Pacific Media Watch

9 October 2015

NAURU: Government may allow local journalists into detention centres

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The Nauru government has strongly opposed reporting of the centre by foreign media in the past. Image: PMC news desk
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WELLINGTON (Radio New Zealand International/ Pacific Media Watch): The Nauru government is reportedly preparing to allow local journalists to enter the island's asylum seeker detention centre, but steep visa fees for foreign journalists will remain.

The Guardian reported an email from the Nauruan operations manager, Berilyn Jeremiah, advising staff at the detention centre that the government would allow "a number" of Nauruan journalists to enter.

The detention centres have been hit by a series of allegations of sexual assault and other serious incidents in recent months that have raised concern about the safety of asylum seekers.

However, there are only a handful of local media outlets on the island, most of them government-controlled.

Foreign journalists hoping to travel to Nauru must pay a non-refundable fee of US$7000 for a visa application, with no guarantee that it will be approved.

The email also stated the government wishes to provide further updates on the centre through the media to “help reinstate balance to the story of the real”.

The presence of reporters at the detention centre would be a highly unusual occurence. The government of Nauru has strongly resisted any independent media reporting about the detention centre.

It is unclear when or how this initiative will take place. 

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Pacific Media Watch

PMC's media monitoring service

Pacific Media Watch is compiled for the Pacific Media Centre as a regional media freedom and educational resource by a network of journalists, students, stringers and commentators. (cc) Creative Commons

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