15 May 2009

Fiji media to be used to promote government

4:31 pm on 15 May 2009

The Fiji interim government expects to next week start using two media outlets to broadcast and publish its intentions.

A leaked document obtained by Radio New Zealand on Thursday shows plans to start a government channel on Fiji Television and to use 12 pages a week from the Fiji Sun newspaper, to publish aims and objectives.

A spokesperson for the government, Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni, says Fiji Television has agreed to let it have a channel to broadcast for up to seven hours a week.

He says discussions are continuing with the Fiji Sun.

The Newspaper Publishers Association in New Zealand on Thursday condemned Fiji's miltary-led government for restricting media.

Journalist released from custody

A Fiji Times journalist is free from police custody after being arrested on Thursday.

Reporter Theresa Ralogaivau was released on Thursday evening after being detained for about seven hours.

It is believed she was questioned over a story that was published on Monday about a community in Labasa being terrorised by a group of drug growers.

The story quoted a police spokesperson, who later denied he spoke to the journalist.

Last week the interim government extended its emergency regulations for another month, forcing media to publish only stories that cast a positive light on the interim regime.