-12-08T10:17:00.000-11:002016-12-08T10:21:05.489-11:00Stop shortwave cut to Pacific - PFF<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK1"></a> <br />
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<a href="https://vanuatudaily.wordpress.com/2016/12/08/australian-ministerial-delegation-visits-vanuatu-as-end-australian-shortwave-broadcasts-pacific-announced/" target="_blank"><img alt="Australia’s Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, arrived today in Port Vila, leading a bipartisan delegation including International Development and Pacific Minister, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, and their Opposition counterparts, Senator Penny Wong and Senator Claire Moore. Photo: DFAT" src="https://vanuatudaily.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/australia-ministers-visit-vanuatu-julie-bishop.jpg?w=590&h=392" /></a> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>A short wave goodbye – </b>at the same time as an official visit to Vanuatu, Australia announced shortwave services would be cut, causing alarm across the Pacific region. <em>Pictured,</em> Australia’s Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, arriving in Port Vila, leading a bipartisan delegation including International Development and Pacific Minister, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, and Opposition counterparts, Senator Penny Wong and Senator Claire Moore. Photo: DFAT </span><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></em>
<em><span style="font-size: large;">“It's clear that no thought was given to the link between disaster communications and this service, or even the fact that FM is largely unreliable in bad weather and only available in urban areas”</span></em> <br />
- PFF <br />
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br />
PFF Friday, 9 November, 2016 <br />
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Australia needs to urgently reverse a decision to end shortwave radio broadcasts to the Pacific by January next year, says PFF, Pacific Freedom Forum. <br />
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"There seems to be no logic or connection with realities facing Pacific listeners and audiences across the region who will be effectively be cut off from news, information, and life saving information during disasters," says PFF Chair Monica Miller, of American Samoa. <br />
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PFF members are condemning the Australian Broadcasting Corporations announcement that ABC International’s shortwave services currently broadcast to Papua New Guinea and the Pacific will end in less than two months. <br />
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<strong>SHAME</strong> <br />
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"As Pacific nations are going through the usual cyclone cyclone, its just such a shame that they will lose a key, credible information source to rely on,” says Miller. <br />
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“It's clear that no thought was given to the link between disaster communications and this service, or even the fact that FM is largely unreliable in bad weather and only available in urban areas." <br />
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"It's a slap in the face for the millions who've connected to Australia and to regional news through this service, because they are unlikely to be the ones targeted in the new digital content offerings being touted by ABC." <br />
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<strong>URGE</strong> <br />
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PFF is also urging Pacific governments to raise the issue with Australia, and remind the Turnball administration of its promises to the international community to refocus assistance towards the Pacific. <br />
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“What better use of tax payers dollars than a service that helps communities prepare for natural disaster such as potential tsunami, from earthquakes like the Solomon Islands has just today experienced, and other natural disasters, especially cyclones,” says Miller. <br />
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“While we can appreciate that any broadcaster wants to keep up with the times, ditching the SW transmission service which is an information lifeline to so many in the Pacific, is not smart strategically and demonstrates a lack of vision or involvement in the much-appreciated Pacific footprint ABC has across small island developing states. <br />
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<strong>DISASTER</strong> <br />
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"It's disappointing to see the service disappear, and more sadly, it will add to the concerns of disaster management officials when national telecommunication systems are down and no information will get to rural populations through a medium they still trust and use.” <br />
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The ABC decision follows that of Radio New Zealand International earlier year to cut back their short-wave transmissions. <br />
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It also comes ten years after a parliamentary review in Australia, of aid to the Pacific, agreed with a call from the region to maintain and improve regional broadcasting services. <br />
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<b>LINKS </b><br />
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Radio Australia Shortwave Broadcasts to End on January 31 <br />
