FIJI: Censors gag speakers at youthfestival

 

---

From: pacific_media_watch-bounces@lists.apc.org.au [mailto:pacific_media_watch-bounces@lists.apc.org.au] On Behalf Of Pacific Media Watch nius
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 5:18 PM
To: <Pacific Media Watch
Subject: [Pacific_media_watch] 6334 FIJI: Censors gag speakers at youthfestival

Title - 6334 FIJI: Censors gag speakers at youth festival
Date - 30 June 2009
Byline - None
Origin - Pacific Media Watch
Source - Herald Sun (Aust), 30/06/09
Copyright - HS
Status - Unabridged
‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑
* Pacific Media Watch Online - check the website for archive and links:
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz
* Post a comment on this story at PMW Right of Reply:
www.pacificmediacentre.blogspot.com
pmc@aut.ac.nz

FIJI CENSORS SPEAKERS AT YOUTH FESTIVAL
www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25712506-5012752,00.html

SUVA (HS Online/Pacific Media Watch): The fight to return free speech to Fiji has suffered another setback after the government banned several critics from addressing an international youth congress in the troubled nation.

The military regime has blocked speakers at the Pacific Youth Festival  

 

--snip--

 
Organiser of the youth festival, Jacque Koroi, said Fiji's Ministry of Information vetted all speeches and selected "several people who will be unable to make their presentations".

Koroi would not say who they were but it is understood most are involved in organisations that support a return to democratic rule in Fiji.

Also banned is Fiji Times associate editor Sophie Foster, who last month openly criticised the government's heavy public and media censorship.
She publicly attacked the regime's "systematic attempt to erase any trace of disaffection" by installing censors in newsrooms.

The festival, backed by UNESCO, is not the first to be scrutinised by the government.

Several speakers were also banned from addressing a recent Society of Accountants meeting and another annual religious conference was cancelled altogether.

 --snip--

 
* Comment on this item www.pacificmediacentre.blogspot.com
+++niuswire

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH ONLINE
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is a media and educational resource compiled by the
AUT Pacific Media Centre for the Pacific region.

(c)1996-2009 Creative Commons
http://creativecommons.org

Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit
educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original 
producers as indicated in the header. Recipients should seek permission
from the copyright owner for any publishing. Copyright owners not 
wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The
views expressed in material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views
of PMW or the Pacific Media Centre.

For further information on joining the Pacific Media Watch listserve,
Or unsubscribing, go to:
http://lists.apc.org.au/listinfo.cgi/pacific_media_watch?apc.org.au

Email:
pmc@aut.ac.nz
Fax: (+649) 921 9987
SnailMail: Pacific Media Centre, School of Communication Studies, AUT
University, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, Aotearoa/New Zealand

Website: www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz
_______________________________________________
Pacific_media_watch mailing list
Pacific_media_watch@lists.apc.org.au