Cogito, ergo sum. I think, therefore I am. (René Descartes, mathematician and philosopher,1599-1650)

Tuesday 31 May 2011

NEWS UPDATED REGULARLY 23-31 May 2011.


Blogs Politically-Motivated: Fiji Journalists Should Counter Untruths

Tuesday May 31st 2011, No:1118/MOI.  Think Fiji First. Statement by Sharon Smith-Johns, Permanent Secretary for Information, 

First let me take this opportunity to thank you for your attendance.
I wish to address the issue surrounding media coverage regarding the ex soldier Ratu Tevita who is in Tonga awaiting extradition.
The media in New Zealand and to some extent Australia have helped fuel rumors regarding this person and the false accusations targeted at the Fijian Government and its citizens.
I must stress to you all that reading these anti Fiji blog sites is not a source of credible information, these sites are run by politically motivated individuals who are mostly failed politicians and a smattering of disgruntled journalists. The majority of those commenting are from overseas and not from Fiji.
These blog sites have nothing positive to contribute to the growth of Fiji. They propagate rumors and stir up emotions to destabilize this country. Suffice to say the local media have unfortunately fallen for this trap and have used false information to lend false credibility to these stories.
The media has been misled by these baseless reports and have been used as a tool to further the interests of this select group of people who have proven to be anti Fiji.
Let me draw your attention to some examples of this false reporting.
Reports have suggested that Fiji is currently under 24 hour military roadblocks and people must be very cautious when traveling to Fiji. This is totally misleading and malicious.
I also bring to your attention the recent report by a New Zealand journalist that states that Fiji will not be having elections in 2014. No one from Government made that statement. It's false reporting and deliberately used to question Fiji’s commitment to holding elections. Let me state one more time, Fiji will go to elections in 2014; we have clearly said this time and again. 
A direct consequence of this incorrect and unfair reporting is the upgrading of the Australian Government’s travel advisory. We all know that there are no road blocks – there is no trouble. I am sure those Australians currently on holidays in Fiji, or doing business, can confirm this. The unnecessary travel advisory will not only hurt the Tourism Industry but the people of Fiji.
Why can’t journalists in Fiji counter the overseas media and correct this misreporting, why are we not doing more to stop the spread of these intentionally damaging and spiteful rumors, you ladies and gentlemen know exactly what is going on in this country, you have the tools to inform the world of what is really happening on the ground in Fiji, please use your collective power to work together to build a better Fiji.
As the case of Ratu Tevita is before the courts there will be no further comment from the Government.
Let me urge the media to stop using any anti Fiji blog sites as a credible source of information.
Let me also urge you today to put Fiji first and report in a fair and balanced way.
Lastly let me urge you to be objective and ‘THINK FIJI FIRST’.

Monday 30 May 2011

Come Clean, Ratu Tevita: Who Really Assaulted the Women?

The headlined accusation "Bainimarama Beats Women" is the latest statement by Ratu Tevita that has been reported, on trust, by the international media.  

He promised us that all would be revealed over time but for the moment he is releasing one  small story after another that keep the media in titivation mode.

ratu tevita head beretFirst came the  release in which he said he was rescued on a fishing trip that went wrong and he'd fled because he wouldn't receive a fair trial.  This was followed by the statement that Banimarama laughed at the idea of elections, and that no elections would be held in 2014. We then heard that Bainimarama was taking his orders from Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, a view earlier reported by the blog Coup4.5. 

He then accused Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum of corruption and said Bainimarama's salary, paid by Khaiyum's aunt’s accountancy firm, was $700,000 a year. Much of this story was also earlier reported by the blog.

This was followed by general accusations of torture that he said he witnessed, and for which he now apologised, but in which he played no part. He said a small "hit squad" carried out the torture, presumably on Bainimarama's orders. But he was the Commanding Officer.

And now he claims Bainimarama hit three "pro-democracy" women — Visili Buadromo, Jackie Koroi and Laisa Digitaki — at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks just before Christmas in 2006. He says that Bainimarama's son was the other officer who hit the women, and made the point that Bainimarama only hit women; he never saw him hit men.

Coup 4.5,  Michael Field and others have now taken up the "Bainimarama Hits Women" story.   I have little doubt that the general outline of the story is correct. The Coup had only just taken place. The situation was unstable, and there was active opposition from a small group of "pro-democracy" activists, including the three women, that was enthusiastically reported by the local and international media. The military was unsure of its position and sought to silence opposition by intimidation. Not nice, but over-reaction is not unknown even in democracies, when the established order is unsure of itself. 

But here the details become hazy. Ratu Tevita says people had always thought it was Pita Driti (charged this month for sedition together with Ratu Tevita) who beat the women. But he was there and saw what happened. It was  not Driti, he said, but Bainimarama, dressed in brown overalls with no military insignia, who started the attack, joined by his  son.
He said it was dark and all that could be seen were silhouettes. 

But afterwards, not one of the women mentioned Bainimarama or his son. They maintained it was two other officers, Pita Driti and Ratu Tevita.  

Laisa Digitaki said she recognized Driti's voice, and both she and Visilia Buadromo told Human Rights Watch, probably the world’s leading independent organization dedicated to defending and protecting human rights, that they were assaulted by Driti—and Ratu Tevita Mara.

This leaves one wondering. 

Why, only now 4½ years after the incident, do we hear Bainimarama's name mentioned for the first time? Apart from the obvious purpose of smearing Bainimarama, is it possible that Ratu Tevita is also trying to cover up his part and Driti's part  in the assault?  These are the sorts of questions the media should be asking him before they take his word on trust.

They should be asking how he has so much knowledge on so wide a range of topics.  I doubt he can have witnessed all,  and
his statements can be no more reliable than his sources, which —other than Coup 4.5— he has not revealed.  The media should ask him about  his sources.

