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Frank Bainimarama - Source: ONE News -
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The forced exodus from Fiji has begun, with all foreign media being booted out of the Pacific nation.
Three foreign journalists have been arrested and a local reporter was put behind bars for reporting on the nation's political upheaval.
ABC correspondent Sean Dorney has arrived back in Sydney after he was deported by government officials, unhappy with his coverage of recent political developments in the troubled nation.
Dorney spent the night under supervision by immigration officials in Nadi along with New Zealand journalist Sia Aston and cameraman Matt Smith, of TV3, who have now also been deported.
In December last year, ONE News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver was also detained in Fiji, after being black-listed by the current administration.
She arrived back home safely after spending the night in a secure facility and under guard.
Now, local media in Fiji are under huge pressure, with the country's military head, Frank Bainimarama, posting censors in newsrooms.
A Fiji One reporter spent the night in jail, and is still in custody after sending footage to ONE News.
Law Society President Dorsami Naidu is also in custody for speaking to media.
"They're keeping me in custody overnight," he says, "but I think its more to teach me a lesson, to shut my mouth, but we'll see what happens tomorrow," he says.
The Fiji Times, the country's main newspaper, published its Sunday and Monday editions with several blank spaces where stories about the crisis would have appeared.
"The stories on this page could not be published because of Government restrictions," read the only words on Sunday's page two.
Fiji's main television station, Fiji One, refused to broadcast its nightly news bulletin Sunday, instead showing a simple message written across a black screen: "Viewers please be advised that there will be no 6pm news tonight."
The station later informed viewers it could not present some prepared stories because of censorship rules.
The media crackdown follows a new power grab by Bainimarama, after a court ruled last Thursday that his regime, in power since a 2006 coup, was illegal under the country's 1997 constitution.
In response, the country's ailing 88-year-old president Ratu Josefa Iloilo sacked the judges, dissolved the constitution, ruled out any election for five years and briefly removed Bainimarama before reappointing him to the top job.
The only political news now coming out of Fiji is on internet blogs.
A blog website, Intelligentsiya, reports that Fiji Times publisher, Australian Anne Fussell, would be deported on Tuesday or Wednesday for allegedly breaching visa conditions. Her predecessors Rex Gardner and Evan Hannah were deported under similar circumstances.
Fiji is expected to be suspended from the Commonwealth and the Pacific Islands Forum following the developments, which have been heavily condemned by regional heads, the US and the UN.
Not everyone is against Fiji's military ruler though. Alton Shameem is the founder and president of the Fiji Club of New Zealand. He says he, and the members of his club, believe Bainimarama will clean up corruption and make Fiji better.
"He is trying to actually bring democracy, and they are trying to sabotage him and be a big bully," says Shameem.
However, those under the gun in Fiji, would probably beg to differ.
What do you make of the Fiji situation? Post your comment on the message board below:
Add a Comment:
Post new commentvaingloriouscoconut said on 2009-04-28 @ 23:37 NZDT: Report abusive post
Like a jedi knight said at the beginning of a certain movie, the whole crisis doesn't make sense. A phantom menace at work? Whoever stands to gain most from this charade are 'the Sith'. Alot of noble talk generating alot of thuggery. Judge by effects, and actions beloved Fijians - not by intentions and words. Time will reveal all.
UP2DATE said on 2009-04-28 @ 19:24 NZDT: Report abusive post
The UN is a joke. Sorry Fiji. The Commodore is a total dictator. Only the Fijian people can change this. It is time to stand up to this madness. Good luck.
Mark Manning said on 2009-04-23 @ 13:01 NZDT: Report abusive post
The Commander is hiding from allegations of and an investigation into , his and others , alleged involvement into the murders of 5 Counter Revolutionary Warfare Soldiers in 2000 . At that time of the civil unrest , some soldiers justified murder of these men by declaring them an act of war and thought that assertion would protect them from prosecution . However , one of those murdered , wasn't even in the vicinity of the camp at the time of the killings of the soldiers in the camp .
Udreudre said on 2009-04-18 @ 18:13 NZDT: Report abusive post
Bula Vinaka, just my comment on media. Actually the news now is much better. Before so much headache. Eg the move to get retirement age to 55. Oilei! If were in Fiji 2 months ago, you will know what I mean. As soon as the news was aired, 5 more related news: the unions, the politicians, close up show. Really very stressful. Our own version of Shortland Street was Fiji one news. Very entertaining but stressful. Even at night, we think, this and that, but now, no more. Only news not noise.
Udreudre said on 2009-04-18 @ 11:46 NZDT: Report abusive post
Actually, our beloved country can survive without aid money. we have land, sea, only thing is we get very relaxed. If we work hard and become independant, we will benefit. I am a landowner and personally if we dont get tourists, it will be good. They bring in their evilways. we have a population of 800,000, yet the tourist number is 600,000 per year!. They may be working as cleaners or maids but they come here and are treated like royalty. My children dont have to be slaves to the tourists.