Articles by Pacific Islands News Association (PINA)
“The Fiji Times” rejects allegations of news media bias in elections
(PINA/IFEX) – The biggest daily newspaper in the Fiji Islands, “The Fiji Times”, on 7 May 1999 vigorously rejected claims of news media bias in the coverage of the country’s general elections. It also reflected on the key role the news media are playing in the election, Fiji’s first under a new constitution replacing one […]
PINA calls for Vanuatu prime minister to act against media intimidation
PINA/IFEX – PINA has urged Vanuatu Prime Minister Donald Kalpokas to take immediate action against the intimidation of the local news media, and specifically the current pressure on the independent newspaper “Vanuatu Trading Post”. PINA deplored the physical assault on “Trading Post” publisher Marc Neil-Jones and the verbal intimidation of the newspaper and its staff. […]
PINA president stresses basic rights during World Press Freedom Day
(PINA/IFEX) – The following is a PINA press release: Freedom of expression and information as basic human rights was the focal point at Pacific World Press Freedom Day regional ceremonies held in Suva, Fiji Islands, on May 3rd. The ceremonies were organised by Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and hosted by the Secretariat of the […]
Cook Islands chief justice declares election law unconstitutional
PINA/IFEX – A wide-ranging amendment to Cook Islands electoral laws which would also have restricted the news media has been declared unconstitutional by the country’s chief justice. The new Electoral Amendment Act forbade political campaigning except for five weeks prior to a national election. Radio Australia reported that on 26 April 1999, Chief Justice Peter […]
Vanuatu publisher attacked, paper threatened
PINA/IFEX – News organisations in Vanuatu have faced intimidation and threats from Deputy Prime Minister Willy Jimmy and his supporters, the country’s main independent newspaper, the “Vanuatu Trading Post”, reported on 29 April 1999. It stated that, on 25 April, a former business associate of Jimmy assaulted “Trading Post” publisher, Marc Neil-Jones. Punches were thrown […]
Judge rules “Samoa Observer” publisher and former editor can be tried for criminal libel
(PINA/IFEX) – A judge has ruled in Samoa that the criminal libel claim by the late Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana against the “Samoa Observer” newspaper publisher and a former editor can go ahead. Details of Justice Phillip Moran’s sixty-one-page ruling were reported to PINA by the “Samoa Observer” on 16 April 1999. The judge […]
French Polynesian president ends restrictions on journalists
(PINA/IFEX) – On 31 March 1999, French Polynesian President Gaston Flosse said he would open his news conferences to all journalists for the first time since 1994, the news magazine “Tahiti-Pacifique” reports. The April edition of “Tahiti-Pacifique” called it a major success for the pro-independence station “Radio Te Reo O Tefana” and a “quite noticeable […]
PINA and UNESCO promote Article 19 in Pacific Islands
(PINA/IFEX) – The following is a 6 April 1999 PINA press release: Radio, television, and newspapers are being used to promote World Press Freedom Day in the Pacific Islands and celebrate fifty years of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. PINA, with support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation […]