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Alerts - Fiji

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Fiji

Defamation protections for regime unwelcome, says PFF

The country's new state proceedings decree grants Fiji's regime leader and his ministers exemption from defamation suits over anything they may say in public or private.

Fiji

IFJ cautiously welcomes end of Public Emergency Regulations

During his New Year’s address to the nation, Commodore Frank Bainimarama announced that the regulations, in place since April 2009, will be removed to allow preparations for the drafting of a new national constitution.

Fiji

Regime's bullying of media continues with contempt case

A "contempt" case was filed against the "Fiji Times" after it published an interview containing comments about the judiciary that offended the attorney general.

Fiji

Union members arrested for trying to publicly discuss new decree

Daniel Urai and Dinesh Gounder were arrested for trying to discuss the new Essential Industries Decree, which has roused international concern about workers' rights.

Fiji

Regime intimidation of journalists continues

Felix Chaudhary, a journalist for the "Fiji Times", was taken in for questioning by military officers while covering a public function.

Fiji

IFJ calls for censors to exit newsrooms

The regime pledged to lift the regulations when the Media Industry Development Decree was gazetted on 25 June 2010 but the censors remain.

Fiji

Spin and silence reign as Fiji clampdown on free speech continues, says PFF

Netani Rika, long-serving editor of the "Fiji Times", was reportedly forced to leave his job because of extraordinary pressure.

Fiji

Journalist detained overnight, questioned over story posted on news website

Richard Naidu ran a story stating Fiji's military police head, Esala Teleni, had been suspended.

Fiji

New controls over media industry and journalists deepen loss of free speech, says PFF

A new media decree legislates registration of all media outlets with a regime-endorsed "authority" given sweeping powers to protect the national and public interests.

Fiji

Media decree must be opposed, says IFJ

According to IFJ, the decree strictly limits the media's ability to regain its role as a critical watchdog on the accountability of power-holders.

Fiji

PFF welcomes regime lifting of media ban, calls for open dialogue

"Fiji Times" and Fiji TV had previously been banned from participating in discussions over a proposed media decree.

Fiji

Continuation of hearings against human rights trainer form part of ongoing clampdown on free speech, says PFF

Hearings are scheduled to continue against Imrana Jalal in a case brought against her by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

Fiji

PFF urges military regime to drop proposed media law

The regime has damaged its own credibility by banning mainstream media outlets from participating in the consultation process for the new law, says PFF.

Fiji

ASTW decides not to hold annual general meeting in Fiji

The IFJ urged the ASTW to rethink a proposal to conduct the meeting in Fiji in view of the military regime's strict censorship.

Fiji

Academic deported after commenting on political situation

PFF condemned the illegal detention, assault and deportation of Professor Brij Lal.

Fiji

Attorney general erases credibilty with claim that media can report freely, says PFF

According to media reports, during a seminar at a university the attorney general said, "Are journalists being locked up? Are journalists being told what to write? No!"

Fiji

PFF calls on military regime to relax stranglehold on media as Fiji Media Council chooses new leader

The transition of leadership at the council will come to nothing if the military regime does not relax its stranglehold on free media and free speech, PFF says.

Fiji / Australia

In light of regime's censorship, IFJ urges Australian Society of Travel Writers to rethink meeting in Fiji

The IFJ said ASTW members would be compromising their integrity to accept the hospitality of the regime in the current circumstances.

Fiji

Newspaper editor threatened in pro-regime blog

A threatening message against a newspaper editor recently appeared on a pro-Fiji regime blog.

New Zealand / Fiji

PFF urges investigation into broadcaster's suspension

PFF is encouraging the management of Pacific Islands radio station Niu FM 531pi to launch an investigation into the suspension - and then reinstatement - of veteran Fiji journalist Bulou Amalaini Ligalevu.

Fiji

PFF warns global media conference to "watch out for government interference"

PFF has warned the AIBD to keep the agenda to its July conference free from interference by Fiji’s military regime.

Fiji

Fiji's extended censorship alarms IFJ

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the Fiji military regime's extension of strict media censorship and emergency regulations

Fiji

Journalists in Fiji released after 48 hours in detention

(IFJ/IFEX) - May 11, 2009 - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is relieved to learn that two journalists detained without charge in Fiji since May 9 were released today.

Fiji / International / World Press Freedom Day

PINA media statement on World Press Freedom Day

(PINA/IFEX) - 3 May 2009 - As the world celebrates Media Freedom Day, we in the Pacific are thinking of our colleagues in Fiji who have nothing to celebrate because their freedoms have been forcefully curtailed by the ruling government.

Fiji

Pacnews journalist detained for 12 hours; military orders closure of ABC relay transmitters

Pita Ligaiula, a journalist with Pacnews, the Suva-based regional news agency owned by the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), was detained reportedly because the regime objected to his articles for The Associated Press (AP)

Fiji

Foreign reporters ordered to be deported, media censored after government declares state of emergency

(CPJ/IFEX) - Fiji's interim government must relax its reporting restrictions after the government declared a 30-day state of emergency on Friday, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Fiji

Journalists from New Zealand and Australia deported as regime tightens control on news media; local media outlets refuse to report on political stories

(PINA/IFEX) - Overseas journalists covering Fiji's political crisis have been deported as the military-led regime tightens its control on the island's besieged news media.

