Pacific media monitors essential, says regional network.

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS --As a global “23 Actions in 23 Days” media campaign gets underway on November 1, Pacific journalists are being urged to remain vigilant of threats to their work, and unafraid to report threats.

Regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF, says monitoring work helps ensure free expression and public access to information, and will help break the culture of impunity which often diminishes the ability of journalists to seek and report the truth.

 

“Too often, the intimidation, threats and attacks on journalists by those who cannot stand to be questioned or exposed, goes unpunished,” says PFF co-chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.

Attacks across the region highlighted in the IFJ inaugural Pacific Press Freedom report launched in May 2012, are often not referred to police for investigation. Of those that are, those which see a prosecution case brought are rare.

 “This lack of accountability ensures a culture of impunity is allowed to continue, and deepens the reluctance of journalists to probe or investigate issues in the public interest,” says Gabi, who authored the Papua New Guinea chapter of the regional report.

“We urge Pacific editors, news and human rights organisations to take action between now and 23 November by featuring or encouraging debate over impunity and how it affects the media role of ensuring a balanced, informed and fearless public debate on issues of the day.”

Gabi made the call as PFF begins its support for a global “23 actions, 23 days” media campaign aimed at ending impunity surrounding threats to freedom of expression and free speech. The global International Day to End Impunity, on November 23, was launched by the  International Freedom of Expression Exchange, IFEX, in November 2011. The 2012 campaign is a 23-day event beginning November 1.

“Silencing journalists through fear and violence affects their families and workplaces, but also the public interest,” says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa. “Impunity surrounds an attack, threat, or harassment of media with a cloak of silence and even worse, acceptance. Without media monitoring helping to accurately record and raise the alarm on unpunished offences,  an act done with impunity becomes a series of acts building up to a cultural norm which has little to do with Pacific values or media ethics.”

“As we begin three weeks of activism towards November 23, PFF encourages action and information sharing by Pacific journalists and news organisations on the impact of impunity in Pacific newsrooms, and Pacific communities.”.—ENDS

BACKGROUND:

About IFEX /PFF
The Pacific Freedom Forum is a member of the International Freedom of Expression based in Toronto, Canada. IFEX is the most extensive community of leaders defending and promoting freedom of expression around the world.  IFEX chose 23 November - symbolic because it's the anniversary of the Ampatuan Massacre, the single deadliest day for journalists in recent history - as the International Day to End Impunity. The purpose of the day is to raise public awareness and showcase the work of organisations working for justice for those being persecuted for practising their right to freedom of expression. This is the campaign's second year.  

LINKS

Ampatuan Massacre: http://cpj.org/killed/2009/marites-cablitas.php

IFEX campaign link:  http://daytoendimpunity.org/

IFJ Inaugural Pacific Press Freedom report: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/pages/ifj-asia-pacific-reports

Pacific Media Watch: www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz

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.

PNG: Another media bashing condemned

 

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- Another attack on a journalist in Papua New Guinea has been condemned by regional media monitoring body the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

Post-Courier correspondent Michael Koma was viciously attacked after his October 11th report into high level local government appointments in the Highlands province was published in PNG daily the Post-Courier. Two days later, four men approached Koma as he sat outside a relatives house in the Highlands district of Kundiawa, and after questioning him over the story, beat him until he was unconscious. He was rushed to hospital and has since recovered from the attack.
 

"The use of violence to silence and intimidate journalists is both deplorable and criminal  and we commend Koma and the Post Courier management for reporting this to the authorities," says PFF co chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea. Gabi has previously researched media freedoms in Papua New Guinea and noted a reluctance from media colleagues to report and follow up on abuse and intimidation from those angry at media coverage.

 

With the police investigation into the assault currently underway, Gabi says it's imperative that journalists continue to report assaults and threats to themselves and colleagues.

 

"The culture of impunity over journalist bashings, threats and intimidation will only change when we stop accepting criminal attacks and abuse as part of the work we do," she says. 

"Pacific journalists stand in solidarity with our colleagues in Papua New Guinea. We continue to support the call for vigilance and alerts to the threats against freedom of media, especially reporting that supports right of people to know what is going on," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa. -- ENDS 


LINKS

PNG POST COURIER http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20121016/news02.html

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/png-newspaper-journalist-bashed-over-post-courier-report-8135


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.

