Articles by Pacific Islands News Association (PINA)
Thirty-one IFEX members call on President Museveni to lift the ban on the four radio stations and address the state of free expression
Condemning the shut-down of four radio stations and a violent crackdown on members of the press during a period recent social unrest, 31 IFEX members call on President Museveni to guard free expression rights.
Forty-five IFEX members call for release of journalist Chief Ebrimah Manneh
Free expression advocates from around the world gathered this week in Oslo, Norway, at the IFEX General Meeting. Forty-five IFEX members signed on to the following statement, calling on The Gambian government to enforce an ECOWAS court judgement of the journalist’s case.
PINA media statement on World Press Freedom Day
(PINA/IFEX) – 3 May 2009 – As the world celebrates Media Freedom Day, we in the Pacific are thinking of our colleagues in Fiji who have nothing to celebrate because their freedoms have been forcefully curtailed by the ruling government. Media practitioners in Fiji are restricted from reporting negative or ‘inciteful’ stories against the caretaker […]
Government considers legal action against Television New Zealand
(PINA/IFEX) – The Samoan government has engaged a lawyer for advice on legal action against Television New Zealand (TVNZ) for a story which it says inaccurately portrayed Samoa as a haven for organised crime, according to the “Samoa Observer”. This move was revealed by the Ministry of Police in a statement released to the media […]
Journalists from New Zealand and Australia deported as regime tightens control on news media; local media outlets refuse to report on political stories
(PINA/IFEX) – Overseas journalists covering Fiji’s political crisis have been deported as the military-led regime tightens its control on the island’s besieged news media. ABC Television journalist and veteran Pacific commentator Sean Dorney, together with a television crew — reporter Sia Aston and cameraman Matt Smith — from Auckland’s TV 3 network, were taken in […]
Authorities ban distribution of the film Milk
(PINA/IFEX) – Censors in Samoa banned Milk, a movie, based on the life of gay activist Harvey Milk, which won a best actor Oscar for Sean Penn. Principal censor Leiataua Niuapu Faaui confirmed the censorship board rejected an application for DVDs of Milk to be distributed in movie stores but refused to give a reason, […]
Police search “Fiji Times” newspaper and Fiji TV
(PINA/IFEX) – Fiji’s media freedom is under threat again after police searched two media organisations for airing politically-sensitive stories. “Fiji Times” newspaper and Fiji TV were both served with search warrants by police for copies and sources of two letters that were published by them. Assistant police spokesman Atunaisa Sokomuri said on 10 March 2009 […]
Government considers adding freedom of information provisions to constitution
(PINA/IFEX) – The following is an 18 February 2009 PINA statement: Freedom of Information key to rid corruption in the Nauru Government 18 FEBRUARY 2009 YAREN (Pacnews) – “Making information accessible to the public means that government is transparent and that the public is better able to hold government accountable.” Nauru’s President, Marcus Stephen MP, […]