SUVA, Fiji, April 4 (NNN-PACIFIC ISLAND WEB) – Fijian Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, apologised today (Thursday) to three New Zealand journalists, who were taken in for questioning, on Wednesday, and kept overnight by police officers, on the island nation.
In an urgent parliamentary statement today, Bainimarama made it clear that the news media has been an ally in accountability, helping to expose an illegal environmental destruction in Malolo.
Bainimarama said, he was informed that the three journalists had been detained by the police for questioning, and the Fijian government immediately demanded their release, as soon as, he came to know about the incident.
He said, these journalists were in Fiji to report on the recent charges Fiji had brought against Freesoul Real Estate Development, a resort developer.
Bainimarama, together with Fiji’s Minister for Environment, Mahendra Reddy and Police Commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho, met with the three journalists and apologised for the treatment they received.
Bainimarama stressed that, the Fijian people can be assured, the government will not tolerate any attempts to violate the historic environmental protections enshrined in Fiji’s Constitution.– NNN-PACIFIC ISLAND WEB
