Pacific Freedom Forum

Nauru elections need free media - PFF

noreply@blogger.com (Avaiki Nius) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 07:39:00 +0000

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 :
PFF Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/PacificFreedomForum
PFF Twitter
https://twitter.com/islandfreedoms
PFF Google
mediafreedom@googlegroups.com
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.
..

Samoa police actions need investigation - PFF

noreply@blogger.com (Avaiki Nius) — Thu, 30 May 2013 02:05:00 +0000

SAMOA: A truck driver at the scene of an accident went on to assault and threaten reporters. Police refused media requests for assistance. In a separate incident, an officer smashed a phone being used in a public place
Photo : Samoa Observer / Nicola Hazelman-Siona

PFF | Rarotonga - Failing to intervene in a minor assault on reporters and smashing the phone of a young boy shows police in Samoa need training in freedoms enjoyed by all citizens, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.

"Some police may not always like the criticism or scrutiny that news media and the digital age brings but that does not absolve them of their duty to protect the law," says PFF Chair, Titi Gabi.

"Standing by while threats are made against reporters and doing nothing when an attempt was made to wrestle cameras off them betrays a basic lack of understanding of legal principles on the part of at least some police in Samoa," she says.

"Grabbing someone's phone and smashing it amounts to assault, theft and damage to property, all illegal under any normal laws."

Speaking from Port Moresby, Gabi called on the officers in both incidents to be investigated and disciplined.

"Police can no more interfere with the lawful work of the press, which is the Fourth Estate, than they could with the first three estates.

"Failing to assist journalists under attack is the same as turning their back on an assault against a member of parliament, a cabinet minister or a judge."

"Journalists also have the same basic human rights as any other citizen."

Reporters working for Samoa Observer were at the scene of an accident when the driver of a flipped water truck approached and demanded they hand over cameras.

He grabbed the arm of one female reporter seated in a car marked with the name of the newspaper, and tried to wrestle a camera off her, but she resisted. The driver then threatened retaliation if any photos were published.

Police at the scene did nothing to intervene, shrugging off requests for assistance from the reporters.

Samoa Observer Editor-in-Chief Savea Sano Malifa told staff to lay an assault complaint with police, and put the photos, the assault and the threats on the front page of the newspaper next day.

That next morning, police conducted a raid on a local market and arrested three men and two women for allegedly selling drugs.

One officer approached a youth who was filming the raid on his mobile, grabbed the phone and threw it on the ground, smashing it.

PFF co-Chair Monica Miller described the incident as "astonishing."

"The people of Samoa rightfully pride themselves on a culture of humility and politeness, yet police sometimes appear not just arrogant, but lawless."

Based in Pagopago, Miller called on police in Samoa to seek regular and sustained training on the rights of all citizens, protected under the constitution.

"Police officers cannot make the law up as they go along - they need to have a better understanding of public rights, and protect and cherish them deeply."

"Centuries of legal precedence the world over tells us that events taking place in a public space, such as on a road, may be observed, recorded and commented upon by anyone, at any time, under any circumstance."

PFF extends an invitation to the police force of Samoa to consult over both matters, so reporters can do their job safely, and citizens may fully enjoy basic freedoms.

Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed by Samoa in 1992, article 19 defends the right to freedoms of speech, as follows:

Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Samoa is also a 2008 signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states:

2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.
3. The exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary:
(a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others;
(b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals.

Emphasis added.

PFF states that journalists doing their job or people filming in a public place cannot be considered a threat to public order, health or morals.

LINKS :

Samoa Observer reporters threatened, assaulted
http://www.samoaobserver.ws/home/headlines/5009-samoa-observer-reporters-threatened-assaulted

Media freedom under threat
http://www.samoaobserver.ws/local-news/police-and-prison/5080-media-freedom-under-threat

SAMOA: Journalists threatened – but press freedom isn't, says PM
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/samoa-journalists-threatened-press-freedom-isnt-says-pm-8305

Samoa's PM gags police
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/samoas-pm-gags-police/1121934

Samoa leader tells police not to give interviews to media
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=75563

Samoa signs Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1992
www.unicef.org/pacificislands/Samoa_sitan.pdf‎

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

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.

…

Praise for speech on Fiji media freedom–PFF

noreply@blogger.com (Avaiki Nius) — Tue, 28 May 2013 08:30:00 +0000

Gagged on World Press Freedom Day: Dr Wadan Narsey

PFF, Rarotonga - The Pacific Freedom Forum is welcoming publication of a speech from a speaker stopped from presenting at the University of the South Pacific on World Press Freedom Day.

Dr Wadan Narsey published his speech through new Fiji magazine, Republika.

“We praise the bravery of the magazine publishers operating under a military regime with limited understanding of benefits stemming from open debate,” says PFF Chair Titi Gabi.

“We also support Dr Narsey in criticising a trend towards blaming journalists for policy and practice that comes from editors, publishers or outside of news media.”

Speaking from Port Moresby, Gabi said the WPFD, World Press Freedom Day gag shows “extraordinary oversensitivity” on the part of university authorities.

“Media freedom in Fiji is one thing, but a regional university such as USP must engage with authorities to ensure that wider impacts are avoided.”

PFF co-Chair Monica Miller, based in Pago Pago, said that WPFD 2013 would have been the ideal opportunity for university authorities to raise debate around freedoms of speech ahead of elections scheduled for next year.

“How is it that better preparations were not laid for this most fundamental of freedoms?”

Miller also praised suggestions from Dr Narsey for journalists to start maintaining records on censorship for future evaluation.

His comments are reproduced here:

“What journalists need to do ... is to keep a record of all the stories they write, the dates they submit to the editors, and the story that appears or does not appear.

“Some day, media censorship will end and our society will return to practicing their human right to freedom of expression.

“As part of our attempt to understand this period in Fiji’s sad history, there will also be studies of the nature and frequency of media censorship during this time.

“The records maintained by journalists and principled editors will be an invaluable part of the history from which our future generations can learn.

“Journalism has as much a part to play in the history of our people as any other academic discipline such as history, politics or economics.

“Journalism may be the most important given its centrality in informing public opinion, which is the cornerstone of any true democracy.”

See other PFF releases on Fiji.

LINKS :

Media ownership in Fiji constricting media freedom
http://republikamagazine.com/2013/05/media-ownership-in-fiji/

FIJI: Ex-USP professor Narsey 'gagged' over media freedom speech
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/fiji-ex-usp-professor-narsey-gagged-over-media-freedom-speech-8290

Noted Fiji academic stopped from speaking to USP journalism students
http://fijitoday.wordpress.com/2013/05/11/insipid-censorship-usp-management-instructed-the-school-of-journalism-to-remove-him-from-the-programme/

Censorpedia | National Coalition Against Censorship (US)
http://wiki.ncac.org/Professor_Wadan_Narsey_Censorship_Speech

Fiji censorship speech censored
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/fiji-censorship-speech-censored/1131874

Noted Fiji academic stopped from speaking to USP students
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=75957

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 | Vaitele, Samoa | +6857604412 | avaiki.nius@gmail.com

ABOUT PFF :

Indonesia should release West Papua journalist immediately - PFF

noreply@blogger.com (Avaiki Nius) — Tue, 28 May 2013 07:44:00 +0000

PFF – Rarotonga - Indonesian authorities in Jakarta should immediately instruct their security forces in West Papua to release a radio host, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.

"Each day of arrest for this journalist lessens credibility of Jakarta over such a minor matter", says PFF Chair Titi Gabi.

