Pacific Media Watch

1 January 2011

FIJI: Regime to file complaint against NZ media over commodore's 'death' reports

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Fiji's leader Voreqe Bainimarama ... alleged rumour-mongering by NZ media. Photo: Scoop
PMW ID
7189

SUVA: The Fiji government will soon file a complaint against New Zealand media organisations for earlier reporting the rumoured "death'"of Fiji's interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

Rumours of the commodore's death was aired via certain New Zealand media outlets while he was visiting China for a trade mission in late November.

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has told FijiLive that a complaint would be lodged with the New Zealand Media Council soon.

Commodore Banimarama says the reports of his death had been invented in New Zealand, which has imposed travel sanctions barring him from visiting to seek medical attention for a heart condition.

A number of social websites were also reporting on his rumoured death in China from a heart attack. - Radio Australia/Pacific Media Watch

Radio Australia's Pacific Beat interview on this issue

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