(PINA/IFEX) – On 27 August 1999, the Fiji Islands House of Representatives privileges committee requested more time to decide on an alleged breach of privilege by “The Fiji Times” and “Daily Post” newspapers. Attorney-General Anand Singh, who chairs the committee, said the House members needed more time to collate their findings, “The Fiji Times” reported. […]
(PINA/IFEX) – On 27 August 1999, the Fiji Islands House of Representatives
privileges committee requested more time to decide on an alleged breach of
privilege by “The Fiji Times” and “Daily Post” newspapers. Attorney-General
Anand Singh, who chairs the committee, said the House members needed more
time to collate their findings, “The Fiji Times” reported. He said the
committee has met five times and representatives of the two dailies had
appeared before it. “The Fiji Times” reported that it was scheduled to
appear before the committee again on 27 August but, after waiting almost
ninety minutes, it was told there was no quorum.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 12 August and 5 July 1999**
Editors Samisoni Kakaivalu, of “The Fiji Times”, and Jale Moala, of the
“Daily Post”, are alleged to have disregarded a parliamentary ruling and
reported “expunged” questions raised by Opposition Leader Ratu Inoke
Kubuabola. The questions regarded alleged misuse of public funds by a
current government minister when he was Fiji’s permanent representative to
the United Nations in New York, the “Daily Post” has reported. It said the
questions were ruled out of order by the speaker of the House of
Representatives, Apenisa Kurisaqila.
The privileges committee makes a recommendation to the full House of
Representatives. Under Fiji’s Parliamentary Privileges and Powers Act those
found guilty of breaching parliamentary privilege can be jailed for up to
two years by the House.
Background Information
The Fiji Islands has amongst the most diverse and free news media in the
Pacific Islands. They include: two seven-day-a-week English-language daily
newspapers, with a third about to be launched; weekly newspapers in Hindi,
Fijian, and English; news, business, trade and entertainment magazines;
independent commercial, community and religious radio stations;
government-owned public and commercial radio stations; and commercial and
community television.
But the news media have come under continuing criticism from Prime Minister
Mahendra Chaudhry and assistant Information Minister Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi
since the election of the new Fiji Labour Party-led coalition government in
May (see IFEX alerts). This has included threats to impose a
government-regulated media council and to move against “foreign” interests.