PM 'shot himself in foot' over media
Title -- 5388 FIJI: PM 'shot himself in foot' over media
Date -- 24 March 2008
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- FijiLive 24/03/08
Copyright - FL
Status -- Unabridged
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PM SHOT HIMSELF IN THE FOOT: SDL
www.fijilive.com/news_new/index.php/news/show_news/3060
SUVA (FijiLive Online/Pacific Media Watch): Fiji’s interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has "shot himself in the foot" by denying journalists access to him, says the deposed ruling Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party.
SDL spokesman Peceli Kinivuwai was responding to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office last week, instructing that all media queries to the PM be directed to the Department of Information.
Journalists have been asked not to call the PM directly on his cell phone.
“It’s pretty surprising to the SDL party. When Bainimarama took over government one of his main objectives was to ensure that the freedom of media is at all times maintained, in addition to the freedom of individuals in this country.
“But the fact that he has decided to do away with that, he has restricted media personnel and disregarded what he has said in the beginning,” Kinivuwai told Fijilive.
He said it was also a sign of uncertainty that the people of Fiji would not be able to receive firsthand the activities that the government of the day would be engaging in.
Kinivuwai added that the interim government was now doing away with the accountability and transparency that it once stood up for.
“He has shot himself in the foot by saying something and doing the exact opposite.”
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