Fiji Live still offline after questioning of news editor

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation and Pacific Media Watch.

(Posted August 1)

SUVA: Leading independent web-based Fiji news service Fijilive.com was still offline early today after police questioned its news editor. 

Fijilive was left off the new media registry and its news outlet has a whiteout with a two-word message - "website unavailable". 

According to state-run Fiji Broadcasting Corporation News, police released Fijilive news editor, Richard Naidu, yesterday after questioning him overnight Friday about a story published on the website on Thursday. 

FBC News reported Naidu was taken in on Friday by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). The radio network said in a story bylined by Elenoa Osborne: 

Director CID Adi Sen says they questioned Naidu overnight and released him at about 11am today [Saturday]. 

Naidu was questioned over a story alleging the suspension of the Police Commissioner Commodore Esala Teleni.

Police say the story was incorrect. 

Fiji’s Public Emergency Regulations remain in place. 

On Friday, the Fiji military-backed government named media groups that had registered as required under the new Fiji Media Industry Development Decree 2010 - but Fijilive was surprisingly not included. 

The membership of the new Media Industry Development Authority was also named.