They should also ask what's happened to the documents he said he brought with him on the boat to Tonga that he said would prove what he said.  Did he show them to Barbara Dreaver when she interviewed him soon after his arrival in the old British Residence’s house in Nuku'alofa?   Did she ask to see them?  Has anyone seen them? Has anyone  thought of asking to see them? 

He now says he's  thinking of making a statement to the UN  about human rights abuses in Fiji. For this he will have to rely on  more than the prompting of Coup 4.5. He will need the documents.  

Otherwise, on this issue at least,  it will be his word against those of the women who said he assaulted them— and not Bainimarama.

Ratu Tevita and the Gullible Media

Photo credit: Coup 4.5
This case also exposed New Zealand main­stream media’s blind depen­dency on a polit­i­cal blogsite, Coup Four Point Five, which hardly resem­bles a respectable, free and inde­pen­dent media. This site has anony­mous and face­less pub­lish­ers and edi­tors whose cred­i­bil­ity has been under scrutiny by var­i­ous aca­d­e­mics and this author because of their selec­tive, unsub­stan­ti­ated and unbal­anced news-postings. This is Qarase’s SDL Party site tasked with get­ting the racist régime back into power under the sham of democ­racy. It is such ques­tion­able blogsite that the main­stream New Zealand media, includ­ing NZ Her­ald and TVNZ, have relied upon as a source.

Sunday 29 May 2011

Foreign Policy and Rugby: A Strange Game Indeed

By Balor

Goodness only knows —though history often bears out— it’s hard at times to understand what goes on in Fiji, but these days it’s twice as hard to figure out what’s going in Canberra and Wellington.

Do we live in parallel universes?

A few days ago I was intrigued to read the FRB was appealing to the IRB to relocate IRB 7s rugby tournaments away from Australia and New Zealand. The strategy is intended to counter the ban the two countries have put on players with links, direct or indirect, with Fiji’s military.

Saturday 28 May 2011

Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

OTHER WEEKEND READING.  ♦ Are Fiji's Courts Free of Political Interference? ♦ A New World is Possible-Fr Barr ♦ Sheep farming in Fiji  ♦  Foreign Policy and Rugby: a Strange Game Indeed (to be posted Sunday afternoon)


Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen 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.

Elocution Classes

All TV presenters should undergo elocution classes so that they can pronounce words properly. If they say that English is their second language and cannot or will not pronounce English words properly, then they should not be reading the news. They should do something else. English being their second language is not an  excuse. Proper public speaking is important in that we have children and interested people and English teachers listening. What do we want to teach our children? I had a daughter in kindergarten a few years ago who used to sing a nursery rhyme and pronounced thumb as tum. “Where is tum where is tum, here it is.” Horrible, isn’t it? This was because the teacher pronounced it like that. We had a hard time convincing her because she believed in her teacher.

Are Fiji’s Courts Free of Political Interference?

Fiji’s most vociferous critics have long claimed government or military interference with the courts, saying that no one can expect justice once they appear before court.  If they are government critics, they will be found guilty and probably jailed. If they are government supporters, they will be found innocent, or their sentence will be less than what is normal for their crime. 

These claims have been echoed by other, more responsible people, such as the President of the NZ Law Society, the  Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.  John Key and Murray McCully are among many others who have claimed the Fiji government interferes with the courts and that justice cannot be expected in these circumstances. 

The recent breaching of his bail conditions by Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba and his flight to Tonga make the issue of.immediate importance because he  claimed he fled because he would not have a fair trial for his alleged sedition charges had he stayed in Fiji. He claimed the charges were  politically motivated.

 NZ  Queen's Counsel Peter Williams has conducted several cases in Fiji and feels that while the  rule of law is generally followed,  political trials may not be.  Fiji’s  Solicitor-General, New Zealander Christopher Pryde, however, maintains the courts are not subject to political interference, and that Ratu Tevita would receive a fair trial.

This article examines the record on court cases and judgments since the 2006 Coup to see whether there was —or could be— political interference. It starts by looking at  contempt of court, an offence Ratu Tevita has now added to the charge of sedition, and continues by considering  the requirements of an independent judiciary, and concludes by comparing these requirements with specific court cases.

A New World is Possible

 
By Fr Kevin J. Barr

Over the months since the economic collapse around the world a number of interesting statements have been made by various people – politicians, economists, churchmen, and the media as well as ordinary people who (as usual) are bearing the burden of the economic disaster.

We have heard highly regarded economists such as Alan Greenspan admit that their free market economic thinking was faulty and there was need for governments to intervene and set controls in place. The French Prime Minister (Sakozy) said bluntly that “capitalism is dead”. The British Prime Minister (David Cameron) was also very blunt when he called for “moral capitalism” that showed a conscience and would repair decades of “reckless greed”.

Sheep Farming in Fiji–a Reader’s Comment

Fiji’s announcement that it may start large-scale sheep farming drew a doubtful comment from me. I said sheep farming in the Tropics was difficult and efforts in Niue had failed.   To which a reader responded:

Friday 27 May 2011

The Good News and the Bad News about the 10% Wage Order

Fr Kevin Barr sent  these comments to the Fiji Times in response to their request for his reactions, as chairman of the Wages Council,  to the 10% Wage Order.  He has kindly allowed me to publish his reply. The official press release is published at the end of  Fr Barr's comments
 
There was good news and bad news about the 10% wage increase.
The good news was that finally - almost two years after the previous increase - most of the workers belonging to the 10 industries covered by the Wages Council will get a 10% increase backdated to the 1st May (Those in the transport industry will get only 7%).

Thursday 26 May 2011

President Wide Awake, Still There, and Not “Gutless”

baini n nailatikau
Bainimarama (L), Ratu Epeli. Photo: Coup4.5


CoupFourPointFive spread a rumour last week that Bainimarama was about to sack the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and that the President was going to denounce Bainimarama before taking refuge in the US Embassy, all within the next 24 hours.
They’d said something  similar in February but like the other prediction last week that the world was about to end, nothing happened. 
Assuming, generously, that they don’t  make these stories up, one has to ask why they publish them in advance of events that do not happen. 
If they really believed their own story, one would think they acted unwisely in alerting Bainimarama before Ratu Epeli acted — and not giving him time to get the the Embassy before Bainimarama had him arrested.