"Arrest of the talkback host speaks to the weaknesses of Indonesian authority, not their strengths."

Abert Dimas Anggoro was arrested by Indonesian police after hosting a talkback show that expressed criticism of an Indonesian official in West Papua.

According to Kabar Berita online, Dimas was arrested after claiming in a public affairs programme, Matoa, that a district office was "dilapidated"

Dimas works for Penyiar Radio FM.

Colleagues from AJI, an alliance of Independent journalists, and a representative body for local media reporters, Papua New Light, accompanied Anggoro to the Sanggeng police station.

AJI coordinator in Jayapura Wally Jack was quoted as calling on Indonesian authorities to settle the matter using existing press laws, rather than arrest.

Jack quoted Law No. 40 on the Press, chapter 1 clause 11, where if a person or group feels aggrieved over a news item then used the existing complaints procedure.

Arrest of Dimas comes against a background of protests marking 50 years of Indonesian annexation, with three shot dead by security forces and a fourth dying in hospital.

An unknown number were injured in shootings by security forces across West Papua, with thousands reported to have joined protests in five different towns.

PFF co-Chair Monica Miller praised AJI and PNL representatives for standing by the radio host and bearing witness to abuse of powers by security forces.

“There can be no legitimate reason for the arrest of a journalist conducting a normal radio talkback show with routine questions, airing standard concerns,” says Miller.

“In doing so, the journalist, his station and their listeners are exercising citizen rights under the constitution of Indonesia guaranteeing freedoms of speech.”

Miller says that the arrest is one among myriad concerns facing Indonesia and decades of reports detailing arbitrary and illegal arrests, beatings, torture, rape and killings conducted mainly by security forces and Indonesian militia forces.

“PFF calls on Jakarta to rein in its attack dogs and end a culture of impunity running rampant in West Papua, at a huge cost in human life and misery.”

News of the arrest has been carried by dozens of outlets globally.

However, no news has been heard since the arrest over three weeks ago, raising deep concerns for the safety of the Penyiar FM journalist and his associates.

LINKS:

WEST PAPUA: Police arrest radio reporter over broadcast allegations
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/west-papua-police-arrest-radio-reporter-over-broadcast-allegations-8280

‘Murdered for doing their jobs’ – a snapshot of the region’s media
http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2013/05/murdered-for-doing-their-jobs-a-snapshot-of-the-regions-media/

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 | Vaitele, Samoa | +6857604412 | avaiki.nius@gmail.com

ABOUT PFF :

...

Alerts raise freedom awareness

noreply@blogger.com (Avaiki Nius) — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:16:00 +0000

PNG: shipping owner Hamish Sharp can be seen in this screengrab,

hand blurred, lunging for the camera.

PFF | Rarotonga | Cook Islands:

Regional media networks are combining to expose an unprecedented level of scrutiny when it comes to journalism ethics and public accountability, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.

“From Northern Mariana right across to French Polynesia, we are seeing an upswing in the number of freedom alerts for our region,” says PFF Chair Titi Gabi.

“These are of course a concern but can also be considered positive in that more time and attention is being paid to raising standards.”

Recent weeks and days have seen a wide range of issues raised.

PFF has put out news releases on leading concerns, but other issues are piling up across a range of platforms, including Facebook.

“We encourage moves to greater professionalism and formalisation of media standards, and the debate that goes with industry and community concerns,” says Gabi.

PFF ALERTS

French Polynesia: a newly formed political party being denied access to televised debates ahead of general elections there.

> PFF - calls on authorities in Pape’ete to ensure equal access to all political parties, as per French constitutional and other law.

Northern Marianas: a threat from authorities to force disclosure of confidential sources by a newspaper journalist exposing misadministration.

> PFF - urges authorities in CNMI to place precedence on First Amendment rights under

law to freedoms of speech, including the professional right of journalists to maintain confidentiality.

Papua New Guinea

: a shipping owner assaulting a TV crew who were invited to accompany an official immigration investigation of his office.

> PFF - urges management of EMTV to not allow a culture of impunity to continue when it comes to assaults on media workers, and calls for an official complaint to be laid.

Papua New Guinea

: Publication by daily newspaper, The National, of a photograph showing graphic injuries of violence victims.

> PFF - decries shock tactics by media, operating outside of generally accepted practice, especially in newspapers where content can be viewed by all ages.

Papua New Guinea

: Airing of a radio Nau FM talkback show on sex and the recording of images.

> PFF – notes that there is considerable public alarm at the talkback show, and earlier ones like it, in terms of community standards. PFF calls on radio management to ensure that the fine lines between information, entertainment and exploitation of community standards are not crossed.

Samoa: the new commissioner of police abandoning a weekly press conference popular with the public and with a proven track record of improving police conduct. The cancellation came after a letter from the prime minister.

> PFF – regrets news of the cancellation, and the apparent lack of due process in seeing the press conference dropped. Police should be seen to make their own decisions, and not open to influence from governments of the day when it comes to a free flow of information.

Cook Islands: arson threats made against daily Cook Islands News after newspaper publishes crime report.

> PFF – understands an earlier arson attempt was made against the paper, fortunately unsuccessful. Even on social networks, making threats is a serious matter.

Region: low pay causing journalists to abandon news in favour of public relations positions, and accepting of bribes, compensation and so-called custom payments.

> PFF – notes worldwide concerns over falling journalism pay and staff numbers, exposing a growing need for more policy debate surrounding the role and resources of the Fourth Estate.

LINKS

French Polynesia: Equity does not equal equality

http://www.tahiti-infos.com/Communique-de-presse-TE-HITI-TAU-API-Une-Nouvelle-Ere-Equite-n-est-pas-Egalite_a70800.html

(in French)

Papua New Guinea

: EMTV reporters assaulted

http://www.emtv.com.pg/news-app/item/emtv-reporters-assaulted

CNMI: Subpoenaed Marianasjournalist prepared for jail sentence

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/subpoenaed-marianas-journalist-prepared-for-jail-sebtence/1126234?autoplay=1126268

Papua New Guinea

: Why does The National print gruesome horrific photographs?

http://www.facebook.com/sanga.abolo/posts/4782564372488

Samoa: No more press conferences – Police Commissioner confirms

http://www.talamua.com/written-questions-only-police-commissioner-confirms/

Papua New Guinea

: Nau FM “juicy talk” and reaction

http://www.facebook.com/96NAUFM/posts/579650472065556

Cook Islands: Bar owner issues veiled threats

http://www.cookislandsnews.com/2013/April/Wed24/other.htm#1304220607

Region: Pacific journalists need better pay, says free media advocate

http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/region-pacific-journalists-need-better-pay-says-free-media-advocate-8272

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 :

...

…

Vanuatu must look into false arrest

noreply@blogger.com (Avaiki Nius) — Thu, 09 May 2013 06:33:00 +0000

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

over a Facebook comment need independent investigation, states the Pacific Freedom Forum.

“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

police must ensure that any arrest is well-founded or risk making a false arrest,” says Miller.

“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

, Yumi Toktok Stret – Straight Talk with more than 10,000 members – allegedly praying for a plane to crash. Passengers on the plane consisted of ministers returning from a cabinet meeting held outside the capital, Port Vila.

Vanuatu Independent editor Tony Wilson told Radio

Australia

the Facebook comment was one among jokes that popped out of a serious debate, questioning the threat to national security of having an entire cabinet on a single aeroplane.

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

government in handling media complaints instead of resorting to the arrest of journalists which risks leaving the

Vanuatu

government in a bad light.”