<a href="http://www.arrl.org/news/radio-australia-shortwave-broadcasts-to-end-on-january-31"><u>http://www.arrl.org/news/radio-australia-shortwave-broadcasts-to-end-on-january-31</u></a> <br />
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Radio Australia bai pinisim shortwave broadcast <br />
<a href="http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/tokpisin/2016-12-07/radio-australia-bai-pinisim-shortwave-broadcast/1638006"><u>http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/tokpisin/2016-12-07/radio-australia-bai-pinisim-shortwave-broadcast/1638006</u></a> <br />
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Australian ministerial delegation visits Vanuatu — as end of Australian shortwave broadcasts to Pacific is announced <br />
<a href="https://vanuatudaily.wordpress.com/2016/12/08/australian-ministerial-delegation-visits-vanuatu-as-end-australian-shortwave-broadcasts-pacific-announced/"><u>https://vanuatudaily.wordpress.com/2016/12/08/australian-ministerial-delegation-visits-vanuatu-as-end-australian-shortwave-broadcasts-pacific-announced/</u></a> <br />
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ABC pulling plug on Pacific shortwave 'not good news' <br />
<a href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/319836/abc-pulling-plug-on-pacific-shortwave-'not-good-news'"><u>http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/319836/abc-pulling-plug-on-pacific-shortwave-'not-good-news'</u></a> <br />
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Pacific listeners upset at ABC ending shortwave service <br />
<a href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201826840/pacific-listeners-upset-at-abc-ending-shortwave-service"><u>http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/201826840/pacific-listeners-upset-at-abc-ending-shortwave-service</u></a> <br />
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RNZI to run single shortwave transmitter for analogue and DRM <br />
<a href="http://swling.com/blog/2016/06/rnzi-to-run-single-shortwave-transmitter-for-analog-and-drm/"><u>http://swling.com/blog/2016/06/rnzi-to-run-single-shortwave-transmitter-for-analog-and-drm/</u></a> <br />
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ABC decision to halt shortwave broadcasts criticised <br />
<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-06/abc-decision-to-halt-shortwave-broadcasts/8097728"><u>http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-06/abc-decision-to-halt-shortwave-broadcasts/8097728</u></a> <br />
<br />
2006 Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade inquiry into Australia's aid program in the Pacific <br />
<a href="http://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/house_of_representatives_committees?url=jfadt/pacificaid/report/fullreport.pdf" title="http://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/house_of_representatives_committees?url=jfadt/pacificaid/report/fullreport.pdf">http://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/house_of_representatives_committees?url=jfadt/pacificaid/report/fullreport.pdf</a> <br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>CONTACTS</strong> <br />
<br />
Monica Miller <br />
PFF Chair <br />
News Director <br />
South Seas Broadcasting <br />
American Samoa <a href="mailto:monica@southseasbroadcasting.com">monica@southseasbroadcasting.com</a> <br />
<br />
Netani Rika <br />
PFF Coordinator <br />
Communications Director <br />
Pacific Council of Churches Fiji<br />
<a href="mailto:netrika66@gmail.com">netrika66@gmail.com</a><br />
<br />
Jason Brown <br />
PFF Editor <br />
Islands Business correspondent <br />
Aotearoa, New Zealand<br />
<a href="mailto:jasonbrown1965@live.com">jasonbrown1965@live.com</a> <br />
+64224340831 <br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>ABOUT PFF </strong> <br />
<em><br /></em>
<em>The Pacific Freedom Forum is 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.</em> <br />
<br />
. . .<br />
<br /></div>
Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-90249307364953586132016-10-28T14:31:00.000-11:002016-12-31T14:32:49.162-11:00Enter a post title<iframe style="overflow: hidden; border-top: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none" height="510" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2Fnotes%2Fpacific-freedom-forum%2Ffree-access-call-for-fiji-pff%2F1362264390480423&width=350&show_text=true&appId=151303315350187&height=1510" frameborder="0" width="350" allowtransparency scrolling="no"></iframe>Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-72546448581170367522015-09-09T01:11:00.000-11:002016-11-08T18:24:31.533-11:00PNG media detention a diplomatic insult - PFF<p> </p> <p>. . .</p> <p>10th September 2015 <br>ARCHIVE UPDATE </p> <p>. . .</p> <p><b> <p></b> <p><img src="http://looppacificassets.