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THE MEDIA BULLDOG BENDS: MIDA chairman Ashwin Raj, as widely expected, retracts his ruling against Fiji Sun, apologizes but what about other decisions - did he breach media guidelines in other rulings of his?

10/3/2015

7 Comments

 
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Media Industry Development Authority chairperson Ashwin Raj has retracted his ruling against the Fiji Sun and apologised

This is after Fiji Sun lawyer Suruj Sharma challenged the ruling.

On February 9, Mr Raj reached a decision that a Fiji Sun “Person of the Year” article was antagonistic, “thoroughly yoked in the logic of race and bereft facts”. He also claimed that a Coconut Wireless column item was “defamatory”.

Mr Raj’s decision was widely distributed on Facebook and blogs and used by anti-Government elements to attack the Fiji Sun and its managing editor/news Jyoti Pratibha .

Mr Raj has now written: “Please note that I hereby retract my  February 9, 2015 letter issued under the letterhead of the Media lndustry Development Authority on the ground that my decision as the chairman was ultra vires of any lawful authority, power or role of the Authority provided for under Part 9, sections 53 – 61 (inclusive) of the Media lndustry Development Decree 2010.

“Furthermore, I also retract my letter on the ground that my decision as the chairman was made unilaterally, without any consultation with the members of the authority contrary to section 5 of the decree.  I failed to convene a meeting to discuss the issues raised in Mr Waqavonovono’s email complaint dated 28 December 2014 and the Sun (Fiji) News Limited’s letter dated January 19, 2015 in reply to the complaint.

“I concur with the opinion in your letter and reiterate that the authority has no powers to adjudicate on a complaint and must act with fairness and conform to the rules of natural justice. ln light of this, I sincerely apologise for this oversight and will ensure that such oversight is not repeated.”

Mr Raj added that the authority acknowledges receipt of Fiji Sun’s response to the complaint. “However, please note that the Authority could not fully comprehend the Response by Fiji Sun when set against the issues raised in the complaint,” he said.

“Given the above and in light of my retraction, Fiji Sun is invited to provide an additional detailed response to the said complaint and upon receipt of the same, the authority will determine what lawful actions are to be taken thereafter pursuant to section 60 of the Media lndustry Development Decree 2010.”

Fiji Sun Publisher/CEO Peter Lomas said the newspaper would discuss Mr Raj’s letter with Mr Sharma before deciding whether to take any further action. Feedback: nemani.delaibatiki@fijisun.com.fj

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TAKING A SWIPE AT FIJILEAKS: Remember this interview - Raj attacked Fijileaks out of the blue on Fiji TV

COMING SOON: As controversial Suva lawyer continues to hide from Fijileaks, we will be asking whether she swindled this mother and daughter of thousands of dollars after selling their family home? The daughter claims she was assaulted in the lawyer's office!

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7 Comments
Kavita
10/3/2015 03:46:38 pm

It is clear that the MIDA chair is not a performer. His capabilities had always been questioned since his appointment as MIDA chair. All his other decisions with respect to various complaints will need fresh and independent review.

Ashwin Raj has become a laughing stock.

He can get out now.

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Nitya
10/3/2015 04:29:10 pm

Well, Ashwin Raj is just a puppet of the government of the day. Obviously he was not suppose to utter a word against pro government Fiji Sun. Now he has to retract his decision and make a fool of himself. Deserves him right. When you become a puppet, you have to take shit with a pinch of Salt, he must have realized it by now.

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It figures
10/3/2015 05:59:06 pm

Anyone could have predicted the withdrawal coming after Geneva. It's purpose has been achieved in that Fiji's media watchdog is independent in the eyes of the world when in fact the ruling was orchestrated to make Fiji's case look good on human rights. Watch the issue go into hibernation now.

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rajend naidu
10/3/2015 07:52:28 pm

I know what you are saying because I can relate it to " the institutional decay in Sri Lanka " that University of Bristol Phd student Gilberto- Algar Faria , a one time British Green Beret commando , talked about in his seminar on ' Why is it So hard to talk about peace in Sri Lanka '( Sydney Ideas Forum - ABC 11/03 ). He said his research showed all the institutions of state and society are there in Sri Lanka but they are abused. They fail to do what they were meant to do. Now they are mostly under the sway of the State. There are parallels with the " institutional decay in Fiji following the Bainimarama coup when the military, the police, the courts, the media, the church and even civil society organisations were bent to the whim of the dictator Bainimarama and his right hand man Aiyaz Khaiyum and their hand picked henchmen like Ashwin Raj.

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Yep
11/3/2015 02:24:59 pm

INSTITUTIONAL DECAY is a very real problem in the new Fiji fashioned by Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum.
This is where the international parasites come in with their funding and technical experts to help in the " democratic reform " business.

rajend naidu
11/3/2015 01:51:03 pm

UEFA champion league match Chelsea v PSG ( 12/03 ). The Chelsea home crowd bring undue influence to bear on the referee who with indecent haste gives PSG's main player the red card and send off thus giving the home team an unfair advantage.
Reminds me of a rigged election where the Supervisor of Elections makes rulings to take out opponents of his political masters thus giving them an unfair advantage in the elections. The SOE is suppose to be independent but in a rigged election game he is always under the influence of his political masters.

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Welcome Home
11/3/2015 09:49:14 pm

Institutional Decay is a very moot issue in Fiji and for obvious historical reasons the Sri Lankan experience has relevance. We should carefully watch the response to an approaching Serious Cyclone. In 2012 we were appalled by gaps so bad they defied any acceptable excuse. UN Women came in later to gauge the helplessness of no assistance for bedridden and wheelchair-bound in flooded Nadi villages. Where were all the able-bodied men? Why does Fiji have no Civil Defence with willing and qualified volunteers?

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