By Ryan L. Maness

Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

HONIARA, Solomon Islands — The president of the Media Association of Solomon Islands and publisher of  publisher of the Solomon Islands Star, John Lamani, has called for the Pacific Islands News Association to relocate to the Solomon Islands’ capital of Honiara.  Lamani, who spoke during a World Press Freedom Day celebration in Honiara, said that the relocation is necessary in light of the interim government’s track record of media intimidation.

Lamani said that PINA will be unable to fulfill its role of fighting for media freedom if it remains in Fiji.  Radio New Zealand International reports that Lamani also said that the Solomon Islands would be an ideal location for the media watchdog because the Solomon Islands cherish the fundamental human right to freedom of expression.

The head of PANI, Joseph Ealedona, however, said that it is more vital now than ever that PANI remain in Fiji.  He said that it is incredibly important that PANI engage in the interim government in a dialogue.  “You have to justify where is freedom of media, what is freedom of media, and for us, PINA, right now, freedom of media is definitely being threatened in Fiji. So therefore we must stay there, we won’t be seen to be running away from where the threats are coming from.”

For more information, please see:
Fiji Times — Relocate media outlets: Lamani — 13 May 2008

Radio New Zealand International — PINA says it’s important to remain in Fiji — 12 May 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Regional news organization vows to stay in Fiji — 12 May 2008

The Age — PINA urged to quit Fiji for Solomon Is. — 12 May 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Calls for Pina and Pacnews to move from Fiji — 11 May 2008

LONDON, UK — The  Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group has decided to continue to exclude Fiji from the councils of its organization.  The CMAG, which met on 12 May to consider the readmission of Fiji and Pakistan, declared that they had “grave concerns” that Fiji would not live up to its commitments to return free and fair elections to Fiji within the year.

The Commonwealth, a 53 member nation organization, originally decided to suspend Fiji in the wake of the December 2006 coup.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, explained the CMAG’s rationale, “The group continued to be concerned at reports which indicated the independence of the judiciary, and freedom of the media, were being seriously compromised, including the deportation of media personnel in contravention of court orders, and the continued militarisation of key Fiji institutions. It also expressed concern at reports of continued human rights abuses.”  However, Winston Peters, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister and Ministerial Action Group Member, said that Fiji could still come around.  “The group continued to be concerned at reports which indicated the independence of the judiciary, and freedom of the media, were being seriously compromised, including the deportation of media personnel in contravention of court orders, and the continued militarisation of key Fiji institutions,” said Peters, “It also expressed concern at reports of continued human rights abuses.”

The interim Prime Minister criticized the CMAG’s position, saying that the international community does not understand the difficulties of holding elections in Fiji and has not given the country sufficient credit for the gains that have been made.  According to Bainimarama, the interim government is commited to restoring democracy to Fiji and continues to foster a culture of dialogue and consensus building in order to find a way forward to Fiji.  Bainimarama said that Fiji has demonstrated its commitment with the Fiji/Forum Joint Working Group along with the efforts of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji.

For more information, please see:
Matangi — Commonwealth calls on Fiji to expedite election process — 15 May 2008

Pacific Magazine — Fiji PM Rebuffs Common Wealth Criticism — 14 May 2008

TradingMarkets.com — Fiji unhappy with CMAG decision — 13 May 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Commonwealth decision lacks understanding, says Fiji regime — 13 May 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Fiji remains suspended from Commonwealth Council — 12 May 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group has many concerns over Fiji — 12 May 2008

SUVA, Fiji — In the last month, Australia’s High Commissioner in Fiji, James Batley, has received two death threats.  The most recent threat, which Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has described as “vile and repugnant”, came last Thursday.

In response to these threats, Batley requested that the interim government allocate two unarmed Australian police to the High Commission to increase security.  The interim government denied this request, saying that it was Fiji’s responsibility to maintain the security of the High Commission.

Smith said that he was very disappointed that Fiji had not approved that allocation of Australian Federal Police personnel to the High Commission, but officers of the Fijian government insist that they continue to take the death threats seriously.  Fiji’s Foreign Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikausaid that the High Commission is in Suva and that the Australians had requested extra security, but that Fijian police were already providing that.  He also said that an active investigation of the death threats was underway because threats against foreign diplomats are a very serious matter and will not be tolerated.

The interim government’s reassurances will likely come as cold comfort to the Australian government, as Australian authorities have claimed that the military is responsible for the death threats.  Due to the increased threat to their diplomatic personnel, the Australian government is offering to foot the costs and allow personnel at the Australian High Commission to return to Australia.

Nailatikausaid responded, saying that there is no reason for Australian diplomats to leave.  He also said that the accusation that the Fijian military was responsible for the threats was “preposterous and unsubstantiated.”

For more information, please see:
Fiji Times — Offer for family evacuation — 21 May 2008

The Age — ‘Vile’ death threats against Aussia diplomat — 20 May 2008

Fiji Times — Regime stand upsets Australia — 20 May 2008

News.com.au — Don’t leave, Fiji tells Australians — 20 May 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Australia offers to fly families of High Commission staff out of Fiji following threats — 20 May 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Fiji death threats vile, says Australian Foreign Minister — 20 May 2008

ABC News — Fiji blocks police guard for death-threat Commissioner — 19 May 2008

Fiji Times — Batley wanted unarmed officers: Spokesman — 19 May 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Fiji military behind death threats against Australian diplomat, says paper — 19 May 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Fiji administration says it is responsible for security at foreign embassies — 18 May 2008