TV3 passed off old film as news says Fiji

Fiji's Ambassador to New Zealand yesterday accused TV3 of fabricating news, after the network broadcast two-week-old footage of ethnic Fijians with automatic weapons.

The network has denied the charge.

On Wednesday night, TV3 led its 6 pm bulletin with the footage and reported that the indigenous Fijians had been indiscriminately shooting at an Indian school complex in Labasa, on the island of Vanua Levu.

Racial tensions between Fijians and ethnic Indians have been high for years, and particularly after a coup in May that toppled the elected Government of Indian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.

Fijian High Commissioner Isimeli Bainimara said last night that TV3 had regurgitated old footage without telling its viewers.

"I am not denying that an incident took place as the filmed images reveal, but it was not an incident that could be considered current news," Mr Bainimara said.

After viewing the item he had immediately contacted Fiji's acting Commissioner of Police, Moses Driver.

"After checking incident files, Mr Driver reported that there had been no incidents anywhere in the Labasa area in the last four weeks."

Mr Bainimara said he would file a complaint with the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

TV3 director of news Mark Jennings last night stood by the story.

He said the footage was of an incident that happened two weeks ago.

The footagenot been shown before, and had screened as soon as the cameraman could smuggle his tape out of Fiji.

"This was not fabricated news.

"This incident happened," Mr Jennings said.

The network repeated sections of the footage yesterday evening.

- NZPA