PFF calls for independent review of the process by which

Vanuatu

police make an arrest when dealing with freedoms of expression.

LINKS:

Journalist arrested

http://www.dailypost.vu/content/journalist-arrested

Journalist released

http://www.dailypost.vu/content/todays-dailypost-newspaper-wednesday-8-may-2013

Vanuatu

journalist arrested for online comment

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=75823

Vanuatu

journalist charged over 'crash' comment on Facebook

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/vanuatu-journalist-charged-over-crash-comment-on-facebook/1126932

'Storm in teacup' blows over

Vanuatu

journalist

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/storm-in-teacup-blows-over-vanuatu-journalist/1127514?autoplay=1127534

Vanuatu

Journalist Released After Arrest for Online Comment

http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/articles/vanuatu-journalist-released-after-arrest-for-online-comment

Media Asosiesen blong Vanuatu | Code of Ethics

http://mav.org.vu/welkam/media-code-of-ethics-and-practice

Un journaliste ni-Vanuatu arrêté pour des commentaires sur Facebook

http://www.tahiti-infos.com/Un-journaliste-ni-Vanuatu-arrete-pour-des-commentaires-sur-Facebook_a73526.html

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.
...

West Papua: shootings and arrests attack on human rights

noreply@blogger.com (Avaiki Nius) — Wed, 08 May 2013 05:46:00 +0000

Protestors in Jayapura on 1st May. Elsewhere in West Papua, five protestors were shot and dozens repotedly arrested by Indonesian security forces. Photo: KNPB News

PFF | Rarotonga | COOK ISLANDS:

Shooting peaceful protesters in West Papua and arresting a radio host for comments made on a talkback show are clear attacks on human rights by

Indonesia

, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.

“

Indonesia

is showing little progress towards answering serious and long-running concerns about human rights abuses in West Papua,” says PFF Chair Titi Gabi.

“In this case, the right to peaceful protest as a freedom of expression was again denied through us of lethal force and arbitrary arrest.”

Two protesters were reportedly killed and three seriously wounded in the district of Sorong as police and security forces cracked down on peaceful protests on 1st May across West Papua, marking 50 years of Indonesian rule.

An unconfirmed number were arrested.

In a separate incident since then, police also arrested a radio journalist hosting a talkback show where callers criticised the performance of a local official.

PFF supports comments from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, who expressed serious concerns over the crackdown on mass demonstrations across Papua.

In a UN statement, Pillay said: "These latest incidents are unfortunate examples of the ongoing suppression of freedom of expression and excessive use of force in Papua. I urge the government of

Indonesia

to allow peaceful protest and hold accountable those involved in abuses."

Her office reported receiving 26 alerts since May 2012 on human rights abuses, including 46 killings and cases of torture, “many” involving state officials.

Indonesia police cleared fellow officers of any wrong doing,

in shooting five protestors, in less than a week. Pictured is
Brigadier General Police Paulus Waterpauw.
Photo: Anakara News

PFF also supports comments reported from Independent Journalist Alliance, AJI, that any complaints against journalist should be handled under press laws.

PFF co-Chair Monica Miller praised work by AJI and civil society networks in exposing continual human rights abuses in West Papua.

“Without their calm work in often hostile environments, the outside world may never get to hear of historic and ongoing killings, torture and arrest.”

“These latest incidents illustrate the dismal failure by authorities in Jakarta to ensure constitutional equality across the republic.”

PFF calls for the withdrawal of charges against the journalist, and his immediate release.

PFF also calls for independent review of the process by which security forces deal with freedoms of expression, including peaceful protests.

LINKS

Claims of deadly police crackdown in Papua

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-04/an-west-papua-activists-claim-police-crackdown-on-rally/4669892

Deaths mark 50 years of West Papua occupation

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=233299

Police, Separatists Clash on 50th Anniversary of Integration of Papua

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/police-separatists-clash-on-50th-anniversary-of-integration-of-papua/

Indonesia must allow peaceful protests in Papua, stresses UN rights chief

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=44812&Cr=indonesia&Cr1=#.UYmcuqL-FOJ

WEST PAPUA: Police arrest radio reporter over broadcast allegations

http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/west-papua-police-arrest-radio-reporter-over-broadcast-allegations-8280

Summary of Events In West Papua For April – Beginning of May

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1305/S00137/summary-of-events-in-west-papua-for-april-beginning-of-may.htm

‘No political prisoners? The suppression of political protest in West Papua,‘

http://tapol.org/sites/default/files/sites/default/files/pdfs/Suppression%20of%20political%20protest%20in%20West%20Papua.pdf

KNPB demonstration and prayer on 50 years of annexation by

Indonesia

http://knpbnews.com/blog/archives/1710

(In bahasa Indonesian, photos)

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.

...

Pacific Media ombudsman advances regional accountability

noreply@blogger.com (Avaiki Nius) — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:14:00 +0000

News media across the region move into an era of advanced accountability with adoption last week of a concept for a Pacific Media Ombudsman.

Media organisations from five key Pacific nations yesterday agreed to the plan following talks in Honiara, Solomon Islands marking World Press Freedom Day today.

“All members of the public including governments of the day and other governance sectors can anticipate significantly enhanced accountability from member news media,” says PFF Chair Titi Gabi, from Papua New Guinea.

“This marks the first time that island press have agreed to an independent regional body to monitor and review public complaints against news stories and other media content.”

A Pacific Media Ombudsman is intended to act as a backstop to existing media associations that address journalism ethics and other issues of public interest.

“Attempts have previously been made to introduce media councils at the national level in countries like the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu,” says Gabi.

“However industry disputes and political pressures have often combined to interrupt the progress of media accountability systems inside national borders.”

Establising a regional media watchdog will help ensure continuity of mechanisms to handle public complaints and concerns about news media.

“This year's official theme for World Press Freedom Day is encouraging public spaces where people are 'safe to speak' on issues of the day”, says Gabi.

“Media accountability systems like the PMO concept help build credibility for news media and creates an environment where media freedoms are respected rather than rejected and, sometimes, assaulted.”

Representatives from media organisations in Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Tonga and attended the Honiara PFF talks, with additional support from non-attending delegates in Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

PFF was founded in Samoa 2009 with a mission to promote awareness and support for article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, dating from 1946.

LINKS

Discussion of Pacific media ombudsman on World Press Freedom Day

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=75754

Pacific media groups agree to establish a Pacific Media Ombudsman

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=75775

Pacific media ombudsman aimed at instilling confidence

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=75805

Press Freedom Day hears calls for Pacific media Ombudsman

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/press-freedom-day-hears-calls-for-pacific-media-ombudsman/1125380

Pacific media ombudsman endorsed

http://www.talanei.com/Pacific-media-ombudsman-endorsed/16257378

Pacific Freedom Forum say there is good support for a Pacific Media Ombudsman

http://pacmas.org/blog-post/pacific-freedom-forum-say-there-is-good-support-for-a-pacific-media-ombudsman

...

PNG defamation threat risks chilling effect

noreply@blogger.com (Avaiki Nius) — Thu, 02 May 2013 05:54:00 +0000

...

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.

...

Pacific Ombudsman concept for world press freedom day

noreply@blogger.com (Avaiki Nius) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:14:00 +0000

PFF concept - a media ombudsman for the press.

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS A Pacific event marking the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day on Friday 3rd May 2013 is aimed at improving self-regulation for Pacific newsrooms - a regional media ombudsman.

"Common to all our countries is the issue of ethics and how different news outlets deal with complaints about media stories," says PFF co-chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.

