Fiji’s Minister for Policing and Communications, Ioane Naivalurua, has ordered immediate security upgrades at all court premises after a journalist was violently attacked outside acourthouse on Monday, calling the incident “unacceptable” and a direct threat to democracy.
Naivalurua said the assault on Fijian journalist Apenisa Waqaidrovu was the latest in a series of attacks and intimidation directed at media workers covering court proceedings.
“This unacceptable incident follows several previous occasions in which media personnel have been chased, threatened, sworn at, or had their equipment struck or damaged by accused or convicted persons exiting court,” he said.
“Let me be very clear: no journalist in Fiji should ever be assaulted, intimidated, or obstructed while lawfully carrying out their work,” Naivalurua said in a statement.
Naivalurua said the Fiji Police Force has “both a legal and moral obligation” to protect the media and criticised what he described as repeated lapses in courthouse security.
“These repeated lapses in courthouse security, and the failure to anticipate and prevent such incidents, are unacceptable,” he said.
He has directed the Commissioner of Police to take immediate action, including:
*Immediately strengthen police presence and protective measures for journalists outside all court premises.
*Implement clear and secure crowd-control and prisoner-movement protocols to prevent any physical interaction between offenders and media personnel.
*Ensure all court escort officers are properly briefed on risk assessment and safeguarding obligations.
*Hold accountable any officer whose negligence contributes to incidents of this nature.
Naivalurua stressed that journalist safety is not optional and warned that attacks on the media undermine the public’s right to information.
“A free press is a pillar of good governance, public accountability, and national transparency,” he said.
“When journalists are attacked, it is an attack on Fiji’s democracy and on the public’s right to know.”
The Ministry also aligned itself with the concerns of the Fiji Media Association (FMA), saying the police must improve standards and discipline.
“The Ministry of Policing and Communications acknowledges the concerns raised by the Fiji Media Association (FMA) and fully agrees that the Police Force must elevate its standards of vigilance and operational discipline. These incidents must not happen again.”
Naivalurua concluded by putting the responsibility squarely on police leadership.
“The safety of our journalists is non-negotiable. The Ministry will ensure that the Fiji Police Force takes all necessary actions to safeguard media personnel and restore public confidence in security at our courthouses,” he said.
