News and Comments Thursday 13 October 2011

13.10.11
ON FIJI'S SUPPOSED ISOLATION. A reader writes:
"Canberra continues to hold out that it has succeeded in politically isolating the Fiji Government - but it has only succeeded in doing so in the two organisations in which it exerts over-weaning influence - the Commonwealth and PIF - and large numbers of the Member States of both organisations have told Fiji privately and publicly that they don't agree with the policy of suspending engagement with the Fiji Government.  All of them attribute Fiji's unhelpful suspension from these two bodies to the influence of Australia.

"How can Fiji be described as "politically isolated"

• when it is Chair of MSG (95% of the land and resources of PSIDS); 
• when Government Leaders from China to Georgia, from Papua New Guinea to Kiribati, come to Fiji to pay their respects; 
• when Fiji has been welcomed into the 120-nation Non-Aligned Movement; 
• when in the margins of UN General Assembly Fiji attended Ministerial meetings with the Russian MFA, the US Secretary of State, the Singapore MFA, the Cuban MFA, the President of Finland, the President of Tahiti, etc, etc, etc; 
• when Fiji's PM was invited to Co-Chair (with the President of Austria) a UN panel on desertification and land degradation; 
• when Fiji has been internationally-elected to be one of the current Vice-Presidents of UN General Assembly and the current Assembly President of the 167-nation International Seabed Authority;
• when Fiji has signed up formalisation of diplomatic relations with 37 new countries over the last 18 months;
• and when Fiji's PM was able to tour any US State he cared to last month (note, he's prohibited from travelling to Australia) to talk to potential American investors?  Is this telling a story of a "politically isolated" country? 

"As for cutting off Fiji's peacekeeping role - its peacekeepers are currently serving in UN Missions in South Sudan, Abiyei, Dafur, Liberia, Timor Leste and Iraq.  The latter force, 1st Battalion RFMF, was increased by 55 in 2011 after an international assessment of great thoroughness — and this in the face of sustained Australian opposition. Meanwhile 2nd Battalion RFMF remains in place in the Sinai with the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), as it has done since the days that Jimmy Carter was President. This is a Fiji heritage that no one will be able to "cut off" or denigrate. Fiji's proud role as UN peacekeepers is here to stay."

INTENDED FNPF REFORMS REFORMED. Pressure from members has resulted in two major changes to the proposed pension funds reforms. There will be no compulsory pension deductions for all members. Deductions will be optional. And the option of lump-sum withdrawals will remain. A Fund spokesman, however, urged members who had reached retirement age to make wise decisions about their money so that they would not end up living on social welfare after all their pension money was spent, and all members to consider pension deductions for a more secure future. It is understood, however, that the proposal to reduce the annual pension rate from 25% or 15% to about 9% remains. The proposal, contested by pensioner David Burness (and a counter-proposal to strike out Burness's appeal), will be heard in the High Court next year.

METHODIST MEETING OKAY UNDER MONITORING. A  27 member group of US Methodists has  been given permission to meet with Fiji Methodist officials but the meeting will be monitored by a police officer who will ensure that political issues are not discussed. The Fiji Government has long insisted that the Church distance itself from its previous heavy political involvement. The group will arrive on Saturday and be in Fiji for about ten days.

My view is that PER should be lifted or at least be modified along these lines. It is far better to let meetings go ahead under stipulated conditions than to prevent or cancel them. This is how all PER regulations relating to meetings should be considered.