NEW ZEALAND BLOGGERS OFFER SUPPORT FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN FIJI

Media release out last night:

NEW ZEALAND BLOGGERS OFFER SUPPORT FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN FIJI

New Zealand bloggers from across the political spectrum are offering material support for Fijian blogs in the face of violence and censorship by the country's military regime.  They are also calling on the New Zealand government to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the regime's acts of violence and censorship against this nonviolent, grassroots blogging movement.

The Fijian military regime has declared anonymous pro-democracy bloggers to be a "threat to national security", and have attempted to block Fijian access to common hosting sites such as www.blogspot.com. Suspected blogger, Ulaiasi Taoi, was recently subjected to beatings, verbal abuse, and humiliation during a 24-hour questioning, according to The Fiji Times and Fijian news sites.  The military regime now claims to have identified 20 more people responsible for pro-democracy blogs who will also be threatened with "questioning".

In support of the right to freedom of expression, a group of New Zealand bloggers are now offering access to their own websites for Fijian residents.  The group is composed of prominent New Zealand bloggers from across the political spectrum, including writers of Just Left, Kiwiblog, No Right Turn, NZBC, Public Address, and Spanblather. They have agreed to publish guest articles by Fijian bloggers, and where possible will provide hosting on their servers for Fijian blogs.

The group are also calling upon other members of the New Zealand online community with an interest of freedom of speech (such as Scoop, nzherald.co.nz, and Stuff) to make a similar offer of material support for Fijian bloggers.

Blogs are one of the few news sources outside of the control of the military regime in Fiji, representing a vital channel of uncensored information for both Fijians and the international community.

Any Fijian bloggers wishing to make use of this offer should make contact through one of the above-listed websites.

Comments

[burt]

Jordan

All the Fijian Govt need to do is have a hissy fit at all the people who disagree with them, close down all comments on the blogs and keep publishing their own spin.

Just how do you dont_make_comments_against_my_party_political_broadcast_jordan plan to show solid support for free speech ?

[Whaleoil]

I note that you are not providing the same facility for oppressed Chinese Bloggers either.

Take note, your union has been notified of your unauthorised protest action.

[span]

So Burt and Whaleoil are you with us or against us (as George W might say).

[FijianBlack]

Thanks for the offer. We need all the asistance we can get. We are now being hunted for expressing our views. The people who are commenting the way they are about your support of us, should realise that we don't do this for fun..it's a matter of life and death in Fiji.

Thank you for your support.

FijianBlack

[Jordan Carter]

FijianBlack - if you email me I can help connect you with some safer, anonymous hosting.

As for the rest, Span, please don't bother to engage those people on here. If they had an ounce of intelligence, they would realise that me allowing or not allowing comments on my blog has nothing whatsoever to do with free speech.

[burt]

Jordan

The number and nature of the guest posts that are featured on your blog will be the best marking stick for how you really feel about free speech.

Will you allow comments on these guest posts? That will be the first indicator I'll be scoring you on. As I asked, how do you plan to show solid support for free speech ?

[Whaleoil]

Clearly Jordan you know nothing about Fiji. I however know a great deal having been born there. This is bollocks.

Span, i am always for free speech but I note your and Jordans distinct lack of perspective in supporting "oppressed" bloggers of one country whilst ignoring others.

I also am yet to hear a valid argument as to why we should be supporting the reinstatement of such a blatant racist constitution in Fiji.

The GCC is also one of the most corrupt bodies in Fiji and it is about time someone sorted that little nest of vipers out.

before you go running off at the mouth, find out about Fiji itself, and why the vast majority of Fijians support what Fb is doing to clean the place up.

[Clint Heine]

Umm Jordan. When did you suddenly become a spokesman for any group of bloggers? You and Span are members of the NBZU and I don't remember us ever supporting Fiijian bloggers. Jordan, you are one of the worst examples of how to run a blog in New Zealand - you censor opinions that you disagree with and you only allow comments on the subjects that you choose. Yur hypocrisy is breathtaking, but it won't get you banned from your compulsory bloggers union.

[Peter Wilson]

Well done Jordan. Hopefully the old saying about the internet interpreting censorship and routing around it is still true.

As for the trolls, the simple answer everyone is to not bother feeding them. It is tempting though...

Peter

[Jordan Carter]

Burt, I think that there are other hosting arrangements being made. Given the kinds of comments that arise on this blog, I doubt anyone sane would want to turn them on to allow similar streams of abuse.

The freedom of speech argument is of course a complete red herring. Anyone in NZ is free to have a blog and say what they like, in the context of the law of defamation etc. In this country, the government isn't going to hunt you down for saying whatever you like.

Fiji is not the same, unfortunately. One can be disinterested in the causes of the coup, agnostic about Fiji's future direction, offer no judgement about the structure of Fijian society - and still abhor oppressive actions. Only those of a certain level of dimness could see any contradiction there.

[Clint Heine]

Note that you have not even allowed comments on your most recent posts Jordan. Care to repeat that freedom of speech argument or will you just repeat your Labour fibs and ignore the hundred people a day leaving NZ. to soak up the wealth on offer in Aussie.

[Whaleoil]

"the government isn't going to hunt you down for saying whatever you like."

Hmmm...I wonder what Tim Selwyn has to say about that?

[burt]

Jordan

Is it possible for you to reply to me without denigrating my intelligence?

[Clint Heine]

Burt, I wouldn't hold my breath. Jordan blocked comments on his little graphs and cartoons and yet is preaching free expression of debate and opinion. Do you think he will give any form of straight answer at all?

[Jordan]

Burt - I haven't insulted your intelligence. I have pointed out that your argument is flawed, and I have said that anyone who truly believes there is a contradiction is dim. You haven't asserted a contradiction, though you come close.

If you are so sensitive, then you are doing the wrong thing posting comments on blogs.

And I simply reiterate the point. I cannot comprehend why people feel my allowing them a privilege - to post content on my blog, attached to my name - is a right. It is no such thing. The right is to obtain a blog of your own and say what you like about it, within the law.

Honestly, running that argument simply makes you look silly. And the hypocrisy, from people who supposedly believe in property rights, is downright funny.