Fiji radio silenced, RNZ hit

Bainimarama on NZ

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Fiji's military regime has forced the shut down of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) radio transmitters in Fiji, affecting Radio New Zealand International (RNZI).

ABC Radio Australia said it had been ordered to close its FM relay stations in the capital, Suva, and in the tourist town of Nadi, AAP reported.

"Local sources have since confirmed Radio Australia is off the air in both locations," the ABC said.

RNZI manager Linden Clark said its Dateline Pacific programme was affected by the shut down.

Radio New Zealand International re-broadcasts programmes via the ABC.

Ms Clark said RNZI was still able to broadcast on its shortwave transmitter.

The clampdown comes a day after TV3 reporter Sia Aston, cameraman Matt Smith and ABC correspondent Sean Dorney were deported from Fiji by officials unhappy about international coverage of the political upheaval.

The military government, in power since a December 2006 coup, has gained more strength in recent days following a Court of Appeal ruling that the government was illegal under the 1997 constitution.

In reaction, the country's ailing president Ratu Josefa Iloilo dissolved the constitution, sacked the judiciary and briefly removed Frank Bainimarama from power before reinstating him as prime minister.

Bainimarama has since imposed tough reporting constraints on the media, telling Radio New Zealand this morning that press freedom had been "causing trouble" in Fiji.

Thumbing his nose at democracy, he said he did not want to hear any opposition to changes he imposed.

Media freedom group Reporters Without Borders has called the restrictions on media a "mortal blow" to press freedom.

"The military government is heading dangerously towards a Burmese-style system in which the media are permanently subject to prior censorship and other forms of obstruction," Reporters Without Borders said.

It was appealing to the European Union and United Nations to respond "to this manifest desire to restrict the free flow of news and information by speaking out and firmly condemning media censorship".

NZPA, AAP