Sitiveni Rabuka urges Fijians to use freedom of expression responsibly

Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has called on citizens to exercise their freedom of expression responsibly. He emphasized that while democracy allows for strong disagreement and holding leaders to account, such discourse should be conducted without bullying, humiliation, or the intent to cause harm.

Rabuka noted that under his coalition government, the Media Industry Development Act (MIDA) was repealed in 2023 to restore a climate where journalists can report freely and citizens can speak without fear. Reflecting on his history as a former military lieutenant-colonel who led coups in 1987, the Prime Minister stated that he has come to understand that democracy requires accepting criticism and protecting the right to disagree, even when in power.