Attachment
The voice of Fiji’s largest newspaper is under serious threat, as the constitutional right of freedom of speech for the media, is once again challenged. The military-led government is attempting to close down the voice of the paper because of its ‘un-cooperative’
Pita Driti, Fiji’s Military Forces’ Land Force Commander issued a statement, which declared the Fiji Times as being biased and not giving sufficient coverage to the military’s grievances, or their positive achievements. “The Fiji Times in particular is the most non-cooperative and biased newspaper in the country. This news agency should be closed down immediately"
This is part of the ongoing intimidation experienced by the media, since the military took over the government in 2006. Three newspaper men have been deported, police frequently search media premises and the home of the editor, Netani Rika, last month came under a firebomb attack by assailants unknown.
In May the military led government defied a High Court order and deported the Australian publisher of the Fiji Times, bundling him onto a Korean Air flight to Seoul. Earlier in February an Australian born publisher of the Sun was deported for ‘destabilizing’
Shortly after taking power, the military occupied several offices of the media, demanding the right to see all reports before they were published. Publications were temporarily suspended. The Fiji Times’ Managing Director Tony Yianni said, “If we do not have the freedom to publish with responsibility, according to the constitution, then we do not publish.” The paper was permitted to resume publishing without any interference from the army.
Bainimarama took control a second time in 2006, as he felt the elected prime minister, Qarase, was putting up unfair proposals. Ones that would have benefited native Fijians, to the disadvantage of minorities, such as the ethnic Indians. Qarase also wanted amnesty for those involved in the 2000 coup, when Fijian George Speight seized power with his elite army units and racialist gunmen.
Native born Fijian Chief Frank Bainimarama, intervened in 2000. Speight was charged with treason and Laisenia Qarase was elected prime minister. In December 2006 Bainimarama again grabbed power, in Fiji’s fourth coup in twenty years of independence. Bainimarama wrested the powers of president from President Ratu Josefa Iboilo, as he promised to return power to Iboilo, with newly appointed civilian government.
Bainimarama declared he would have an election in 2009. He is zealously determined to destroy the nation’s coup culture. He is the ferocious driving force behind changing the country’s racial based communal election voting system. He says he will achieve this by April 2009. Bainimarama says it was “Racist policies and corruption of the former Fijian-dominated government which sparked his coup”.
Bainimarama has openly stood against the threat of the British Commonwealth to shelve Fiji’s membership, if it does not have elections this year. He says he will not allow any influence from any other country, as to when his nation will hold an election. “If we go to elections now, it is not going to serve any purpose. It’s probably going to make things worse for the people of Fiji. There’s going to be no election".
Tourist numbers dropped dramatically in the face of the political unrest.
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