Media threat in Samoa draws on colonial law - PFF

BAN THREAT: Samoa Speaker La’auli Leuatea Polata’ivao says reporters will lose the "privilege" of access to the House if they report anything other than official Hansard. 

PFF, Rarotonga, Cook Islands - A hard earned reputation for good governance in Samoa is at risk of being lost if recent threats and bans against media persist, warns the Pacific Freedom Forum.

"The government of Samoa prides itself on a regional reputation for transparency and accountability," says PFF Chair Titi Gabi.

"Good governance however loses pace as soon as threats to ban news media are made," she says.

Speaker of Parliament La’auli Leuatea Polata’ivao this week accused news media of misquoting debate in the house.

He called on media to stop interviewing members of parliament outside the house and rely solely on official Hansard records of the debate.

Describing access by news media to Parliament as a "privilege", La'auli said that reporters could be charged under 1960 laws that carry a maximum sentence of six months in prison, a $100 fine, or both.

Based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Gabi said that, "We fear the threats from the Speaker shows an outdated understanding of the role of media , as outdated as the law he is quoting from, one from the colonial era, two years before independence in 1962."

PFF co-Chair Monica Miller said the Speaker of Samoa was mistaken to think of access to Parliament as a privilege for journalists doing their job.

"Freedoms of movement and speech are fundamental human rights that Samoa has proudly proclaimed as a constitutional democracy and full member of the international community for the last 51 years," she says.

"His comments betray a fundamental misunderstanding of the necessary separation of powers between parliament, government, courts and the press,” says Miller, based in Pago Pago.

"News reporters are not Hansard reporters, for a very good reason - they are there to ask questions that protect the public interest - not accept everything members of parliament say, without question."

Outside of Parliament, an opposition MP confirmed to local media that he had not been misquoted, and that news reports of his accusations against government were, indeed, accurate.

Local media say that they have never been able to get copies of the official Hansard or even order papers from Parliament staff.

Under parliamentary privilege, fair and accurate reporting of parliamentary debate is fully protected, by law.

An earlier PFF release questioned the independence of police in Samoa after they followed “advice” from the Prime Minister not to speak with media anymore.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi later claimed he had “instructed” police to reverse the ban and answer questions.

LINKS

Speaker warns media against “unofficial” MP comments
http://www.talamua.com/speaker-warns-media-against-unofficial-mp-comments/

Speaker rules on media reporting of Parliament http://www.talamua.com/speaker-rules-on-media-reporting-of-parliament/

‘Drunken’ claim infuriates MP
http://www.samoaobserver.ws/home/headlines/5483-drunken-claim-infuriates-mp

Samoa police actions need investigation - PFF
http://www.pacificfreedomforum.org/2013/05/samoa-police-actions-need-investigation.html

Committee to probe alleged dishonesty in Customs
http://www.talamua.com/committee-to-probe-alleged-dishonesty-in-customs/

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 Projects Lisa Williams Lahari | Media Strategy | Solomon Islands | +6777574230
lisawilliamsonline@gmail.com

PFF Coordinator Jason Brown | Samoa Observer | Samoa | +6857604412 | subeditor@samoaobserver.ws

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.

. . .

