For the third time in less than a year, an Aussie publisher of a major Fijian newspaper has been deported. This time Rex Gardner of the Fiji Times was declared a 'prohibited immigrant' and forced to leave the country. In typical military regime fashion the government gave no reason for the decree and refused to comment. Gardner's work contract was scheduled to end next week -- he replaced his similarly expelled predecessor 9 months ago -- but Fiji's interim government never misses a chance to expose themselves as cement-headed, dick-swinging thugs to the world community and so ordered his immediate exit.
This is the third time a foreign publisher has been subjected to a humiliating deportation. Think the interim government is sending a message? Military minds loathe a free, aggressive press. Australian news media is far from perfect but they're free and unfailingly aggressive. Intimidation and control of the media is this government's intention. I pray the seeds of skeptical reporting and journalistic integrity take root among those left behind and grow strong enough to defend Fiji from those who would stifle free speech, a linchpin of democracy.
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