Media muzzled for Pacific summit at Nauru

WELLINGTON: The tiny Pacific island of Nauru—home to a Canberra-funded refugee detention camp dubbed “Australia’s Guantanamo”—is limiting media access to the region’s largest diplomatic summit, sparking claims it is trying to muzzle the press, reports AFP.

Reporters are usually warmly welcomed at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), an annual gathering that allows leaders from 18 nations to air concerns about a region often overlooked on the global stage.

There are no shortage of pressing stories to cover at the meeting, from the existential threat climate change poses for small island states to China’s growing influence.

But Nauru’s government, which Australia’s Lowy Institute think-tank says “has recently lurched towards authoritarianism”, harbours a deep mistrust of the media and is limiting reporting opportunities at this year’s summit, which it will host.

Australia’s national broadcaster ABC has been banned outright, accused by Nauru authorities of “harassment and lack of respect” in its coverage of the island.

“It (Nauru) can hardly claim it is ‘welcoming the media’ if it dictates who that media will be and bans Australia’s public broadcaster,” said ABC News director Gaven Morris.

AFP has also been denied accreditation.

Few foreign journalists have had access to Nauru over the past few years, with many hampered by the nation’s decision to charge Aus$8,000 (US$5,800) per visa application, non-refundable even if not granted.

Under pressure to be more open after being named host of the 2018 PIF summit, Nauru has temporarily waived the fee for press seeking to attend the meeting, due to be held September 1-9. But it has severely limited how many journalists can cover the summit, restricting the total number to just 30, including photographers and camera operators as well as reporters.

Nauru argues its small size means it can only accommodate a few journalists, and denies the measure amounts to “restriction of press freedom”.

Media muzzled for Pacific summit at Nauru

WELLINGTON: The tiny Pacific island of Nauruhome to a Canberra-funded refugee detention camp dubbed Australias Guantanamois limiting media access to the regions largest diplomatic summit, sparking claims it is trying to muzzle the press, reports AFP. Reporters are usually warmly welcomed at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), an annual gathering that allows leaders from 18 nations to air concerns about a region often overlooked on the global stage. There are no shortage of pressing stories to cover at the meeting, from the existential threat climate change poses for small island states to Chinas growing influence. But Naurus government, which Australias Lowy Institute think-tank says has recently lurched towards authoritarianism, harbours a deep mistrust of the media and is limiting reporting opportunities at this years summit, which it will host. Australias national broadcaster ABC has been banned outright, accused by Nauru authorities of harassment and lack of respect in its coverage of the island. It (Nauru) can hardly claim it is welcoming the media if it dictates who that media will be and bans Australias public broadcaster, said ABC News director Gaven Morris. AFP has also been denied accreditation. Few foreign journalists have had access to Nauru over the past few years, with many hampered by the nations decision to charge Aus$8,000 (US$5,800) per visa application, non-refundable even if not granted. Under pressure to be more open after being named host of the 2018 PIF summit, Nauru has temporarily waived the fee for press seeking to attend the meeting, due to be held September 1-9. But it has severely limited how many journalists can cover the summit, restricting the total number to just 30, including photographers and camera operators as well as reporters. Nauru argues its small size means it can only accommodate a few journalists, and denies the measure amounts to restriction of press freedom.