The editor of the Kiribati Independent newspaper says the sacking of Radio Kiribati’s editor because of her reporting of the death penalty bill is an attack on media freedom.

Aneta Moote was fired after Radio Kiribati rebroadcast a story from Radio New Zealand International, which said the president Anote Tong supported the bill.

Taberannang Korauaba says following public criticism of the bill, the government back-tracked on its support and was embarrassed by the Radio Kiribati story.

He says the sacking is a clear warning by the government.

“It does not require punishment as high as that one, like sacking or firing a reporter or editor. There are a lot of incidents there, quite a number of reporters being sanctioned, it’s not the first time. Even the government, they are saying they support media freedom, but what happened on the ground is quite contrary.”