The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) says the suppression of the media in some Pacific countries remains a major concern for the organisation.
In his statement for World Media Freedom Day, PINA President Moses Steven said it does not make sense when some of the leaders who have been entrusted to lead end up depriving citizens off their right to information and right to free expression.
Steven said some countries in the region have made progresses in having national media policies as well as passing legislations on Right to Information (RTI), yet there are some governments that continue to antagonise their state owned mediums and threaten to shut them down.
He also pointed out that threats and abuses against media practitioners are still being reported in some Pacific countries and PINA is working closely with national media associations to engage in constructive dialogue to address these issues.
He said it was important for the democratic governments in the region to take time to consider working with their respective media sectors and other stakeholders in developing their own media policies and RTI laws that best suit their common interests of their people’s welfare and rights.
Steven also emphasised the issue of “media access” to the Indonesian province of Papua.
“The ongoing ‘cry for freedom’ by the indigenous people of Papua and the continuing ‘down-playing’ tactics of the Jakarta government is a concern that cannot be ignored by Pacific Leaders,” he said.
“We in the Pacific will need to show our support and solidarity for the struggles of the people of Papua.”
“The media needs to get on board and urge the Government of Indonesia to allow regional and international media to enter Papua and report on the situation there concerning alleged human rights abuses happening in Papua,” he added.
PINA is urging His Excellency President Joko Widodo to lift the ban on foreign media and allow them to enter Papua and report on developments in the region.
To mark this year’s World Media Freedom Day, PINA has urged its members in the Pacific and around the world to support a ‘photo campaign’ urging President Widodo to live up to his promise and lift the ban on foreign media entering the country.
The social media campaign is asking media workers to send a message to President Widodo with the hashtags #Media Acess2Papua #PacificInSolidarity #WPFD2017.