Articles by Pacific Islands News Association (PINA)
President’s action worries Philippine press
(PINA/IFEX) – Philippines news organisations are worried by a record P101 million (approx. US$2,617,000) criminal libel suit by President Joseph Estrada against one of the country’s main daily newspapers, “The Manila Times”, its executives and journalists. According to the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), comments Estrada made in launching the action are a threat to the […]
Chief Justice fines “Samoa Observer” editor and publisher
(PINA/IFEX) – On 16 March 1999, “Samoa Observer” publisher Savea Sano Malifa and editor Aumuagaolo Ropeti Ale were fined 500 Western Samoa Tala (about US$230) each after being found guilty of contempt of court. Chief Justice Tiavaasue Falefatu Sapolu found in the Apia Supreme Court that it was a case of civil and not criminal […]
Samoa PM claims opposition leader using news “ban” to score points
(PINA/IFEX) – Samoa’s opposition leader, Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, has no intention of using government-run Televise Samoa and national Radio 2AP to air his views, but says there is a ban on him to gain political points, Samoa’s Prime Minister said on 15 March 1999. The independent “Tala nei” news service said Prime Minister Tuilaepa […]
Samoa Opposition leader begins court action over “ban”
(PINA/IFEX) – Samoa’s parliamentary opposition leader has begun a case in the Supreme Court in Apia, alleging that the government bans him from government media and violates his constitutional rights. Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi says that he is banned from the national radio service 2AP, the national television service Televise Samoa, and the government newspaper […]
American Samoans urged to boycott airline over “Samoa Observer” threats
(PINA/IFEX) – American Samoan newspapers have rallied to the support of the embattled “Samoa Observer” newspaper in the neighbouring independent nation of Samoa. They have called for American Samoans to stand up for freedoms they are guaranteed and follow the example of their mother country, the United States, and sever economic and political ties with […]
PINA president condemns ban on journalist entering Fiji Islands
(PINA/IFEX) – On 13 March 1999, PINA president William Parkinson condemned a ban on prominent Television New Zealand journalist David Lomas entering the Fiji Islands. He called for the Fiji Islands Government to sort out once and for all the “blacklist” of journalists imposed by an interim government that ruled before the country returned to […]
Chief Justice reserves decision on “Samoa Observer” Two
(PINA/IFEX) – Samoa’s Chief Justice has reserved his decision on an application by Samoan-government owned Polynesian Airlines to jail the publisher and editor of the “Samoa Observer” newspaper for alleged contempt of court. Chief Justice Tiavaasue Falefatu Sapolu heard the airline’s application to jail publisher Savea Sano Malifa and editor Aumuagaolo Ropeti Ale. After hearing […]
American Samoa lawmaker wants Clinton-Lewinsky reporting investigated
(PINA/IFEX) – A legislator in American Samoa wants the territory’s House of Representatives to look at the local media’s reporting, especially Samoan language stories on President Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky. On 9 March 1999, the Pago Pago, American Samoa, daily newspaper “Samoa News” reported that Representative Leuluaisaopapa Io Matautia told the House that newspaper […]