{"id":837,"date":"2010-08-24T12:12:54","date_gmt":"2010-08-24T12:12:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=837"},"modified":"2010-08-24T12:18:21","modified_gmt":"2010-08-24T12:18:21","slug":"fiji-democracy-group-planning-pirate-radio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2010\/08\/fiji-democracy-group-planning-pirate-radio\/","title":{"rendered":"Fiji democracy group planning pirate radio"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>(Source: New Zealand Herald<\/a>)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In a move inspired by pirate radio stations of the 1960s, political activists in the South Pacific are planning to position a Dutch-registered merchant vessel in international waters off the coast of Fiji to defy censors in the military dictatorship.<\/p>\n

Opponents of the coup leader and self-appointed Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, hope to have the station broadcasting news and interviews by the end of next month to circumvent draconian media laws imposed on press, radio and television.<\/p>\n

Since taking power in a military coup in December 2006, Fiji’s strongman has slowly eaten away at the country’s democratic freedoms, installing newsroom censors and cracking down on foreign media ownership.<\/p>\n

Newspapers and radio stations now have to be 90 per cent locally owned, a stipulation that will almost certainly see the closure of the 140-year-old Fiji Times.<\/p>\n

The popular title, which has been owned by News Ltd since 1987, has been emasculated since the censors moved in to demand the removal of any anti-government stories.<\/p>\n

With most of the population too poor to access the internet or satellite television, most Fijians rely on the press and transistor radios for their news. That is why Usaia Waqatairewa of the Fiji Democracy Movement has opted for pirate broadcasting.<\/p>\n

Now exiled in Australia, he plans to stream live programming to the ship from a Sydney newsroom and rebroadcast the material from a transmitter on the AM waveband.<\/p>\n

“The basic purpose is to inform the public of what’s really happening in Fiji so they can make an informed decision about whether to support Bainimarama or not,” he said.<\/p>\n

Even the phones no longer guarantee confidentiality since the Government ordered mobile and landline users to register all their personal details. One local carrier, Vodafone, is also demanding that customers provide a left-hand thumb print and PIN, which the user would normally keep secret.<\/p>\n

The head of the Justice Ministry, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, claims the compulsory registration of all phones is the result of a spate of bomb threats and bogus calls. Critics suggest it is more to do with the interim Government wanting to create a database of callers whose views do not correspond with the regime’s.<\/p>\n

Telephone paranoia even extends to some tourists. A German businessman who used his satellite phone in a restaurant recently was reported to the police, who promptly raided his hotel room. He left the country in disgust shortly afterwards.<\/p>\n

So far, such stories have not damaged tourism, which is one of the few Fijian industries still booming. A devalued currency and a strong Australian dollar have made Fiji a bargain destination for overseas holidaymakers.<\/p>\n

But while the tourists are still heading to Fiji, businesses are pulling out. Australia’s Commonwealth Bank has sold its Fijian arm, and Qantas is trying to sell its 46 per cent stake in Fiji’s national airline, Air Pacific. Despite these economic warning signals, Commodore Bainimarama remains determined to do things his way. He has promised to go to the country in 2014 but as he has repeatedly postponed his general election plans, few believe he will keep his word.<\/p>\n

And if an application for a loan of more than $700 million from the IMF fails, “the country’s economic outlook will be shocking”, says Anthony Bergin of the Australian Strategic Policy Unit.<\/p>\n

CRACKDOWN LEADS TO POVERTY AND FEAR<\/p>\n

Fiji has had four coups in the past two decades and is facing an economic crisis that threatens to bring more instability to the 800,000 people who inhabit this sprawling archipelago.<\/p>\n

And there are concerns about human rights as Commodore Frank Bainimarama cracks down on those who oppose his dictatorship.<\/p>\n

In a rare interview aired by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation last month, the military leader said “we’ll need to shut some people up” before the country can return to democracy. “I don’t trust the people,” declared the Prime Minister, adding that he was none too happy about politicians or the judiciary, either.<\/p>\n

After silencing the powerful Methodist Church and the chiefs who are the traditional rulers of this fiercely patriotic nation, Commodore Bainimarama sacked many judges.<\/p>\n

Suspended from the Commonwealth, Fiji risks becoming a pariah in the region.<\/p>\n

The Prime Minister also recently expelled Australia’s acting high commissioner to Fiji.<\/p>\n

The reforms he talks about strike at the heart of Fiji’s racially divided society. For many years, about half the population was of Indian origin, descendants of indentured labourers brought to Fiji in the 19th century to help in the sugar industry. Faced with eviction from their farms after their leases expired, thousands of Indians have sought refuge overseas while many of those unable to leave have ended up in squatter camps.<\/p>\n