Concerns over media ban in PNG election results

PFF, Rarotonga-- As the result counts from Papua New Guinea's general elections continue to flow in, the country's national media workers association has joined the Pacific Freedom Forum in its concern over returning officers interfering with media work at two provincial centres.
The PNG Media Workers association and regional media monitoring network say voter and public rights to know polling results came under threat this week. In two separate incidents, journalists at polling centres in the Western Highlands and Morobe provinces were banned from doing their jobs.
Journalists at the centres reported on Monday 9th July,  that the returning officer for the Huon/Gulf electorate in Morobe demanded payments for release of information from Lae-based journalists, and verbally abused an NBC reporter.Two days later, another returning officer overseeing the counting for the Hagen Open polls in the Western Highlands banned media from reporting the results.
"We are concerned over the incidents affecting the ability of media to get on with the work of reporting the polling results. Keeping journalists away from reporting the results of the counting shuts the door on the people relying on news for updates, and robs the public of
their right to know," says PFF chair Titi Gabi, from PNG. Gabi is also a founding member of the PNG Media Workers Association.
Gabi is currently leading a media support group at the Elections Media Centre, led by Commissioner Andrew Trawen.
The reporting of the incidents to her led to a speedy resolution of the issues. Journalists -- some of whom had wanted to boycott the elections after their harassment, resumed their usual observation and
reporting of the results where the incidents took place.
From American Samoa, PFF co-chair Monica Miller says media colleagues across the region remain concerned for the safety and situation of journalists covering elections across the Pacific 's largest  country.
Three out of every four of the Pacific's 10million population come from PNG alone, with provincial reporting and access being under-resourced and difficult work. In a recent partnership event with the International Federation of Journalists for World Press Freedom Day 2012, PNG Media Workers Association members noted corruption and bribery of journalists remains a major ethical challenge.
"We commend colleagues who are speaking out on threats to their work, and also welcome the decision of the Electoral Commissioner to involve media advice in his central operations team. It has led to the speedy resolution of attempts to control and undermine the rights of media to report freely, without favour." says Miller.--ENDS

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.

Governor leads more abuse against PNG media

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-Papua New Guinea journalists  reporting the 2012 election results and petitions must be able to work safely without fear of harassment, says the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF. 
The regional media monitoring network has made the call in the wake of assault threats and an abusive confrontation yesterday Wednesday 4 July. Newsroom staff at a provincial head office for the National Broadcaster, NBC including radio Journalist Greogry Pegines  were confronted by an angry mob of  supporters  led by East Sepik Governor and Member for Yangoru/Saussia, Peter Wararau Waranaka. The Governor, his driver and a group of supporters had converged on the NBC East Sepik broadcast compound and singled out Pegines, station manager Anna Klawe and other news journalists for verbal abuse and threats.  The incident came a day after Pegines had filed a report on a petition signed by 12 candidates in the East Sepik province, listing allegations of fiscal and official abuse of position.
Pegines says he had been invited to meet with the Governor since the incident, but was again verbally abused.
"We condemn the mob mentality encouraged by the Governor and the verbal threats and harassment against media workers," says PFF co-chair Titi Gabi of PNG.
From Port Moresby, she noted that journalists in provincial areas are more at risk  of threats and abuse during elections periods, and called for calm to prevail.
 "Any grievances over news content should be submitted in a reasonable manner to the news outlet involved. We denounce the use of abusive and criminal harassment to force a culture of fear on the news agenda," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller, of American Samoa.
"We commend PNG journalists continuing to abide by ethical conduct through difficult times, and again urge all media outlets to implement a no-drop policy on reporting harassment to the authorities," she says.--ENDS


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.

Kiribati: Newspaper closedown a blow for news choices: PFF

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- News that the Kiribati newspaper at the centre of a Police
investigation has stopped printing means fewer ways for people there to stay informed says media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
 Auckland-based Kiribati Independent publisher and editor Taberannang Korauaba will retain the online edition of the Independent but has stopped print circulation in Kiribati while Police follow up on complaints linking to the newspaper's registration status.
"The loss of their weekly news in print is a blow for readers in Kiribati who don’t have online access, and their leaders need to tell them why a government which has been sitting on media paperwork since last year, has suddenly been able to act so quickly to lay a complaint linked to that paperwork ," says PFF co chair Titi Gabi of PNG.
"Whose interest is being served here? Without a free media to give them answers, the public lose their right to know. "
"PFF reiterates concern over any political motivations behind the processing delays for the registration paperwork and hope the Police will help to quickly and fairly resolve the issue."
PFF co chair Monica Miller says given the current Police complaints stem from a lack of progress on a bureaucratic issue, Kiribati's media-savvy President should take the lead.
"Kiribati gave the Pacific the Biketawa principles on good governance, and a President who has taken the message to the world on sinking islands and climate change," she says. "As someone who uses media powerfully to talk about his people, we urge President Tong to uphold Biketawa's promise and give Kiribati the same free media he enjoys globally."--ENDS
LINKS

News links/coverage
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-22/an-kiribati-paper-force-to-close/4086028

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=69061

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/asia-pacific/government-intimidation-forces-closure-of-kiribati-paper-says-editor/965806

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1206/S00545/police-investigate-kiribati-independent.htm
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/kiribati-kiribati-independent-newspaper-shut-down-indefinitely-7993

Kiribati Independent
www.thekiribatiindependent.co.nz/
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.