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/carousel_large/s3/thumbnails/image/09jkpassports_given_back.jpg?itok=LwDEZY-s"> <p><strong>Pacific press at the Forum meeting –passports returned after some were detained, including Islands Business Editor-in-Chief Samisoni Pareti, and PacNews Editor Makareta Komai, </strong><em>right</em><strong>. Photo / @<a href="http://www.looppng-sb.com/content/pacific-journalists-relieved-returned-passports">PNGLoop</a></strong> <p><b><br>Rarotonga, Cook Islands<br></b><b>10th September 2015</b> <p><b><br></b> <p>Detention of seven Pacific journalists in Papua New Guinea is yet another diplomatic insult to the 4th Estate and needs urgent attention, says PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum. <p>"Members of the Pacific Islands Forum are notorious for hosting events that detain, sideline and obstruct news media from doing their jobs," says PFF Chair Titi Gabi. <p>"This latest incident here in PNG sends an especially bad signal when the region is demanding open access to West Papua." <p>West Papua campaigner Benny Wenda was refused a visa and not allowed entry, despite earlier promises from Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. <p>"This is a direct denial of freedom of access, movement, and speech on an issue that is the region's most urgent human rights concern," says Gabi. <p>Pacific journalists arriving in Port Moresby for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting were detained by immigration authorities, had their passports taken, and were forced to pay $1,000 kina (US$360) visa fees before entry. <p>Gabi says the one good thing that came out of the latest incident was the quick action taken by PNG Foreign Affairs minister <p>"We commend his decision to stage an inquiry into this incident and call on him to raise this issue with his regional counterparts." <p>Among those detained was senior Fiji journalist, Islands Business Editor Samisoni Pareti, who posted news of his detention on Facebook. <p>"Their treatment compares with colleagues from New Zealand and Australia who, as members of official parties to PNG, enjoy visa-free entry," says Gabi. <p>Treatment of the journalists in PNG raised deeper concerns for those coming from countries under the Melanesian Spearhead Group, which claims to allow visa free travel between members. <p>PFF Co-Chair Monica Miller says that Pacific journalists have also long raised the point that Australia and New Zealand also charge steep fees, for even transit visas. <p>"Oceania states cannot hope to benefit from regionalism if they keep denying media access to borders and sources," she says. <p>"Oceania governments need to encourage Pacific news media to take greater interest in regional affairs, not punish them," says Miller. <p>"Journalism is not a crime." <p>Detention of the seven Pacific journalists was headlined by island-focused media including Fiji Times, ABC in Australia, and New Zealand's second biggest news site, Stuff. <p>The detention was also informally criticised by members of New Zealand's biggest journalism group, the unregistered Kiwi Journalists Association, just over 2,000 strong. <p>PFF is repeating an earlier call for Pacific governments to host a meeting with regional media to address these and other issues, following up on the successful 1990 convention in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. <p>HEADLINES <p>Held Pacific journos freed <p><a href="http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=320917">http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=320917</a> <p>PNG minister to investigate visa saga <p><a href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/283520/png-minister-to-investigate-visa-saga">http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/283520/png-minister-to-investigate-visa-saga</a> <p>Foreign journalists detained on arrival in Papua New Guinea; released without passports <p><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-05/foreign-journalists-detained-on-arrival-in-papua-new-guinea/6751886">http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-05/foreign-journalists-detained-on-arrival-in-papua-new-guinea/6751886</a> <p>Pacific journalists have passports confiscated on arrival in PNG for forum <p><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/71813749/pacific-journalists-have-passports-confiscated-on-arrival-in-png-for-forum">http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/71813749/pacific-journalists-have-passports-confiscated-on-arrival-in-png-for-forum</a> <p>PNG blocks Benny Wenda’s visa bid again – open Pacific plea for West Papua <p><a href="http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2015/09/png-blocks-benny-wendas-visa-bid-again-open-pacific-protest-letter/">http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2015/09/png-blocks-benny-wendas-visa-bid-again-open-pacific-protest-letter/</a> <p>Forum chairs: West Papua will be given serious thought <p><a href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/283621/forum-chairs-west-papua-will-be-given-serious-thought">http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/283621/forum-chairs-west-papua-will-be-given-serious-thought</a> <p>PNG Gavman ino laikim West Papua Lida long go long kantri <p><a href="http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/tokpisin/2015-09-07/png-gavman-ino-laikim-west-papua-lida-long-go-long-kantri/1490228">http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/tokpisin/2015-09-07/png-gavman-ino-laikim-west-papua-lida-long-go-long-kantri/1490228</a> <p>BACKGROUND <p>Permits still needed for Papua reporters <p><a href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/273387/permits-still-needed-for-papua-reporters">http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/273387/permits-still-needed-for-papua-reporters</a> <p>CONTACTS <p>PFF Chair Titi Gabi | GM PNG Loop | Papua New Guinea Mail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: <a>titi.gabipng@gmail.com</a> <p>PFF co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob (684) 258-4197 | Office (684) 633-7793 | Email: <a>monica@khjradio.com</a> <p>PFF Editor Jason Brown | Aotearoa New Zealand | Mob: <a href="tel:%2B%2864%29%20224340831">+(64) 224340831</a> | Email <a>jasonbrown1965@live.com</a>Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-44499739368460873452015-07-16T15:59:00.000-11:002015-07-16T15:59:00.265-11:00Fiji fine removal welcome step - PFF<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">For immediate release</b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">Rarotonga, Cook Islands</b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">Thursday 16th July 2015:<br /></b><br />
