INDEPENDENT NEWS

Fiji Coup: Insurrection leader slams media ban

Published: Tue 23 May 2000 10:14 AM
Insurrection leader slams media ban
LEADER OF FIJI'S HOSTAGES SITUATION NOT HAPPY WITH PRESIDENT'S DIRECTIVE TO BAN MEDIA
George Speight told a news conference that he cannot understand why the President had made the directive.
He said he learnt from the police and the security people that the international press and local press were being restricted to a barrier approximately one kilometre away from the parliamentary comple
x"Upon inquiring as to where those instructions came from, I was told they emanated out of the office of the 'former' President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara," he said.
"I reiterate, with a greatest of respect, that if Ratu Mara believes his position is in the best interest of the indigenous people of Fiji, why is he restricting the international press to capture this news and dispel them widely?"
"I can't understand his reasoning for restricting you (media) in trying to prevent the flow of information, and to prevent you from capturing exactly what is taking place here," Speight told the journalists.
Speight said he discussed the media ban with police officers guarding the area and encouraged them to give free access to all the journalists.
Security forces in Fiji yesterday advised journalists gathered outside the Parliamentary complex to cover the hostage crisis to move their television and photographic cameras a kilometre from the complex. The journalists have also been advised that they cannot take photos of film the parliamentary complex from a plane or helicopter.
+++niuswire
PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is an independent, non-profit, non-government organisation comprising journalists, lawyers, editors and other media workers, dedicated to examining issues of ethics, accountability, censorship, media freedom and media ownership in the Pacific region. Launched in October 1996, it has links with the Journalism Program at the University of the South Pacific, Bushfire Media, the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism, and Pactok Communications, in Sydney and Port Moresby.
(c)1996-2000 Copyright - All rights reserved.
Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original producers as indicated. Recipients should seek permission from the copyright owner for any publishing. Copyright owners not wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The views expressed in material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views of PMW or its members.
Recipients should rely on their own inquiries before making decisions based on material listed in PMW. Please copy appeals to PMW and acknowledge source.
For further information, inquiries about joining the Pacific Media Watch
listserve, articles for publication, and giving feedback contact Pacific
Media Watch at: E-mail: niusedita@pactok.net.au or: bfmedia@mpx.com.au Fax: (+679) 30 5779 or (+612) 9660 1804 Mail: PO Box 9, Annandale, NSW 2038, Australia or, c/o Journalism, PO Box 1168, Suva, Fiji Website: http://www.pactok.net/docs/pmw/

Next in World

UN Envoy Backs Demand For Immediate Gaza Ceasefire Amid ‘Cataclysmic Suffering’
By: UN News
Cholera Cases Soar Globally; Malawi, Haiti Deadliest Outbreaks, WHO Reports
By: UN News
US Urged To Halt First Execution By Nitrogen Asphyxiation
By: UN News
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media