Personal Opinion.
Solomon Islands is a unique country in the Pacific Islands region. But for decades we have been trapped in the shadow of our own making through ethnic and tribalism mindset that clogged the channel of debate and worse still, the opportunity for our young generation to shape the future destiny of our country, especially the democratization of our society via the use of the social media. I have been closely observing Solomon Islands politics and the relationships of certain power-brokers with the news media. Nothing has changed in any major way even after the ethnic conflict. We still pick and choose our topic of discussion and debate depending on the basis of “ethnic affiliation” and “tribalism mentality”.
At best, this is an uneasy relationship in a nation where our system of government is democracy, but the day-to-day practices of journalists are dictated by cultural constraints, ethnic and tribal affiliation, hash money, criminals bullying, threats and black magic. These issues are influencing how the public, journalists and the news media are approaching and responding to contentious issues via the news media. Every year, the news media and journalists are often blamed for not playing their role (watchdog) effectively. From a Western democratic context, it is a fair assessment, but the reality is the mainstream culture of the country with its traditional values and norms are a major obstacle to our collective responsibility to build a modern Solomon Islands society, where freedom of expression should be a core component of building a stable democratic country. This challenge has prevented people from openly looking beyond the realms of tribalism mindset and speaking out against injustices. As a nation, we are a people living in constant denial of the truth.
After my Letter to the Editor to Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII), which received mixed reactions of glowing praises while others mocked, slanted and eventually withdrawn by the editors of this forum, it brings back fresh memory of how challenging and difficult to provide a safe working environment in the country for journalists and the public to freely report, debate and discuss issues without threats and favor. Obviously, we cannot demand media freedom when the working environment is hostile and life threatening to journalists and their families. This is a working environment where our local media have been operating under for decades and it is not easy.
In Western countries, the rules of engagement in journalism are clearly defined and based on legal precedents, the rights of citizens to freedom of expression and code of ethics for journalists. But in Solomon Islands, the challenges are complex and the rules and boundaries of practicing journalism are beyond the normal issues of professional ethics and competence. One of the fundamental challenges that prevented journalists and the media in the country from doing their work without fear and favor is “safety”.
Our journalists are always looking over their shoulders for fear of their own safety and the safety of their family members from tribal mindset, ethnic thugs and political bullies. It appears to be nonexistent, but that is because there are certain topics that journalists are not able to report. This is an unwritten rule in almost every newsroom in Solomon Islands. I’ve tested the boundaries of “Melanesian” cultures in the Solomon Islands over the years. I became a target and received death threats, bully, abuse and even defending myself physically against thugs.
In many ways, Editors and journalists are often taking extreme precautions by engaging in the gaging of “media freedom” or “freedom of Expression” under the option of “self-censorship”. The rule is very simple: If the issue is against someone from a certain dominant ethnic group, don’t dare reporting about it. They will definitely come around your newsroom and demand compensation in the form of money. In a nutshell, the news media coverage of local issues and politics is often influenced by nonprofessional issues that related to cultural constraints and restraints, hostile working environment and the benign culture of indirect threats through tribalism mindset, criminal bullying and in some cases, using of black-magic against you.
For many critics of the media in the country, their constant accusation of journalists is partially based on a lack of understanding of the local working environment. They only looked at the issue of “professional competence”. But the case here is much broader than the norm. In recent days, the Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII) – a Facebook Forum – that I’m a financial member for the next ten to 15 years - has demonstrated the above challenges in many ways than one. They have taken out one of my Letters to the Editor after publishing it for a couple of days.
The responses were overwhelmingly “tribalism”. And still, there many individuals who openly and inbox their support. No one can blame the Forum moderators/editors for taking a precautionary action by withdrawing the article, but it highlights the challenges and difficulties of walking on a tightrope in a culturally sensitive and hostile working environment in Honiara. It is hard to imagine that our people will ever openly express their views, even if it factual, about issues that are controversial and unacceptable, let alone naming names of those ethnic leaders were heavily involved in the formation and arming of criminal gangs during the ethnic crisis in the Solomon Islands in 1998 to 2003.
We are a people living in constant denial of the truth, partly because of the predominant culture of bullying (I’m hoping of writing more about the “Politics of Bullying in Solomon Islands). One issue that I’ve learnt over the years of studying in New Zealand, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Australia and United States of America (USA) is this: We can better deal and manage our future challenges in politics, economy, culture, society, communities, if we are willing to look deep into the past (history) to help us better understand and find new ways of fixing our current challenges in shaping our future.
One of the keys to enabling such situation to occur is for our news media, journalists, politicians and educated elites, to take ownership and accept our responsibility of pushing for change. We need to allow open discussion and debate of issues regardless of how uncomfortable and sensitive they are. At some stages, Solomon Islanders will have to take ownership of their future. We can begin this process by using the news media to break the existence of tribalism mentality from dictating the course of our country. We need to speak to the nation as citizens, not as members of a tribal ethnic group.
Solomon Islands is a unique country in the Pacific Islands region. But for decades we have been trapped in the shadow of our own making through ethnic and tribalism mindset that clogged the channel of debate and worse still, the opportunity for our young generation to shape the future destiny of our country, especially the democratization of our society via the use of the social media. I have been closely observing Solomon Islands politics and the relationships of certain power-brokers with the news media. Nothing has changed in any major way even after the ethnic conflict. We still pick and choose our topic of discussion and debate depending on the basis of “ethnic affiliation” and “tribalism mentality”.