<img height="425" src="http://republikamagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/general/2014-09/Media_journalists.jpg" width="640" /><br />
Fiji journalists are no longer under threat of fines - but what about publishers, editors and the media companies they represent? Photo / <a href="http://republikamagazine.com/2014/12/post-election-media-realities/" target="_blank">Republika magazine</a><br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>NEWS</b><br />
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Publishers, editors and media companies should be added to law amendments lifting criminal fines from journalists, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.<br />
<br />
“We welcome the law amendment removing fines from journalists as a sign that Fiji is finally turning back towards a free media environment,” says PFF Chair Titi Gabi.<br />
<br />
“This lives up to a 2010 roadmap to democracy outlining the need for legal reforms to build media freedoms.”<br />
<br />
The law amendment to lift fines on journalists – but not publishers and editors – is a rare step in the right direction for Fiji, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.<br />
<br />
PFF joins the Fiji Media Association in welcoming the amendment and calling for more law changes.<br />
<br />
PFF Co Chair Monica Miller says that media colleagues outside of Fiji are all too used to bad news from the regional centre.<br />
<br />
“This marks a great change from decades of disappointment under a persistent coup culture.”<br />
<br />
“The government is obviously treating its strong mandate as encouragement to allow greater freedoms, and we support more law reform in that direction.”<br />
<br />
Miller said there was still a long way to go before the Fiji government lived up to expectations for a free and independent news media.<br />
<br />
Publishers and editors decided what went into print and on the airwaves, not journalists, she says.<br />
<br />
Retention of criminal fines for publishers and editors means there may be little change from a coup culture of self-censorship, says Miller.<br />
<br />
A lack of accountability leaves Fiji vulnerable to continued corruption and instability.<br />
<br />
As well as lift fines from journalists, the act also opens up pay TV to foreign ownership, provided it does not show ads from foreign governments, or non-governmental organisations and other agencies.<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>LINKS</b><br />
<br />
<b>A Bill For An Act To Amend The Media Industry Development Decree 2010 </b><br />
<a href="http://www.parliament.gov.fj/getattachment/Parliament-Business/Bills/Bill-No-15-Media-Industry-Development-(Amendment)-(1).pdf.aspx">http://www.parliament.gov.fj/getattachment/Parliament-Business/Bills/Bill-No-15-Media-Industry-Development-(Amendment)-(1).pdf.aspx</a><br />
<br />
<b>MIDA expects changes in reporting</b><br />
<a href="http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/31212/mida-expects-changes-in-reporting">http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/31212/mida-expects-changes-in-reporting</a><br />
<br />
<b>Restrictive media practices</b><br />
<a href="http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=313717">http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=313717</a><br />
<br />
<b>Fiji media decree amendment may mean more freedom</b><br />
<a href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/278601/fiji-media-decree-amendment-may-mean-more-freedom">http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/278601/fiji-media-decree-amendment-may-mean-more-freedom</a><br />
<br />
<b>FMA welcomes lifting of fines on journalists</b><br />
<a href="http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/31073/fma-welcomes-lifting-of-fines-on-journalists">http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/31073/fma-welcomes-lifting-of-fines-on-journalists</a><br />
<br />
<b>Fijian Media Association welcomes lifting of fines for journalists</b><br />
<a href="http://www.loopfiji.com/content/fijian-media-association-welcomes-lifting-fines-journalists">http://www.loopfiji.com/content/fijian-media-association-welcomes-lifting-fines-journalists</a><br />
<br />
<b>Fiji 2010 roadmap to democracy</b><br />
<a href="http://www.fiji.gov.fj/getattachment/Govt--Publications/Peoples-Charter/RSSED.pdf.aspx">http://www.fiji.gov.fj/getattachment/Govt--Publications/Peoples-Charter/RSSED.pdf.aspx</a><br />
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<b style="font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">CONTACTS</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">PFF Chair Titi Gabi | GM PNG Loop | Papua New Guinea Mail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.com </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
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PFF co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob (684) 258-4197 | Office (684) 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com </div>
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PFF Editor Jason Brown | Aotearoa New Zealand | Mob: +(64) 224340831 | Email jasonbrown1965@live.com</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">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. </span></div>
