Emergency laws reactivated, potentially curbing freedom of expression, media
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Fiji interim government steps away from democracy The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has expressed its concern at reports that Fiji’s interim government has reactivated emergency laws which potentially curb Fijians’ rights to freedom of expression and free media, among other human rights infringements. According to […]
Blogger suspended from government job for criticising military
(RSF/IFEX) – The authorities announced the suspension of a finance ministry official on 14 September 2007 for criticising the military government in blog posts. The announcement came eight days after the military proclaimed a state of emergency to prevent the return from exile of former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who is accused of inciting the […]
Blacklisted New Zealand journalist detained and expelled
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders condemns Fiji’s expulsion of New Zealand journalist Michael Field and the existence of a government blacklist of undesirable foreign journalists. Field, who works for the Fairfax press group, was detained on his arrival on the evening of 14 June 2007 at Suva airport and was expelled a few hours later. […]
Interim government closes websites critical of the army or party leaders
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has condemned the decision of the military authorities, on 17 May 2007, to block access to blogs “critical of the army and members of the government” on the pretext that they pose a “threat to national security”. The worldwide press freedom organisation said it objected to the misuse of the […]
“Fiji Times” photographer assaulted and briefly detained by soldiers
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Troops assault Fijian photographer The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has voiced its outrage after soldiers attacked a Fiji Times photographer, on assignment, outside a church in Suva. According to online newspaper reports, photographer Sitiveni Moce was taking photos of what appeared to be a military […]
“Fiji Post” editor-in-chief to be deported; military visits newspaper’s offices to instruct on editorial policy
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is a 14 December 2006 IPI press release: Vienna, 14 December 2006 Fiji’s Daily Post Editor to be Deported, Other Media Rights Threatened, says IPI The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, is deeply concerned by the ongoing intimidation […]
Media refuse to bow to military censorship, successfully order soldiers out of newsrooms and office premises
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 7 December 2006 CPJ press release: FIJI: Media refuse to bow to military censorship New York, December 7, 2006 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today congratulated the media in Fiji for successfully resisting censorship attempts by the leaders of Tuesday’s military coup. Executives from the daily Fiji Times […]
PINA condemns coup, applauds media outlets’ resistance to new leadership’s demands, calls for immediate re-establishment of free media conditions
(PINA/IFEX) – The following is a 6 December 2006 PINA media release: The Pacific Island News Association expresses its grave concern about the overturning of the elected government of Fiji by Commodore Frank Bainimarama on 5 December 2006. Speaking from Suva, Ken Clark, President of PINA, has expressed on behalf of the Board of Directors […]
Military forcefully remove journalists from area surrounding PM’s residence
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 5 December 2006 IFJ media release: IFJ calls for respect for press freedom and journalist safety in Fiji The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demands the Fijian military show respect for the media and journalist safety, as reports about increased tension and rough treatment of journalists in the Fijian […]
Military moves into newsrooms, requires all news items to be screened
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Crackdown on press freedom in Fijian military coup The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has slammed moves by the Fijian military to crackdown on the media in the final stages of the military coup in Fiji, which stripped Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase of his powers and […]
Violent threats against media by military during coup; television station and newspaper suspend operations
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is an IPI press release: Vienna, 5 December 2006 IPI Condemns Intimidation of Media During Fiji Coup The International Press Institute (IPI) is deeply concerned by the intimidation and violent threats made against the management and staff of the Fiji Daily Post by the Fijian military during a coup d’état led […]
Newspaper temporarily closes in face of death and bomb threats, rumours of impending military coup
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Violent threats against the Fiji Daily Post force temporary closure The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly condemns the violent threats against staff at the Fiji Daily Post which forced the newspaper to temporarily shut down this afternoon. According to IFJ sources in Fiji, the newspaper’s […]
ARTICLE 19 calls for guarantees of independence for broadcast regulator
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: INDEPENDENCE OF FIJIAN BROADCAST REGULATOR MUST BE GUARANTEED ARTICLE 19 today made a Submission to the Fijian government on its proposed Broadcast Licensing Bill. The Bill, which draws heavily on a draft provided to the government two years ago by ARTICLE 19, contains a […]
IFJ supports Fijian journalists’ right to protect sources
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 28 April 2005 IFJ media release: IFJ supports Fijian journalists’ right to protect sources The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has come out today in support of Fiji journalists’ right to protect their sources in the face of strong pressure from government forces. Fiji police have been pressuring Fiji […]
PINA concerned over police action against television station
(PINA/IFEX) – PINA has expressed grave concern over police action to pressure Fiji TV to reveal the name of its source in the case of an alleged leaked police statement central to the 2000 coup investigations. The files relating to the investigation later mysteriously disappeared. On the afternoon of 20 April 2005, officers from the […]
Photographer assaulted by parliamentary guard
(PINA/IFEX) – The following is a PINA statement: PINA expresses concern over journalist’s assault by parliament guard SUVA: The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) has expressed concern at the assault of a Daily Post photographer by a guard at the Fiji parliament in Suva this week. The photographer, who covers the Fiji Senate, left his […]