SUVA (Radio NZ International/Pacific Media Watch): Fiji's opposition National Federation Party has called for the release of the final report of the Multinational Observer Group about last September's election.
The party said that as a matter of transparency and accountability, the government should publicly release the full contents of the report.
It said if the report had not been handed over to the Fiji government, then the MOG must inform all stakeholders why there had been a delay.
There were 92 observers from 13 countries, whose preliminary statement said that the elections broadly represented the will of the Fijian voters but it also noted the media's limited ability to examine rigorously the claims of candidates and parties.
In the two days before the election, all reporting on political campaigns was banned by decree, with the punishment for offending up to 10 years in jail and a fine of US$25,000.
The regime also threatened individuals with up to 10 years in jail if they were caught making an election-related comment on the phone or via the internet in the two days before the poll.
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Pacific Media Watch