Fiji

Military leader calls for closure of "Fiji Times" newspaper; editor's home attacked by unknown assailants

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Fiji

Police search "Fiji Times" newspaper and Fiji TV

(PINA/IFEX) - Fiji's media freedom is under threat again after police searched two media organisations for airing politically-sensitive stories.

Fiji

Newspaper publisher Rex Gardner deported in latest crackdown on media

(PINA/IFEX) - The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) strongly condemns the actions of the interim Fiji government in its continued targeting of the Fijian media by deporting "Fiji Times" publisher Rex Gardner.

Fiji

"Fiji Times" fined over article, newspaper publisher and editor receive suspended prison sentences

(PINA/IFEX) - On 22 January 2009, Fiji's oldest newspaper was fined FJD$100,000 (US$54,000) by the High Court over its publication of a letter that criticised the court's validation of the 2006 military coup, reports Fiji Live.

Fiji

New Zealand reporter detained at airport, deported

(PINA/IFEX) - ONE News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver was detained at Fiji's Nadi Airport on the night of 15 December 2008 as she flew in to cover the latest developments on the deteriorating diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Fiji.

Fiji

Interim government seeking jail terms for newspaper bosses

(PINA/IFEX) - Fiji's interim government has asked the court to jail the publishers and editors of two of the country's daily newspapers for six months each and impose a fine of $1 million (approx. US$539,000) over their publication of a letter that criticised the High Court's validation of the 2006 military coup, reports Fiji Live.

Fiji

Editor faces contempt charges; IFJ urges wide consultation on new media law

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Fiji

IFJ urges government to ensure that media is not impeded in reporting on landmark court decision

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 13 October 2008 IFJ media release:

Fiji

Second journalist arrested

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns two cases of journalists being arrested and questioned for several hours by police since the beginning of August 2008. The latest was that of "Fiji Times" reporter Serafina Salaitoga, who was arrested at her home in the presence of her children on 10 August after writing a story in the previous day's issue that quoted businessman Charan Jeath Singh as criticising finance minister Mahandra Chaudhry.

Fiji

Reporter threatened, questioned by police over allegedly "seditious" article

(PINA/IFEX) - On 10 August 2008, Fiji police threatened and tried to force a "Fiji Times" reporter into giving a statement on an article she wrote, reports the "The Fiji Times".

Fiji

Government proposes new media legislation, denies goal is to control media

(PINA/IFEX) - Fiji's interim attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has denied proposed new legislation is designed to control the nation's media, reports Radio Australia.

Fiji

Police prohibit broadcast of television programme, seize master tape

(PINA/IFEX) - A regular Fiji Television programme was pulled off the air on the evening of 22 June 2008, on allegations that it contained "inflammatory" comments, reports the "Fiji Sun".

Fiji

Arrest, deportation of "Fiji Times" publisher aims to silence voices critical of interim government, says PINA

(PINA/IFEX) - The following is a PINA statement:

Fiji

Publisher's deportation linked to report on government minister's alleged tax evasion; PM warns media of limitations to constitutional guarantees on press freedom

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 27 February 2008 IFJ media release:

Fiji

Newspaper editor deported

(PINA/IFEX) - The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) has strongly condemned the deportation to Australia of "Fiji Sun" Editor in Chief Russell Hunter, by Fiji's interim government.

Fiji

Court summons editor and activist over article criticising appointment of judges

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the Fiji appeal court's harassment of Leone Cabenatabua, the editor of the "Fiji Sun", and Virisila Buadromo, the head of the Fiji Women's Rights Movement, who were summoned and warned by the court on 12 February 2008 because of an article quoting Buadromo in that day's issue criticising the military-led government's appointment of new judges to the court.

Fiji

Four journalists and cameramen arrested for "disobeying a police order"

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the arrest of Fiji TV reporter Emily Moli and cameraman Shalendra Datt for "disobeying a police order", on 23 January 2008, when they went to cover a dispute between the principal and the administration of Rishikul Sanatan high school in Nasinu.

Fiji

Emergency laws reactivated, potentially curbing freedom of expression, media

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Fiji

Blogger suspended from government job for criticising military

(RSF/IFEX) - The authorities announced the suspension of a finance ministry official on 14 September 2007 for criticising the military government in blog posts. The announcement came eight days after the military proclaimed a state of emergency to prevent the return from exile of former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who is accused of inciting the military government's overthrow.

Fiji

Blacklisted New Zealand journalist detained and expelled

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns Fiji's expulsion of New Zealand journalist Michael Field and the existence of a government blacklist of undesirable foreign journalists. Field, who works for the Fairfax press group, was detained on his arrival on the evening of 14 June 2007 at Suva airport and was expelled a few hours later. He was treated well and an immigration officer even voiced regret at finding his name on a blacklist. Other journalists who arrived on the same flight as Field were allowed in.

Fiji

Interim government closes websites critical of the army or party leaders

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the decision of the military authorities, on 17 May 2007, to block access to blogs "critical of the army and members of the government" on the pretext that they pose a "threat to national security".

Fiji

"Fiji Times" photographer assaulted and briefly detained by soldiers

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Fiji

"Fiji Post" editor-in-chief to be deported; military visits newspaper's offices to instruct on editorial policy

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 14 December 2006 IPI press release:

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