UNITED STATES STRONG CONCERN ABOUT HANNAH EXPULSION

For immediate distribution.       

May 02, 2008.

The United States Government is very concerned by the Fiji Interim Government’s expulsion of Fiji Times publisher Evan Hannah. 

This is the second time the Interim Government has expelled a newspaper publisher in less than 10 weeks, raising serious questions about the Interim Government’s respect for the freedom of the press.

The United States continues to condemn the military coup and the Interim Government’s actions to suppress the freedom of speech of those in the media.

The U.S. urges the Interim Government to respect the rights of all its citizens, including the rights to freedom of the press and other civil liberties. 

Also, the Interim Government should abide by the commitment Commodore Bainimarama has made to hold free and fair elections by March 2009.

Please attribute to the U. S. Department of State