**Updates IFEX alerts of 26 April, 26, 12 and 7 January 2000, 30 December, 25 and 24 November 1999** (PINA/IFEX) – On 24 August 2000, “The Fiji Sun” reported that Fiji’s new interim government has welcomed “The Fiji Times”‘ Editor-in-Chief Russell Hunter back into the country and back to work. “The Fiji Sun” reported that […]
**Updates IFEX alerts of 26 April, 26, 12 and 7 January 2000, 30 December, 25 and 24 November 1999**
(PINA/IFEX) – On 24 August 2000, “The Fiji Sun” reported that Fiji’s new interim government has welcomed “The Fiji Times”‘ Editor-in-Chief Russell Hunter back into the country and back to work. “The Fiji Sun” reported that Hunter, who is originally from Scotland, was granted a three-year work permit. Hunter had been forced to leave the country in April 2000 by the then coalition government led by Mahendra Chaudhry. The government had refused to renew his work permit and said a local must be appointed to the position. Hunter’s departure came just weeks before the Chaudhry government was itself ousted following the 19 May takeover of parliament by armed rebels (see IFEX alerts).
The new interim government’s minister for immigration and home affairs, Ratu Temo Ratakele, was quoted by “The Fiji Sun” as saying that Hunter’s work permit was issued following a recommendation from the ministry of information. “Also noted was the fact that key posts needed to be taken up by overseas people to protect investments in our country,” Ratu Talemo said. Ratu Talemo said “The Fiji Times” was told to train a local who could take up the post when the permit expires.
BACKGROUND:
PINA President William Parkinson stated that the Chaudhry government’s refusal to renew Hunter’s work permit was a clear attempt to interfere with the newspaper’s editorial independence. Parkinson said “The Fiji Times” was being victimised by the government because the newspaper was doing what any decent news organisation should be doing – informing the public without fear or favour. But it seemed the Chaudhry government did not like scrutiny, Parkinson said.
“The Fiji Times”, which is part of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, has local editors for its daily newspaper, Sunday newspaper, and Fijian and Hindi language weekly newspapers, and an editor-in-chief for the group posted from News Corporation.
Hunter has extensive newspaper management and training experience in Britain, Australia and the Pacific Islands, and last year was elected by the region’s newspapers and magazines as their representative on the PINA executive.
The Fiji Islands has amongst the most diverse and free news media in the Pacific Islands. They include: three seven-days-a-week English-language daily newspapers; weekly newspapers in Hindi, Fijian, and English; news, business, trade and entertainment magazines; independent commercial, community and religious radio stations; government-owned public and commercial radio stations; and commercial and community television.
However, the news media came under continuing criticism from the Chaudhry government following the election of their Fiji Labour Party-led coalition in May 1999 (see IFEX alerts). On 27 October, there was widespread criticism in the Fiji Islands of threats by Chaudhry to bring in a government-regulated media tribunal with powers to impose penalties on the media.
