The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns a violent attack on the publisher and editor of the Vanuatu Daily Post in Port Vila, Vanuatu, on January 17.

According to local media reports, Marc Neil-Jones was attacked in his office by a group of men he alleged were members of the Vanuatu Correctional Services Department. The men were reportedly angry about a report in the Daily Post about the country’s prisons. Neil-Jones’ injuries include a broken nose and substantial facial bruising.

Neil-Jones said the newspaper’s investigative reports on an internal management crisis at a Port Vila prison, which led to the dismissal of the Correctional Services Department Acting Director Joshua Bong, served the public interest.

This latest incident follows a series of confrontations between Neil-Jones and members of Vanuatu’s Government and police force.

Neil-Jones was deported from Vanuatu in January 2001 after a dispute with the then Prime Minister, Barak Sope, for publishing alleged “state secrets”.

In March 2006, Neil-Jones was arrested and briefly imprisoned after publishing a report about an assault on one of his reporters by a police officer.

“The assault on Marc Neil-Jones is an attack on press freedom in Vanuatu. Journalists and the media play an important watchdog role in society, and it is essential that the media is able to report freely and independently without fear of physical abuse,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“Authority figures and members of the public with complaints about media reports must use appropriate non-violent complaint procedures.”

The IFJ calls on Vanuatu’s Government to request that authorities inquire immediately into the involvement of Correctional Services officers in the latest attack on Neil-Jones and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide