(o) Media Decree: Initial Release

The draft media decree released at today's consultations, attended by 50 representatives of media organisations,  NGOs and special interest groups,  contains strong penalties, requires media organisations to be 90% locally-owned and gives a regulatory authority powers to be able to demand documents or information. The measures are among a wide range of provisions aimed at emphasising fair, accurate and responsible reporting.

The specification on 90% ownership by Fiji citizens states they must have lived in Fiji for five out of the last seven years prior to the organisation being registered and thereafter, to have lived in Fiji for at least nine out of 12 months a year.

All printed material will be required to carry the author’s name, and similar provisions will apply to broadcast material where possible. Breaching the proposed content regulations could make organisations liable to a fine of $500,000 or a fine of up to $100,000 and up to five years in jail for publishers, editors or journalists. The consultation heard requests that organisations be held liable for the fines instead of individuals.

A Media Industry Development Authority will have powers to carry out investigations if it believes that any provisions of the decree or any media code has been infringed. It will also have powers to demand documents and information.
-- Based on FijiLive article.

I will reserve comments until I have read the Decree and studied reactions to it.  Meanwhile, check out nearly 40 readers' comments to my earlier post "Media Tussle."

(O+) Media Tussle, Some Recent Cabinet Decisions, Corruption, Volunteers

GOVERNMENT AND THE MEDIA

Fiji Times and AG Tussle before Media Decree consultation at two levels

Photo Fiji Times, (l-r) Anne Fussell, police spokesman Ema Mua and lawyer Richard Naidu 11 April 2009.

Yesterday's reported tussle between Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Fiji Times publisher and managing director Australian Anne Fussell prior to the Media Decree consultations should be read at two levels, for what was said and for what was inferred. The tussle was reported in full and uncensored by the Times.

Level one: Fussell thought more time was needed to study the decree draft before consultations commenced. Two and one-half hours is too short.  I agree. But why, in reporting the tussle, did the Times not include the AG's statement that last week's advertisement contained the bulk of the decree? Not quite the same things but participants will have had far longer than 2 1/2 hours to consider the main items.

Still on level one, I also agree with Fussell that her remarks on the economy were not explicitly positive or negative,  but why express this implied concern now when the whole anti-government stance of the Times since December 2006 has acted to deter investment. Sayed-Khaiyum is correct in saying "The Fiji Times is the purveyor of negativity as far as Fiji has been concerned at least for the past three years."

Level two reveals what they were really saying.


Sayed-Khaiyum: "This is the media organisation that does not recognise the government, that does not call the Prime Minister the Prime Minister, that does not recognize various other members of the government..."


Fussell: "The Fiji Times [is] 100 percent pro-Fiji and ... completely behind the economic and financial development of Fiji's people." She then went on to say her paper was "completely in favour of anything that allows the people of Fiji to have access to all the information they require to make decisions concerning their future".  [my emphasis. ]

This is a fair enough swipe at government censorship but it ignores the fact that what it published before censorship was imposed was decidedly anti-government, and what it has published since has deliberately, in protest, made almost no mention of anything the government has been doing.  In other words, before the censorship, mainly negative reporting, and since, virtually no reporting on any government activity. They have not lived up to their claim  on allowing the people access to all the information required to make decisions on their future. Their position is unchanged. The Fiji Times sidesteps its non-recognition of government by reference to the people. What purpose is served therefore in its participation in government consultations?

I see no easy way out of this impasse. Backed by Rupert Murdoch money, Fussell, Editor-in-Chief Netani Rika and the Times can ride out falling circulation numbers, and government will not relent until the Times ceases to be so blatantly anti-government. On only one thing can we  be sure: having insisted on Fiji Times participation, the anti-government blogs and mainstream media will dismiss the consultations as a farce. Whatever it does, government is damned if it does not and damned if it does.

Pacific Islands News Association V-P John Woods, who also edits the Cook Islands News, has called for PINA to  relocate from Suva and for more transparency in the administration and finances of the organization. "I'm so frustrated by the inaction and inefficiency of our organisation, and I mean at the administrative level and from the president down." he said.

Funded mainly by Ausaid and other agencies, Woods complained he has seen no financial reports for over a year. He thinks the Suva location, and "kowtowing" to censorship, is preventing the association from doing its job. PINA has rejected repeated calls for it, and the wire service, to relocate. President Moses Stephens could not be contacted for a response.

CABINET DECISIONS

The Child Welfare Decree 2010, endorsed by Cabinet for approval by the President, makes mandatory the reporting by all health authorities of child abuse cases  to the appropriate authorities. Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma said current legislation lacks this requirement. Failure to report cases will be a breach of professional conduct and an offence under the Decree.