PM on His Salary and other Ratu Tevita cum Blog Stories

FijiVillage.com - Fiji's home on the world wide web  
Full interview by FijiVillage: the $700,000 salary; the accusations against Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Ratu Tevita getting his stories from the blogs; and words on New Zealand.  

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Sugar Corp Quiet on Distribution

FBCL - News
State-owned Fiji Broadcasting publishes news like this. Where are the censors?

The Second Cassava Patch Kid; and Amnesty NZ on “Torture”

Cassava (Manihot esculenta)
On November 2nd 2000 a group of about 50 Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit soldiers under Captain Shane Stevens  attacked the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Suva intent on assassinating Commodore Frank Bainimarama. Four loyal and four rebel soldiers were killed.  Bainimarama narrowly escaped by fleeing  through a nearby cassava patch.  Anti-government bloggers labelled his action cowardly and called him the Cassava Patch Kid and Mr Cassava Patch Runner.
Now Fiji has a second Cassava Patch Kid …

How Would You Read This? No Elections in 2014

In a Sydney Morning Herald article Fiji tight-lipped over torture claims  by Tamara McLean, AAP South Pacific Correspondent, wrote this:

I quote: “Fiji's military government is tight-lipped on accusations of torture in its barracks and claims it has no plans to hold democratic elections as promised.”

Dictatorship Crumbling,: NZ Herald Editorial

 MY EDITORIAL ON THE NZ HERALD EDITORIAL

Freedom of the Press — You’re Joking!
 
I received an email from Claire Trevett, the deputy political editor of New Zealand's largest circulation newspaper, last Monday. “I read your very good analysis on the Ratu Tevita situation and I was hoping to speak to you at some point today to get some comments on the developing situation,” she wrote. We spoke for a while that afternoon and last Wednesday the NZ Herald published her story NZ may yet admit Fijian fugitive.

Monday 23 May 2011

Let’s Call it by its Proper Name — Propaganda

 A reader has criticised me for attacking the bias in NZ reporting on Fiji and not commenting on the restriction placed on the Fiji media that, he says, is forced to publish Fiji government propaganda.  Fair enough, I suppose, though I have repeatedly urged that PER be lifted and media restrictions cease.  There is a difference, however:  the Fiji media is not free; ours claims to be free, but still publishes propaganda. How else can the barrage of heavily slanted stories, old photos, and derogatory cartoons be classed.   

TVOne
The propaganda has been particularly bad over the past few days, and continued last night in the TVOne news when....

Sunday 22 May 2011

Jim Sherlock is Still “Safe in Fiji” and the Comment that Wasn't Published

Jim Sherlock: “I’m safe in Fiji: Kiwi resort owner”

Readers may remember the NZ media reports last May about Jim Sherlock and his wife Heather, former Hamiltonians who owned the Fiji Lagoon Resort in Fiji. The media  had them abused by former military security men, locked out of their premises, in fear for their lives, and relatives in New Zealand really worried.  Michael Field had them leaving Fiji with two bags. Jim finally swore they were both safe and the media had got it wrong. But the media and Field never retracted the story so New Zealanders were left believing it.  This is Jim’s comment a year on ….

Ratu Tevita's "Reputable Organizations": a Reader's Comment

 Liu Muri's remarks, of course,  do not apply to all chiefs or all Methodist clergy and laiety. His remarks pertain to the politicisation of the Great Council of Chiefs, and to those people who used the church to pursue an extreme ethno-nationalist agenda. -- Croz

Liu Muri has left a new comment on your post "Ratu Tevita Changes Colours: No Applause for Coura...":

The Great Council of Chiefs and the Methodist Church, which Mara names as reputable organisation standing up for democracy have been the biggest culprits in erosion of democracy in Fiji.

The apolitical GCC sold its soul during Speight’s coup and sided with ethno-nationalism, proving that it was a spent force, not worthy of any reverence, as they then believed that indigenous superiority meant overriding of all other human rights. They even discounted democracy in favour of indigenous rule for Fiji in perpetuity. So I cannot see how they can now stand up for democracy which they saw as foreign flower in 2000.

Similarly, the Methodist Church and Christian organisations in Fiji had been using the pulpit to spread the sermon of hatred and denigrate Indo Fijians as heathens, non-believers and idol worshippers. They openly committed sedition behind the Sulu of the padres who masqueraded as neutral while being politically nationalists and supporting Qarase’s SDL. Both these organisations deserved their wings to be clipped for abusing their respective honourable roles.

I would not expect Mara to appreciate this, as his father (may his soul rest in peace) had also not been as great an advocate of multi racialism as history makes us believe.

Saturday 21 May 2011

Turmoil from Tonga but Business as Usual in Fiji

While Ratu Tevita and Barbara Dreaver from Tonga, copied by today's NZ Herald's editorial,  are predicting the imminent overthrow of the Baimarama Government,  Bainimarama, Government and Fiji are carrying on business as usual. And support for Government seems to be growing, as evident in the PM's visit to Beqa and Kadavu, and the President's visit to Rotuma.  Read on ...
SCROLL DOWN FOR EARLIER WEEKEND READING. 

Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Allen TanoaAllen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen 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.

Manhole Covers
 
Here is a suggestion for the city and town councils regarding the missing manhole covers. For the covers that have been removed, replace them and weld the cover shut. When you need to use the access the passageway all you do is to get a blow torch and cut the welding away. 
 
For the grating that have been removed, fill the chamber up with cement so that there is just a slip big enough for water to flow through, that way you don’t have to keep replacing the  metal and its will be cheaper to cut away the welding. 
 
