Photography Policies in Your Area

[Shadowman]

This week in Fiji there was an announcement in the press that the police want to bring in a law to stop people posting pictures of 'Crime Scenes' on social media as it could hinder their investigations

There was no definition or expansion of what they considered a 'Crime Scene'.

As for rules regarding photography on our public transport system, consisting of just busses and taxis there is just one and that is you would need a very good VR/IS system on your camera due to the bumpy ride

Funny VR comment.

I can see the reasoning behind the ban on crime scenes but usually the police allow members of the press access; at least in the U.S.

[Tronhard]

If you follow the news on Fiji it will make sense. May of the worst assaults are committed by the police and military themselves. The current administration has a veneer of democratic validity, but in fact the government is run by those who executed a coup about 9 years ago. There are numerous documented (and oddly enough photographed) incidents of victimization of protestors or dissidents suffering arbitrary arrest, confinement and torture at the hands of the Fijian military. The police turn a blind eye.

Funny VR comment. I can see the reasoning behind the ban on crime scenes but usually the police allow members of the press access; at least in the U.S.

[Shadowman]

If you follow the news on Fiji it will make sense. May of the worst assaults are committed by the police and military themselves. The current administration has a veneer of democratic validity, but in fact the government is run by those who executed a coup about 9 years ago. There are numerous documented (and oddly enough photographed) incidents of victimization of protestors or dissidents suffering arbitrary arrest, confinement and torture at the hands of the Fijian military. The police turn a blind eye.

Trevor,

I don't doubt it for a moment which is why I commented on William's statement about the freedoms allowed in the U.S. and also something that makes me take pause whenever I see a public demonstration wherever I might travel.

http://artvoice.com/issues/v6n33/who...brad_will.html

[chauncey]

Except when told to disperse.

Ah, but they can't legally tell you to disperse...if you insist on your rights.

[Stagecoach]

If you follow the news on Fiji it will make sense. May of the worst assaults are committed by the police and military themselves. The current administration has a veneer of democratic validity, but in fact the government is run by those who executed a coup about 9 years ago. There are numerous documented (and oddly enough photographed) incidents of victimization of protestors or dissidents suffering arbitrary arrest, confinement and torture at the hands of the Fijian military. The police turn a blind eye.

Trevor, whilst I do not wish to turn things into a political discussion your comments are an excellent example of where photographs have been used by some to promote political agendas rather than genuine concern regarding the content.

As someone that has lived in Fiji for a long time now I get a regular chuckle when chatting to tourists from abroad when they ask me where the military and police presence is that media has led them to expect.

[Tronhard]

Hi Grahame:

No this is not the place for a political discussion.

But I am driven say that my comments were not merely taken from the external view of journalistic reports. I had a friend, a native school teacher who returned to Fiji from NZ after the last election and whose views did not match that of the regime. He was taken and I saw what he came back like afterwards, and it wasn't pretty. He was quite specific about who was responsible. Doubtless your experience is different and I am very glad that it is so.

Trevor, whilst I do not wish to turn things into a political discussion your comments are an excellent example of where photographs have been used by some to promote political agendas rather than genuine concern regarding the content.

As someone that has lived in Fiji for a long time now I get a regular chuckle when chatting to tourists from abroad when they ask me where the military and police presence is that media has led them to expect.