Reporters Without Borders condemns the arrest of Fiji TV reporter
Emily Moli and cameraman Shalendra Datt for “disobeying a police order”
on 23 January, when they went to cover a dispute between the principal
and administration of Rishikul Sanatan high school in Nasinu.
After
being told to stop filming and leave by officer Waisea Tabakau, they
were placed in a police van and interrogated for five hours. Fiji TV
spokesman Tanya Waqanika said their arrest was “without any grounds and
totally unjustified” as the school administration had said they could
film.
Another TV crew consisting of reporter Edwin Nand and
cameraman Trevuz Chung who were sent to the school later the same day
were also detained for a short while for the same reason. Waqanika said
the station would file a complaint with the Police Commissioner and the
Fiji Media Council.
