Asia-Pacific Regional Press Freedom Seminar

Media Councils in an unstable Political Environment
Daryl Tarte
Chairman, Fiji Media Council

Sydneysiders who wake up each morning, switch on the TV to get the morning news, buy a newspaper or turn on the car radio on their way to work do so automatically, taking for granted that their needs will be satisfied. It would perhaps be quite devastating for them if the TV screen were blank, there was no newspaper or the radio was silent. The media has become an integral part of their lives. Without it is like being in a dark room without a light. But how many Sydneysiders really know what that is like?

We in Fiji experienced such a vacuum in our lives in 1987 after the military coups mounted by Siteveni Rabuka. There was a media black out. The only way we could get any news about the situation was by turning on our short wave radios and getting broadcasts from radio Australia or New Zealand. They broadcast reports from their journalists in Fiji. Even the Governor General was prohibited from giving any public statements. The only way for him to get his message out to the people of Fiji and the world was to speak by telephone to a friend in Hong Kong who invited newspeople into his house to listen to the GG and to ask him questions. These statements were then relayed by international media.

We all felt terribly isolated. Terribly cut off from the world around us. Unfortunately it was an ideal environment for the rumour machine. We heard all kinds of dreadful stories. We did not know what to believe. We were uncertain about anything. We were afraid. Believe me it is not a situation I would wish on anyone.

I am sure that because of the 1987 experience George Speight chose to use the media to the fullest when he mounted his coup in 2000. He knew that the media was the best channel through which he could propagate the crazy logic of his actions. He used it to garner support from Fijians. He projected a personality that had media appeal. But even he could not control the thugs who stormed the local TV station and wrecked havoc when the station broadcast a programme that was critical of the coups leaders.

So what is the purpose of this recital, you will be asking. In 1987 we had no Media Council that could speak out and condemn the closure of the media. We had no legitimate body to defend media freedom and other civil rights. Indeed I have often asked myself would I, as Chairman of a Council, had it been in existence, been brave enough to stand up and challenge the military in the tense and threatening situation that then prevailed. I would like to think that the otherwise muzzled media people, and I, had we been part of a Council, would have stood up for our fundamental rights. But would such action have had any effect? In a coup situation the military, or whoever the perpetuators are, listen to no one and they can be very brutal on those who defy them. Before you take any action you have to thank about your family, your business, your property. Nothing is sacred. You are very vulnerable. So my question as to whether the existence of a Media Council at that time would have been helpful, remains unanswered.

So let us look at the 2000 coup and the unstable political situation that then prevailed. By then we had an effective Media Council and we met regularly to discuss the unfolding events. As I have said there were no restrictions on the media. Certainly reporters were at times threatened and they had to operate in a very frightening environment. Many of them showed great courage in bringing the news to the people and their efforts were appreciated by the general public. The media was critical of the perpetuators of the coup but only once did thugs break out from the parliamentary complex and trash the TV station. The Media Council condemned this action but really it was executed by a gang of thugs with whom you cannot reason. Our voice fell on deaf ears.

There was another occasion when the military became angry about a TV programme and sent a truck load of soldiers to the station and arrested some reporters. Our response, and that of the TV station, was swift and effective. I put out a statement condemning the action and the TV station organised a live interview between myself and the military spokesman who more or less admitted that their actions were rather heavy handed. There was no repeat of this action.

I am sure that you all know that there can be political instability even in so called normal times. Throughout the terms of the last Labour Government the media was under attack from the Prime Minister and his Ministers. I firmly believe that had there not bee a strong and respected media council in existence the Government would have introduced draconian legislation to impose greater government control over the media. Our strategy was to try and work with Government and ensure there was dialogue on controversial issues. I met with the Permanent Secretary and the Minister on a number of occasions and I believe we succeeded in deferring the introduction of legislation that would certainly have curtailed media freedom in Fiji.

It was during the Labour Government's short reign that we launched our Code of Ethics. We invited Mr Chaudhry to carry out this task and while in his address he lauded the introduction of the codes he took the opportunity to castigate the media in the strongest terms. It was a great chance for him to win friends in the media. Instead he chose to antagonise everyone. It was a classic case of misunderstanding the importance of the media in political life. Or perhaps, of a politician thinking he could control the media.

The code of ethics ushered in a new era in Fiji for it gave people a basis upon which to complaint. Mr Chaudhry's Ministers referred to them constantly and made countless complaints. The existence of the codes and the complaints process proved an orderly way of dealing with them. I would like to think that the codes also served as a guide to reporters as they went about reporting on the events of last year and this prevented them from getting into deep and hot water.

One thing our codes emphasise, and I know that many reporters take this into account automatically, is the importance of balance and evaluating both sides of a situation. In a crisis such as we had last year it was imperative that the media tried to understand what motivated the rebels, the military and any other players. Presenting as comprehensive a picture as possible made it a lot easier of the public to tolerate the situation and for the media to retain the confidence of all the players and have access to them.

There has been much debate on whether the rebels should have been cut off completely from their supporters and the media. I have been in no doubt that they should have been isolated from their supporters, though there were practical difficulties in achieving this, but giving the media access to them is a matter I am not so sure about. Speight manipulated the media and in doing so he strengthened his negotiating position and prolonged the crisis.

A crisis like we had causes you to re-examine many aspects of life. It made me realise that there was a greater need for reporters to fully understand and adhere to the code of ethics. In the near future we intend to have a series of workshops for every reporter in the country. These will focus on the rationale and application of the codes.

It made me realise that we need to strengthen the public membership of our Council. Our constitution now provides that public members shall be appointed by the Complaints Committee. In practice this means we have to find suitable people and persuade them to accept membership. Sometimes we get it wrong and they prove unsuitable without sufficient commitment. Next time round we will advertise and invite interested people to apply.

A crisis like we had causes the media to become very serious about self regulation, about adhering to the well established practices of accuracy and balance. They quickly realise that failure to do so could bring the wrath and thuggery of mindless rebels down upon them. While trying to give a fair and honest report on the situation they must be mindful of not giving reason for this kind of retaliation.

More than anything an out of control political crisis makes you value the role of a free and independent media, freedom of speech, freedom of actin, freedom to set up for a debate, freedom to have bodies like a Media Council that can defend your rights and deal objectively with complaints against the media. It is not until you are denied these rights that you truly value them.

Unfortunately many of us live in an unstable political environment. The Pacific region is no longer Pacific. I do not have the answers to what is happening in our region but I would urge those nations that are yet to adopt codes and Councils to think very seriously about doing so. I pray that those of you who have not suffered our fate will never do so but it would be wise to be prepared. Codes and Councils can help in an unstable political situation.

Daryl Tarte

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