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CRYING VICTIM: Fiji Sun attacks MIDA chairman Ashwin Raj's ruling saying 'one man's opinion could stifle Fijian journalism'; does Fiji Sun know the meaning of true journalism - Raj takes 'SWEET REVENGE'

22/2/2015

13 Comments

 

As Fiji Sun tells us Raj sent the judgment only on Friday before taking 'UN funded overseas trip' Fijileaks has been told Raj peeved because Fiji Sun sat on his three-page complaint he gave to police which Fiji Sun never came around to publishing it - the charges against him dropped! Others say its all just a calculated ploy, 'Dog and Pony Show', between MIDA and Fiji Sun to convince Geneva that MIDA chairman is 'neutral' and there is need to retain Media Decree - citing his case against Fiji Sun!

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Raj had copied the above e-mail to Delaibatiki - he was referring to the three page letter of complaint against the Samabula police he had sent to Police Commissioner in which he also outlined his version of events

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The Fiji Sun is strongly questioning a ruling against it by Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA) chairperson Ashwin Raj

Publisher/chief executive officer Peter Lomas said the ruling appears to have been made by Mr Raj alone and not a properly constituted MIDA meeting.

The newspaper is strongly supporting its managing editor/news Jyoti Pratibha.

Mr Lomas said Ms Pratibha’s robust reporting is being targeted through a smear campaign and complaints to MIDA by people linked to the Opposition.

The Fiji Sun’s lawyers will be looking at all options in response.

The ruling in question was dated 9 February but was not received by the Fiji Sun from Mr Raj’s office until Friday 20 February.

It has been circulated extensively on anti-Government social media sites, and has been praised by SODELPA.

Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) youth president Pita Waqavonovono had complained about a news report and a Coconut Wireless item.

Mr Raj ruled that it was wrong for the Fiji Sun to say that SODELPA used race and land issues during the general election campaign.

It was also defamatory to suggest in a Coconut Wireless item that Mr Waqavonovono had needed to have a shave and use some deodorant during the vote counting.

Mr Lomas said the Fiji Sun had submitted there was no evidentiary basis for the complaints to be upheld. It will now respond strongly.

He said all in the news media should be concerned about this issue. This ruling effectively threatens any efforts for more robust reporting, commentary and news media analysis, he said.

If allowed to stand it could mean that Fijian journalism can be stifled by the opinion of one man.

We publish on this page the full ruling signed by Mr Raj and sent to the Fiji Sun on Friday before he left on a United Nations-funded overseas media trip.

Publisher/chief executive officer Peter Lomas said the ruling appears to have been made by Mr Raj alone and not a properly constituted MIDA meeting. Sure, what about Raj's ruling in favour of Fiji Sun against Wadan Narsey's complaint - did Raj consult other members of MIDA when he told Lomas: "It must be equally noted that any interference by MIDA  in this process would ordinarily be deemed as an assault on the independence of the media by Wadan Narsey amongst others."

From: Ashwin Raj [mailto:ashwin.raj@usp.ac.fj]
Sent: Wednesday, 17 December 2014 4:12 p.m.
To: Peter Lomas; wadan.narsey@gmail.com; Fred Wesley
Cc: Soko Vakacegu
Subject: RE: Response to MIDA on Wadan Narsey complaint


Dear Mr. Lomas,

I acknowledge receipt of Fiji Sun’s response to Wadan Narsey’s official complaint to MIDA.

I note that following his complaint,  Narsey’s letter about transparency and appointments processes at USP was subsequently published by The Fiji Times. This was a decision of The Fiji Times.

I wish to reiterate that as much as the media is free to publish, it equally has the right not to publish.

It must be equally noted that any interference by MIDA  in this process would ordinarily be deemed as an assault on the independence of the media by Wadan Narsey amongst others.

Therefore, MIDA will not treat Narsey’s letter as an exception and compel the Fiji Sun into publishing it.

The matter is now closed.


Ashwin Raj
Chair, MIDA.


From: Peter Lomas [mailto:peterl@fijisun.com.fj]
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2014 10:24 PM
To: Ashwin Raj
Cc: Soko Vakacegu
Subject: Response to MIDA on Wadan Narsey complaint


Mr Ashwin Raj

Executive Chairman

Media Industry Development Authority


re: Wadan Narsey complaint of 5 December 2014

Dear Executive Chairman,

We're unsure on what grounds Mr Narsey is basing his complaint.

But in relation to his letters we point out:

1. Letters to the editor are published at the discretion of the editor. This is advertised on our letters page.

2. Mr Narsey is a regular writer for The Fiji Times and his views are featured there.

3. Before Mr Narsey began being featured in The Fiji Times we had published some of his letters. He later admitted he was unaware of this because he said he did not buy the paper.

4. When Mr Narsey wrote complaining about a Coconut Wireless item we published referring to him, his response was included in the next Coconut Wireless. With equal prominence.

