Outrage over publisher’s deportation from Fiji

THE Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) has strongly condemned the deportation to Australia of Fiji Sun publisher, Russell Hunter, by Fiji’s interim government.
PINA president Joseph Ealedona said yesterday that the sudden deportation of Mr Hunter without a convincing explanation from the interim government is a serious threat to the freedom of expression and information and goes against the commitment of the interim government to uphold media freedom in Fiji.
This commitment was given to PINA board members during a meeting with interim prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama last December, he said.
Mr Ealedona, also the managing director of the PNG National Broadcasting Corporation, said the unilateral action of the interim Fijian government borders on a police state and reflects the dire need for respect for rule of law and the rights of its citizens to information.
“The reasons given for this deportation cannot hide the fact that the media has once again revealed information that questions the integrity of some in authority and therefore this action by the interim government, Mr Ealedona said.
It was reported that Mr Hunter, a former editor of the now defunct Niugini Nius, was taken from his home in Suva yesterday by two men claiming to be from the immigration department and put on a flight to Australia.
The Fiji Sun had recently published a series of articles on allegations of tax evasion against an interim government minister, later identified as Mahendra Chaudhry, a former prime minister.
Australia and New Zealand have condemned the deportation of Mr Hunter.
Canberra said Mr Hunter’s expulsion was “totally unacceptable”, while New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said potential aid donors would be concerned anti-democratic intimidation in Fiji was increasing.
Mr Hunter said on arrival in Sydney he believed it was a series of
Fiji Sun articles alleging Chaudhry was involved in tax evasion that sparked his deportation.
“We were expecting it,” he told reporters, adding that he found the deportation a “harrowing experience”.
Mr Hunter said he had not had much sleep during his ordeal and was looking forward to a shower and a beer before discussions with Australian officials.
His partner, Martha Waradin of East Sepik province, told AFP from her Suva home that immigration officials had given her three weeks to leave Fiji with their 13-year-old daughter, Rhianna.
It is understood Mr Hunter had 18 months remaining on his work permit.
However, Mr Bainimarama said the Australian, who has lived in the Pacific island nation for 11 years, had breached the conditions of his work visa.
“Hunter was conducting himself in a manner prejudicial to the peace, defence, public safety, public order, security and stability of the sovereign state of the Fiji Islands,” he said in a statement.
But Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith expressed outrage at Mr Hunter’s treatment and disquiet at its implications for democratic freedoms in Fiji.
“The fact that Fiji authorities detained and removed an Australian citizen without any advice to the Australian government or providing consular access is totally unacceptable,” he said.