SUVA (Radio New Zealand International / Pacific Media Watch): The University of the South Pacific in Fiji has cancelled a non-government organisation's debate on issues relating to the election because it could be in breach of the Electoral Decree.
Section 115 restricts any group receiving foreign funding from campaigning on election issues, which includes organising debates, panel discussions or publishing information.
A journalism fellow, Pat Craddock, who heads the media programme, said the USP will not host Media Watch's panel discussion "Reporting On The Elections Now and After the Elections" as it is likely to be in breach.
He said Media Watch's offer to pay for refreshments may also infringe the decree as it could be seen as a gift from an NGO.
Craddock said the university would put on a replacement event to discuss press freedom.
"It excludes educational organisations such as the USP, so we're going to do it ourselves, because there is no point in putting any NGO under pressure. They can be fined up to 50,000 bucks and they can get 10 years prison or both."
Pat Craddock said Ashwin Raj, chair of the Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA), was a confirmed panelist at USP's event.
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Pacific Media Watch
