Snippets: Police, Misspent Billions, UN Peacekeeping

Police Roadshow to Replace Christian Crusade
The Police have cancelled the nationwide Christian Crusade scheduled to begin today and replaced it with a road aimed at informing the public about police work and how they can assist the community. The suddenness of this last minute decision makes one think it is a result of the widespead criticism of the forced "christianization" of the Force. If so, the decision is particularly welcome because it shows Government is receptive to public thinking.The roadshow will be opened by Police Commissioner Cde Esala Teleni, the instigator of the now hopefully-abandoned Crusades. Click here. Photo: Police Marching Band. The Fiji Times.

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Misspent Development Money Cause of Crumbling Infrastructure
USP economist Prof. Biman Prasad thinks a major cause of Fiji's crumbling infrastructure is misspent development money over the past 20 years. He estimates $3.4 billion have been lost in this way. Click here.

Military Keeping Fingers Crossed
Fiji Live reports that the military is still hoping the UN will change its stance and include Fiji in new peacekeeping operations. Fiji has contributed over 3,000 personnel to UN operations since it was first involved, in Lebanon, in 1978. One soldier questioned by Fiji Live said they “live for tours of duty abroad. It benefits not only our families, but also our children’s education and so on."

The UN has 19 missions world-wide involving 81,000 military personnel. Countries with the most numbers are Pakistan (10,584), Bangladesh (9,549) and India (8,767). Fiji is involved only in Iraq where it has 221 soldiers, although it also has seven military observers and 50 police officers on UN missions. In addition, some 2,000 Fijians serve in the British Army, and many former soldiers work for UK and US private security firms.

FLASHBACK to 2001. Qarase and Academic Freedom
Fiji's Qarase regime has written to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific to inform the administration of the caretaker government's displeasure over two academics presenting a critical seminar on the post-coup economic status of the country. The two academics are Dr Mahendra Reddy, who is also secretary of the Academic Staff Association, and Dr Umesh Chand.