Detentions, Beatings Denied: Military Rumours, Chaudhry Denied

Readers are urged to read and comment on the Pillar 1 of the  People's Charter and Chapter  1 of the State of the Nation paper 

published on Saturday. Scroll down.

N0195. MORE ON THE DETENTIONS. Former SDL Cabinet Minister Sam Speight  says he'll seek asylum in Australia.  Speight's sister said he'd been treated in Brisbane Hospital after being allegedly beaten by the military in Fiji.

Military Land Forces Commander Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga has denied Speight and others were beaten. "There is no assault or implication, or confirmations of any assault...you know, there would be some minimal force used if people [resist] arrest."

He added that "the mere fact that they have disobeyed the public emergency regulations (PER) is testimony to the fact that they have different agendas." He thought their statements were part of their political agenda.

Clarifying the military's role, he said the military is only involved in arresting people, if police request their help and when the public emergency regulations have been broken. The detentions followed breaches of the PER.

Patrick Holmes, Amnesty International NZ's CEO has replied to may queries about the AI release on the detainees. I'll make a full posting on the release and my reaction once I've had time to consider it more fully, and perhaps get back to Patrick for clarifications.


N0196, EPELI ULUILAKEBA. Click  here to read and, if you wish, sign the petition for a review of the case of Fijian Commonwealth soldier and Iraq war hero Epeli Uluilakeba to allow him to remain in the UK.

N0197. FRAENKEL SAYS GOVERNMENT FEELS THREATENED. ANU's Dr Jonathan Fraenkel has attributed the recent spate of detentions to Government insecurity. The police and military have certainly reacted promptly to heightened activity by anti-government bloggers and activists over the past two weeks, but if Bainimarama's tour this week though Vanua Levu is any indication, he is not taking the threats too seriously. A threatened Prime Minister would stay in Suva. But Jonathon's guess —for that is what it is— is no more informed than anyone else's.

N0198. THE RUMOUR MERRY-GO-ROUND. Rumours seem to come around in lunar cycles, the last one being of a split in the military.  Its last reincarnation has been denied by RFMF Land Force Commander Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga who said he knows where the stories are coming from but they have no substance.

"Everybody is focused on working with the Commander and Brigadier Aziz Mohamed in trying to take the RFMF forward and all the officers are committed to doing that.” A rumour last month was that the Brigadier had been dismissed, or was it arrested.  Either way, he's still at work.

Speaking of criticisms made about the military Col Tikoitoga admitted there were a few on the blogsites but "we can’t take those people seriously but the Commander when he moves around to villages and other areas, he gets a lot of praises for this government and what it has been doing. You know the civilian community are coming out strong and saying there is a better government than what it was before.” The call from some villages to cancel the 2014 elections is "indicative of what the government is doing."

N0199. CHAUDHRY TOLD NOT THIS TIME.  Former PM Mahendra Chaudhry has been denied permission to travel abroad.  Justice Daniel Goundar  said the court was concerned about Mr Chaudhry's frequency of travel. Chaudhry faces several charges relating to money laundering, tax evasion and giving false information to the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority. Judge Goundar said Chaudhry's arraignment had been adjourned several times from the time his case was first heard in July last year. He had been permitted to travel to Hawaii and Australia between December and March and the judge says if he is allowed to travel this time, his arraignment would have to be postponed again.

Twittering on Egypt, Kai Solomoni Organize, Minerals to Pass Tourism, Govt Looks Silly

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.

Blog Fortune Tellers, Government Housing, the DPP, Chaudhry & Takiveikata, FSC Reforms

N0051. THE ANTI-BLOGS ARE AT IT AGAIN. Don't get your fortune read at the CoupFourPointFive blog — or the FijiDemocracyNow blog that regugitates and adds to their predictions. Almost all their previous predictions have proven wrong.  Now they foresee that the days of the President are numbered.

Why?  Because  "speculation resurfaces" and, I quote,  they "have heard reports that the so-called attorney-general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has written to the Naulukau [sic!] to advise him that his term as president ends at the end of February."  And because "it would make sense."

