Pacific Freedom Forum: Samoa ban on newspaper undermines the constitution

The Pacific Freedom Forum issued the following statement in response to Samoan Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao  Schmidt's ban on the Samoa Observer.

The decision by Samoa's Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao  Schmidt to ban Samoa’s only daily newspaper from all government and ministerial press conferences undermines constitutional rights on media freedom and people’s right to seek and share information, says regional Article 19 watchdog, the Pacific Freedom Forum.

The ban on the Samoa Observer was announced Monday during the prime minister's first press conference in two months, leaving the oldest and largest media organization in the nation unable to report on government activities and access to official information sources.

It follows a Saturday incident where Samoa Observer journalists, along with the BBC, sought to confirm the prime minister's return from medical treatment in New Zealand.

Observer editor Shalveen Chand alleges he was assaulted during the encounter and has filed a formal police complaint. BBC journalist Mandeep Rai, who witnessed the incident, described the Observer team's conduct as "careful and respectful."

"Access to public officials, especially in the Pacific, is fundamental to journalism's role in holding power accountable," said PFF Polynesia co-chair, Katalina Tohi of Tonga. "Banning an entire news organization from press conferences hurts the public interest as people will lose access to independent reporting on matters of national importance."

"This ban appears to be a retaliatory measure against critical journalism rather than a legitimate response to disputed reporting. In any democracy, the appropriate channels for addressing concerns about media coverage are corrections and also the right of reply —not censorship,” PFF Chair Robert Iroga stated.

“We urge the Samoa Leader to rethink his actions, and be willing to speak to all journalists asking questions on behalf of the very people he serves,” said Iroga.

“A Prime Minister, after all, is the nation’s top public servant. He should have no hesitation in welcoming questions from the media, especially if media rights are enshrined in the Samoa Constitution.”

“The allegations of assault against a journalist, reportedly in the presence of police officers, compound these press freedom concerns with questions about journalist safety and the rule of law, and we also urge the Police to investigate this assault case, without delay,” he added.

Leilani Reklai, PFF Micronesia co-chair, Palau, said PFF stands ready to support mediation and discuss the points raised more clearly in the context of Article 19 of the UNHRD, “but in respect of journalists safety and standards, we commend the expertise and knowledge in the national association to help restore full press access to the Samoa Observer and to help ensure an impartial investigation into the assault allegations.”

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