RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (Kiribati Independent / Pacific Media Watch): Kiribati's President Anote Tong should step in and "clear the air" over the continued failure of his Communications Minister to act on registration for a newspaper currently facing police investigation, says a Pacific media monitoring group.
In a statement cited by the Kiribati Independent, the Cook Islands-based Pacific Freedom Forum said the president should now get some answers from his own government.
"A six month bureaucratic delay continues to undermine [the minister's] credibility while taking away media and information choices from his people." said PFF co-chair Titi Gabi of Papua New Guinea.
"We echo the concerns of Reporters without Borders and others on political interference into independent media. Kiribati gave us the Forum leaders promise to good governance, named after the Biketawa islet where they met back in 2000. This situation provides a timely reminder that Kiribati should now walk the talk on that promise."
The latest incident of political interference with police interviewing the businessman who sells the newspaper in Tarawa was first reported by Pacific Media Watch on Pacific Scoop on Tuesday. Pacific Media Watch also first reported the issue when the Kiribati authorities delayed registration last December.
The Auckland-based Kiribati Independent resumed publishing this month on legal advice which now breaches a second government order issued on May 18 banning publication until his registration application is cleared.
Publisher and editor Taberannang Korauaba confirmed that police visited his newspaper's Tarawa offices on Tuesday, acting on complaints received from the Communications Ministry. He has previously been able to publish after filing documents for registration without problems and his legal advice is that he is still within his rights.
From American Samoa, PFF co-chair Monica Miller said the legislation used to silence the Kiribati Independent also ensured right of reply and balance in journalism by those with grievances over content.
"If the President, his government and anyone in Kiribati is unhappy over what they read, see or hear via the media, the same legislation on registration also ensures media operators address complaints of biased coverage. " said Miller in the PFF statement.
"In 2000, Kiribati hosted the historical Pacific Forum leaders meeting which paved the way for leaders commitments to good governance and transparency. We urge President Tong to let media do its work, and bring back the Biketawa promise."
Pacific Media Watch