 FEA restructuring. Cabinet has  announced an independent adviser is to be appointed to advise government on restructuring FEA. The move, aimed at better and more affordable services, is likely to see some private sector involvement in electricity provision. 

Council of Sugar Cane Growers. Cabinet has  approved the establishment of an appointed 11-member CSGC comprising eight grower and three government rperesentatives.

Counter Terrorism legislation. Cabinet has also  endorsed the urgent need to have a Counter Terrorism Legislation to protect Fiji’s interest from both internal and external threats. The decision recognizes the need for a 'total and whole government integrated approach' to be able to respond to any threat. Minister for Defence, National Security and Immigration, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, said it is a UN requirement under the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy that countries have a Counter Terrorism Legislation.

EU Centre to be based in Suva. Cabinet has also approved the request from Brussels to establish the Centre for the Development of Enterprises (CDE) Pacific Regional Office in Suva. Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Civil Aviation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, said that the CDE is an ACP-EU joint institution created under the framework of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement and is funded under the European Development Fund (EDF). The Centre will facilitate ACP-EU business partnerships, and support services, assist technology transfer and management skills.

*****

Alleged price-fixing and anti-competitive practices in the hardware industry are being investigated by the Commerce Commission. Chairman Dr Mahendra Reddy said the commission has written to the hardware outlets informing them of the investigation, the process involved, the data required, the timeline of the investigation and the powers of the commission.

The National Volunteer Centre, established last December, is calling on people in the North to volunteer in an effort to help Northern farmers. Project officer Neil Maharaj says volunteers will follow up needs assessment, relief distributions, and emergency social services started by government and other agencies. The Centre has 350 registered members in the Central and Western Divisions. Recruitment in the North follows the damage incurred by Cyclone Tomas.

(o+) Ba Province Blames Ballu Khan for Million Dollar Losses

    
The people of Ba are blaming Fiji-born New Zealand multi-millionaire businessman Ballu Khan (photo: Fiji Daily Post)  for losses incurred by the Ba Provincial Holdings Limited,  and may take legal action against him. The company belongs to the Ba Provincial Council, which is owned by the ethnic Fjjian people of the Province.


Ba Provincial Council member and Western Shipping Operations manager, Luke Ratuvuki, said Ballu Khan was involved with missing financial documents needed for audit purposes.The Board irectors of the company were unable to form an opinion whether the financial statements given were true because of the missing documents.

Mr Ratuvuki, a former permanent secretary in the deposed Qarase government, said “Ballu Khan is involved. There was some involvement of Mr Khan in the illegal takeover of the Company Board that was headed by Ratu Tevita Momoedonu in August, 2006.  “This was [done] through his company Pacific Connex and the Native Land Trust Board."

Ratuvuki said suspicions were reported to police two years ago and to the FICAC (corruption commission) but it is a complex case involving millions of dollars and many people, locally, nationally and with international links.  “Ballu Khan has been in the picture from Day One and we will prove that he is to blame." The Board is awaiting investigators to verify all facts before pursuing legal action.

Ratuvuki said the people of Ba and the Board wanted answers, justice and compensation.

“The people of Ba are angry ...[the case] has had a widespread effect, not only with people in villages, but also [with] unity. It has split the people of Ba.”

Background
Earlier, separate allegations implicated Mr Khan in 2006 in offering to pay off  SDL party  debts in exchange for business advantage, and in 2007 of financing and possibly master-minding  the assassination plot to kill PM Bainimarama. Subsequent to his arrest in 2007 he was badly injured by police and returned to NZ, having won permanent stay of prosecution because of the police assault.  The unrelated Ba issue could see an attempt to extradict him from NZ to face charges, but it is highly unlikely NZ would agree in the present political circumstances.  Readers wishing to read more on Khan  should type his name in the SEARCH THE BLOG facility. This facility gives access to blog and all other internet reports.

For readers not familiar with Fiji geography, Ba is Fiji's most populous and most economically important province. It has 28% of the country's population; is ethnically mixed (42% Fijians, 54% Indo-Fijians, 4% Others); the main tourist destination; and the major sugar cane, gold and pine producing region. 

