Fiji imposed a strict media blackout today on coverage of the South Pacific nation's first elections since a 2006 military coup, warning journalists face up to five years jail if they do not comply.
The blackout also applies to political campaigning, election material such as posters or banners, as well as discussion of this week's vote on public forums including social media sites.
Fiji's elections supervisor Mohammed Saneem said the measure was intended to give the electorate a chance to reflect on how to vote in Wednesday's poll without being bombarded by partisan messages intended to influence their decision.
"The blackout is there to protect the voter from incessant campaigning before polling so that the voter can decide without any influence or undue pressure," he told reporters.
Campaign workers in Suva were busy removing promotional material before the start of the blackout, which runs from 7:30 am today to the close of polling at 6 pm on Wednesday.
Countries such as New Zealand, which also goes to the polls this week, have a similar "election silence" period but they do not include the threat of jail terms.
They also cover only the hours when polling booths are open, not the days leading up to the vote, which are seen as critical by campaign managers to engage voters on key election issues.
Amnesty International executive director Grant Bayldon said he was concerned "the authorities in Fiji seem to have crossed the line when it comes to the media blackout currently in place".
He said no one should face imprisonment solely for exercising freedom of expression, singling out a restriction that he said prevented comment on allegations of electoral misconduct.
"This does not appear to serve a legitimate purpose or be proportionate and would seem counterproductive to the Fiji government's stated aims of transparency and accountability," Bayldon said.
Fijian election laws introduced this year by the government of Voreqe Bainimarama, who seized power in a 2006 coup and is standing as a prime ministerial candidate, ban publication of any opinion polls in the week before the election.