The event is being convened by Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF, in partnership with the Media Association of the Solomon Islands, MASI.

It's the first time the Solomon Islands will host the Pacific regional World Press Freedom Day event.

"The WPFD global platform for discussing media freedom issues is an opportunity to open up discussion on a model for Pacific news ombudsmen, adapting what works worldwide to what can work for our region", states Gabi.

Efforts to set up national-level media councils to help with self-regulation and accountability have been made in Fiji, Samoa and the Cook Islands.

From a regional media perspective, a recent PacMAS funded report confirmed ongoing challenges of resourcing and support for national associations.

Researching previous WPFD outcomes, a theme emerging for PFF, a regional media monitoring network, is picking up on breaches of ethics and standards at national level.

A core group of media managers coming to Honiara are stepping up to make a commitment to a standards process, because they want something that works, states PFF co Chair Monica Miller.

"The notion of having a Pacific media standards body was raised as a way of meeting the challenge of bias, lack of in-country experts, and lack of resources in many small developing communities to handle complaints procedures," says Miller.

"For WPFD 2013, we're suggesting that a step forward might be a model involving a Pacific Media Ombudsman working online with a small regional group.

“We have to stress this not about displacing what is already working in-country, but adding local and national standards to a regional space where the neutrality of an Ombudsman can build faith and credibility in the whole process."

Five Pacific countries are involved in the initial stages of the Pacific Media Ombudsman call. Media outlets from the host country discussing the concept of the Pacific Media Ombudsman will be joined by colleagues from the Cook Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu for the focus event.

“Not all we hoped for were able to attend, such as Samoa, and the PMO office aims can look at working through any issues impeding regional ownership.”

In another first for media regionalism, the Pacific Islands News Association, PINA, will also be attending the event to assess how the concept might be developed for its own members.

The two day event supported with a WPFD grant from UNESCO's Office for the Pacific States in Samoa, wraps up on WPFD Friday 3 May with a press freedom lunch open to the public, around the 'Safe to speak' global theme.

Along with host country support, other partners to the event are SPC-RRRT, UNDP, and SPREP who will be running climate change training for regional media managers and Solomon Islands journalists.

BACKGROUND

In 2013, a key global event for journalists and media practitioners reaches a 20 year anniversary.

Every 3rd May, UNESCO World Press Freedom Day represents an opportunity to commemorate the fundamental principles of press freedom around the globe and to honour outstanding journalists who’ve demonstrated courage in standing up for media ethics and free expression.

The 2013 global theme is ‘Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media’

At the global level, UNESCO's Communications and Information sector marks the celebration of World Press Freedom Day 2013 with a conference and the Award ceremony of the annual World Press Freedom Prize.

As a global event, World Press Freedom Day goes back two decades to the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1993, following a seminar on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press. This seminar took place in Windhoek, Namibia, from 29 April to 3 May 1991, leading to adoption of the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Media.

Calling for the establishment, maintenance and fostering of an independent, pluralistic and free press, declaration members emphasized importance of a free press to development and maintenance of stable democracy, including towards economic development of a nation.

WPFD celebrations came to the Pacific for the first time in 2010, when it was hosted in Australia by the University of Queensland in Brisbane.

The following year the Pacific Freedom Forum and the International Federation of Journalists initiated the Pacific WPFD with support from UNESCO and the then-emerging PacMAS program at NUS in Samoa in 2011.

In 2012, the Pacific WPFD event went to Papua New Guinea, with support from the IFJ Pacific Media Monitoring project and PNG Media Workers Association. At the WPFD 2012 event in Port Moresby the first IFJ Pacific Media Freedom report was launched.

...

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.

IMAGE CREDIT
http://www.english.fsu.edu/gear/ombudsmanship.html

...

PFF condemns Fiji march ban

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Williams-Lahari) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 01:00:00 +0000

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- The Fiji regime's last-minute ban on a 'Reclaim the Night' march honoring International Women's Day has been condemned by regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre (FWCC) holds an annual "Reclaim the Night" march in Fiji's urban city, Suva, to mark International Women's Day on March 8, and had received a permit for the gathering on February 19. However on the eve of the march, the organisers had their permit revoked because it was felt the event would have security issues.
"PFF condemns the latest measure against free speech and freedom of peaceful assembly in Fiji. The human right to free speech goes hand in hand with association and peaceful assembly and in a country where a host of decrees are gagging freedom of expression and association, the decision to ban the well-established 'Reclaim the night' event says much of the regime stance on the issue," says PFF co chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.
"The 8th of March is a day for voice, conversation and debate on the critical issues that affect half the world's population. The Reclaim the Night march is one of the outstanding initiatives allowing men
and families to mobilise and own the public debates against sexual and all forms of violence in our communities."
Says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa: "Insecurity, fear and misinformation are compounded and become a major threat to peace when citizens have their ability to be 'citizens' taken away. We urge the regime to allow all Fiji's people to be able to freely voice their concerns on the things that matter, and remove the range of decrees now limiting their freedoms in that regard".--ENDS

LINKS

Police order march ban: http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/8396261/Fiji-police-order-march-ban

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.

Media and March 8 -- ethical coverage urged for VAW issues

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Williams-Lahari) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:51:00 +0000

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--Pacific newsrooms covering the annual March 8 International Women's Day events in their countries are being urged to commit to better standards in reporting Violence against women and children
Regional media monitoring group the Pacific Freedom Forum says it is clear from coverage at newsroom level that the focus on violence in Pacific communities is often of news value only when covered as a Police investigation or Court report.
"Many of us are aware of the ethics guides and special clauses covering victims and children, but if we are really honest, we can all do better", says PFF co chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.
"We commend those who make the effort to follow up on reported stories and include context and information helping people to better understand violence and its impact on human life; and to know deceased victims by name rather than just a set of vague details -- but these are exceptions."
PFF calls on news editors who are not already doing so to implement and widely share five best-practice approaches below:
1. revisit and make public their ethics guidelines and public complaints procedures, especially around sensitivity of reporting victims of and deaths related to violence
2. internally review and question how to improve court reporting around VAW beyond passing on details of what is shared in court rooms after sentencing and at verdict, and be vigilant over instances where court officials, lawyers and police use personal bias in interpretation and application of the rule of law
3. increase efforts to broaden quoted sources in reporting in the one story, by quoting a wider range of talking heads
4. seek out local advocates on VAW in their communities to comment on court verdicts and support systems for affected families.
5. quote from and reference available studies and data around VAW in their communities and ask why the data is not available if it doesn't exist.

Says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa: "Reporting basically grows a public conversation. We are in a time when newsrooms need to better understand and play their part in the public conversations around issues like sorcery killings and the rape of infants. IWD provides that time of pause and reflection for us all to think about one core issue -- how we can be better at what we do".--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.