And the "sense"?  FDN says that because  the A-G "has the legal power to sack Bainimarama, then it would make sense for Sayed-Khaiyum to act sooner rather than later."

Why? Because "Sayed-Khaiyum knows only too well that his position in the regime is completely dependent on Bainimarama’s support. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum also knows he would be totally vulnerable to a most unpleasant fate [my italics] the moment Bainimarama ceased to have power."

So  -- and here we have it -- the prediction is not really about the President at all. It is another attack on Sayed Khaiyum. And that does make sense -- for racists.

They need to tread carefully on Nailatikau. He is a very high ranking chief to whom even Fijian racists need show some respect, but it's always open season on Sayed Khaiyum. He is, after all,  a manipulating Indian, a "mongoose" who threatens native land and customs, a vulagi with no place in Fiji, the epitome of evil they're been warning uneducated i'taukei about  — in order to advance their own manipulating and pecuniary interests. 

I asked someone with their nose to the ground in Fiji if there was any truth in the story. Their reply was "Rubbish." As indeed were the blog's earlier predictions that Sayed Khaiyum had been dismissed, Bainimarama was grievously ill,  Christopher Pryde had been dismissed,  Parmesh Chand had resigned, and ... 

The anti-blogs thrive on rumours that they feed to readers waiting in vain for Bainimarama to disappear in thick smoke.

It's understandable that they make errors. It is in the nature of rumours that they are often wrong.  But the blogs never correct their errors, and that — while understandable given that their purpose is to destabilise government and keep barren hopes alive  — in most people's books is inexcusable because  an uncorrected vindictive rumour is a lie.

N0052. GETTING RID OF THE PERKS.  Government quarters surplus to requirement for eligible officers are now rented out to the public at commercial rates. Rents from 50 properties, mainly in Suva's  centrally located Muanikau, Domain and Veiuto areas, brought in  over $475,000 last year — 670% more than the $71,000 received from previous subsidized rentals.--Based on 2011, No:0139/PSC.

N0053. DPP STAFF, CHAUDHRY, TAKIVEIKATA CASES.The work of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is not being helped by the lack of senior and experienced legal counsels, a situation made worse by the departure of two senior counsel, David Toganivalu and Ana Tuiketei, late last year.

The Directorate confirms, however, that a  Queens Counsel from overseas will represent the State in the case against former PM Mahendra Chaudhry while a local senior counsel Pita Bulamainivalu will take over the mutiny re-trial for the Qaranivalu Ratu Inoke Takiveikata later this year.

N0054. FSC REFORMS. The Fiji Sugar Corporation board met yesterday to discuss ways to speed up reforms of the sugar industry. Permanent secretary LtCol Manasa Vaniqi said that the reforms are well underway but with the mills now closed for the season, there is an opportunity to look at organisational structure and the possible divestment of FSC properties overseas.

Meanwhile,  Government and Price Waterhouse have advertised widely searching for a new CEO  "who has a vast knowledge of managing the sugar industry with a proven track experience to match." Permanent secretary for Sugar Col. Manasa Vaniqi said "all local applications were thoroughly examined but we could not find the person we were looking for to drive the industry.” -- Based on 2011 No.0102/MOI.

 

Chaudhry Breaks PER: So What? Rika a Goner, Talkback=Dialogue? Rural Electrification

CHAUDHRY BREAKS PER LAW: SO WHAT? "He was detained with the others, including his driver [sic!], and a local National Farmers' Union executive Sanjeet Maharaj and accused of holding a meeting with a police permit, the Fiji Times reported on its website.They were remanded until Wednesday."

Sometimes authorities should close their eyes to minor breaches of the law, and this was one such time.  Chaudhry's arrest draws attention to PER when it needs to fade away. His arrest provides him with a stage to poke fun at government that will be lapped up by Government detractors, in Fiji and overseas. Chaudhry revels in controversy and confrontation. Even the rabid anti-government blogs, usually critical of Chaudhry because he is FLP and Indo-Fijian, are hailing him as a hero. His arrest and impending court case will confirm in the minds of the politically important "middle Fiji" just how far the country is from dialogue, and again raise questions about government's "true" agenda. Support for government among Indo-Fijians, FLP supporters and unionists will lessen.

