SODELPA Labasa branch has been criticised for closing its door on a Fiji Sun reporter.

Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA) says the public has the right to know the nature of the election campaign.

SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka said the media were free to attend any of their campaign meeting.

The reporter visited the office to get comments from candidates who are campaigning around the Northern Division and to get a schedule programme of their campaign trail.

The reporter was told the party would not give any comments to the Fiji Sun.

Afterwards, the reporter was told to leave the office.

Media Industry Development Authority (MIDA) chairperson Ashwin Raj said the public had the right to know the nature of campaigns conducted by political parties so that they can make an informed decision.

“It is ironic that some politicians have been claiming that the media in Fiji is not free and indeed campaigning for the 2018 General Election on the basis that they will make the media free again should they come into power,” Mr Raj said.

“And here they are actively censoring the media from their political campaigns.

“I have received calls from concerned media agencies that have been told by aspiring politicians that the management of their respective political parties have instructed them not speak to select media because this is their party policy.”

He said if they were claiming that they were campaigning on the welfare of all Fijians, why were they shying away from the media?

“If indeed, the campaign they are conducting is clean, based on issues germane to the welfare of all Fijians and does not have the effect of consciously encouraging discrimination and divisions on any of the prohibited grounds including race and religion, then why are they shying away from transparency and scrutiny by the media,” Mr Raj said.

“And why chant the mantra of accountability, transparency, human rights and press freedom, when your own actions are marred with inconsistencies?

“Or is it press freedom when it suits their agenda,” Mr Raj said.

Mr Rabuka said: “The Fiji Sun and any other media are free to attend any of our campaign because it is a public consultation- it is your right as being the fourth estate,” Mr Rabuka said.

“Reporters are free to ask questions to any candidate of the Social Democratic Liberal Party.”

Edited by Percy Kean

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