PFF- PNG journos must keep to ethics, avoid spin

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Williams-Lahari) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 19:47:00 +0000

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--The lack of factual information surrounding the recent sacking of a Papua New Guinea journalist poses another warning to newsrooms there on the need to steer clear of political spin, says regional media monitoring group the Pacific Freedom Forum.
PFF co-chair Titi Gabi says it's important that journalists remain vigilant and independant of political bias, and ensure they have all the facts at hand when going public via media platforms with a political agenda. She made the call after video footage of former Sunday Chronicle journalist Peter Kasia has been uploaded to the Internet in the last week. In the video published to a pro-Opposition blog, Kasia states he was sacked on the written orders of the PNG Prime Minister, whose office says this is untrue.
Kasia's sacking in late 2012 had been attributed by PNG media colleagues to a series of retractions and apologies from his Sunday Chronicle employers over his work. But his name resurfaced on February 21 when Opposition leader Belden Namah accused PNG media watchdogs and 'others' of remaining silent on the sacking. Namah claimed Prime Minister Peter O'Neill was behind the decision to let Kasia go after he did an investigative piece into the governments plans to renovate the condemned 'Pineapple' haus building in Port Moresby.
In the week following Namah's accusations, a blog managed by his PR manager Graham Robinson uploaded a short interview with Peter Kasia who says he was called into a meeting with the Sunday Chronicle's Managing Editor Sam Vulum the day after his front page piece ran. He says Vulum told him he was being terminated on instructions from the Chronicle's owner Wesley Raminai, who had received a letter from the Prime Minister of PNG ordering he be sacked. There is no confirmation of a date of the sacking nor any sighting of the alleged letter in the short piece to camera.
Responding to PFF queries, the Prime Minister's speechwriter and Public Affairs adviser Susuve Laumaea says that no letter to Sunday Chronicle was signed by the Prime Minister, who is
a supporter of the PNG Media Workers Association.
"The PNG media workers association is open to assisting any grievance from journalists who believe they have been unfairly dismissed by their employers, and we have not received any contact from Peter Kasia. There is also room for any member of the public who believes the media have been in breach of ethics to contact the association and seek advice" says Gabi.
"It's important that bona fide newsroom journalists not allow their grievances to be politicised, especially if they are referring to documents received by third or fourth parties," she says.
"As media workers, we are committed to separating facts from fiction in our work, and this is especially crucial for newsrooms at a time when their audiences are also being informed via social networking and blogging."
PFF calls on the Sunday Chronicle to clear the confusion on the matter of Kasia's sacking. --ENDS

LINKS:

Piksablog --http://piksablog.blogspot.com/2013/02/interview-with-peter-kasia.html

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.

Tough week and times ahead for Fiji media: PFF

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Williams-Lahari) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:10:00 +0000

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- In a double whammy this week for Fiji's media, a regime decree warning media they will face jail sentences if they mention defunct political parties has been followed by a hefty High Court sentence against the country's biggest daily newspaper, the Fiji Times. A $300,000 FJD fine for the Fiji Times and six-month suspended jail sentence for its editor Fred Wesley formed the key part of yesterday's sentence following a contempt of court verdict in November 2011. Regional media monitoring watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum says the timing of the political parties decree and the heavy sentence will ensure more self-censorship and control over Fiji's media in the lead-up to the 2014 elections.
The Fiji Times has three weeks to pay the fine, its former publisher has been fined F$10,000, and Wesley has two years to live with the fact he could go to jail at any time.
"The verdict itself given the circumstances is clearly sending a warning on what media can expect to receive if they step one inch out of line, even by mistake," says PFF co chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.
Fiji Times was found guilty of contempt of court in November 2011, after reprinting an article published by New Zealand's Sunday Star times where Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) general secretary Tai Nicholas had commented on legal issues involving a case against a Fiji football executive.
"You should be aware that with no judiciary there," he had said, "it is not a court per se." Nicholas was a leading lawyer in the Cook Islands before taking on his FIFA position.
Fiji's military appointed attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, claimed the comments scandalised the court and posed the risk of undermining public confidence in the independence and impartiality of the Fijian judiciary and the administration of justice in Fiji.
Nicholas was convicted in-absentia and fined F$15,000 for contempt of court.
"The pressure for more media coverage of the election issues and platforms is a normal part of elections reporting for Pacific journalists," says Gabi. "We urge the regime to demonstrate its commitment to the free and fair component of democratic elections by allowing the media to be free in order to fairly do its job."
The Fiji Times already has a complaints procedure clearly printed in its daily newspaper and any citizen or group who wish to take up grievances over editorial and content can do so.
"The path back to democracy can be so much better if a free media is able to do its job and hear from candidates," says PFF co Chair Monica Miller of American Samoa. "But the space for that debate has taken a big hit this week. If you worked knowing that reprinting an article your audience can read elsewhere, or the mention of now-banned past political parties in your journalism could potentially cost you and your colleagues their jobs and send you to jail -- that's an incredibly powerful pressure which the regime is well aware of. We can only call on the leadership to stop running Fiji's media via decree and puntive legal actions, and see them as partners towards getting Fiji back on the path to democracy."--ENDS

LINKS

Pacific Media Watch: http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pmw-nius
Radio New Zealand International: http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=74157
Radio Australia:http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacific/2013-02-19/fiji-regime-to-abolish-14-political-parties/1090824

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.

Jim Richstad: a Pacific media giant remembered

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Williams-Lahari) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 21:08:00 +0000

Remembering a media giant -- Professor Jim Richstad (centre) at his last PINA convention in Vanuatu, 2009
(photocredit: Lisa W-Lahari)

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--The passing in December 2012 of Professor Jim Richstad, a global leader in journalism training, leaves Pacific media leaders reminded of his personal and professional commitment to regional media unity in the Pacific.While news of his sudden passing in the US, at the age of 79, has only recently trickled to the Pacific, the loss of a life member of the Pacific Islands News Association has brought back memories for the many Pacific journalists whose lives Jim touched.
Richstad is widely remembered and referred to as a 'founding father' of the PINA organisation, which emerged from a series of news training workshops in the 70's. Leading journalists of the time began to discover a common bond in issues around training, media independence, and the complex role of the media in the developing Pacific.
PFF co-chair Monica Miller, a former PINA president and the only woman to ever lead the organisation, expressed deep sadness at the passing of one of the fathers of PINA.
"I met Dr Richstad in 1987 at the first PINA Convention in Tonga and recognized his genuine desire to help develop independent media in the Pacific."
A few years before, Richstad, who was then based at the Journalism school of the University of Hawaii, helped organise a first gathering of Pacific Island journalists -- a meeting where the idea of PINA was first conceived.
Among those pioneers were Faalogo Pito, Savea Sano Malifa, and the late Tavake Fusimalohi.
"I say with all conviction that Jim helped plant, nurture and grow PINA and he truly cared about Pacific journalism and journalists. His large cadre of contacts the world over was of benefit to PINA when we were organizing workshops and the annual conventions."
For more than 30 years, from where ever he was, and working with partners he brought to the regional table, Richstad continued his efforts to help Pacific journalists and media professionals take on excellence and leadership in their industry.
"He was the type of man you would want to be your journalism teacher," says Miller. "He knew his trade, no question, but was not arrogant about it. He came across as just a very gentle and warm person who made you feel important and that your point of view counted. And he made an effort to understand and appreciate why some western fundamentals of journalism could not be transplanted without adjustments to Pacific society."
"Farewell Jim, thank you for all you have done and your unshakable belief in Pacific media."
While saddened in recent years by the divisive factioning within media regionalism, Richstad urged journalists to remain unified and inclusive, and was a quiet voice of reason for anyone he met during what was to be his last PINA convention in Vanuatu, in 2009.
He is deeply missed by his Pacific media family.--ENDS

LINKS

Obituary by Floyd K Takeuchi http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/articles/jim-richstad-life-dedicated-pacific-journalism

Search Pacific Media Watch http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pmw-nius

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.

PFF: Zero tolerance for compensation threats.