And lastly, all metal is exported, I had suggested in a previous letter for all metal to be inspected by the authorities before being stuffed into a container. And just like the penalty for tampering with water meters, the fine for metal theft should be $2 million. And 20 years in prison.

The Ratu Tevita Saga, Coup4.5, Michael Field, the ANU Duo, and Tonga

 No 25. MONOCLES AND INTRIGUE – A SOUTH SEAS TALE
By Graham Davis
 
Graham Davis
A bizarre rerun of the political intrigues of the 19th century South Seas aristocracy is being played out at a stately royal residence on the waterfront of the sleepy Tongan capital, Nuku’alofa. Consular House was once the home of the British High Commissioner to Tonga and the lion and the unicorn still gaze majestically down from the wall in the foyer. But now the timber tropical pile with its push out shutters houses the region’s latest and most celebrated political refugee – a Fijian chief who’s sought sanctuary with his distant kinsmen, the monocle-wearing King George Tupou V.

The Fiji National Provident Fund Symposium, Reflections by Fr Barr

 
Fr Barr 3Fr Kevin Barr considers transparency and accountability, a just living wage, and compliance as they apply to the Fiji National Provident Fund, and sends me this email:
“I was happy enough with the media coverage of the FNPF symposium.  A lot of good work had been done by the consultants but the reality is hard for many to accept. 

Readers' Comments on Military Rule and NZTV Coverage of Recent Events

 Don't like military, don't like ...

Croz – What I don’t get is this. Opponents of Frank Bainimarama and the military takeover in Fiji do so because they don’t like military rule .  Attorney-General  Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum  is civilian. Ratu Tevita is annoyed that Bainimarama chose the AG over Ratu Tevita and Colonel Driti . Doesn’t that tell you something? 

That Frank Bainimarama is prepared to go against military advice if he thinks it is not for the good of Fiji and its future. I do wonder if there is a little bit of jealousy here. In fact - is Ratu Tevita throwing all his toys out of the cot because he couldn’t get his own way. Something just doesn’t add up.

You would think that Oz and NZ would be pleased, a bit, that Frank B has chosen the AG over two military officers. Cheers,  Tamaki

Tamaki, The AG is an Indian.  This makes him a fair target for racially-motivated attacks. Croz

Why  does NZTV use old photo footage from the Speight Coup?

Cornelius has left a new comment on your post "Someone's Not Telling the Truth":

Here in NZ, 'Dreadful' Dreaver has said tonight on national TV that Ratu Tevita is Ratu Epeli Nailatika's brother. As NZ TV's 'expert' on Pacific Affairs, she is woefully ignorant. Why on earth can't we be kept informed on Pacific affairs by someone who at least knows the basics.

Another grizzle - why does NZ television insist on showing 10-year-old clips and passing them off as current? Occasionally they will annotate "file footage" but mostly not.

Cornelius,  I'm sure you know the answer. One picture is worth a thousand words, and most New Zealanders will think that's what Fiji is like today. This is what now passes as balanced reporting. Croz

Friday 20 May 2011

Yabaki Certain Elections in 2014

Photo: Cafe Pacific.
In an interview with Radio NZ yesterday,  Citizens'  Constitutional Forum CEO, Rev. Akuila Yabaki, spoken positively  about the planned new constitution and said he is certain elections will be held in 2014. 

Among the proposals likely to be in the new constitution, he mentioned voting to take place  on one day, getting rid of race-based voting, and reducing the voting age to 18 years.

Thursday 19 May 2011

Lest You Forget...FLP Remembers 19.5.2000

The 11th anniversary of the 2000 coup today serves as a stark reminder of the heavy price our nation has paid in terms of the suffering, and the social and economic degradation that coups and political instability have inflicted on us. Four coups within a span of 19 years have given us the ignominious tag “Coup Coup Land”. Three of these coups (1987 and 2000) were carried out under the pretext of protecting indigenous rights when the perpetrators well knew that Fijian rights and interests were well entrenched under the country’s 1970 and 1997 Constitutions. 
 
Events since then have showed us that greed, power and vested interests played a more significant role in these coups than any threat to indigenous rights and interests. 

Michael Field’s Latest Attack on Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Shows He Knows Very Little about Him, Muslims, Indians or Fiji

If his latest blog posting  “Profile of a megalomanic*: Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum” (that he would not dare to publish in the mainstream media), NZ journalist Michael Field shows that, despite his trips to India, he knows nothing about Indians and Muslims, and even less about Fiji’s Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.  Taking his statements one at a time, he writes:

Someone's Not Telling the Truth

FBCL - News

Someone's not telling the truth.  Tongan, Ratu Tevita and Kadavu hotelier stories do not tally. And the NZ Navy said it had heard no distress signals.

Earlier statement by the PM: "We have confirmation that Ratu Tevita Mara was extracted by the Royal Tongan Navy Patrol Boat, Savea on 9 May 2011 from within Fiji's territorial waters. Preliminary investigations nullify the claims of a search and rescue mission off Southern Ono i Lau, however we can confirm that the illegal extraction of Ratu Tevita Mara took place one Nautical Mile North West of Cape Washington in Kadavu. The Fijian government takes strong exception to such breaches of Fiji's sovereignty. I intend to communicate with the Tongan Prime Minister within the next 24 hours about these breaches."

Wednesday 18 May 2011

Imprecise Reporting Does Not Help Understanding

 Sometimes stories from Fiji are misunderstood because they are poorly reported. Here is an  example:

Speaking at the Cakaudrove Provincial meeting that ended yesterday, the "Roko Tui, Ro Aca Mataitini said although [the Tui Cakau] Ratu Naiqama was not at the meeting he had given his apologies saying he could not attend because of personal reasons."  So far, so good.  The mainstream media cannot speculate on the likely cause of the Tui Cakau's absence but we know he is less than keen on the Baimarama government.

