Fiji censors keep Lal expulsion out of local media

Updated November 5, 2009 18:05:37

Over the past week the events in Fiji have been front page news in Australia, New Zealand, and many other parts of the world, including the Pacific. Fiji's media was also been given the go ahead by the censors to cover the comments by Chief Justice Anthony Gates, alleging judicial interference by Australia and New Zealand. Outlets there also reported the military backed regime's response to those allegations, the expulsion of Australia and New Zealand's heads of mission, and the reaction of those countries, and the expulsion of Fiji's Heads of mission in Wellington and Canberra. But as Pacific Correspondent Campbell Cooney reports Fiji's censors, based in newsrooms since the constitution was scrapped in April, have ensured there has been no mention of the overnight expulsion of Fijian born Australian National University academic, Professor Brij Lal.

Presenter: Pacific Correspondent Campbell Cooney
Speakers: Fiji's Interim Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum; Radio Australia's Phil Kafcaloudes; Mark Davies from the SBS; Fiji interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama

COONEY: A leading commentator on Fiji politics Professor Lal has a home in Suva and has been there for the past few months doing research. He appears to have run foul of the regime over interviews he conducted with international media about the interim government's expulsions. After a three hour interrogation by the military he was told he was unwelcome and was given 24 hours to leave Fiji. But this story about the detention, interrogation and expulsion of one of the country's leading academics and commentators appears to be something Fiji's leaders don't want Fijians to know about, especially on the day the military regime gets the head of state it wants with former interim minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau swearing in as President. And online check by Radio Australia of Fiji's media and the Pacific news wire service Pac News can find no mention of the forced exit from Fiji of Professor Lal. And in an interview with Radio Australia, interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum indicated Fiji has a different view of what free press means.

SAYED-KHAIYUM: The only restriction on media at the moment is that there are one or two individual politicians whose voices aren't heard, but other people's voices are heard.

KAFCALOUDES: Why are some politicians voices not heard, certainly that isn't freedom of speech if some are not allowed to speak?

SAYED-KHAIYUM: Yes you can argue that, but the point is that we are building a nation.

COONEY: In July Mark Davies from the SBS Dateline program spoke to interim prime minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama about the censorship.

DAVIES: There's a pretty good chance I could break a law on the streets of Fiji. I just have to bring my camera out and try and speak to an opponent of yours and I'd be breaking the law?

BAINIMARAMA: Well yes but that's law by decree.

DAVIES: Mr Qarase, he's not able to speak out against you or to organise against you. I believe he's now not allowed to leave the country, is that correct?

BAINIMARAMA: That's his bail condition I think.

DAVIES: And one of the reasons given to not allow him out of the country is that he will speak to journalists. Specifically he'll speak to journalists in Australia?

BAINIMARAMA: Well not really, he will go out and make destabilising remarks about what's happening in Fiji.

DAVIES: Is he able to speak freely?

BAINIMARAMA: Well he can speak to his wife and his family freely in that sense, yes.

DAVIES: Can I speak to him?

BAINIMARAMA: You want to speak to him? What do you want to speak to him about?

DAVIES: Ask him his opinion of you perhaps?

BAINIMARAMA: No, I don't want you to speak to him because he doesn't make sense.

COONEY: And while the interim government says there are only a couple of politicians who aren't allowed to talk publicly, the expulsion of diplomats and academics means those contacted over the past few days by Radio Australia asking for comment have declined, giving the reason of not wanting to put Fiji's military leaders off side. Fiji's public are definitely not going to be reading a story in the News Limited-owned Australian newspaper about the man credited with triggering Fiji's latest conflict with its international neighbours, Chief Justice Anthony Gates. Written by the paper's legal affairs editor Chris Merritt, it's first paragraph reads:

"The breach in relations with Fiji has been triggered by one extraordinary man, Chief Justice Anthony Gates, an Australian citizen who appears to believe the role of a judge includes providing briefings for dictators."

COONEY: And if that's not enough to attract the attention of Fiji censors then its description of Mr Gates' career trajectory to his appointment as Chief Justice is sure to:

"For Justice Gates this promotion is the pinnacle of a career that has flourished as democracy in Fiji has withered."

COONEY: Don't hold your breath waiting to see it in print in Fiji anytime soon.