Fiji Times told to cut Murdoch ties

Fiji's military regime has given its most popular newspaper three months to remove media magnate Rupert Murdoch as its owner.

The Media Industry Development Decree, which requires media groups to be 90 per cent locally owned, came into effect yesterday and effectively requires Murdoch to relinquish most of his share in the Fiji Times, Fiji Live reported.

The head of the Attorney-General's office in Commodore Frank Bainimarama's regime, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, said the Fiji Times would face closure if it did not comply with the decree.

"Fiji Times, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Ltd, have been given three months to ensure they comply with the requirements of the media decree or cease operations altogether," Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

New Zealand Media Freedom Committee secretary Tim Pankhurst said the measures were part of a disturbing trend towards dictatorship, and another reason New Zealanders should boycott travelling to Fiji.

"I believe that individuals should take action against them [Fiji's military regime] by not holidaying in Fiji," Mr Pankhurst said.

When the new measures were announced in April, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum described the newspaper as "the purveyor of negativity, at least for the past three years".

Other measures in the decree include establishing a tribunal to ensure nothing is printed or broadcast against the "national interest or public order", said Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.

The 140-year-old Fiji Times is the country's oldest and largest circulated newspaper and is wholly owned by News Ltd.

- NZPA