Fiji: Chief Accused Over Mutiny Slates Media Repor

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CHIEF SLATES MEDIA REPORT
http://www.fijilive.com

SUVA (FijiLive/Pacific Media Watch): A Fijian high chief, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, has labelled a newspaper report published yesterday - implicating him in events leading up to a barracks mutiny during the political upheaval of 2000 - as "cheap journalism", reports the Daily Post.

Ratu Inoke, a Naitasiri high chief, said the article was in contempt of court because it was breaching sub judice.

"I can only say at this stage that the article is malicious in nature, defamatory in tone and very cheeky to say the least,² Ratu Inoke claimed in the Upper House.

"And most importantly the article is very poor, unbalanced journalism since some of us whose names were dragged into the article were not given the chance to give our side of the story," he said.

The article was a report over the military court martial being held on Wednesday at the Fiji army¹s Officers Training School in the Suva suburb of Vatuwaqa.

Ratu Inoke said to members of the Senate that the article contained a lot of "unsubstantiated allegations".

Eight loyal and rebel soldiers died in the mutiny shootout.

+++niuswire

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