(PINA/IFEX) – On 11 February 1999, the Fiji Islands Media Council criticised the Fiji Islands government’s decision to become the major shareholder in the “Daily Post”, one of the country’s two daily newspapers. The council comprises representatives of all of Fiji’s main news organisations, plus an equal number of public members, who are leading citizens […]
(PINA/IFEX) – On 11 February 1999, the Fiji Islands Media Council
criticised the Fiji Islands government’s decision to become the major
shareholder in the “Daily Post”, one of the country’s two daily
newspapers. The council comprises representatives of all of Fiji’s main
news organisations, plus an equal number of public members, who are
leading citizens representative of Fiji’s various communities. It has an
independent chairperson.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 10 February and 9 February 1999**
The council issued the following statement:
“At the meeting of the Media Council in Suva today both public and
industry members expressed dismay at Government’s decision to buy shares
in the ‘Daily Post’.
“Council chairman Daryl Tarte said the council had been established to,
amongst other things, safeguard the media’s independence. ‘We do not
consider that a newspaper with government as its single largest
shareholder can be independent. Government also owns the radio station
Island Networks, and has the power to give direction to Fiji Television.
This move to buy the ‘Post’ gives government an unacceptable level of
influence over the Fiji media.
“The Fiji media cannot exercise its responsibilities as a watchdog of
government if so much of the media is controlled by government. Council
considers this move as a serious threat to media independence and it
urges government to divest itself of its ‘Post’ shares as soon as
possible by placing them on the stock exchange.
“Mr. Tarte went on to question the declared rationale for the purchase
of the shares. ‘Mr. Ah Koy is quoted in the ‘Post’ today as saying we
are now going to have a locally owned newspaper. But the Daily Post is
already locally owned. Mr. Ah Koy was also quoted as saying that the
first thing the government would do would be to improve the facilities
and conditions of work at the company. However, I understand that the
board of the ‘Post’ was already putting these measures in place.
Furthermore it will be harmful to Fiji’s international image when it
becomes known, as it certainly will, that the government has purchased a
major interest in one of country’s two daily newspapers. The
international community will view this as an attempt by the
Government to control the media in the lead up to the general
elections.’ “
Background Information
On 10 February 1999, Fiji Islands Finance Minister Jim Ah Koy announced
the government had become the main shareholder in the English-language
“Daily Post” and its Fijian-language weekly “Na Volasiga”. It bought a
forty four percent share previously held by the Fiji Development Bank.
The move came just three months before the country’s first general
elections under a new constitution replacing one imposed after two 1987
military coups. The government’s move has already been condemned by PINA
and opposition political parties.
The Fiji Islands returned to elected government in 1992, and its news
media are again regarded as among the most free and diverse in the
Pacific Islands. There are independent newspapers, magazines, and
broadcast stations. While the government has also had strong involvement
in ownership of the broadcast media, the print media have until now been
independent. The other daily newspaper, the English-language “The Fiji
Times”, is part of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation and also publishes
the Fijian-language weekly “Nai Lalakai” and the Hindi weekly “Shanti
Dut”.
