Human rights advocates and civil society groups are voicing their condemnation of Papuans being held in crowded and risky Indonesian jails for taking part in peaceful demonstrations and a “Free West Papuan political prisoners” campaign has gone viral on social media.
From Papua New Guinea where media briefings have been curtailed with a lockdown of the national information and operations “nerve centre” at Morauta Haus, to Fiji where media personalities have been arrested, to the Philippines where state troll armies “weaponise” disinformation on social media, and to Indonesia where street artists have stepped in fill an information void, the signs are really worrying for defenders for media freedom.
Pushed into the background by the relentless sad statistics and pandemic doomsday stories around the globe are some other stories in the Pacific that normally struggle to get an airing in mainstream media.
Police Minister Bryan Kramer made a reputation for transparency and use of online media communication when an opposition MP for Madang. Since being part of the government led by Prime Minister James Marape, he has enhanced his reputation for straight talking and making information available on the internet.
While the Pacific infection rates are still relatively low, many governments have been responding with panic, paranoia and creeping authoritarianism, especially in relation to freedom of information, media independence and constructive and accurate communication, so vital in these critical times.
The shooting tragedy at West Papua’s Freeport mine on Monday leaves all New Zealanders with a question – who are the actual shooters in this attack?
New Zealand demonstrated an empathetic concern for its small Pacific Island neigbours by imposing self-isolation restrictions on travel to and from the region, but almost immediately cases of infection rapidly began. Oceania has become locked down and the pandemic has dislodged climate change as the region’s number one priority.
As New Zealand draws deeper into uncharted waters over the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, spare a thought for our neighbours across the Pacific as infections and lockdowns spread rapidly across the region. My colleague Sri Krishnamurthi on the AUT Pacific Media Centre’s Pacific Media Watch project files this roundup.
“If confirmed on appeal, this federal court ruling will set a disturbing legal precedent by turning investigative reporters and whistleblowers into criminals.” – Daniel Bastard, RSF Asia-Pacific
“At the beginning of his first term in 2015, President Jokowi released five West Papuan political prisoners … a new hope for West Papua. But now, at the beginning of his second term, there are 57 people awaiting trial for treason, facing life imprisonment. This route will only fuel further conflict,” says human rights lawyer Veronica Koman.