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2008 Assessment

Solomon Islands: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Solomon Islands : Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Media
Indicators		Score
5	Are media and free speech protected?	100
6	Are citizens able to form print media entities?	100
7	Are citizens able to form broadcast (radio and TV) media entities?	100
8	Can citizens freely use the Internet?	100
9	Are the media able to report on corruption?	100
10	Are the media credible sources of information?	80
11	Are journalists safe when investigating corruption?	100

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Are media and free speech protected?

5a: In law, freedom of the media is guaranteed.

Score:

YES

Comments: The constitution also includes the qualification 'except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.' [Constitution of Solomon Islands, 1978, S. 12 (2)]

References: Constitution of Solomon Islands, 1978, S. 12, (1) [ LINK ] 'Except with his own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, and for the purposes of this section the said freedom includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference and freedom from interference with his correspondence'.

5b: In law, freedom of speech is guaranteed.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution of Solomon Islands, 1978, S. 11 & S.12, [ LINK ]

Are citizens able to form print media entities?

6a: In practice, the government does not create barriers to form a print media entity.

Score:

100

Comments: All that is needed is an application through the Companies Registrar's Office. For foreign-owned entities, an application is needed to the Foreign Investment Board. The process of application has been considerably eased by recent reforms.

References: Jean Tafoa, Executive Director, Transparency Solomon Islands, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

Alfred Sasako, Journalist, Interview, May 12, 2009, Honiara

Transparency International, National Integrity Systems: Solomon Islands 2004, [ LINK ]. p26-27.

6b: In law, where a print media license is necessary, there is an appeal mechanism if a license is denied or revoked.

Score:

YES

Comments: Licenses are not required.

References: Transparency International, National Integrity Systems: Solomon Islands 2004, p26, [ LINK ].

6c: In practice, where necessary, citizens can obtain a print media license within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments: Licenses are not required.

References: Jean Tafoa, Executive Director, Transparency Solomon Islands, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

Alfred Sasako, Journalist, Interview, May 12, 2009, Honiara

Transparency International, National Integrity Systems: Solomon Islands 2004, [ LINK ]. p26-27.

6d: In practice, where necessary, citizens can obtain a print media license at a reasonable cost.

Score:

100

Comments: Licenses are not required.

References: Jean Tafoa, Executive Director, Transparency Solomon Islands, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

Alfred Sasako, Journalist, Interview, May 12, 2009, Honiara

Transparency International, National Integrity Systems: Solomon Islands 2004, [ LINK ]. p26-27.

Are citizens able to form broadcast (radio and TV) media entities?

7a: In practice, the government does not create barriers to form a broadcast (radio and TV) media entity.

Score:

100

Comments: Licenses are not required.

References: Josephine Taekeni, Vois Blong Mere, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

Alfred Sasako, Journalist, Interview, May 12, 2009, Honiara

Transparency International, National Integrity Systems: Solomon Islands 2004, [ LINK ]. p26-27.

7b: In law, where a broadcast (radio and TV) media license is necessary, there is an appeal mechanism if a license is denied or revoked.

Score:

YES

Comments: No broadcasting license is necessary.

References: Transparency International, 'National Integrity Systems: Solomon Islands 2004', p26, [ LINK ].

Josephine Taekeni, Vois Blong Mere, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

7c: In practice, where necessary, citizens can obtain a broadcast (radio and TV) media license within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments: Licenses are not required in practice. However there is legal provision for the granting of television licenses. Section 3 of Television Act (Cap 116) provides that "Government shall have the exclusive privilege of- (a) broadcasting any broadcast matter by television in Solomon Islands; (b) broadcasting any broadcast matter by television to any place, ship or aircraft outside Solomon Islands; and (c) receiving in Solomon Islands any broadcast matter transmitted from any place, ship or aircraft outside Solomon Islands>. Section 6 empowers a television board to grant licenses which may include the following conditions: "a condition requiring the licensee to broadcast such programmes, announcements and other material as the Board may require at such time or times, or within such period or periods and on such programme service or programme services as the Board shall specify when making the requirements; and (b) a condition prohibiting or restricting in a manner specified in the license, the broadcasting by the licensee of advertising material which is of a class or description so specified."

References: Josephine Taekeni, Vois Blong Mere, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

Alfred Sasako, Journalist, Interview, May 12, 2009, Honiara

Transparency International, National Integrity Systems: Solomon Islands 2004, [ LINK ]. p26-27.

Television Act, Cap 116, Laws of Solomon islands, [ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: The Section 3 of Television Act (Cap 116) grants exclusive television broadcast rights to the Government. However section 6 provides for the Television Board to grant a license to an applicant. No time limits are set out in the legislation.

7d: In practice, where necessary, citizens can obtain a broadcast (radio and TV) media license at a reasonable cost.

Score:

100

References: Josephine Taekeni, Vois Blong Mere, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

Alfred Sasako, Journalist, Interview, May 12, 2009, Honiara

Transparency International, National Integrity Systems: Solomon Islands 2004, [ LINK ]. p26-27.

Television Act, Cap 116, Laws of Solomon islands, [ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: As mentioned licenses are required under the Television Act but no fees are set out.

Can citizens freely use the Internet?

8a: In practice, the government does not prevent citizens from accessing content published on-line.

Score:

100

Comments: There are no restrictions.

References: See the People's First Network discussion board with contributions from many Solomon Islanders [ LINK ]

See the Tutuvatu web site discussion board, with contributions mainly from those from the island of Guadalcanal [ LINK ].

8b: In practice, the government does not censor citizens creating content on-line.

