PINA to Stay in Fiji; Commonwealth Suspension Not Yet; President's Resignation

(o) Drama at Pacific Islands News Association Meeting

There was more than a little drama at this week's PINA annual meeting in Vanuatu. Fiji Times editor-in-chief Netani Rika spoke of media censorship in Fiji and then walked out in protest against being on the same panel as a Fiji Government censor. Later Rika was awarded the Pacific Islands News Association Freedom Award for "his professional and moral integrity and the courage he displayed in being prepared to stand up publicly on his principles, knowing that his words were placing him at risk" and the Association reiterated its "condemnation of the extreme situation of media censorship now prevailing in Fiji [and called] on the provisional military government to lift immediately the emergency regulations under which journalists are prevented from doing their job and the Fiji public is kept informed."

However, the PINA secretariat will remain in Fiji (moved Cook Islands; seconded PNG).This will disappoint anti-Government bloggers (PINA chief executive officer Matai Akoula was called a traitor) for joining the meeting's "wide support to let the PINA secretariat to remain in Fiji."

(-+) Commonwealth Suspension Likely But Not Immediately

CMAG, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, will meet in London tomorrow (Friday 31) to decide what to do about Fiji, now partly suspended from the Commonwealth. The Group comprises representatives from Ghana, Malaysia (chair), Namibia, NZ, PNG, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Uganda, and the UK.

NZ Foreign Affairs Murray McCully, who with PNG Foreign Minister Sam Abal will report to the meeting on "progress to a return to democracy," expects the Commonwealth to suspend Fiji, but not immediately. Their report will also be presented to the PI Forum meeting in Cairns next week. McCully said he did not think any positive movement was on the horizon. We earlier reported that a Royal Commonwealth Society spokesman thought discussions with Fiji would continue behind the scenes, whatever the decision on suspension.

My own opinion is that:

• Bainimarama will not voluntarily be diverted from his intention to reform the political system before elections are held. If this the case, foreign governments and agencies would best help Fiji "return to democracy" by helping to speed up the reform process, ensuring that it is as inclusive and representative as it can be in the circumstances.

• This requires easing pressure on the Government and applying pressure to the anti-Government faction -- or at least ceasing implicit support -- so that they also would be more prepared to enter into dialogue.

• The foreign stand-off merely reinforces the internal stand-off between a suspicious Government and anti-Government forces unwilling to moderate their position.

• Their most valuable contribution to Fiji right now is assistance to help ease the tensions that have made dialogue impossible. McCully has the opportunity to make some positive moves of his own

(o) Anti-Government Bloggers Claim President Forced to Resign

These reports are so blatantly ridiculous, they merit no rebuttal.