(PINA/IFEX) – News organisations in the Fiji Islands are concerned about a new restriction placed on coverage of the country’s influential Bose Levu Vakaturaga (Great Council of Chiefs). On 4 June 1999, “The Fiji Times” reported that, contrary to some claims of improved access to this meeting of traditional indigenous Fijian leaders, coverage is actually […]
(PINA/IFEX) – News organisations in the Fiji Islands are concerned about a
new restriction placed on coverage of the country’s influential Bose Levu
Vakaturaga (Great Council of Chiefs). On 4 June 1999, “The Fiji Times”
reported that, contrary to some claims of improved access to this meeting of
traditional indigenous Fijian leaders, coverage is actually more restricted
under the newly-elected Fiji Labour Party-led coalition government. Under
previous governments journalists have not been allowed
to cover the proceedings of this taxpayer-funded body. Now, at a media
briefing in Suva on 3 June, journalists were told they would no longer be
allowed to approach council members during breaks as well.
**Updates IFEX alert of 21 May 1999**
“The Fiji Times” commented: “So much for transparency…Today’s GCC meeting
will be more restricted than any before. At least in the past reporters were
permitted to talk to the chiefs during breaks in an effort to glean at least
some idea of what is going on. Now even that is banned.
“Instead there will be a press conference after the meeting when Adi Kuini
(Adi Kuini Speed, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Fijian Affairs)
will decide what the public is entitled to be told. This is not the
transparent style of government we were promised.”
In its news columns “The Fiji Times” reported that the media has been
invited only to cover the opening ceremony, as has been the practice in the
past.
The new restriction came amidst a controversy over a decision by Adi Kuini,
herself a chief, to not allow the indigenous Fijian Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa
ni Taukei party to present a report to the chiefs’ meeting. This party was
originally sponsored by the council of chiefs and led the government which
governed until it was defeated by a Labour-led
coalition in general elections in May.
Background Information
The new prime minister of the Fiji Islands, Mahendra Chaudhry, pledged on 21
May to not legislate against the media or impose media licensing, “The Fiji
Times” reported. But Chaudhry said media organisations, starting from
management, need “a lot of tuition,” the newspaper reported. “I think the
media should be fair,” it quoted him as saying.
Chaudhry is the country’s first ethnic Indian prime minister, from
descendants of indentured sugar plantation workers brought from India during
the British colonial era. He complained during the general election campaign
that some media organisations were biased against his Fiji Labour Party. He
alleged a “media plot” to prevent Labour from winning. This charge was
vigorously rejected by the media, especially “The Fiji Times”,
which is the biggest daily newspaper and also publishes Fijian and Hindi
language weeklies. It pointed out that politicians from all political sides
were alleging media bias against them and in favour of their opponents (see
IFEX alert of 7 May 1999).
“The Fiji Times” is a previous winner of the PINA Pacific Freedom of
Information award for its defence of the public’s right to know.