Fiji Village  then went on: "Roko Mataitini added that despite Ratu Naiqama's absence, the members were told, whether they like it or not, they still support the People's Charter."  I have no idea what this means? What does "despite" mean in this context? That the Tui Cakau supports the Charter? And who are they that may "like it or not" and who are "they" that "still support" the Charter. Some tikina (districts) always supported it and some opposed it. Has something changed that we don't know about?

I presume part of the problem arises from inadequate translation from the Fijian, but the sub-editors should pick this up. It may seem to be a small matter, but the stance of Cakaudrove is important and, frankly, I have no idea what it is.

I'm not picking on Fiji Village. It is no worse than the other online media, but I wish sub-editors (or, even the censors, if they are still in the news rooms!) could pick up more of these ambiguous non-items before they are published. 

Not Ratu Tevita?
And while I'm writing, people who have been claiming that the Government is trying to distance the image of Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara from his illustrious father Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara,  by not referring to him as Ratu Mara, should note that most chiefs are called by their first or Christian name, and not usually by their last name. Hence, Rati Naiqama and not Ratu Lalabalavu, Adi Koila not Adi Nailatikau, King George and not King Tupou and Queen Elizabeth, not Queen Windsor.  Ratu Mara and Ratu Sukuna seem to have been exceptions.

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Ratu Tevita Changes Colours: No Applause for Courage

 

chameleon
Chameleon lizard (Chamaeleonidae Tevitae)
The claims and demands become even more incredible. A chameleon would blush. 

Ratu Tevita, who fully supported the 2006 Coup and was at one time referred to as Bainimarama's right hand man, now says soldiers were duped in supporting the coup.  Well, if this was so, he played a major part in duping them in 2006 and continued to do so for the next four years.

What’s more, having fled Fiji leaving his colleague Pita Driti to face the music and his wife and children to make do, he has made  a  direct appeal over the internet to the soldiers he used to command to rebel.  

Monday 16 May 2011

Graham Davis’s Views on the Ratu Tevita Saga

Graham Davis is Fiji-born Australian journalist. My underlining.

Fallout from Ratu Tevita’s Defection: Some Media Coverage

 The unabated negative news published by the overseas media, and the total absence of any balanced or positive news, must be affecting the confidence of some readers about the stability of the Bainimaram government and Fiji’s future. That, presumably, is its intention.  Ratu Tevita’s defection is a massive publicity  blow — but it is unlikely to have changed anything in Fiji. He was suspended from the military last October and nothing changed then.  I hold with what I wrote in the previous posting: Ratu Tevita's defection was due to self-interest, not principle, and those in the know in Fiji know this. Here are some other reactions:

TV1’s Petra Bagust interviews PM John Key (extract. part on Fiji)

Ratu Tevita Mara Flees Fiji: Why and What Effects?

driti mara
Pita Driti (left) and Ratu Tevita

By Crosbie Walsh 

Colonel Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, popularly known as Rokoului —until recently the fourth highest ranking officer in Fiji military, son of  revered former PM and President the late Ratu Mara, brother-in-law to the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau,  and former close associate of PM Bainimarama— has fled to Tonga. 

A Tongan patrol boat the  Savea, that Tonga says (and Fjii disputes)  responded to a distress signal, south of Ono-i-Lau, took him to Nuku’alofa 370 km away where, because of his high status, he has been accommodated by the royalty.   

He has now made a statement accusing Bainimarama of being a dictator and calling for his removal. This is what he had to say .

There are obviously two big questions to ask about this high profile defection: Why did he do it and what will be the effect?

Saturday 14 May 2011

Fiji is a Multi-Cultural Nation: Rotuma Update

rotuman girlsScroll down to more WEEKEND READING.   ♦ People's Charter Pillar 11 (Global, International Relations): For Discussion ♦ Rotuma: Fiji is a Multi-cultural Nation  ♦ Australia Not Getting its Way -- Karam C Ramrakha ♦  Australia Changes Tune on Fiji Peackeeping But ...  ♦ Allen Lockington Column ♦ Issues of the Past Haunt Us - PM

Rotuma lies nearly 500 km north of “mainland” Fiji and its people,  language, culture  and history are distinct.  The island was annexed by Britain in 1881 and chose to remain part of Fiji at Independence in 1970. It is administered by a council of chiefs and under the previous government Rotumans had separate representation in the Fiji Senate and parliament.  Some 9,000 Rotumans live in mainland Fiji where many have occupied senior positions in government, the army, business  and the professions, and about 3,000 live on Rotuma.

Australia Not Getting its Fiji Way–Karam C Ramrakha

http://www.fijisun.com.fj/main_page/view.asp?id=56514
 
Karam C. Ramrakha, a long time leading Fiji lawyer, writer and columnist and now resident in Sydney, Australia, uses his expert knowledge including his 50 years as a Fiji MP to assess the current situation.
Fiji, which looms so large in our part of the world, is quiet and recent information from Fiji reveals that few are challenging Frank Bainimarama’s rule.

People’s Charter Pillar 11 (Global and International Relations: For Discussion

Peoples charter logo
ENHANCING GLOBAL INTEGRATION AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Critical Problems and Issues:
· In the wake of successive coups since 1987, Fiji’s image internationally is that it is a country prone to a “coup culture”, lawlessness and bad governance.
· One of our neighbour countries has described Fiji as a “pariah state”, a label that has the power to inflict disastrous consequences upon us as a nation.
· We are challenged to regain our rightful place in the international family of nations.

Australia changes tune on Fiji’s involvement in peacekeeping but that’s all: Joanna McCarthy interviews Kevin Rudd

australian-flag-reducedTwo items forwarded by a reader with this note: “Listening to Radio Australia on short-wave in the evenings, I picked up two gems last night - tracked them down this morning.  1) in response to the flak Aus/Rudd has been receiving lately, he's issued an appeasing statement on Fiji UN troops (and co-incidentally there is an article in yesterday's Sun about them); 2) but he's dug in his heels generally about Fiji - we can huff-and-puff about the PI Forum and the Commonwealth being against Fiji - I wonder how many listeners know that it is Aus that engineered such opposition? And does the CMAG really 'engage' with Fiji?

Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Allen Tanoa

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen 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.

  Cassava Gold Mine

Issues of the Past Haunt Us: PM

Bainimarama face closeFiji needs leaders who are committed to genuine consultation, inclusiveness and accountability and have a progressive vision in moving the country forward, the Prime Minister Commodore told Macuata chiefs and provincial leaders  yesterday, repeating his long-time message that that Fiji's root problem was dirty politicians and racism.

The PM urged provincial leaders to take the lead role in developing the  leadership model spelt out in Pillar 3 of the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress which emphasised  honesty, integrity, professional ethics and service to communities.

Wednesday 11 May 2011

The Truth as Michael Field Sees it: his FRU Article

pinocchio's nose
Pinocchio 's nose--see below*
  In March last year I took journalist Michael Field to task  for  his total misrepresentation of the Crimes Decree, then recently introduced in Fiji, and before that for an article that had typhoid threatening Fiji’s major tourist destination, when it was confined to a remote inland area over 50 kilometres away.   It is time to take him to task again, not because this is the first time in a year that he has transgressed, far from it, but because it is necessary once in a while to remind readers of his prominent role in misinforming the NZ media and public. 
 
In an article this week ,  Field makes three important errors of fact in his report on the Fiji Rugby Union, if indeed they were errors.  Here they are, with my comments: 

Tuesday 10 May 2011

Australia's Pacific Fantasy and a Diplomatic Bloody Nose

Pacific Scoop: Analysis – By Graham Davis

The Australian foreign policy establishment has been plunged into an agonising debate with the gradual realisation that Canberra’s long-standing hardline approach to events in Fiji has failed.
The bipartisan consensus between Labor and the Coalition that the diplomatic cold shoulder and targeted sanctions would eventually bring the Bainimarama regime to heel has been shattered.
And now a high-level public split has emerged that would have once been unthinkable between Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and the most prestigious Australian think-tank on Melanesian affairs – the Lowy Institute.
The head of the institute’s Myer Foundation Melanesian programme, Jenny Hayward-Jones, is a former diplomat who once shared Rudd’s enthusiasm to use every means, short of withdrawing humanitarian assistance, to bludgeon Frank Bainimarama into an immediate restoration of democracy.
But while Rudd is sticking to his guns – testily arguing that it is Bainimarama who has to change, not him – Haywood-Jones now accepts publicly that the tough love approach hasn’t worked.
In The Australian and elsewhere, she’s been calling for a new policy of engagement to help Fiji comply with Bainimarama’s long-stated intention to hold elections in 2014. It’s a humiliating about-face that has arguably come far too late.
Fiji has new friends and – judging from its recent criticism of Rudd’s alleged intransigence – doesn’t seem to care as much about re-engaging with Australia as some Canberra beltway insiders imagine.

Employment Relations (Amendment) Decree 2011

“Cabinet, on the strength of a submission from the  Attorney-General,  Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has approved the Employment Relations (Amendment) Decree 2011. 

The Attorney-General said that the Decree amends the Employment Relations Promulgation 2007 by replacing section 3 to exempt Government and other Government entities from the Promulgation with the provision that Government and other Government entities are subject to the Employment Relations Tribunal for claims under the Workmen’s Compensation Act [Cap. 94] and Health and Safety at Work Act 1996.

He said that it also inserts a new section to: terminate proceedings against the Government or any Government entity which has been brought by virtue of or under the Promulgation; and terminate any orders of the Employment Relations Tribunal or Employment Relations Court which involves the Government or any Government entity.”

Comment.  The Attorney-General is not reported as giving any reason for this amendment.  From what has been reported,  I cannot image what good reason there is to make a special case for public servants by exempting them from the 2007 Promulgation.  Further, there seems to have been no consultation with stakeholders,which is unusual,  and no account has been taken of opposition to the amendment by responsible civic society organizations.  I have asked for a copy of the amendment. This is not the way to win friends.

Monday 9 May 2011

Prof Narsey Lets Fly over FNPF — and Everything Else In Sight

A symposium to discuss the  review of the 45-year old Fiji National Provident Fund Act and Pension Scheme will be held in Suva this Wednesday and Thursday. 

Prof Wadan Narsey couldn’t wait until then.  He’s got in early and three anti-government blogs have already published his article  in which he called the symposium” a big farce, a pretence at ‘public consultation’, much like the Charter Charade organized by Bainimarama, John Samy and Petero Mataca.”  
 
He said the panel of IMF, World Bank and ILO “experts” who will be at the symposium  are “unknown and unaccountable” and made a number of serious complaints about the operation of the FNPF Board and the mismanagement of pension funds.   
 
Had the article stopped there, it would have served its purpose in asking questions that need to be answered.  But he went on to raise political issues only distantly related to the FNPF.  
  • He called for the publication of a “full list of coup collaborators and supporters in Fiji and abroad” (last week’s CoupFourPointFive list apparently was not enough).
  • He said  “we” (should be)  teaching our children not take part in the daily charade by treasonous people illegally pretending to be  Prime Ministers, Ministers, Attorney General, President, and First Ladies, etc.” He called on “Australia and NZ to take sanctions against all their (sic!)  citizens who have supported the treasonous military coup in Fiji”.
  • He appealed to the military to “call on Bainimarama and his ministers to resign.
  • And he concluded by saying “If we continue to remain docile and quiet under oppression, we deserve everything we get, while condemning our children to a bleak future.” 
Once,  a few years back, Wadan Narsey could have played a useful role  in shaping Fiji’s future. He chose instead to publically criticise each and every Government move, when more moderate and balanced criticism, although perhaps distasteful to Government, could have had  some influence. 
 
Unfortunately, his latest outburst makes this even more unlikely, and  puts him on an even steeper  collision course with government.  

