April 14, 2009
Media Release

EPMU condemns Fiji media clampdown

The union that represents journalists in New Zealand, the EPMU, has condemned the latest clampdown on the news media by the interim Government in Fiji.

The Fijian Government has expelled TV3 journalist Sia Aston and camera man Matt Smith from the country this morning, along with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Sean Dorney.

The journalists were expelled for supposedly negative reporting of the actions of the Fijian Government in suppressing press freedoms in Fiji.

Government officials have been vetting material at Fijian media organisations, effectively leading to a ban on the publication or broadcasting of any material deemed inappropriate by the regime.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says this is another serious blow to press freedom in Fiji.

“The regime in Fiji has overreacted by sending home foreign correspondents who were simply doing their job.

“More worrying is the continued harassment and suppression of news media in Fiji itself. The citizens of Fiji deserve a full and truthful account of the actions of the interim Government, which itself was judged to be an illegal administration by Fiji's Court of Appeal last week.

“The EPMU calls on Fiji's interim Government to remove restrictions on Fijian news media and to allow foreign correspondents back into the country to report events there without fear or favour.

“There will never be real freedom in Fiji until the Fijian people are free to receive accurate information about the actions of their government and free citizens around the world must stand with Fijians to demand it".

The EPMU represents 1000 New Zealand journalists and is the New Zealand affiliate of the International Federation of Journalists.

ENDS

© Scoop Media