And to what purpose?  Chaudhry ignored is harmless. It would have been far better to let the sleeping dog lie. No military person could have been involved in this action: the choice of battle field was so obviously not to their advantage.

RIKA A GONER. To no one's surprise, Netani Rika is no longer the editor-in-chief at the Fiji Times. The announcement of his resignation which he described as "something of a sacrifice" for the good of the company, was made by new publisher Dallas Swinstead yesterday. Sunday Times, Nai Lalakai and Shanti Dut editor Fred Wesley has been appointed acting editor-in-chief of all the Motibhai papers.

There's no question that Rika had to go. As Editor, his newpaper's open, unfettered  and sometimes personal, confrontation with Government and one-sided reporting from 2000 until April 2009 must have been a factor in Government's general media crackdown. The Fiji Times led the media assault against Government and was accordingly more heavily censored than other media.  More balanced reporting might have produced a better outcome for all concerned.

People will be divided on his resignation/dismissal.  Some see him as a courageous torchbearer of democratic and media principles; others are less kind. I think had he played his cards more wisely (or responsibly, depending on your position), much that has happened to the Fiji media since April last year -- PER, censorship, the 10% limit on foreign media ownership, even the Media Decree --  may have been less restrictive. From any perspective, he has left his mark. I wish him well in his likely new home Australia.
Rupert Murdoch owes him one. Or does he?

DOES TALKBACK RADIO EQUAL DIALOGUE? Given the level of censorship that overseas media say exists in Fiji, I'm surprised the Fiji Broadcasting Commission had a live talkback show where listeners expressed divided opinions on government’s proposal to share lease money equally among the people and not give a bigger share to chiefs which is the present practice. Some callers thought that chiefs should not be viewed the same as the people as they inherit and are given more responsibilities, and sharing lease money equally would downgrade chiefly titles. Others welcomed the Government proposal and said it was a long time coming, as many chiefs were not performing or serving their people well. PM  Office Permanent Secretary Pio Tikoduadua told callers government welcomed their views on the issue.

RURAL ELECTRIFICATION: PART OF THE ROADMAP. Four villages on the inland border of Navosa and Ba provinces (Nawaqadamu, Uto, Vunamoli and Vagadra) now have electricity.  Village Project co-ordinator Osea Naiqamu said, “We approached the previous government in the late 90’s and our prayers just got answered almost 10 years later.’ The project  cost $1.3m and the villagers paid for the wiring of their individual homes. Rural electrification is part of the Government's infrastructure activities aimed at encouraging commercial activity, improving rural school performances, living standards
and comforts, and encouraging  many of those who have left to return to their villages  to bring the abundant land available into commercial production. -- Based on2010 No:1588/MOI.

The Theft, Wage Cuts, Chaudhry Takes on Government, the PER Regulations

WEEKEND READING. Allen Lockington's column, Michael Field on easing sanctions, Bainimarama on losing opportunity.

"PROUD FIJIAN" has just left this comment on the post about the the $½million theft. "Just saw a picture of the $20 note with the serial number starting with EB. The note was apparently presented by an Australian tourist who had received the note from Currency Exchange in Sydney." If the serial number is between 450,000 and 500,000, that's one of them. Only another 25,999 to go.

WORKERS WAGES TO BE CUT BY 15%? The Fiji Trade Union Congress is calling on the Fiji Sugar Corporation to enter into negotiations over a proposed pay cut for workers in the industry. The Corporation has announced a 15% pay cut across the board but the TUC says no discussions have taken place despite existing agreements with unions to enter into talks prior to any salary reduction.General Secretary  Felix Anthony says the Corporation’s plans are unfair as employees should not be held responsible for its cashflow problems brought on by recent mill upgrades. He has requested an urgent meeting with the FSC.

Chaudhry takes on Government

 Opinion by Croz Walsh

Mahendra Chaudhry's place in Fiji history is assured by the many roles he has played but how he is remembered will depend on which side you are on. It's hard to remain neutral about Mahendra Chaudhry.

