The future of Fiji's media
Since military commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama overthrew the elected government in December 2006, and put an interim government in place, with him as Prime Minister, and backed by the military, the country's media's very quickly learnt to be careful what it reports.

The Commodore's said more than once that his interim government will uphold media freedom, but only to a limit. In fact he repeated that message a few days ago, adding he doesn't think Fiji's media's doing a very good job. And in what can only be described as "interesting timing" his latest statement came in the same week a report was released, describing Fiji's media industry as being in the same situation as a failed state.

The Report into the Freedom and Independence of the Media in Fiji was commissioned in May 2007 by Human Rights Commissioner Dr Shaista Shameem. Fiji's various media organisations made it clear they felt its real purpose was to give a reason for the interim government to further restrict what it can report on. When the report's author was named as Hawaiian academic Doctor James Anthony, they went public again saying he had no relevant qualifications to conduct such an inquiry.

But Dr Anthony proceeded anyway. This week his report was released, all 323 pages of it. Dr Anthony's made six recommendations: the establishment of an independent media tribunal to address complaints; a media development authority, to provide training and help improve standards - Fiji's Human Rights Commissioner, Dr Shameem, who commissioned the report, has further recommended the Development Authority and Tribunal adopt the model used in Singapore.

The third recommendation is to implement a seven per cent tax on media revenues to pay for the tribunal, the development authority, and also to fund the creation of community radio and TV stations, which Dr Anthony says will broadcast the truth about what's happening in Fiji. One critic's already described this proposal, as a "Slush fund” in the making.

Recommendation four asks authorities to consider legislation making it illegal to publish, or broadcast, anything judged to incite sedition, or breach public order. And again Fiji has been urged to adopt legislation used in Singapore.

The last two recommendations suggest Fiji’s media should have no foreign influence. Number five calls for all existing work permits for foreign nationals working in Fiji's media, not to be renewed, and that no further work permits be issued. As well the report raises concerns about allowing foreign journalists to enter Fiji, to cover national events. Some of those who gave anonymous input to the report are unhappy with this, saying foreign reporters don't have to live with the consequences of what they report, or what's happening where they report from. It's a fair criticism. But it should be pointed out, using Burma and Zimbabwe as examples, that barring international media from entering your country doesn't bar them from reporting on what's happening in it.

Recommendation six states: "That action be taken to control foreign ownership, and the relation media owners have with political parties." Foreign ownership does play a big part of the media landscape in Fiji, the biggest selling newspaper, The Fiji Times, is owned by Rupert Murdoch's global giant News Limited. In defending Dr Anthony's recommendation, Human Rights Commissioner Dr Shameem makes the point Mr Murdoch had to take up US citizenship, before he could become the owner of a US news organisation. That is true. But that doesn't mean a journalist has to take up citizenship before he or she's allowed to work in the USA's media, or in most other countries for that matter.

For her part Dr Shameem's happy with the report, and recommendations, and she's already submitted to the interim government. As I prepare this, there's no indication if it will be accepted or ignored.

On Monday the 25th of February the publisher of the Fiji Sun, Australian Russell Hunter, was expelled. The immigration department said his presence affected national security, and he had been declared a prohibited immigrant. Mr Hunter says he was thrown out because his newspaper published allegations of tax evasion against an interim government minister, later named by the Fiji Times newspaper, as finance minister and former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry.

Mr Chaudhry has denied the allegations.

As I've said, Fiji's leader's repeatedly said he'll uphold media freedom. Some though are asking if media freedom in Fiji will soon come at the cost of freedom of expression.

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