Articles by Pacific Islands News Association (PINA)
Fiji TV to feature deposed prime minister despite warning from government
(PINA/IFEX) – On 26 October 2000 (local date), Fiji Islands news media reported that the country’s independent national television service, Fiji Television, will feature the deposed prime minister on its leading current affairs programme. It will do so despite a warning from the interim Fiji government’s minister for information, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, that having deposed […]
Minister warns TV station against featuring deposed prime minister
(PINA/IFEX) – On 21 October 2000, Fiji Islands news media reported that Fiji Television has been warned not to feature deposed prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry on its top-rated current affairs programme. “The Fiji Sun” reported that the interim government’s minister for information, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, said that allowing Chaudhry on the programme Close Up could […]
PINA condemns military action against Radio Fiji journalists
(PINA/IFEX) – On 20 October 2000, PINA called the taking away of three Radio Fiji journalists by armed Fiji Military Forces soldiers outrageous and a total overreaction. PINA called for the military to immediately and unconditionally allow Radio Fiji acting chief executive Francis Herman, news director Vasiti Waqa and reporter Maca Lutunauga to go free. […]
Government says AFP welcome, but not banned journalist
(PINA/IFEX) – On 6 October 2000, the Kiribati Government said that the news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) is welcome to send a journalist to cover this month’s summit of Pacific Islands, Australian and New Zealand leaders in Kiribati. But the government said its ban on AFP’s New Zealand/South Pacific correspondent, New Zealander Mike Field, entering […]
Militia spokesperson denies threatening journalist, promises him protection
(PINA/IFEX) – On 2 October 2000, a militia spokesperson in the Solomon Islands denied he threatened local journalist Duran Angiki. He said the militia would ensure Angiki and his family are safeguarded. Lawyer and former parliamentarian Andrew Nori, spokesperson for the Malaita Eagle Force, called a news conference in Honiara, the capital. He challenged allegations […]
Rebel to face trial over shooting and wounding of TV journalist
(PINA/IFEX) – (PINA/IFEX) – On 2 October 2000, a High Court judge in Suva ruled that a rebel gunman charged with shooting an Associated Press (AP) TV journalist must stand trial. Justice Peter Surman ruled that an immunity decree under which the rebel, Isoa Karawa, had earlier been freed by the Suva Magistrates Court did […]
Government plans restrictions on media coverage of ethnic conflict
(PINA/IFEX) – On 18 September 2000, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) said that the Solomon Islands government plans to restrict local news media coverage of the country’s ethnic conflict. SIBC News stated that a letter addressed to all media organisations by Director of the Government Communication Division Alfred Maesulia said all media releases on the […]
New Zealand minister appeals to Kiribati over banned journalist
(PINA/IFEX) – On 10 September 2000, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Phil Goff said he is trying to persuade Kiribati to lift its ban on New Zealand journalist Mike Field. Kiribati, which is hosting the annual meeting of the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum next month, banned Field from visiting Kiribati over reports he wrote last year […]