Articles by Pacific Islands News Association (PINA)
Judge rules for freedom of expression
(PINA/IFEX) – On 3 July 1998, a High Court judge in Suva, Fiji, ruled in favour of the news and business magazine “The Review” in what is seen as an important decision for the Fiji news media. Judge Daniel Fatiaki dismissed an application by one of the country’s major retailing companies, Burns Philp (Fiji) Limited, […]
Judge rules for freedom of expression
(PINA/IFEX) – On 3 July 1998, a High Court judge in Suva, Fiji, ruled in favour of the news and business magazine “The Review” in what is seen as an important decision for the Fiji news media. Judge Daniel Fatiaki dismissed an application by one of the country’s major retailing companies, Burns Philp (Fiji) Limited, […]
Agence France-Presse correspondent cannot enter Tonga
(PINA/IFEX) – As reported in the IFEX alert of 24 June 1998, Mike Field, the Agence France-Presse bureau chief based in New Zealand, continues to have difficulty entering the Pacific Islands kingdom of Tonga. Field, a New Zealander, applied for permission to visit the kingdom for major celebrations marking the 80th birthday of King Taufa’ahau […]
“The Fiji Times” gets a warning in regard to breach of parliamentary privilege
(PINA/IFEX) – On 5 June 1998, Fiji’s Senate formally accepted the finding of its privileges committee that “The Fiji Times” breached parliamentary privilege in a report and editorial on 30 September 1997. This included the recommendation that no formal charges be laid but that the newspaper be warned as follows: “That should ‘The Fiji Times’ […]
British consultant to help develop Fiji media codes
(PINA/IFEX) – A consultant from Britain’s Thomson Foundation is due to start work in Suva, 9 June on helping develop codes of conduct for the Fiji news media. Veteran journalist Ken Morgan will work to terms of reference drawn up by the industry’s self-regulatory Fiji News Council. Morgan is a former director of Britain’s Press […]
“Warned” newspaper features another report on Fiji’s Senate
(PINA/IFEX) – On 2 June 1998, Fiji’s biggest newspaper, “The Fiji Times”, led its front page with a report of a 12-minute meeting of the Senate, and the cost of this brief meeting. It did so as the Senate was preparing to consider the Senate Privileges Committee’s finding that “The Fiji Times” had earlier breached […]
Concern over accreditation moves by Fiji’s Assistant Information Minister
(PINA/IFEX) – Concern is growing in the Fiji news media over comments by the Assistant Minister for Information calling for the accreditation of journalists covering Parliament. The Assistant Minister, Ratu Josefa Dimuri, has said a policy would be in place by the end of the year and would bring Fiji into line with many other […]
Television station back on air
(PINA/IFEX) – Radio and television services in the small French Pacific Islands territory of Wallis and Futuna returned to normal on 11 May 1998, after being off the air for seven days because of protests by angry villagers. Following further meetings between the Societe Nationale de Radio Television Francaise D’Outre Mer (RFO) director on Wallis […]