Khaiyum-Lal Debate, Media Decree, NZBSA, Hurricane Relief Update, Censorship

Debate on Abrogation of Constitution one year on. Radio Australia held a debate on the Abrogation chaired by presenter Bruce Hill. Those speaking against the Abrogation were: Russell Hunter, the deported former editor of the Fiji Sun; Ian Lloyd, one of the three Australian judges who found the President's ruling on the legality of the Bainimarama Coup was illegal; ANU's Prof Brij Lal (photo, right); and Fiji Law Society President Dorsami Naidu. Fiji Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum (photo, left) spoke in favour of the Abrogation.  This four against one debate may be heard by clicking the Windows Media hyperlink (once this  main link is accessed). You may also read a one against one mini-debate between Brij and Aiyaz.  Both "debates" are recommended.   


Media Codes of Standards, Ethnics and Advertising. The draft Media Industry Development Decree will establish a media code of standards and ethics  and establish an independent media tribunal which will hear complaints against media organisations and individuals. Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, based on a Singapore-style Media Industry Development Authority, said the draft decree “seeks to create professionalism and accountability in the media sector by setting up transparent processes, adopting practices from other jurisdictions”. The emphasis will be on fair, accurate and responsible reporting, a media code of standards including a code of ethics and practice, and a general code of ethics for advertisements including advertising to children. It will also establish a television programme classification code and will have provisions pertaining to cross-media ownership.

State seeks open talks on media decree but only gives participants 2:50 hours before the first meeting to read the draft. Head of the Justice Ministry, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, who thought this was time enough, said "We want to have a meaningful consultative process. And those who want to be part of it need to come with an open mind."He said the advertisement of the meetingt stated what would happen on the day and the bulk of the decree.

Fiji Times managing director Anne Fussell expressed disappointment in the allocation. "Nothing would seem to be lost, and indeed much would be gained, by allowing a reasonable amount of time for careful scrutiny and thus informed feedback" she said."This decree will not only impact on the quality of information every person in Fiji can access on which to make decisions that affect their lives, it could also impact on potential investment and on revenue streams which flow on to the Fiji community through areas like income tax and VAT."

The consultations will be held in Suva on Wednesday; Labasa on Thursday and Lautoka on Saturday.

TVNZ has flouted the Broadcasting Standards Authority decision regarding Barbara Dreaver's  report on guns and drugs in Samoa, which raises the question: are broadcast media less ethical than print media? One month after the decision, TVNZ continued to  display online the offending article, but they did not display the apology related to those articles in the BSA report. TVNZ thus continued to publish articles in error and against publishing convention.

Government ministries and departments breach rules on vehicles, an internal audit has revealed. Anomalies in tender procedures were also disclosed.

Food security and Hurricane Tomas. Details of damage and costs by location.

President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau  concerned at hurricane relief delay. The government vessel, the MV Iloilovatu has been sent to the Northern Division with extra relief supplies and to assist with the President's present tour. The French  Navy vessel Le VendÚmiaire equipped with one helicopter will spend five days ending Wednesday in the Lau Group with relief supplies hurricane victims. Fourteen Government people including a doctor and translators are on board the warship.

DISMAC says some people still confused about hurricane food relief. DISMAC will deliver the food rations this week, once boats are available. Food distribution  takes a long time due to the geographical locations of the needy areas.

Daylight saving. Fiji and NZ are now on the same time, and two hours ahead of Australia EST.

Censorship.  The Easter Bunnies were at work again over Easter Weekend blocking all blogsites.   They seem not to know that Fiji Today  uses a satellite phone and proxy address in Auckland and therefore cannot be blocked.  All other blogs can also  evade the blocks by using proxy servers, as previously explained to readers of this blog.

Nonetheless, the block had some effect.  I had the smallest number of visitors for a long time, and should have spent more time with my family instead of trying to explain Fiji government's  aims, actions and inanities to readers.

Short Briefs: Lots of Sanctions, Roadmap and Economy, Censorship

Short Briefs

SANCTIONS OF ONE SORT OR ANOTHER

Australia not listening. Solomon Islands Foreign Minister, William Haomae, says Australia is not listening to Pacific Island countries on the timetable for talks on the proposed PACER Plus Free Trade agreement. Fiji is excluded from these talks.                                            Photo. Nick Driano.

Continued EU sanctions  a blow to sugar industry. USP Economics professor Biman Prasad says the continuation of EU sanctions is a major blow to the sugar industry. Fiji would have received some US$84m of EU aid since 2006, almost all of which has now expired leaving only US$38m available for 2010, and even that is now suspended for another six months. The aid, suspended since the Coup, was intended to improve overall efficiency and boost production at the farm level. Prof Prasad said the "the continued withholding of the aid will have a drastic impact."

It is difficult to see how crippling an already ailing major industry on which so many people's livelihood depend will help Fiji in any way.

