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'We are calling on our lawyers': Fiji Sun is fast sinking to the level of those who run to their lawyers to silence newspapers and journalists - now it is seeking apology from NFP leader Prasad over 'skirt journalism'

22/7/2015

19 Comments

 
OPINION: Prasad’s ‘Skirt Journalism’ Sexist And Defamatory

By Nemani Delaibatiki
Fiji Sun 19 July 2015

Biman Prasad’s attempt to link Fiji Sun’s managing editor news Jyoti Pratibha to skirt journalism is outrageously sexist and defamatory.


It’s probably the reason why this below-the belt reference was deleted from his article published in The Fiji Times yesterday.

Mr Prasad’s comments in response to a critical editorial by Ms Pratibha last Wednesday nevertheless were sent to more than one email address.

The National Federation Party MP and leader said skirt journalism was given new meaning via Ms Pratibha’s Editorial Comment. He implies that Ms Pratibha is linked to skirt journalism.

This is untrue, uncalled for and unbecoming of someone who likes to portray himself as a learned leader. The term “skirt journalism” in Fiji is commonly understood to refer to sexual liaison between female journalists and male news sources.

It came to the fore several years back. Two women journalists from The Fiji Times, the newspaper Mr Prasad has been speaking favourably about in Parliament and outside, were involved in a major controversy relating to this.

Ms Pratibha has never stooped so low. It’s an insult to her intelligence and integrity to be dragged by Mr Prasad into gutter politics like this. It typifies the male chauvinistic attitude common amongst some who still see women as sex objects and subservient to men.

Mr Prasad needs to retract that skirt journalism statement and apologise to Ms Pratibha. His lengthy statement, received Friday afternoon, is being referred to our lawyers tomorrow.

Fijileaks: A commentator has brought to our notice that Professor Biman Prasad had referred to another article as 'skirt journalism'; the commentator wants to know why no legal action was threatened against Professor Prasad's Letter to the Editor, Fiji Sun, May 19, 2015?:

"We regard this (Big Cane Cash story) as skirt journalism of the worst type" - NFP leader Biman Prasad

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From the Archives

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Vol 1 No 1, November 1994

A controversy over a sexual liaison between Fiji prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and a Fiji Times journalist led to threats to deregister The Review -- the news magazine that broke the story.


By editorial staff of The Review, Fiji


IN FIJI, during March and April 1994, there was mixed reception about a controversial sex scandal cover story about Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka published in the monthly news magazine The Review. The reveation stunned readers; many were appalled by the fact that Rabuka preached about Christian ethics and a way of life for the country while committing adultery. 'However unsavoury the details, the story had
to be told," said The Review.

The Fiji Times reporter involved in the controversy sparked off the reports by openly discussing her brief fling with Rabuka -- and it appeared to become common knowledge.

The day after The Review hit the streets, the Daily Post ran a front-page story based on a statement supposedly issued by the Prime Minister's Office on legal action against The Review and Ratu Inoke Kubuabola. However, The Review defiantly weathered the controversy and threats to deregister the magazine. The following is a diary of the controversy compiled by The Review:

Wednesday, 16 March 1994:
Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's leadership was challenged barely a month after his election victory by Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, Cakaudrove member of Parliament, on the basis that the Prime Minister had offered the opposition National Federation Party a coalition partnership without consulting the Bose Levu Vakaturaga (Great Council of Chiefs) and secondly that the Prime Minister had committed adultery with a woman journalist during the Cakaudrove provincial meeting.

At a meeting of the Soqosoqo Vakavulewa Ni Taukei (SVT) caucus, Rabuka admitted the adultery accusation, saying his wife and taiatala (pastor) had both forgiven him. Rabuka, a lay preacher, was also stripped of his pastoral duties. A stormy session broke out but in the interests of party unity, the members forgave Rabuka and asked him to stay clean.

Thursday, 17 March: The scandal, which had been common knowledge for sometime was confirmed to The Review. The fact that the scandal was also confirmed unsuccessfully used as a political move to challenge Prime Minister Rabuka's leadership. After cross-checking with various sources among those at the caucus meeting, The Review compiled its April edition, leading it with the political showdown.

Wednesday, 6 April: The review came hot-off-the-press and copies were delivered and air-mailed to subscribers.

Thursday, 7 April: The magazine hit the newsstands in the capital, Suva, promoted by the Daily Post's front page story reporting that Prime Minister Rabuka would sue The Review and Kubuabola. The SVT issued a four-point statement confirming the story indirectly by condemning the 'leakage' of what it called confidential information, signed by party secretary-general Dr Filimone Wainiqolo.

Friday, 8 April: Information Minister Ratu Josefa Dimuri [a onetime Fiji Times journalist] slammed the Post front-page story saying the statement to the Post from the Prime Minister's Office was unauthorised. Dimuri told the Post that the SVT appreciated the Prime Minister's sincerity and openness in the way he handled the matter and the party had rallied to support him. Kubuabola was also reported in the same story as saying he wasn't worried and that he would tell all if he was taken to court by Rabuka.

