(PINA/IFEX) – On 6 October 1999, the deputy speaker of the Fiji Islands House of Representatives banned journalists from reporting details of a parliamentary question he ruled out of order. Deputy Speaker Giyannendra Prasad’s ruling sparked outrage in the media, with the “Daily Post” of 7 October (local date) calling the House of Representatives the […]
(PINA/IFEX) – On 6 October 1999, the deputy speaker of the Fiji Islands
House of Representatives banned journalists from reporting details of a
parliamentary question he ruled out of order. Deputy Speaker Giyannendra
Prasad’s ruling sparked outrage in the media, with the “Daily Post” of 7
October (local date) calling the House of Representatives the “House of
Secrets.” The question related to issues of adultery and a Code of Conduct
Bill, the “Daily Post” reported. Members of the opposition threatened to
boycott the 7 October sitting of the house over Prasad’s decision not to
allow the question and also the handling of some parliamentary bills, “The
Fiji Times” reported.
In an editorial comment, the “Daily Post” said: “The people of this country
will not know what happened and how it may have changed their lives. First
of all we must ask the House why such a gagging law is in place? Is it there
to protect the personal interest of the members or is it there to protect
the state?” The newspaper said two such recent cases should not have been
“put away under lock and key and out of sight of the public eye. In fact
both issues were discussed openly outside the House and both are public
knowledge.”
The “Daily Post” added: “Focus on this will undoubtedly be raised at the
Pacific Islands News Association annual conference and workshop (opening in
Suva on 8 October), when press freedom issues will be debated. It will again
bring undue attention on Fiji’s parliament and raise questions about the
country’s stand on media rights and people’s rights to information. All
parliaments must be transparent and must be seen to be transparent.”
Background Information
On 4 October, the House of Representatives privileges committee recommended
“The Fiji Times” and “Daily Post” newspapers be “given the benefit of the
doubt” over parliamentary reporting it investigated. The committee also said
that the House has the right to prohibit publication of its debates and
proceedings as part of its general right to control its affairs, the local
media reported.
Editors Samisoni Kakaivalu of “The Fiji Times” and Jale Moala of the “Daily
Post” were alleged to have disregarded a parliamentary ruling and their
newspapers 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.
The Fiji Islands has amongst the most diverse and free news media in the
Pacific Islands. They include: three seven-day-a-week English-language daily
newspapers; 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.
