 |
Vanuatu Daily Post carried news of the
release of a journalist from the rival
newspaper Vanuatu Independent on its
front page. Photo: PFF screen grab |
PFF | Rarotonga | Cook Islands
Charges of
terrorism laid and dropped against a journalist in Vanuatu
“A Facebook
comment alone cannot possibly constitute terrorism,” says PFF Chair Titi Gabi.
“Governments
of the day must not use terrorism laws against freedoms of expression, no
matter how robust, rude, or just plain wrong.”
“At the
same time, media must ensure they use freedoms responsibly and try to avoid comments
that could be misconstrued”, says Gabi.
Vanuatu
Independent sub-editor Gratien Mulsoul was arrested this week by police after
lawyers for the prime minister wrote police a letter complaining he had
threatened cabinet by wishing their plane would crash into the sea.
Despite no
official complaint being laid, senior police arrested Mulsoul under terrorism
and sedition laws.
However,
after 30 hours in jail, Mulsoul, also known under his other surname Tiano, was
released when the Public Prosecutor at the State Prosecutions Department
ordered charges be dropped.
PFF
welcomes news of the decision by the Public Prosecutor, currently in
counterpart training with an Australian policing consultant.
PFF
co-Chair Monica Miller says controversy over the Facebook comment reflects
broader concerns across the region about the role of social networks.
“It is
immensely encouraging for PFF to see dozens of comments in the Vanuatu Facebook
group thrashing out issues surrounding this arrest and what it means for the
still emerging practice of using social networks.”
“Meantime, Vanuatu
“In the
absence of anything other than a Facebook comment, the laying of terrorism and
sedition charges must themselves come under scrutiny.”
PFF accepts
there are public safety concerns to free-running debates that get out of hand
online, and calls for clarity and caution from all news media participating on
social networks, like Facebook.
Mulsoul
wrote the comment in the biggest Facebook group for Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Independent editor Tony Wilson told Radio Australia
Commentators
on YTS said the “crash” comment was nothing more a common joke used as a punch-satirical
line in all sorts of debates.
Miller
welcomed news from PFF members about the setting up of a Media Complaints
Council in Vanuatu
“Along with
plans for a Pacific Media Ombudsman, this would help the Vanuatu Vanuatu
PFF calls
for independent review of the process by which Vanuatu
LINKS:
Journalist arrested
Journalist released
'Storm in teacup'
blows over Vanuatu
Media Asosiesen blong Vanuatu | Code of Ethics
Un journaliste
ni-Vanuatu arrêté pour des commentaires sur Facebook
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
PFF coordinator Jason Brown | Pasifika media | Aotearoa, New Zealand | +642102484560 | avaiki.nius@gmail.com
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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Thanks for all your efforts that you have put in this. Very interesting info.
ReplyDeletegreat job even if it's a sad news...thanks a lot for this work
ReplyDelete