The Commonwealth has rejected Fiji's appeal to participate in the 2011 Delhi Games, but Commonwealth countries such as Rwanda, Nigeria and Pakisan with a much worse human rights record will participate. There is little doubt  Fiji has Australia and NZ to thank for this. Their supportive voice could have made all the difference. And their sanctions, we are told, hurt ordinary people as little as possible.

By now it must to obvious to the most thick-headed politican that the Bainimarama-government will not voluntarily change tack until its Roadmap is complete.

What then do the sanction-makers want: an uprising!  Or is Fiji merely being used as a warning to other small Pacific states? Surely the Pacific "super powers" are not afraid of losing face if they moderate their stance and urge the international community to do likewise.

A purely logical assessment of the situation would indicate it is much more sensible to assist the Government to achieve its stated objectives as soon as possible, and in being so involved be in a stronger position to see it stays on course?

Current overseas government travel warnings do not help tourism, Fiji's largest industry.   The Australian government urges its citizens to exercise caution, especially in or near Suva, because of the prevalence of crime, targeted especially at expatriates and tourists, and the potential for civil unrest. The New Zealand government says there is some risk, especially in Suva, due to the potential for civil disorder and violence. The US government urges its citizens to consider carefully the risks of a visit to Fiji at this time, and urges them to avoid demonstrations and large crowds. And that's not to mention typhoid in Suva and hurricanes.

The main tourist areas are, of course, nowhere near Suva but even in Suva I am unaware of any increase in crime targeting tourists (the sword sellers continue to plague cruise tourists perhaps, but this is harassement and petty crime, and the City Council is taking action against them). As for civil disorder and demonstrations: this seems to be more wishful thinking than an actual risk?

ROADMAP SEEKS TO DEVELOP THE ECONOMY

I-Taukei involvement.  Government is  encouraging indigenous landowners to become shareholders in businesses, especially hotel development, and any hotel development where i-taukei landowners have a 25% shareholding will be allowed an additional corporate tax holiday.
        
Rice farming needs better infrastructure if it to achieve the State’s target of reducing the $40-million import bill for rice, says Indonesian envoy Aidil Chandra Salim during his tour of the Northern Division. Mr Salim said the Indonesian Government was committed to reviving the rice industry by supplying mechanical aid, technical assistance and training to farmers. Local farmers sent to Indonesia to learn to learn farming practices had doubled their yields.

“Before using our farming system, farmers in Fiji used to produce two to three tonnes per hectare. After using our methods, the yield improved up to seven tonnes per hectare. This is a positive indication,” he said.

The Super Yacht industry, expected to be a big earner for Fiji, has been  endorsed by Cabinet.

Red Rascal potatoes. In its ongoing bid towards food self-sufficiency, Fiji is to import $75,000 worth of NZ Red Rascal seed potatoes for planting in the Western  Division.  Potato imports currently cost the country $19m a year.

A million trees. Environment Minister, Colonel Samuela Saumatua   says
Fiji is to embark on a campaign to plant a million trees as part of a national campaign to mark the ‘Year of Biodiversity’ declared by the United Nations Conventions on Biological Diversity.

RBF gives profit to Government. The Reserve Bank has given the government $39,247,000 which is its entire profit of $16,600,000 for the financial year ended 31st December 2009 and $22,647,000 representing one-fifth of the balance of the Revaluation Reserve Account. The prevailing weak economic conditions and tight fiscal position decided the Bank  not to add to General Reserves.The transfer to Government in 2009 for the 2008 financial year was $33,000,031. FRB Governor Sada Reddy said that the 2009 financial performance was much better than the Bank's budget estimates and was greatly assisted by improvements in the level of foreign reserves which for the first time exceed $1 billion, almost twice the level of a year ago.

Fiji’s Consumer Council is  lobbying for the United Nations to translate consumer rights into a genuine and solid commitment under the UN umbrella of rights and protection.

CENSORSHIP AND NO CENSORSHIP

Anti-government blog. Government attempts to close down the anti-government blog Fiji Today have been only partly successful. The blog is reported to have re-opened under new management.

Suva-based Pacific Island News Association (PINA) and PacNews  says the technical problems are responsible for members and users being unable to access their services, not government blocking their website and wire service as some people have speculated.

Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in www.connectme.com.fj/news/opinion. I thank Allen and Connect for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.

 "Sugar is Sweet and So are You*"

Where do we expect to see sugar production in twenty years time? The use of sugar will never cease. It is used in every walk of life. Many people have asked why the sugar industry is dying. There is a simple answer – sugarcane farmers no longer have land to plant on. It’s all gone back to the landowner. They have their reasons for leaving it idle, it’s up to them.

