Articles by Pacific Islands News Association (PINA)
Third newspaper resumes publication as media reports on crisis fully
(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 […]
Newspaper launched after radio station blocked by government
(PINA/IFEX) – On 5 May 2000, the company which has been blocked by the Kiribati government from launching Kiribati’s first non-government radio station began distributing a weekly newspaper. The newspaper, “Kiribati New Star”, becomes the central Pacific atoll nation’s second newspaper and competes with the government-owned weekly “Te Uekera”. It is published by a company […]
PINA, UNESCO focus on Culture of Peace for Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea
(PINA/IFEX) – The following is a 2 May 2000 PINA press release: This year PINA has joined with UNESCO in focusing on the key issue of the Culture of Peace as part of its World Media Freedom Day activities. With this in mind we have focused our activities on the Solomon Islands and Papua New […]
Solomon Islands journalists beat transport ban, fly to peace talks
(PINA/IFEX) – On World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2000, the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) fought a government ban on journalists boarding a chartered boat and a flight to the Guadalcanal conflict peace talks by chartering a plane itself to get nine journalists there. MASI chartered the plane with funds provided by UNESCO, […]
Fiji Islands court refuses to overturn government decision against newspaper
(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 […]
Judge rejects minister’s action against Fiji TV and journalists
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 […]
Fiji Islands president tries to stop sale and distribution of book by coup leader
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 […]
PINA questions government role in removal of radio show presenter
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 […]