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So that's why the news was not reported in NZ's mainstream media, except for Michael Field jumping the gun in the DominionPost. The NZHC in Suva says PM John Key was "misunderstood." He didn't say what others took him to say.
I expressed my doubts in the 22 December report of the Radio Tarana interview (o) New Zealand Initiative? "A new initiative," I wrote, " or merely a repeat of the old conditions? We shall have to wait and see, but considering it's Christmas week, we'll give PM Key the benefit of the doubt -- and keep our fingers crossed."
But why did Key allow himself to be misunderstood, and wait so long for the misunderstanding to be corrected? He certainly said more than the HighCom concedes. I quote: "I’m actually in the process of sending him [Bainimarama] a letter actually – for trying to engage in more dialogue." The HighCom's reported this as "Mr Key replied along the lines he planned to communicate with Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama." And he did talk of possibly reinstating our respective High Commissioners.
But, no matter. What's done is done. The PM's had second thoughts or been advised to think differently or he hadn't fully thought through what he was going to say. And those who hoped and prayed NZ was stepping back a little from its hard (and unrealistic) stance on Fiji rushed in, reading into his remarks what they wanted to hear. We can now uncross our fingers. The magic of Christmas has gone for another year.
So that's why the news was not reported in NZ's mainstream media, except for Michael Field jumping the gun in the DominionPost. The NZHC in Suva says PM John Key was "misunderstood." He didn't say what others took him to say.
I expressed my doubts in the 22 December report of the Radio Tarana interview (o) New Zealand Initiative? "A new initiative," I wrote, " or merely a repeat of the old conditions? We shall have to wait and see, but considering it's Christmas week, we'll give PM Key the benefit of the doubt -- and keep our fingers crossed."
But why did Key allow himself to be misunderstood, and wait so long for the misunderstanding to be corrected? He certainly said more than the HighCom concedes. I quote: "I’m actually in the process of sending him [Bainimarama] a letter actually – for trying to engage in more dialogue." The HighCom's reported this as "Mr Key replied along the lines he planned to communicate with Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama." And he did talk of possibly reinstating our respective High Commissioners.
But, no matter. What's done is done. The PM's had second thoughts or been advised to think differently or he hadn't fully thought through what he was going to say. And those who hoped and prayed NZ was stepping back a little from its hard (and unrealistic) stance on Fiji rushed in, reading into his remarks what they wanted to hear. We can now uncross our fingers. The magic of Christmas has gone for another year.
5 comments:
Don't be discouraged, Croz, by what is evidently an exercise by the Kiwis in hoisting the flag of compromise to see which way the wind blows. Key's words were unmistakable, so much so that The Australian's Asia Pacific editor, Rowan Callick, reported his comments several days later as a major development and so did the ABC. I think the fact that it was the NZ High Commission in Fiji that did the dousing says it all. And such a low-ranking diplomat to boot. There's obviously been flack locally and the easiest thing to do is that tired old PR trick - claim that someone has been misquoted against all the evidence of a live radio interview. Bollocks. Key's comments still stand and it's frankly inconceivable that a NZ PM would say what he did without meaning it. The truth is NZ is actively looking for a way out when it comes to its policy on Fiji and so, for that matter, is Australia. Certain things are going to happen in the coming weeks that will completely alter the current dynamic. The fact is both countries have come to recognise that Frank Bainimarama isn't going anywhere, the Fiji economy is improving, tourism is about to boom in 2010 and the clock is ticking towards 2014 anyway. Better to engage and try to influence events than continue a hardline policy that isn't working and deprives Australia and NZ of any influence. There's a major shift in the offing so believe me, your initial optimism is well placed.
I say to Frank to keep the ambassadors off. NZ and Australia have successfully bullied the truly Pacific Island countries to chuck out one of their own from the Pacific Island Forum which Fiji was a founding member.
Luckily, Frank hasn't expelled any expatriate from Australia and New Zealand working for the Forum Secretariat who are residing in Fiji.
This David (Mr Bainimarama) is standing up for righteousness, truth, justice and equality for all. In the end he will persevere and win.
I urge Mr Bainimarama to keep the ambassadors out please. We don't need them yet. Maybe after 2014 then we will need them back. For now keep them out and throw out anyone in the embassy who interfere in Fiji's politics.
Keep a good watch on the NGOs who are receiving more funds. It maybe good to close some of them for good.
Tui Makawa - you are 100% spot on. Fiji was in strive in April 2009 economically and Aus & NZ put the boot in taking a hardline confrontational stance hoping to see the end of banimarama.
Fiji economy has bounced back with 2010 looking like a great year and Banimarama has gained support locally and is delivering on what he said. Japan, and other Asian countries are communicating with Fiji so Aus and NZ would not want to keep falling further behind in their relationship with Fiji.
Don't worry Croz - if Fiji's economy improves which i am convinced it will the hardline stance will prove counterproductive for Aus & NZ.
Of course it was misunderstood. LOL!! Frank was misuderstood, misrepresented, misinerpreted and misreported when he said "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" to the bullies.
So if NZ PM John Key was misunderstood why didn't mainstream media here in NZ report that he was misunderstood in the Radio Tarana live interview? They are quick to report every other little thing when it suits them. Instead they ignored the story altogether - Why? What I suspect has happened is that PM John Key was genuinely talking from his own heart-felt conviction about Fiji and Frank Bainimarama on Radio Tarana, but the foreign affairs policy advisors in the Wellington beehive heard him, choked, and just like Sir Humphrey from "Yes Minister", stopped PM John Key's goodwill message towards Fiji in its tracks. Oh to be a fly on the wall! I wonder - are some of the Foreign Affairs policy advisors the same ones who were advising in the Helen Clark years? Hope not - can anyone confirm if there has been a clean sweep of the Labour Government's foreign policy advisors from the Foreign Affairs department?
Maybe some of those advisors should read this blog - they might just learn something new about Fiji.
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