Fiji Interim Government strangles its media [1]
Monday, May 5, 2008 - 15:37. Updated on Saturday, May 17, 2014 - 17:42.
Transparency International Fiji is concerned and dismayed at the unexpected deportation of the Publisher of Fiji Times Mr. Evan Hannah. This sends a very wrong signal to the people of this country and the international community that media outlets are being intimidated and their independence threatened. This is even more contradicting given the assurance by the Interim Prime Minister saying media freedom is guaranteed under Fiji's constitution two days prior to the media freedom day.
TI Fiji firmly believes that media must be allowed its absolute freedom to report freely events of public interest to keep the people of this country informed..
Role of an independent media is most important in keeping people informed of what is going around them.
Attempts by authorities to intimidate or muzzle the media from free reporting must never be entertained in a free society.
TI Fiji is further concerned with the disobedience by the authorities of the Court Order requiring Mr. Hannah to be produced in Court this afternoon. This now has shown disrespect to the courts and the rule of law and tantamount to contempt of the Court. TI Fiji, 02/05/08.