Government says the Fiji Times and TV Fiji will not take part in the consultative process on the proposed Media Decree due to come into effect early next year because "they have demonstrated through their perverse publication and broadcast respectively that they do not recognise the contemporary Fijian legal system, the status of the Bainimarama government, are partisan and not Fiji focused".
Consultations will only include "media organisations and other relevant stakeholders which recognise the Bainimarama government and who have an interest in moving Fiji forward." If they want to be invited they must "change their partisan editorial, publication and broadcast positions and policy."
The decision is understandable but regretted because Government must engage with its opponents if these and other consultation outcomes are to be accepted as credible, not least by Government well-wishers in Fiji and abroard. ANU's Brij Lal sees "parallels with a political dialogue forum on electoral reforms planned for early next year. The government has announced several key political parties will be excluded from the meeting because their views are 'unhelpful'".
Government must find a way around this problem. To exclude leaders of the SDL party is understandable but representatives of the many "moderate" people who voted SDL should be included. A similar approach on the Media Decree would see "moderate" media opponents of Government included in the consultations.
1 comment:
Who would invite dracula to have any say in how the blood bank is to be guarded? When will people like Brijlal and Tamara realise that this govt has the support of the majority where it matters. FYI Frank is not a self appointed PM either, he was appointed by the head of state. Perhaps Brij was not given the full dose that he deserves. May be next time hopefully.
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