Fiji Journalist detained for report published outside of Fiji
Updated
Another journalist in Fiji has been detained for writing news reports which have displeased the country's military regime, but this time the journalist involved was questioned by Police over a story which was published outside of the country. Media rights organisations say the detention of PacNews reporter Pita Ligaiula shows the military is further tightening its grip on what's being reported about Fiji.
Presenter Ian Burrows
Speakers: PacNews Reporter Pita Ligaiula, Pacific Island News Assocation Manager Matai Akauola, Pacific Freedom Forum Chairman Susuve Laumaea
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IAN BURROWS: Pita Ligaiula is a veteran reporter, working for the news agencies Pacnews and Associated Press. His work is published all over the Pacific and in many of Australia's leading daily newspapers. On Thursday he was taken into custody.
PITA LIGAIULA: We had a couple of police officers and a member of the military, and, yeah, according to our regulations, they have powers even without a warrant.
IAN BURROWS: Matai Akauola is the manager of the Pacific Island News Association, which owns Pacnews. He says Mr Ligaiula was arrested because of an article he had written and filed to AP, which was subsequently published in Sydney's Daily Telegraph. Mr Akauola says the arrest was not a result of Mr Ligaiula's wrongdoing.
MATAI AKAUOLA: That was sent to AP but I'm told that when it came out on the Daily Telegraph, it had, you know, there were changes to the story which Peter sent, although his by-line was still there.
IAN BURROWS: The article was about the public emergency regulations that have been put in place in Fiji. And Pacnews says it was because of the changes made to the article by the Daily Telegraph that Mr Ligaiula was arrested.
PITA LIGAIULA: Like any journalist, you'll be very disappointed if the story that you've written has been distorted or changed by other media players.
IAN BURROWS: The Pacific Freedom Forum is an advocacy group that was set up last year to help protect media rights in the region. The forum's chairman, Susuve Laumaea, says Mr Ligaiula arrest shows the military has taken another major step forward in clamping down on the media, given the work that landed Mr Ligaiula in trouble wasn't even published in the country.
SUSUVE LAUMAEA: It is extraordinary that the journalists concerned have been stringing for agencies outside newspapers, TV and radio outside of Fiji.
IAN BURROWS: Mr Ligaiula was released on Friday, but the Pacific Freedom Forum says journalists reporting on Fiji need to be aware the military Government has a large web of people throughout the region keeping tabs on everything that's published.
SUSUVE LAUMAEA: Friends of the military were able to tell the military authorities in Fiji that such and such has been published outside of Fiji. So that's what's been happening. The military seem to have eyes and ears outside of Fiji as well.
IAN BURROWS: Mr Ligaiula's detention follows the deportation of ABC journalist Sean Dorney earlier in the week and a journalist and cameraperson from a New Zealand television network. The Pacific Freedom Forum says the military Government's actions are unacceptable.
SUSUVE LAUMAEA: We think it's outrageous that the Fiji authorities continue to penalise journalists and news organisations and we condemn the idea that only journalists who considered friends of the Fiji military be allowed to continue, to conduct news reports and media coverage of what goes on in Fiji.
IAN BURROWS: Fijian Military Spokesman Major Neumi Leweni said he couldn't confirm whether Mr Ligaiula had been detained.
