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| A meeting last week between journalists, the Samoa Law Reform Commission and the office of the Attorney General. |
Rarotonga, Cook Islands -
Government in Samoa must halt plans for a state media
council and return to the original timeframe recommended by the country’s law
reform commission, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.
Plans for the new statutory media council are deeply
concerning so soon after threats to ban journalists from Parliament, says PFF.
“Serious questions about the timing must be raised given
that the government is breaking a two year timeframe recommended by its own law
reform commission,” says PFF Chair Titi Gabi.
In June last year, the Samoa Law Reform Commission issued a
report supporting a national media council to hear complaints.
But the Commission recommended a two year period to allow
local media an attempt at self-regulation through its own independent media
council.
“Instead, we have a government that personally attacks the
reputations of critics and reporters on a near daily basis now insisting that a
state media council cannot wait a minute longer,” says Gabi.
“These attacks, as well as police failure to protect
journalists from threats and assault; advice not to answer media questions, and
a threat to ban journalists hardly inspire confidence in the future credibility
and independence of any media council.”
News of plans for a media council were announced on 4th June
by Attorney General who said he had been “instructed” by cabinet to begin
drafting a new law for a state media council.
“A reputation for good governance is no longer under threat
in Samoa – it is now actively being damaged by a ruling party apparently unable
to handle the heat of public debate,” says Gabi, based in Port Moresby.
“Government should remember that with heat comes light.”
PFF is calling on development partners to remind Samoa that
freedoms of speech are constitutionally protected and a fundamental human
right.
“We are especially concerned that government does not yet
appear to be consulting with all media about the new council,” says Gabi.
News of the media council comes on top of two other events.
In one, Samoa Observer Chief Reporter Sophie Budvietas had a
laptop stolen from her car, with a threatening note left – a camera and other
gear were left untouched.
The next week, official warnings from the state tourism
authority were issued about a law passed last year that gives them the power to
seek prosecution against “prejudicial” reporting on Samoa tourism – with a
maximum penalty of $5,000 fine and three months in jail.
The Tourism Development Act 2012 had previously escaped
public attention, until it was raised during a series of workshops aimed at
answering weeks of criticism from the industry about an alleged failure by
government to properly market, develop and regulate the destination.
PFF co-Chair Monica Miller said government emphasis of their
power to prosecute tourism critics shows a rapidly closing mindset.
“Instead of addressing the problems highlighted by the
industry itself, and rightfully reported by the media, government seems to
focus on shooting the messenger,” says Miller.
“Government is a displaying a remarkably immature response
for a country now enjoying its 51st year of independence, the oldest
independent state in the Pacific Islands.”
“Government needs to act its age, and assume more
statesman-like responses to public debate – cherishing criticism as valuable
feedback, not rejecting anything that threatens its attempts to maintain an
entirely unrealistic image of perfection.”
LINKS :
Govt. instructs AG on Media Council
Samoa Observer Chief Reporter threatened
Threatening acts and everyone’s responsibility - editorial
Media Council, accountability, dictatorship - editorial
AG ignores media group
JAWS does not want AG to draft media law
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
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. We are registered as an incorporated society in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
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