The Fiji anti-corruption body, FICAC is being urged by the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF, to release former journalist Charles Charters from remand.
The PFF also want to see Fiji support its UNCAC commitments to protect whistleblowers and those who publish their information.
PFF Chair Robert Iroga of the Solomon Islands, and co-chairs from Tonga and Palau have brought the support of the regional network and global media freedom partner IFEX to their call for Fiji commentator and former broadcaster Charles Charters to be released from his second day in remand by the Fiji Independent Commission for Anti-Corruption.
Charters, a UK national and Fiji citizen by marriage, had been refused boarding on a flight out of Fiji on Saturday 21st February, after he said no to a deal swapping his right to fly for the identity of a whistleblower who sent him material made public, with commentary and questions, through his Meta account.
FICAC had placed him in remand at their offices in Suva applying unique 48-hour legislative provisions to do so, but had not responded to media and public queries, and have yet to provide an official statement. Through a handwritten note and his lawyers Sunday, Charters shared he is being held on suspicion of “aiding and abetting a FICAC whistleblower under Section 45 of the Crimes Act 2009.”
The alleged whistleblower is said to have breached Section 13G of the FICAC Act, which deals with divulging official information without authority.
“Pacific and global news media are bound by an integrity and professional mandate to protect sources, especially whistleblowers who may witness abuse of power but lack the channels to address it. It is imperative that FICAC recognises it must itself be subject to the same scrutiny it applies to others,” said Iroga.
“We are hopeful the Fiji judicial systems will correct the chilling impacts these actions have placed on perception and trust from the people of Fiji. This is a moment for Fiji’s judiciary to address this perception and trust breach, and remind FICAC of its mandate,” he added.
“We stand in solidarity with the positions expressed by the Fiji Media Alliance, reminding ourselves that Fiji is a signatory to the global anti-corruption convention (UNCAC), which devotes an entire article to the protection of whistleblowers,” he said.
UNCAC Article 33 asks States to protect “reporting persons” from unjustified treatment when they report corruption in good faith; Fiji reviews under the UNCAC have delivered praise but highlighted the need to close gaps in data privacy, and a comprehensive whistleblower law.
