"It's early days yet, but removal of the ban is the first sign of progress towards direct conversations between the regime and all media organisations in Fiji,"says PFF chair Susuve Laumaea, of Papua New Guinea.
It is almost a year since the abrogation of the Fiji Constitution last April in a move which undermined free speech, free expression and the right to freedom of assembly. Interim attorney-general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, told Fiji's media it has been decided to drop a ban involving key media outlets the Fiji Times and Fiji TV in discussions over a proposed media decree. The lifting of the ban now gives the two outlets just over a week to read the proposed decree and prepare their inputs for tabling during the consultations.
