Oceania

JAWS Claims Samoan Journalists Harassed

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

APIA, Samoa – The Journalists Associations of Western Samoa (JAWS) has expressed concerns over attacks and threats on media personnel outside of the Court.  According to the group a camera man and a news reporter were attacked and two reporters were threatened.  JAWS claimed that more journalists continue to be threatened during major trials, though the statement did not give the details of who was attacked or why.

JAWS strongly condemned the violence in their statement.  They said they “wish to reiterate that we will not tolerate the harassment of local journalists in the pursuit of truth.”  The group continued, “Journalists play an important role in any society; the media is the fourth estate of democracy and it is essentially the eyes and ears of society.”  “By hindering the work of Journalists members of the public are inadvertently infringing upon the people’s right to know and be informed.”

“JAWS reiterates that media freedom is integral to democracy.”

For more information, please see:
Samoa Observer – Journalists harassed, JAWS claim – 28 March 2009

Islands Business – Journalists harassed in Samoa, JAWS claim – 30 March 2009

Marshall Islands Chief Judge Chides Government for Illegal Detention of Prisoners

By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

Majuro, MARSHALL ISLANDS – Marshall Islands Chief Justice Carl Ingram has criticized police and government forces for the second time in as many monthsover the unlawful detention of a prisoner.  During an assault hearing, Justice Ingram learned that the defendant, Bai Lanej, had been held in a Majuro prison for thirteen months before coming before receiving a hearing.  Lanej, who was arrested in February 2008 on charges of aggravated assault, has been sitting in prison until this week.  Under Marshall Island law, a person must be given a hearing within twenty-four hours of being arrested or be released.  In response to the Lanej’s treatment, Justice Ingram ordered him released on his own recognizance until the case is resolved.

This is not the first time that Justice Ingram has had harsh words for the government over treatment of prisoners, last month he discovered that a prisoner was held for a month after his release date without advising the court.
Speaking of the situations in the Marshall Islands, Justice Ingram said, ““If the Ministry of Justice does not take action immediately to correct this situation, the Court will do as much as it can consistent with the Constitution and the laws of the Republic.”
The United States’ State Department issued a report last month, finding that the prison conditions in Majuro did not comply with international standards.  Among the deficiencies reported were inadequate lighting, poor ventilation, poor sanitation and a lack of separate facilities for female and juvenile prisoners.
For more information, please see:
Marshall Islands Journal – Lanej left to rot in jail – 27 March 2009
Radio New Zealand International – Marshall Islands Chief Justice angered by treatment of some prisoners – 27 March 2009

Colonel Driti Threatens Critics of Interim Government

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

Fiji Police Investigation Brings Criticism

By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji — Following this week’s bombing of prominent members of the Fijian media, the police have begun an investigation into the violence that has sparked criticism from a Fiji women’s awareness group.  FemLink Pacific.
Organization representative Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, says that the police needs to do more than “look for foot prints in the sand.”  This is the time when the people of our country need to be feeling safe to be able to say, this is what I feel is the way forward, this is what I would like to see happen,” Rolls said.  “But with this kind of environment, people aren’t going to be comfortable to speak.”  She went onto say that these attacks are only a manifestation of a violent climate that has been in place since the 2006 coup.
Criticism has also been leveled against the police for their reaction to the attacks themselves.  After the explosions, the government issued a statement stating that the Fiji Times, whose editor in chief had been the target of a bomb, had been giving unbalanced coverage of the investigation.  In response the chairman of Fiji’s Media Council, Daryl Tarte, “The media in Fiji, just as in Australia, is entitled to be be partisan if they want to be. It’s probably more dangerous to be partisan in Fiji than it is in Australia but the fact is that I think most media in Fiji are trying to report as objectively and in a balanced way as they can. It is very dangerous for them not to do so. And the examples of the recent attacks on the editor of the Fiji Times is evidence of this”
Police spokesperson, Atunasai Sokomuri, defends the police saying that they are doing the best that they can.  “It’ll take time as all these incidents are happening late at night and in the early hours of the morning. So we are just pleading with members of the public just to bear with us because Fiji police is trying to do its best in investigating all these cases.”  After calls for him to do so, interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has also come out to condemn the firebombings and denies rumors that his government was in anyway involved in the attack.


For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Fiji police defend home-bombing investigation amid public criticism – 27 March 2009

Radio New Zealand International – Fiji Media Council says balanced media coverage more crucial now than ever – 27 March 2009

Radio New Zealand International – Fiji women’s group criticises police handing of home bombings – 27 March 2009

Fiji Times Editor-in-Chief’s House Bombed, Newspaper Will Continue to Speak Out

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Kerosene bombs aimed at the homes of two high-profile Fiji men were designed to kill, report police.  The bombings are believed to be linked to a series of attacks against individuals who have spoken out against Fiji’s interim government.  Bombs were thrown at the homes of a former senior army officer, Colonel Sakiusa Raivoce, and the Fiji Times editor-in-chief, Netani Rika.  Mr. Rika said three home-made bombs in beer bottles filled with kerosene were thrown at his house windows in Nasese, marking the second attack on his property in less than two weeks.

Fiji’s Rewa Provincial council is asking those involved in the politically motivated vandalism to consider the consequences of their actions.  The Rewa High Chief, Ro Teimumu Kepa, said, “We’ve heard that some are saying they’re just carrying out orders.  But these orders have been given to people who are supposed to have brains and they should think twice about the orders that are given to them and think of the consequences that might happen.”  She says the freedom to speak out is provided for in the Fiji constitution, a document the miliary and interim government say is still intact.

Mr. Rika has said the attacks will not stop the Fiji Times from speaking out against the interim government.  He said, “There is a time to speak out and I think there’s a time to speak out responsibly.  I think we have done that, we will continute to do that.  It’s unfortunate that the people who have different views do not use the newspaper to make these views known and continue to move around under the cover of darkness to attack innocent people.”

The interim government will meet on Tuesday to discuss whether or not security should be provided for these civilian targets.  Interim Defence Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau has said police will not be provided for security unless it is specifically requested or if it is deemed absolutely necessary.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Molotov cocktail attacks in Fiji on homes of high profile individuals – 22 March 2009

Radio New Zealand International – Rewa Council in Fiji urges politically motivated vandals to consider consequences – 23 March 2009

Radio New Zealand International – Fiji Times editor vows to continue his work – 23 March 2009

Fiji Times – State in conflict over security concerns – 23 March 2009