Journalists in Fiji will not be subject to criminal prosecution or face imprisonment for breaches under the Media Industry Development decree.
Government representatives in Australia and New Zealand have told the local media there that journalist in Fiji face jail sentences for breaches of the media decree.
However, Attorney General and Minister for Communication Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum said this is not the case.
Sayed-Khaiyum also said that it is an insult to Fijians and journalists in Fiji to say that they cannot be objective in their reporting if they work for a local media organisation.
Under the Media Decree, any media outlet which breaches the provisions of the decree is liable for penalties.
The journalist would face fines not exceeding $1000 while the publisher faces fines not exceeding $25,000 and the media organisation faces fines not exceeding $100,000.
There will be no criminal application to the journalist under the decree.
Story by: Roneel Lal
No prosecution or imprisonment under decree
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