Fiji regime officials questioned at Pacific summit

PORT VILA - Two representatives of the Fiji Regime were this morning questioned by participants at the Pacific Media Summit in Port Vila, Vanuatu for their attendance at the meeting despite the actions of their Government to suppress media freedom in the troubled Pacific Island country.

Talei Tora, a Lance Corporal with the Fiji Military, and an Information Ministry Official arrived over the weekend to take part in the Pacific Island News Association (PINA) biennial conference alongside some 200 participants from the region.

At the session titled Shooting the Messenger addressing violence against media practitioners, editor of Cook Islands News John Woods said, it was a direct offence to journalists in the Pacific to have the two representatives of the Fiji Interim Government at a gathering of Pacific journalist.

"Why are they here?," Woods asked during the meeting.

His query to the conference organisers was supported by other participants.

Editor of Fiji Times, Netani Rika, whose publication has been heavily censored by the Fiji regime, said the two were welcome, although he walked out before the Fiji official addressed the conference.

"These people who restrict our work and the work of our colleagues each day have been allowed to have a voice in this forum, that is how it should be. I thank PINA for allowing the Ministry of Information to be here, let us treat them with dignity, decency and respect, may I ask to extend that respect to them for the duration of this meeting," Rika said.

Despite his understanding at the presence of the Lance Corporal, Rika said: "You would forgive me, I no longer feel comfortable in the presence of people who do not treat us with respect at home but expect to be treated with respect offshore."

Lance Corporal Tora defended the censorship in her country, saying: "the media had abused its freedom in Fiji."

She told the gathering of journalists that they were shooting the messenger, that she, like a journalist was also doing her job.

"Just like journalists we also have a task to do. I reiterate that this is no easy task. Having to deny journalists their work, is not a task we carry out with malicious intent. Our names and photos published on blogs. As if Fiji government are intending to spy on this meeting. We are here to exchange ideas and meet friends," she said.

Asked whether she will report back to the military backed regime in Fiji the outcome as and discussions of the conference, Tora simply said she was not obliged to say.

PINA Manager Matai Akauola defended the invitation of the two Regime workers as a way of engaging with Governments to improve the situation for Journalists in any country.

"Our job is to try and work with the Governments in place, we see safety for journalists as pertinent. If we do not engage with governments, we see that our Journalists in Fiji will suffer. PINA engages with Government whether they be oppressive or not. When things happen you have to strategise in how you deal with Governments."

- Apia Review Online