4 Jun 2009

Fiji warns emergency rule will also apply during AIBD conference

3:30 pm on 4 June 2009

Fiji's permanent secretary for information says local journalists will be able to attend an international media conference but he's warned them against breaching public emergency regulations.

Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni says the Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcast Development conference will go ahead in Fiji next month.

He says Fiji journalists will be able to attend and report what is said but they must remember the need to report responsibly

"Let's put it this way, the public emergency regulations are in place, that's the law. Just because you are a journalist and you want to say whatever you want to say, that does not necessarily mean that you can breach the emergency regulations. If you breach it, sorry you'll be dealt with."

Lieutenant Colonel Leweni says the Pacific Youth Festival will also proceed, but has confirmed that the Methodist Church's annual conference has been deferred indefinitely.