Trade Union leader working on behalf of sugarcane farmers, leader of the Fiji Labour Party, Prime Minister of Fiji, brave hostage of George Speight, the real leader of the parliamentary opposition, short-term Minister of Finance in Bainimarama Governnment, protector of the poor, defender of his undisclosed Australian bank account, prominent Bainimarama opponent (phew!) ... the "Man" has now upped the ante by his almost daily anti-government releases on the FLP website and in the mainstream media. So much so that other media outlets have questioned whether Sharon Smith John's Information (and censorship) office is doing its job. One wonders why the cunning old fox has chosen now to intensify the attack. No one should ever under-estimate Mahendra Chaudhry.

He has been a constant critic of Government's efforts to de-politicise and improve the long-suffering sugar industry, although he's understandably shy about his own role in politicising the industry and contributing to its decline.  In a Fiji Times article published yesterday he blames sugar's problems on the  "ineptitude and inefficiency of the Fiji Sugar Corporation management ... We lost $100million last year because of the FSC’s incompetence and this year we will most probably see the worst-ever result in the history of the sugar industry in the country.” Here are extracts from the statement he made to the Fiji Times. Hear him out ...

“Farmers in the sugar industry are incurring unnecessary expenditure and losses because of the continued incompetence of the FSC management.

“While farmers are going through unprecedented difficult times and hardships, the FSC and the Government have resorted to having a series of meetings. Meetings will not resolve issues facing the industry. Close to 200,000 people’s livelihoods depend on the sugar industry and something concrete needs to be done because the sugar industry is going down the tube.”

I cannot speak on the inefficiency or otherwise of the FSC management, and there's no doubt there are major problems in the sugar industry,  but it didn't require much thought to work out how Mahendra's criticism would be received. The anti-government blog Fiji Today was quick off the mark with the  headline "Mahendra Chaudhry Continues the Fight in the Fiji Times" -- and they were not limiting his  "fight" to the sugar industry.

If Mahendra  is as concerned about the sugar industry as his own political future, Fijians would like to hear more concrete statements from him than "something concrete needs to be done." They'd want to hear what, and how he's going to help -- other than calling meetings and talking to the press. Some 200,000 people’s livelihoods could also depend on his answer.

The sad thing for Fiji is that too many of its more able people, people like Mahendra possessed of intelligence, ability, experience and support from large sections of the public, for reasons of principle, self-interest or a mix of both, continue to oppose Government in ways that cause it not to re-open the dialogue that is needed to implement the reforms political needed for a fair Fiji.

Such opposition plays into the hands of those in the Military Council who may not be as enthusiastic as the PM to return Fiji to parliamentary rule in 2014. And with every lurch to totalitarianism, Government's internal Opposition takes fresh heart, and the international community, that Fiji so desperately needs to help its economic recovery, trusts Government's stated intentions even less.

If Mahendra and others like him want to help Fiji's recovery, they need to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. It will take a while to restore trust between the Mahendra's and the PM (and, indeed, it may never happen) but positive, less accusatory, criticism would help, and require a measured response.  He  still has a choice to spin, or to break, the existing vicious circle of mistrust. How he chooses could define his ultimate place in history.

MOI CLARIFIES CHAUDHRY SITUATION. In reply to media enquiries as to whether the Fiji Labour Party’s (FL) website, which has been issuing daily press releases, will be subjected to censorship, Permanent Secretary for Information, Sharon Smith Johns said: “All media outlets must comply with the provisions of the Media Industry Decree 2010 as well as the Public Emergency Regulation (PER) provisions relating to the media as captured under Section of 16.”  Ms Smith-Johns added that Government has been working on forging a better partnership with media organizations to move the country forward and has been able to achieve considerable success in this regard. She said, “Most media organizations have responded favorably to the call for responsible and accurate reporting as they acknowledge that the media can play a constructive role in nation building.”-- Based on 2010 No:1416/MOI. See the MOI letter sent to the FLP. Click to enlarge.

