The Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama has said that Fiji Times Publisher Evan Hannah will not be the last expatriate to be deported.

This was revealed through a Radio NZ report on a PACNEWS agency release, that the Interim PM said he was not at liberty to explain why Hannah was deported and said that others are likely to follow.

Commodore Bainimarama said the same action would be taken against other expatriates if they breached the conditions of their work permit.


Bainimarama also said there have been regular articles that were inciteful in the media and he called for balanced and fair reporting.

According to PACNEWS, the Interim PM said in a heart to heart meeting with heads of news media organisations and the Fiji Media Council yesterday, that the last thing they wanted to do was close down media outlets and that his government should not be likened to Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

Bainimarama has restated the Interim Government's unwavering commitment of its constitutional obligation of Freedom of the Press and other media as enshrined in the Constitution.


He also said that with any freedom comes responsibility.

Commodore Bainimarama highlighted a few media reports, which the interim government saw as inciteful, unbalanced and unfair. He also questioned some media managers about how they verified information as some stories were just fabricated.

He also stressed that he is not trying to stop the media from reporting stories against the interim administration but to ensure that all stories are verified and reported factually.

The meeting ended with an agreement that monthly discussions be held between the Interim Prime Minister and media executives to ensure that any misunderstanding is addressed.

The media also called for better and timely responses from government on various issues and Commodore Bainimarama reassured them that his government would work on this.

He also revealed that former military spokesman Major Neumi Leweni would be called from China to work with the media.