The Australian High Commission claims that the threat made against the High commissioner James Batley last night appears to be politically motivated by a person or persons who object to the Australian government's current policy on Fiji.
In a statement from the High commission this afternoon, the Commission stresses that it will not be intimidated by such threats and the commission has made appropriate security arrangements in response to the threat and it will remain open for business.
James Batley met with Interim Defence Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau this afternoon to discuss the matter.
Soon after the meeting, when approached by our reporter Batley refused to comment.
Interim Defence Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau when contacred said after assessing the information from the investigators a statement will be released.
Earlier today Police Media Liaison officer, Atunaisa Sokomuri confirmed that the threat against the Australian High Commissioner was contained in a letter delivered by a taxi driver at around 8.10pm.
Officers from the Police Special Branch were at the High Commission last night providing security to the High Commissioner and the Commission staff. Police are also doing constant patrolling around the High Commission today.
Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama said the international community should stop jumping up and down about the expulsion of the Fiji Times and Fiji Sun Publishers.
Although Commodore Bainimarama has refused to reveal the specific reason on why Fiji Times Publisher, Evan Hannah was deported last Friday, he said the international community knows what Russel Hunter and Evan Hannah did, which resulted in them breaching their work permit conditions.
Bainimarama said he is concerned if some media organisations continue to report irresponsibly and fabricate stories.
Commodore Bainimarama also said the Fiji Media Council should be proactive and ensure that journalism ethics to report factually is followed by all the media outlets in the country.
Fiji Media Council Chairman, Daryl Tarte has refused to make any comments.
Bainimarama also stresses that media freedom is alive in Fiji. He said the media should be responsible and leave the determination of the legality or otherwise of the interim government to the courts and concentrate on reporting facts on a daily basis.
The Interim Prime Minister also questions some media outlets why they do not verify information received against the interim administration.
Some misleading reports highlighted during the meeting between the Interim PM and the media executives was an incident which never occurred involving a taxi driver where he claimed in a TV interview that he was picked up by soldiers and sodomised. But it has been established that no such incident occurred and the reporter did not verify the information.
The other story highlighted was a claim of a death in military custody in Vanua Levu last year. This had never occurred and it was established that the reporter just picked up the fabricated information from a blog site.
Threat Politically Motivated-Aust High Commission
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