PORT MORESBY (PNG Post-Courier/ Pacific Media Watch): Northern Governor Gary Juffa has blamed the Papua New Guinea media for not being impartial in their work and "deliberate acts" to avoid reporting on sensitive issues affecting the country.
He said that out of all the journalists who were currently reporters, about less than five would be reliably doing the right thing.
"Where are the in-depth stories into matters of concern to the public such as the sustainable agriculture business lease (SABL), the Pacific Maritime Industrial Zone (PMIZ) scam, the sea bed mining saga," he said.
The SABL is an agreement that takes customary land from local owners and gives it to a company or other organisation.
Since 2003, the SABL process has been misused to take away almost five million hectares of land, which is then given to foreign companies.
Similar to the SABL, the PMIZ scam in Madang is also gaining huge criticism from the public, and other advocates for local's rights.
The PMIZ is a project that would make the area the largest tuna landing and processing hub in the Southern Hemisphere. But there are questions around what will happen to the subsistence fishing lifestyle of local villagers, and the industrialisation of the lagoon area, known for its marine biodiversity.
Govenor Juffa wants local media to follow up with "the numerous inquiries that went nowhere and the inflated contracts that go to dubious companies".
"What are the atrocities in West Papua and other major stories that should be brought to the attention of our people?
"Where is the fairness and fearlessness of the media that we once appreciated?
"Where are the incisive questions demanding answers on behalf of our people?" he said.
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Pacific Media Watch
