Indonesian President Joko Widodo shakes hands with one of five political prisoners freed this week, along with a promise to free access to West Papua for foreign media. Photo / Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty Images
For immediate release:
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Sun, 10th May 2015
Freeing political prisoners and foreign press access to West Papua will be the biggest regional story this year - and the next, predicts the Pacific Freedom Forum.
"Years of pressure are finally starting to pay off," says PFF Chair Titi Gabi.
"The announcement from Indonesian President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo represents a solid step forward for media, civil society and diplomacy - within Indonesia and around the world."
President Jokowi's free press promise followed global controversy over the execution of drug smugglers, and what media groups described as deteriorating press freedoms in Indonesia.
Gabi says it was now a matter of urgency to see the Jakarta decisions turned into enduring freedoms for West Papua.
"There are still deep doubts that Jokowi has the political power to enforce this promise, but the announcement alone represents a historic moment in centuries of foreign oppression in Papua.
"Attention must now turn from the government of Indonesia to the corruption behind the scenes that causes so many human rights abuses in West Papua."
On Wednesday, PFF had been close to releasing a review of events and statements from World Press Freedom Day 2015 when Al Jazeera broadcast an interview with President Jokowi, during which the promise was made to free up access to foreign press "from tomorrow."
Until that moment, the best news of the press year was another promise: of a review of the Fiji media decree.
"Fiji freedoms have long been important to the region," says Gabi.
"It is great to see the Fiji Media Industry Development Authority actually talk about being open to more people having a say on the future of the media decree."
PFF is also welcoming a statement from Fiji-based media body PINA, the Pacific Islands News Association.
"Their commitment to work hand-in-hand with government shows transparency about their agenda," says Gabi.
"We encourage PINA to advocate effectively behind the scenes for a confident and well-informed news media, as called for ten years ago in the 2005 regional report, Informing Citizens."
In other regional news, PFF joins PINA in welcoming the formation of the Fijian Media Association (FMA) last year and revival and election of the Media Council of PNG.
PFF also welcomes the reformation of the Cook Islands Media Association last year.
PFF Co-Chair Monica Miller says forum members were pleased at the lack of attack year on news media workers in the region's most dangerous area, West Papua.
"It seems that the word has finally gone out from Jakarta to the military thugs in Jayapura and beyond - leave the media alone."
"However we cannot say the same for human rights activists and ordinary citizens expressing their freedoms of speech.
"The shooting of citizens gathering to fund-raise funds for victims of the cyclone in Vanuatu was an astonishing new low, apalling even for Indonesia."
PFF says that the last year saw strong growth of support among citizen groups advocating greater freedoms for West Papua, along with increased press coverage and high level statements, including from the United Nations.
At that regional level, PFF also welcomed strong support in New Zealand for news media, after more than 60,000 people signed a petition calling on private channel TV3 to not drop its popular current affairs programme, Campbell Live.
"News media in New Zealand have long been a backstop for press freedoms in the Pacific, as has those of Australia," says Miller.
"However governments and most political parties in both countries have taken an increasingly hostile stance towards media."
A recent debate called by the Fabian Society in Auckland shows deepening concern about journalism and the future of democracy in New Zealand.
Massive cutbacks to public media in Australia, and continuing funding freezes in New Zealand, continues to undermine development efforts across the region, says Miller.
"Less scrutiny means less stability, and that can lead to less security for the entire region," she says.
PFF recognises the continuing efforts of press freedom monitors such as UNESCO, IFJ, RSF, PINA and recent attention from internet freedom body Access Now.
* An online review did not reveal any #wpfd news for American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Tuvalu or Wallis and Futuna.