At best, this is an uneasy relationship in a nation where our system of government is democracy, but the day-to-day practices of journalists are dictated by cultural constraints, ethnic and tribal affiliation, hash money, criminals bullying, threats and black magic. These issues are influencing how the public, journalists and the news media are approaching and responding to contentious issues via the news media. Every year, the news media and journalists are often blamed for not playing their role (watchdog) effectively. From a Western democratic context, it is a fair assessment, but the reality is the mainstream culture of the country with its traditional values and norms are a major obstacle to our collective responsibility to build a modern Solomon Islands society, where freedom of expression should be a core component of building a stable democratic country. This challenge has prevented people from openly looking beyond the realms of tribalism mindset and speaking out against injustices. As a nation, we are a people living in constant denial of the truth.
After my Letter to the Editor to Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII), which received mixed reactions of glowing praises while others mocked, slanted and eventually withdrawn by the editors of this forum, it brings back fresh memory of how challenging and difficult to provide a safe working environment in the country for journalists and the public to freely report, debate and discuss issues without threats and favor. Obviously, we cannot demand media freedom when the working environment is hostile and life threatening to journalists and their families. This is a working environment where our local media have been operating under for decades and it is not easy.
In Western countries, the rules of engagement in journalism are clearly defined and based on legal precedents, the rights of citizens to freedom of expression and code of ethics for journalists. But in Solomon Islands, the challenges are complex and the rules and boundaries of practicing journalism are beyond the normal issues of professional ethics and competence. One of the fundamental challenges that prevented journalists and the media in the country from doing their work without fear and favor is “safety”.
Our journalists are always looking over their shoulders for fear of their own safety and the safety of their family members from tribal mindset, ethnic thugs and political bullies. It appears to be nonexistent, but that is because there are certain topics that journalists are not able to report. This is an unwritten rule in almost every newsroom in Solomon Islands. I’ve tested the boundaries of “Melanesian” cultures in the Solomon Islands over the years. I became a target and received death threats, bully, abuse and even defending myself physically against thugs.
In many ways, Editors and journalists are often taking extreme precautions by engaging in the gaging of “media freedom” or “freedom of Expression” under the option of “self-censorship”. The rule is very simple: If the issue is against someone from a certain dominant ethnic group, don’t dare reporting about it. They will definitely come around your newsroom and demand compensation in the form of money. In a nutshell, the news media coverage of local issues and politics is often influenced by nonprofessional issues that related to cultural constraints and restraints, hostile working environment and the benign culture of indirect threats through tribalism mindset, criminal bullying and in some cases, using of black-magic against you.
For many critics of the media in the country, their constant accusation of journalists is partially based on a lack of understanding of the local working environment. They only looked at the issue of “professional competence”. But the case here is much broader than the norm. In recent days, the Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII) – a Facebook Forum – that I’m a financial member for the next ten to 15 years - has demonstrated the above challenges in many ways than one. They have taken out one of my Letters to the Editor after publishing it for a couple of days.
The responses were overwhelmingly “tribalism”. And still, there many individuals who openly and inbox their support. No one can blame the Forum moderators/editors for taking a precautionary action by withdrawing the article, but it highlights the challenges and difficulties of walking on a tightrope in a culturally sensitive and hostile working environment in Honiara. It is hard to imagine that our people will ever openly express their views, even if it factual, about issues that are controversial and unacceptable, let alone naming names of those ethnic leaders were heavily involved in the formation and arming of criminal gangs during the ethnic crisis in the Solomon Islands in 1998 to 2003.
We are a people living in constant denial of the truth, partly because of the predominant culture of bullying (I’m hoping of writing more about the “Politics of Bullying in Solomon Islands). One issue that I’ve learnt over the years of studying in New Zealand, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Australia and United States of America (USA) is this: We can better deal and manage our future challenges in politics, economy, culture, society, communities, if we are willing to look deep into the past (history) to help us better understand and find new ways of fixing our current challenges in shaping our future.
One of the keys to enabling such situation to occur is for our news media, journalists, politicians and educated elites, to take ownership and accept our responsibility of pushing for change. We need to allow open discussion and debate of issues regardless of how uncomfortable and sensitive they are. At some stages, Solomon Islanders will have to take ownership of their future. We can begin this process by using the news media to break the existence of tribalism mentality from dictating the course of our country. We need to speak to the nation as citizens, not as members of a tribal ethnic group.
1 comment:
Thank you most sincerely for your views Duran.
I believe FSII could have done better and shown its neutrality if it had left the Letter on its Page. Solomon Is and Honiara has its minority groups and the rest of the silent majority who have the right to decide and analyze information for themselves.
Its a pity that the Gov't has been very slow in addressing the root causes of the recent Crises let alone proceed with the necessary national reconciliation. In this view, I think it is immature for specific groups; let alone individuals to claim to represent the majority of Solomon Islanders to call for the legitimate elected Govt to step down. Whilst I condemn the activities of the PM and his cronies as reported by the media, I'd rather see a more legal and non intimidating means of finding a solution to this mess.
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