Pacific Media
Watch
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FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA
16 July 1997
President bans editor
The President of FSM has now officially endorsed the banning of former 'FSM
News' editor, Ms Sherry O'Sullivan, from re-entering FSM.
Ms O'Sullivan, in Guam where she is staying after being banned on June 12,
received the news this evening in writing from Jacob Nena, the President of
the Federated States of Micronesia.
Her notification states:
"In reviewing the memorandum decision issued by the Chief Division of
Immigration issued June 6, 1997 concerning Sherry O'Sullivan, holder of
Canadian passport # ----- and the written appeal of that memorandum
submitted to me by Ms O'Sullivan through her retained counsel, and in
accordance with section 107(k) orf Title 50 of the Code of the Federated
States of Micronesia, I, Jacob Nena, President of the Federated States of
Micronesia, affirm the finding that the entry or presence of said Sherry
O'Sullivan is not in the best interests of the Government of the Federated
States of Micronesia and therefore her entry or presence is not permitted
in any Federated States of Micronesia jurisdiction. This order is effective
July 10, 1997."
"The good news is that it opens up an avenue to the FSM Supreme Court,
where this all belonged in the first place," says Ms O'Sullivan.
BACKGROUND:
On Thursday June 12, the former editor of "The FSM News", Sherry O'Sullivan,
was barred from re-entering FSM following a banning order by the FSM
Immigration Department.
Ms O'Sullivan, a Canadian citizen, had been sacked in April by her
management board, after she had challenged their censorship of a tax fraud
story in the paper. The FSM Congress in March had recommended she be
expelled from the country and deemed her an undesirable alien as she was
'not in the best interests of the government', and her paper had printed
'inaccuracies' and 'distortions'.
Ms O'Sullivan had traveled to Guam where on June 6 she addressed the
Micronesia Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. She learnt
that the FSM Immigration had distributed a letter instructing all
commercial passenger carriers - and non-official carriers such as fishing
boats - not to transport her back to FSM.
Ms O'Sullivan has been separated by the barring of re-entry from her place
of dwelling, her new job with a new publication (Micronesia News Magazine),
all her possessions, as well as her lawyer who is pursuing a libel case on
her instruction.
ACTION:
You can send your appeal for Ms O'Sullivan to be allowed to re-enter FSM, to:
* President Jacob Nena
President's Office
Palikir
Pohnpei, FM 96941
FAX: (691) 320 4356
TEL: (691) 320 2228
* Speaker Jack Fritz
FSM Congress
Pohnpei, FM 96941
FAX: (691) 320 5122
TEL: (691) 320 2338
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