General Press Release No. 282 (February 2008)

Expulsion of publisher condemned

The Australian Press Council urges the interim government of Fiji to refrain from further damaging press freedom in Fiji. The Council condemns the expulsion of newspaper publisher Russell Hunter by the interim government and calls on the government to reverse this decision. In doing so, it joins the Fiji Media Council, Reporters without Borders, Pacific Islands News Association, International Press Institute, PNG Media Council and many others in denouncing the government's actions.

The deportation of Mr Hunter and his family from Fiji amounts to a disgraceful attempt to intimidate the media and bully anyone who criticises the government, or holds it accountable for its conduct.

Apart from being an appalling attack on freedom of speech, the deportation of Mr Hunter will achieve no political advantage for the Fijian government, as Mr Hunter has stated his intention to continue writing and publishing for The Fiji Sun from Australia.

This is not the first time that the interim government has penalised the media for its critical stance. If it is to develop a stable democracy in Fiji, with a press free to report on matters of public interest and concern, the government must permit Mr Hunter and his family to return immediately.

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