Reports of lifting of journalists' ban are premature

PNG-BASED ABC CORRESPONDENT LIAM FOX has queried reports that the PNG government has lifted a ban on foreign journalists entering the country to cover the Manus Island asylum centre story.

Journalists from the Fairfax Group have also said that they have yet to receive confirmation of their visa applications to visit PNG to cover the issue.

Earlier this afternoon, Radio New Zealand International reported that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Rimbink Pato, had lifted the restriction, which has beencriticised widely within and outside PNG.

West Sepik Governor Amkat Mai was among critics, reminding the prime minister that the previous government was toppled over lack of transparency.

Reporters Without Borders also urged the government to lift this ban so reporters could cover the reopening of the centre.

Fairfax Media reported that two of its journalists submitted visa applications that were denied by the Immigration and Citizenship Service.

“It is vital that journalists should be able to cover this kind of development, especially when it concerns such as sensitive subject as refugees,” Reporters Without Borders said.

Comments

[Erasmus Baraniak]

The ban on foreign journalists goes to reinforce and fortify what I have said all along that the Manus solution is illegal and unconstitutional under PNG law as far as I know.

It is a breach of the UN Refugee Convention for Australia to send Refugees to be held in Jail like conditions.

Australia has an obligation not to send refugees to Manus if they cannot have access to journalists and lawyers, and in particular to Australian lawyers and Australian courts to try their grievances.

The shift of refugees to Manus is a deliberate attempt by Australia to deny these people of Australian courts, Australian lawyers, Australian justice and the benefits of scrutiny by the law of political actions of Julia Gillard and her government.

These actions are in breach of the UN Refugee Convention Australia has signed. PNG has many ways in which they can deny foreign journalists access.

For example, any foreign journalist coming to PNG has to write to the PMs office and seek dispensation. That is the current rule. They need to explain why and what they want to do in PNG.

This alone would derail and prevent any journalist applying, and those who do will be stonewalled.

O'Neill's office can lose their request letter and such initiatives to scrutinize the welfare of refugees on Manus can be easily discouraged, without being denied access.

To hold people without trial in PNG is illegal and unconstitutional. If O'Neill and Gillard persist, then I guess the Supreme Court must intervene and read the law to them.