Saturday, 9 April:
The Fiji Times first mentioned the controversy by quoting Information Minister Dimuri.

Monday, 11 April: The Fiji Times beat up the Post's Friday front-page story with the headline SVT LEAK A LIE and reported Dimuri as saying that if he had the power he would deregister The Review over its sources. The minister added he would push for a review of the Media Registration Act. The story drew condemnation from news media organisations.

Tuesday, 12 April: Opposition Leader Jai Ram Reddy described Dimuris threat in the Times as 'disturbing, frightening and extreme'. All National Congress MP David Pickering, Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry and Fijian Association party chairman Josevata Kamikamica also condemned Dimuri's threats.

Wednesday, 13 April:
Dimuri issued a statement saying that Rabuka had offered to quit as Prime Minister in March after the accusations of adultery were made. 'The Prime Minister told Ratu Inoke that he would not deny the accusation of adultery,' Dimuri said. Kubuabola countered that Dimuri's statement contained inaccuracies and claimed it was designed to
discredit him [Kubuabola].

Thursday, 14 April: The SVT, two Independents and the General Voters Party members supported the Budget in its second reading with 37 votes to defeat the Opposition. A pleased Rabuka told the Times that the scandal had been resolved and put to rest.

Friday, 15 April:
The Budget was adopted.

Tuesday, 19 April:
The weekly Weekender hit the streets, citing 'national security reasons' for not publishing the previous week. It was going to implicate Rabuka further, the paper said. Sunday, 24 April: Weekender publisher Jo Nata was arrested and charged with criminal trespass. [The Weekender named the woman at the centre of the affair in its delayed April 15 issue as Fiji Times reporter Wainikiti Waqa.

The weekly reported: Wainikiti continued working with the Fiji Times despite an obvious breach of ethics. 'Skirt journalism' is regarded with contempt by the journalism fraternity outside Fiji. The Fiji Times is unabe to take any action unless Wainikiti is named as a woman journalist referred to in The Review disclosure. Rabuka later confirmed that the woman concerned was Wainikiti. Wainikiti neither confirmed nor denied that she was having an affair with the Prime Minister. The liaison with Rabuka occurred at Caukadrove Provincial Council meeting on 13 October 1993. Wainikiti was in Taveuni to cover the meeting for the Fiji Times].
Reprinted from the May 1994 issue of The Review (Fiji).
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19 Comments
Chiku
20/7/2015 05:51:45 pm

Skirt journalism is an insult to the many very courageous female journalists who do not shy away from speaking truth to power all over the world.
Yellow journalism is what the Fiji Sun is about. It is a newspaper that specialises in sucking up to the mob in power for its own selfish interest. It has abdicated its public duty to the people of Fiji.
They can run to their lawyers with their bag full of money but they cannot hide the truth - which is that it has become a shitty regime mouthpiece paper!

Reply
RSP
20/7/2015 07:02:34 pm

Fiji Sun and Pratibha are akin to mistress status now, and there is no hiding that Fact, whatever they do. people of Fiji have been too soft with unethical people like these who tarnish the reputation of many who intend to carry out good work.

Fact remains that Fiji sun is practicing skirt journalism at its worst and in the sulu's of few.

Reply
Tomasi Koroi
20/7/2015 10:50:18 pm

Dr. Biman is a respected academic. He is down to earth and approachable. USP staff loved his union leadership. Sad, we dont have that calibre any more at USP, who can say things as they are. Sun is a shameless regime rag. and Kaiyum is a shameless CJ Patel / Tappu puppet. It must hurt, to think that he is the numero ono, when everyone knows he kowtows to the Patels and Tappus. Kaiyum will be finished when only one of them opens his mouth.

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John Prasad
21/7/2015 01:39:43 am

Dr Biman Prasad is indeed very approachable and friendly. That has nothing to do with the issue though.

In leadership, he is vindictive when challenged, and readily sold out half his union members in 2004 for the famous Housing Policy that resulted in all junior academic staff losing money each month. He didn't give a hoot to calls for consultation then. together with his kaka Duke (Andoo) Singh, they bulldozed the policy by going to bed with the management.

Then in 2008, he again with his chamcha Mahendra Reddy (the name sounds strangely familiar) orchestrated a new sleeping in arrangement with the university management that saw a pay rise at the expense of scrapping of the most junior of academic staff and relegating the staff to salaries of below poverty line.

You clearly have amnesia my friend.

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Tomasi Koroi
21/7/2015 03:48:52 am

We differ, Mr. John. Your interests were not served by Dr. Biman. He served the interests of the majority. He remained undisputed leader of the union. Decline came when the current group took leadership.

BMW
21/7/2015 09:06:55 pm

Your opinion about Biman is opposite the most people in this blog. I wonder if C was your grade while being his student. You dumb soul.

