The International

Federation of Journalists (IFJ) urges all members of Fiji’s

interim military government to ensure that the country’s media is not impeded

in reporting on a controversial High Court decision on October 9 which proclaims

Fiji’s

2006 military coup to be “not unlawful”.

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has warned Fiji’s media

to be “careful of what they print,

air or post”, saying they could be

held liable for contempt if they publish comments made by ousted prime minister

Laisenia Qarase last week regarding his dissatisfaction with the court’s

decision, according to Pacific Media Watch.

Yet again, the IFJ calls on Fiji’s interim Government, which

was installed after a military coup led by Frank Bainimarama in 2006, to honour its promise

in February to ensure “media freedom is secured and guaranteed” as a key aspect

of Fiji’s return to political and democratic stability.

“Any attempt by Fiji’s Government or authorities to

coax or threaten the media in regard to reports on the High Court decision is a

contradiction of high-level commitments to press freedom and freedom of

expression,” IFJ

Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said. 

“It is imperative that all people in Fiji are able

to fulfill their right to access free and independent reporting and public commentary

from all sides regarding the court’s landmark decision,”

Park said.

The IFJ encourages all media outlets in Fiji to stand by the

principles of independent political reporting to fulfill their duty to report

in the public interest and to ensure the public right to know is upheld and

protected.

For further

information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific

on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ

represents over 600,000 in 122 countries worldwide