The Fiji Human Rights Commission has strongly recommended to the interim government not to renew existing work permits for expatriates in the media industry.

The commission has also recommended that no further work permits be issued and called for the establishment of a media tribunal.

Commission director Dr Shaista Shameem had this to say when asked by Radio Australia's Geraldine Coutts to explain why such a strong recommendation in the report by Hawaii-based Dr James Anthony.

"I actually haven't seen any of the evidence, of course, because it was a confidential inquiry and he...’s done his own research outside of our office," she said.

"All I did was receive the report but you need to ask him how many people actually made that particular recommendation, where they came from because they are not identified as you say, he will be the best person to answer that."

Shameem adds that it is a strange coincidence that Fiji Sun publisher Russell Hunter exited the country at the time the report was released.

"I was actually finalising the report at the time when he was removed. We could not analyse that very much because we had a deadline for the report so I...’ve added that as a post script to my preface in the report," she said.

The report by the commission - titled "Freedom and Independence of the Media in Fiji" - also recommends that authorities consider legislation to prosecute the publication or broadcast of material considered seditious or a breach of the Public Order Act. RadioFiji.com/Pacific Media Watch.