Freedom of Speech Concerns Persist in Fiji Despite PER Lifting

By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji -- Almost a full month after the Public Emergency Regulation were imposed for the first time since last December's coup, Fiji's Military Council has recommended to interim Prime Minister Bainimarama that the regulation be lifted.  However, military spokesman Lt. Col. Mosese Tikoitoga explained that the military only submitted their recommendation and that ultimate decision about whether to lift the PER rested with Bainimarama.  Tikoitoga indicated his belief that the interim PM would make his decision about lifting the regulations on Friday. 

While the lifting of the PER will ease governmental control of the day to day life of the Fijian population, there is  reason to believe that certain organizations will continue to be subjected to particular scrutiny by the interim government.  Since the PER was first instituted on 06 September, the interim government has said on several occasions that a primary impetus for reinstituting the PER was to restrain deposed PM Laisenia Qarase.  (Please see further Impunity Watch coverage of this story at Former Fiji PM Says SDL Should be Silenced and Fiji Reinstates Public Emergency Regulation).   In the last week the interim government and the military have reaffirmed their stance that while the PER is going to be lifted certain political organizations should be mindful of what they say, so as not create negativity.

On 01 October Tikoitoga issued a statement on behalf of the military saying that he had reports that various political outfits were intending on saying things after the PER is lifted that they were not allowed to say while it was in place.  Such negativity, he said, has an adverse impact on Fiji's economy and ability to progress.  He also made it plain that if any former political leader, a thinly veiled reference to Qarase, the military would not hesitate to bring back the PER. 

Among the groups likely to take advantage of their newly reinstated freedoms is the Pacific Centre for Public Integrity.  The Executive Director of the PCPI, Angie Heffernan, who recently returned from a trip to New York where she meet with various humanitarian NGOs (including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch), has already expressed distress about Bainimarama UN address in the foreign press.  She said that the international community should not tolerate the rape of Fijian democracy or the interim government's removal of an elected government.

The other group that is likely to speak in the wake of the PER is the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL)  Party, Qarase's party.  They have said over the last month that infringements on freedom of speech are counter to the principles of democracy and good governance.  Peceli Kinivuwai, an SDL party executive who has been speaking out against the PER through Radio Australia, was scolded by Tikoitoga.  The military spokesman said, "I would like to encourage Kinivuwai to perhaps reassess his strategy for what he wants for Fiji...[he] can go ahead [speaking] but then again he will be responsible for the law coming down on him and this country will not be taken back by individuals."

For more information, please see:

Fiji Times -- Military issues warning -- 04 October 2007

Fiji Live -- Military Council okays PER removal -- 03  October 2007

Radio New Zealand Internation -- Fiji opinion split over interim prime minister's UN speech -- 02 October 2007

Radio New Zealand International -- Fiji military warns politicians about making misleading statements -- 01 October 2007