SAMOA: Breast photo highlights news ethics

Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Publication of a frontal image featuring a half-naked teen aged girl on the front page of a newspaper in Samoa has highlighted a dividing line between decency and the public interest, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.
Printed in the daily Samoa Observer in an April edition which also appears online, the photo showed the naked top half of a 13 year girl with four nipples, a medical condition she was born with. Her family chose to make a plea for public support to cover the costs of corrective surgery. The girl’s face is not shown in the shot, but a mobile phone number for the family is offered, potentially leading to identification of the girl and her family.
“The story was a call for help from the family to meet the costs of corrective surgery and is ethically legitimate, but the image itself raises concerns," says PFF co-chair Titi Gabi.
“The fact that the photo was used at all shows a lack of ethical judgment on the part of the daily newspaper and its editorial team,” says Gabi, speaking from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
No complaints were raised in Samoa over the photo or story. Response has been positive, with private donors offering funding for the surgery. The family have thanked the Samoa Observer for publishing the story, on its front page.
However, PFF co-chair Monica Miller says that use of the photo by the Observer highlights difficult choices editors sometimes face in meeting ethical standards over the public interest, decency, and treatment of children.
“At best, use of the photo was questionable, linked to headlines and text which failed to increase public understanding of a medical condition affecting both sexes," says Miller, speaking from Pagopago, American Samoa.
“PFF calls for balance to stories of this nature with an editorial focus on promoting respect and dignity for individuals with conditions such as this. Images and words should never convey a 'freak-show' aspect, especially in the cases of families whose incentive in going public is financial help aimed at giving the child a shot at a normal life."
Under its current Code of Ethics, JAWS, the Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa states that “Children under 16 should be free from unnecessary intrusion. Material concerning a child’s private life should be published or broadcast only if there is some exceptional public interest other than the fame, notoriety or position of his or her family or guardian.”
Still listed as a “draft” online, the JAWS code sets the standards for news media in Samoa, says Miller.
“The framing and set up of the photo, its page of publication, and supporting headlines and text,  raises editorial questions around decency, taste and intrusion,” states Miller.
"The Samoa Observer is well regarded internationally as a leading voice for independent journalism and this instance highlights the need for well established news media to maintain vigilance over content and ethics standards at all times." --ENDS

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.

Kiribati: PM must step in on media complaint, says PFF

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--Kiribati's President Anote Tong should step in and clear the air over the continued failure of his Communications minister to act on registration for a controversial newspaper currently facing Police investigations, says the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
"With no progress on this issue since PFF raised its concern a month ago, it's now up to the President   to get some answers from his own government. A six month bureaucratic delay continues to undermine his credibility while taking away media and information choices from his people." says PFF co chair Titi Gabi, of Papua New Guinea.
"We echo the concerns of Reporters without Borders and others on political interference into independant media. Kiribati gave us the Forum leaders promise to good governance, named after the Biketawa islet where they met back in 2000. This situation provides a timely reminder that Kiribati should now walk the talk on that promise."
The PFF request comes as Auckland-based Kiribati Independent publisher and editor Taberannang Korauaba has resumed printing this month on legal advice which now breaches a government order issued May 18 banning publication until his registration application is cleared.
Korauaba confirmed that Police visited his newspapers Tarawa offices yesterday (Tuesday 19th June),  acting on complaints received from the Communications Ministry.  He has previously been able to publish after filing documents for registration without problems and his legal advice is that he is still within his rights.
From American Samoa, PFF co chair Monica Miller notes the  legislation used to silence the Kiribati Independent also ensures right of reply and balance in journalism by those with grievances over content.
"If President Tong, his government and anyone in Kiribati is unhappy over what they read, see or hear via the media, the same legislation on registration also ensures media operators address complaints of biased coverage. " says Miller.
"In 2000, Kiribati hosted the historical Pacific Forum leaders meeting which paved the way for leaders commitments to  good governance and transparency. We urge the President to let media do its work, and bring back the Biketawa promise."--ENDS

LINKS

Pacific Scoop coverage
 http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/06/police-visit-kiribati-independent-newspaper-after-publication-resumes/
Kiribati legislation
http://www.paclii.org//cgi-bin/disp.pl/ki/legis/num_act/nra1997352/nra1997352.html?query=Newspaper
Biketawa Declaration
http://www.forumsec.org/resources/uploads/attachments/documents/Biketawa%20Declaration,%2028%20October%2020001.pdf


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.

PNG: Media must take assault threats to Police

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--Another assault threat resulting in a TV film crew being forced to delete their footage has taken place in Papua New Guinea over the weekend. Regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum is urging media bosses to get involved and support news workers in filing statements to Police.
EMTV journalist Mick Kavera and camera operator Gesoko Adrian were on assignment on Sunday 10 June at the Jackson's airport terminal to film the arrival of illegal immigrants being accompanied by members of the government-appointed investigative Task Force. According to Kavera, Task force members spotted the media crew filming during the mid-morning arrival and approached them, berating them in pidgin for media "misreporting" of their activities and telling them to await a formal statement. Adrian was also told to delete all the footage shot or the camera would be broken and he would be bashed. Some time after he had deleted the footage, the task force members did an about turn and apologised. The EMTV crew was invited to resume filming and complete their assignment.
 "We commend the EMTV media crew for stepping forward and breaking the silence and urge their management to support filing of a Police complaint on this and future threats to crew safety on the field," says PFF co chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.
She says the apology should not prevent or undermine the rule of law.
"An apology is welcome and should help as a mitigating factor in a Police investigation, but more than anyone the task force members will understand that this alone should rule any investigation out."
 "What's important is that the general community and many other media workers get the point that it is criminal and illegal to walk up to journalists and any other law abiding citizen and tell them you will bash them up and break their cameras," she says.
Intimidation and threats against media workers have been previously identified as a key obstacle to better journalism by the new PNG Media Workers Association and is highlighted in a country chapter on PNG in the IFJ Asia Pacific Inaugural Pacific Press Freedom report. PNG's Police media advisor Dominic Kakas told journalists at the launch of the Pacific Press Freedom report on World Press Freedom Day in Port Moresby this year sharing information and experiences on social networking may help media workers, but nothing could be resolved in the legal system until journalists choose to take up their rights to lodge complaints with Police.
"Too often the abuse and intimidation of media professionals going about their jobs is accepted by journalists as part of a 'toughen up' culture of news-gathering.  That's a stereotype which plays into the hands of abusers when many journalists just don't understand what is happening may in fact be illegal," says PFF co chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
 "We  acknowledge the challenges involved in breaking the silence and acceptance of abuse, but continue to urge PNG and other Pacific media colleagues to take up their legal rights as citizens and journalists so that the wider community is also educated on what news reporting involves." -ENDS

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.

