Of Pots and Kettles

Fiji Report #2 by Crosbie Walsh

I suppose it was to be expected. 

 In "setting the stage" for my reports on Fiji, I disclosed, quite properly and in accord with most codes of ethics (not to mention standard research behaviour) that part of my recent visit to Fiji had been paid for by the Ministry of Information. In the eyes of some this immediately tarnished anything I may write on my impressions and interviews.

 A more balanced reaction would have been to reserve judgement and then. if they thought me compromised, to attack what I wrote, instead of questioning my integrity and attacking what I might write even before I had written a single word.

I understand the concern but would have hoped that my postings on this blog would have demonstrated (as I have said several times) that while I support Government's stated vision for a fairer Fiji, and try to make my comments helpful, I do not support some of their actions. Nor do I support a return to the corrupt, unfair, and racially biased Fiji prior to December 2006.

I must confess, though, that I have some doubts about their stated concerns. What, for example, were Victor Lal and "Fiji Wind" inferring when they asked me how much the visit cost Government? Why didn't they ask me how much this visit and, and my previous visit, cost me? I wonder why they don't ask this question of the anti-Bainimarama journalists? Or ask Ratu Tevita Mara, who regularly makes public statements, who has been paying his expenses since he left Fiji?

That "Navosavakadua" in FijiToday judged me before I have said a word is no surprise. For him, the Bainimarama government can do no right and the Qarase government did no wrong. Under the heading "Everyone has their price but ..." he called me "one of their longest serving apologists... Stroke his ego by treating him as if his opinion matters and you have him. Much cheaper than the Qorvis."

But it did surprise me that he knew I had three drivers who he said were "all skilled in the art of ego stroking". There must be a spy within or close to the MOI, probably the same person who writes the satirical Grubby Shazzer pieces. But if he'd asked the drivers, they would have told him I did not ask them a single political question, nor did they reveal their opinions to me.

The most disappointing criticism came from USP journalism lecturer, Canadian Dr Marc Edge, in his personal blog Fiji Media Wars. He has previously publicly attacked two former USP Heads of Journalism, Prof David Robie and Shailendra Singh, and now he publicly attacks me. I am an Adjunct Professor of the university so he is  publicly questioning the integrity of a colleague: not what I have written but what I might write. This is not normally accepted behaviour in academia.

Further, he is on a work permit issued by the Fiji government he constantly criticises, and a significant portion of his salary is paid for by the Fiji Government. He is not a citizen and is a relative newcomer to Fiji. If I were similarly placed, I would listen and say little. 

It says much for the tolerance of the government and the university that he is still able to publish partisan polemic exercises on his blog. Others have their association with the university terminated, and  their work permits cancelled,  for less. 

A reader sent this email: "How can he pour this kind of derision on a respected former academic from USP? It is utterly gratuitous and uncalled for. Perhaps you need to complain to USP when you are so egregiously misrepresented by the Head of the School of Journalism."

And so, distracted but having cleared the air, I defer my General Impressions posting until tomorrow.