2:14 AM |
Fiji interim PM says freedom of speech is trouble
Last Updated: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:28:00 +1000
Fiji's interim prime minister Frank Bainimarama says freedom of speech
causes trouble and is to blame for the country's political turmoil.
Commodore Bainimarama has imposed tough restrictions on local and
international media in Fiji, including stationing military censors in
newsrooms and deporting ABC journalist Sean Dorney back to Australia.
Commodore Bainimarama, who first took power in a 2006 coup, says Fiji
does not need free and open public discussion about current issues.
"That was how we ended up with what we came up with in the last couple
of days," he told Radio New Zealand this morning.
"If we [the Government and the media] had worked together from 2006,
we wouldn't have had that happen to us.
"The circumstances have changed. We [the Government] now decide what
needs to be done for our country, for the reforms that need to be put
in place for us to have a better Fiji.
"We want to come up with these reforms and the last thing we want to
do is have opposition to these reforms throughout.
"So that was the reason we've come up with emergency regulations."
Fiji's business only
Commodore Bainimarama says other countries have nothing to do with the
situation in Fiji.
"This is nothing to do with the Australian or New Zealand Governments.
This is to do with Fiji and the people of Fiji," he said.
"This is the practicality on the ground. We want changes; we're going
to come up with changes; we're going to provide those changes."
The Commodore says media restrictions will be lifted "hopefully in a
month".
When asked if a Radio New Zealand journalist could travel to Fiji and
report on whatever they pleased, Commodore Bainimarama answered:
"There is no need; ask me the questions and I'll tell you".
Constitutional turmoil
Commodore Bainimarama has recently gained more power after the
President abrogated the constitution following a Court of Appeal
ruling that the interim government, which took power in a 2006 coup,
was illegal.
The Commodore says the President's decision to abrogate the
constitution was made after a survey of Fijians found 64 per cent
wanted electoral reform.
He told Radio New Zealand the appeals court did not take the survey
result into account.
"The decision that was taken by the Court of Appeal last week did not
force us to go into the old electoral system, which was not good," he
said.
Currency devalued
Meanwhile, the country's Reserve Bank has ordered the immediate
devaluation of its currency by 20 per cent.
The reserve bank says the measure has been taken to cushion the
country's economy against the impact of the global financial crisis.
It also says it will bring the Fiji's dollar in line with trading
partner countries like Australia and New Zealand.
The announcement comes a day after the bank suspended offshore
investment facilities and limits on withdrawals to overseas accounts.
To view this story on our website, visit:
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200904/2543150.htm?desktop
-------------------------------
Fiji shuts down ABC Radio Australia broadcasts
Last Updated: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:45:00 +1000
Fiji's military-led government has forced the shutdown of ABC Radio
Australia's local FM transmitters.
Since Fiji's president scrapped the constitution last Friday, and the
interim government began enforcing censorship on local media outlets,
Radio Australia has been been one of the few remaining sources of
unfettered news and current affairs available in the country.
But this morning officers from Fiji's Ministry of Information,
accompanied by soldiers, escorted local technicians to the ABC's
transmitters in Suva and Nadi and ordered both of them to be shutdown.
Local sources have since confirmed Radio Australia is off the air in
both locations, but is still transmitting to Fiji and the Pacific on
its shortwave service.
The head of Australian Broadcasting Corporation's International
Operations, Murray Green, has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat
program the forced shutdown of the transmitters is a disappointing
move.
"The notion that one can have a press that only reports part of what's
happening, and avoiding reporting other things is a notion of the
press and the media that we certainly don't share," he said.
"We look forward to the opportunity of being able to re-engage in
Fiji, in the very near future."
The shutdown follows the expulsion of ABC Correspondent Sean Dorney.
Censorship concern
Interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama says he's trying to make Fiji
a better place.
"As I've said, all you need to do is ask me and I'll give you the
answers," he said.
