***Like governments and editors elsewhere, those in the South Pacific regularly trade accusations about press freedom. But the arbitrary detention of a Tongan journalist for publishing pro-democracy letters, reports Gemini News Service, has shocked the region.

CONCERN about 'press freedom in the South Pacific has been growing following the jailing of a journalist in one country and alleged moves to muzzle the media In three others.

International protests followed Tonga s recent detention for 26 hours of Filo’ Akau'ola. deputy editor of the weekly journal Taimi o Tonga, for publishing pro-democracy -letters. Two letter-writers were held for even longer, and the journalist was eventually charged with threatening a civil servant.

Meanwhile, in Vanuatu, a gagging order was placed on the media by former Prime Minister Serge Vohor to stifle press reports about moves to oust him from leadership. Vohor held the premiership briefly after the recent general election, but was replaced by Carlot. Korman after a split in the ruling party.

In Fiji, the government has denied it plans to muzzle the press following claims by opposition leader Jai Ram Reddy, who told the public that members of a cabinet faction "don't want you to know all the details about the scandals in government."

And here in Papua New Guinea, a hastily-constituted Media Council, representing the country’s news organisations. staged a two-day public seminar involving leading politicians, judges, academics, an archbishop, journalists and grassroots activists in an attempt to defend press freedom.

As part of a constitutional review, expected to steer Papua New Guinea towards becoming a republic. Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan's government is seeking to introduce legislation that tould fetter a traditionally free press.

The Constitutional Review Commission has been given a directive to produce a draft law by June Commission chairman Ben Micah recently led a fact-finding delegation to five Asian countries — including China — regarded as having an authoritarian view of the news media or practising censorship.

Ts there a real justification for such a move"’’ asked The In dependent newspaper. "Any atempt to tsniper with the freedom of the media must be viewed cautiously."

Micah was asked to cite three examples of alleged abuse by the press as evidence of a need for legislation. He listed two instances — both involving himself

The Media Council argues that regulating the press is no( a substitute for good government.

Both the Commission and the Prime’ Minister have pledged that the basic, constitutionally guaranteed freedom of the media will be upheld, but that greater "accountability" will be sought.

But community leaders andeditors ate "sceptical. They say laws of defamation and an existing process of self-regulation based on a press council are adequate safeguards.

’ The arrest of the Tongan journalist increased concern among the media in Port Moresby, because Tonga’s constitution — like Papua New Guinea's — guarantees freedom of speech.

Although Papua Guinea has rarely figured on international lists of transgressing nations over violations c4 press freedom — two gagings of the National Broadcasting Commission in the past two years have been cited — editors believe ’ they are now facing their toughest fight . Professor David Flint, chairman of the Australian Press Council, told the Media Council seminar that the United States constitutional protection for the press was an example the Pacific should follow.

In effect, he said, the US First Amendment prohibited laws abridging freedom of the press

Flint also highlighted safeguards within Papua New Guinea s own constitution.

Under Section 46. every

Eerson in Papua New Guinea as the right to freedom of expression and freedom .of the press.

Opposition Member of Parliament John Momis. one of • the fathers of the constitution, said the objective of Section 46 was to be a "formal guarantee" and a "formal protection of the citizen s innate rights and freedoms." •

He recalled that the provision was founded on "one of the great principles on which democracy rests — (that) is the.right to differ on any topic of discussion, be it social, economic. political cultural or religious. '

If the government were truly to honour this constitutional provision, he said, a Freedom of Information Act would be passed.

A leading Papua New Guinea {ournalist. Neville Togarewa. iranded the constitutional media review as rash. Ill-conceived and without justification."

He said the review had been forced by the government’s "failure to financially support its own information and com munication services to better serve government and the public. ’