PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has expressed his disappointment with The Fiji Times describing The Fiji Times as “unbecoming of the major newspaper of an emerging power in the Pacific”.
His comments came after The Fiji Times posted yesterday a picture of Mr Rabuka, along with Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua and Information Minister Lynda Tabuya, stood beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday after officially opening Fijian embassy in Israel.
The Fiji Times post had caption which quoted NGO Coalition on Human Rights Chair, Shamima Ali.
The caption stated — “The image of a wanted war criminal standing next to a coup perpetrator must haunt all of us. Fiji’s stance directly contradicts the Ocean of Peace concept that the Prime Minister himself champions.” — NGO Coalition on Human Rights Chair, Shamima Ali.
“It is very, very irresponsible that Fiji Times does not only circulate in Fiji, it circulates world over, and for a paper that has enjoyed the respect of many other newspapers and media in the world, to stoop that low,” Mr Rabuka said.
“It’s unbecoming of the major newspaper of an emerging power in the Pacific.”
The Fiji Times editor-in-chief Fred Wesley said it was unfortunate that Mr Rabuka objected to the way The Fiji Times had reported.
“The Prime Minister has criticised us for reporting the views of Fiji’s NGO Coalition on Human Rights over a picture of himself and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” Wesley said.
“Sometimes, like all news media organisations, we need to look at how we have reported a particular event and the views of others on that event and ask ourselves if we have made a mistake. But this is not one of those times.
“Shamima Ali is the chair of the NGO Coalition. She is well-known for expressing strong views. She described the two PMs as ‘a wanted war criminal’ and ‘a coup perpetrator’. The PM objects to the way we reported this. That is unfortunate.”
He said it was Mr Rabuka who, in the 2022 election campaign, led the fight for a free news media.
“One of the first things his Government did on taking power was to rid the nation of the infamous Media Decree.
“So, even if he is offended by the way we have reported Ms Ali’s comments, we credit him with giving us the freedom to report them.
“While many people in Fiji venerate Israel and Mr Netanyahu, it is very important that we all understand that much of the world does not see them in a good light.
“Much of the world agrees with the views that the NGO Coalition has expressed. It is important that we all know this fact and reflect on it.”
Mr Wesley said while he regret the PM’s reaction to The Fiji Times news story, he stood by it.
“We are a free media, reporting the views of free people.”