MORE DETAIL FROM MOI.  This from the Permanent Secretary of Information: "Currently we are still under the PER (see section 16) below.

Section 16 -(1) – Where the Permanent Secretary for Information has reason to believe that any broadcast or publication may give rise to disorder and may thereby cause undue demands to be made upon the police or the Armed Forces, or may result in a breach of the peace, or promote disaffection or public alarm, or undermine the Government and the State of Fiji,  he or she, by order, prohibit such broadcast or publication.

(2) In order to give effect to subsection (1) above any broadcaster or publisher upon direction by the Permanent Secretary for Information must submit to him or her all material for broadcast or publication material before broadcast or publication.

The Media Decree is also in force which explains to publishers or broadcasters the requirements needed. For instance Part 4 –Content Regulation of the Media Decree states

23. The content of any print media which is in excess of 50 words must include a byline and wherever practical the content of any other media service must include a byline.

The Ministry of Information is working with publishers and broadcasters in assisting them meet the requirement in this transitional period, it is better to advise and work with the media at a time like this, which is what has been done with the FLP web site.  The Ministry met with the FLP today and came to an amicable agreement with regards to the content on the web site."

Ed. note: I think the arguments in favour of lifting PER far outweigh the reasons for keeping them in place  but Mahendra Chaudhry knew what they were and chose to ignore them.

Australian Meddling Part of Agenda to Dominate Fiji

Tom Orsag 

in Solidarity

Mahendra Chaudhry in the Spotlight

Opinion

Crosbie Walsh

I have been asked by a reader why I have not published anything on the current charges laid against Mahendra Chaudhry, his supposed detention, and the Attorney-General's clarification of the charges.

The Attorney-General is, of course, correct in saying "no one should comment on the matter as it was now before the Courts." But this should not prevent general  comments on the Chaudhry situation. He is too public and too controversial a figure for no comment, and rumour and speculation is inevitable when questions remain unanswered.  This is one of the drawbacks with the ongoing enforcement of the Public Emergency Regulations.

First, it should be noted that the foreign media once again misreported what had happened. There can be little doubt that that was deliberate, either by them or more likely by whoever supplied them with information from Fiji.

The former PM was not arrested or even detained and then released, as they reported. FLP spokesman Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi said the foreign media reports were not true. Chaudhry's son, Suva lawyer Rajendra Chaudhry, said his father had been asked by police to come to the police station so he could be questioned. He returned home after questioning, and was asked to return the following day when charges were formally made.  He has to report daily to the Suva Point police station close to his home, bail has been set at $1,000, and he has surrendered his passport. The case against him is scheduled for 30th July in the Suva High Court.

Secondly, the charges he faces were brought by the Reserve Bank and involve twelve different counts of alleged money laundering and tax infringements. They do not involve the charges for which he was investigated and controversially cleared when he was Minister of Finance in the early Bainimarama government. The Attorney-General said that on that occasion government had asked a team of lawyers and accountants to look at  general allegations against Chaudhry made through anonymous letters.

Many people have long questioned the impartiality of those who found him innocent of wrongdoing  when undeclared money donated in India finished up in his Australian bank account. At that time he was Minister of  Finance in the Bainimarama government.  People, perhaps unfairly but inevitably, wondered whether this was why charges were not pressed. It certainly did not look good.  Justice was not seen to be done.

The current charges also do not look good. People are again wondering whether the charges against him are politically motivated. There is no way of knowing. Any charges against any political opponent will be seen by some as suspect.  My "gut feeling" is that whether or not the charges are proven, they are based on evidence that the Reserve Bank's lawyers think will hold up in court, and  I am confident the final ruling of the High Court will not be politically influenced.

But this leaves the question of why the Reserve Bank drew Chaudhry's name out of the hat when so many other cases could be more pressing. This decision could have been politically influenced, or if could be that all high profile cases were being investigated. Again, we have no way to know, any more than we would have known had the charges been made in 1997, 2001 or 2007 when he was also a high profile figure.

