The Republic of Fiji‘s interim government has charged the Fiji Times with contempt of court, Radio New Zealand International reported.

According to Radio New Zealand International’s report, the charges follow the newspaper’s published interview with Oceania Footballs’ Tai Nicholas.  In response to the charges, media watchdog group the Pacific Freedom Forum has criticized the government for using legal – and not media regulatory means – to complain.

The Pacific Freedom Forum’s Monica Miller commented that the government could have pursued any complaint with the Fiji Media Council instead.  Further, Miller called for the government to end censorship.