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. . .</div>
Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0Fiji-17.713371 178.06503199999997-25.483638499999998 167.73788349999998 -9.9431035 -171.6078195tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-81342199881685568652015-07-11T14:37:00.002-11:002015-07-11T14:37:52.771-11:00Vanuatu needs more consultation on new media law - PFF<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">Immediate release:</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">Rarotonga, Cook Islands</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;"><b>Saturday, 11 July 2015</b></span></span></div>
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More control? After gaining power in a vote of no confidence last month, new Prime Minister Sato Kilman has identified new media laws as a priority, raising concerns about freedoms of speech.</div>
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<b>NEWS</b></div>
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Vanuatu
government leaders must consider giving more time for consultation on a
proposed media law, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.</div>
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“One week is
nowhere near enough for proper consultation to take place on such important
legislation,” says PFF Chair Titi Gabi.</div>
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“Vanuatu
should consider following the example set by countries like Samoa, where new
media laws have been under consideration for more than two years.”</div>
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The new
government of Sato Kilman has publicly stated that the new media law could be
introduced as early as next week.</div>
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“Gaining
power through a vote of no confidence does not give government the mandate from
voters to potentially threaten their freedoms of speech.”</div>
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In his
statement, Kilman attacked public comments on radio talkback shows and social
media, accusing them of “inciting social anarchy, instability and disorder in
the community”.</div>
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He also
called on journalists to ensure that they had both sides of the story when
reporting, including comment from government.</div>
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PFF Co Chair
Monica Miller said that government could help achieve that goal by ensuring
state broadcasters had proper funding.</div>
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“Pacific
governments all too often cut back resources for national broadcasters while
insisting on better standards.</div>
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“They also
use advertising cut backs to try and control what is said in private media.”</div>
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This lack of
consistency helped create the very instability that governments complain of,
says Miller.</div>
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She says
governments could help achieve consistency through building the independence of
news media, including through editorial charters.</div>
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<b>Kilman plans media law to curb 'excessive liberty'</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/vanuatu-kilman-plans-law-regulate-media-and-curb-excessive-liberty-9335">http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/vanuatu-kilman-plans-law-regulate-media-and-curb-excessive-liberty-9335</a></div>
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<b>Media Association Blong Vanuatu on new media law</b></div>
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<a href="https://vanuatudaily.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/vanuatu-daily-news-digest-11-july-2015/">https://vanuatudaily.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/vanuatu-daily-news-digest-11-july-2015/</a></div>
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/goog_1876332514"><br /></a></div>
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<b>The Challenges To Media Freedom In Vanuatu</b></div>
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<a href="https://tivnews.wordpress.com/2015/07/09/the-challenges-to-media-freedom-in-vanuatu/">https://tivnews.wordpress.com/2015/07/09/the-challenges-to-media-freedom-in-vanuatu/</a></div>
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<b>Opposition against mainstream media limits</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/278092/vanuatu-opposition-backs-social-media-limit">http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/278092/vanuatu-opposition-backs-social-media-limit</a></div>
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<b>Vanuatu media reacts to PM's comments on control</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/278068/vanuatu-media-reacts-to-pm's-comments-on-control">http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/278068/vanuatu-media-reacts-to-pm's-comments-on-control</a></div>
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<b>Transparency Vanuatu deny promoting political instability</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-06/transparency-vanuatu-deny-promoting-political/6599064">http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-06/transparency-vanuatu-deny-promoting-political/6599064</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">PFF Chair Titi Gabi | GM PNG Loop | Papua New Guinea Mail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.com </span></div>
