[Pacific_media_watch] 6271 PNG: Anti-Asian riots blamed on 'vice', reports AAP

Title – 6271 PNG: Anti-Asian riots blamed on 'vice', reports AAP
Date – 25 May 2009
Byline – Ilya Gridneff
Origin – Pacific Media Watch
Source – The Age (Melbourne)/AAP, 25/05/09
Copyright – AAP
Status – Unabridged
----------------------------
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PNG's ANTI-ASIAN RIOTS BLAMED ON 'VICE'
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/pngs-antiasian-riots-
blamed-on-vice-20090525-bkod.html

By Ilya Gridneff

PORT MORESBY (The Age/AAP/Pacific Media Watch): Papua New Guinea Prime
Minister Sir Michael Somare blames corruption in the police force and
immigration department for a recent wave of anti-Asian rioting and
looting.

Somare said on Monday he was "embarrassed" and "appalled" by "a handful
of hooligans and rascals" who have attacked Asian businesses.

"I am very disappointed by what has happened. Chinese citizens and
businesses have been victimised by our criminals," he told reporters in
Port Moresby on Monday.

"We condemn the criminal actions against the Chinese".

Many traders in PNG feel an influx of "new Chinese" have squeezed them
out of small businesses, denying them the benefits of PNG's sustained
economic growth.

Others complain of working for ruthless Chinese bosses who impose tough
conditions or hire workers who don't comply with immigration
requirements, such as speaking English.

Allegations of increased Chinese-organised crime and corruption,
involving PNG officials, have also added to "grassroots" community
anger.

"We know a lot of things are going on," Somare said.

"We know some are saying you give me a six pack (of beer) and I'll give
you a passport.

"It's intolerable. There must be work ethics amongst our civil service.

"Immigration (department), yes we blame immigration," he said.

Alleged corruption in PNG's police force was also a contributing
factor, Somare said.

"They (corrupt officers) will get their marching orders if they are
found not to be fit for police work," he said.

"We need to look at the hierarchy and review the whole police force,"
he said.

During a recent week of violence, local media reported PNG police shot
four looters in the Highlands region while in Lae, PNG's second biggest
city, two looters were killed.

The trouble began on May 10 when PNG workers clashed with management at
the Chinese-run Ramu nickel mine in Madang Province, on the northeast
coast, after a worker was injured by a tractor.

In the same week in Port Moresby, an anti-Chinese protest ended in
violence and looting, sparking similar attacks elsewhere over several
days.

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PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH ONLINE
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is a media and educational resource compiled by the
AUT Pacific Media Centre for the Pacific region.

(c)1996-2009 Creative Commons
http://creativecommons.org

Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit
educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original
producers as indicated in the header. Recipients should seek permission
from the copyright owner for any publishing. Copyright owners not
wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The
views expressed in material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views
of PMW or the Pacific Media Centre.

For further information or joining the Pacific Media Watch listserve,
go to:
http://lists.apc.org.au/listinfo.cgi/pacific_media_watch?apc.org.au

Email:
pmc@aut.ac.nz
Fax: (+649) 921 9987
SnailMail: Pacific Media Centre, School of Communication Studies, AUT
University, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, Aotearoa/New Zealand

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[Pacific_media_watch] 6270 FIJI: Reaction to detention of alleged bloggers

Title – 6270 FIJI: Reaction to detention of alleged bloggers
Date – 25 May 2009
Byline – Michael Hartsell
Origin – Pacific Media Watch
Source – Global Voices, 25/05/09
Copyright – GV
Status – Unabridged
----------------------------
* Pacific Media Watch Online - check the website for archive and links:
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz

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MEDIA RELEASE - FIJI LAW SOCIETY
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/05/25/fiji-reaction-to-detention-of-
alleged-bloggers/

By Michael Hartsell

SUVA (Global Voices/Pacific Media Watch): Global Voices previously
reported that Fiji police detained and seized the laptops of three
people who had been named as bloggers behind the anti-government site
Raw Fiji News.