Yours sincerely--

Peter Lomas

Publisher/CEO

Fiji Sun

Ph: (679) 9990712
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13 Comments
And
22/2/2015 10:27:29 pm

And what is the basis for MIDA man Ashwin Raj getting a UN funded Trip anywhere? For acting as the Fijian dictatorship's media hound dog?

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Pandey
22/2/2015 10:53:18 pm

That's how dictator ends. The infighting has just began

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Kavita
23/2/2015 12:17:07 am

What evidence does Peter Lomas have to say that all those who complained to MIDA have links to opposition? What makes you think that the common citizens cannot see through your newspapers agenda and as a propaganda outlet for a particular political party since well before the elections, Lomas?

What makes you think that people do not know they are being fed bullshit?

If anything, Lomas you and your staff have successfully displayed gross lack of ethical standards, lack of true journalism principles and simply violation of basic responsibility for society development. Irresponsible journalism, if you like. To cry foul now speaks volumes about your integrity and how money and power can corrupt professional minds.

By not seeing that Fiji Sun has been part of the problem given so many complaints and concerns, your move now is to perpetuate the falsehoods that permeate our society. What is true journalism, Lomas?

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Fiji First Party
23/2/2015 02:03:10 am

Mida Raj, like MIDA itself is a relic of our recent dictatorial past.
Free Media is an integral part of democracy –there is NO democracy without (free, free) freedom of expression – with free and vibrant media.

MIDA is a creature of a decree (of disgrace) - now that in itself is laden with a bad bias and negative connotations of an awful era of a belly greedy dictatorship – with its own agenda of keeping secrets from the People whilst “looting” (Chori / Butako) our national treasury.

The era (use by date) and purpose of MIDA and Mida Raj has now, long expired. The present ‘stink’ with Mida / Fiji Sun is a symptom of the redundant-ness and decay of MIDA. The slow coming [a too little, too late] (and obvious) ruling against the Fiji Sun is an example of MIDA trying to justify its existence.

MIDA, if there is a need for it, needs to be Recreated, Respectfully – with lots of debate and discourse from all the interested parties - and as an Act of Parliament.

An URGENT review of the MIDA is called for - in our Parliament NOW. UN dollars and our TAX money should not be wasted, anymore, on the likes of MIDA or Mida Raj, thank you very much!

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Ron
24/2/2015 03:00:26 pm

MIDA and Ashwin Raj should have been kicked out the same day Fiji had its democratically elected government after six years of interim administration. Keeping the MIDA and Ashwin mob is nothing else but " Job for the boys".

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K squad
23/2/2015 02:13:53 am

Dear kavita

Wow what a surprise , gee I had no idea that most modern newspapers are devoid of any ethical standards !!! Thanks kavita , I'm truly shocked !,what world do you live in ???? No single modern news outlet , has standards !!!! Let alone integrity and ethics
Virtues !!!! You and your daddy need a reality check lady !!! . From Cnn , to Wikipedia , to bbc , from bbc to Al Jazeera , they are all part of mainstream media ; controlled and ultimately a Business , a business that unfortunately fabricates , doctors and report what a few men around the world what you to read n believe . Fiji sun and fiji times , are simply amateur news outlets run by a bunch who call themselves journalists . Babe , wake up !!!!!

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Sach
23/2/2015 04:02:21 am

Kavita is actually Kai Viti , and a guy

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Kavita
24/2/2015 07:33:12 pm

Sorry jaan, dont take too much tension also... there are no prizes for guessing right. This thread has attracted intellectual discussions and it would be nice to keep raising the bar.

Look forward to your contributions on the issues.

rajend naidu
23/2/2015 02:44:20 pm

It's in the public domain that the UN has done some pretty peculiar things. We read for instance in the UN Watch article UN Should Apologize for "legitimising " Gaddafi's with Key Posts that 45 NGOs had urged UNHuman Rights Commission's Jean Ziegler to resign for founding " Gaddafi's Human Rights Prize".
UN Watch today (Oct 20, 2011) welcomed the end of the Gaddafi' regime, one of the most brutal violators

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rajend naidu
23/2/2015 02:53:43 pm

Gaddafi's apologist Najat al- hajjaji represented Ligya as chair of UN HRC and Durban Review Conference on Racism.
It's time for the UN to formally Apologize for having legitimised Gaddafi's regime ... And designating Col.Gaddafis daughter Ayesha as UN Goodwill Ambassador.
Wow!
You have to give it to the UN mob they know how to play politics!

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Thats Right
23/2/2015 11:26:54 pm

And here is the UN mob, once again, paying the mini dictator Mida Raj overseas trips - pathetic- at least Gaddafi had more hair.

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Fact
23/2/2015 08:14:00 pm

Fact is between the two major mainstream newspapers in Fiji the Fiji Times maintained a good measure of self-respect and dignity as an independent press.and the Fiji Sun lost theirs completely by becoming a mouthpiece of the Fijian dictatorship of Bainimarama and Khaiyum.

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Yep
24/2/2015 12:29:29 am

Nah ejath Ki Chinta nah phikar Kohi apeman Ki. That is the story of the gang in the Fiji Sun.

Reply

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