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SPORTS OPINION

Obituary ROSALYN ALBANIEL EVARA 1976 - 2017

Making

news in

death

By Netani Rika

IN death, Papua New Guinea journalist,
Rosalyn Evara, has shone the spotlight Rosalyn Albaniel Evara ... died from suspected beatings. Photo: File
on an issue which often escapes notice saw the light of day in the Post Courier taking the time to learn about individual
in regional news coverage – violence newsroom. staff members and the personal prob-
against women. There are successful women journalists lems they face which have an impact on
A victim of domestic violence for in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga the workplace. This death highlights
several years, this outspoken woman and Vanuatu who know first-hand the the fact that in the news industry the
highlighted daily the ills of the nation violence which Evara suffered. Male and spotlight is often focussed so much
and was regarded as an advocate for female colleagues in newsrooms across outside the workplace that not enough
justice and good governance. the Pacific know the women journalists time is spent addressing the problems
Evara was respected by colleagues, who hide the pain of a violent home and within. While there is a need to respect
the public and legislators alike for her husband behind the veneer of a smile or individual privacy, there comes a point
professionalism and fearless journalism skilfully layered cosmetics. where concern for the safety of the per-
which often exposed the darker side of Evara’s colleagues described her as an son must over-ride even the relationship
business in PNG. extremely private person and some sug- between couples.
Trained at the highly-recognised gested this may have been the reason she When a woman, or indeed a man, is
Divine Word University, she began her did not speak of the abuse. It is more likely the victim of constant spousal abuse,
journalism career at Word Publishing that Evara knew that within her commu- it is incumbent upon an employer to
before joining the Post Courier in 2002. nity her credibility as a journalist would broach this uncomfortable subject with
Working through the ranks and the be questioned once the public knew her the worker in the interests of safety.
major news centres of Lae, Madang and domestic situation. Politicians would be This can be done using a third person
Port Moresby, this promising journalist the first to use this as ammunition against – friend, colleague, faith community
became bureau chief and later business a crusading writer. There is also the stigma leader or counsellor – preferably with
editor at the News Limited-owned Post Evara knew she would face from relatives professional skills. The furore caused
Courier. At 41 when she died suddenly, in a society which sees the shame of an in- by Evara’s death has been enormous
Evara was on track to becoming the dividual as a collective shaming. These are and her newspaper has faced accusa-
first female editor of one of the region’s issues which, in the Pacific, must be dealt tions that it do not do enough to protect
largest and most influential newspa- with at several levels in order to empower its staff member. Papua New Guinea’s
pers. But behind the professionalism , women to step out of the shadows and Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill has spoken
national recognition and success lay an break free from the shackles of violence. out to say that only cowards raise their
awful secret which many Pacific women At family, village, district and national hands against women.
journalists also hide. level men of influence must take up While that is true, there are also
Evara was a victim of domestic the challenge to shed light on the ills of cowards who know the truth about the
violence. There are few women in the violence against women and children. If violence Evara faced yet did not speak
Pacific who openly speak out against they claim – as many do in the patriarchal up. Until a final conclusion is made by
the violence with which they must Pacific – to be leaders, men must be the investigators, it is not possible to state
live personally when the presses have first to defend the most vulnerable. That categorically that this death was due to
shut down, when the cameras have means the uncomfortable reality of calling domestic violence. But the unequivocal
been turned off, when the microphone out their own relatives who dare lift a hand fact is that Evara was a victim of spousal
is silent. against a wife, daughter, daughter-in-law abuse. The tribute we can all lay at this
Evara was one such woman. Col- or mother. It is highly unlikely, however, journalist’s grave is merely symbolic
leagues testify that the matter of the Evara’s domestic situation was not known but it is a promise – to fight against the
cruel beatings which took place in to her colleagues and superiors. Her death violence suffered by women throughout
Evara’s gated community home never highlights the importance of managers the region.

12 Islands Business, , November 2017