Fiji regime's license threat condemned

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- A threat from the Fiji regime that coverage of people it brands as "opposition" will cost Fiji TV its broadcast license, has been strongly condemned by regional media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
The order not to broadcast comments or pictures of a regime list of "opposition" people including Laisenia Qarase, Mahendra Chaudhry, and Felix Anthony came from Fiji's Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum two weeks ag, just days after a Fiji TV news bulletin carried a story that had interviews with the deposed prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, and the Fiji Labour party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry. Both were responding to an earlier story in which constitution commissioner,Taufa Vakatale, had blamed politicians of the past for what she said was Fiji's current state.
Shared with management early last week, the editorial crackdown on what is perceived as 'anti-regime' coverage has put the station on notice that all content in June will be 'monitored' and will influence whether or not Fiji TV's 12-year  license will be renewed at the end of this month.
"PFF condemns this demoralising and shameful action by the regime forcing journalists to ditch their ethics and professional integrity when they report for duty, and calls for its immediate retraction," says PFF co chair Titi Gabi, of Papua New Guinea.
"The criteria for meeting broadcast requirements should not rely on whether the leaders of the day are weeding out right of reply or balance to their own views. This episode clearly shows that the regime censors may be out of the newsrooms, but their work of keeping journalists gagged by fear for their families, intimidation and self-censorship continues."
PFF co chair Monica Miller says Fiji's journalists are already gagged by the Media Decree and operating in a climate where media leaders are called into 'private' meetings with the Attorney General on a whim whenever he takes exception to news content.
"If the attorney General cannot use his own Media Decree and the regime's media authority to complain about perceived imbalance in reporting, he should revoke it. In the meantime, we stand in solidarity with those colleagues already seeking other jobs because it is becoming impossible to uphold ethics at this time   Sadly, we are aware that the Fiji TV meeting has not been the only one in recent weeks and will continue to monitor the regime campaign  to stamp out free speech and media in Fiji."-- ENDS


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.

PFF to PNG Police, soldiers: hands off media

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- PNG Police force officers and soldiers who ordered local journalists out of the Papua New Guinea Supreme court yesterday afternoon and forced others to delete images and recordings must face police investigation themselves, says regional media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
Just hours after PFF released a statement urging political leaders to allow media to do their work, deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah led a police squad at 2pm into the Supreme Court house where Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia was presiding. A PNG FM court reporter was amongst those ordered out of the court house and at least one photographer says he was forced to delete images he was taking.  
"Journalists in PNG are already reporting threats and harassment from law enforcers as they try to keep the country informed of the current political and constitutional crisis on top of the elections. We condemn this despicable attack on the watchdog role of the media and the right of the people of PNG to know what is happening" says PFF chair Titi Gabi.
"We urge the law enforcers and soldiers to uphold the rule of law, and ask their leaders to act quickly to ensure safety of PNG civilians and media personnel going about their work. We also urge media colleagues ordered to delete material to make statutory declarations to NCD Police so that investigations can begin."
The attempt by Namah to have Injia arrested and comes after the PNG Supreme court delivered a ruling on Monday 21 May declaring ousted Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare the legitimate leader of the country. With Parliament dissolved and the country heading to the polls next month, the timing of the Supreme court ruling and sedition charges against Injia has implications for an already troubled law and order situation.
"There are tremendous pressures on PNG media right now to avoid election corruption and lead investigative coverage and balanced commentary to help voters make sense of it all," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller.
"PFF and the global media community will continue in solidarity with media colleagues in PNG to record and condemn  the illegal use of force and threats against journalists there."--ENDS

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.

PNG: Parties urged to respect media role

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--Political camps in Papua New Guinea's current leadership standoff must respect the independence of the media, says regional media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