The three lawyers, among others, had recently been named by the
pro-government site Real Fiji News. While police confirmed the
detentions and laptop seizures, a spokesman would not say why the three
men were hauled in. All three have been released, but no word as yet on
their laptops.

Regardless of the reasons behind the detentions – or the veracity of
the claims the men actually blog for Raw Fiji News – let's begin with
why Real Fiji News named names.

In its post that claims lawyer Richard Naidu allegedly blogs for the
anti-government site, Real Fiji News attacks the Raw Fiji News blog.

>>> They have destroyed lives of people who they call 'Coup
Apologists' they have lied about the state of the economy, they have
lied about business deals, lied about money gained under false
pretenses, lies about uprisings of Fijians, lied about the Military,
lied about the Government. It is so easy to hide behind a blog site and
spew out lie after lie. This site has KEPT YOU UPDATED WITH THE TRUTH,
and we have proven time and time again that Raw Fiji's only intention
is to incite violence and unrest in the country and all done at the
hands of some of our legal profession.

A reader called Boo Boo writing in Real Fiji News after the detentions
had been announced.

>>> What they thought was informative and intelligent has backfired not
only on themselves, but on the entire country in more ways than one.
Their opinions and comments have been read by many who would have loved
to have visited Fiji some day, but won't because they now view Fiji in
a negative light. These potential visitors will not come here now!
Thanks to these folks. The gaping hole in our economy that was once our
tourism industry is their legacy. This has affected thousands of hotel
workers and their families. Leave alone the world economic crisis,
these bloggers have done their bit for Fiji. Well done, bastards!

Fiji Girl says the government is barking up the wrong tree by detaining
the three men.

>>> So the illegal regime and Real Fiji News think that Richard Naidu,
Jon Apted and Tevita Fa are bloggers?
Talk about not being able to see one's own nose! Real Fiji News
especially should know by now that REAL bloggers, like yours truly, are
not the movers and shakers of the movement. Like the faceless drones
behind Real Fiji News, we are commentators, observers – voyeurs, if you
will – and, since the death of our media freedom, ersatz reporters.
People like Richard Naidu, Jon Apted, Tevita Fa, Dorsami Naidu,
Shamima Ali, Virisila Buadromo are too busy out there DOING the good
deeds to have the time or inclination to then write about them and
spend countless hours bitching online about the illegal regime. Like we
bloggers do. They have better ways to spend their time.
We bloggers have our duty – I like to think an important one – in
bringing down this illegal regime through channelling information,
fuelling support and keeping the debate alive. But, like the Judean
People's Front, we ain't necessarily where the action is.
It must have been quite a bitch-slap to the face after they hauled
in the real lawyers, accused of blogging, up to camp to find that
suddenly every blog site reported their detention.

TeeJay for a Free Fiji argues the detentions prove that bloggers are
rattling the regime.

>>> News that the Illegal Regime have hauled in, and since released,
two lawyers suspected of being behind the Raw Fiji News blog site,
indicates that the blogs are having an impact.

>>> Whatever the status of the involvement of Richard Naidu and Jon
Apted is irrelevant to the fact that the Illegal Regime will have NO
success in stopping bloggers.

To the brave and wonderful people inside Fiji who are blogging
away, may God bless you for your efforts in the curent climate within
the country. Keep it up, because it is working!! Even though a small
percentage of Fijians will see the blogs, the key is for those who do,
they need to pass on the information to as many people as possible.

Meanwhile, those of us outside Fiji are with you all the way,
thinking of you every day, right behind you, doing what we can to
assist, no matter how small that may be.

Raw Fiji News lets the police wonder if they had the wrong people.

>>> What does the Fiji military police know about technology?
If their computer experts think they're such gurus at tracking down
bloggers like us, then perhaps coming down to our side of the woods
will solve their problem.
But their problem is that they're all banned from travelling to our
turf cause they are coup aliens marked with "restricted from entering
our soil".
Sorry guys, Richard Naidu and Jon Apted are the wrong people!
Don't waste your time hauling people randomly or closing internet
cafes, etc, etc – we will continue to blog on telling it like it is!