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Williams-Lahari) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:01:00 +0000

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- The use of so-called custom compensation claims in the Solomon Islands by anyone upset over media content has been condemned by the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

PFF supports the decision by the Solomon's Star this week to lay a police complaint over two incidents on January 4 and 5 at the daily newspaper's offices in Chinatown, Honiara. On both occasions, a group claiming to have been sent by first lady Bronwyn Lilo, demanded compensation linked to headline-coverage of allegations of the Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo having an extra-marital affair.

"Regardless of how strongly people feel about editorial values shaping the news and how it's reported, there should be zero tolerance for extortion of any kind. We call on individuals and groups responding to media content to take their concerns in writing to the management of the outlet concerned," says PFF co-chair Titi Gabi.

"Media associations including the Media Association of the Solomon Islands, have governing codes of ethics which call on organisations and journalists to meet editorial standards. If anyone feels these standards have been breached, they should be able to peacefully make their concerns known and be confident that their concerns will be dealt with."

Days after the incidents, the Prime Minister in a press conference denounced what had happened, saying compensation claims of any kind against companies and individuals in the Solomon had to stop. The Solomon's Star has already been served with a defamation action by the Prime Minister, who says he prefers the whole issue to be dealt with by the courts.

The issue of legal action should be a last and not a first resort in the complaints process, and the hope is that speedy resolution via a more direct mediation process via MASI will save face and money for
both sides, says PFF.

From Papua New Guinea, Gabi says the dynamics of kastom and groups affronted by reporting the 'private' lives of public figures is a challenge for Melanesian newsrooms, but one that must be met with directness and strength.

"We fully support the stance taken by Katherine Lamani and our colleagues at the Solomon's Star in making what happened a matter for Police investigation. We urge other newsrooms and journalists to
quickly speak up when faced with threats related to their work."

"In a region where cultural practice forms a strong part of identity, it's critical that the media help to highlight events of opportunism, extortion, and abuse trying to pass themselves off as custom," says
PFF co chair Monica Miller of American Samoa. "Many events like this are breaking the law, so it rests with journalists and their employers to educate the public on media complaints processes, and take threats to the Police."--ENDS

LINKS

Solomons Star Online:
http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/17095-star-files-case-against-extortionists

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.

Kiribati: climate frontline needs free media

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Williams-Lahari) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:31:00 +0000

PFF, Rarotonga, Cook Islands--Kiribati needs robust media freedoms if it is to adapt successfully to future challenges from climate change, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.

"That is why PFF is welcoming the return to publishing by the Kiribati Independent fortnightly newspaper," says PFF chair Titi Gabi.
"Without independent news media, there is no guarantee that people of Kiribati will get all the information they need to survive and adapt successfully to future climate change challenges."
PFF welcomed recent reports from Pacific Media Watch noting that the paper had been out of circulation for six months, but was to start publishing again.
Kiribati Independent Taberannang Korauaba closed the paper down in June last year after the country's ministry of Communications laid a complaint with police.
The complaint alleged the newspaper had breached the Newspaper Registration Act.
"Any substance to the complaint appears doubtful, given that government has not responded to written requests for clarification from the newspaper's lawyer," says Gabi, based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
The Kiribati Independent has a print run of 500. In 2010, the Kiribati census recorded a total of five journalists, one editor, three media officers, seven writers, three photographers and 23 radio announcers working in-country. There were some 5,000 television sets in household use.
PFF co-chair Monica Miller said the census shows a remarkable degree of media diversity for a small, remote location with few resources, and that press plurality was essential to a healthy democracy.
"There is extensive reporting on how climate change processes have become swamped in political controversy," says Miller.
"However for countries like Kiribati, climate change is not a remote possibility but a daily reality."
Miller says media freedom can help keep governments accountable and on-track, ensuring that people and not political processes come first, including in climate change.
PFF notes that budget documents call for the Communications ministry to "inform, entertain, and educate the people of Kiribati through the media, preferably through modern information and communications technology."
iller says that the Kiribati Independent is a vital contributor to these outcomes, providing i-Kiribati everywhere with an independent source of information.

PFF supports a recent editorial by the Kiribati Independent calling for the government to regard the newspaper as a partner in development.

"We join the newspaper in hoping that the government of the day pays more attention to the message of the media rather than punishing them," says Miller, based in Pagopago, American Samoa.

LINKS:

Kiribati Independant homepage: www.thekiribatiindependent.co.nz

Pacific Media Watch: http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/kiribati-independent-newspaper-publishing-again-8180

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.

PFF praises cool heads in Vanuatu

noreply@blogger.com (Avaiki Nius) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 10:13:00 +0000

Capital FM 107FM boss Moses Stevens has been told to shut down
Photo: Grubsheet

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS --

An exchange of letters is an admirably measured response to disagreement in Vanuatu over licensing and ethics at a capital radio station, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.

"Members would like to praise the government of Vanuatu, particularly, for following letters of law in what appears to be an entirely proper attempt to follow due process," says PFF chair Titi Gabi.

"This is a vast improvement on armed and drunken thugs, including police, breaking into newsrooms and assaulting journalists doing their job."

PFF draws encouragement from news so far from Port Vila.

"However, an admirably measured response from the Government of Vanuatu cannot yet be counted as a media freedom success - more the absence of failure, in the form of previous threats and violence."

Having established due process, Gabi cautions against any advice to take further official action in closing down the station, too soon.

"Government is effectively making a legal claim against a leading radio station and needs to fairly test this claim, including in court if need be."

Commenting from Pagopago, PFF co-chair Monica Miller says there is an equal responsibility on the part of the radio station management to make themselves accountable to their code of ethics, their audience, the public, the law, and their regional membership to PINA, the Pacific Islands News Association.

Capital FM 107.7FM founder Moses Stevens is also president of PINA, and bears "particular responsibility" to show leadership and accountability by publishing a copy of their certificate, current or otherwise.

"Either the station has a licence or does not," says Miller. "And if not, why not?"

"Station management could publicly confirm their license status, including any difficulties they may be facing in getting their license reviewed and renewed."

Miller says various scenarios arise from news about the current situation in Vanuatu.

"Either the government is using licensing and ethics as an excuse to close down a critic," she says, "or elements at the station have gone rogue, refusing to pay licenses and breaking their own code of ethics."

A third, more complicated scenario involves all four elements.

"Whatever the truth of the matter in Port Vila, cooler heads in the political parties of Vanuatu need to consider their own history of actions against media."

This includes deportation and assault, one on a reporter who subsequently lost her unborn child.

"Stepping carefully now acknowledges those mistakes of the past, and helps ensure there are no future assaults on the Fourth Estate in the constitutional republic of Vanuatu."

Miller says there is a documented history of undue pressure from party supporters over all parts of the political spectrum in Vanuatu, in common with other PFF countries.

"Vanuatu has an opportunity here to leave that post-colonial era behind," she says.

LINKS :

Government of Vanuatu

FM107 Vanuatu

Vanuatu radio station says government claims are false

Vanuatu radio station defies government order

PM Orders Shutdown Of Private Vanuatu Radio Station

Vanuatu station continuing to broadcast despite order

Vanuatu Media Association calls for meeting between government ...

Islands Business - Vanuatu Media Association calls for meeting ...

RELATED :

Vanuatu Media Code of Ethics and Practice

Pacific National Media Associations (7 Jan 2013)

Vanuatu: Rival media clash in slanging match over radio licence

PFF welcomes ethics focus in Vanuatu media monitoring training

Patunvanu named Government PRO

CONTACTS :

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

ABOUT US:

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.

Indonesia brutality towards West Papua "medieval" - PFF

noreply@blogger.com (Avaiki Nius) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 23:52:00 +0000

Papua protestors under arrest by Indonesia authorities.

