Press Freedom Concerns Ignite in Fiji Following Seizure of Journalist's Device

Fiji police face intense criticism for seizing a journalist's phone after a post on corruption. Media advocates warn of an attack on press freedom in May 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 6:59 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

The Post and Subsequent Detention

On Wednesday afternoon, police summoned Meri Radinibaravi, an investigative fellow with the OCCRP, for questioning at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Suva. The investigation focused on a Facebook post—which Radinibaravi had deleted shortly after publication—referencing historic corruption allegations during the tenure of former police chief Sitiveni Qiliho. Qiliho was recently jailed for interfering in a criminal investigation.

Radinibaravi, who complied voluntarily with the summons, reported feeling "forced to surrender her device" during the statement-taking process. The journalist believes the police pressure is a retaliatory tactic linked to her ongoing reporting on sensitive, high-level corruption within the department. To date, Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu and the Fiji Police Force have not responded to formal inquiries regarding the legal basis for the device's confiscation.

Political Atmosphere and National Security Context

This incident unfolds against a backdrop of significant national tension. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is currently deliberating on whether to declare a national state of emergency. Fiji has seen a marked surge in organized crime and narcotics trafficking, leading to a high-intensity joint operation involving both police and military personnel aimed at dismantling criminal networks across the islands.

TRANSFORMATIVE ANALYSIS: The timing of this seizure suggests a narrowing of the "permissible" space for investigative journalism under the guise of national security. In a climate where the government is considering emergency powers, the line between policing criminal activity and suppressing whistleblowers becomes dangerously blurred. By targeting a journalist reporting on past corruption, the police may be attempting to send a chilling message to current internal sources who might be tempted to leak information about the efficacy of current drug-raid operations.