Media Blackout Follows Fiji Crackdown

PRLog (Press Release) - Apr 18, 2009 -
Ruling from a senior court last week in Fiji, established Frank Bainimarama’s December 2006 military coup and regime were illegal. Eighty-nine year old and ailing President Ratu Josefa Iloilo chose to totally ignore the ruling, as he announced "a new legal order". He dissolved Fiji's third constitution, dismissed all the members of the judiciary who had declared the military government illegal, declared a 30 day state of emergency and said there would be no elections until 2014. “Fiji has not had a government in place since Thursday’s court ruling,” stated Iloilo.

Iloilo says he is not acting on Commodore Bainimarama’s behalf Frank Bainimarama, a self-appointed prime minister, seemed to renounce his political control, on 10th April, when he told Auckland’s Indian Radio Tarana, he was returning to the military barracks. "I am going back to the military to look after the RFMF [Republic of Fiji Military Forces]. It will be business as usual."

This week Fiji’s military regime however, increased its crackdown beyond the media. It not only deported three foreign television journalists, including ABC reporter Sean Dorney, but it attempted to shut down all international coverage, of Bainimarama’s latest grab for power.

A local news reporter was taken into custody also, for reportedly transmitting news material overseas.

Including the arrest of the Law Society president Dorsami Naidu, plus the sacking of the Reserve Bank governor, Savenaca Narbue Legal and financial sectors have now been disrupted. The military regime also placed tighter controls on foreign exchange and is limiting the flow of capital. Pages of newspapers were left blank, stating “The stories on this page could not be published because of government restrictions”. News broadcasts were cancelled. Roadblocks have been erected in the streets of the capital.

It is thought the vacated positions will be replaced by people who are regarded as friendly to the military regime.

Bainimarama has been criticized by the Australian and New Zealand governments for suspending freedom of speech and accused him of undermining the well-being of Fiji's residents.



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