Pacific News Bulletin Barred From Forum Meeting
Article From The Fiji Daily Post, 13 August 2003
The Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (PCRC) has accused the New Zealand government and the Forum Secretariat of refusing
to grant media accreditation to the Pacific News Bulletin (PNB), the only Pacific Islands civil society-owned
newsletter, to cover the Forum meeting in Auckland.
The monthly publication, which is owned by 120-member organizations of the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Movement
in 33 Pacific region countries, was established in 1986.
The PCRC said the newsletter was read worldwide by paid subscribers “because it gives alternative views on Pacific
issues not covered by the mainstream media.”
The PCRC reports that the Forum Secretariat decided the PNB was not mainstream because it was owned by a civil society
organization.
PCRC Director Motarilavoa Hilda Lini said: “New Zealand is playing double standards by talking about the importance of
media freedom and civil society participation and at the same time closing the door to the PNB.”
“The Forum Secretariat plays double standards by advising that media accreditation is the responsibility of New Zealand
as the host country and at the same time advises New Zealand not to give accreditation to the only Pacific Islands civil
society owned news media.”
Ms Lini said this was the first time in 15 years of publication that the PNB had been refused media accreditation to the
Forum on application.
“She said it raised questions about transparency and good governance when the Forum is only accrediting media
corporations “who have their own particular style of reporting.”
The PCRC added the New Zealand government, on the other hand while being vocal on media freedom, had decided to remain
silent on the issue and had not responded to any correspondence.
ENDS