His previous absolution and present charges obviously raise doubts that are certainly not good for government or the perception of the judiciary.  While I was in Fiji recently, I spoke at some length with several members of the judiciary, and I am as confident as one can be that the judiciary is independent of executive interference and would make every effort not to succumb were government to try to exert influence.**

But this leaves the Director of Public Prosecutions and, in this case, the Reserve Bank, who could be indirectly influenced by government. The case against another prominent figure, Imrana Jalal, certainly looked suspect.  We will have to await the Court judgment.  But if it goes against her, she has a right of appeal. As indeed does Chaudhry.

In the last analysis, people will believe what they want to believe, whatever the actual or circumstantial evidence. With government efforts to rout out corruption and other criminal activities, several prominent figures can expect to be in court in the next few years. Some people will see them all as victims of political persecution, and their successful prosecution as evidence of government interference in the judiciary.

I think all, or to be more cautious, almost all, cases will be judged fairly, and where this is, or is thought not to be the case, the cause will be the preconceptions and prejudices of the judges -- the perennial human failing that happen in all judiciaries -- and not  political interference.

In this particular case, though, one thing definitely points to no government interference or influence: the timing.

Why would government want even a whisper of Chaudhry to steal the limelight in the wake of their Natadola  successes!

------
**  The Citizen's Constitutional Forum and the NZ Law Society have questioned the independence of the judiciary.  I expect to comment on the CCF Report soon.

(-+) Someone's Lost Four Fingers

The Coupfourpointfive blog reports the Fiji Labour Party website as blaming the Bainimarama government for Fiji's poor economic performance. It's a long list that includes devaluation, inflation, an increase in poverty, inability to repay loans (the first one for $150 million is due next year. It was taken out by the Qarase government!), writing down the value of FNPF tourism investments (due mainly to the collapse of a NZ investment company!), national debt at 70% of GDP (the IMF calculated 52%!), and economic problems in the sugar, electricity, airline, and communications industries.

Putting aside FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry's former involvement as Minister of Finance (and therefore shared responsibility) in the Bainimarama administration, Fiji is not alone in having economic difficulties.

If indeed the government is responsible for the poor state of the economy, the responsibility should be shared with four other factors, not mentioned by the FLP or Coupfourpointfive:

• One, the Fiji economy was already in trouble before the 2006 coup;
• Two, the need to borrow massively to repair long-neglected infrastructure and invest in improvements that will help development;
• Three, the ongoing effects of the global recession;
• Four, the damage to the economy by direct and indirect outside political influences. These include the withholding of EU and Commonwealth moneys; restricted aid flows; exclusion from the Forum; travel bans that prevented qualified people from applying for key jobs; mounting investor uncertainty, and the barrage of negative media (and anti-government blog!) news.

And that's not counting floods and hurricanes and the millions of dollars they cost. No mention whatsoever is made of the positive things government is doing. 

So, Mahendra Chaudhry and Coupfourpointfive editors, Congratulations. I don't know what perverse or perverted satisfaction you gain from reporting Fiji's troubles, but there's little doubt  you have added to them. True, one finger might fairly point to Bainimarama, but the other four point elsewhere.  Start counting.

Being Frank, with a Postcript on Chaudhry and RadioNZI Dishonesty

Last Friday the Fiji Sun reported the PM to say “The people want the general election to be deferred further because they are in favour of my Government.” And then all hell broke loose.

The anti-government blogs had a hay day; most overseas mainstream media seemed to have missed it, thank goodness, but it was picked up by IndianWeekender in Auckland. When I went back to the  Sun, I had difficulty finding it but the news was out in the ether somewhere.

In one voice the Anti's said  Bainimarama was flying his first kite: elections would not be held in 2014.This was his intention all along. He's broken promises before.  In a month or two he'll fly another kite, and then with the "people's approval," he'd rule for life. Pax Bainimaramus!

More moderate opinion, including comments on this blog, regretted the announcement saying many supporters would desert him if the report was true.

Well, it was true, in a way.  The Sun had not misreported him, assuming there was a proper translation from the Fijian or, if in English, he was not thinking in Fijian. The word "people" could be a rough translation of vanua, or i taukei.