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PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Killing, beating, abducting and jailing journalists in West Papua remains the most immediate issue in regional affairs, states the Pacific Freedom Forum.
Wrapping up its fourth year of advocacy, PFF chairs said that ongoing suppression of freedom of expression under Indonesian rule often involves violence against news media.“Well documented allegations of killings and torture depict medieval levels of brutality by Indonesian security and ad-hoc militia forces in West Papua”, says PFF chair Titi Gabi.
“Ongoing violence against citizens makes a mockery of Indonesia pretensions towards democracy, adherence to international law, and the peaceful majority of the world’s biggest Muslim nation.”
“There is also concern over Indonesia security forces infiltrating Papua newsrooms and planting fake stories”.
PFF endorses calls from October by the Pantau Foundation and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance for Indonesia to uphold the right of citizens to freedoms of speech, to end violence against journalists and to prosecute those responsible for violence.

In November, PFF joined IFEX, International Freedom of Expression Exchange, in a 23 day campaign against a “culture of impunity” surrounding those in authority across the region.PFF co-chair Monica Miller said concerns also include a “culture of silence among partner news media across the islands, as well as Australia and New Zealand, when it comes to sensitive issues like West Papua.”
Miller praised an upturn this last year in media attention on West Papua, notably via state broadcasters like Radio New Zealand International and Radio Australia.
“After a decade or two of focusing mostly on Fiji, it is welcome to see metropolitan media including newspapers address much bigger concerns in West Papua,” says Miller.
“Yet many articles lament the lack of public awareness about serious events happening on our own doorstep.”
“Clearly there is much more that could be done, including not bowing to political sensitivities that deem West Papua to be outside the Pacific Islands region and of concern only to Indonesia.”
Reporters Sans Frontiers ranks Indonesia at 146th place, on a list of 179 nations followed by the press freedom body.
PFF also expressed concern about assaults and threats against journalists in Papua New Guinea and other states across the region.
Established in Apia, Samoa in August 2008, PFF has issued 143 statements on freedom of expression issues facing the Pacific Islands. An online forum has generated hundreds of topics and thousands of discussions.

LINKS

ECONOMIST: The Unseen Resistance (video)
http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2012/07/tensions-rise-west-papua

BBC/ABC: Undercover report (video)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-19414636

RSF Global Rankings - Indonesia
http://en.rsf.org/report-indonesia,64.html

UK Embassy rejects fake journalism in Papua article
http://westpapuamedia.info/2012/12/18/uk-embassy-denies-fake-journalism-in-bintang-papua-article/

End violence against Papuan journalists call from SEAPA
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/west-papua-end-violence-against-papuan-journalists-call-seapa-8134

Australia media only tells half the story
http://theconversation.edu.au/australian-media-only-tells-half-the-story-about-west-papua-11313

West Papua: Journalists beware
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=63771

CONTACTS: 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

ABOUT US:

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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Pacific media monitors essential, says regional network.

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Williams-Lahari) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 04:11:00 +0000

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS --As a global “23 Actions in 23 Days” media campaign gets underway on November 1, Pacific journalists are being urged to remain vigilant of threats to their work, and unafraid to report threats.

Regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF, says monitoring work helps ensure free expression and public access to information, and will help break the culture of impunity which often diminishes the ability of journalists to seek and report the truth.

“Too often, the intimidation, threats and attacks on journalists by those who cannot stand to be questioned or exposed, goes unpunished,” says PFF co-chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.

Attacks across the region highlighted in the IFJ inaugural Pacific Press Freedom report launched in May 2012, are often not referred to police for investigation. Of those that are, those which see a prosecution case brought are rare.

“This lack of accountability ensures a culture of impunity is allowed to continue, and deepens the reluctance of journalists to probe or investigate issues in the public interest,” says Gabi, who authored the Papua New Guinea chapter of the regional report.

“We urge Pacific editors, news and human rights organisations to take action between now and 23 November by featuring or encouraging debate over impunity and how it affects the media role of ensuring a balanced, informed and fearless public debate on issues of the day.”

Gabi made the call as PFF begins its support for a global “23 actions, 23 days” media campaign aimed at ending impunity surrounding threats to freedom of expression and free speech. The global International Day to End Impunity, on November 23, was launched by the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, IFEX, in November 2011. The 2012 campaign is a 23-day event beginning November 1.

“Silencing journalists through fear and violence affects their families and workplaces, but also the public interest,” says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa. “Impunity surrounds an attack, threat, or harassment of media with a cloak of silence and even worse, acceptance. Without media monitoring helping to accurately record and raise the alarm on unpunished offences, an act done with impunity becomes a series of acts building up to a cultural norm which has little to do with Pacific values or media ethics.”

“As we begin three weeks of activism towards November 23, PFF encourages action and information sharing by Pacific journalists and news organisations on the impact of impunity in Pacific newsrooms, and Pacific communities.”.—ENDS

BACKGROUND:

About IFEX /PFF
The Pacific Freedom Forum is a member of the International Freedom of Expression based in Toronto, Canada. IFEX is the most extensive community of leaders defending and promoting freedom of expression around the world. IFEX chose 23 November - symbolic because it's the anniversary of the Ampatuan Massacre, the single deadliest day for journalists in recent history - as the International Day to End Impunity. The purpose of the day is to raise public awareness and showcase the work of organisations working for justice for those being persecuted for practising their right to freedom of expression. This is the campaign's second year.

LINKS

Ampatuan Massacre: http://cpj.org/killed/2009/marites-cablitas.php

IFEX campaign link: http://daytoendimpunity.org/

IFJ Inaugural Pacific Press Freedom report: http://asiapacific.ifj.org/en/pages/ifj-asia-pacific-reports

Pacific Media Watch: www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz

PNG: Another media bashing condemned

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Williams-Lahari) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 04:16:00 +0000

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- Another attack on a journalist in Papua New Guinea has been condemned by regional media monitoring body the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

Post-Courier correspondent Michael Koma was viciously attacked after his October 11th report into high level local government appointments in the Highlands province was published in PNG daily the Post-Courier. Two days later, four men approached Koma as he sat outside a relatives house in the Highlands district of Kundiawa, and after questioning him over the story, beat him until he was unconscious. He was rushed to hospital and has since recovered from the attack.

"The use of violence to silence and intimidate journalists is both deplorable and criminal and we commend Koma and the Post Courier management for reporting this to the authorities," says PFF co chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea. Gabi has previously researched media freedoms in Papua New Guinea and noted a reluctance from media colleagues to report and follow up on abuse and intimidation from those angry at media coverage.

With the police investigation into the assault currently underway, Gabi says it's imperative that journalists continue to report assaults and threats to themselves and colleagues.

"The culture of impunity over journalist bashings, threats and intimidation will only change when we stop accepting criminal attacks and abuse as part of the work we do," she says.

"Pacific journalists stand in solidarity with our colleagues in Papua New Guinea. We continue to support the call for vigilance and alerts to the threats against freedom of media, especially reporting that supports right of people to know what is going on," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa. -- ENDS

LINKS

PNG POST COURIER http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20121016/news02.html

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/png-newspaper-journalist-bashed-over-post-courier-report-8135

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.

