(PINA/IFEX) – On 18 June 1999, PINA urged the new Fiji Islands Government to withdraw a notice it issued for government advertising to be placed in only one of Fiji’s two daily newspapers. PINA said: “PINA notes that in the past this advertising tactic has been used both in Fiji and in other Pacific Islands […]
(PINA/IFEX) – On 18 June 1999, PINA urged the new Fiji Islands Government to
withdraw a notice it issued for government advertising to be placed in only
one of Fiji’s two daily newspapers. PINA said: “PINA notes that in the past
this advertising tactic has been used both in Fiji and in other Pacific
Islands states as a means of intimidating media organisations.” The PINA
call follows a circular from the Ministry of Information, which is headed by
Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry. The circular stated that, “as far as
possible”, government advertising should be placed only in the “Daily Post”.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 15 June, 11 June, 4 June, 21 May and 7 May 1999**
News of the circular followed a week in which ministers from the new Fiji
Labour Party-led government criticised the country’s biggest daily
newspaper, “The Fiji Times” over reports it carried. “The Fiji Times” is a
previous winner of the PINA Pacific Freedom of Information award.
A statement issued by PINA president William Parkinson said: “PINA notes
with concern a circular memorandum distributed to all Government Permanent
Secretaries and Heads of Departments directing them to ensure ‘as far as
possible’ that all official advertising be directed to the Daily Post
newspaper.
“In particular we are concerned that the reasoning used is that the
Government is the largest single shareholder in the company. Our concerns
are based on the following:
” – The choice to advertise or not to advertise in a particular form of
media should be based on the media’s ability to get an advertising message
across in the most cost-effective manner. Not because the Government has
used taxpayers’ funds to buy into a commercial venture.
” – PINA notes that in the past this advertising tactic has been used both
in Fiji and in other Pacific Islands states as a means of intimidating media
organisations. If this is the intention of Government it is a clear breach
of media freedom as stated under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. It should also be remembered that media freedom and freedom of
expression are guaranteed under Fiji’s constitution.
“The Pacific Islands News Association calls on Government to withdraw this
memorandum. PINA welcomed the new Government’s commitment, on election, to
the principles of transparency and open Government. We look forward to the
Government living up to those fine principals.”
On 19 June (local time), “The Fiji Times” reported that the circular, signed
by acting permanent secretary for Information, Eliki Bomani, states:
“Government is now the single largest shareholder in Fiji’s Daily Post
newspaper. As such it will be beneficial to Government’s interest that an
appropriate level of advertising support, including paid supplements, is
rendered by all ministries and departments to the Daily Post newspaper.
Addressees are requested therefore to ensure, as far as possible, that all
official newspaper advertising is directed to the Daily Post for publication
until further notice.”
“The Fiji Times” also quoted Jim Ah Koy, finance minister in the government,
defeated in general elections in May, as saying that the new government had
made a “complete flip.” Labour had attacked the previous government’s
decision to buy 44 percent of the “Daily Post” just three months before the
general election. “They created such an uproar when I bought the ‘Post’,” Ah
Koy told “The Fiji Times”; “They said they believed that a Government should
not run a newspaper and that we were trying to use the paper by dishing out
information that would promote us. The bitter criticism by senior reporters
before the election showed we were hands off the paper. And now they are
doing the very thing they accused us of … The PM should not be vindictive.
Be big enough, be man enough to take criticism in the same fashion he dished
it out. It also makes sense to use a medium that has wider circulation and
he should not be myopically visioned. They should be careful because this
can also be construed as a breach of the Fair Trading Act.”
Background Information
The Fiji Islands has amongst the most diverse and free news media in the
Pacific Islands. Following his election last month, on 21 May, new Prime
Minister Mahendra Chaudhry pledged to not legislate against the media or
impose media licensing, “The Fiji Times” reported. But Chaudhry said media
organisations, starting from management, need “a lot of tuition,” the
newspaper reported.
Chaudhry complained during the general election campaign that some media
organisations were biased against his Fiji Labour Party. He alleged a “media
plot” to prevent Labour from winning. This charge was vigorously rejected by
the media, especially “The Fiji Times”, which pointed out that politicians
from all political sides were alleging media bias against them and in favour
of their opponents (see IFEX alert of 7 May 1999).
On 12 June (local time), “The Fiji Times” reported that news organisations
had complained that polic guarding Chaudhry manhandled journalists. Police
increased security following Chaudhry’s election as Fiji’s first ethnic
Indian prime minister, from descendants of indentured sugar plantation
workers brought from India during the British colonial era. In 1987,
Chaudhry was a minister in an ethnic Indian-dominated government ousted in a
coup by the indigenous Fijian dominated army following unrest over their
election.
