The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its partner the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF), in expressing concern that independent journalism, and the jobs of local journalists, may be threatened by a proposed telecommunications bill before the Palau Senate.
According to the PFF, Palau’s Senate Bill 8-231 is aimed at updating licensing regulations for broadcasters, but includes a clause banning foreign ownership of media companies in the country.
This clause would effectively shut down major news outlet Oceania Television Network (OTN), which is majority-owned by US citizens Jeff Barabe and Kassi Berg, in partnership with Palauan partners, Jill Senior and Micheal Gordon. OTN employs a number of Palauan nationals across its news, production and administration teams, whose jobs are threatened by the draft bill’s ban on foreign ownership of media. .
PFF reports also suggest that Barabe and OTV staff were actively excluded from a public hearing on the draft Bill in the Palau Senate on March 29.
When Barabe arrived at the hearing, in response to an ambiguous invitation from a Senate staffer, the hearing Chair Senator Kathy Kesolei called a recess, resulting in the cameras recording the hearings being turned off.
During the off-camera discussion with Barabe, Kesolei reportedly told the OTV owner he could not make a submission because he did not have a license. After explaining that he in fact had two broadcast licenses, Kesolei apparently said that he could submit at a later date. However, when Barabe asked for that date, Kesolei said that there might not be another hearing on the bill.
“The IFJ shares the PFF’s concerns that the proposed bill could limit the diversity of media sources in Palau, undermining Palau's constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and speech,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Office said.
“We are also concerned for the many local journalists who would lose their livelihoods as a direct result of this bill”
The IFJ urges the Government of Palau to initiate a series of transparent and inclusive public hearings on the proposed law change, to ensure that the interests of press freedom and the public good are served by any amendments to the existing broadcasting regulations.
Similar attempts to ban foreign ownership of media in Palau were made in 2009, when a similar provision was included in a draft Senate Bill introduced by broadcast owner and Senator Alfonso Diaz. The bill was subsequently dropped amid legal challenges which resulted in a criminal complaint filed by the Special Prosecutor against Senator Diaz for anti-competitive and unfair business practices.
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0950
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