Vanuatu Journalists Fear Ongoing Threats from Political Lead

9 August 2011

Vanuatu Journalists Fear Ongoing Threats from Political Leaders

Port Vila - Journalists at Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation are raising concerns about ongoing political intimidation in the wake of threats of legal action by the Minister of ni-Vanuatu Business, Radio NZ International reports.

Pastor Don Ken was arrested and jailed following a display of public drunkenness on the eve of Independence Day celebrations late last month.

Pastor Ken visited the VBTC newsroom demanding that a story on the matter be censored in view of his ministerial position and potential damage to his reputation.

He threatened to sue the journalists for defamation but his attempts to stop the story being rebroadcast were unsuccessful.

In March, the Minister of Public Utilities and Infrastructure, Harry Iauko, was involved in the assault on the publisher of the Vanuatu Daily Post.

Iauko was fined about US$150 after he pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the assault on Marc Neil-Jones.

ENDS

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