Check out the new Quote for the Week in the right sidebar and the Weekend Reading and
late Friday postings (and comments) by scrolling down.
N0110. I DON'T GET IT. Perennial anti-government agitator, Peter Waqavonovono, president of the Fiji Young People's Concerned Network that appears to have no other members, has told ABC's Bruce Hill that many Fiji youth are using Twitter and Facebook to get information about the political unrest in Cairo. He says this is because the Fiji media is self-censoring news on Egypt. A quick survey by ABC, however, found that the Fiji Times and Fijilive have both carried comprehensive and balanced reports on the events in Egypt. So why, ABC, did you give this Peter Pan, who incredibly sees parallels between Fiji and Egypt, this free air time? When is no news news? My source: via www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz
N0111.BETTER THINGS TO DO. The news that the PM may tour Russia later in the year to boost tourism and trade makes incredible reading. The PM is critical to what is happening in Fiji and the less time he spends out of the country the better. Each overseas trip offers opportunities for rumour and speculation. Someone should go to Russia and other new countries where Fiji's interests can be advanced, but not the PM. -- Based on 2011 No:0305/MOI.
N0112. KAI SOLOMONI ORGANIZE. One of Fiji's most disadvantaged groups, the 35,000 plus descendants of Solomon Islander indentured labourers who worked the European copra plantations in the late 19th century, have formed the Solomon Islands Descendants Association to protect their interests. The Kai Solomoni married Fijian women and today they are all but Fijian except in name. But the name is very important. Among some Fijian tribes, inheritance was only through the male line and this practice was adopted by the British for all Fijians. The result, for Kai Solomoni, is that they have no rights to Fijian-owned land. Had their fathers been Fijian, it would have been another story.
N0113. MINERALS TO PASS TOURISM. Lands and Mineral Resources Minister Netani Sukanaivalu predicts that the booming mineral resources industry will earn billions of dollars annually for the next 20 to 30 years, and will overtake tourism as Fiji's biggest income earner. Besides the Namosi gold-copper mine and the Vatukoula gold mine, the Tuvatu Gold Mine and the black sand in the Ba delta will soon be operating, and oil and gas exploration will commence in five months."We have three companies that are applying for an exploration licence to mine our deep sea and we have the oil exploration right now and they will start drilling in June or July at Naselai," the Minisster said. Bauxite in Bua and a re-opened Mt Kasi gold mine are only a little further down the road.
N0114.GOVERNMENT MADE TO LOOK SILLY. Former PM and FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry was charged for breaking the Public Emergency Regulations and detained for three days last October. He claimed at the time that the charges were baseless, as he was meeting with sugar cane farmers in his capacity as general secretary of the National Farmers Union. But he was charged nonetheless. After several delays in bringing the charge to court,
Government withdrew the charges last week. What a waste of everyone's time and money. Chaudhry is right. PER should be lifted. Other laws exist for those who seek to break the peace.
11 comments:
I think you mean Chaudhry (not Reddy) but you are right the vindictive nature of Frank and his team is a incredible waste of time. But even more silly was how Fiji looked after Mahen presented at a meeting in Hawaii this week. And thus the reason for the PER - the PM and Government know they will not look the rosey picture they dream of if the PER is lifted and people are able to say what they really think.
And what they should really worry about Mahen is that THEY (THE PM & MILITARY) chose him to join their government and fix the economy. They also went out of their way to make him untouchable like themeseleves and cleared him of wrong doing. Mahen is not credible....no more than the Interim government !
Croz
Perhaps you should proof read your drivel? Mahendra Reddy as former PM??? Your journalism standards are reaching those of the Fiji media under the junta.
And do you or sharon know any reason why the Fiji media are not reporting the passing of Iloilo?
Croz, I actually think there's method in what you see as the PM's madness is announcing his intention to tour Russia. He's sending yet another signal to Fiji's neighbours that there are many other countries prepared to do business with Fiji even if they won't. Even leaving aside the Soviet period, Russia has an especially potent impact on the Australian psyche going back to the 19th century and Australian fears of a Russian invasion. The spectre of Bainimarama being fawned on in the Kremlin will be yet another reminder of Australia's loss of influence in Fiji. And there's another important aspect to all this we mustn't forget, the impact of Russian-Fiji ties on the Chinese. With its heightened presence in Fiji, China may be tempted to think it has Bainimarama all to itself. This is a subtle reminder to Beijing that there are other suitors coming to call at the PM's office and Fiji is happy to be friends with anyone willing to lend a helping hand.