The call comes after reports of an unscheduled speech made by ousted Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare on the national broadcaster, NBC, on Monday the 21 May. According to journalists there, a late night cavalcade from the Somare camp drove into the premises of the National Broadcaster, NBC around 11pm, demanding that their leader be put on air to deliver a speech to the nation. He spoke uninterrupted for some 15 minutes, before leaving the station. Earlier the same day, three PNG Supreme Court judges had ruled that he was PNG’s legitimate Prime Minister.  The following day, journalists reported Somare and supporters being blocked at the gates of the Governor General's residence by Police officers supporting his political opponent and current Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill.  Somare’s group were demanding that he and his Cabinet be sworn in.
"Access to the media and free speech is a cornerstone of democracy and the proactive approach from political leaders to newsrooms is a welcome sign. However, in an election period with editors sensitive to accusations of favouritism from both sides, political camps should respect the independence of the media and the policies in place," says PFF chair Titi Gabi.
Parliament has been dissolved, nominations for candidates are closing off and the polling begins in late June. 
"The political situation in PNG is very fluid and many are relying on the mainstream media, especially radio, to present a balanced and factual coverage of events," says Gabi.
"What has essentially taken place is a media-jacking event which could have been potentially volatile. The news value of the situation is noted, but was lost. The demand was for an uninterrupted statement rather than a news interview."
It's understood a staff meeting the following day stressed the need for adherence to the NBC policy of allowing political leaders scheduled airtime only by prior appointment and discussion.
Meanwhile, social network media monitors on PNG continue to voice growing concern over corruption of media and interference in editorial standards.  Members of a newly formed PNG Media Workers Association are leading much of the debate and in a WPFD elections reporting workshop, called for vigilance and integrity amongst journalists covering the elections.
"PNG media workers have already delivered a comprehensive media code of ethics with specific reference to elections. It's a great model for the region, but like any model needs ownership and resources to make it happen.," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller, from American Samoa.
"If the media ethics codes are not being implemented by media workers especially during elections when editorial balance and independence are critical, the codes of media conduct are meaningless and lead to loss of public trust and confidence. We urge media colleagues to resist pressures for one sided coverage and to raise the alarm on editorial corruption as soon as they see it happen."--ENDS.

LINKS:
Radio Australia  http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-05-21/png-supreme-court-backs-somares-return/947610
Outcomes Statement: PNGMWA and IFJ elections reporting workshop
http://www.pngperspective.com/news/outcomes-statement-media-strengthening-elections-and-ethics-reporting-workshop/

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.

Late Cooks PM a free press leader: PFF

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- Members of the Pacific Freedom Forum join the tributes this month to a former prime minister of the Cook Islands. Sir Geoffrey, who privatised state media and initiated regular press briefings during his leadership, died on May 8 after a short illness. He was 71.
Widely respected as a gifted orator whatever the setting, Sir Geoffrey Arama Henry started his first term in 1989 by introducing freedoms of the press. Under his administration government relinquished control of its daily newspaper, Cook Islands News, established 1945. The paper was sold to a former editor who remains part of the newspaper to this day.
“Privatising print media and establishing television under an independent board were landmark decisions,” says PFF chair Titi Gabi. "Cook Islands journalists recall and share moments of high drama and refusal to deal with the rigours of being held under public scrutiny by Sir Geoffrey the individual. But on the whole, his leadership in bringing about the very conditions which allowed investigative journalism to put his decisions under the spotlight should be recognised."
The launch of national television on December 25 1990 was tipped as the government's Christmas gift to the people. A new state broadcasting corporation featured private sector leadership for the first time in dealing with media industry development.
Former TV journalists Jason Brown and Lisa Williams-Lahari confirm the board was not just independent by law, but also independent by deed. Big stories were broken, and major issues exposed. Both have since gone on to become founding members of the Pacific Freedom Forum.
 “His decisions back then to modernise-- and then privatise,  national news media laid the foundations for a radical increase in the amount of public debate and participation," recalls Brown.
He says the transitions from direct state control to independent operations saw huge changes in governance.
“People at the time feared for their government jobs, contracts or scholarships if they spoke out. At first, most Cook Islanders were too afraid to comment on camera,” says Brown, who is now based in New Zealand.
Contrasting with an often autocratic atmosphere in the early decades of self-government, Henry started weekly press conferences to explain cabinet decisions and answer questions -- even up until the mid-90’s, when a debt crisis during his second term saw Henry under pressure and less keen to answer questions from the press. During that economic “transition”, 2,000 public servants were sacked from a workforce of 3,600.
“No democracy is without controversy, but the original decision by Henry to free up media remains bold and decisive,” says PFF's co chair Monica Miller.
“Rare for the region at the time, Sir Geoffrey was a leader who worked to regain favour for the notion of a Fourth Estate, distinct and independent from the three other estates - government, parliament and the judiciary.”
Henry was Prime Minister for most of the 1990s and had retired from political life by 2006 when the introduction of an Official Information Act saw a later administration build on the greater accountability he had encouraged during his term. He also led a process he termed 'devolution' which moved decision making and public debate away from an overpoweringly central government, and back towards other societal sectors, like traditional leaders, churches, an independent media, business, and the many other public spaces.
“Today, thanks to the conditions -- and the challenges -- Sir Geoffrey helped create for journalists, reporters in the Cook Islands and Cook Islands reporters outside of the homeland provide an often feisty exchange of public view, and debate a healthy range of ethical issues including those on the Pacific Freedom Forum and Pacific Media online networks," recalls Williams-Lahari.
Such contributions by Sir Geoffrey are remembered at PFF with gratitude by those defending press freedoms, she says.--ENDS

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.