But local journalists are being watched by police, foreign journalists
have been deported and there are reports internet cafes are being
forced to shut.
Fiji TV reporter Edwin Nand was released on Wednesday after 36 hours
in police custody.
Fiji TV's lawyer, Tanya Waqanika, says tight restrictions are in
place.
"We've all been told that we cannot make comments on political or
publish or broadcast political comments."
The military has told Mr Nand he can't return to work.
Law president released
Meanwhile, the President of the Fiji Law Society Dorsami Naidu has
been released from detention.
He spent 24 hours in custody where he says he was threatened with
charges of sedition.
Interim Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama and his main spokesman
have both denied publicly that anyone has been detained.
To view this story on our website, visit:
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200904/2543193.htm?desktop
-------------------------------
No Fiji phone, internet monitoring: Vodafone
Last Updated: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:46:00 +1000
The head of telecommunications company Vodafone in Fiji says rumours
that the interim government is monitoring phones and emails are
untrue.
Aslam Khan says Fiji does not have interception legislation to place
phones and email accounts under surveillance.
He says telephone and internet operators also don't have the equipment
to conduct such procedures.
Mr Khan says the interim government can control the internet by
approaching Fintel, which operates Fiji's internet gateway.
But he's told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program the interim
government hasn't done this.
"There has been no monitoring of internet, there has been no
restriction placed on internet and there is no monitoring of phone
calls," he said.
"All this is just malicious rumour-mongering going on."
Australian information technology and security specialist, Patrick
Gray, says Mr Khan's denial that the Fiji government is monitoring the
phone and internet are probably true.
But he warns people in Fiji against complacency when it comes to
keeping their electronic communications private.
"If I was in Fiji right now, I'd certainly be paranoid about my
internet access," he said.
"Just because it's difficult, doesn't mean people shouldn't take some
sort of precaution.
"It's a bit of a tough situation - the tools out there that people can
use to protect themselves do exist, but using them is quite tricky."
To view this story on our website, visit:
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200904/2543668.htm?desktop
Last Updated: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:28:00 +1000
Fiji's interim prime minister Frank Bainimarama says freedom of speech
causes trouble and is to blame for the country's political turmoil.
Commodore Bainimarama has imposed tough restrictions on local and
international media in Fiji, including stationing military censors in
newsrooms and deporting ABC journalist Sean Dorney back to Australia.
Commodore Bainimarama, who first took power in a 2006 coup, says Fiji
does not need free and open public discussion about current issues.
"That was how we ended up with what we came up with in the last couple
of days," he told Radio New Zealand this morning.
"If we [the Government and the media] had worked together from 2006,
we wouldn't have had that happen to us.
"The circumstances have changed. We [the Government] now decide what
needs to be done for our country, for the reforms that need to be put
in place for us to have a better Fiji.
"We want to come up with these reforms and the last thing we want to
do is have opposition to these reforms throughout.
"So that was the reason we've come up with emergency regulations."
Fiji's business only
Commodore Bainimarama says other countries have nothing to do with the
situation in Fiji.
"This is nothing to do with the Australian or New Zealand Governments.
This is to do with Fiji and the people of Fiji," he said.
"This is the practicality on the ground. We want changes; we're going
to come up with changes; we're going to provide those changes."
The Commodore says media restrictions will be lifted "hopefully in a
month".
When asked if a Radio New Zealand journalist could travel to Fiji and
report on whatever they pleased, Commodore Bainimarama answered:
"There is no need; ask me the questions and I'll tell you".
Constitutional turmoil
Commodore Bainimarama has recently gained more power after the
President abrogated the constitution following a Court of Appeal
ruling that the interim government, which took power in a 2006 coup,
was illegal.
The Commodore says the President's decision to abrogate the
constitution was made after a survey of Fijians found 64 per cent
wanted electoral reform.
He told Radio New Zealand the appeals court did not take the survey
result into account.
