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SUVA (Radio New Zealand/Pacific Media Watch): The military-led regime in Fiji is rejecting claims it has revoked broadcasting licences to clamp down further on the media.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says the authorities in Suva have made changes to broadcasting arrangements, effectively seizing all licences.
Smith says the action has been carried out by decree, which no court or other agency can overturn and the move is an escalation of the regime’s efforts to impose itself on its critics.
Fiji broadcasters say they are having to justify their continued use of radio and television frequencies.
Australian media reported television and radio stations were broadcasting this weekend on a temporary basis while awaiting a directive from Fiji’s Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Sayed-Khaiyum, also Communications Minister, is regarded as the government’s second most powerful figure after military commander Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.

Sayed-Khaiyum says he has acted to help prepare the country for the digital broadcasting age and believes the decree will assist the people of Fiji.
Spectrum planning
“The government of Fiji has put in place a decree to deal with spectrum planning which will then allow Fiji to position itself very well for the digital age. It’s to plan our future better in the broadcast area,” he says.
But the Media Freedom Committee in New Zealand, which represents journalists, editors and publishers, describes what has happened as more of the same by a very repressive regime.
Committee secretary Tim Pankhurst told Radio New Zealand he is saddened by the action.
“I’m afraid this is more of the same from a very repressive regime. Our journalism colleagues in Fiji operate under extremely difficult circumstances with censors in their newsroom. It’s another drop in the
bucket.”
Pankhurst believes pressure should be put on the interim regime.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says he will raise the issues surrounding Fiji’s military regime with his counterparts at the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, beginning on Tuesday.

Text: http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2009/11/fiji-regime-denies-fresh-clampdown-on-media-over-licences/