Fiji Citizens Want Independent Press

Suva - Ninety-five per cent of the respondents in a recent survey say a Fiji media free from censorship is important to them, Wansolwara reports.

According to the Lowy Institute report on Fiji, a majority of the 1,032 adults polled believe in the need for an independent media.

The survey also found that 43 percent of the respondents found that the media’s performance since the 2006 coup had improved.

These respondents said it had become either a little more reliable or a lot more reliable and trustworthy.

About 24 percent found the media less reliable, while 31 percent believed the media’s performance since the 2006 coup had not changed.

Also, an overwhelming 95 percent of the respondents supported the right to vote in a free election, the right to vote in national elections and the right to a fair trial.

As for the military’s role in governance, the results were mixed.

Some 31 per cent of the respondents strongly approved of the role played by the military while 37 percent partly approved and 31 percent disapproved.

But, 46 percent said the military should not play a permanent role in politics, while 24 per cent felt otherwise.

The Lowy report also registered a strong approval rating for Commodore Bainimarama.

About 66 percent were happy with his performance, saying “he was doing a good job”. A similar number said they believed Fiji was heading in the right direction.

Some 83 percent of the people believed Fiji should be left alone to sort out its return to democracy, and sanctions against the country should be lifted.

In terms of the new constitution, 83 percent said it would lead to a better democracy in Fiji while 70 percent strongly agreed that it would end racial divisions and inequalities and end Fiji’s coup culture.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of Information Sharon Smith-Johns said the poll demonstrated the people’s support for the government.

“The citizens of Fiji approve of the Prime Minister and the government by a huge margin. So if our own people think we’re doing a good job and that’s all that matters,” she said.

“The Bainimarama government has never wavered from its roadmap towards parliamentary democracy and this is clearly shown through the results of the report and the support of the nation,” she added.

Zhiyad Khan is a student journalist and reporting for the University of the South Pacific student newspaper training Wansolwara.

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