PFF: Probe threats to journalists

JOURNALISTS in Papua New Guinea must be able to report the ongoing political tension in the country without fear or intimidation, Pacific media monitoring watchdog, Pacific
Freedom Forum (PFF) said.
Speaking in Port Moresby, forum chair Titi Gabi called for an investigation after soldiers at Murray Barracks in the capital reportedly threatened to shoot PNG FM reporter Tauna George last Thursday.
George, a resident at the barracks, had rushed to the front gates to see why shots were being fired randomly on that morning.
As he approached the main office to request an interview, four soldiers ordered him to sit
down, searched him,
removed his phone, notebook and pen and threatened to shoot
him.
The act of aggression was raised by PNG FM news director Belinda Kora at a press conference called by mutiny leader retired Col Yausa Sasa the same day.
Sasa was taken by surprise, apologised and ordered the return of George’s equipment.
“An investigation into the officers who took it upon themselves to threaten the life of a journalist going about his job would help them better understand how to treat civilians and media workers during times of tension and upheaval,” Gabi told the forum’s website.
“Anyone who has a gun pulled on them and a threat to shoot is a victim of a criminal act, regardless of timing or who is behind the firearm.”
She said other incidents and comments on social networking sites from PNG journalists had raised the need for media workers to “be vigilant of their safety and rights, and lean on the rule of law to help them do the best job possible.”
ABC PNG stringer Firmin Nanol was denied access to a press conference organised the same day.
In front of other media colleagues, Nanol was shouted at by the public relations officer of the Defence Department Benny Sandeka who was blaming ABC for “coup” adjectives used to report last week’s event.
The threats to PNG media come on the back of increasing incidences of self-censorship and intimidation in recent months within industry ranks, the forum said.
The troubled times for PNG newsrooms are compounded by the current leadership void for the nation’s once strong national media watchdog, the PNG Media Council.
“We encourage our PNG colleagues to discuss and report all acts of intimidation and harassment and promptly make all concerns known to other colleagues in the media,” PFF co-chair Monica Miller from American Samoa said.
“Self-censorship often results when intimidation, threats and silence become an accepted norm among journalists.
“We need to deal strongly and consistently with this on all fronts if we want to remain credible, independent and free.”
PNG was recently rated the best of the Pacific Island nations for 2011 in the Reporters Without Borders global press freedom index, coming in at No 35.