Nand
21/7/2015 04:03:57 am

It's apparent from the comments above that Tomasi doesn't know Dr Biman well enough. He is surely not a down to earth person. Infact, he is a selfish person. He rose to prominence during the Anthony Tarr era at USP under dubious circumstances (some outlined below by John). I am a former USP staff union member and I certainly did not like his leadership, neither did majority of my colleagues. He is indeed a highly qualified economist, but he doesn't behave like one in parliament.

Reply
Nand
21/7/2015 04:14:13 am

Tomasi, the fact is that when Biman had gained what he wanted (for himself), he passed the the reins of the union to Mahen Reddy. Biman served himself and not the majority as you claim.

BMW
21/7/2015 09:23:41 pm

Babbu Nand Ji, you need to grow up little bit more. You should learn leadership skills from Biman before it is too late. If you don't like his leadership, then you are a moron. Most highly learned people are not good leaders but for Biman, he takes credit for both. Watch what you say to discredit professionals.

BMW
21/7/2015 09:38:18 pm

Nand Babu, let me interrupt you again. I watch all parliamentary sessions live. A class 5 student can tell what goes in the parliament. It seems you are not very observant or maybe deaf or blind. In parliament, Biman gives JULAAB to Bai/Kai. Bai even takes bathroom breaks as seen.... Next time when Biman speaks, watch their reactions, you dumb soul.

John Prasad
22/7/2015 01:38:49 am

BMW, hardly so. Your assertion that anyone who criticizes Biman Prasad is a C-grader in his course is childish and shows how little you know of people or the way the world works. Criticism given here has been backed up by specific cases. Unlike your rambling, reminiscent of a sucker. I wonder if you're related to Biman, perhaps a lecturer in Accounting???

C-grader haha. I could teach you a few things!

Nand
22/7/2015 06:19:02 am

BMW, you are correct when you say that Biman gives JULAAB to the government side. Being a PhD graduate he should be giving meaningful solutions to our economic woes, it is a pity that he has chosen to give JULAAB. I was never Biman's student and neither was I a C grader. Infact I hold a PhD in science. You have suggested that I learn about leadership from Biman, I refuse to do that as I know he is a dubious leader. Are you aware that he quit the leadership of NFP overnight in the 90's? That was the time NFP needed him the most. I rest my case with these comments.

Dekho
21/7/2015 01:47:03 am

The Patel's and the Tappoos and the Bhais have been the behind the scene political Big Man in Fiji politics since Independence. Khaiyum is just the latest politician who has joined the conga line to bow to the cheque book diplomacy of these Big Man of Fiji politics. Bainimarama the coupist is another. Nothing has changed on this front with Bai-Kai new Fiji. They can change the flag but this old pattern of political play will remain intact. And, they have the Fiji Sun to sing praise of the new era , a new dawn in Fiji politics and the new rulers.!

Reply
Saamjo
21/7/2015 02:48:25 am

Look who is bitching about an unfair comment. It's Nemani Delaibatiki, the " veteran " journalist hired by the Regime propaganda paper the Fiji Sun to act as a spin doctor for the Bainimarama regime.!
He shamelessly propagandised for the Bai-Kai regime with no regard for the ethics of journalism. He is the last person to be complaining about unfair comment..

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Tomasi Koroi
21/7/2015 03:47:10 am

Dekho is correct. We have watched silently. Many of us were pained mercilessly when we saw our chiefs being used by the Patels and Tappoos. They used them and dumped them. When Tui Nayau was down after 2000, not a single one of them were seen around him. I remember when Ratu had become wheelchair bound, he would become so angry when he would read or see on the TV about one of his Patel 'friends'. Kaiyum will suffer worse, that is for certain.

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Fiji is full of crooks
21/7/2015 02:58:21 pm

Tom

Worked both ways, I think.

The Patels and Tappoos and not forgetting Ah Koy used the chiefs and the chiefs used them in return.

I wonder how much the Tui Nayau was worth?

Reply
Bahuki
21/7/2015 10:51:53 pm

Fiji Stunk sure loves preaching about nepotism and denouncing any who speaks out against the badly flawed regime.

That editor though is as pathetic as his female journalism as all they're talking about is just plain "jerk-alism" when the government is just continuously doing things without thinking.

This article just gives me more that enough reason to stay "True to the Times" who are just doing their job publishing what that lousy wuss AK-47 accuses of as "contempt" when there's nothing about it that says so.

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On-Song
21/7/2015 11:50:05 pm

Hey guys!! we're going nowhere with this line of communication digging up stuff that may not be relevant nowadays. We can at least address current on-going concerns of abuse and corruption for these we can do something about to change or eradicate - there are things we cannot now change and best let the past be. The business wallahs will continue to do what's good for the business and that is to corrupt the leadership in Govt. regardless.

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Netball Fiji
23/7/2015 03:30:20 pm

Wonder whether Wainikiti the F Times reporter who nearly bought down the Rabuka Govt and who looks prim and proper these days as President Netball Fiji should step down as she is not a proper role model for all our netball kids and girls???

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