INTERIM Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday said media freedom was secure and guaranteed in Fiji.
This was after Immigration deported Fiji Sun publisher Russell Hunter yesterday.
Cmdr Bainimarama said his government would uphold media freedom.
However, he said that freedom had limitations.
"This freedom must therefore be exercised carefully in ensuring that our citizens are informed in a balanced, accurate and truthful manner," he said in a statement. "The media must strive to maintain this at all times."
Cmdr Bainimarama said his government would not deviate from achieving the mandate given to it by the President and would work hard to maintain law and order, national peace and stability.
"The performance of the media recently leaves much to be desired," he said.
"Some of its reporting has been inciteful and destabilising and therefore a threat to national security and stability.
"The media, in my view, has behaved irresponsibly without due regard to freedom of the media.
"The media must therefore do all it can to assist in the process of nation building to ensure that our citizens have access to quality news content, that they are informed accurately by a media that is intent to building bridges rather than sowing discontent and discord in the name of media freedom.
"I wish to again categorically state that the interim Government upholds media freedom and in return expects responsibility from the media in the exercise of this freedom.
"I urge publishers and editors to commit themselves to a free, responsible and vibrant media where all our citizens are afforded the right to be fully informed in a fair, balanced and accurate manner.
"They must also abide by the code of ethics that has been endorsed by the media organisations, the public and the Government."
Related stories:
Previously (Tuesday, 26 February):
