Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has paid tribute to all those working the media industry in his message to mark World Press Freedom Day.
He said thanks to democracy his Coalition government removed the “dark days of oppression and suppressions.”
“Today as we join the rest of the international community in celebrating World Press Freedom Day, let us recommit ourselves to the values and ideals of our fundamental human rights freedom of expression and the freedom of the press,” said Mr Rabuka.
“With our recent history, let as not take this freedom for granted.”
Mr Rabuka also remembered the late Sitiveni Moce who passed away in 2015.
“Today is also an opportune time to remember those in the media fraternity that made the ultimate sacrifice.”
“In particular, I pay tribute to my ‘Yaca (namesake), the late Sitiveni Moce who died in 2015.”
“This brave newspaper photographer was set upon by a mob in Parliament house in 2000, and again by some members of the disciplined forces in 2007 for simply carrying out his job which was to capture history in still photographs.”
“His death is a sombre reminder of the fickleness of life, and how we must never ever take our freedoms for granted.”
