11:26 AM |
Title – 6516 FIJI: Attorney-General 'delusional' on media freedom, claims PFF
Date – 1 November 2009
Byline – Media release
Origin – Pacific Media Watch
Source – Pacific Freedom Forum, 1/11/09
Copyright – PFF
Status – Unabridged
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FIJI ATTORNEY-GENERAL SELF-DESTRUCTS ON MEDIA FREEDOM
www.pacificfreedomforum.org/
RAROTONGA (Pacific Freedom Forum/Pacific Media Watch):
Fiji's Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has erased his own credibility with 'delusional'
notions that Fiji has a free media, says regional media watchdog
Pacific Freedom Forum.
According to media reports, Khaiyum told a regional journalism seminar
at the University of the South Pacific on Friday, October 31, Fiji's
media were free to report on any issue, asking "Is there a
restriction? Are journalists being locked up? Are journalists being
told what to write? No!"
But in the same presentation on the Public Emergency Regulations (PER)
introducing regime censorship of all newsrooms in April 2009, he
admitted the "fundamental issue as far as the media control at the
moment is concerned is that you do not have politicians being
reported."
"The fact that his monologue went unchallenged by his audience only
proves that self-censorship is thriving under the PER. Mr. Khaiyum
should know his claim Fiji journalists have not been restricted,
locked up, or told what to write, is clearly delusional and out of
touch with reality," says PFF Chair Susuve Laumaea of PNG.
The latest global media freedom index compiled by global watchdog
Reporters Sans Frontieres has Fiji ranked 152 out of 175 nations. In
2008, Fiji ranked 79th.
"We can only stand in solidarity and sympathy for those who organised
the debate, and offer our technical support help build understanding
amongst the regime leadership that the right to freedom of expression
and speech has specific universal indicators which can't be mucked
around with," says Laumaea.
"The Pacific Freedom Forum and our networks warmly congratulate the Fiji
Times, for their award winning free speech campaign as announced on
Friday night in Australia," says co-chair Monica Miller of American
Samoa. "The irony for us all is that only a few hours before this
cause for celebration, the regime AG in Fiji went public saying the
media is free to report anything -- so long as they don't report on
the leadership. In saying that, he proved so powerfully why Fiji Times
deserve the award, and our continued support."
Links:
Pacific Scoop:
http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2009/10/think-outside-box-to-cover-real-stories-about-social-change-says-sayed-khaiyum/
Reporters Sans Frontieres:
http://www.rsf.org
CONTACT:
PFF interim Chair
Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle Newspaper | Papua New Guinea
Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office: 675-321-7040 | Email:
susuve.laumaea@interoil.com
PFF interim co-Chair
Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa
Mob 684 258-4197 | Office 684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com
* Comment on this item www.pacific.scoop.co.nz
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