Government IS SILLY.
But doing some good as well. I think their biggest weakness is not being prepared to take advice and the PER which falsely shields them from the reality in front of their noses.
They are too comfortable now and i worry they will be completely blinded by their self importannce come 2014.
Croz,
It's imortant to understand the PM likes to travel. He gets paid more when he is away (cash allowances etc) and every expense is paid for. Plus he claims all time as away as work so when he travels on weekends etc he cloks up more leave. It's a old solidiers perk and ho he managed to amass so much leave despite everyone knowing he had time off. Plus the frequent flyr points can be used for his family. Finally he will probably have some of his 'team' travel with him as reward.
I agree he should focus his attention at home. He should also steo away from Rugby. He leaves himself open to critics by being sugar minister and spending so little time on that portfolio....and being finance minister but making no effort to understand finance !
@ Chaudhry not Reddy... Ooops! Thanks. I've corrected it. The odd error gets through because I have no one to proof read or check. That's the major weakness of any one man operation.
@ Others... There has now been an official release of Ratu Iloilo's passing. I suspect the Fiji media did not wish to preempt this announcement.
I have not published some comments on Ratu Iloilo because I think they are in extreme poor taste. A death is not the right time to make political points. Perhaps later, but not now.
Croz
The PER must stay as it is part of the roadmap. How else can the dictatorship keep people under control? If we give them half a chance they will want their freedom back?
@ Croz....
How may the PER be removed and 'other laws' enforced if the Police are still so compromised and incapable of enforcing them? Indeed, the Police in some areas are still inherently dysfunctional: losing files (Oh yes?), refusing to take legitimate complaints, treating victims of sexual assault and rape as colluders in crime, accusing the judiciary of corruption, resorting to discourteous and improper conduct (refusing still at one Police Post in the Western Division to wear their identification tags - over three weeks of visiting by Crimestoppers West?), refusing to apply for Bench Warrants for repeated breaches of Bail Conditions for rapists, sexual offenders over two years?. This is not functional and professional Police Conduct. This is impunity of the highest order and it is an insult to each and every taxpayer who funds their pay. The PER must remain in place until these Police Officers are sacked and replaced with individuals who will "Safeguard the Nation" and members of the Fiji Public from impunity and serious crime. Disgraceful, 'passing the buck' behaviour must end within the Fiji Police.
Bula Croz,
Firstly I am a member of YPCN. And unlike many other of my colleagues, I am not afraid to say so.
Peter Waqavonovono our President, leads a network of youth activists throughout Fiji. I think that he is a brilliant leader and for a 25 year old has done alot for Fiji youth. He was appointed to the National Youth Council last year for he's contributions to youth work. Many people here do respect him and expect too much of him and the YPCN
Other known YPCN members are Filomena Tuivanualevu, Jacky Koroi, Tura Lewai, Epeli Vakalalabure, Unaisi Koro and the list does go on. From the very beginning, members are given the right to be public members or not, reason been because of high levels of intimidation and violence purported by the military since 2006 on the YPCN.
I think Peter and the YPCN deserves an apology from you. You have chosen to unleash a war on YPCN and Peter Waqavonovono. WHY? Because we dare to continue to speak out against state organised violence, limitations to our Freedoms, and a blanket ban on our leaders.
Please think carefully of what say next. You are hurting people who look up to blogs to present credible information. STOP the cyber bullying!
Tomasi Tora
Bula Croz,
Firstly I am a member of YPCN. And unlike many other of my colleagues, I am not afraid to say so.
Peter Waqavonovono our President, leads a network of youth activists throughout Fiji. I think that he is a brilliant leader and for a 25 year old has done alot for Fiji youth. He was appointed to the National Youth Council last year for he's contributions to youth work. Many people here do respect him and expect too much of him and the YPCN
Other known YPCN members are Filomena Tuivanualevu, Jacky Koroi, Tura Lewai, Epeli Vakalalabure, Unaisi Koro and the list does go on. From the very beginning, members are given the right to be public members or not, reason been because of high levels of intimidation and violence purported by the military since 2006 on the YPCN.
I think Peter and the YPCN deserves an apology from you. You have chosen to unleash a war on YPCN and Peter Waqavonovono. WHY? Because we dare to continue to speak out against state organised violence, limitations to our Freedoms, and a blanket ban on our leaders.
Please think carefully of what say next. You are hurting people who look up to blogs to present credible information. STOP the cyber bullying!
Tomasi Tora
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