Tag: Freedom of speech
NFP leader accuses Fiji government of creating ‘police state’ after arrest
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk
A Fiji opposition political leader has accused the government of a "transition to a police state" with middle of the night...
Fiji opposition MPs pledge not to be silenced, despite arrests over...
RNZ Pacific
Fiji's opposition MPs who were arrested after their criticism of a government land bill say they will not be intimidated or silenced.
Police have...
AG raises Suva lawyers’ ‘little confidence’ social media posts
By Luke Nacei in Suva
Social media posts by two outspoken Suva-based lawyers have been raised in Parliament over a critical culture “that has been...
SAFEnet finds digital attacks targeted academics, journalists and activists
By Dian Erika Nugraheny in Jakarta
The Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) recorded 147 digital attacks in Indonesia during 2020, the majority...
Papuan protesters claim police using covid rapid tests to curb free...
Asia Pacific Report
Indonesian police have asked participants at a protest action against Special Autonomy (Otsus) in Papua to take covid-19 rapid tests at the...
John Pilger: The Stalinist trial of Julian Assange – press freedom...
ANALYSIS: By John Pilger in London
When I first met Julian Assange more than 10 years ago, I asked him why he had started WikiLeaks....
Assange’s UK detention violates international law – Australia must intervene
The War on Journalism: The Case of Julian Assange, a film by Juan Passarelli @jlpassarelli
By Simon Floth in Armidale, NSW
Julian Assange is scheduled to...
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...
Civil society advocates condemn Fiji police ‘intimidation’ of USP students
Pacific Media Watch
Fiji's NGO Coalition on Human Rights today condemned police for it called heavy-handed intimidation of students and staff at the regional University...
Media rights groups protest against Timor’s draft defamation law
Pacific Media Watch
Timor-Leste's Minister of Justice plans to present to the Council of Ministers a proposal to include criminal defamation in the country’s penal...
Ramos-Horta slams criminal libel plan – threat to rights in Timor-Leste
By Antonio Sampaio in Dili
Former East Timorese President José Ramos-Horta says it is not opportune for the government to be debating the possible criminalisation...
RSF condemns attacks on US protest journalists fueled by Trump slurs
Pacific Media Watch
Protests in at least 30 cities across the US following the police killing of George Floyd have resulted in violent attacks from...
Priests post bail in Philippines ‘Bikoy’ videos sedition case
By Joenner Paulo L. Enriquez and Ma. Alena O. Castillo in Manila
Thomasian priests Fr Albert Alejo and Fr Flaviano Villanueva have posted P10,000 (NZ$310)...
Philippines court orders arrest of Trillanes, 10 others on sedition charge
By Lian Buan in Manila
A Philippines court has issued arrest warrants against former senator Antonio Trillanes IV and 10 other people for conspiracy to...
Cook Islands backtracks on Rocketman ban
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk
The Cook Islands censor has backtracked on its initial decision to ban Rocketman.
Instead, the Cook Islands Internal Affairs has followed the...
Student winner tells of ‘tui nesting’ leadership in race speech award
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk
A New Plymouth Boys’ High School student has won a national race relations competition with a speech citing examples of past...
PNG Facebook ban threat casts shadow over Pacific media freedom
Papua New Guinea threatened to temporarily ban Facebook earlier this year. With the APEC conference looming in November, the question remains whether this was...
Fiji’s media decree and ‘draconian’ approach difficult, says publisher
By Koro Vaka'uta of RNZ Pacific
The outgoing general manager and publisher of The Fiji Times says his job has been made difficult by the...
Pacific news journalists grapple with challenges of social media, harsh laws
BRIEFING: By Geraldine Panapasa in Suva
Like it or not, social media has become part and parcel of almost everyday discussions.
Whether it’s talk about the...
Juffa accuses O’Neill government of ‘shutting down’ free speech in PNG
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk
Oro Governor Garry Juffa says the people of PNG find it "frightening" and "alarming" that the Papua New Guinea government is...
Keith Jackson: Did dumb just get dumber and Sam Basil dig...
A near confrontation on the floor of Parliament on Friday, with the Papua New Guinea Opposition walking out in protest over the referral of...
Justice Rajasinghe to deliver Fiji Times sedition trial verdict on Tuesday
By Litia Cava in Suva
High Court judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe is set to deliver his verdict on Tuesday after the three assessors returned with...