By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji– Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ Land Force Commander, Colonel Pita Driti, has said the Fiji Times should be closed down.  In a statement he said, “The Fiji Times in particular is the most non-cooperative and biased newspaper in the country.”  Colonel Pita Driti went to say it “should be closed down immediately.”  He has also disagreed with the Fiji Media Council’s advice to political parties and stakeholders to take their grievances to the media.

The Fiji Times Editor, Netani Rika, has said it is unfortunate for Colonel Driti to make the statement, “The Fiji Times has always covered positive and not-so positive incidents and issues involving the arm and the interim administration.”  Mr. Rika went on to say, “If Colonel Driti provides us with particular issues which have not been covered, I will be happy to address these individually.”

Colonel Pita has also threatened to exclude the SDL, National Federation Party, and certain NGOs from future political leaders’ meetings if they do not curtail their public criticism of the interim government.  He said the President’s Political Dialogue Forum, “is one that is designated for the sensitivity of having parties drawn carefully towards a common end, state, or vision.”  He went on to say, “the verbal attacks by the two parties will only be a clear indication of the non-adherence and non-alignment to the Forum’s guidelines, its themes, and its strive to take Fiji forward.”

Colonel Pita added that the military coup in 2000 happened to “prevent Fiji falling into the abyss of lawlessness and disorder with mass genocides, ethnic cleansing, and battle between warlords, let alone civil war now that is a national security angle that I am speaking from on behalf of the military as the final bastion of law and order.”

Ousted Opposition Leader Mick Beddoes responded to the statement, saying it reflects little faith in Fiji’s citizens.  Mr. Beddoes said “it is the participants of coups and treason who destroy what we have built, and have such little faith in the good will of our people who would never consider such horrendous possibilities occurring in Fiji.”

For more information, please see:

Fiji Times – Military threatens to lock out critics – 25 March 2009

Fiji Times – Closure Threat – 26 March 2009

Fiji Times – Criticism is inciting: Driti – 27 March 2009

Fiji Times – Driti lacks faith in majority’s goodwill: Beddoes – 28 March 2009