Immigration office lifts ban on foreign journalists

By CLEMENT KAUPA
THE ban on foreign journalists entering the country to cover the Manus Island asylum centre issues has been lifted, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration said yesterday.
“It is official,” acting media manager Richard Lepi said. The ban lasted only a few days.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Rimbink Pato is due back in the country on Monday and the department expected him to finalise outstanding issues and allow for the opening of the centre.
Australia had indicated that it wanted to move quickly to process its first batch of asylum seekers.
Facilities on Manus Island can cater for about 600 refugees.
Meantime, West Sepik Governor Amkat Mai had warned the O’Neill government over Pato’s decision to ban the foreign media temporarily.
Mai said the previous regime was toppled because there was no transparency and accountability in its governance.
“Media freedom is not only a right in this country but is also a powerful symbol of democracy. When we gag the media, we also gag the rights of our people,” he said.
“The ban simply means we have not prepared ourselves in consultation with the Manus provincial government, relevant statutory bodies and development partners, including legal institutions in this country.
“We, as mandated leaders, represent seven and a half million people in this country. Therefore, all information must be provided on all fronts because it is a basic right,”  Mai said.
Many critics throughout the country had questioned the motive behind the ban, saying it was not in line with the spirit of democracy.