Fiji may put in place a new law that states in every media organisation within the country, "all the directors ... must be citizens of Fiji permanently residing in Fiji," Stuff.co.nz reported. The move would force Rupert Murdoch's News Ltd out of the country. News Ltd owns The Fiji Times, the country's largest and oldest daily.

The draft, Media Industry Development Decree 2010, provides for the establishment of a Media Development Authority and a complaints tribunal that would have the power to fine news organisations and imprison journalists for up to five years, according to Pacific.Scoop.co.nz.

Photo: Voreqe Bainimarama

The Times "has long been an irritant for the regime, which has sought to gag this newspaper along with Fiji Television," Pacific.Scoop.co.nz reported.

Military leader Voreqe Bainimarama, a self-appointed prime minister who brought down the country's elected government in a 2006 coup, has often criticised The Times. Fiji's attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, described The Times as "the purveyor of negativity, at least for the past three years ... this is a media organisation that does not recognise the government, does not call the prime minister the prime minister," according to the Bangkok Post.

News Ltd released a statement saying it is concerned about the ownership limit.

"We have made representation to the Fijian authority to find a way to resolve the issues and are awaiting the outcome of those representations," News Ltd said in a statement, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.