From New Zealand, the blogger behind Fiji: The Way It Is, Was and Can
Be – previously critical of some of Fiji's anti-government blogs –
tells the government to let the bloggers keep writing.

>>> Justice needs to be seen to be done. Blanket clamp-downs convey
the wrong message, and deprive Government of the feedback, advice and
opinions it needs to achieve its longer-term goals. In today's Fiji,
unrestrained opposition and totally gagged opposition are both equally
unhealthy and equally dangerous.

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PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH ONLINE
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is a media and educational resource compiled by the
AUT Pacific Media Centre for the Pacific region.

(c)1996-2009 Creative Commons
http://creativecommons.org

Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit
educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original
producers as indicated in the header. Recipients should seek permission
from the copyright owner for any publishing. Copyright owners not
wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The
views expressed in material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views
of PMW or the Pacific Media Centre.

For further information or joining the Pacific Media Watch listserve,
go to:
http://lists.apc.org.au/listinfo.cgi/pacific_media_watch?apc.org.au

Email:
pmc@aut.ac.nz
Fax: (+649) 921 9987
SnailMail: Pacific Media Centre, School of Communication Studies, AUT
University, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, Aotearoa/New Zealand

Website: www.pmw.c2o.org
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[Pacific_media_watch] 6269 FIJI: NZ Law Society protests over regime's action

Title – 6269 FIJI: NZ Law Society protests over regime's action
Date – 25 May 2009
Byline – Media release
Origin – Pacific Media Watch
Source – Fiji Law Society/Scoop, 25/05/09
Copyright – FLC/S
Status – Unabridged
----------------------------
* Pacific Media Watch Online - check the website for archive and links:
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz

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MEDIA RELEASE - FIJI LAW SOCIETY
www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0905/S00333.htm

AUCKLAND (Scoop/Pacific Media Watch): The Fiji regime's decision to
take over issuing practising certificates for lawyers in Fiji is "very
disturbing", the president of the New Zealand Law Society, John
Marshall, QC, said today (May 25).

By a decree dated Friday 22 May, the Fiji government has ruled that the
Chief Registrar of the Court, a government employee, will take over
issuing practising certificates from the Fiji Law Society. The decree
says that all existing certificates will expire by the end of June and
that lawyers will have to seek renewal from the Registrar before then.

John Marshall said the move was a very serious attack on the
independence of the legal profession in Fiji and was of considerable
concern.

"An independent legal profession is a vital element of the rule of law.
The legal profession represents individuals in claims against the State
and defends them in criminal cases brought by the State. Lawyers must
be independent of State interference to be able to represent clients
freely and fearlessly.

"In New Zealand, the Law Society issues practising certificates to
lawyers. The Fiji Law Society has done the same for the last 12 years.
We are very concerned to learn that the Fiji Government, through the
Chief Registrar, will now decide who should hold a practising
certificate.

"We will be watching the situation very closely and we will be
extremely concerned if there is any suggestion that lawyers who oppose
the regime, or who act for clients who bring cases against it, are
being refused practising certificates," he said.

"The New Zealand Law Society is also very concerned about the process
by which these and other wide ranging changes to the regulation of
Fiji's legal profession have been made. There was no consultation,
simply the issuing of the decree. Then, at the weekend representatives
of the regime arrived at the Fiji Law Society offices to remove files
relating to complaints, which, under the decree, will now also be
handled by the Registrar," John Marshall said.

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PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH ONLINE
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is a media and educational resource compiled by the
AUT Pacific Media Centre for the Pacific region.

(c)1996-2009 Creative Commons
http://creativecommons.org

Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit
educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original
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from the copyright owner for any publishing. Copyright owners not
wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The
views expressed in material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views
of PMW or the Pacific Media Centre.

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[Pacific_media_watch] 6268 PNG: Opinion - 'Are we signing our future to foreigners?'

