Judge rules for freedom of expression
(PINA/IFEX) – On 3 July 1998, a High Court judge in Suva, Fiji, ruled in favour of the news and business magazine “The Review” in what is seen as an important decision for the Fiji news media. Judge Daniel Fatiaki dismissed an application by one of the country’s major retailing companies, Burns Philp (Fiji) Limited, […]
Judge rules for freedom of expression
(PINA/IFEX) – On 3 July 1998, a High Court judge in Suva, Fiji, ruled in favour of the news and business magazine “The Review” in what is seen as an important decision for the Fiji news media. Judge Daniel Fatiaki dismissed an application by one of the country’s major retailing companies, Burns Philp (Fiji) Limited, […]
“The Fiji Times” gets a warning in regard to breach of parliamentary privilege
(PINA/IFEX) – On 5 June 1998, Fiji’s Senate formally accepted the finding of its privileges committee that “The Fiji Times” breached parliamentary privilege in a report and editorial on 30 September 1997. This included the recommendation that no formal charges be laid but that the newspaper be warned as follows: “That should ‘The Fiji Times’ […]
British consultant to help develop Fiji media codes
(PINA/IFEX) – A consultant from Britain’s Thomson Foundation is due to start work in Suva, 9 June on helping develop codes of conduct for the Fiji news media. Veteran journalist Ken Morgan will work to terms of reference drawn up by the industry’s self-regulatory Fiji News Council. Morgan is a former director of Britain’s Press […]
“Warned” newspaper features another report on Fiji’s Senate
(PINA/IFEX) – On 2 June 1998, Fiji’s biggest newspaper, “The Fiji Times”, led its front page with a report of a 12-minute meeting of the Senate, and the cost of this brief meeting. It did so as the Senate was preparing to consider the Senate Privileges Committee’s finding that “The Fiji Times” had earlier breached […]
Concern over accreditation moves by Fiji’s Assistant Information Minister
(PINA/IFEX) – Concern is growing in the Fiji news media over comments by the Assistant Minister for Information calling for the accreditation of journalists covering Parliament. The Assistant Minister, Ratu Josefa Dimuri, has said a policy would be in place by the end of the year and would bring Fiji into line with many other […]
“The Fiji Times” to challenge Senate finding
(PINA/IFEX) – On 8 April 1998, “The Fiji Times” announced that its lawyers are beginning a legal challenge against a finding by the Senate Privileges Committee, which held that the newspaper breached parliamentary privilege. Publisher Alan Robinson said: “In essence, we reported the facts. And just how an editorial opinion can misrepresent proceedings of the […]
Senate committee warns media of parliamentary privilege sanctions
(PINA/IFEX) – According to a report issued by the Senate’s privileges committee, “The Fiji Times”, the country’s largest newspaper, breached parliamentary privilege in reporting and editorializing on a short meeting of the country’s Senate. Though the committee recommended that no formal charges be laid, it warned that, if faced with articles breaching parliamentary privilege in […]
Fiji Government says no licensing but independent regulatory council
(PINA/IFEX) — The Fiji government has approved the drawing up of new media laws which include an independent media regulatory council but exclude suggestions for licensing newspapers and magazines. The Press Correction Act, introduced in the British colonial era, is also to be scrapped. **Updates IFEX alert of 9 December 1997** The Cabinet (government ministers) […]
Proposed Fiji media laws unlikely to include licensing, says minister
(PINA/IFEX) – Fiji’s Minister for Information says proposed new media laws in Fiji are unlikely to include licensing of news organisations or journalists. Seruwaia Hong Tiy said media licensing is not recommended by a report by two British consultants reviewing the laws and is not the current practice in Fiji. “The Cabinet sub-committee is still […]
“The Fiji Times” publisher and editor appear before Senate privileges committee
(PINA/IFEX) – The publisher and the editor of “The Fiji Times” appeared before the Fiji Senate privileges committee on 8 October 1997. Publisher Alan Robinson and editor Samisoni Kakaivalu were called to answer allegations the newspaper breached parliamentary privilege by allegedly misrepresenting the Senate’s proceedings. **Updates IFEX alert dated 6 October 1997; for background to […]
Senate moves against “The Fiji Times”
(PINA/IFEX) – The privileges committee of Fiji’s Senate was due to begin meeting on 6 October 1997 to decide whether “The Fiji Times” newspaper breached parliamentary privilege. **For background to previous harassment of the newspaper, see IFEX alerts dated 27 February 1997, 6 December and 29 November 1996** On 3 October, the Senate decided to […]