The Fiji Times, three of its senior officials and a letter writer have been found not guilty of charges of sedition by the Fiji High Court.
Crowds gathered outside court after Fiji Times staff and local writer were acquitted of sedition charges. Photo: Ricardo Morris
The newspaper reported that Justice Thushara Rajasinghe found the Fiji Times Ltd, general manager Hank Arts, editor in chief Fred Wesley, Nai Lalakai editor Anare Ravula and letter writer Josaia Waqabaca not guilty today in Suva.
The judgement agreed with three court assessors who returned a not guilty opinion on all charges last Friday.
The charges were filed following a government complaint that Mr Waqabaca's letter, published in the newspaper's i-Taukei language supplement, could incite feelings of ill-will and hostility towards the Fiji's minority Muslim population.
The defence and human rights groups said the charges were a ploy by the government to intimidate the Fiji Times, which is regarded as one of the last bastions of independent media in the country.
Following the verdict, Josaia Waqabaca's lawyer, Aman Ravindra-Singh described the verdict as a victory for the people of Fiji.
"This is a victory for freedom of speech and expression, and the right to have freedom of speech and expression for the people of Fiji," Mr Ravindra-Singh said.
"It has become quite obvious that the government of Fiji has continued to charge people with sedition to suppress freedom of speech and also political dissent. This particular case and outcome is a huge victory for the people of Fiji."
However the lawyer said media censorship remained alive and well in Fiji, as a legacy of the period when Fiji's military took over government.
He said daily efforts were being made to chip away at the problem, and he hoped that Fiji could one day restore the press freedom it had before the country's military coups.