Murray McCully's recent statements on Fiji suggest a much more realistic appraisal of the situation than was evident under the former Labour-led government, and an improvement on his own earlier statements. McCully's meeting with Fiji Foreign Minister Kubuabola last week will bolster diplomatic representation. It did not change NZ's basic position -- elections with which it is prepared to assist in whatever ways it can -- but it was a crucial first step. The second step is his reaction to kerfuffle about pensions and the Methodist Church, both quite misrepresented by the media (see earlier post on pensions). McCully dismissed them as moves to quell dissent but "not a reason for us not to try and improve diplomatic relations. We expect progress to take place in terms of the relationship step by step with allowances for some setbacks from time to time."
He could, however, underestimate Fiji's threat to withdraw from PACER (Pacific Closer Economic Relations Agreement) unless it is represented at Forum discussions on PACER Plus, the Australian-initiated add-on to PACER that has been received with suspicion in many quarters. I doubt Fiji will be satisfied with being "briefed on progress."
What was particularly pleasing to hear was that Fiji's exclusion from the PI Forum, and PACER Plus discussions, is not fixed in concrete. McCully "would regard this as just one of the pieces of the jigsaw that is on the table over the coming months."
Step 3 would see NZ supporting Fiji's readmission to the PI Forum, or some accommodation not too short of admission, which in turn could lead to similar rapprochments with the Commonwealth, the EU and the UN, and a resumption of aid and other economic assistance.
Step 4, though stated last, should be high on the diplomatic agenda, and needs to be implemented ASAP. It is composed of several elements, all concerned with good governance.
Step 3 would see NZ supporting Fiji's readmission to the PI Forum, or some accommodation not too short of admission, which in turn could lead to similar rapprochments with the Commonwealth, the EU and the UN, and a resumption of aid and other economic assistance.
Step 4, though stated last, should be high on the diplomatic agenda, and needs to be implemented ASAP. It is composed of several elements, all concerned with good governance.
- The travel sanctions have to be relaxed to allow Fiji's most talented administrators to apply for government positions.
- NZ (and Australia) should second suitable qualified lawyers to draft legislation, especially constitutional legislation, and to prosecute corruption cases.
- Fiji also needs forensic accountants to unravel the corruption, and experienced senior judges.
We have the expertise to assist Fiji to establish a much fairer society than in has been in the past. It is a pity a military-led and non-elected government seeks these reforms. Earlier "democratically-elected" government had the opportunity but none put its hand up.
Postscript. New Zealand lawyer Robert Miller has been appointed Chief Legal Draftsperson in the Attorney-General’s Chambers. This is a Fiji Government appointment, unrelated to McCully's "steps," but it is the sort of assistance that is sorely needed. Photo:guide2.com
7 comments:
The travel sanctions need to be relaxed especially for medical treatment to be sought in New Zealand. All my medical records and access for treatment (private) has been in NZ for the past fifteen years: until 2006. Then it ceased. I refuse to apply for any visa to travel to New Zealand for either medical or other reasons. But, I have chosen to assist the government with the roadmap and with consultations leading thereto. Should I fall ill, then I shall be obliged to travel to the USA which my medical insurance does not stretch to. Now why in justice should this be so? This is not just or fair: this is unfair and unfair to each and every citizen of Fiji who, through no fault of their own, has had to weather multiple injustices since 1987: including imprisonment/compromised law & order/hostage taking and acts of terror/grand scale corruption which has infiltrated every layer of our institutions. Some of those quilty of grand corruption are New Zealand and Australian nationals. There are plenty of Fijians too but surely we need to confront this scenario together? If we do not, the Haitian scene is set. It is not a pretty sight!
VII Generation
The comment above about medical treatment is very relevant. We are told that both Australia and NZ will relax the travel bans for medical treatments unavailable in Fiji. But who would choose to be treated in the manner of the Family Court's Justice Wati last year? What a ghastly, humiliation that was not just for the honourable Lady Justice but also for all of us. There is no intrinsic fairness in such an outrageous denial of basic humanity. Anyone who has a conscience knows that. Political expediency is a dastardly thing. We know we have been on the receiving end of it for now more than twenty years. Institutionalised racism and decaying infrastructure and essential services and New Zealand and Australia are the beneficiaries of most of our qualified nurses/teachers and...rugby players. So, this is the way the world works? It may do but is it just?
There should NOT be an election in Fiji till all outstanding matters are resolved. If OZ and NZ want an everlasting democracy in Fiji, read this article and help resolve them first
http://www.glossary.com/encyclopedia.php?q=Maciu_Navakasuasua%27s_allegations_about_the_Fiji_coup_of_2000
Something is just not right. Navakasuasua, an explosives expert, hostage taker, had an intent to blow up Nadi airport, intent to kill then PM, Chaudhary, now lives in Australia, when others need a police clearance to enter OZ and not to mention travel bans. With due respect to Navakasuasua and Waqabaca, born again Christians, I salute their honesty. The same courtesy should be accorded to Peter Foster. All these people plus Andrew Hughes, Peter Ridgeway etc should be brought back to Fiji and proper investigation should be implimented into past coups. Who is trying to conceal what? Do you think the Fiji Military Council has no idea? A quick return to the polls would have seen Qarase re-elected and as expected, everything swept under the carpet. I repeat, there should be NO ELECTIONS till we have a clean slate, regardless.
