(PINA/IFEX) – The following is a 6 December 2006 PINA media release: The Pacific Island News Association expresses its grave concern about the overturning of the elected government of Fiji by Commodore Frank Bainimarama on 5 December 2006. Speaking from Suva, Ken Clark, President of PINA, has expressed on behalf of the Board of Directors […]
(PINA/IFEX) – The following is a 6 December 2006 PINA media release:
The Pacific Island News Association expresses its grave concern about the overturning of the elected government of Fiji by Commodore Frank Bainimarama on 5 December 2006.
Speaking from Suva, Ken Clark, President of PINA, has expressed on behalf of the Board of Directors and members of PINA their disappointment at the turn of events, in Fiji. “The overthrow of an elected government is entirely unacceptable”, said Mr. Clark. “We have very serious concerns about the events and the subsequent imposition of media restrictions on The Fiji Times, Communications Fiji, Fiji Broadcasting and Fiji Television.”
“PINA applauds the brave actions of its members, The Fiji Times and Fiji TV for refusing to broadcast material which may, through the intervention of army personnel present at their facilities, be perceived as tainted,” said Mr. Clark.
“We further applaud the actions of both major radio operations in Fiji,” said Mr. Clark. “FBC and Communications Fiji are working their way through a very difficult situation and maintaining their rights to broadcast material which is unaffected by the imposition of the military conditions.”
As a major proponent of media freedom in the Pacific, PINA condemns the action of the military and urges the immediate re-establishment of free media conditions under which media may fairly, and in a balanced way, report to their viewers, readers and listeners in a modern and professional way, as usual.