MORE
Indonesia lifts ban on foreign journalists in West Papua
http://www.9news.com.au/world/2015/05/11/01/08/indonesia-lifts-ban-on-foreign-journalists
Promise of Papua media access welcomed
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/273356/promise-of-papua-media-access-welcomed
West Papua is still dangerous for journalism: Urgent reminder to all foreign journalists applying to report in West Papua
http://westpapuamedia.info/2015/05/11/west-papua-is-still-dangerous-for-journalism-urgent-reminder-to-all-foreign-journalists-applying-to-report-in-west-papua/
Jokowi looks to lift stigma of conflict from Papua
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/273278/jokowi-looks-to-lift-stigma-of-conflict-from-papua
Indonesia releases five West Papuan political prisoners as president pledges reforms
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/10/joko-widodo-releases-five-west-papuan-political-prisoners-and-pledges-reforms
5 West Papuan prisoners granted clemency/media bans lifted
http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2015/05/5-west-papuan-prisoners-granted-clemencymedia-bans-lifted/
In Papua, Jokowi frees 5
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/10/in-papua-jokowi-frees-5.html
End media restriction on Papua, Indonesia: Human Rights Watch
http://www.theoslotimes.com/end-media-restriction-on-papua-indonesia-watch/
Padre - We're against torture
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=304671
Fiji MIDA open to review of Media Decree
http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=12136055335546e97cee92e7aad298
PINA boss appeals for fair treatment
http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=2064731550554694f6f154a6cd191f
USP Wansolwara marks #wpfd2015
https://www.facebook.com/wansolwaranews/media_set?set=a.469052669918808.1073741830.100004422368620&type=1
USP Journalism Students Celebrate World Press Freedom Day
http://www.usp.ac.fj/news/story.php?id=1800
Samoa celebrates World Press Freedom Day
https://www.facebook.com/NusMediaAndJournalismSchool/posts/702056133249717
Dear Journalists, Media Practitioners and Communicators - WACC Pacific
https://www.facebook.com/fijianmedia/posts/1573851722883672
Tonga ranks above United States in 2015 release of World Press Freedom Index
http://www.nzkanivapacific.co.nz/2015/05/tonga-ranks-above-united-states-in-2015-release-of-world-press-freedom-index/#.VU6c846qqD8
Tonga: Let Journalism Thrive!
http://matangitonga.to/2015/05/01/let-journalism-thrive
WPFD Solomon Islands
http://www.sibconline.com.sb/world-press-freedom-day-celebrated-today/
Challenges beyond the Press Law - SEAPA – Southeast Asian Press Alliance
http://www.seapa.org/?p=10925
Laws suppressing media freedom in Southeast Asia - IFEX
https://www.ifex.org/asia_pacific/2015/05/05/press_freedom_wpfd/?utm_source=whatcounts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=itw_6may2015
Australian government funding to The Conversation 'to be axed'
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/australia-government-funding-conversation-be-axed-9262
Rights advocate condemns Nauru Facebook ban as 'stifling'
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/nauru-rights-advocate-condemns-facebook-ban-stifling-9259
Press freedom deteriorates in the region, says RSF report
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/indonesia-press-freedom-deteriorates-region-says-rsf-report-9257
Vanuatu government attacks Independent newspaper
https://vanuatudaily.wordpress.com/2015/05/02/vanuatu-daily-news-digest-2-may-2015/
PINA: World Press Freedom Day
http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/29112/world-press-freedom-day
Fiji’s media still struggling to regain ‘free and fair’
http://eveningreport.nz/2015/05/03/world-press-freedom-day-fijis-media-still-struggling-to-regain-free-and-fair-space/
New Caledonia: Kanak concerns over press freedom
http://partitravaillistekanaky.blogspot.co.nz/2015/05/quand-le-gouvernement-nous-explique-la.html (in French)
New Caledonia: WPFD marked at Taher
http://www.ahdouche.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=367&Itemid=250
WPFD marked by NZ media union
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201752809 (audio, see brief text at http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/20150503)
Fiji editor praises role of free press students
http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2015/05/fiji-wansolwara-editor-praises-role-of-free-student-press/
CONTACTS
PFF Chair Titi Gabi | GM PNG Loop | 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
PFF Editor Jason Brown | Aotearoa New Zealand | Mob: +(64) 224340831 | Email jasonbrown1965@live.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.
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