Fiji

(PINA/IFEX) – On 11 June 2000, “Fiji’s Sunday Post” reported that Fiji Television Ltd’s operating licence is under threat because a programme is being claimed to have caused a civil disturbance in Suva two weeks earlier. The Fiji government’s telecommunications director Josua Turaganivalu was quoted as saying the licence can be revoked because of the […]

(PINA/IFEX) – On 30 May 2000, Fiji’s national television service went back on the air, less than 48 hours after being ransacked and put off the air by supporters of attempted coup leader George Speight. The service reopened with its normal 6 p.m. (local time) feature news bulletin. Fiji Television chief executive Ken Clark praised […]

(PINA/IFEX) – On 30 May 2000, publication of Fiji’s three daily newspapers was delayed following the imposition of martial law and a military curfew. “The Fiji Times”, “Fiji’s Daily Post” and “The Fiji Sun” all said they planned to publish during the day. This following the new military government’s announcement that the curfew would now […]

(PINA/IFEX) – On 25 May 2000, PINA warned that misreporting of the so-called “coup” in Fiji by a number of foreign media organisations threatened efforts to promote media freedom in the Pacific Islands. PINA president William Parkinson said: “The irresponsible and destructive nature of some of the foreign coverage leaves us in an extremely difficult […]

(PINA/IFEX) – An international television journalist was shot and wounded and Fiji’s national television service’s station was ransacked and put off the air in growing violence in the Fiji Islands following an attempted coup. On 27 May 2000, Associated Press Television News cameraman Jerry Harmer was shot in the arm as he filmed a confrontation […]

(PINA/IFEX) – On 24 May 2000 (local date), the third Fiji Islands daily newspaper, Fiji’s “Daily Post” resumed publishing as the Fiji Islands news media continued to report fully and without restriction the country’s continuing crisis. The two other English-language dailies, “The Fiji Sun” and “The Fiji Times”, had continued publishing since the government was […]

(PINA/IFEX) – On 26 April 2000, a Fiji Islands High Court judge rejected an application by “The Fiji Times” to quash the government decision to refuse to renew the work permit of the company’s editor-in-chief. “The Fiji Times” had sought a judicial review of Minister for Home Affairs Joji Uluinakauvadra’s refusal to extend the work […]

On 11 April 2000, a Fiji Islands judge struck out a defamation action by the country’s assistant minister for information against Fiji Television and three of its journalists. According to the written decision obtained by PINA, High Court judge Michael Scott ruled: “The words complained of … even viewed in the worst possible light, amount […]

On 17 March 2000, Fiji Islands news media reported that the country’s president is seeking a court injunction to try to stop the sale and distribution of a book by the leader of Fiji’s 1987 military coups, Sitiveni Rabuka. President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara was opposition leader in parliament at the time of the first […]

On 17 March 2000, PINA expressed “great concern” at the removal of a Radio Fiji presenter from a news and current affairs programme on the Hindustani station Radio Fiji 2. Presenter Thakur Ranjit Singh was accused by Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry of being biased against Chaudhry’s Fiji Labour Party. Singh, who hosted the twice weekly […]

**Updates IFEX alerts of 1 February, 26 January, 12 January, 7 January 2000 and others** (PINA/IFEX) – On 7 February 2000, Fiji Islands news media reported on attempts to get readers to boycott Fiji’s biggest newspaper, “The Fiji Times”, claiming it is against Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry. “The Fiji Times” published details of e-mail messages […]

**Updates IFEX alerts of 29 December, 25 August, 10 August, 5 June and 30 January 1998** (PINA/IFEX) – On 3 February 2000, the Fiji Islands attorney-general was reported as saying the government hopes to enact proposed freedom of information laws by the middle of this year. Attorney-General Anand Singh told “The Fiji Times”: “The main […]

(PINA/IFEX) – On 27 January 2000 (local date), “The Fiji Times” newspaper reported that the Fiji Islands government is trying to stop a judicial review of a government decision against the newspaper. The government plans to appeal a High Court decision allowing a review to be held of the refusal of a work permit for […]

**Updates IFEX alerts of 7 January 2000, 30 December, 25 and 24 November 1999** (PINA/IFEX) – On 12 January 2000, a Fiji Islands judge allowed “The Fiji Times” to apply for a judicial review of the government’s refusal of a work permit for the newspaper’s editor-in-chief. The High Court decision will also allow editor-in-chief Russell […]

**Updates IFEX alerts of 30 December, 25 and 24 November 1999** (PINA/IFEX) – On 6 January 2000, Fiji Islands news media reported that “The Fiji Times” has sought judicial review of the government’s refusal to renew the work permit of its editor-in-chief. A judge is expected to hear the application for the judicial review hearing. […]

**Updates IFEX alert of 25 and 24 November 1999** (PINA/IFEX) – On 30 December 1999, the Fiji Islands government gave “The Fiji Times” editor-in-chief Russell Hunter twenty-eight days to leave the country, the newspaper reported. It stated that a faxed letter sent to the newspaper’s lawyers said that Minister for Home Affairs Joji Uluinakauvadra had […]