"The decision that was taken by the Court of Appeal last week did not
force us to go into the old electoral system, which was not good," he
said.
Currency devalued
Meanwhile, the country's Reserve Bank has ordered the immediate
devaluation of its currency by 20 per cent.
The reserve bank says the measure has been taken to cushion the
country's economy against the impact of the global financial crisis.
It also says it will bring the Fiji's dollar in line with trading
partner countries like Australia and New Zealand.
The announcement comes a day after the bank suspended offshore
investment facilities and limits on withdrawals to overseas accounts.
To view this story on our website, visit:
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200904/2543150.htm?desktop
-------------------------------
Fiji shuts down ABC Radio Australia broadcasts
Last Updated: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:45:00 +1000
Fiji's military-led government has forced the shutdown of ABC Radio
Australia's local FM transmitters.
Since Fiji's president scrapped the constitution last Friday, and the
interim government began enforcing censorship on local media outlets,
Radio Australia has been been one of the few remaining sources of
unfettered news and current affairs available in the country.
But this morning officers from Fiji's Ministry of Information,
accompanied by soldiers, escorted local technicians to the ABC's
transmitters in Suva and Nadi and ordered both of them to be shutdown.
Local sources have since confirmed Radio Australia is off the air in
both locations, but is still transmitting to Fiji and the Pacific on
its shortwave service.
The head of Australian Broadcasting Corporation's International
Operations, Murray Green, has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat
program the forced shutdown of the transmitters is a disappointing
move.
"The notion that one can have a press that only reports part of what's
happening, and avoiding reporting other things is a notion of the
press and the media that we certainly don't share," he said.
"We look forward to the opportunity of being able to re-engage in
Fiji, in the very near future."
The shutdown follows the expulsion of ABC Correspondent Sean Dorney.
Censorship concern
Interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama says he's trying to make Fiji
a better place.
"As I've said, all you need to do is ask me and I'll give you the
answers," he said.
But local journalists are being watched by police, foreign journalists
have been deported and there are reports internet cafes are being
forced to shut.
Fiji TV reporter Edwin Nand was released on Wednesday after 36 hours
in police custody.
Fiji TV's lawyer, Tanya Waqanika, says tight restrictions are in
place.
"We've all been told that we cannot make comments on political or
publish or broadcast political comments."
The military has told Mr Nand he can't return to work.
Law president released
Meanwhile, the President of the Fiji Law Society Dorsami Naidu has
been released from detention.
He spent 24 hours in custody where he says he was threatened with
charges of sedition.
Interim Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama and his main spokesman
have both denied publicly that anyone has been detained.
To view this story on our website, visit:
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200904/2543193.htm?desktop
-------------------------------
No Fiji phone, internet monitoring: Vodafone
Last Updated: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:46:00 +1000
The head of telecommunications company Vodafone in Fiji says rumours
that the interim government is monitoring phones and emails are
untrue.
Aslam Khan says Fiji does not have interception legislation to place
phones and email accounts under surveillance.
He says telephone and internet operators also don't have the equipment
to conduct such procedures.
Mr Khan says the interim government can control the internet by
approaching Fintel, which operates Fiji's internet gateway.
But he's told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program the interim
government hasn't done this.
"There has been no monitoring of internet, there has been no
restriction placed on internet and there is no monitoring of phone
calls," he said.
"All this is just malicious rumour-mongering going on."
Australian information technology and security specialist, Patrick
Gray, says Mr Khan's denial that the Fiji government is monitoring the
phone and internet are probably true.
But he warns people in Fiji against complacency when it comes to
keeping their electronic communications private.
"If I was in Fiji right now, I'd certainly be paranoid about my
internet access," he said.
"Just because it's difficult, doesn't mean people shouldn't take some
sort of precaution.
"It's a bit of a tough situation - the tools out there that people can
use to protect themselves do exist, but using them is quite tricky."
To view this story on our website, visit:
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/200904/2543668.htm?desktop
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