(+) Dissection of the Wilcox Pamatatau NZ TV7 Interview

Browning of white media helps explain Fiji situation – thanks to Julian Wilcox and Richard Pamatatau

Thakur Ranjit Singh*

History has shown that countries with a cosmopolitan population but with a dominating mainstream white media tend to create stereotypes that show ethnic minorities or non-whites in negative shadows. That is, until ethnic journalists come in to fill the vacuum and portray a more balanced picture.That in a nutshell depicts coverage, or rather lack of coverage of Fiji by the mainstream New Zealand media.

I must commend Richard Pamatatau for venturing into the lion’s den and getting the first hand information and news on Fiji that the mainstream media in New Zealand has failed to do. David Robie's Cafe Pacific and Media 7 have done their share, among others, in bringing these reports to general public.The reports of Wilcox and Pamatatau have removed the myth that Fiji is a militariased zone with soldiers lurking around every corner. They have seen no evidence or feeling of military presence, most people appeared to be happy with the way things were and it appears the misconception is created by some Fijians in New Zealand with an agenda against the Fiji government.
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While the Media 7 coverage on Fiji did show a side of picture that was welcome, there however were some misconceptions that need to be clarified by somebody who knows Fiji and that is yours truly.

As far as the expression about poverty and squatter settlements, these were there from Ratu Mara’s, Rabuka’s and Qarase’s days, so it is unjustified for NZ media to imply that poverty and squatter settlements crept in after Bainimarama took the government in 2006. As former Director Administration and Operations of Suva City Council till 2003, I can vouch with first hand knowledge that the squatter settlements we have in and around Suva were there for a long time. It however increased due to displaced farmers from cancelled cane leases, poor state of rural development and failure of agriculture and land utilization through ineffective regimes which resulted in urban drift of especially rural Fijians to Suva City. The failure of policies of past democratic governments has to explain about increasing poverty in Fiji where the poverty of the downtrodden is inversely related to the expanding good fortunes of rich elite Fijians and Indian business community.

I wish to take exception to statements that Pamatatu obtained from some villagers and which Russell Brown has taken as the “other” side of the story.

His interview of rural Fijians quoted as follows:

“Everyday you are getting new people coming to sell you food – these people are just trying to make ends meet” This statement could have been given by people in Otara, Avondale or other markets in Auckland where they eke out a living by selling food even here in New Zealand, so what is new in Fiji? This is happening even here in NZ as well.

“Before the coup in 2000, everything you buy is good price, but now everything … the price is going up.” This statement can be given by any Kiwi, even by me. Some two years ago, I could buy my Rivermill whole meal grain bread for 99 cents. Now it costs 1.90. The rice I was eating has doubled in price, with increase in price of dairy products and virtually everything else. Do I blame John Key’s National government for it? Hence, Bainimarama is as much responsible for price increases in Fiji as John key is in New Zealand.

“Now when the country change… life has become difficult.” So, what is new about that, go, ask Social Development Minister Paula Bennett and she will tell you how difficult things are in New Zealand now. Ask those trying to make ends meet with rising prices and increasing unemployment – so it is not confined to Fiji. Things have changes globally.

“People are coming here every day at our gate, asking for clothes and food. Everyday. That has never happened in Fiji, how many years back. But it is happening now.” Like squatter settlements, this has been prevalent in Fiji long before 2006, people have been begging in Fiji for long, just like in New Zealand. Except, the begging in NZ is more sophisticated, you beg through charitable organisations, I bump into people sleeping in Queen Street every now and then and see long queue of people seeking food and support at City Mission in Auckland. So Fiji is no exception.

Therefore, Russell Brown of Media 7 really needs to explain what he meant when he said Pamatatau interviews told another story. What another story? You interview people in here and what they said in Fiji about difficult life is also applicable here.

Perhaps one biggest disappointment was what escaped these journalists and those who covered the interviews. In explaining about his interview in a Fijian village, Richard Pamatatau said:

"I had to speak to the village chief before anybody would speak to me.” That was the gist of the interview that New Zealand media in general and Radio New Zealand in particular either failed to decipher or conveniently ignored because it shattered their myth on Fiji’s democracy.

In the opening scene of Maori TV’s Native Affairs interview, Frank Bainimarama said: “In Fiji you do not come up with your own vote... Your vote is decided by the chiefs, it is dictated by the Great Council of Chiefs, it is dictated by the Provincial Council, it is dictated by the church- so it is not your vote. So, do not tell me it is democracy…”

Therefore, Radio New Zealand failed to explain to Kiwis, when its reporter failed to exercise democratic right of freedom of expression in a Fijian village without the chief’s approval, how can their people be expected to vote freely? What Bainimarama told Julian Wilcox about lack of democracy in Fiji’s current system was substantiated by the experience of Radio New Zealand’s Richard Pautatau in a Fijian village. It is such a pity they failed to explain this to New Zealand audience!

* Former Publisher of Fiji’s Daily Post, a political commentator and a post graduate student in Communication Studies (journalism) at Auckland University of Technology)