Transcript
The latest complaint to Fiji's media authority is from expat Fijian Shailendra Raju after he was called an idiot by the CEO of the public broadcaster, the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made the comment, "I would rather not talk about idiots," after being asked what he thought of negative comments made on social media by Mr Raju and several others.
"I find that the CEO of a state-owned broadcaster and TV station, to be using such language is completely out of line, it's unacceptable and it calls for an enquiry and that's why I've complained to MIDA."
Prior to this Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum himself had lodged a complaint with MIDA about a Fiji TV report which he says portrayed his comment as being directed at the Fijian public. Fiji TV has since apologised for the report. However at least three separate complaints have already been filed with police as a result of the report. One of those complainants Ben Daveta says as a public broadcaster the FBC needs to be held accountable for its actions.
"Mostly the people who have been called as idiots are tax-payers and these people are actually funding the organisation that he is heading."
The organisation itself is at the centre of an earlier saga in relation to racist content broadcast on its language program Wasea Bhasha. Peter Waqavonovono who filed the original complaints to the police and to MIDA said he did so despite a public apology from the shows host and FBC because he found the content aired on Wasea Bhasha deeply offensive.
" And the thing about this is that it happened on repeated occasions to victimise and also stereotype and make fun of indigenous Fijians and there are also some segments of the show where they also poke fun at Indo-Fijians. And that is why a whole group of young people decided to just stand up and say, 'enough is enough."
The incident involving the FBC is occurring at the same time as an article writer as well as senior staff of the Fiji Times Newspaper are being tried over an article that allegedly incited communal antagonism. Another complainant against the FBC Vani Valuca says holding the FBC to account is also about demanding fairness and equality for all in Fiji.
"The media decree actually has a part that MIDA can actually act without a complaint to investigate a media organisation not complying. And what we found really interesting is that despite being questioned, the outrage on social media that Mr Raj did not see it fit to investigate it and he said we are waiting for people to complain before he could act. "
The chairman of MIDA Ashwin Raj says the investigation into the Wasea Bhasha incident will be concluded this week and its findings made public. Meanwhile a police investigation into the same incident has been concluded and presented to the public prosecutions office. It is unclear whether investigations by either the Police or MIDA are being made into the additional complaints stemming from FBC CEO Riya Sayed Khaiyum's "idiot" comment at last Friday's press conference.
