PORT MORESBY (Pacific Media Watch): The ban on foreign journalists on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea is making waves across the Pacific as leaders gather for the Pacific Islands Forum on Rarotonga.
Papua New Guinea's opposition has criticised the move by the government to bar journalists from entering the location of Australia's asylum-seeker detention centre.
The deputy leader of the Opposition Sam Basil said the government should not have anything to hide.
“Banning foreign journalists – and on a major human rights issue like asylum seekers – is a bad omen on the way the O’Neill government intends to do business in Papua New Guinea. Mr Pato as a lawyer should know better about defending human rights and the role of journalists.
“No Government – big or small – aid donor or aid recipient – should be allowed to handle humanitarian issues in the dark. The media – and foreign journalists in particular – have demonstrated that public exposure they bring can defuse bad decisions and their dire implications on the people," he said.
News first emerged from Nau FM's Quintina Naime, and from Radio New Zealand International which was picked up by the Pacific Media Watch, and has since been reported at Fairfax's The Age in Melbourne.
Radio New Zealand International interviewed PNG's new Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato who said: "PNG’s a culture where we discuss, negotiate and compromise. So we don’t want any misreporting, as a consequence of which issues could be misinterpreted by our own people as well as by the outside world."
PNG’s Director-General of Immigration Mataio Rabura confirmed he had issued instructions to all PNG’s overseas missions not to facilitate visas for journalists planning to come to the country to cover the Manus story.
But today Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato clarified the ban, saying it was only for new journalists seeking entry into PNG.
“PNG hosts a number of foreign journalists already residing in the country and who are currently covering the story and are not subject to restrictions,” Mr Pato said.
Mr Pato said the ban also included a request for Australian officials to not visit Manus until the consultations are held.
“Whilst these consultations are taking place, excessive media coverage may not be helpful and could create unnecessary tension and confusion.
"I have already requested that Australian Government officials do not travel to Manus until consultations with relevant stakeholders have been completed,” Mr Pato said.
Pacific leaders including PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neil are on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands this week for the Pacific Islands Forum.
Journalists covering the forum are seeking comment from the Prime Minister about the ban.
Temporary ban slapped on foreign journalists
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Alex Perrottet
