Papua New Guinea

Pacific Freedom Forum has expressed concern over the detention and the charges filed against journalist Hennah Joku.

A controversial proposal in the draft is to transform the Media Council into a body “that will have legal mandate that covers an effective and enforceable regulatory framework.”

Media groups urged the government to work closely with the press and promote the public’s right to information.

The suspension decision followed allegations from MNL managers questioning why EMTV was reporting on court proceedings against Australian businessman Jamie Pang. Sincha Dimara explained the coverage was not in contempt, but was routine editorial coverage of Pang as a foreign investor, businessman, and sporting personality.

The UPR submission covers human rights concerns monitored by Human Rights Watch including women’s rights, children’s rights, police abuse and criminal justice, disability rights, LGBT rights, and treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.

A new report published by the “Pacific Journalism Review” highlights threats against media freedom in the Melanesia region, particularly in Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and West Papua.

Papua New Guinea’s police minister accused two journalists of misquoting the nation’s treasurer over a report about alleged misuse of government funds in response to COVID-19.

There was no news bulletin for the first time in more than 30 years from EMTV, as newsroom staff had stopped work in protest at the termination of news manager Neville Choi.

The Papua New Guinea government has banned a film documenting the struggle at Paga Hill settlement.

The reported unprovoked assault on journalist Dorothy Mark, who received facial injuries, should be condemned in the strongest terms and those responsible be arrested and charged, said PINA President Kora Nou. Mr Nou is equally concerned with the online abuse targeted at Samoan journalist Ms Lani Wendt Young.

This month marks the fifth anniversary of refugees suffering on Manus, Nauru islands

This statement was originally published on globalvoices.org on 8 June 2018. It is republished here under Creative Commons license CC-BY 3.0. Papua New Guinea’s reported plan to ban Facebook for a month has raised concerns about government suppression of free speech. On 29 May 2018, the Post-Courier newspaper reported on a proposal of the Communications […]

Threats, verbal abuse, and arrest of media workers in the Pacific are on the rise.

A Papua New Guinean court has banned political blogger Martyn Namorong from publishing “defamatory remarks” about an election officer.