Title – 6268 PNG: Opinion - 'Are we signing our future to foreigners?'
Date – 25 May 2009
Byline – None
Origin – Pacific Media Watch
Source – PNG Post-Courier, 25/05/09
Copyright – PC
Status – Unabridged
----------------------------
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www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz

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Letter to the editor:
ARE WE SIGNING OUR FUTURE TO FOREIGNERS...?
http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090525/mohome.htm

PORT MORESBY (PNG PC Online/Pacific Media Watch): [Former Prime
Minister] Sir Julius Chan's advert in the papers on Friday has merit on
the unequal ownership issues of Papua New Guinea's vast resources with
the giant mines.

I salute you Sir Julius for speaking out now, but where were you when
BCL, Ok Tedi, Porgera and Lihir deals were signed into contracts giving
our land and resources to foreigners? Were you a PM, a MP, did you have
any influence at all when you were in office?

In the guise of "State", the people of the land have been relocated,
abused, brainwashed, conned into signing deals that have for the last
20-30 years reaped and plundered the resources of the Papua New Guinea.

I hope when the Governor-General signs on behalf of the "State", he is
not signing away the nation to foreigners at the expense of our
children and our future. Those who have the money will speak with force.

Why do Papua New Guineans, as the "papa graun", have a 2 percent voice
in running the giant mining companies? Where are all the profits going
to?

Lihir has not declared profits for a long time. Misima and BCL are
closed. Ok Tedi is winding down. Ramu nickel was given on a golden
platter to China!

For what? For who? I commend SHP Governor for his stand in demanding 10
percent share in LNG.

It's about time Papua New Guineans spoke up for their rights.
Certainly, BSA with LNG needs more to be done so that another BCL, Ok
Tedi and Misima, Porgera and Lihir deals are not repeated again, where
landowners have very little say and are left behind by Waigani.

Sir J, you have one supporter. You are fighting a big battle. Victory
may be delayed, but it will come. Papua New Guinea, now is the time to
speak up or for ever we will keep silent.

— Bapa Bomoteng
Concerned PNGean

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PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH ONLINE
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is a media and educational resource compiled by the
AUT Pacific Media Centre for the Pacific region.

(c)1996-2009 Creative Commons
http://creativecommons.org

Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit
educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original
producers as indicated in the header. Recipients should seek permission
from the copyright owner for any publishing. Copyright owners not
wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The
views expressed in material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views
of PMW or the Pacific Media Centre.

For further information or joining the Pacific Media Watch listserve,
go to:
http://lists.apc.org.au/listinfo.cgi/pacific_media_watch?apc.org.au

Email:
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PFF purpose of media rights monitoring

. . .

Day 2 Session 8
Purpose of Media Rights Monitoring


OBJECTIVE:

To provide a basic introduction to media rights monitoring, and to develop a shared understanding of the value of monitoring media rights. Participants will be able to identify the need to monitor, discuss the differing reasons and outcomes of monitoring, and discuss the qualities and skills of a good monitor (the session is condensed and may not have time to address fully the qualities and skills of a good monitor).


Why monitor ?

Inform people
Consider implications
Curiosity
Suggest solutions
Suggest improvements
Keep subject on their toes
Ethics
Seeking to protect media groups
Ensure elections are fair
Assist peacekeeping processes
Civilians
Economy
Disaster relief
Legislative processes
Prison conditions
Violations of journalists rights.


From
Project XIX, inaugural meeting of the Pacific Freedom Forum, in support of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Held 6-8 May 2009, UNESCO conference centre, Apia, Samoa.

. . .

pff violations of journalists rights

. . .
 
 
Day 2 Session 6
Violations of Journalists' Rights

Objectives: Participants discuss relevant and timely films with members of local industry and NUS Journalism students in informal social setting. Participants will develop an understanding of citizen journalism and its challenge to a repressive military regime and censorship.

