by Allanah Leahy – EM TV Online
Vanuatu is planning to introduce a new law aimed at regulating the media.
Vanuatu Prime Minister Sato Kilman said the Media Regulation Bill is currently being drafted before it is tabled in the next parliament session for approval. The bill will cover cross-media ownership, as well as disciplinary measures against media organisations in breach of the law.
Prime Minister Kilman reportedly referred to certain talk back shows and a community Facebook page as potential sources of disorder and social anarchy. He vowed to take a harsher approach to those making defamatory remarks online about leaders, as well as irresponsible reporting, which he says, is becoming more common.
Papua New Guinea’s censorship section within its proposed cybercrime policy was described by former Opposition Leader Belden Namah as a dangerous encroachment on freedom of expression. Namah urged the government to be more tolerant of criticism and discussion regarding the government.
Despite private and government owned radio broadcasting companies and newspapers, Vanuatu’s Television Blong Vanuatu is the nation’s only TV station and is owned by the Vanuatu government.
The BBC reports that by 2014, Vanuatu had nearly 30,000 internet users out of its population of around 250,000.
