Comments made by Delegate Gibson Kanai during a session interpreted as denying Palauan social media forums rights to expression have sparked a deluge of criticism.
Gibson, however, denied that his comments during the September 9 session were aimed at banning social media forums but instead help fund an agency to ensure that information about the government is disseminated properly and correctly.
Several administrators of the Palauan forums on Facebook criticized Gibson for laying the groundwork to ban or censor groups comments on the social media.
In Palau 2013 and Beyond, Bentley Techur posted, “There is no lack of issues facing our nation…So it’s mind-boggling to see such waste of time by our Delegates…Hearing them waste time to talk about how our Women should and should not do…Or talk about the audacity of Palauan citizens creating public and or social media groups on the internet to discuss and or share their opinions about their government and those charged to run it,”
Marilyn Rideb, administrator of Palau Town Hall wrote on the group’s forum that, “Freedom of speech is an important part of democracy. Unfortunately, the leadership of our country now uses the excuse of omengull to prevent people from being informed.”
Another comment by Joe Asanuma in the forum said, “the machinery of free speech is most effective under FB and other electronic social media since there is no censorship and people are free to say what they agree with or disagree with. With newspapers on the other hand, free speech is easily curtailed because newspaper owners and their editors often print what pleases their advertisers, the source of their revenue. Long live free speech!”
In the session, Kanai stated that forums talk about Congress and say whatever they want that makes lawmakers look bad.
He was quoted as saying that the comments or discussions in the forum are not good for the younger generations of Palau.
However, in an interview, Kanai said he believes in the freedom of speech and expression and is not targeted to crackdown on social media groups but rather give them access to correct information through increased funding for Domestic Affairs tasked as disseminating government information.
“My statement was aimed at helping people, I am for freedom of expression and speech, I believe in democracy and everyone’s right,” Kanai said.
He said his statement was taken out of context.
“I was asking the House Speaker to find a way to help people outside of Palau to get the right information,” Kanai told reporters.
He said he believes in the power of social media and how important it is in a democratic society. (Bernadette Carreon)