* See PMW items 2838, 2836, 2812, 2808, 2805, 2802, 2801, 2776, 2772,
2770, 2741, 2740, 2739, 2738, 2737, 2735.
Fiji TV May 29 Close-Up transcript:
http://www.journalism.uts.edu.au/archive/fiji_coup/0529policemandies.html
* Pacific Media Watch Online: http://www.pmw.c2o.org
SUVA (PMW): The Fiji Media Council has condemned the actions of prison
wardens who roughed up a Fiji Television journalist outside the Colonial
War Memorial Hospital in Suva while covering the two-month-old Fiji
political crisis on 17 July 2000.
Council chairman Daryl Tarte said society would not condone such acts
against journalists while doing their work in a public place, reported
Fiji's Daily Post on July 19.
Fiji Television showed footage of prison wardens manhandling two of its
news staff, reporter Imraz Iqbal and cameraman Ravinesh Prakash, and
trying to force them to leave as they stood on a public road outside the
hospital.
The clip, broadcast on July 17 and repeated on July 18, showed prison
officers jostling, abusing and seizing Iqbal and trying to force him
into a car.
In his statement reported by the Daily Post and Fiji Times, Tarte said:
"While I can understand the irrational behaviour of the thugs who
smashed up Fiji TV, society cannot condone the outrageous harassment of
a Fiji TV reporter on a public road outside the CWM hospital on Monday.
"As chairman of the Fiji Media Council I have been carefully monitoring
the Fiji Media reports of the events since May 19.
"It has been an extremely difficult and dangerous time. Many of the
reporters would never have experienced the circumstances of a coup or
hostages situation.
"Yet in my opinion, they constantly provided viewers, listeners and
readers of Fiji with balanced, accurate and interesting reports," said
Tarte.
He said the media in Fiji has emerged from the ordeal freer and stronger
and had proved the value of an independent media in society.
"I hope that others like the prison authorities will better understand
their role, give respect and allow them to get on with their job," Tarte
said.
+++niuswire
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