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PFF co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob (684) 258-4197 | Office (684) 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com </div>
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PFF Editor Jason Brown | Aotearoa New Zealand | Mob: +(64) 224340831 | Email jasonbrown1965@live.com</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">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. </span></div>
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Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8733171329357760107.post-86209527339059063262015-06-26T17:03:00.002-11:002015-06-26T17:03:31.903-11:00PNG courts must reject order against protest - PFF<b>Immediate release:</b><br />
<b>Rarotonga, Cook Islands</b><br />
<b>Friday, 26 June 2015</b><br />
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<img src="http://pngloop.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/15fmloan.jpg" /><br />
A US$95 million loan from China to the government of Papua New Guinea has led to legal dispute over an interim court ban on public criticism. Photo via <a href="http://www.looppng.com/" target="_blank">PNG Loop</a>.<br />
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<b>NEWS</b><br />
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Courts in Papua New Guinea must reject an order restraining public comment on a factory planned for Madang, says PFF, the Pacific Freedom Forum.<br />
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“The courts have a constitutional duty to protect human rights,” says PFF Chair Titi Gabi.<br />
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“A restraining order against public comment fails to recognise strong constitutional protection for freedoms of assembly and expression.”<br />
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The case involves action involving a US$95 million loan from China, for a factory promoted by the PNG government and subject to a restraining order against the 11 people visiting the site, organising meetings or speaking publicly against the project.<br />
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Gabi said it was highly unusual for media to comment directly on an interim court decision.<br />
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“Usually, media stand back and wait for the courts to make a decision.”<br />
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But the restraining order strays way outside the law, says Gabi.<br />
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PFF Co Chair Monica Miller says the restraining order could set a dangerous precedent for Pacific law if allowed to stand.<br />
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“Gagging citizens from speaking out about a project strikes to the heart of democratic rights.”<br />
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“Government in Papua New Guinea needs to urgently address this issue and promote public opinion, not suppress human rights.”<br />
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The 11 people under the restraining order have successfully applied for their case to be heard on July 21st next month.<br />
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The motion was agreed to by Judge David Canning, who issued the initial restraining order.<br />
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<b>HEADLINES</b><br />
<br />
Critics gagged as mega Madang tuna hub opposition heats up<br />
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/png-critics-gagged-huge-madang-tuna-hub-local-opposition-hots-9321<br />
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Government Trying To Silence Critics Of Fish Processing Zone<br />
http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2015/June/06-26-cm.htm<br />
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Umbrella companies anger over project<br />
http://www.looppng.com/content/umbrella-companies-anger-over-project<br />
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Petition: Stop PMIZ<br />
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/sites/default/files/file_bin/201506/Madang%20'fishy%20deal'%20petition%20June%202015.pdf<br />
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Facebook group: No PMIZ<br />
https://www.facebook.com/groups/noPMIZ/<br />
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<b>CONTACTS</b><br />
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PFF Chair Titi Gabi | GM PNG Loop | Papua New Guinea Mail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.com </div>
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PFF co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob (684) 258-4197 | Office (684) 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com </div>
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PFF Editor Jason Brown | Aotearoa New Zealand | Mob: +(64) 224340831 | Email jasonbrown1965@live.com</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">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. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.3999996185303px; line-height: 21.5599994659424px;">
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<br />Avaiki Niushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01914794693184508245noreply@blogger.com0Papua New Guinea-6.3149929999999994 143.95555000000002-22.2698805 123.30125300000002 9.6398945 164.609847