The Fiji Media Council will meet at the end of this month to discuss the issue surrounding the deployment of Ministry of Information personnel at different media outlets.
Council chairman Daryl Tarte said this is a serious issue and he needs to discuss it with the council members before concentrating on other steps.
Tarte is concerned.
Two personnel from the Ministry of Information have been placed at different media outlets while news directors have been advised to ensure nothing inciteful is broadcast or printed based on the Public Emergency Regulation, which is now in effect.
Section 16 (1) of the PER which has been gazetted states:
Where the Permanent Secretary for Information has reason to believe that any broadcast or publication may give rise to disorder and may thereby cause undue demands to be made upon the police or the Armed Forces, or may result in a breach of the peace, or promote disaffection or public alarm, or undermine the Government and the State of Fiji, he or she may, by order, prohibit such broadcast or publication.
Section 16 (2) states that:
In order to give effect to subsection (1), any broadcaster or publisher upon direction by the Permanent Secretary for Information must submit to him or her all material for broadcast or publication material before broadcast or publication.
Section 16 (3) states that:
Any person or entity which fails in any way whatsoever to comply with the provisions of this section may be ordered by the Commissioner of Police or Officer Commanding upon advice from the Permanent Secretary for Information to cease all activities and operations.
Permanent Secretary for Information Major Neumi Leweni is expected to comment later on the issue.
Fijivillage stresses that it never runs inciteful comments from any individual in any circumstance or in any situation.
We continue to remain fair and balanced.
Council to discuss deployment of MINFO personnel
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