The article went on to report the PM on the positive feedback he'd received on his provincial tours ("never before had such major development work been carried out in rural areas and in the outer islands") and then at the end, but given little to no mention by his detractors, he launched into "foreign leaders and former Fiji residents who were against his Government should visit the people on the ground and hear their views."

The next day, FijiLive  published a short piece under the heading "Elections still on in 2014 says PM." Bainimarama told FijiLive his comment about elections was made in light of comments made by the Foreign Ministers of Australia and New Zealand that the situation in Fiji was worsening.“How can the situation in Fiji be worsening when the people in the rural areas actually want a delay in elections,” he asked.

In retrospect, it is obvious his remarks were a response to the foreign ministers and that he was talking about Fijian villagers, not the many ethnic people of Fiji. But at the time there was some ambiguity, and ambiguity produces doubt: the last thing Fiji needs as it seeks to win support, attract investors, concentrate on the Roadmap, and grow the economy.

No irreversible damage has been done but clearly journalists, editors (and censors if they read the article)  need to take greater care. These are not ordinary times. Readers should not be left to second guess the PM's meaning. There should have been no doubt about the context of his remark. Its release should not have provided further ammunition for his opponents.

I noted with interest that the Warriors Rugby League team employs a full-time media manager. Several readers have supported my suggestion that the PM needs better PR. I know this view is not supported by some people in Fiji but if a mere rugby league team needs a media manager, how much more so is this needed for a country under siege?

Postscript on Probable Dishonesty. Mahendra Chaudhry and RadioNZInternational  are either well behind the play (which seems unlikely) or they deliberately read into Bainimarama's remarks what they wanted to read in order to make the most propaganda use of the incident. Chaudhry calls for a referendum to test Bainimarama's comments, taken out of context, and  RadioNZI quotes him, long after the situation was clarified, and published in FijiLive. 

I don't use the word "propaganda" loosely for that is what it seems to be. RadioNZI (Richard?, John?), your credibility is dropping fast. Mahendra, you lost yours some time back when donations from India appeared in your personal bank account.

(o) Assassination Plot Update 3.3.10: Guilty

UPDATE 7:00pm. Justice Paul Madigan said he is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the men are guilty of conspiracy to murder.  He said he was also satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the men conspired with Ballu Khan and others to commit the felony. Sentences will be made tomorrow. 

Those found guilty are Naitasiri high chief, Inoke Takiveikata, former spy chief Metuisela Mua, businessman Sivaniolo Naulago, and five former Counter Revolutionary Warfare soldiers who had all been Mr Khan's bodyguards. A week ago Justice Madigan dismissed charges against the accused that they conspired also to murder the attorney-general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, and the former finance minister, Mahendra Chaudhry. 

Eight found guilty in kill plot trial

March 03, 2010 01:22:01 PM

Fiji high chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata and seven others have been found guilty on charges of plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and other senior members of government in 2007. The unanimous decision was delivered by a five-member team of assessors in the High Court in Suva moments ago. Assessors are advisers to the Court whose decision can be ovrruled by the judge. The verdict came after several hours of closed door deliberations. According to one source, Justice Paul Madigan will deliver his judgment at 4.30pm today, while another says 9:00am tomorrow. 

Tuesday's hearings
 The former director of the Fiji Intelligence Service, Colonel Metuisela Mua, said military state witness's allegations against him and others were fabricated
and indicated that someone was lying. Mua said: the military intelligence unit who gave evidence against them did not have any legal mandate; did not properly analyse the information; there were inconsistencies in State witness Lance Corporal Peniasi Kuli's report claiming they plotted to assassinate Commodore Bainimarama; the 14 secret meetings alleged by Lance Cpl Kuli were not properly graded; Major Isireli Narawa's statement that he met with Inoke Takiveikata at the Sofitel Hotel in Nadi was false, and that only the police were permitted to do this in accordance with the Police Act.The Prosecution’s case in the trial of eight men accused of trying to kill the Prime Minister, has been likened to the US case against the late Iraq president Saddam Hussein.