VIOLATIONS

Travel restrictions
Arrested
Charged
Unequal access
Detention without charge
Intimidation
Confiscation
Surveillance
Court orders
Deportation
Shot
Assaulted
Harassment
Kidnapping
Threats
Attacks on family
Office burnt down
Banning
Obstruction
Denied Access
Cultural sensitivities > used as an excuse > no laws on custom > great council of chiefs
Misinformation > red herrings
Government interference > stalling > withholding information > fears of giving out information
Discrimination
Jail

 
From Project XIX, inaugural meeting of the Pacific Freedom Forum, in support of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Held 6-8 May 2009, UNESCO conference centre, Apia, Samoa.
 
. . .

FOI and FOE ratings in the Pacific Islands

. . .

photo: what do media have to do to get freedom of information: pull out a gun?

FOI and FOE ratings by Pacific Islands country

Participants were asked to rate their country on a scale of one to five for FOI Freedom of Information and FOE Freedom of Expression.

An average between the eight countries is 2.35.

Some gave ratings for FOI but not FOE.

cook islands 3
fiji 0
palau 2
samoa 3.5
solomon islands 2
tonga 4.5
tuvalu 3
vanuatu 1


From Project XIX, inaugural meeting of the Pacific Freedom Forum, in support of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Held 6-8 May 2009, UNESCO conference centre, Apia, Samoa.

. . .
Posted by Picasa

palau rating freedom of information 2

. . .

PALAU

Freedom of Information rating = 2
Freedom of Expression rating = 3

NEEDED

How can we improve our freedom of expression?

Recall bullies from high powered seats
Demand transparency

ROLE OF MEDIA

Maintain integrity
Never compromise especially when it comes to friends and family

. . .
Posted by Picasa

tuvalu rating freedom of information 3

. . .

TUVALU

Freedom of Information and Expression rating = 3

NEEDED

Quicker provision of information
To educate the politicians to respect the independence of Radio Tuvalu
Recognition for role of journalists and media to improve or promote freedom of expression.
Create much more awareness in society on freedom - radio programs, workshops, etc
Encourage government officials on outer islands to provide information about what is happening there

. . .
Posted by Picasa

tonga rating freedom of information 4.5

. . .

TONGA

Freedom of Expression rating = 4.5

NEEDED

FOI Act
Open culture already under development
Accuracy and ethics in the media > great power = great responsibility

. . .
Posted by Picasa

samoa rating freedom of information 3.5

. . .

SAMOA

Freedom of Information & Expression = 3.5

BASIS

Reluctance to implement FOI on part of officials
Cultural and religious sensitivies

IMPROVEMENTS

Officials to gain more understanding
FOI
Government to be consultative
Bridging the gap between media and government
Advocacy

. . .
Posted by Picasa

vanuatu rating freedom of information 1

. . .
 
VANUATU
 
Freedom of Information 1
Freedom of Expression 4 private newspapers
Freedom of Expression 2 Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation

. . .

fiji rating for freedom of information zero

. . .
 
FIJI
 
Freedom of Information = 0
Freedom of Expression = 0
 
Improve or promotion of:
 
Removing PER Public Emergency Regulations
Referendum on Electoral Reforms
Election (reforms agreed to)
FOI Act - access for media and public
Code of Conduct - leaders
Leaders - declare assets

. . .

solomon islands rating freedom of information 2

. . .
 
SOLOMON ISLANDS
 
Freedom of Information = 2
Freedom of Expression  = 4
 
. . .

cook islands rating on freedom of information 3

. . .
 
KUKI AIRANI | COOK ISLANDS
 
Freedom of Information rating: 3
 
Greater leadership is needed from churches and NGOs
More education and promotion
More resources
Change of attitudes
 
Explain FOI in plain language
Continue to network with other media across the Pacific

. . .

what does a monitor do

. . .

 

What does a monitor do

 

  1. Observe, keep an eye out
  2. Get paid (laughter)
  3. Make recommendations
  4. Record information
  5. Gather information
  6. Network
  7. Analyse
  8. Create reports
  9. Share information
  10. Follow up

PFF PROJECT XIX

Inaugural PFF meeting, Apia, Samoa, 6-8 May 2009

 

Any additions, italics

 

Draft notes taken from 'butcher sheets' from general and group sessions at UNESCO conference room, UN compound, Apia, 5-8th May 2009. All comments, corrections, welcome. Anyone liking to make direct changes to note outcomes are welcome to send an email to get an invite as an editor on this blogsite. mtc !