One sugarcane farmer and his family now have jobs in various companies around Lautoka. They often go back to visit the landowners and have a basin of yaqona with them. They are still friends. They have a meal together then they organize another “sitting”, sometimes it’s at the former cane farmer’s home. Oh, they get on like a house on fire.

When I meet the former cane farmers they usually say, “We miss the farm. We miss the hard work.” They planted sugarcane and alongside that they had their vegetable farm, which the landowner also ate from. Today they  plant their vegetable in their town backyard and sell the surplus on the road. It's grog money, they tell me. And the landowner? He works  in a supermarket packing potatoes and sweeping floors and now buys vegetables from the roadside.  Oh, they still help each other out.

Sad situation,  if you tell me.  Why not get the landowner to lease the land to the real farmer. He will earn lease money and get free vegetables from his friend. Every so often when the cane farmer catches crabs the landowner will be invited to have a basin of grog, a cartoon of beer and surua crab curry.

What a waste. I wonder who is advising the landowners not to lease their land.  But I know what can be done. Rain trees make good large ornamental vases. Or maybe we can export paragrass.




* Roses are red, voilets are blue, sugar is sweet and so are you. Old English children's rhyme.

(o+) How to Kickstart the Economy: Government Needs to Set in Motion, and Sell, a Credible Process

Several people responded to Rajendra Prasad's account of his Fiji trip. One, signing himself Tears of Tedium, thought Rajendra's reflections  a "once-over-lightly approach to the Fiji economy."

"Talk to anyone in the business community," he said, " and they'll tell you new investment is zero. That, coupled with the dismal outlook for sugar, continuing EU sanctions, cyclone fallout, etc. ought to be ringing loud alarm bells. Cheap airfares aren't going to save the country either, only destroy Air Pacific as a viable carrier." 

I replied: "I'd be pleased to hear ... what advice you'd give to local and overseas protagonists ... what, realistically, do you advise to 'take Fiji forward'?"

He did not comment on the role of overseas protagonists, and thinks Government is the only local protagonist (I think him wrong but we may define protagonists differently. Stakeholders would have been a better word) but this is how he responded on what Government can do.

In my opinion, it is wise, informed advice given by someone who knows business; basically agrees with what Government says it is trying to do, but who thinks they could be making a far better job of it. And I agree.  Here is what he said:

Well, Croz, my advice to the local protagonists (and what other protagonist is there, realistically, apart from the regime?) is to move a lot quicker on two vital fronts. Because until it does, international confidence in Fiji will continue to be adversely affected.

The first is to begin the process of electoral reform that will demonstrate, in a practical sense, that Fiji really is committed to holding elections in 2014. Had this process already started, perhaps the EU might have reinstated its aid. We were told there'd be a national forum in January to map the way forward for a return to democracy. What's happened? As far as I can see, nothing. Can't find a chairman? Try harder.

The second is to address the chronic lack of discipline, strategic planning and, especially, lack of basic communication, that characterises the regime. It's simply not doing enough to get a positive message across to the international community. Whether or not it's governing effectively isn't enough. It needs to be seen to be governing effectively and working towards the restoration of democracy. As far as I can see, there's no concerted effort to address this woeful shortcoming, even with the regional media.

Let's take, as an example, the regime's treatment of the Methodist Church. It wonders why the rest of the world sees this simply as a case of religious persecution. But it doesn't do a jot to explain the stand-off more fully and present the evidence we all know is there of the church's pernicious influence in national life.

Even your own correspondents have demonstrated contempt for the notion of an effective PR campaign to explain the regime's case. But then have the gall to constantly complain about the failings of the regional media when they (inevitably) embrace the message of the regime's vociferous and smarter opponents. The evidence is undeniable. Be willing to join the battle or be prepared for defeat, as a matter of course, in the court of public opinion.

Bainimarama and the Military Council seem to think that it's enough to be demonstrating to the country that government is being conducted more transparently and effectively. We know that compared to the last government, that is pretty much the case. But what the international community sees is a military dictatorship with no mandate other than the gun whacking its opponents around the head while promising to relinquish the reins of power in four year's time. Promises, promises.

Set in motion a transparent and credible process to deliver on those promises and you've gone some way to meeting the concerns of your critics. Then go out and sell that process vigorously (by opening up the country to selected media, among other things) and you've got some hope of regenerating investor confidence. Do nothing and the country continues to stagnate. Don't take my word for it. Talk to senior members of the business community in Fiji. The overwhelming sentiment is: "there's nothing happening" and "these guys have no idea".

And that's a disaster for Fiji.