Fiji's Fourth Estate Touches The Third Rail.

The proposed inquiry on media independence brokered by the Fiji Human Rights Commission, was considered a threat by Fiji Media Council, prompting the refusal of its Chairman Daryl Tarte to get with the program, as a Fiji Sun article reports.

This is the excerpt:

Media council shies from inquiry
Last updated 7/25/2007 7:41:08 AM

The Fiji Media Council has refused to be involved in an inquiry commissioned by the Fiji Human Rights Commission. Council chairman Daryl Tarte said the FHRC had been planning the inquiry for some time but had not contacted the media council for its contribution. Mr Tarte said he would not comment on the inquiry itself.

FHRC director Dr Shaista Shameem said the FHRC was an independent commission and did not need to consult anyone before it undertook its powers and functions. She said the Media Council and other stakeholders had all been invited to make submissions to the independent consultant.

“This is an inquiry into whether the Fiji media are free and independent and we would like submissions from everyone associated with the media.”

"I hope this puts to an end the baseless speculation in the media of the use of drugs within the national team management," FRU chief executive Timoci Tavanavanua said.
"Several officials have been severely hurt by these false allegations," Tavanavanua said. "I hope those media that helped spread this grog-bowl gossip will have the decency to come clean and apologise."

To date no apology was forthcoming by any media outlets which covered the story. Complaints into the media coverage was exacerbated with this story published by Fiji Times and other leading dailies regarding allegations of drug abuse by certain officials within Fiji Rugby Union. The story of the drug test was featured in
the Guardian article.

The proposed scope, is as follows:

The media inquiry will seek;

• - To provide a historical overview of
  the range of media available in Fiji,
  including ownership and scope of
  operations.


• - To review human rights and other laws
  and policies with respect to freedom and
  independence of the media and
  assess Fiji's compliance
  with them.


• - To review whether the Fiji media comply
  with international standards of corporate
  responsibility for media freedom and
  independence.


• - To review laws and policies on the right
  of the public to information.


• - To review the extent to which the public's
  right to accurate, balanced and up-dated information
  is protected in Fiji.


• - To review current systems in place to protect journalists and other media personnel from violations of their rights.


• - To review whether work conditions of media personnel comply with Constitutional provisions on fair labour relations.


• - To review whether journalists have freedom internally and externally to exercise their functions in the public interest to the extent required by international human rights law

The inquiry into whether the Constitutional right of every person to vote was fully protected in the 2006 elections. It will seek;

• - To provide an overview of international human rights laws on the right to register and vote by secret ballot and review whether laws, policies and institutions of Fiji comply with them.


• - To receive submissions from members of the public, including those in the minority and disadvantaged groups, on their experiences of voting in elections prior to 2006 as well as in 2006, and any recommended improvements.


• - To receive submissions on whether the current voting mechanisms and practice are effective and to make recommendations for review.


• - To make recommendations on required policy and law changes to ensure that the right to register and vote by secret ballot is fully complied with.

This inquiry is welcomed by S.i.F.M as an independent assessment of the media and the nation of Fiji deserves nothing short. This in-depth study should include stories of censorship and gate-keeping by the Editorials, the coverage of breaking news and the impartiality of those observing.

Sadly, these basic parameters have escaped scrutiny of the Fiji Media Council and Fiji Media Watch, both self-declared media watch dogs; realistically both organizations display traits that are usually associated with lapdogs-Silent, Timid and Obedient when called by the public, to sniff out the sins of their masters.




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