Kiribati: Govt encouraged to give end-date on newspaper ban

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--The publication ban on the Kiribati Independent newspaper by the current government needs to be followed up by a clear timeframe explaining the registration process, says regional media monitoring watchdog, the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
Editor and founding publisher of the Kiribati Independent, Taberannang Korauaba, was instructed on Friday 18th May to immediately cease publication of his newspaper until his registration application is finalised.
"Having an independent news media service offers important information choices to the people of Kiribati, and effectively that's now been affected by the recent decision. We now have a group of media employees and Independent readers in limbo, without a date clarifying how long they will remain that way," says PFF chair Titi Gabi, of PNG.
Korauaba had resumed publishing the Independent on legal advice in March that he could do so as his application had been lodged.  He had previously published another, now defunct news title in 2006 the same way, and this had gone unchallenged. The timing of the ban comes in the wake of recent articles in the Independent which have reportedly upset the government of the day.
"The order to cease publishing of the Kiribati Independent as per the Newspapers Act can avoid perceptions of political interference  by clarifying to all what the steps are, and how long it will all take," says Gabi.
"On the flip side of asking for answers from government, it's important for members of the public and public figures to know their rights and choices when it comes to commending or complaining about news coverage. We encourage all media outlets in Kiribati to continue giving space in their publications advising on their ethics standards for journalists along with complaints procedures from the public," says PFF co chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"In line with media rights and responsibilities, Pacific governments and communities should be able to access a clear and credible complaints process for their grievances over news content and ethical
standards. Using such a process not only helps keep the watchdogs at their best, it helps avoid perceptions that governments are using policy and law to gag the fourth estate."--ENDS

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.

PNG media pioneer honored on WPFD day

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--The Pacific vanguard of free speech and media freedom continues to rest with individuals who stand up to defend those rights, says regional media freedom watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
PFF chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea will be noting that largely unresourced reality when she calls for a minute's silence before a WPFD Editors Forum on Media ethics and elections 2012 to be held this morning at Hideaway Hotel in Port Moresby. The silence will honour the late Yehiura Hriehwazi,one of Papua New Guinea's leading journalists, who died suddenly on 8 January 2012. Hriehwazi was a fearless advocate for stronger investigative journalism and a founding member of the Pacific Freedom Forum. A print journalist who began his career with the PNG Post Courier in 1981, he reached senior management levels in a prolific career which had taken him across the world and the region whose journalists knew him so well. 
UNDP-PNG's Investigative Journalism awardee Haiveta Kivia stressed to regional media colleagues in March 2012, that he owed his success to the powerful mentoring he received from Hriehwazi.
 "As we join the global celebrations this May 3 across the dateline, PFF recognises its network, strength and solidarity is derived from the individual passion and commitment of its members. Spread out across the three sub-regions of the Pacific, our media monitors and advocates, like Yehiura, are vigilant of that freedom to do the work of journalism. We are well aware that many governments want to dictate and shape how their nations are informed, even trampling their rights to share opinions and views freely with each other." says the PFF chair.
"Yehiura encouraged solidarity within the media industry because he believed in the power of collective voices standing up for media standards and freedom. His sudden loss is still deeply felt by those of us who continue the work he began," she says.

Gabi, who has initiated a new national media workers union  to refocus attention to the Pacific's largest country-level industry group, says the current outreach drive of PNG Media Workers Association has revealed that journalists continue to feel isolated and alone when threats occur to their journalism practice, livelihoods or personal safety.

"Levels of self-censorship, depending on where journalists live, continue to be a strong threat to media freedom in our part of the world. What we are seeing at regional and national level is a growing awareness that we can be stronger with a unified voice -- and today is a timely moment to honour Pacific colleagues who have paved the way." she says.
The joint hosting by the Papua New Guinea Media Workers Association and the International Federation of Journalists of the Pacific World Press Freedom Day event is supported by both groups with additional resources from UNESCO Pacific, UNDP Papua New Guinea, and the IFJ- EU Pacific Media, Human Rights and Democracy project.In the last 12 months, the PFF issued 45 statements on media in the region -- more than half of them coming from Vanuatu, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
"Individuals like Yehi Hriehwazi show that our best Pacific resource is our people. His tireless input and enthusiasm for the work of monitoring media freedom and ethics, helping the PFF to organise and keep a consistent flow of alerts since August 2008, leaves an inspirational lead for us all to follow," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"It is great to see the Pacific WPFD launches happening today in Yehi's home nation. PNG is at a point in its history where the watchdog and independent voice of the media is vital. We join our colleagues in honouring a founding father of the PFF, and extend support and solidarity to those celebrating May 3 across our Pacific community."--ENDS

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.

PFF condemns Police bashing of PNG journalist

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS- The Pacific Freedom Forum condemns the brutal attack by uniformed Police officers on Papua New Guinea journalist Mark Kayok on the evening of Saturday 21 April, in Port Moresby.  Kayok, a Police rounds reporter with the National Broadcasting Corporation, has reportedly sustained a broken nose amongst his injuries and is currently recovering at home.

The incident was reported in the morning bulletin on NBC radio on Monday 23 April . Kayok had been on assignment on Saturday evening before meeting up with a friend who was wearing his Police uniform. Returning home, they were tailed by a mobile Police Unit who stopped them at a service station in 5-mile and began assaulting the Police officer. When Kayok tried to stop the attack, the assailants asked him who he was. He identified himself as an NBC journalist and was also beaten up by the group of Police officers who told him media were not reporting positively on them.

"We strongly condemn these crimes and call on those in authority to let the rule of law prevail, and investigate and prosecute those behind this shocking and despicable act. Not only did this attack involve a fellow law enforcer, but the citizen who tried to come to his aid also became a victim after it was found he was a journalist," says American Samoa-based PFF co-chair Monica Miller.

The assaults come in the wake of ongoing tensions within Police ranks in the PNG capital, after reports of fighting between factions of Highlands and NCD-based police in the last week.

