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The Fiji Times has pulled out of PINA, amid criticisms that PINA has not spoken out enough against Fiji's military regime's media decree.
Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Stanley Simpson, in Fiji.
The Fiji Times newspaper has withdrawn its membership of the Pacific Islands News Association, saying it is no longer appropriate to continue as a member.
In a letter to the PINA President Moses Stevens, Fiji Times editor Netani
Rika says they understand that the organization faces difficulties in working out how to deal with the situation in Fiji.
However Rika writes that the course of action taken by PINA on the situation in Fiji is not in the best interest of the Fiji Times.
The Fiji Times writes that PINA’s stand does not support the fundamental
principles of the media – which they believe are fundamental to society.
Rika told FBC News that their withdrawal has nothing do with the setting up of a new organization, nor are they looking to set up a new organization.
He says they just feel PINA is not working in their interest.
The Fiji Times faces closure in three months due to foreign ownership
conditions set out in the new Media Decree.
Stanley Simpson is the news director of the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation and was awarded print journalist of the year in 2009 by PINA.
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This is extremely disappointing and totally counterproductive. What is PINA supposed to do? Follow the Fiji Times lead and close down? How is that going to help the rest of the Fiji media other than give idiots like Netani Rika a warm inner glow?
It’s OK for Rika to occupy the high moral ground – the lofty, no compromise stance on media freedom that is putting nearly 200 of his staff on the street. As a part Australian on his mother’s side, he’ll doubtless get himself a nice little sinecure at News Limited and be feted at countless gabfests as a courageous editor in exile. But what about the poor bastards he leaves behind?
Moses Stevens is facing a terrible dilemma. Denounce the Fiji regime and agree to the demands to move PINA’s headquarters to somewhere like Apia ( yeah, right ) or stay in Suva and do what he can to side with ordinary working journalists in Fiji trying to do their jobs. Fortunately, he’s chosen to do the latter because the former is a totally empty gesture. Yes, it might make a few journalists outside Fiji like John Woods feel good but what happens after that?
Bainimarama isn’t going away any time soon, the Fiji media is under daily threat and journalists are having to adjust to their very difficult circumstances. They need to be supported on the ground, not for an organisation like PINA to abandon them in their hour of need.