By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – The Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF) has expressed their concern and alarm over the Interim Government’s intimidation of the Fiji media. The PFF is specifically appealing to Aiyez Sayed-Khaiyum, Fiji’s Attorney General, to halt his legal pursuits against the editor and publisher of the Fiji Times. Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum is in court with the paper for publishing a letter to the editor that was critical of the recent High Court validation of the 2006 coup, which put the current government in power. The PFF is also appealing to Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, as he is responsible for the Ministry of Information.

The announcement by the PFF comes after Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum said he will insist the High Court give the editor and publisher of the Fiji Times jail sentences and also give the newspaper itself a heavy fine.

The Fiji Times has already made a public apology for any legal breach it may have committed and has offered to pay cost. PFF Co-Chair Monica Miller has said that in any other democratic country the apology would be sufficient. Ms. Miller continued, “The people of Fiji should realize that this is not just a media freedom issue. It is a human rights issue.”

For more information, please see:

Radio New Zealand International – Freedom Forum says intimidation of media in Fiji is a concern – 15 November 2008

Pacific Magazine – Media Group Alarmed By Fiji Govt’s “Intimidation of Media” – 14 November 2008