 
. . .

 

options for pff name, logo, vision and programs


. . .

Three groups came up with three sets of options for the future name, logo, vision and program areas of the Pacific Freedom Forum.

group 1
pff name logo and vision
group 2
pff name logo and vision
group 3
pff name and vision

. . .
Posted by Picasa

pff name logo and vision

. . .

Group 1 consultancy

Logo: status quo
Name: Pacific Media Freedom Forum Inc.
Vision:
1. To act fast to protect and defend media freedom in the Pacific
2. To advocate media freedom in the Pacfiic
Program Areas:
Monitoring
Engagement / dialogue
Support
Funding
Training
Awareness

. . .

group 1 pff name logo and vision
group 2 pff name logo and vision
group 3 pff name and vision

Options for name, logo, vision and programme areas were discussed among one of three groups at Project XiX, the inaugurual meeting of the Pacific Freedom Forum. Any addition in italics.
Posted by Picasa

pff name logo and vision

. . .

Name: Media Freedom Pasifika
Logo: new
Vision: A free and responsible media
Program Areas:
1. To respond quickly to any threat or abuse of media
2. Monitor (Support and advice to practitioners)


group 1 pff name logo and vision
group 2 pff name logo and vision
group 3 pff name and vision

All additions italics.

. . .

Posted by Picasa

pff name and vision

. . .

Feedback from one of three groups on the PFF name and vision:

Name: PFF as an acronym stays, use Pasifika instead of Pacific
Logo: same
Vision options: 1. A united, free and vibrant media. 2. United for a free and vibrant Pacific media

. . .

group 1 pff name logo and vision
group 2 pff name logo and vision
group 3 pff name and vision

. . .
Posted by Picasa

jason brown curriculum vitae

 

Jason Brown . reporter
+642102484560 | avaiki.nius@gmail.com

 

summary

 

Started my career in journalism in February 1982 at daily paper Cook Islands News, then government-owned. Since then, I have mostly in print, mostly newspapers, but also pre-digital radio and television. Started Avaiki Nius Agency in Rarotonga in 1999 and appointed myself editor, going online in the middle of 2004. Currently working out of Auckland, Aotearoa.

 

skills

 



  • Intercultural communication



  • print, ‘cyber’ and photo journalism



  • advocacy of information and media centrality



  • thin-slicing’ policy and research documents, governance innovation



  • web2 mixtures such as blogs, forums, ‘tweets’, and RSS



  • email-2-web auto-publishing



  • layout, design and formatting



  • online research


 

career highlights

 

Avaiki Air crash documentary 1991; exposing the us$1.1 billion Letters of Guarantee scam 1995; “press attaché” for the Cook Islands team to the Olympics (briefly met Hillary Clinton) 1996; regional reporter at the XIV World AIDS conference in Barcelona (briefly met Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton) 2002, internship at the SPC Pacific Women’s Bureau 2006, and, disappearance of Jean-Pascal Couraud (ongoing).

 

positions

 

Currently correspondent for Islands Business and contributing editor to PIJO, PFF, and PIMA (NZ), writing articles, proposals and policy submissions.

 

