The International
Federation of Journalists (IFJ) cautiously welcomes the announcement on New
Year’s Day by Fiji’s
authorities that the country’s Public Emergency Regulations will end on January
7.
During his New Year’s
address to the nation, Commodore Frank Bainimarama announced that the
regulations, in place since April
2009, will be removed to allow preparations for the drafting of a new
national constitution.
Under
the “temporary” Public Emergency Regulations imposed by Fiji’s
authorities, the regime and its authorities decide what fair,
balanced and quality journalism is. The decree allows
officers authorised by a government appointed media authority and tribunal to
enter newsrooms and media offices to seize any documentation, materials or
equipment on the basis of vaguely defined complaints, or even where no formal
complaint has been laid.
Thousands
of news reports have been censored by the tribunal since the regulations were
introduced. Self-censorship is also widespread in Fiji as a result of the laws.
In June
2010, authorities permanently installed the regulation’s censorship regime
by enacting the Media Industry
Development Decree.
Workers’ rights have also
been under attack from Fiji’s
authorities. The Essential National Industries Employment Decree on September
7, 2011 and the Essential National Industries and Designated Corporations
Regulations on September 8, 2011 diminish workers’ rights and remove many of the
conditions guaranteed by International Labour Organisation conventions ratified
by Fiji.
It is unclear if Bainimarama’s commitment to end the
Public Emergency Regulations also covers those elements of the regulations now
enshrined in these other laws and decrees.
“The IFJ welcomes Fiji
authorities’ promise to end the Public Emergency Regulations, which it imposed
‘temporarily’ in April 2009,” IFJ
Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park
said.
“However, we remain
cautious until the regime of censorship currently enacted through the Media
Industry Development Decree is also repealed.”
“Until the removal of the
media decree, journalists working in Fiji will continue to come under
threat from the government, and press freedom will continue to be undermined.”
“The IFJ also encourages Fiji’s authorities to immediately repeal the
Essential National Industries Employment Decree, and its associated
regulations, and implement workplace legislation in line with the ILO
conventions ratified by Fiji.”
For further
information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific
on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ
represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
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IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific
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