(PINA/IFEX) – The following is a PINA news report: On 7 April 2003, PINA President Johnson Honimae said alarm bells are ringing for freedom of expression and media freedom in the Pacific Islands. Solomon Islander Honimae, leader of the region’s main news media professional association, said there are currently crises in three countries, with efforts […]
(PINA/IFEX) – The following is a PINA news report:
On 7 April 2003, PINA President Johnson Honimae said alarm bells are ringing for freedom of expression and media freedom in the Pacific Islands. Solomon Islander Honimae, leader of the region’s main news media professional association, said there are currently crises in three countries, with efforts to restrict what their people can say and know.
Honimae said these are:
– TONGA, where the Privy Council has brought in what he called outrageous media laws. This came immediately after the kingdom’s Supreme Court ruled unlawful the government’s efforts to ban from Tonga the bi-weekly, New Zealand-published “Times of Tonga” newspaper [see IFEX alerts of 7 April and 23 March 2003].
– PAPUA NEW GUINEA, where members of the Parliamentary Privileges Committee threatened to punish newspapers that publish criticism parliamentarians regard as unfair [see alert of 17 April 2003].
– KIRIBATI, where the government of former president Teburoro Tito brought in newspaper laws that have been described as draconian [see alerts of 10 October and 6 June 2002].
As part of World Press Freedom Day, on 3 May, PINA will highlight these attacks on the fundamental human rights to freedom of expression and information. As well, PINA is planning for a special full day session on this topic at the PINA convention in Apia, Samoa, 26-30 July.
The session will focus on the growing worries about freedom of expression in the region. Honimae said, “In Tonga, Papua New Guinea, and Kiribati, the threats to freedom of expression and information have one common theme.
“This is that those who are in power do not want the people to know about or debate their actions. This is not just a matter of media freedom. In all three cases, it is an attack on the fundamental human rights to freedom of expression and information. It is an abuse of power by those who
should be serving the people.”
In addition to its actions in the region, PINA is making sure the international freedom of expression community knows what it happening. Those responsible for trying to stifle free speech should know that this is not acceptable in many of the countries they rely on for aid and development and trade help, Honimae said.
PINA will be forming a special committee of leading regional journalists and news executives to plan the special Apia convention programme on freedom of expression. They will spotlight the countries where there are abuses. They will also highlight the governments – such as those in Fiji and Samoa – which deserve praise, Honimae said.
