SYDNEY (Pacific Media Watch / Radio NZ International): An Australian academic says that observer missions to Fiji's elections are not going to be able to carry out their work properly because of the restrictions to freedom of speech and freedom of the press in Fiji.
Dr Brij Lal from the Australian National University told Radio New Zealand International that "the lead-up to the election has not been a level playing field, the media is not free to report on campaigns and the public are anxious about expressing their point of view".
There are 14 nations observing next month's elections, led by Australia, India, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
The Australian government does "not seem to care" that the observer mission "is on restrictive terms set by the Fiji government", RNZI reported.
"Australia just want to get Fiji off the table. And if the elections are even remotely democratic they will simply say this is fine, Fiji should be welcomed back into the fold and everything will be alright. But in the long run this is a very short-sighted view that really does not address the problem" Dr Lal told RNZI.
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