Reporters Deported After Censorship Strengthening in Fiji .. By Sarah E. Treptow .. 13 April 2009 Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
SUVA, Fiji - The Fiji interim regime has ordered the reporter of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Sean Dorney, to leave Fiji immediately because they are unhappy with his reporting. Mr. Dorney was contacted by information ministry officials after he reported the absence of political news from newspapers which have been subjected to new censorship since the constitution was abrogated.
Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith has urged Mr. Dorney not to take any unnecessary risks. Mr. Smith said, "He should follow the request or the instruction of the Fiji authorities however so obnoxious he might regard those to be, because they are impinging upon his capacity to do his job as a journalist." Mr. Dorney has said he much prefers to be on a plane than in the military barracks.
The government has also arrested and begun proceedings to deport a television journalist, Edwin Nand. Mr. Nand's detention is based upon Fiji TV's transmission of reports of the detention and deportation of Mr. Dorney to overseas news services. The interim regime says such transmissions are now illegal. A New Zealand television reporter and cameraman are also facing deportation.
Journalists in Fiji have been told not to publish or broadcast stories that present the reinstatement of the military government in a negative light, and police censors are now in newsrooms across Suva to check on the stories intended to be run. The Permanent Secretary for Information has been given almost total control over what is printed or broadcast in Fiji. The penalty under the Emergency Regulations for not obeying may be an order to cease all activities and operations.
Commodore Bainimarama says he hopes everyone will follow the restrictions.
Sean Dorney was just interviewed on the Australian ABC he said that the Fiji did not know anything of the last 5-6 days, as after imposition of the restrictions they have stopped reporting most all government news.
WELLINGTON: Relations between New Zealand and Fiji's military regime sank to a new low Tuesday with the announcement they would expel each other's ambassadors.
Despite assurances by Fiji on Monday that it was trying to improve relations with New Zealand, acting high commissioner Caroline McDonald was summoned to Fiji's foreign affairs ministry Tuesday and told she had one week to leave the country, New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully said.
Fiji's interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum did not specify the reasons for the decision to expel McDonald, but said it was made with "deep regret and reluctance.
"This decision was reached as a direct result of Mrs McDonald's actions over the past year that have been contrary to the accepted international norms of diplomatic behaviour," he said in a statement.
New Zealand has been at the forefront of international criticism of the regime after military leader Voreqe Bainimarama toppled Fiji's elected government in a December 2006 coup.
Last year Fiji expelled New Zealand high commissioner Michael Green, accusing him of interfering in local politics.
McCully, who was appointed last month after his National Party won a November election, visited Suva earlier this month and said his new government wanted a constructive dialogue with Bainimarama's regime.
On Tuesday, McCully said the New Zealand government was disappointed but not surprised by the expulsion.
"From the time of assuming office, we have attempted to work constructively to resolve issues in contention between this country and Fiji," he said in a statement.
"That has been made difficult by the fact that Commodore Bainimarama has employed ultimatums and threats to advance his case.
"This government has no intention of making concessions with a gun pointed at our heads."
McCully said New Zealand would respond by ordering acting Fijian high commissioner Ponsami Chetty to return home within a week.
Sayed-Khaiyum had told Radio New Zealand earlier Tuesday that McDonald would not be expelled over her government's travel bans against people associated with the military regime.
New Zealand government sources said last week the Fiji regime had threatened to kick out McDonald over the refusal to renew a student visa for the son of an official.
But Sayed-Khaiyum told a press conference Monday that Fiji planned to set up a committee aimed at improving relations with New Zealand.
But he also accused the New Zealand and Australian missions of engaging with opponents of self-appointed interim Prime Minister Bainimarama and of "creating disquiet within the population".
"They have encouraged their local staff to become spies for them."
McCully said Tuesday the allegations against McDonald had not been specified but any allegation she had acted inappropriately were false.
Fiji's military leader has ordered Australia's and New Zealand's high commissioners in Suva out of the country.
Commodore Frank Bainimarama has announced that the Australian and New Zealand High Commissioners have 24 hours to leave Fiji.
Yesterday, Fiji's chief justice Anthony Gates accused Australia and New Zealand of interfering with the operations of the Fiji judiciary.
He claimed that consular officials had told a number of Sri Lankan judges that they would be banned from entering Australia or New Zealand if they took up appointments on the Fiji bench.
It is not the first time the Commodore has expelled New Zealand's High Commissioner, but James Batley will be the first Australian High Commissioner he has ordered out.
"It is for these reasons ladies and gentleman that I have told the ministry for foreign affairs to issue communications to the Australia and New Zealand governments that their respective heads of missions have to be recalled within 24 hours," he told a news conference in Suva.
"I have also informed them that our high commissioner in Australia is to be recalled with immediate effect," he said.
The Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Smith, says he is disappointed by the move.
"It runs the risk of Fiji further isolating itself, not just from Australia and New Zealand and the Pacific, but from the international community generally," he said.
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