Labour Party are Hypocrites, Claims Simpson

The Fijian Media Association’s General Secretary, Stanley Simpson, has accused the Fiji Labour Party and its leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, of hypocrisy over their recent criticisms of the media, saying they failed to defend media freedom when it mattered most.

Speaking at the USP Journalism Media Freedom Day event on the theme “Strengthening Media Independence and Sustainability,” Simpson, without naming them directly, said the Labour Party chose silence during one of the darkest periods for media in Fiji — immediately after the 2006 coup.

“At that critical moment, when media freedom was under siege, some political leaders and political parties chose silence or complicity instead of defence. Their silence emboldened further attacks,” Simpson said. “To get into bed and in power with the military regime – they turned a blind eye or stayed silent as media rights and journalists were being smashed.”

Simpson said the Party failed to speak out when journalists were being beaten, detained, and censored under the post-coup military regime — a regime they were part of.

“By the time they were finally chewed up and spat out by the military government – and spoke out – the damage had been done,” Simpson added.

His remarks come in the wake of recent attacks by the Labour Party on Fijian editors who visited The Wonderful Company farms in the United States, accusing the journalists of being swayed by gifts and lavish treatment from Fiji Water’s American owners.

“We’re okay to be criticised and held to account – and the people can judge us by our reporting,” Simpson said. “But this criticism was from the same political party that joined the military regime and ruled with it after 2006, and was silent when journalists were beaten, threatened and put in cells.”

He also addressed what he called a “misconception” about media independence in Fiji.

“Being independent does not mean you can’t have contacts or relationships. Strengthening media independence means being able to talk to everyone and all sides — but not being influenced.”

Simpson urged journalists to remain committed to fair, balanced and accurate reporting while building robust networks to ensure access to diverse information.

“Independence is difficult and challenging — but it is a must for media to maintain credibility,” he said.

Duavata News has reached out to the Labour Party for a response.