The Pacific islands News Association, PINA has called on the newly established interim government of Fiji to leave the media alone to continue to perform its role of information dissemination to the people of Fiji and the region.

In recent days, the reinstated military government has imposed tough new media regulations to censor journalists.

PINA President Joseph Ealedona says while he is yet to get a full briefing from the PINA Secretariat in Fiji, the news reports coming out of Fiji indicates heavy censorship of news in relation to the political development in the country.

He says the actions are deplorable and is an indication of a desperate regime who has no respect for the rule of law and democracy.

Mr Ealedona says while PINA respects the political sovereignty of Fiji, it urges Head of State, Ratu Josefa Iloilo to demand that security forces respect the freedom of the media and ensure that information reaches the people to make informed decisions and comments.

He said the interim Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, must uphold his promise made to the PINA Board in a meeting last year that his government will respect the media and its role to provide information to the people.