27 May 1998
Alert
Television station back on air
(PINA/IFEX) - Radio and television services in the small French Pacific
Islands territory of Wallis and Futuna returned to normal on 11 May 1998,
after being off the air for seven days because of protests by angry
villagers. Following further meetings between the Societe Nationale de Radio
Television Francaise D'Outre Mer (RFO) director on Wallis and Futuna, the
chief of the village involved and a representative of the traditional king
of Wallis, it has now also been decided no RFO staff members will be sacked.
** Updates IFEX alerts of 6 May and 11 May 1998**
The villagers were upset when two other villages were given more air time on
3 May, during the station's coverage of traditional ceremonies on Wallis
Island. At first they held the station's manager and two editors and
demanded that those responsible for the coverage be sacked.
Background Information
The station, which is on Wallis, is operated by RFO, which provides national
radio and television services in France's overseas territories. It is the
only broadcasting service in Wallis and Futuna, a territory about 250
kilometers northeast of Vanua Levu, Fiji's second largest island.
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