(PINA/IFEX) – The following is a PINA press release: Statement by Oseah Philemon, vice-president of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Fiji will become the first country in the South Pacific to be ruled by a civilian dictator if Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry goes ahead with his threat to legislate against media freedom in his […]
(PINA/IFEX) – The following is a PINA press release:
Statement by Oseah Philemon, vice-president of the Pacific Islands News
Association (PINA)
Fiji will become the first country in the South Pacific to be ruled by a
civilian dictator if Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry goes ahead with his
threat to legislate against media freedom in his country.
If that happens, then Fiji should be condemned by the international
community as a nation that no longer respects democracy and the basic human
rights of individuals to hold opinions and express those opinions as they
see fit on issues of concern to their welfare and livelihood.
The threats by Prime Minister Chaudhry are a serious attack not just on the
freedom of the media, but at the heart of the Fijian nation and what it
stands for – a free and democratic society and a free people.
Media are the mirror of the society they serve and cannot be held
responsible for the problems and injustices of society, let alone be
silenced because they report on those issues, be they political, social or
economic.
If the government of Fiji feels does not like some of the issues being
reported by the media, then it has the executive responsibility to find
solutions to them rather than blaming the media for highlighting the issues.
The media in Fiji have played a credible role in rebuilding relations
between the various groups after the coups by providing a forum through
which complex and sensitive issues were openly debated and compromises
reached, leading to a new constitution and now a new government in office
after the elections.
It is a role not even the Prime Minister can deny.
The people of Fiji cherish their free media and it is doubtful that they
will accept any government interference that denies them their right to free
speech.
The Prime Minister’s threat to legislate against “foreign-owned” media
organisations in Fiji is an attempt to gag the media so that it does not
expose the failures of the government in office.
It is a clear demonstration of a government that feels insecure in governing
and therefore attacks media organisations and intimidates journalists so
that they do not expose its weaknesses.
It is a threat that could be harmful also to foreign investment in Fiji as
well as the country’s relations with overseas governments and organisations.
# Mr Philemon is the editor of the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port
Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
