No news is news in censored Fiji

No news is news in censored FijiWellington  - In a satirical jibe at stringent censorship imposed by Fiji's military government, the Daily Post newspaper has been filling the space with some no news.

Headlines in Wednesday's edition included "Man gets on bus," over an item reading: "In what is believed to be the first reported incident of its kind, a man got on a bus yesterday. 'It was easy,' he said. 'I just lifted one leg up and then the other and I was on.'"

Another headed "Breakfast as usual" began: "It was breakfast as usual for the staff of this newspaper. 'I had leftover roti from last night,' senior reporter Manueli told his colleague yesterday morning.

"Staff gasped with delight when Fiji Daily Post receptionist Lupe said her breakfast was a cup of latte coffee along with toasted currant bread."

A third story began, "Paint has apparently dried on his old couch, Max reports. Given the job of painting the couch, Max was excited at the prospect of the paint drying. But when asked how it dried, he was nonplussed.

"'It just went on wet, but after about four hours, it started to dry. That was when I realized, paint dries,' the young scholar observed."

The Fiji Post website shows a major story in Thursday's edition is headed, "Weather to improve soon."

Fiji's military ruler Voreqe Bainimarama has posted censors in the offices of newspapers and radio and television stations, ordered foreign journalists out of the country and shut down the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) radio transmitters.

Reports from the capital Suva say that internet cafes have been ordered to close pending registration by the military government. (dpa)

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