Fiji regime forces TV resignation: PFF

PFF/Rarotonga/COOK ISLANDS--Regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum has condemned the forced resignation this week of one of the region's leading sports commentators, Fiji TV's Satish Narain.
Neither Narain nor station management have replied to questions from PFF, who've received reliable information that the resignation followed an ultimatum by phone call from Fiji's regime leader, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, to Fiji TV's management that they had to choose between keeping Narain on staff, or losing their broadcast licence.
"This deplorable action is a clear abuse of power and authority, and highlights the vulnerable situation of media organisations such as Fiji TV, let alone journalists whose work is deemed 'offensive' by public figures," says PFF co-chair Titi Gabi of PNG.
"We continue to urge Pacific leaders and members of the public to take their grievances with media standards and content directly and in writing to the outlet involved as the first step in a complaints process."
News of the resignation broke on social networks yesterday afternoon, June 18. Weeks before, the  station was forced to apologise for an on-air comment Narain made on Thursday 16 May at Fiji's 2013 Coca Cola Games, when he referred in his live commentary to the loud music coming from the PA system during the races, saying "CEO Litiana should do something about it."
Litiana is Litiana Loabuka, the CEO of the Fiji Sports Council. Loabuka is the eldest daughter of Fiji's regime leader Frank Bainimarama.
Within days of his comment, the station had been banned from all Fiji Sports Council premises in Suva and had to issue a public apology for the "adverse comments against Loabuka and the organisation."
"The forced resignation of a well-respected Pacific sports commentator of Narain's calibre does not just end a prolific 16-year career in broadcasting. It proves beyond the doubt that media jobs and journalists are not free to work without fear or favour. On the contrary, all it takes is a phone call to make 'annoying' journalists  'disappear'."
PFF calls on the regime to take a mature and consistent approach to the media industry, and remains 'extremely concerned' over the level of interference and harassment demonstrated in this matter.
 "We continue to stand in solidarity with our media colleagues in Fiji as they continue to work in an industry controlled by decree, and with the threats to job security affecting those in certain media outlets," says PFF co Chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.
"It's important in the build up to the 2014 elections that a free and strong media industry be allowed to do its work and we urge the regime leadership to put aside bullying and threats when dealing with media. It's an approach grounded in fear, which perpetuates more fear and silence. It threatens to make a mockery of any claim to democratic elections."  --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.

Nauru elections need free media - PFF

Presidential directive to Nauru Broadcasting Service:   all interviews to be approved first.
photo / pacmas
PFF | Rarotonga | For immediate release :

Government should allow Nauru Broadcasting Service to fully report politics leading up to this Saturday's general elections, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.
"An uninformed democracy is no kind of democracy at all," says PFF Chair Titi Gabi.
"How are voters supposed to make an informed decision on issues facing their country if they cannot access independent information to make their own judgment?"
Government last week reportedly issued a ban on any political coverage by the country's sole media, the state-owned Nauru television and radio station.
The ban was said to have been put in place by President Sprent Dabwido as part of a supposed "state of emergency" over economic conditions.
Finance minister Roland Kun resigned in protest, calling the media ban a "disgrace."
President Dabwido later said there was no ban but that he had issued a directive to media to put all interview requests through him first, to stop MPs attacking each other.
"Pushing media interviews through a presidential office seems neither free nor fair," says Gabi, speaking from Port Moresby.
"Where there is simply no other media, the burden is especially heavy upon government to allow free and open access to state media by all political parties."
PFF co-Chair Monica Miller says the Nauru directive recalls similar edicts imposed by democratically elected governments across the Pacific.
“All over the world, in fact, suppressing information has been proven again and again not to work.
“Whether we are talking tax havens used by the biggest companies fuelling global corruption or self-declared states of emergency in a micro-state like Nauru, the effect is the same – instability.”
“An economic crisis – global or local – is the very time people need more information, not less.”
Like other Pacific states, Nauru faces a future of ever evolving complexity, says Miller.
“To survive, let alone to compete, Nauru needs to retain its best minds, and attract back people it sends overseas for education.
“Nauru cannot hope to achieve either if it continues to deny citizens basic freedoms, and basic dignities.”
PFF is calling on the incoming government to review its media policies and put in place protections for freedom of speech, as guaranteed under the constitution, and by international agreement.
LINKS :
Nauru's media banned from reporting on politics during national election
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacific/radio/program/pacific-beat/naurus-media-banned-from-reporting-on-politics-during-national-election/1138012
Nauru’s President denies banning media from speaking to politicians
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=76419
President Dabwido Declares State of Emergency
http://www.naurugov.nr/government-information-office/media-release/soe.aspx
Nauru makes media network from scratch (background)
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/nauru-makes-media-network-from-scratch/story-e6frg996-1225830274890
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 | Avaiki Nius Agency | Samoa | +6857604412 | avaiki.nius@gmail.com
JOIN :
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Joining PFF is free, and open to all media practitioners in the Pacific Islands, and those interested in supporting freedoms of speech across the region.
ABOUT PFF :
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.
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