Character Assassination Follow Up

The publication last week by the CoupFourPointFive blog of the names and photos of people they consider “pro-coup” (with hints of dire consequences to follow) resulted in an exchange of emails between some of those on the blog’s “hate list.”

It started with Graham Davis who said he was proud to be associated with the others on the list: “Unlike our detractors, we support a prosperous, multiracial and just Fiji, with true democracy for every citizen.”

Another wrote, “I am honoured to be included in this group of very exceptional people who have shown a deep commitment to Fiji.” 







Scroll down to the WEEKEND READING. Allen Lockington Column Political Correctness (on race)-- Crosbie Walsh  Charter Pillar 10 (Health Service Delivery) : For Discussion Why Australia  Should Discontinue Sanctions -- Rodney V Cole   Comment-Spam: Anti-Bloggers' Rhyme and Reason  

Saturday 7 May 2011

Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes -- On Picturesque Fiji

Allen TanoaScroll down to other  WEEKEND READING. Political Correctness (on race)-- Crosbie Walsh  Charter Pillar 10 (Health Service Delivery) : For Discussion Why Australia  Should Discontinue Sanctions -- Rodney V Cole  
Comment-Spam: Anti-Bloggers' Rhyme and Reason   

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen 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.

Picturesque Fiji

I drove to Suva and back to Lautoka the other weekend and marvelled at the many people in villages, settlements and homes-on-their-own, selling things on the roadside. I saw coconuts, dalo, cassava, oranges, lemons, chili, fish, crabs, sasa brooms, pickles, prawns, bu (fresh young coconuts), pawpaw, bele, live chicken, and much more.

Political Correctness: Sex, Race, Ethnicity*and the ‘Average’ Fijian

By Crosbie Walsh
statistics-extrapolation1LIKE SEX AND AGE, RACE AND ETHNICITY are realities of life, and they are — or should be — included in all statistics where they are relevant.  Not including them results in a loss of important information and insights into causes, effects and inter-relationships. But this is what Fiji appears to have done, presumably for new "politically correct" reasons.  There appears to be no Fijians, Indo-Indians and Others in Fiji any more: they are all Fiji citizens.  Please, someone, tell me I'm wrong.

People’s Charter Pillar 10 (Improving Health Service Delivery): For Discussion

Peoples charter logo
Readers are invited to consider and comment on what the Bainimarama Government has done —and what it has not yet done— towards the realization of these health objectives.

Why Australia Should Discontinue Sanctions Against the Military Regime in Fiji

By Rodney V. Cole 

Rodney Cole has a life-long association with Fiji and the Pacific Islands. He was born in Suva,  educated at  Suva Boys' Grammar School and was later District Officer in Lau, Lomaiviti, Navua and Suva, and Secretary for Finance in the colonial government.He was from time to time a member of the Legislative and Executive Councils and Council of Ministers, Financial Adviser to the Fijian Affairs Board, member of numerous boards and committees including Chairman of the Fiji National Provident Fund and Alternate Governor for Fiji of the Asian Development Bank, and  he held a Commission in the Fiji Military Forces. 

Since leaving Fiji in the  5314s nineteen seventies he has been  Deputy then Managing Director of the PNG Development Bank, Administrative Secretary of the Research School of Pacific Studies, Development Studies Centre at ANU. In  5328  he led a team which led to the introduction of changes in the structure of the Fijian Administration. He has served as a consultant involving work or visits to all Pacific Island states except Tokelau.

Rodney's  article traces Fiji's coup history, its colonial legacy, its long association with Australia, and Australia's current policy on Fiji. The article concludes with reasons why Australia should reconsider its stance on Fiji, and with three  "ifs  " addressed to the Bainimarama Government.

Comment-Spam: Anti-Bloggers’ Rhyme and Reason

Preamble
Jean in the anti-Government blog FijiToday (To censor or not to censor: A letter from Jean d’Ark) sees a purpose behind many negative comments send to the "Freedom" blogs. And I couldn't agree with her more.  It happens also on my blog,  as you'll see below.

Friday 6 May 2011

Chaudhry Calls for Internal dialogue First — My Response


Chaudhry1Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry does not agree with the external-initiatives suggested by ANZ’s Michael Rowland or Jenny Hayward-Jones of the Lowy Institute, agreeing instead with the CMAG that called  for inclusive and meaningful dialogue among the people of Fiji and what Chaudhry called “their genuine representatives” — presumably meaning Laisenia Qarase and himself. 
 
He called for the immediate revival of the President’s Dialogue Forum, the resumption of dialogue, the restoration of he 1997 Constitution (with amendments “to the electoral provisions to make it non-racial and democratically acceptable”), the lifting of PER, and elections earlier than 2014. 

“Once the people of Fiji have reached agreement on a way forward, friendly nations can be called on to provide advice and technical assistance in implementing the electoral reforms and any other agreed changes.”

Comment
This sounds very reasonable except for one small detail:  it’s a sure way to return Fiji to how it was in 2006, probably with more coups to follow.  PER, as he says, will have to be lifted before there can be any meaningful dialogue; and it may be useful to recall the President’s Dialogue Forum before, instead or in conjunction with the dialogue on constitutional and electoral reforms scheduled for next year.  But I’m less sure about the role of the two old warhorses, Qarase and Chaudhry, in this dialogue. They had the opportunity before, and they blew it. A new breed of politician is needed.  

I have a suspicion, also, that when Mr Chaudhry talks about inclusive dialogue, he really means a dialogue of politicians (those steeped in the racial and factional politics of the past), whereas the dialogue that is needed should include a far broader group of interests and perspectives, such as those represented in the People’s Charter dialogue. 

And patching-up the 1997 Constitution is not the way forward, either.  True, it had the begrudged support of the Great Council of Chiefs and main political parties in 1997 but it was essentially an incomplete, compromise document that subsequent events showed  to  have many imperfections.  In additon to the very major changes needed to the constitution’s electoral and  racial provisions,  the new constitution will need to decide on the powers and authority  of the chiefs, the Prime Minister, Cabinet, the Opposition, Senate, lawyers, the military, and the President.  And these should be based on the principles of the People’s Charter that was endorsed by at least 60 percent of  Fiji’s adult population  — and is not mentioned at all by Mr Chaudhry!