@ joe
Of course Joe is correct. And the above-quoted Chris Hammond-Thrasher may have some substance to what he had to say in 2008: it appears that he states the obvious. Most persons who have knowledge must weigh very carefully what they decide to impart. Australia and New Zealand appear to be shielding and offering refuge to a number of miscreants who ought to be facing the music in Fiji. They know who they are and we know who some of them are. We need to be assured that every single person who has stolen or abused public money for private gain, who has plotted or perpetrated acts of terrorism against us and our families are brought to swift justice. Prevaricating and dodging the matter will in the end bring no credit to anyone. In the end, they will be judged for what they did and for what they DID NOT do.
Today's trial we are entitled to hope will put to rest some of these questions. Let us pray that all those responsible for the betrayal of the people's trust are brought to a full accounting. This must be demonstrated in open court for all in Fiji to witness. The international community must also be a witness. May they have the decency to admit: 'there but for the Grace of God, go I'.
@ Joe
Thanks for providing the link.
Looking back and then into the future, I fully support Bainimarama's actions and I’m with him all the way. As someone who was also privy to inside information regarding past coups, Bainimarama is spot on with what he is doing to rid Fiji of these corrupt elements that have poisoned our society stifling real economic growth and development.
I came of political age in the 1987 coup and out of fascination and interest in what and why it happened, started to research and follow intently through the years. What I found were lies and deceits everywhere.
The coup of 2000 was nothing but the work of corrupt opportunists. Making it worse was what emerged out of it when Qarase formed a political party while still an interim PM and then brought back the same people into his government. That was a direct affront on the Republic of Fiji Military Force’s effort under Bainimarama to rid Fiji of racial extremism once and for all.
Bainimarama is striking at the heart of Fiji’s political problems and was also the key issue stifling economic growth for everyone in Fiji including indigenous Fijians – RACISM and CORRUPTION.
Racism (masked as Taukei Nationalism) has been continually used and exploited by corrupt politicians to justify their actions in the coups and even used by Qarase to justify his policies. The only solution to ridding it out of our system is to rewrite the constitution and electoral system and review all indigenous institutions. This is exactly what’s being done and hopefully as a result of changes will be the emergence of a truly EMPOWERED people with a transformed mindset in a truly democratic nation.
What the government is doing right now would have been Fiji’s natural progression had we not had coup 1987 in the first place. Had we continued to thrive and grow from where Rt Mara left Fiji’s economy on in 1986, we would have already embraced what’s being done now and indigenous Fijians would have been transformed economically and politically.
Institutionalized racism through the constitution and electoral system would have been amended in parliament already because there would have been no need to keep Fiji’s election on racial lines once ordinary indigenous Fijians are uplifted economically. Indigenous Fijians would have already gone through a transformed mindset under the Fiji Labour Party.
In regards to New Zealand and Australia’s stand against Bainimarama, I believe it has very little to do with returning Fiji to parliamentary democracy. First and foremost, their action has to do with geo-political interest in Fiji and the Pacific, everything else is secondary. They will support elements that keep Fiji in a state of perpetual strife because it plays into their grand plan of economic and political subjugation. Anyone who or anything that stands in their way are either demonized, banned, sabotaged, etc. Those who carry out acts that play into their grand plan are protected, cared for and rewarded.
The ANZ government knows that the solution to Fiji's long term political and economic stability is really what Bainimarama is doing but his plans and actions will be counter-productive to the overall geo-political interests of the two countries. The end result of Bainimarama’s plans and actions will be a stable and thriving Fiji economy with an empowered and motivated people. It would be devoid of the economic stifling factor – race and corruption.
I have always maintained that Fiji has all the potential in the world to be self-reliant and free from aid. For this to happen, the whole country needs a unified national mentality. That would be achieved when we all are happy with a national identity that embraces everyone. I believe what we are going through in Fiji today is the beginning of a national transformation. The old folks may be too slow to catch on but I see signs in our youths quickly embracing Bainimarama’s vision.
...to Joe & the max, guys u hit the nail on the head !!!!! thank u for the revelation and the reason as to why A&NZ react the way they have! I sincerely hope that the other PICs will understand this, as it is so important to stand togather as Pacific nations and not get bullied by this two mongrels!!! I thank God for VB!!!!
Welcome to Robert Miller, Chief Legal Draftsperson in the A-G's Office. Why has this taken so long? Was it not evident that Fiji's laws were more than twenty years out of date? Yet, no progress was made on updating them because this anachronistic situation served certain political purposes so well. It was found much more rewarding to waste taxpayers' money drafting three Bills which were not only unconstitutional but utterly divisive. And the overseas diplomats went right along with it? Never would they have stood for this 'At Home', 'Chez Soi'? Double standards at work.
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