Major logging, trading and media
interest Rimbunan Hijau (RH) has filed a defamation suit against Papua
New Guinea’s Post Courier newspaper over its coverage of an official
investigation into logging interest by an RH Company in the Pomio district, in the West New
Britain Province. The Post Courier reported several stories of police brutality
on landowners unhappy with logging operations in the area. It was alleged the
police were sent there by Rimbunan Hijau.
Defamation threats were also levelled at reporters covering the sale of the former Prime Minister's official jet. The threats were made by Air Niugini’s CEO, Wasanthra Kumarasiri when pressed to explain what the sale plans were and the cost involved.
And in August, a provincial governor named The National (which is owned by RH) in his defamation suit over stories he was unhappy with.
“The spate of defamation suits is a worrying trend. Using legal offices and language against journalists reporting the facts can lead to self-censorship by PNG media at a time when their investigative iournalism is badly needed,” says PFF chair Titi Gabi, of Papua New Guinea.
“The national Media Council manages a complaints process on behalf of news organisations who are its members who follow a code of ethics which members of the public are able to call on in their complaints,” says Gabi. “It’s a model of self-regulation which has worked in the past and should be strengthened because it works. We encourage the current claimants, and the public – especially leaders and companies with grievances over reportage, to take up the media council complaints process.
Under the PNG Constitution, freedom of speech, press, and information are guaranteed and defamation is not a criminal offense. However, journalists can be sued for defamation in civil cases but complaints are usually settled out of court before proceeding to hearings.
PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa says the PNG Media Council serves the region’s largest nation and spread of media organisations, and provides a model from which other developing media councils can learn.
“We are all interested in taking our cue from what works and what needs improving in all our own Pacific contexts – and it’s clear that a strong and transparent public complaints process beats a costly legal battle every time,” she says.--ENDS
LINKS:
Defamation threats were also levelled at reporters covering the sale of the former Prime Minister's official jet. The threats were made by Air Niugini’s CEO, Wasanthra Kumarasiri when pressed to explain what the sale plans were and the cost involved.
And in August, a provincial governor named The National (which is owned by RH) in his defamation suit over stories he was unhappy with.
“The spate of defamation suits is a worrying trend. Using legal offices and language against journalists reporting the facts can lead to self-censorship by PNG media at a time when their investigative iournalism is badly needed,” says PFF chair Titi Gabi, of Papua New Guinea.
“The national Media Council manages a complaints process on behalf of news organisations who are its members who follow a code of ethics which members of the public are able to call on in their complaints,” says Gabi. “It’s a model of self-regulation which has worked in the past and should be strengthened because it works. We encourage the current claimants, and the public – especially leaders and companies with grievances over reportage, to take up the media council complaints process.
Under the PNG Constitution, freedom of speech, press, and information are guaranteed and defamation is not a criminal offense. However, journalists can be sued for defamation in civil cases but complaints are usually settled out of court before proceeding to hearings.
PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa says the PNG Media Council serves the region’s largest nation and spread of media organisations, and provides a model from which other developing media councils can learn.
“We are all interested in taking our cue from what works and what needs improving in all our own Pacific contexts – and it’s clear that a strong and transparent public complaints process beats a costly legal battle every time,” she says.--ENDS
LINKS:
Defamation against Post Courier: http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2011/November/11-11-09.htm
Defamation against the National: http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2011/08/png-provincial-governor-sues-the-national-for-defamation/
CONTACT:
PFF Chair
Titi Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New Guinea
Mail: PO Box 7776, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea | Mob: (675) 7314 3929 | Email: titi.gabipng@gmail.com
PFF co-Chair
Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa
Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com
The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom of expression and be served by a free and independent media.
We believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the wider regional and international community.
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