Concerns over media ban in PNG election results

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Williams-Lahari) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 19:07:00 +0000

PFF, Rarotonga-- As the result counts from Papua New Guinea's general elections continue to flow in, the country's national media workers association has joined the Pacific Freedom Forum in its concern over returning officers interfering with media work at two provincial centres.
The PNG Media Workers association and regional media monitoring network say voter and public rights to know polling results came under threat this week. In two separate incidents, journalists at polling centres in the Western Highlands and Morobe provinces were banned from doing their jobs.
Journalists at the centres reported on Monday 9th July, that the returning officer for the Huon/Gulf electorate in Morobe demanded payments for release of information from Lae-based journalists, and verbally abused an NBC reporter.Two days later, another returning officer overseeing the counting for the Hagen Open polls in the Western Highlands banned media from reporting the results.
"We are concerned over the incidents affecting the ability of media to get on with the work of reporting the polling results. Keeping journalists away from reporting the results of the counting shuts the door on the people relying on news for updates, and robs the public of
their right to know," says PFF chair Titi Gabi, from PNG. Gabi is also a founding member of the PNG Media Workers Association.
Gabi is currently leading a media support group at the Elections Media Centre, led by Commissioner Andrew Trawen.
The reporting of the incidents to her led to a speedy resolution of the issues. Journalists -- some of whom had wanted to boycott the elections after their harassment, resumed their usual observation and
reporting of the results where the incidents took place.
From American Samoa, PFF co-chair Monica Miller says media colleagues across the region remain concerned for the safety and situation of journalists covering elections across the Pacific 's largest country.
Three out of every four of the Pacific's 10million population come from PNG alone, with provincial reporting and access being under-resourced and difficult work. In a recent partnership event with the International Federation of Journalists for World Press Freedom Day 2012, PNG Media Workers Association members noted corruption and bribery of journalists remains a major ethical challenge.
"We commend colleagues who are speaking out on threats to their work, and also welcome the decision of the Electoral Commissioner to involve media advice in his central operations team. It has led to the speedy resolution of attempts to control and undermine the rights of media to report freely, without favour." says Miller.--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.

Governor leads more abuse against PNG media

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Williams-Lahari) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 21:59:00 +0000

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-Papua New Guinea journalists reporting the 2012 election results and petitions must be able to work safely without fear of harassment, says the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
The regional media monitoring network has made the call in the wake of assault threats and an abusive confrontation yesterday Wednesday 4 July. Newsroom staff at a provincial head office for the National Broadcaster, NBC including radio Journalist Greogry Pegines were confronted by an angry mob of supporters led by East Sepik Governor and Member for Yangoru/Saussia, Peter Wararau Waranaka. The Governor, his driver and a group of supporters had converged on the NBC East Sepik broadcast compound and singled out Pegines, station manager Anna Klawe and other news journalists for verbal abuse and threats. The incident came a day after Pegines had filed a report on a petition signed by 12 candidates in the East Sepik province, listing allegations of fiscal and official abuse of position.
Pegines says he had been invited to meet with the Governor since the incident, but was again verbally abused.
"We condemn the mob mentality encouraged by the Governor and the verbal threats and harassment against media workers," says PFF co-chair Titi Gabi of PNG.
From Port Moresby, she noted that journalists in provincial areas are more at risk of threats and abuse during elections periods, and called for calm to prevail.
"Any grievances over news content should be submitted in a reasonable manner to the news outlet involved. We denounce the use of abusive and criminal harassment to force a culture of fear on the news agenda," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller, of American Samoa.
"We commend PNG journalists continuing to abide by ethical conduct through difficult times, and again urge all media outlets to implement a no-drop policy on reporting harassment to the authorities," she says.--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.

Kiribati: Newspaper closedown a blow for news choices: PFF

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Williams-Lahari) — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 05:53:00 +0000

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS-- News that the Kiribati newspaper at the centre of a Police
investigation has stopped printing means fewer ways for people there to stay informed says media watchdog the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.
Auckland-based Kiribati Independent publisher and editor Taberannang Korauaba will retain the online edition of the Independent but has stopped print circulation in Kiribati while Police follow up on complaints linking to the newspaper's registration status.
"The loss of their weekly news in print is a blow for readers in Kiribati who don’t have online access, and their leaders need to tell them why a government which has been sitting on media paperwork since last year, has suddenly been able to act so quickly to lay a complaint linked to that paperwork ," says PFF co chair Titi Gabi of PNG.
"Whose interest is being served here? Without a free media to give them answers, the public lose their right to know. "
"PFF reiterates concern over any political motivations behind the processing delays for the registration paperwork and hope the Police will help to quickly and fairly resolve the issue."
PFF co chair Monica Miller says given the current Police complaints stem from a lack of progress on a bureaucratic issue, Kiribati's media-savvy President should take the lead.
"Kiribati gave the Pacific the Biketawa principles on good governance, and a President who has taken the message to the world on sinking islands and climate change," she says. "As someone who uses media powerfully to talk about his people, we urge President Tong to uphold Biketawa's promise and give Kiribati the same free media he enjoys globally."--ENDS
LINKS

News links/coverage
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-22/an-kiribati-paper-force-to-close/4086028

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=69061

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/asia-pacific/government-intimidation-forces-closure-of-kiribati-paper-says-editor/965806

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1206/S00545/police-investigate-kiribati-independent.htm
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/kiribati-kiribati-independent-newspaper-shut-down-indefinitely-7993

Kiribati Independent
www.thekiribatiindependent.co.nz/
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.

SAMOA: Breast photo highlights news ethics

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Williams-Lahari) — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 05:43:00 +0000

Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Publication of a frontal image featuring a half-naked teen aged girl on the front page of a newspaper in Samoa has highlighted a dividing line between decency and the public interest, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.
Printed in the daily Samoa Observer in an April edition which also appears online, the photo showed the naked top half of a 13 year girl with four nipples, a medical condition she was born with. Her family chose to make a plea for public support to cover the costs of corrective surgery. The girl’s face is not shown in the shot, but a mobile phone number for the family is offered, potentially leading to identification of the girl and her family.
“The story was a call for help from the family to meet the costs of corrective surgery and is ethically legitimate, but the image itself raises concerns," says PFF co-chair Titi Gabi.
“The fact that the photo was used at all shows a lack of ethical judgment on the part of the daily newspaper and its editorial team,” says Gabi, speaking from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
No complaints were raised in Samoa over the photo or story. Response has been positive, with private donors offering funding for the surgery. The family have thanked the Samoa Observer for publishing the story, on its front page.
However, PFF co-chair Monica Miller says that use of the photo by the Observer highlights difficult choices editors sometimes face in meeting ethical standards over the public interest, decency, and treatment of children.
“At best, use of the photo was questionable, linked to headlines and text which failed to increase public understanding of a medical condition affecting both sexes," says Miller, speaking from Pagopago, American Samoa.
“PFF calls for balance to stories of this nature with an editorial focus on promoting respect and dignity for individuals with conditions such as this. Images and words should never convey a 'freak-show' aspect, especially in the cases of families whose incentive in going public is financial help aimed at giving the child a shot at a normal life."
Under its current Code of Ethics, JAWS, the Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa states that “Children under 16 should be free from unnecessary intrusion. Material concerning a child’s private life should be published or broadcast only if there is some exceptional public interest other than the fame, notoriety or position of his or her family or guardian.”
Still listed as a “draft” online, the JAWS code sets the standards for news media in Samoa, says Miller.
“The framing and set up of the photo, its page of publication, and supporting headlines and text, raises editorial questions around decency, taste and intrusion,” states Miller.
"The Samoa Observer is well regarded internationally as a leading voice for independent journalism and this instance highlights the need for well established news media to maintain vigilance over content and ethics standards at all times." --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.