"We urge the leadership to ensure the safety of all PNG citizens, especially when it's those paid to protect them who are their biggest threat. The media must be able to safely do the work of keeping the public informed at a critical time in the nation's history and we are gravely concerned at ongoing reports of threats and harrassment. We urge the government and law enforcers to respect the role of the fourth estate, and uphold their own duty to serve and protect the people of Papua New Guinea."

Miller says it's important that the leadership in the Police and Government quickly investigate and stand down the perpetrators of the beating and strive for peaceful settlement of the current tensions within the Police ranks, while keeping open lines of communication with journalists.-- ENDS

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.

Palau: Journo jobs, media freedoms face the axe under new bill

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--Independent journalism and jobs for journalists in Palau face the axe if a proposed telecommunications bill before the country's senate becomes law, says regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum.
Senate bill 8-231 is aimed at updating licensing regulations for broadcasters, but includes a clause banning foreign ownership of media companies.
The clause would effectively shut down major news player Oceania Television Network, which is majority owned by US citizens Jeff Barabe and Kassi Berg, in partnership with Palauan partners, Jill Senior and Micheal Gordon. OTN employs Palauan nationals across its news, production and admin teams.
"Any proposed legislation which takes jobs away from Palau's citizens, and impacts on the independent flow of news and information to the public, surely raises the question of the agenda behind the changes," says PFF chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.
"We urge those behind the bill's clauses to check it does not threaten Palau's constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and speech."
"Forward-thinking Pacific governments feature foreign investment and ownership guidelines and monitoring in their trade and investment environment and don't mix it up in spectrum and telecommunications licensing. In a globalised era where more small island media industries would welcome foreign investment to help meet their high capital costs, the truth behind making this a restricted industry must be made public," she says.
Attempts to ban foreign ownership of media outlets is not new to Palau. It’s been reported the same provision was included in a previous Senate Bill introduced by broadcast owner and Senator Alfonso Diaz in 2009. It was dropped amidst legal challenges resulting in a criminal complaint filed by the Special Prosecutor against Senator Diaz for anti-competitive and unfair business practices.
PFF is also extremely concerned at news that the March 29 public hearing held in the Palau senate on the draft bill also actively excluded Barabe and his staff members from OTV. When Barabe, acting on an invite from a Senate staffer appeared at 11am, the hearing Chair Senator Kathy Kesolei called a recess, which meant cameras recording the 'public' hearings were turned off. During the off-camera discussion with Barabe, Kesolei told the OTV owner he couldn’t submit because he didn’t have a license. When he said he had two broadcast licenses, she changed reasons and said he could submit at a later date. When he asked for that date, she said there might not be another hearing on the bill.
"Public hearings over legislation are a precious part of any democracy and on camera recording links the business of elected leaders to their voters in the most transparent and practical way," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa. "Taking that right away and grasping for excuses in the manner reported,suspends belief and credibility in the whole public hearings process handling this bill."
Roll-Em Productions, the Barabe brainchild which lead to Oceania TV Network, are a thriving media company who've put a decades work into training and employing Palauan journalists.
"For an industry leader operating with the same standards as a public service broadcaster to now face extermination without clear justification, and especially without the right to be heard, is a chilling wake up call to Pacific voters of how easily their elected leaders can shut down their right to be informed."----ENDS

LINKS

OTV Newslink: http://www.oceaniatv.net/?p=761
Kaselehlie Press: http://bild-art.de/kpress/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1771&Itemid=2

Palau Constitution: http://www.palauembassy.com/Documents/ConstitutionE.pdf

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.

PFF joins call for action over plane attack in Papua

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Pacific media watchdogs are keen to see closure and prosecution from Indonesia's Police forces investigating the plane attack in Indonesia's Papua province on Sunday 8 April, which killed 35 year old journalist Leiron Kegoya.

Kegoya, a journalist for the Papua Pos and Pasifik Pos Dail was on assignment to cover local elections in the Papua provincial capital Jayapura, which borders Papua New Guinea. He was a passenger in a small twin otter plane touching down at Mulia Airport when the shooters opened fire on the plane. He died from a bullet wound to his neck

The pilot, co-pilot and a mother and her 4-year-old son were injured in the attack, which saw the aircraft veer off the runway and crash into the terminal building.

"The circumstances of this attack highlight the situation in which journalists must do their work, and we join our colleagues in Indonesia and the International Federation of Journalists, IFJ in urging police to ensure the perpetrators behind this horrible act are brought to justice," says PFF chair Titi Gabi, of Papua New Guinea.

"The safety and security of civilians including journalists rests on the ability of Police and law enforcers, and is especially critical during election periods and when reporting from dangerous or unstable locations."

"We express condolences to the colleagues and family of Leiron Kegoya, and ask that Papua's police and Indonesia's leadership ensure this investigation not taper into silence, but that those responsible can be identified and brought to justice," says PFF co chair Monica Miller of American Samoa. The Pacific Freedom Forum adds its solidarity to condemnation of the attack from other media networks including the national Indonesia media association, AJI, the International Federation of Journalists, IFJ, and Reporters without Borders, RSF. -- ENDS

LINKS:

Jakarta Post: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/04/08/armed-gang-attacks-trigana-air-plane-papua.html

Radio NZ International: http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=67390

Pacific Media Watch: http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/west-papua-rsf-protests-over-killing-journalist-airport-attack-7897
Pacific Scoop: http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2012/04/indonesian-president-demands-quick-justice-in-west-papua-attack/
IFJ: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/journalist-killed-in-indonesias-papua-province
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.

