(PINA/IFEX) – Samoan news organisations reacted with shock to a Government decision that public money will, in future, be used to pay for Government leaders to sue the news media. On 15 May 1998, Samoan Government Minister and spokesperson Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi announced that leaders who are “victims of wrongful accusations” may now ask the […]
(PINA/IFEX) – Samoan news organisations reacted with shock to a Government
decision that public money will, in future, be used to pay for Government
leaders to sue the news media. On 15 May 1998, Samoan Government Minister
and spokesperson Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi announced that leaders who are
“victims of wrongful accusations” may now ask the Government’s Cabinet of
ministers to approve financial help for their legal fees so they can sue for
defamation. “This policy has been long thought of by government as a way to
solve the thing that is happening now; the great easiness by which reporters
write what is slanderous of leaders of the country”, Tuilaepa said. He said
those covered by the policy include the Head of State, members of the
Council of Deputies, the prime minister, Cabinet ministers, and heads of
government departments and corporations.
On 17 May 1998, the “Sunday Samoan” newspaper, published by the “Samoa
Observer” company, said fear of high legal costs will now restrict the
media’s efforts to expose abuse of public office. “This way, the policy is
an invitation to unchecked corruption”, it said. Faumuina Lance Polu,
President of the Journalists Association of Western Samoa (JAWS), said: “It
is another clamp-down on the freedom of information and expression in Samoa.
It will put the media at greater risk. Most would opt not to make the
attempt to cover a sensitive story. It’s interesting to note that this
decision has been made at a time when the decision is being awaited on the
civil case brought by the Prime Minister against the “Samoa Observer.” When
the Prime Minister’s defamation case began, the question on most independent
journalists’ minds was, who will pay the Prime Ministers legal fees?” Prime
Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana has brought in an overseas legal expert to
represent him against the “Samoa Observer”, along with his Samoan lawyer
(for more information on this case see IFEX alerts of 11 March 1998 and 24
December, 4 December, 21 November, 12 September and 24 June 1997).
Background Information
In recent years, Samoa’s independent news media and journalists have faced
increasing pressure after highlighting stories alleging growing corruption
and abuse of public office. The “Samoa Observer” printing plant was burned
down under highly suspicious circumstances; editor-publisher Savea Sanoa
Malifa was assaulted by relatives of a government minister; government
advertising was withdrawn from the newspaper; threats were made to impose
newspaper licensing; and a law was introduced requiring journalists in libel
actions to reveal their sources. The “Samoa Observer” and its staff
currently face criminal and civil libel actions. Government ministers have
also discussed withdrawing the licence of the country’s only independent
radio station which carries news bulletins. The government-run national
radio and TV services are heavily government-controlled and the government
restricts the Opposition’s access to them (see IFEX alerts).
