The Fiji Media Association (FMA) has voiced strong support for the Samoa Observer after the newspaper revealed that Samoa’s Prime Minister is attempting to block its journalists from press conferences and prevent them from interviewing him and Cabinet ministers.
The stance was outlined in the Observer’s recent editorial, ‘The PM’s wish and our promise’.
FMA general secretary Stanley Simpson said any move to silence an independent newsroom threatens democratic values.
He said Pacific media groups must stand together when basic press freedoms come under pressure.
Simpson said media freedom must be protected at all times and noted that political leaders have a responsibility to respect the role of journalists, even when reporting is uncomfortable.
He stressed that a strong democracy relies on the media to inform the public, scrutinise those in power, ask difficult questions and highlight issues of public interest.
The association said attempts anywhere in the region to interfere with media independence set a worrying precedent.
Simpson said that restricting the press or punishing journalists for doing their job encourages less transparency and weaker democratic systems.
The FMA said Fiji has experienced its own periods of media restrictions, which limited free speech and created an unhealthy environment for public debate.
It expressed full solidarity with the Samoa Observer and urged Pacific governments to respect press freedom and engage openly with journalists.
