PNG defamation threat risks chilling effect

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PNG opposition leader Belden Namah is facing a threat of defamation action from the government.
Photo: EMTV

NEWS RELEASE

Government threats in Papua New Guinea to sue an opposition politician and a TV station over corruption claims risk a chilling effect on freedoms of speech, warns the Pacific Freedom Forum.

“Defamation action by ruling leaders should be considered a very last resort option, if at all,” says PFF Chair, Titi Gabi, based in Port Moresby.

“Especially when, as in most cases, the government of the day uses public funds to pursue legal action against opponents and news media.”

Controversy erupted this week over claims by the opposition that plans to disband a state owned fuel exporter in favour of a public trust headed by the prime minister amounted to a potentially corrupt conflict of interest.

News of the claim was broadcast by EMTV, a private station, from footage of a press conference involving opposition leader Belden Namah.

His claims were reportedly not balanced with views from government.

EMTV is said to have pulled the story from the opposition leader and replaced it with an apology to the prime minister after a protest.

PFF co-Chair Monica Miller said governments are fully within their rights to raise concerns about news stories, and lodge protests with media organisations.

“Certainly government can rightfully be concerned at a perceived lack of balance in a report.”

“News media need to remind themselves constantly of the need for fairness and balance in all their reports, wherever possible.”

“But, however one-sided,  raising concerns about changes to publicly owned assets should not be a trigger for defamation action.”

“Such actions risks a chilling effect on freedoms of speech.”

Following announcement of the defamation action by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, Namah further alleged that government had threatened to withdraw the EMTV broadcasting license.

There was no immediate confirmation from EMTV of any such threat. Neither the apology or the original story appear on the station website, or appear in online search cache.

O'Neill told a press conference that the EMTV license allegation did not happen at all, saying that TV licenses could only be withdrawn by the country's broadcasting authority .

“We welcome a statement from the government of Papua New Guinea denying a threat against a private television station and call on the O'Neill administration to display a similar hands-off approach to public debate”, said Miller.

LINKS

PNG’s PM to sue opposition leader, local tv station, and a reporter
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=75673

PNG PM to sue opposition leader
http://news.msn.co.nz/worldnews/8651193/png-pm-to-sue-opposition-leader

I will provide evidence in court: Namah
http://www.pngvillage.net/2013/05/01/i-will-provide-evidence-in-court-namah/#.UYD5ErVmiSp

Namah swipes at Kumul ‘creature’
http://www.pngindustrynews.net/storyview.asp?storyid=798462465&sectionsource=s0

CONTACTS :

PFF Chair Titi Gabi | Freelance Journalist | Papua New Guinea  | +67573143929 |  titi.gabipng@gmail.com

PFF co-Chair Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa | + 6842584197 | monica@khjradio.com

FOR WPFD / PMO / PFF info

PFF Coordinator Lisa Lahari Williams | Pacific media | Honiara, Solomon Islands | lisawilliams.online@gmail.com | +6777574230

Incoming PFF coordinator Jason Brown | Pasifika media | Aotearoa, New Zealand | avaiki.nius@gmail.com | +642102484560

ABOUT PFF :

 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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