Regime intimidation of Fiji journalists continues

BEGINS--

Rarotonga, Cook Islands-- The continued campaign of fear and
intimidation against journalists in Fiji has been denounced by
regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum, after the
detention last week of a Fiji Times journalist for his investigative
business reporting.

Felix Chaudhary, 41, a journalist for the Fiji Times in Lautoka was
taken by military officers on Friday 18th February, while covering a
public function where regime leader Frank Bainimarama was also
present.

During his one-hour detention he was told the regime was not happy
with the stories that had been appearing under his byline on the sugar
and aviation industries in Fiji.

"PFF understands Chaudhary was released physically unharmed but we are
in no doubt that he was subjected to intimidation and threats which
will have an impact on his ability to freely report on his areas of
expertise and interest as a journalist," says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea
of Papua New Guinea.

"We condemn the continued use of the Public Emergency Regulations
allowing the military to arbitrarily detain and question a select
group of civilians who are merely doing their jobs as journalists, and
especially abhor the abuse of human rights and the rule of law when it
comes to detaining people in such a manner."

Chaudhary is the first known detainee in 2011, but continues an
ongoing trend of regime detentions since April 2009, of those whose
reportage leaves the regime 'unhappy'. The PER was to have been
replaced by a new enforcement body for 'media responsiblity' -- the
regime-appointed Media Industry Development Authority, MIDA

"The Pacific Freedom Forum repeats its call on Fiji's leadership to
honour its own promise to withdraw the PER, now that the new media
authority members have begun their work in earnest. We can only look
forward to the day when industry values and ethics are upheld by all
editors and journalists as the core standard for self-regulation,"
says Laumaea.

"We stand in solidarity with our Fiji colleagues who maintain media
ethics and codes of journalism under extreme duress, despite threats
to their safety and the well-being of their families," says PFF
co-chair Monica Miller of American Samoa.--ENDS

ENDS

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