By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania
SUVA, Fiji — The interim Prime Minister said today that the media needs to be regulated in order to ensure that the reporting is pro-Fiji. Bainimarama followed this statement to say that he did not want the media to report with bias or be pro-government, only pro-Fiji.
“We don’t want to gag the media, we don’t want to stop media freedom,” Bainimarama said, but that it is “common knowledge” that the media has been trying to undermine the government. This, he said, was why he wants someone from the outside to check up on the publishers and editors of Fiji’s media, rather than allowing them to regulate themselves.
Foreign Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau made a similar statement, saying that the interim government does not intend to gag the media, but that the interim government wants fair and balanced reporting.
Fiji Media Council chairman Daryl Tarte was wary of these statements. “If the Government steps in to regulate the media, it would be a sad day for Fiji,” said Mr Tarte.
For more information, please see:
Pacific Magazine — News Media Must Be Regulated, Bainimarama Says — 01 June 2008
Fiji Times — Media must be pro-Fiji, says PM — 01 June 2008
Pacific Magazine– Fiji Foreign Minister: No Gag on Media — 31 May 2008
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LONDON, UK — Amnesty International, in its annual report of top human rights abusers around the world, has listed Fiji among the 150 other nations on its list. According to the report, the state of human rights in Fiji have deteriorated since the coup in December 2006. The report was particularly critical of the interim government’s intimidation of the media, its stance towards the judiciary, the complicity of the human rights commission and the military’s record of pursuit and detention of bloggers critical of the coup.
The interim government was quick to criticize the report. Interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has said that the report damages Amnesty International’s international credibility by releasing a “outdated” report. According to the interim AG, the report was short on specific allegations of human rights abuses, specifically he decried claims that the media or the judiciary are under attack because the media is free to express itself and the courts have freely expressed themselves.
Fiji Human Rights Commission chairwoman Dr Shaista Shamee, who herself was targeted by Amnesty’s report, has also called it outdated and inaccurate. She also thought that it was ridiculous for the report to suggest that world leaders should apologize for any human rights abuses in their country.
For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International — Fiji human rights chairs says calls for apology for human rights abuses a publicity stunt — 30 May 2008
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — Amnesty tells Fiji to stop threatening media — 30 May 2008
Fiji Times — FHRC tells Amnesty International to get facts right — 30 May 2008
Fiji Times — Amnesty International undermines its credibility — 29 May 2008
Radio New Zealand International — Fiji and PNG criticised in Amnesty report — 29 May 2008
International Herald Tribune — Amnesty International: Fiji human rights on downward spiral since military coup — 29 May 2008
FijiVillage — Amnesty International reports highlight serious concerns — 29 May 2008
Fiji Times — Amnesty information out of date: Shameem — 29 May 2008
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SUVA, Fiji — Fiji Election Chairman Mohammed Sahu-Khan has told Fiji Live that nothing will stop the Electoral Commission from carrying out its duties and holding an election. This statement comes after several days of hard rhetoric from interim PM Frank Bainiamarama who has been adamant upon the fact that the 2009 election timetable will not be possible unless the People’s Charter is passed. The Fiji Times reports that Sahu-Khan said that it is important for Fiji to have a free and fair election.
Despite the chairman’s commitment to the electoral process in Fiji, he believes that reforms are needed before elections should be held. Specifically, the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation reports that Sahu-Khan believes that the voting system needs to be seriously looked at, despite the fact that any such changes would require a change to the Fijian Constitution.
In order to impress upon the people the need for free and fair elections in Fiji, Sahu-Khan is holding meetings with civil servants to provide a forum to allow them to discuss their comments and criticisms of the current system.
For more information, please see:
Fiji Times — Election work goes ahead — 28 May 2008
Fiji Times — Commission continues with poll preparations — 27 May 2008
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited — Electoral reform needed: Sahu Khan — 27 May 2008
Radio New Zealand International — Fiji’s Electoral Commission says elections will take place — 27 May 2008