Pacific media must speak truth to power: PFF

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- Regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum is disappointed by widely reported claims by a government information adviser attending the current Pacific Media Summit in Suva that it's not the job of journalists to challenge government.
Papua New Guinea's deputy secretary of the PNG Department of Communications and Information Paulius Korini initiated a heated discussion amongst regional journalists in an Anti-Corruption workshop with his claims that media controls and regulation would help the industry towards balance in reporting. The former mainstream broadcast journalist, now a senior communications adviser to the Pacific's largest developing country had told other participants who disagreed with his statement he agreed with some of their views. Just hours later he told Radio Australia journalist Bruce Hill twice in the same interview that it's not the job of PNG's journalists to challenge government, and that the media should work in partnership with governments and be more responsible in their reporting. 
"It's concerning to see a former senior journalist now revoking the basic premise of journalism.  If Pacific journalists can't report the truth about the powerful and challenge those who want to keep information secret, they are not doing their jobs," says PFF chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.
"We urge all Pacific governments to welcome enquiries from the media and coverage, however critical or positive, of their performance.  And the same applies to the other sectors of society who are the watchdogs of governance -- we in media must also welcome the same challenges on the work we do."
The Pacific Freedom Forum leadership is not at the Fiji meeting along with other regional media networks including the Pasifika Media Association, with many choosing to stay away in protest at having a regional media event in one of the region's most repressed nation for free speech and free media. Journalists from those organisations are attending the Pacific Media Summit in Suva as individuals.
"We stand in solidarity with our PNG media colleagues and commend their work at a difficult time in the nation's history, especially as the country enters an election period in the next few months,"  says PFF co-chair Monica Miller, "and we are concerned that government media officers attending the current media summit may be hoping to use its hosting in Fiji as a chance to push their agenda for media control disguised as responsibility."
"Our position from our membership, even those individual journalists at the summit, is clear: the role of the media as the fourth estate mandates us to challenge those who want to keep information secret. The public is best informed by journalists when we speak truth to power, and make the powerful truthful."-- ENDS

Korini interview with Bruce Hill:  http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/onairhighlights/media-should-not-challenge-governments-pina-workshop-told

Tonga publisher calls Korini comment 'ignorant and arrogant': (Link to www.radioaustralia.net.au after 29/3)


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.

PFF supports no-treason call for West Papua

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS --Three years in jail for five West Papua activists is a further erosion of free speech and other human rights for the province, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.

“There is no treason in freedom of expression shared peacefully,” says PFF chair Titi Gabi, “in Indonesia, or anywhere else.”

The five men were sentenced by judges after being convicted for a public speech. Made last October, leaders at the Third Papua Peoples Congress ended the speech with a “Declaration of Independence” in front of a crowd of thousands.  Shortly after the activist event, three people were killed when security forces opened fire on dispersing crowds. None of the military involved have been given jail terms.

“Under guarantees of free speech, strong opinion must be allowed without risking unconstitutional persecution by the state,” says Gabi, a Papua New Guinea journalist. "The statements which so riled the Indonesia government were made during a peaceful assembly. Matters reportedly turned ugly when the military fired guns into the crowd. An unarmed, peaceful gathering sharing political ideas can hardly be labelled as an act of terrorism."
The Pacific Freedom Forum supports calls from Human Rights Watch and other groups for convictions to be dropped against the group now dubbed the “Jayapura Five”.

The convicted men are Selpius Bobii, a social media activist; August Sananay Kraar, public servant; Dominikus Sorabut; film maker, Edison Waromi, a former political prisoner, and Forkorus Yaboisembut, a Papua tribal leader elected president at the congress.

Co-chair of the Pacific Freedom Forum, Monica Miller, says that authorities in Indonesia must "follow through on the constitutional mandate to open up public spaces for all people of West Papua to share ideas safely with each other and their leaders.”

Miller says an impression of widespread injustice is growing worldwide, quoting a report from the US-based Freedom House on “contradictory” rulings within the Indonesian legal system.

“Until they feel heard by their rulers and the global community, the people of Papua will continue to pay the ultimate price for trying to speak  freely on their lives,” says Miller.

Sentencing of the five in west Papua comes as Pacific journalists prepare to attend a regional media meet in Fiji.
Miller called on colleagues at the forthcoming Pacific  Media Summit  in Suva this month to also focus outside Fiji, on wider challenges facing freedoms of speech, including in west Papua.
“Journalists and the media must balance the news needs of their local markets with reporting urgent regional issues,” says Miller. The continued erosion of free speech in west Papua goes against Article 19 of the 1946 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Indonesia is a signatory.--ENDS

LINKS

Pacific Media Watch ( archives and background)
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pmw-nius

Jakarta Post:

Papuans found guilty of subversion, get 3-year jail terms

Human Rights Watch Condemns Conviction of Papua Activists

Sydney Morning Herald:

Anger greets jailing of West Papua activists

Pacific Scoop:

Indonesia: Guilty Treason Verdicts For Congress Leaders

Sentence Violates Human Rights Law

Appeal against Papuan Congress treason convictions launched

 

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.