Fiji Sun report
From the
Fiji Sun
NZ reporter refutes FHRC claims
Last updated
9/30/2007 9:51:50 AM
New Zealand Journalist Michael Field has laughingly responded to claims made by the Fiji Human Right Commission media inquiry report which suggested that he had obstructed with the inquiry.
The report alleges that Mr Field and two local lawyers had called up a consultant Mr Fortuin who was to conduct the inquiry and pressure him to withdraw from the appointment.
It is reported that Mr Field and the two local lawyers told Mr Fortuin that the report of the commission was already written but that FHRC Director Dr Shaishta Shameem ‘needs a credible person to publish it’.
Speaking from New Zealand yesterday, Mr Field said the allegation made by FHRC Director Shaishta Shameem in the report was ‘silly’. “This report is terribly embarrassing,” Mr Field said.
“Mr Fortuin is a big man in Wellington. I am just a standard journalist who was doing an interview for a news paper story.
This people are just silly and seems like they have nothing better to do. I asked him (Mr Fortuin) clear valid questions particularly on an organisation (FHRC) that strongly endorses the coup. What journalist would not ask such question,” Mr Fields said.
And the FHRC has said that that it would see that Mr Field is dealt with pursuant to section 47 of the FHRC Act which prohibits anyone from wilfully hindering the commission’s work and a report has been lodge to Fiji police and New Zealand would also be informed.
However, Mr Filed said he can guarantee that New Zealand Police would not be questioning him on allegation made in the media inquiry report and would inform the media if they do so in the future.
“I can guarantee New Zealand police will not waste their time on some pathetic woman who can’t grow up,” Mr Field said.
“The report absolutely has no credibility and has justified the question I had asked Mr Fortuin in the first place and that he will be glad to hear that his name is not associated with this report,” he said. The report also stated that Mr Fortuin wrote to the commission to report that Mr Field telephoned him.
Copyright: Michael Field
