(PINA/IFEX) – On 11 August 1999, the editors of Fiji’s two daily newspapers, “The Fiji Times” and “Daily Post”, appeared before the House of Representatives privileges committee for allegedly breaching parliamentary privilege. Samisoni Kakaivalu, of “The Fiji Times”, and Jale Moala, of the “Daily Post”, are alleged to have disregarded a parliamentary ruling and reported […]
(PINA/IFEX) – On 11 August 1999, the editors of Fiji’s two daily newspapers,
“The Fiji Times” and “Daily Post”, appeared before the House of
Representatives privileges committee for allegedly breaching parliamentary
privilege. 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 “Daily Post” reported on 12 August.
**Updates IFEX alert of 5 July 1999**
The questions regarded alleged misuse of public funds by a current
government minister, Poseci Bune, when he was Fiji’s permanent
representative to the United Nations in New York, the “Post” said. It said
the questions were ruled out of order by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Apenisa Kurisaqila.
The privileges committee is chaired by Attorney-General Anand Singh and will
make a recommendation to the 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.
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).
