Ashwin Raj says while media organisations are free to report and comment on all matters of national interest, it is their duty not to publish or broadcast material in a form likely to promote discord.

The chairperson of the Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA) was commenting on the debate over same sex marriage.

“The media must take full cognisance of Section 6 (c) of Media Industry Development Decree which states that “media organisations shall be sensitive to and particularly careful about the possible effects of discriminatory references to vulnerable minorities in prejudicial or pejorative contexts.

“This particular provision in the Media Decree is in consonance with the Bill of Rights under the prohibited grounds of discrimination of our Constitution.

“We must be mindful of this at all times regardless of our moral position on the subject, our political proclivities or ideological disposition.

“Clearly, there is a tension between democracy (crudely defined as the will of the majority) and minority rights and we need to have a deep and meaningful discussion on the issue that goes beyond the cul de sac of marriage.

“The institution of the family (heteronormative or otherwise) is inextricably woven into discourses of nation and belonging and such discourses are highly contentious which most nations, including advanced liberal democracies, have struggled and continue to struggle with. Fiji is no exception.

“How we as a nation debate such matters while upholding the values set out in our Constitution will be a strong measure of the kind of democracy we are.

“Let us strive to be an enlightened democracy and the media must play a constructive role in promoting reason as we balance freedom of expression, report on matters of national interest and protect and promote the rights of minorities.”