As Nauru prepares to host the
Pacific Island Forum in September, it announced on Monday, July 2, that
it would block the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from attending
and covering the Forum. The International Federation of Journalists
(IFJ) and its affiliate the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance
(MEAA) have condemned the decision as a blatant attack on press freedom.
A statement by the Nauru Government on Monday said
it has blocked the ABC from covering the Forum, and is refusing to
issue its journalist visas because of allegations of interference in its
politics, bias and false reporting. In response, ABC’s director of
news, analysis and investigations, Gaven Morris, said: “The Nauruan
government should not be allowed to dictate who fills the positions in
an Australian media pool. It can hardly claim it is ‘welcoming the
media’ if it dictates who that media will be and bans Australia’s public
broadcaster.”
On Tuesday, the Nauru Government issued a follow-up statement, stating: “We
remind the ABC that we – like Australia – have every right to refuse a
visa to any person or organisation that we believe is not of good
character, and that entry into our country is a privilege not a right,”
it said. “The Australian media do not decide who enters Nauru.”
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, said the decision by the
Nauru Government was regrettable, but that it’s a matter for Nauru.
MEAA Media section president, Macrus Strom, said: “Politicians,
wherever they are, must accept the role of the media to report and
scrutinise those in power. The Forum is a crucial gathering. It comes at
a very important time. It is important that its deliberations and
discussions are widely reported to the people who live in the region.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he 'regrets' the ABC is being
barred from reporting on the Forum but that ultimately it is a matter
for the government of Nauru. That is simply not good enough. This is an
attack on press freedom that our government needs to condemn in the
strongest possible terms. Recognising the sovereignty of another nation
does not extend to accepting they have the right to prevent free and
open reporting.”
The Australian Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery condemned the ban, while Vanuatu’s Daily Post said it would no longer cover the Forum.
The IFJ said: “Governments, leaders and politicians must remember
the role of the media, and not use their powers to control and stifle
press freedom. The Nauru Government is setting a dangerous precedent by
barring ABC journalists’ from covering the Pacific Island Forum. We call
for solidarity with our colleagues in the region to demand the ban be
revoked and press freedom guaranteed.”
|
|
Comments
Post a Comment