Pacific

Fiji media reacts to online threats

20:31 pm on 10 September 2014

The Fijian Media Association has strongly condemned violent threats made against journalists on social media.

A columnist for the Fiji Sun, Jyoti Pratibha, and a journalist from Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Vosita Kotoiwasawasa, have been threatened by a suspected fake account on the Fiji Economic Forum Facebook page.

The posts, removed by administrators of the page, called on people to beat Ms Pratibha and spit on her, as well as burn down her house.

The President of the Association, Ricardo Morris, says he understands there is anger at some of the reports written in the Fiji Sun by Ms Pratibha, but threats and intimidation must not be condoned.

Mr Morris says journalists in Fiji are facing pressure, intimidation and threats every day and the media can be an easy scapegoat.

The Association says it spoke out when journalists were denied accreditation to a recent international forum and allegedly intimidated, and is now extremely concerned about the recent threats.

Ro Teimumu Kepa, Fiji's SODELPA leader Photo: RNZ / Republika