Suva: Fiji's military-led regime released a
draft decree on Wednesday that would extend its already tight control
over the South Pacific nation's media, currently subject to
daily censorship of news, observers said.
Since Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power in a
gun-barrel coup in December 2006, foreign reporters and media
managers have been expelled, journalists have been arrested
and interrogated and military censors have operated in media
newsrooms on a daily basis.
The military leader said the proposed decree, which has a
three-day consultation period, would establish a better
relationship with the media, adding: "They have no choice but
to take part."
"Nobody is going to escape this consultation and there
are ground rules for people of the press to speak on."
Fiji Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum said the decree
would establish a media code of standards in ethics and
practice while emphasising "fair, accurate and responsible
reporting."
The decree would also establish a media industry
development authority to monitor the media's compliance with
the code and ensure that nothing is printed or broadcast that
is against national interest or public order, Khaiyum said.
There would also be restrictions on cross-media ownership.
Khaiyum said that the decree could be in force within weeks,
though he gave no firm date for its implementation.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, April 08, 2010, 00:04