Tag: freedom of expression
Stop harassing USP protesters, global human rights groups tell Fiji
Pacific Media Watch
The Fiji authorities must respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly for university staff and students and immediately cease...
Fiji police question USP librarian as crackdown on criticism grows
Pacific Media Watch
Fiji police today questioned two University of the South Pacific staff over the "solidarity" rallies for the vice-chancellor last week at the...
Maria Ressa found guilty in blow to Philippines’ press freedom
By Ted Regencia in Manila
A court in the Philippines has found Rappler chief executive and executive editor Maria Ressa, and a former Rappler reporter,...
Filep Karma reveals Jokowi’s unkept promise to free all Papua tapols
Pacific Media Centre
Former Papuan political prisoner Filep Karma says President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo promised to release Papuan political prisoners during his administration.
Widodo made this...
Solomon Islands police investigate social justice commentator
By Assumpta Buchanan in Honiara
Solomon Islands police are investigating several people, including prominent female development and social justice commentator Wendy Amangongo, for recent articles...
‘Don’t blame the messenger,’ warns UN over media virus crackdowns
Pacific Media Watch
The United Nations rights chief has condemned countries using the coronavirus crisis as an excuse to arrest journalists and restrict information, insisting...
Hong Kong police arrest Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai among 14...
Pacific Media Watch
The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Hong Kong authorities to drop all charges against Jimmy Lai, founder and chair of...
RSF condemns Indonesia over using Covid-19 to ‘silence’ state criticism
Pacific Media Watch
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is alarmed to learn that Indonesia’s police have been ordered to combat not only disinformation about the coronavirus...
63 political prisoners in Indonesia file urgent appeals amid virus pandemic
By Jennifer Robinson and Veronica Koman with the support of TAPOL
Sixty-three political prisoners detained on treason charges in Indonesia have made a joint urgent...
‘Defend beleaguered rights’ of Wikileaks founder call to Morrison
Pacific Media Watch
Citizens, journalists, lawyers and international media personalities have joined together in an international open letter to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, calling...
NZ university denies bowing to Chinese pressure over Tiananmen
By RNZ News
Auckland University of Technology has denied bowing to Chinese government pressure to stop one of its rooms being used for an event...
Police drop trespass charges against French TV crew at Adani protest
French television journalist Hugo Clément speaking out about the arrest in Queensland on Monday. Video: Euronews
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) has...
RSF demands Australian police drop charges against French TV crew
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called on the Australian authorities to drop all charges against four French TV journalists who –...
Tongan tourism officials to ‘wipe out’ Miss Heilala over her criticisms
By Philip Cass
Tonga’s tourist authorities will wipe the former Miss Heilala, Kalo Funganitao, from the records in retaliation for her speech at this year’s...
Outrage, opposition to Cook Islands Rocketman ban
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk
A prominent Cook Islands lawyer intends to take a court challenge against the censor’s impending ban of the film Rocketman, reports the...
PNG politicians, journalists condemn O’Neill social media ‘crackdown’ plan
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk
The Papua New Guinea Prime Minister’s call to “crack down” on social media has created immediate controversy, with politicians and journalists...
How Christchurch mosque assault has made a mark on NZ media
By Colin Peacock, editor of Mediawatch NZ
The attack in Christchurch has forced New Zealand news media to rethink the way they work, whose voices...
Hearts and minds – how new media ‘cold war’ impacts on...
By Jeremy Rose of RNZ Mediawatch
Seven senior New Zealand journalists spent a week in Hawai'i late last year and produced just one story between...
Activist’s arrest shows Widodo ‘no different’ from Suharto, says AJI
By Fitria Chusna Farisa in Jakarta
The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has called on the Indonesian police to release Jakarta State University lecturer Robertus...
António Sampaio: Freedom of the press – rights, responsibilities and transparency
By António Sampaio in Dili, Timor-Leste
New debates in Timor-Leste are circulating about political interference in newsrooms. Attempts to condition or determine that somebody cannot...
China isn’t the real threat to liberal democracy – ‘we are’,...
The Chinese government is accused of illegally harvesting the organs of Falun Gong members. However, a leading academic says that China isn’t the real...
Media freedom commentators condemn Nauru ‘gag’ actions
By RNZ Morning Report
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern arrived today for the leader's retreat at the Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru where she...