Fiji Deports Foreign Journalists

by Barbara McPherson | April 14, 2009 at 08:06 am

28 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

Three journalists from Australia and New Zealand were detained and deported from Fiji today. Sean Dorney, Sia Aston and Matt Smith were ejected from that country as the turmoil over who is to govern that country continues.
Australia and New Zealand officials have expressed concern over the governance of Fiji since the appointment of Commodore Frank Bainimarama in a military coup in 2006. The promised elections have yet to be held.

The expulsions on Tuesday come as local media outlets cancelled news broadcasts and left pages of newspapers blank in protest against censorship imposed by the government.

Fiji's latest political upheaval began on Friday when Ratu Josefa Iloilo, the president, nullified the constitution and sacked all the judges before declaring a state of emergency.

Events in Fiji have also been condemned by the United Nations and the Commonwealth, which has called for a special meeting to discuss the situation in the South Pacific nation.

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon