The Pacific Freedom Forum said in a statement today:

"On behalf of all supporters of a free media in the Pacific region, we the members of the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF), express our concern and alarm at the Interim Government of Fiji's escalating campaign of intimidation against media freedom in Fiji.

"We respectfully appeal to the Attorney-General of Fiji, Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, to immediately stop his continuing and unreasonable legal pursuit of Fiji Times editor Netani Rika and publisher Rex Gardner over the paper's recent publication of a letter to the editor which was critical of the High Court of Fiji's validation of the 2006 military coup.

"The PFF also directs this appeal to the Interim Prime Minister of Fiji, Commodore, Voreqe Bainimarama, whose portfolio responsibilities include the Ministry of Information.

"The co-chair Susuve Laumaea, of Papua New Guinea, said: "The PFF has been moved to make its second media statement on this issue in less than two weeks (see the PFF's 31 October statement PFF warns against growing culture of intimidation in Fiji) because of the Attorney-General's November 11 announcement that the government will apply to the High Court to impose jail sentences on the Fiji Times publisher and editor over this matter, and is also seeking to impose a hefty fine on the newspaper."

"We readily acknowledge that professional media standards require that freedom of expression also carries a responsibility to respect the legal rights of others," said Laumaea.

"However, we note that the Fiji Times has already publicly and prominently apologised for any legal breach it may have committed, by printing a front page admission that it was in contempt when it published the offending letter to the editor, and has offered to pay costs."

"The PFF co-chair, Samoan journalist Monica Miller, said in any other democratic country, such an apology would be sufficient.

"While we do not condone the Fiji Times' failure to live up to its own high standards by publishing the letter in question, this careless oversight has already deeply embarrassed a newspaper with a long and proud record in Fiji, and could also lead to a significant financial penalty," said Miller.

"We believe that a major lesson to be learned from this affair is that there is an urgent need for higher standards of subediting, and a much stronger commitment by media proprietors in Fiji and around the South Pacific to training journalists in this vital skill,"continued Miller, a past president of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA).

"We believe the Attorney-General's actions are contrary to the "Freedom of Expression"provision enshrined in Chapter 4, Section 30 of the Constitution of Fiji, which states:

(1) Every person has the right to freedom of speech and expression, including:

(a) Freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas; and

(b) Freedom of the press and other media. PFF, 14/11/08.