(PINA/IFEX) – On 27 October 1998, Savea Sano Malifa, editor-publisher of the “Samoa Observer”, was named the 1998 winner of the Commonwealth’s most prestigious press freedom honour, the Astor Award. The announcement was made during the Astor Award dinner at the Commonwealth Press Union’s biennial conference, being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. **Updates IFEX alerts […]
(PINA/IFEX) – On 27 October 1998, Savea Sano Malifa, editor-publisher of the
“Samoa Observer”, was named the 1998 winner of the Commonwealth’s most
prestigious press freedom honour, the Astor Award. The announcement was made
during the Astor Award dinner at the Commonwealth Press Union’s biennial
conference, being held in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 20 September, 15 July, 22, 20 and 14 May, 30 April,
11 March 1998; and 24, 15, and 4 December, 18 November, 31 October, 12
September and 24 May 1997**
The award goes to an individual considered to have made a significant
contribution towards press freedom. It is named after Lord Astor, a former
president of the Commonwealth Press Union. Malifa is the twenty fourth
winner and the first from the Pacific Islands. The presentation to Malifa —
who was a speaker at the conference — was made by UNESCO’s director for
Freedom of Expression and Democracy, Alain Modoux.
In earlier comments in Kuala Lumpur, Malifa told of the “Observer’s”
continuing battle to foster and defend freedom of expression and information
despite the pressure, attacks and rising legal costs. “Freedom is the
sustenance that nurtures democracy,” he said. He thanked organisations such
as UNESCO, International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), the World
Press Freedom Committee, Commonwealth Press Union, Commonwealth Journalists
Association, Committee to Protect Journalists, and Pacific Islands News
Association (PINA) for their support. “They all helped when we needed it
most,” he said.
Background Information
Malifa and his wife Jean are also previous winners of the Pacific Islands
News Association (PINA) Pacific Freedom of Information award. They received
this for their courageous defence of the right of the Samoan people to
freedom of information and expression.
The “Samoa Observer”, which was founded by the Malifas, is Samoa’s only
daily newspaper and main independent news voice. The government-run national
radio and TV services are heavily controlled by the government, which has
been in power for 15 years. The opposition’s access to the government media
is severely restricted.
Independent news media and journalists have faced increasing pressure after
highlighting reports alleging growing corruption and abuse of public office.
The “Samoa Observer” printing plant was burned down under highly suspicious
circumstances; Malifa was assaulted by relatives of a government minister;
death threats were made to Malifa and his family; government advertising was
withdrawn from the newspaper; threats were made to impose newspaper
licensing; and a law was introduced requiring journalists in libel actions
to reveal their sources.
Malifa and the “Observer” continue to face mounting legal costs because of
criminal and civil libel actions against them over their reports and a
letter published in the paper. The actions have been mounted by Prime
Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana and other government ministers. The government
has said it will provide public money to pay the legal costs
of ministers and government leaders who sue for libel (see IFEX alerts).
