“Fiji Times” fined over article, newspaper publisher and editor receive suspended prison sentences
(PINA/IFEX) – On 22 January 2009, Fiji’s oldest newspaper was fined FJD$100,000 (US$54,000) by the High Court over its publication of a letter that criticised the court’s validation of the 2006 military coup, reports Fiji Live. “Fiji Times” publisher Rex Gardener and editor-in-chief Netani Rika have also been handed suspended sentences. Rika was sentenced to […]
New Zealand reporter detained at airport, deported
(PINA/IFEX) – ONE News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver was detained at Fiji’s Nadi Airport on the night of 15 December 2008 as she flew in to cover the latest developments on the deteriorating diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Fiji. TVNZ (Television New Zealand) reports Ms Dreaver was detained while going through immigration and taken […]
Interim government seeking jail terms for newspaper bosses
(PINA/IFEX) – Fiji’s interim government has asked the court to jail the publishers and editors of two of the country’s daily newspapers for six months each and impose a fine of $1 million (approx. US$539,000) over their publication of a letter that criticised the High Court’s validation of the 2006 military coup, reports Fiji Live. […]
Editor faces contempt charges; IFJ urges wide consultation on new media law
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: IFJ Urges Wide Consultation On Fiji’s Media Law The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has serious reservations about efforts by Fiji’s military government to draft and implement a new media law as the government continues to try to muzzle independent media reporting in the Pacific Island […]
IFJ urges government to ensure that media is not impeded in reporting on landmark court decision
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 13 October 2008 IFJ media release: IFJ Urges Fiji to Allow Fair Reporting on Landmark Court Decision The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) urges all members of Fiji’s interim military government to ensure that the country’s media is not impeded in reporting on a controversial High Court decision on […]
Second journalist arrested
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders condemns two cases of journalists being arrested and questioned for several hours by police since the beginning of August 2008. The latest was that of “Fiji Times” reporter Serafina Salaitoga, who was arrested at her home in the presence of her children on 10 August after writing a story in […]
Reporter threatened, questioned by police over allegedly “seditious” article
(PINA/IFEX) – On 10 August 2008, Fiji police threatened and tried to force a “Fiji Times” reporter into giving a statement on an article she wrote, reports the “The Fiji Times”. The newspaper said police in the northern town of Labasa had been seeking reporter Serafina Silaitoga since the night of 8 August for a […]
Government proposes new media legislation, denies goal is to control media
(PINA/IFEX) – Fiji’s interim attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has denied proposed new legislation is designed to control the nation’s media, reports Radio Australia. Military leader and interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has announced he is preparing major new media legislation. All laws pertaining to freedom, restrictions, professional standards and the Code of Ethics will […]
Police prohibit broadcast of television programme, seize master tape
(PINA/IFEX) – A regular Fiji Television programme was pulled off the air on the evening of 22 June 2008, on allegations that it contained “inflammatory” comments, reports the “Fiji Sun”. The Sunday night national television programme “Close-up”, hosted by Anish Chand and pre-recorded the day before, was to feature lawyer Rajendra Chaudhry. Police visited the […]
Arrest, deportation of “Fiji Times” publisher aims to silence voices critical of interim government, says PINA
(PINA/IFEX) – The following is a PINA statement: PINA STATEMENT ON THE DEPORTATION OF FIJI TIMES PUBLISHER, EVAN HANNAH The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) deplores the action of the interim Fiji government to deport “Fiji Times” publisher Evan Hannah on the eve of World Press Freedom Day. PINA president Joseph Ealedona said, “The deportation […]
Annual Report 2008: Fiji Islands
Annual Report 2008: Fiji Islands
Freedom of the Press 2007: Fiji Islands
Freedom of the Press 2007: Fiji Islands
Publisher’s deportation linked to report on government minister’s alleged tax evasion; PM warns media of limitations to constitutional guarantees on press freedom
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 27 February 2008 IFJ media release: IFJ Denounces Fiji’s Deportation of Newspaper Publisher The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the Government of Fiji’s deportation of a newspaper publisher and managing director, Russell Hunter, to Australia on February 26 after his paper published stories highlighting allegations of tax evasion […]
Newspaper editor deported
(PINA/IFEX) – The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) has strongly condemned the deportation to Australia of “Fiji Sun” Editor in Chief Russell Hunter, by Fiji’s interim government. PINA President, Joseph Ealedona says the sudden deportation of Mr Hunter without a convincing formal explanation from the interim government is a serious threat to the freedom of […]
Court summons editor and activist over article criticising appointment of judges
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders condemns the Fiji appeal court’s harassment of Leone Cabenatabua, the editor of the “Fiji Sun”, and Virisila Buadromo, the head of the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, who were summoned and warned by the court on 12 February 2008 because of an article quoting Buadromo in that day’s issue criticising the […]
Four journalists and cameramen arrested for “disobeying a police order”
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders condemns the arrest of Fiji TV reporter Emily Moli and cameraman Shalendra Datt for “disobeying a police order”, on 23 January 2008, when they went to cover a dispute between the principal and the administration of Rishikul Sanatan high school in Nasinu. After being told to stop filming and leave […]