An Australian publisher who arrived in Sydney today after being deported from Fiji says his expulsion will strengthen the resolve of journalists at his paper.
Evan Hannah, publisher of the News Limited-owned Fiji Times, was forced onto a plane to South Korea yesterday, after military leader Frank Bainimarama ordered his deportation on the grounds that he was a threat to national security.
Mr Hannah was taken from his Suva home on Thursday night in front of his wife and one year-old son despite a Fiji High Court order ruling against his deportation.
He arrived at 7.30am today on a flight from South Korea at Sydney airport where he told reporters his deportation was "annoying and deeply frustrating".
"It's a deeply sad day for Fiji's media .. It's pretty annoying and from a family perspective it is distressing," said Mr Hannah, whose family is still in Fiji.
"This is another demonstration that the interim government doesn't understand media freedom.
"Since overthrowing the elected government in December 2006, Bainimarama has been accused of waging a campaign of intimidation against media outlets critical of his rule."
Mr Hannah is the second Australian publisher expelled from Fiji in three months.
In February Russell Hunter, publisher of the Fiji Sun newspaper, was also thrown out of the South Pacific country after the paper carried articles critical of the regime.
Mr Hannah said his deportation would have no impact on the editorial independence of the Fiji Times and it would only strengthen his staff's resolve.
"The Fiji Times newsroom is a solid newsroom," Mr Hannah said.
"This will strengthen their resolve to continue fair and balanced reporting."
