For the past decade, Fiji's media has operated under tight restrictions and scrutiny. Journalists recall the brutality of post-coup Fiji and say it's time for the country's controversial Media Act to go.
The ABC contacted Mr Bainimarama's Fiji First party and Fiji police for comment, but has not received a response.
"The government took away Fiji Times's advertising, did all sorts of things in order to bring it into line with its propaganda that Fiji was OK, there was no more corruption." Mr Rika, and his deputy Sophie Foster — now an Australian national — lost their jobs after the Media Act 2011 was passed, banning foreign ownership of Fijian media organisations.'A chilling law'
Penalties include up to $100,000 in fines or two years' imprisonment for news organisations for publishing content that is considered a breach of public or national interest. Retired journalism professor Dr David Robie taught many of the Pacific journalists who head up Fijian newsrooms today, but his recent work has focused on the impact of the Media Act.Dr Robie said from the outset, the legislation was widely condemned by media freedom organisations around the world for being "very punitive and draconian".
"That was lost … under that particular law and many of the younger journalists have never known what it is to be in a country with a truly free media."Last month, the newly-elected government said work was underway to change media laws.
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