The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) has echoed the calls of the Palau Media Council (PMC) and the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF) to uphold freedom of expression and press freedom across the Pacific. These rights, PINA emphasises, are essential for ensuring the well-being of citizens and supporting democratic principles in the region.
PINA President Kalafi Moala, speaking on behalf of the PINA Board, highlighted the media’s critical role in helping Pacific communities understand issues affecting their lives.
“Now, more than ever, the media in the Pacific plays an essential role in informing our national and regional audiences. This enables people to make better-informed decisions for themselves and their futures,” Moala said.
He emphasised that Pacific journalists, including those in Palau, work diligently to inform not only the public but also governments, civic organisations, and the business community.
The PINA President also noted the challenges facing Pacific nations, including complex geopolitical dynamics, and stressed the importance of allowing media to do its job in helping people navigate these issues, especially in an age of social media.
“Democracy thrives when people are informed enough to form independent opinions about their lives. For that, we need a strong, independent media,” he said. “We urge the government and business community in Palau to recognise the media as defenders of democracy, not to suppress it in reporting vital national issues.”
The PINA President will rally for regional and international support for its Vice President and publisher of the Island Times newspaper, Leilani Reklai.
A civil suit of defamation was lodged on 29 October against Reklai and the newspaper by Surangel and Sons Co over a report in the newspaper covering the early responses to leaked taxation documents of the company.
Statement approved for release by the PINA President, Kalafi Moala, kalafiml@gmail.com
