DIMINISHING MEDIA FREEDOM IN FIJI

UNCLAS SUVA 000130


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KPAO FJ KDEM
SUBJECT: DIMINISHING MEDIA FREEDOM IN FIJI


1. (SBU) Summary. Media censorship in Fiji is at an all-time high
and rising following the abrogation of its constitution on April 10.
Under two decreed Public Emergency Regulations, the interim
government (IG) is censoring news, placing military officers in key
news rooms, deporting foreign journalists, arresting local
journalists, and taking other restrictive actions. End summary.


2. (U) On April 10, President Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda
publicly abrogated Fiji's constitution. Using the just-promulgated
Public Emergency Regulations 2009, which are in place for 30 days
and can be renewed, the IG announced in its first decree restricting
the media: "The news media are to refrain from publishing and
broadcasting any news item that is negative in nature, relating to
the assumption of executive authority on 10 April 2009 by His
Excellency the President and the subsequent appointment of the Prime
Minister and Cabinet Ministers."


3. (U) The Regulations give the government blanket powers to censor
material. More specifically, the Regulations permit: "Where the
Permanent Secretary for Information has reason to believe that any
broadcast or publication may give rise to disorder and may thereby
cause undue demands to be made upon the Police or the Armed Forces
or may result in a breach of the peace, or promote disaffection or
public alarm or undermine the Government and the State of Fiji, he
or she may by order prohibit such broadcast or publication."


4. (SBU) The IG is actively enforcing these regulations, vetting
nearly every single story, and prohibiting all stories with negative
political implications. A police officer and Ministry of
Information official are stationed at every major newsroom to
monitor publications and broadcasts. Most restrictions have been
placed on the heavyweights, which include the Fiji Times newspaper,
Fiji TV, Fiji Sun newspaper, and Communications Fiji Limited radio
stations. On April 12, media outlets responded by categorically
stating in their publications that their content was being censored.
Fiji TV stated on the air April 11 that its news was being censored
and did not run its nightly news bulletin at all on April 12. The
Fiji Times, the most prominent and respected local newspaper,
intentionally left a page mostly blank to prove the point.


5. (SBU) This approach by the Fiji media irked the IG, particularly
Permanent Secretary for Information Major Neumi Leweni. Leweni
subsequently ordered all media not to mention censorship and warned
the Fiji Times not to leave blank spaces in its editions or risk
being shut down. A Leweni-created ultimatum reportedly gives media
outlets up to "four strikes." After the fourth repetition of
negative reporting on the IG, his ministry will close offending
media outlets. One radio news reporter fearfully told us that his
company is on its second strike already.


6. (U) Most media outlets have chosen to ban all political
coverage. This includes all coverage, pro-IG, anti-IG, or neutral.
Under the heading "WE BAN POLITICS," the Fiji Sun newspaper in a
front-page article stated: "The Fiji Sun won't publish political
reports - either from the interim Government or their critics -
until it can do so with accuracy, balance and fairness." Publisher
and CEO Peter Lomas cited the Fiji Media Council Code of Ethics
requirements to support his declaration, noting that the Code
requires journalists to "disclose all known relevant facts and...be
balanced and fair in their treatment of news and current affairs."


7. (SBU) Examples of actions taken by the IG include:
- Forbidding reporting critical to the IG or the president (all
media);
- Forbidding coverage and interviews of IG critics, including
anti-abrogation statements from the United States, UN, Commonwealth
and other governments;
-Forbidding coverage of mundane negative news stories like "water
shortage at the Sigatoka Hospital," reasoning that the originators
of complaints should direct their complaints to the Water Department
and not the media;
- Forbidding international coverage of protestors in Thailand
disrupting the summit of Asian leaders in Bangkok, alleging that "it
might give our people ideas";
- Deporting foreign journalists, including Sean Dorney from ABC
Australia Network and Sia Aston and Camera Operator Matt Smith of TV
3 New Zealand, for "sending out negative stories about Fiji";
- Ordering Fiji TV not to transmit any footage to overseas
television networks;
- Arresting Fiji TV reporter Edwin Nand for interviewing the
departing Australian reporter Sean Dorney. Nand remains in police
custody as of midday Tuesday; and
- Arresting but later releasing two Fiji media cameramen and a
reporter.


8. (SBU) The Fiji Times also pulled its social networking website,
SotiaCentral. However, despite rumors such a move was imminent, the
IG has not shut down local blogs, which remain very active. The
April 15 Fiji Times shows an editorial carton of a person scratching
his head saying "I wonder why that is?" while looking at a bar graph
showing a dramatic spike in internet usage in April. (This one must
have slipped by the censors.) People are clearly turning to blogs
for the latest rumors, updates and information. Blogs vary in
quality, are emotional (primarily angry),but often contain relevant
and timely political information.


9. (SBU) Comment: These are tough times for the media in Fiji.
Angst is growing among journalists. Things are likely to get worse
before they get better and may include either the closure of
offending media outlets with "four strikes," or the expulsion of
expatriate staff on longer-term work permits. Journalists being
journalists will undoubtedly find ways to circumvent the censorship.
The April 15 edition of the Daily Post included "news" of someone
having breakfast (headline: Breakfast as Usual),another person
catching a bus (headline: Man Gets on Bus),and a third watching the
paint dry on his couch (headline: Paint Dry). The Post reported all
matter-of-factly with no hint of satire, but a read
of any brings an understanding smile to all.

PRUETT