The importance of free and fair media in fostering successful democracy was among the issues discussed by politicians and political leaders of the Pacific Parliamentary Political Leaders Forum at their five-day meeting held in New Zealand Parliament from April 18 to 22, 2013.
The meeting was not only the first of its type but was also the closest to the concept of ‘Pacific Parliament’ that has been under discussion for some time now.
More than 100 persons, including politicians, promising leaders and youngsters from Pacific Island countries debated issues of relevance to the region and to find ways and means of boosting mutual cooperation.
New Zealand presented a neutral venue for open discussion unencumbered by the constraints of party politics or regional arrangements. The participants had the opportunity of talking freely as equals, not beholden to the policies of particular Island Governments or the host country.
This made for five days of intense discussion on four topics, wide-ranging debate on eight motions, developing new friendships and re-establishing old ones.
Fiji Representatives
Fiji, which does not have a Parliament or a democratic system, could not be invited with other parliamentarian and political leaders.
However, to maintain dialogue and in keeping with the Pacific spirit, New Zealand invited five persons who are active in Fiji to participate in the Forum.
Among them were Fay Volatabu, General-Secretary of the Fiji National Council of Women (representing Fijian women); Tura Lewai of the Young People’s Concerned Network (YPCN) formed in response to the role of the military in governing Fiji; Bimal Prasad, a second year law student who has been active in Fijian politics and youth development since 2002; Nayagodamu Korovou, Leader of the National Youth Party, a new political party registered in 2009 in readiness for the 2014 elections; Maitai Akauola, a journalist with the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), who has covered every coup in Fiji.
Most countries discussed how to use the fast-evolving information technology and media to keep their citizens engaged, against the backdrop of Fiji, which has imposed restrictions on the media.
The participants were of the view that free, independent and open media is a critical component of a democratic system through which governments can be held accountable and the public fully informed.
Restrictions eased
Mr Akauola felt that the system in Fiji was now less restrictive than before. Other participants from Fiji disagreed and demanded the return of a free media and removal of restrictions on reporting.
One example of the role of free media was in exposing policies that were inconsistent with good practice. The Forum was told that a proposed new regulation in Fiji would make it mandatory for every political party to have at least 5000 members before it could be registered to contest in next year’s general election.
A free media would comment on this requirement, saying that the consequences of this high threshold would severely restrict democratic freedom of citizens and shape the election outcomes in unintended ways.
In New Zealand, the minimum is 500 members.
Appalling self-censorship
Placing high value on free and open media and its impact on the extent to which the people were fully informed, some participants said that self-censorship by journalists, printing what they considered was consistent with the government expectations was more unfortunate compared to government restrictions.
Debating gender equality, the Forum believed that women were underrepresented in political and economic leadership in many Pacific countries. According to them, urgent reforms were required to increase the number of women in their respective legislative assemblies.
The forum also discussed climate change, which has greater significance on Pacific atolls, the problems of service delivery to remote communities, the importance of parliaments to local communities, health challenges, the current global economic outlook and the role of governments in business development and job creation.
Dr Rajen Prasad is Member of Parliament on Labour List. The above article is exclusive to Indian Newslink. He is seen in the picture appearing here with (from left) Tura Lewai, Matai Akauola, Fay Volatabu and Bimal Prasad, the only Indo-Fijian at the Forum. The second picture, taken at a breakfast meeting, shows (seated) former Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, Fay Volatabu, Lady Susan Satyanand and Janet Mason, a Wellington based lawyer.
