Amnesty International says sedition charges against The Fiji Times could have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and other news outlets in the country.
The Fiji Office of Director of Public Prosecutions has charged the newspaper with sedition after earlier accusing it and its senior staff of inciting communal antagonism over a newspaper article.
The case relates to an article published in the vernacular iTaukei newspaper Nai Lalakai on April 27 last year.
Amnesty's Pacific Researcher Kate Schuetze says the charges are very serious and should be dropped.
Ms Schuetze told Tim Glasgow the case shows there is still suppression of freedom of expression in Fiji.
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The Fiji Times headquarters on Victoria Parade, Suva Photo: RNZI/Sally Round