Dialogue, yes, and soon, but  I also go along with Rowland, Hayward-Jones, Preston and Cole  (see postings below) and the increasing number of others who think sanctions have failed,  and that Australia and New Zealand, in particular, should review their  Fiji stance.


More calls for lifting of Aust sanctions on Fiji

A Radio Australia interview with Fiji-born Rodney Cole, a former advisor to both the Australian and Fiji governments and former Director of the Centre for Development Studies at the Australian National University, who gives his opinion on why sanctions should be lifted.  Rodney also has an article in tomorrow's Weekend Readings.
 Radio Australia:Pacific Beat:Story:More calls for lifting of Aust sanctions on Fiji

Thursday 5 May 2011

Fiji Stance Dangerous | Voxy.co.nz

This is the third public statement in as many days calling for a change of policy towards Fiji. First, the Lowy Institute, then the ANZ Bank in Suva, now the former Managing Director  of ASB Securities. 

New Zealand and Australia need to urgently review their stance on Fiji or risk losing their influence in the Pacific, according to a well known Auckland businessman. Tim Preston, who was Managing Director of ASB Securities before retiring in 2006 after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, says the current stand being taken by the New Zealand and Australian Governments against the present Military Regime is not working and they are playing a dangerous game by continuing to shun Fiji.
Fiji Stance Dangerous | Voxy.co.nz

They Beg to Differ on UNDP Interview

Knut Ostby UNDPIn a recent posting  (Knut Doing Enough about Poverty) I commented on a Radio Australia interview with Fiji’s UNDP Resident Coordinator Knut Ostby on poverty in Fiji. I thought Knut’s comments were lacking in information  and I inferred Radio Australia’s interest was more about “exposing” the Bainimarama government than an interest in poverty. I asked why they had not also interviewing the Minister responsible for poverty alleviation.

Two former USP colleagues, however, were critical of my article.  Professor Vijay Naidu, a sociologist and head of the USP’s School of Government, Development and International Affairs and Director of the Centre for Development Studies, thought  my remarks too harsh; while  Professor Biman Prasad, an economist and  Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics, thought media censorship prevents the local release of information, hence Olsen’s recourse to Radio Australia.

Here  is what they both had to say:

Wednesday 4 May 2011

Sick Character Assassination by Once Reputable Blog

rat packIf anyone needs further evidence of how low the anti-Government blog CoupFourPointFive has sunk since it was launched in mid-2009, they just need to the read “The Rats who're making excuses for Bainimarama and his illegal regime.” 
The anonymous article provides photos and a “Roll Call” of people they see as pro-coup, claiming it is giving them an opportunity of “ publicly declaring their opposition to the coup and calling for a speedy restoration of elective democracy.”

No New Approach from CMAG Meeting, But Possibly One Positive

Commonwealth SecretariatAt its meeting in London on 28 April, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) had this to say on Fiji. The CMAG:

Tuesday 3 May 2011

ANZ Bank calls for change to Australia's tough stand on Fiji

Radio Australia:Pacific Beat:Story:ANZ Bank calls for change to Australia's tough stand on Fiji

UN WORLD PRESS FREEDOM–MAY 1-3: THREE PERSPECTIVES

UN World Press Freedom DayTwo reputable NGOs in Fiji, ECREA and the CCF, made press statement on the UN World Press Freedom Day neither of which was published in the local media, but  the media did publish a statement by the Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary of Information, Setaita Natai, that acknowledged the world event. 

Given that —other than calling for PER to be lifted— the NGOs agreed with Ms Natai’s and the Government position, it is sad the media lacked the nerve  to publish their views.

This is an abbreviation of the three statements:

Australia and the Pacific islands: a Loss of Focus or a Loss of Direction?

sandra_tarte

Sandra Tarte*
University of the South Pacific

The Tarte family have been in Fiji since '1871.

Recent claims in the media that Australia’s foreign minister has ‘ignored’, ‘neglected’ and ‘taken his eyes off’ the Pacific islands have underscored a number of policy dilemmas facing Australian diplomacy in the region. These have been evident for some time and centre primarily around the approach to Fiji’s post-coup government, led by Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama.

Like other western democracies, Australia imposed diplomatic, military and political sanctions on the military-led government after the December 2006 coup. Australia also sought to utilise the Pacific Islands Forum to coordinate a regional approach to Fiji – initially based on engagement and dialogue to encourage an early return to elected government. When this approach failed, the Forum adopted more punitive measures, including suspending Fiji’s Forum membership in May 2009 and excluding it from aid programs provided through the Forum.

Monday 2 May 2011

New Acting Chief Magistrate Sworn In

With his Mum
New chief magistrate Usaia Ratuvili was sworn in at Government House by His Excellency the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, this morning.

Ratuvili is a product of the University of the South Pacific and one of the first LLB graduates from the university in 1997.

Radio Australia, Pacific Beat: Australia needs a new approach to Fiji says Lowy Institute

Radio Australia:Pacific Beat:Story:Australia needs a new approach to Fiji says Lowy Institute
Updated May 2, 2011 17:03:02
The Sydney-based think tank, the Lowy Institute says Australia should take a completely new approach to its relations with Fiji.

In a policy paper to be launched today, it suggests Australia build an international coalition, including non-traditional partners such as India and Indonesia, to help Fiji draw up a new constitution and hold elections, as promised in 2014.

The new approach would start with confidence building and an easing of travel restrictions and, if the Fiji regime, accepts the assistance, include a range of new initiatives to improve the relationship.

Knut “Doing Enough About Poverty”

The UNDP Resident Coordinator Knut Ostby has urged Government to “review its response to the (poverty) problem, saying government has not done enough.