The Fiji Times did not publish the release.

On Wednesday 15 November, however, it published a long letter from one T Sova of Nasinu titled `Hidden agenda' making references to the People's Coalition media release. The letter started:
"It puzzles one's imagination to note that the People's Coalition has emerged to state that the Fiji Times has a hidden agenda in reporting events following the mutiny".

What is puzzling is that there was no coverage of the Coalition media statement by the Fiji Times or any print media for that matter. What then puzzles ones imagination is where did the letter writer T Sova get the report that the People's Coalition had stated that the Fiji Times had a hidden agenda.

Commentators believe that the letter was either written by a Fiji Times journalist or that the journalist passed on the media release to some T. Sova.

The letter also refers to a 12 November article in the Fiji Times [written by Fiji Times journalist Margaret Wise] titled "Uncertainty hangs in the air" and endorses the view that Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara survived so long because of old boy network and strategic marriages.

The Sova letter also states: "Currently one English daily is making a big hue and cry about discovering who gave orders for the former president to be evacuated from his palace. If that person were to be found I suggest that he or she be nominated for the Noble Prize for peace. If this country is to prosper democratically and peacefully then the chess game has to cease". Sova's reference is to the Daily Post where columnist Mesake Koroi had stated that the mastermind behind the attempted coup of 19 May can be found by finding who gave the orders to evacuate the President. It is now well known that the order for the evacuation was given by ex-PM Sitiveni Rabuka.

If we used the terrorist George Speight's phrase, one does not need to be an Einstein to figure out who wrote the letter and on whose behalf.

The Fiji Times has of late become so reckless as to fully expose itself as a paper employing journalists with clear links to the terrorists who wreaked havoc on the nation.

Last week one Fiji Times journalist appeared in the Labasa Magistrate's Court for the charge of unlawful assembly. The journalist, Ruci Mafi, together with a radio journalist (Therese Ralogaivasu) have been accused of actively supporting the terrorists who took over the Labasa military barracks (see: http://www.pcgov.org.fj/archive/2000-08/no9.htm).

The Fiji Times has now tried to project this charge as a purge of media freedom by linking it to the arrest and detention of 3 Radio Fiji journalists by the military 3 weeks ago. Its 14 November reporting of the case against its own journalist devoted over 40% of the space to the Radio Fiji journalists arrested by the military. It stated: "Their case follows the arrest of two Radio Fiji journalists and its acting chief executive over a story the army claimed was not true".

The Times followed up with another article on 15 November titled "Tarte hails journos" and referred to the two journalists charged in Labasa. Tarte, the Chairperson of the Fiji Media Council, however, stated more generally that journalists should be commended for their efforts in risky situations. On those arrested, Tarte stated that journalists, like other citizens, must abide by the law.

After the attempted coup of 2 November, the Fiji Times led the charge against the military for the military's assault against the military barrack held by terrorists. It fell just short of calling for the deposition of the Military Commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands
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Last update: August 27, 2001