Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF)

In partnership with PFF, IFJ released its first Press Freedom in the Pacific report at a press launch held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, to celebrate World Press Freedom Day.

A minute of silence before a WPFD Editors Forum will honour the late Yehiura Hriehwazi, one of Papua New Guinea’s leading journalists, who died suddenly on 8 January 2012.

Twenty-seven IFEX members appeal for end to impunity in recent brutal attacks on journalists in Kazakhstan, including near-fatal attack on Luqpan Akhmedyarov in April.

NBC journalist Mark Kayok was stepped in to stop a fight and when he identified himself as a journalist to police, they turned on him too.

Any proposed legislation which takes jobs away from Palau’s citizens, and impacts on the independent flow of news and information to the public, raises the question of the agenda behind the changes, says PFF.

An open letter by 44 organisations calls Iraq’s proposed Information Technology Crimes law a threat to the fundamental freedoms necessary for the evolution of free speech and a vibrant press. The law will come to vote in the Iraqi Council of Representatives in April.

Communications department secretary Paulius Korini initiated a heated discussion amongst regional journalists with his claims that media controls and regulation would help the industry towards balance in reporting.

“There is no treason in freedom of expression shared peacefully,” said PFF, while calling on Indonesian authorities to “follow through on the constitutional mandate to open up public spaces for all people of West Papua to share ideas safely with each other and their leaders.”