Fiji Declares War... On Bloggers

[dgridley]

Military authorities in Fiji are cracking down on politically active bloggers, and blocking access to portions of the internet over "national security concerns."
Fiji's current, military-led government seized power in a coup last December.

The nation's sole internet and telecommunnications provider, FINTEL, was ordered to block specific IP address ranges. Banned IPs include many politically outspoken Fijian blogs.

From Boing Boing and HERE.

OK, so I'll admit it.. I still thought people lived in grass huts in Fiji They have the Internet?! :p

 

[Compassion]

Fiji was ruled by the British for nearly 100 years It was only in 1970, that the country pulled away from the crown.

Their GDP is near the middle at 98th. I feel they have a higher rank of Internet use than ther GDP rank, where could one find such a stat?? :?

I've never been to Fiji, but in my opinion - this information serves as a valid argument that their citizens are facing the same controls of Government many other nations face. These are all examples of attacks on personal rights and freedom. :o

 

[dgridley]

Hm, Jim Carrey wanted to go to Fiji in the movie The Truman Show (something on a lighter note)

 

[Compassion]

My favorite bottled water comes from Fiji :wave:



I really like this guys blog: Steve Pavlina


Fiji would have tar and feathered this guy by now. He writes primarily about self-awareness and personal development.

 

[dhscott]

Its never been stable, I don't think you should expect freedom of speech etc. when the military are always in power...

Since independence there have been four coups in Fiji, two in 1987, one in 2000 and one in late 2006. The military has been either ruling directly, or heavily influencing governments since 1987.

I'm no expert, but the USA doesn't technically have freedom of speech either. An amendment to the constitution says that there can't be a law that "abridges the freedom of speech", but that doesn't give you the freedom as because that's so broad, its up to each state to decide what "freedom" is.

 

[.X.]

My favorite bottled water comes from Fiji :wave:



I really like this guys blog: Steve Pavlina


Fiji would have tar and feathered this guy by now. He writes primarily about self-awareness and personal development.

They do have great water, that water comes from under a old volcano or something, taste awesome.

Its never been stable, I don't think you should expect freedom of speech etc. when the military are always in power...



I'm no expert, but the USA doesn't technically have freedom of speech either. An amendment to the constitution says that there can't be a law that "abridges the freedom of speech", but that doesn't give you the freedom as because that's so broad, its up to each state to decide what "freedom" is.

Good point, but i wonder how POed our fore fathers would be if they knew every time something negative happens, because of few words, we add "amendments" to the constitution? I think our fore fathers wrote the constitution, because they knew there would be a bunch of lugnut politicians banning everything, they just didn't know how to secure our constitution so this wouldn't happen, oh well, it is what it is , they aren't here now ..so