Fiji Government To Control Irresponsible Reporting

Fiji Government Preparing Legislation To Control Irresponsible Reporting

www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=50861

SUVA (Radio NZ International Online/Pacific Media Watch): The Fiji government is in the process of finalising a piece of legislation which it says will effectively control irresponsible reporting by the country’s media.

Acting Prime Minister, Attorney-General and Minister for Communication Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has told the Fiji Sun newspaper that the legislation will come into effect next year.

The Public Emergency Regulations 2009 which commenced in April provide for the "control of broadcast and publications from all media outlets in Fiji".

Section 16 stipulates that the state has the authority to stop any broadcast or publication it believes could cause disorder, undue demands on security forces, promote disaffection or public alarm or undermine the government and the state of Fiji.

This week, President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau extended the regulations for another month from December 3 .

ENDS

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