8 Sep 2014

MIDA taking action on complaint against Fiji PM and paper

8:05 pm on 8 September 2014

An official complaint by Fiji's Social Democratic Liberal Party against the Prime Minister and a newspaper has been actioned by the Media Industry Development Authority.

Last week the party's leader, Ro Teimumu Kepa, filed a complaint over a front-page article in the Fiji Sun, in which Rear Admiral Frank Bainimarama accusing SODELPA of plotting to free the 2000 coup-maker, George Speight.

Ro Teimumu says the article was threatening, and both the newspaper and the Prime Minister should be held accountable.

The article said Ro Teimumu declined to respond, but she later denied the accusations.

The Chairman of MIDA, Ashwin Raj, says he is awaiting responses from all parties.

"It was only received on Thursday so I have written to all the relevant parties and under law you have 14 days to respond, so that's where we are procedurally."

Ashwin Raj says the Labour Party and the People's Democratic Party have also made public media complaints but haven't lodged anything in writing.