🚀 go-pugleaf

The following two articles, about a pirate radio in
Papua-New Guinea and a media & democracy conference in
Cambodia  come from the latest issue of the IFEX Communique.

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**** ****** ****** **   **
 **  **     **      ** **       COMMUNIQUE # 4 - 20
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 **  **     **      ** **       15 May 1995
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International Freedom of Expression eXchange Clearing House
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PAPUA-NEW GUINEA: PIRATE RADIO STRUGGLES DURING BOUGAINVILLE WAR

The coconut tree has become a source of free information on the
island of Bougainville in Papua-New Guinea, reports Reporters
sans frontieres (RSF) in the May issue of its monthly bulletin,
"La Lettre". Max Watts and Boris Adam write that the rebels
fighting for independence must often resort to coconut oil to run
the generator that powers their pirate radio station, Radio Free
Bougainville. The oil of forty coconuts provides power to the
station for one hour. But RSF says the price is heavy. A
supporter of the station who himself survived an attempted
summary execution recounts that the army caught four of his
friends who were harvesting coconuts for the station and executed
them. The article describes how the six-year war between the army
of Papua-New Guinea and the separatists has taken its toll on the
islanders. Censorship of the war on Bougainville continues, with
the country's media ignoring it. Independent journalists are also
prevented from visiting the island by a blockade, with the
government allowing access to only "acceptable" journalists.

CAMBODIA: MEDIA CONFERENCE PLANNED TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY

Promoting democracy in Cambodia through media development is the
theme of an international conference to take place in Cambodia
this summer. The conference is organized as part of a project
launched by the Canadian Committee to Protect Journalists (CCPJ).
The CCPJ will provide support to the Khmer Journalists
Association (KJA) and the International Federation of Journalists
(IFJ) in organizing "Media and Government: The Search for
Solutions" in June and July. CCPJ's Program Director Monica Buza
writes, "Cambodia's fragile democracy is being threatened as the
human rights situation deteriorates and as the government
responds to criticisms of its handling of national affairs in an
increasingly repressive manner." The project is designed to
provide training for journalists, particularly on how to deal
with conflict with the government. CCPJ states, "The free flow of
information and a vibrant press are critical factors not only in
existing democracies but are also extremely important in the
construction of new democracies. A reduction in tension between
the Government and the media will be required in order for these
two elements to be effective in Cambodia." For information,
contact Monica Buza at the CCPJ, 490 Adelaide St. W, Suite 205,
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1T2, Canada; tel: +1(416)703-1638; fax:
+1(416)703-7034; or e-mail: ccpj@web.apc.org.

** ** **

The IFEX Communique is published weekly by the IFEX Clearing
House, Toronto. The facility is operated by the Canadian
Committee to Protect Journalists in partnership with the member
organizations of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange
(IFEX). Material for the Communique may be submitted to the CCPJ,
490 Adelaide Street West, Suite 205, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1T2,
CANADA; E-mail: ifex@web.apc.org; Tel: (1-416) 703-1638; or Fax:
(1-416) 703-7034. Editor this week: Kristina Stockwood.
Subscriptions are available by e-mail and surface mail.