When Commodore Bainimarama seized power he promised a fairer society, with legislation designed to protect the interests of the Indian community. But unemployment, poverty and fear have created a society whose people are often too scared to talk.<\/p>\n

– Independent
\nBy Roger Maynard<\/p>\n

NOTE: We’ve been following the story in Fiji for more than a year now as it is a prime example of how important shortwave radio is to people who live in a country that restricts local media. Check out our previous posts about the situation in Fiji<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: New Zealand Herald) In a move inspired by pirate radio stations of the 1960s, political activists in the South Pacific are planning to position a Dutch-registered merchant vessel in international waters off the coast of Fiji to defy censors in the military dictatorship. Opponents of the coup leader and self-appointed Prime Minister, Commodore Frank […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[8,81,3],"tags":[82,4092,4082,84],"class_list":["post-837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-current-events","category-news","tag-fiji","tag-pirate-radio","tag-shortwave-radio","tag-why-shortwave-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-dv","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":199,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2009\/04\/shortwave-radio-curtails-fiji-censorship\/","url_meta":{"origin":837,"position":0},"title":"When shortwave radio is better than the Internet","author":"Thomas","date":"April 18, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"From Reuters: Fiji has been plunged into a political crisis after the president reappointed military chief Frank Bainimarama as interim prime minister on Saturday, less than two days after a court ruled his 2006 coup and subsequent government illegal. Bainimarama tightened media censorship on Wednesday and continued to refuse to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Current Events"","block_context":{"text":"Current Events","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/current-events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fiji Map","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2009\/04\/fj-map-279x300.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3756,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/06\/the-fiji-freedom-and-democracy-movement-carries-anti-government-message-via-shortwave-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":837,"position":1},"title":"The Fiji Freedom and Democracy Movement carries anti-government message via shortwave radio","author":"Thomas","date":"June 12, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio Australia) The Fiji Freedom and Democracy Movement in Australia has leased half an hour a week on the World Radio Network, a shortwave broadcaster, to get its anti-government message across. Tui Savu, from the Australia-based Fiji Freedom and Democracy Movement told Pacific Beat that they have received positive\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/nzheraldcartoon-300x221.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3709,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/06\/domo-i-viti-new-fiji-clandestine-station\/","url_meta":{"origin":837,"position":2},"title":"Domo I Viti: New Fiji clandestine station","author":"Thomas","date":"June 4, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I just received this message from\u00a0Glenn Hauser via the Hard-Core DX group: ** FIJI [non]. As first reported exclusively on WORLD OF RADIO 1617 and DXLD 12-20: HOT NEWS: A station for Fiji named Domo I Viti should start on 4 June at 0830-0900 on 11565 via WRN from Palau.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/04\/fj-map-279x300.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":48541,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/04\/burmese-activists-use-fm-pirate-radio-to-propagate-anti-coup-messages\/","url_meta":{"origin":837,"position":3},"title":"Burmese activists use FM pirate radio to propagate anti-coup messages","author":"Thomas","date":"April 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Rest Of World via Tom Daly) Young Burmese activists are broadcasting anti-coup messages on pirate radio \"This is revolution radio.\" In a safehouse in Yangon last Thursday morning, a small group of 20-somethings gathered to assemble a portable radio transmitter. For several hours, they broadcast translations of international news\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Myanmar-e1618435200856.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Myanmar-e1618435200856.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Myanmar-e1618435200856.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Myanmar-e1618435200856.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35737,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/01\/internet-and-phone-service-to-kingdom-of-tonga-cut\/","url_meta":{"origin":837,"position":4},"title":"Shortwave is an alternative source of news while Internet and phone service to the Kingdom of Tonga are cut","author":"Thomas","date":"January 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, DanH, who writes: Internet and phone service between the Kingdom of Tonga and the outside world was disabled after an undersea cable was cut between Tonga and Fiji. (Source: Radio New Zealand) \"Tonga's submarine cable to Fiji was severed on Sunday night, meaning there\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Kingdom-Of-Tonga.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Kingdom-Of-Tonga.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Kingdom-Of-Tonga.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Kingdom-Of-Tonga.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":63859,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/the-rarest-dx-in-the-world-a-33-rpm-journey-through-1960s-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":837,"position":5},"title":"“The Rarest DX In The World” – A 33 RPM Journey Through 1960s Shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"September 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Bruce, who writes: Hi Thomas, I came across this item on eBay\u00a0and then found a copy on YouTube: https:\/\/youtu.be\/yVqM4amoMNk?feature=shared Enjoy! - Bruce F. Wow--what a nostalgic treat! Thank you for sharing, Bruce! The eBay seller listed all of the broadcasters on the recording: Side\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rarest-DX-REcords.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rarest-DX-REcords.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Rarest-DX-REcords.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/837","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=837"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/837\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=837"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=837"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}