Newspaper men often express the view that "freedom of the press" must be zealously safeguarded.  The means for preservation of democracy is said to depend upon this freedom.

The corollary is the that when  freedom of the press does not exist within a  country democracy does not and cannot survive.

Hitler's Germany is frequently cited as proof.

Newspaper Registration

In Fiji's case no newspaper is able to be published unless it has been registered under the provisions of the Newspapers Registration Act.  Under the same legislation, de-registration is also possible but formerly there was some safe-guard from capriciousness in that the discretion to register and de-register resided in a quasi-judicial officer.

Toe the line or else...

The Qarase Government (SDL) disposed of the quasi-judicial officer concerned  in 2001 by changing the locks on his door and telling him he was obliged to take compulsory retirement. No one was subsequently appointed to the post with the duties eventually assumed by a line officer prepared to accede to the will of the Government.

The Government Propaganda Machine

Of far deeper concern is the extent to which Government blatantly seeks through the media  to manipulate public opinion in its favour.  Thus we have it that: 

• Every new government policy is advocated by double full page advertisements placed in the press.
• Every speech of the Prime Minister is published by full  page advertisements placed in the press.
• Every serious opposition to the Government is shouted down by full  page advertisements placed in the press.
• Propaganda of this nature is published with a frequency approaching two to three times a week.
• Parliament can scarcely be called a debating-chamber but is reduced to a venue at which government policy is rubber-stamped.

No only was controversial legislation like the Peace & Reconciliation Bill the subject of such a  promotional exercise  but a committee was formed to take the Bill on tour to the Provincial Councils.

Private citizens do not of course have the resources to carry out exercises of this nature but to their rescue came the Military Commander who threatened  to take an army team on tour of the country to put a contrary viewpoint  to the Government.

Advertising Revenue

In this day and age newspapers do not exist on revenue derived from subscriptions and sales.  Advertising revenue is undoubtedly the most significant component of profitability.

In Fiji there are three daily newspapers servicing a total population of about 850,000.  Of the trio the Fiji Times is the senior citizen.  In the past it published claims that is had an audited circulation exceeding 275,000 copies each day but  ceased doing some time ago.

So far as I am aware  the circulation figures for the other two have never been published

It is common knowledge that the Daily Post, due to a large scale theft by one of its directors is struggling to meet its creditors. On occasions it has been noticed that the Post carries scarcely any classified advertising except Government's.

The situation invites the conclusion that the editorial independence of Fiji newspapers is seriously threatened if not moribund.

Media Comment

Certainly it seems that the newspapers here no longer take the trouble to evaluate or comment on news.

An illustration of their failure to do so is the recent High Court Criminal Case in which  the former Secretary for Agriculture Peniasi Kunatuba was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for abuse of office.

The background to the case was a 2001 scam  by which the so called "interim government" headed by Prime Minister Qarase used funds about $14 million at the disposal of the Agriculture Department to bribe the Fijian electorate in order to secure their election to power.

Peni Kunatuba's crime was that he was the unfortunate directed, by the then government through the then Minister of Agriculture (Apisai Tora) to implement the scam .

Abundant numbers of anecdotal accounts concerning the illegal benefits handed out during the scam continue to exist.

For example:

• A Vanua Levu farmer recounted how after paying for a $2.00 subscription to the SDL party he was given more that $10,000 worth of fertiliser and farm implements to take home.
• The wife of a Chinese butcher recounted how at the Suva market her barrow boy boasted to her that he had been given a an outboard motor and a brush-cutter and added to his boast a comment that she could not get these benefits because she was Chinese.
• A member of Morris Hedstrom staff recounted how the delivery truck on which he worked was making two and three trips each day to an address in Valelevu (close to Suva) loaded with goods purchased on  Local Purchase Orders issued by the Department of Agriculture.

None of that type of evidence was led at Kunutuba's trial which focussed on his  responsibilities as principal accounting officer for the Department of Agriculture.

Kunatuba raised in his defence that he was directed to implement the scheme by the Minister of Agriculture. Curiously at his sentencing the Judge considered that to be an aggravating factor and said:

"The Minister's consent to the Scheme does not assist you. Politicians will often try to put improper pressure on public servants because they have, a political agenda to fulfill. But public servants must resist that pressure and act according to rules, regulations and procedures, and in a politically neutral way. You did not, and in failing to withstand political pressure you failed the public of Fiji. Further you yourself benefited financially from the Scheme. Finally, in the period of political crisis and uncertainty after May 2000, when several institutions of the State were unable to function effectively, there was a greater need for the public service to adhere to procedures, and to jealously guard the public purse from irregular and unauthorised activity."

"Taking all these factors into account  I increase your sentence to 2 years imprisonment on Count 1."

Thus we had it that the Army Commander was reported on 26th October 2006 as calling  for the Government to step down and simultaneously asking  the Police Commissioner to investigate the manner in which the general election was conducted.

In some jurisdictions the Kunutuba case would have been called  "white wash" both before and after High Court result with consequent large public outcry.  It would also have been noted that the original investigator (a policeman noted for his independence and integrity)  was pulled off the case earlier this year by the Police Commissioner in order to engineer the result in favour of the Government.

But in this jurisdiction nothing was said by the media.

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