2009 Founding Avaiki Trust, focusing on media centralities
2008
Pacific Freedom Forum
2007
Pacific Islands Journalism Online
2006 Submission to Australian
Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
2006
Women In Politics conference, Rarotonga, Pacific Islands Forum
2005 Submission to Cook Islands select committee on political reform
2005 Editor,
Project JPK, an investigation into disappearance of journalist
2005 Mainstreaming Gender Issues workshop, SPC, PINA and NZAID, Suva, Fiji.
2004 Official photographer to Maire Maeva Nui, 39th annual celebrations
2003 Country researcher, Cook Islands,
Informing Citizens report, AusAID
2003 Pacific Islands News Association AGM, Cooks delegate, Samoa.
2002 Editor, Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation report, XIV World AIDS Conference
2002 Reporter, Cook Islands Star
2000 Editor, annual report, Pacific Islands Business Trust (NZ)
2000 Reporter, Cook Islands News: ‘Chief of Staff arrested for corruption’
2000 Strengthening National Media Associations conference, AUSaid, PINA, Fiji.
1999 Cooks Islands delegate, Pacific Islands News Association AGM, Fiji.
1998 Cooks Islands delegate, Pacific Islands News Association AGM, Tahiti.
1997 Founding member Cook Islands Media Council
1996 Founding member Cook Islands Media Association Inc.
1994 Publisher of Cook Islands Press, a Sunday weekly > 1998
1994 Reporter, Cook Islands Television.
1994 Cooks delegate, Pacific Islands News Association AGM, Samoa.
1993 Cooks delegate, Pacific Journalists Association, Suva
1993 Founding member
Cook Islands Journalists Association
1992 Sub-editing workshop, SPC, Fiji.
1990 Delegate, Pacific Islands Forum – Media/Government conference, Rarotonga.
1990 Pacific Islands Journalism Course, Manukau Polytech
1988 Publisher, campaign newspaper, Kuki Airani Press
1987 Radio New Zealand International stringer > 2006
1986 Sacked from government newspaper for “mischievous” stories
1985 Editor, daily Mini Games supplement, Cook Islands News
1982 Reporter, Cook Islands News


 

planning and organisation

 

Launched and sustained a Sunday newspaper in one of the world’s smallest markets, Cook Islands Press for four years, 1994-98, during a time of economic collapse and massive outward migration. Co-awarded 1996 Pacific Islands News Association Freedom of Information Award, with then 126-year-old Fiji Times.


 

teamwork

 

An enthusiastic team player, I enjoy newsroom atmospheres, working at daily Cook Islands News for a total of ten years. I also worked closely with colleagues and media supporters to establish Cook Islands Journalists Association Inc. (1993), including a code of ethics; Cook Islands Media Association Inc. (1996) and Cook Islands Media Council (1997). More recently, from 2004, I advocated regionally for use of web2 as a strategic advantage, assisting from early days of Pacific Islands Journalism Online (2007), Pacific Freedom Forum (2008) and Pacific Islands Media Association (NZ) Inc. (2008).

 


interests


 


Arts, history, spirituality, religions, cycling, walking, reading, eating, sleeping.


 

postal

 

Jason Brown
Project JPK,
Tagata Pasifika | TVNZ
100 Victoria Street West or
PO box 3819
Auckland,
Aotearoa, New Zealand




Papeete prosecutor pushes press case in Paris

. . .




NEWS

 

Papeete prosecutor pushes press case in Paris



A cartoon features in a criminal defamation case pursued by French authorities against a long time Tahiti editor and his magazine.




“True justice, like the can-can, only happens in Paris,” reads the cartoon, of a justice official pushing court files to the sides, including one marked JPK.




Former Papeete editor, Jean Pascal Couraud, known as JPK, disappeared in 1997 with police marking his dossier “suicide.”




JUNE DECISION




Allegations were made in 2004 by a secret agent that, instead of suicide, Couraud had been abducted by secret agents, tortured and killed.




Hearings on 19th May into the defamation claim relate to a January 2007 cover of Tahiti Pacifique magazine headlined, “Yes, JPK was assassinated.”




A decision is due 23 June 2009, reports Rue89.




“SURPRISE WITNESS”




More recently, in April this year, Tahiti Pacifique reported that a “surprise witness” had appeared before the JPK investigating magistrate, Jean-François Redonnet.




Claiming to have seen a white van being used in the 1997 kidnapping of Jean-Pascal Couraud, the witness was quoted as saying the abduction was “of such violence and speed that I was shocked".




Anti-corruption website Bakchich – French for baksheesh or bribery – reported that Tahiti Pacifique editor Alex du Prel pointed widespread allegations of assassination at GIP, a presidential security operation, Groupement d'intervention de la Polynésie.




CRIMINAL DEFAMATION




Pape’ete prosecutor Jean Bianconi lodged the case in the 17th criminal chamber of Paris superior courts, 17e chambre correctionnelle du Tribunal de grande instance de Paris, said to specialise in press cases.




Naming himself, his deputy and a judge formerly in charge of the JPK case as complainants, Bianconi filed the case in October 2007, some ten months after publication.




The case was filed in Paris “on the sly,” claims du Prel in a letter to colleagues on 17 May 2009. Du Prel testified via video link according to Radio New Zealand International with Agence Tahiti Presse reporting damages sought of 5,000 euros for each complainant, for a total of €15,000.




GODFATHER




Like other French media, Tahiti Pacifique extensively reported links between the disappearance of Couraud and allegations of corruption involving former French Polynesian president Gaston Flosse, and former French president Jacques Chirac, godfather to his grandson.




In the January 2007 story, Bianconi is not named but objected to the following paragraph:




“… certainly the image of impartiality of justice in Tahiti, like the police, is rough; disastrous for a functioning democracy. Some judges of the Papeete judiciary also admit a ‘tense’ and ‘low morale at the Palace [of Justice].’ Is this because a senior judge might think you invested in a ‘divine mission’ to orchestrate a scheme (in which some judges agree to participate) to protect by all means the former GIP and its leader, Rere Puputauki, who, if convicted, could endanger the senator Flosse, which in turn could endanger ‘the highest levels of the State?’ …”




“STAGGERING”




Du Prel criticised the holding of the hearing in Paris, some 16,000 kilometres from his home office in Moorea.




“Imagine the outcry in France if the prosecutor assigned the editor of a Paris magazine before the criminal court in Papeete, on the pretext that three copies would be sold in Tahiti. This is a process used in the past by a vicious few to take revenge against book publishers, never the press.”




Defending him, Claire Doubliez sought to supply context by outlining what Rue89 describes as a “staggering array” of cases involving delays to justice in Polynesia.




BEYOND




“The background to this case is the fact that the functioning of the judiciary in Papeete is, obviously, a concern," said Doubliez in a statement to the court.




“I think the case goes beyond the scope of defamation,” she said.




“The prosecution held that a single passage was defamatory. For others, this was not the case,” said Doubliez , adding it was the professional journalistic duty of Alex du Prel to denounce justice procedures not normal at the time of the article.




“SMOOTH”




In the national assembly in Paris, opposition Socialist parliamentarian René Dosiere attacked the defamation claim when it was lodged last year.




“Justice, in Polynesia, in this case the prosecutor, is much more ready to attack the director of an independent newspaper, Tahiti Pacific Magazine, that continues to denounce fraud and the silence of justice in Polynesia, stressing that justice is smooth for the powerful and hard for the weak. Thus, in Polynesia, most importantly, justice is not to tackle corruption, but those who expose corruption.”




Bianconi has been widely linked with former president Jacques Chirac, justice officials well known for openly supporting one political side or another, as is also common in another republican system, America.




MAFIA




French media note that Bianconi came from presiding over an appeal court in Aix-en-Provence, accepting an apparent demotion to the prosecutor’s office at a time when Flosse was facing awkward questions over payments to ghost workers.




Bianconi is due to leave Pape’ete next month.




Like many others throughout French foreign services, Bianconi hails from Corsica, an island infamous as the birthplace of the French mafia, operating mostly out of Marseille since the second world war.




“MILIEU”




Similar to the Italian mafia and American secret services during and after the war, numerous media and official investigations have drawn links between the French mafia – or “Milieu” – and the French equivalent of the CIA.




DGSE stands for the Directorate General of External Security. Training of DGSE agents included a base in Corsica.




In 1997, two agents retired several months before JPK disappeared to head the setting up of a surveillance section within the Flosse government, ‘retirement’ also being a term common among secret services on top secret missions.




. . .


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