Score:

100

Comments: There is no censorship of online content.

References: People First Network: The Solomon Islands Rural Email Network for Peace and Development, Government of Solomon Islands, Rural Development Region, Ministry of Provincial & Rural Government, 2003, available [ LINK ]

See the People's First Network discussion board with contributions from many Solomon Islanders [ LINK ]

See the Tutuvatu web site discussion board, with contributions mainly from those from the island of Guadalcanal [ LINK ].

Are the media able to report on corruption?

9a: In law, it is legal to report accurate news even if it damages the reputation of a public figure.

Score:

YES

Comments: There are no prohibitions on reporting. However, normal defamation rules apply.

References: See protections listed in Chapter II of Constitution of Solomon Islands, 1978, [ LINK ]

9b: In practice, the government or media owners/distribution groups do not encourage self-censorship of corruption-related stories.

Score:

100

Comments: The environment for journalists has considerably improved over recent years, and it improved over 2008 as compared to 2007.

References: Jean Tafoa, Executive Director, Transparency Solomon Islands, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

Alfred Sasako, Journalist, Interview, May 12, 2009, Honiara

See World Press Freedom Review, report on the Solomon Islands, 2006 (the latest year available), [ LINK ]. The same organization produced a regional overview covering Australasia and Oceania and found nothing untoward to mention about the situation in Solomon Islands. [ LINK ]

For an indication of the extent of press censorship and harassment of journalists back in 2001-2, see Duran Angiki, cited in Pacific media 'gatekeepers' condemned at conference, Pacific Media Watch, 2002, [ LINK ].

9c: In practice, there is no prior government restraint (pre-publication censoring) on publishing corruption-related stories.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Jean Tafoa, Executive Director, Transparency Solomon Islands, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

Alfred Sasako, Journalist, Interview, May 12, 2009, Honiara

Are the media credible sources of information?

10a: In law, print media companies are required to publicly disclose their ownership.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Registrar of Companies holds a public register of all corporate entities and their owners.

10b: In law, broadcast (radio and TV) media companies are required to publicly disclose their ownership.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Broadcast media companies, like all others, have their owners listed on the publicly accessible Registrar of Companies.

Peer Review Comments: This is correct, but there are international entities broadcasting into Solomon Islands which do not have to disclose ownership. These include BBC World radio and TV; NHK; Chinese TV; Radio Australia, and Australian TV Network.

10c: In practice, journalists and editors adhere to strict, professional practices in their reporting.

Score:

100

Comments: Journalists are often poorly paid and poorly trained, and unaware of professional practices.

References: Ashley Wickham, Political Advisor, Prime Minister's Office, May 9, 2009, Honiara

Alfred Sasako, Journalist, Interview, May 12, 2009, Honiara

Ofani Eremae, Editor, Solomon Star, Interview by telephone, May 18, 2009

Peer Review Comments: Taking Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation into account, as well as print media such as the Solomon Star, I consider a moderate score accurate.

10d: In practice, during the most recent election, political parties or independent candidates received fair media coverage.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Ashley Wickham, Political Advisor, Prime Minister's Office, May 9, 2009, Honiara

Alfred Sasako, Journalist, Interview, May 12, 2009, Honiara

Ofani Eremae, Editor, Solomon Star, Interview by telephone, May 18, 2009

Solomon Islands General Election 5th April 2006, Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group, [ LINK ].

Solomon Islands National Election, April 5, 2006, Report of the Pacific Islands Forum Observer Team. [unavailable online]

10e: In practice, political parties and candidates have equitable access to state-owned media outlets.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Sarah Dyer, National Council of Women, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

Josephine Taekeni, Vois Blong Mere, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

Peer Review Comments: The only state-owned media outlet is the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC), the only radio station that broadcasts throughout the country. Generally, political parties and candidates have an equitable access to it.

Are journalists safe when investigating corruption?

11a: In practice, in the past year, no journalists investigating corruption have been imprisoned.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no journalists imprisoned related to work covering corruption during the study period. A YES score is positive. NO: A NO score is earned if any journalist was jailed because of his/her work covering corruption during the study period. The causal relationship between the official charges and the journalist\'s work may not be explicit, however the burden of proof here is low. If it seems likely that the journalist was imprisoned due to his or her work, then the indicator is scored as a NO. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments:

References: Jean Tafoa, Executive Director, Transparency Solomon Islands, Interview, May 11, 09, Honiara

Sarah Dyer, National Council of Women, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

Josephine Taekeni, Vois Blong Mere, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

11b: In practice, in the past year, no journalists investigating corruption have been physically harmed.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Jean Tafoa, Executive Director, Transparency Solomon Islands, Interview, May 11, 09, Honiara

Sarah Dyer, National Council of Women, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

Josephine Taekeni, Vois Blong Mere, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

11c: In practice, in the past year, no journalists investigating corruption have been killed.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no documented cases of journalists being killed because of their work covering corruption-related issues during the study period. A YES score is positive. NO: A NO score is earned if there were any documented cases where a journalist was killed in relation to his or her work covering corruption-related issues in the study period. The relationship between a mysterious death and an individual\'s work may not be clear, however the burden of proof here is low. If it is a reasonable guess that a person was killed in relation to his or her work on corruption issues, then the indicator is scored as a NO. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments:

References: Jean Tafoa, Executive Director, Transparency Solomon Islands, Interview, May 11, 09, Honiara

Sarah Dyer, National Council of Women, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

Josephine Taekeni, Vois Blong Mere, Interview, May 11, 2009, Honiara

Peer Review Comments: No journalists investigating corruption have ever been killed in Solomon Islands.