Defense lawyer Iqbal Khan likened the  claims against his clients to the US case against Saddam when intelligence reports that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction turned out to be false. He said the prosecution's case was similarly built on false information. Khan said military intelligence officers Corporal Peniasi Kuli and Major Isireli Narawa should also be in the dock alongside the accused because they too conspired to kill the PM, as they tried to get the accused involved. The case has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt.Countering this claim  Director of Public Prosecutions lawyer David Toganivalu said inconsistencies by prosecution witnesses are not unusual. There doesn’t need to be direct evidence to convict someone in the court of law. All prosecution witnesses had placed the accused  at the scene of the 14 meetings that were allegedly held to discuss the assassination plot. And it was no coincidence that all the former CRW soldiers were working for Ballu Khan and that they had motive to try to kill Commodore Bainimarama because they tried it once in the year 2000.

Judge sums up
Link  one. Link two. Justice Paul Madigan urged assessors to put aside their political views and any feelings of sympathy or prejudice, and arrive at their opinions calmly.The assessors have retired behind closed doors to come to a verdict.  FijiVillage has a fuller  posting

(o) Assassination Plot Update 24.3.10

Dramatic Development 

 

The eight men in the assassination plot trial have been acquitted of the second and third counts of conspiracy to murder the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry but the first count of conspiracy to murder the PM Bainimarama still stands.

Defence notes that forensic evidence was not collected from Ballu Khan's residence.

High Court Judge accepts evidence from the attempted mutiny that followed the Speight 2000 Coup.

Military Council Questioned me: Ratu Inoke

Ratu Inoke told the court that he was summoned by the Military Council in late September 2007 to a meeting at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks.Ratu Inoke said the meeting was to have been between him and Colonel Tevita Uluilakeba Mara but this was cancelled. However later the same day he was called again but this time told that he would be meeting the Military Council and members of Cabinet.

Ratu Inoke told the court that he clarified to those present at the meeting, that the rumours were false and there was no plot to assassinate Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. He also told the court, that while Pacific Connex was still in partnership with the Native Lands Trust Board in 2007, officers from the 3FIR regularly visited their office.

Ratu Inoke, who was director for Pacific Connex at the time, says he was present on one occasion when 3FIR officers came and told former CRW soldiers not to try anything. The former CRW soldiers were being employed by Pacific Connex at the time.

---Radio Fiji,Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Sunday Feature: An Insider's View from the Outside

Nesian is a pseudonym for a moderate, Fiji-born, part-Fijian,Hindi-speaking, sky-blue passport-carrying, former Fiji-resident. An Insider's View From the Outside is the result of years spent thinking about all that has happened since the 2000 coup.   Photo: Earth from space. Oakfieldmedia.com.

Defining Moment

IN the lead-up to the 1999 elections, I was part of a tour into the heart of the then Fiji Intelligence Service headquarters in Berkley Crescent.

Outside, we walked past officers undergoing martial arts training under the guidance of Major Dong Jin Kim.

The centre of the room where the National Security Council met was dominated by a sizeable round table. There were chairs for the members of the council: the Prime Minister (Sitiveni Rabuka) and Minister for Home Affairs, the Commander of the Fiji Military Forces (Ratu Epeli Ganilau), the head of FIS, and others I can’t now recall.

Heavy light green curtains lined the walls of the room and one of these had been drawn aside, perhaps for the benefit of the visitors, to reveal photos of various weapons that were still missing from the 1987 illicit arms shipments.

A curtain on another wall had inadvertently slipped open. The resulting crack revealed a map of Fiji, and highlighted on the map were Fiji Labour Party campaign meeting details, the party’s strongholds and the names of party members.

The campaign that spawned May 19, 2000 was in motion.

P.S. No suggestion is made that those named were part of the "campaign that spawned the 2000 Coup" but what was seen on the wall certainly suggests some FIS involvement in the 1999 election. The FIS was disbanded when Chaudhry's FLP won the election, only to be ousted one year later by the Speight-fronted coup. Photo: Earth from Space.

(o) Assassination Plot Trial

The most dramatic news from Suva this week is the start of the High Court trial of Naitasiri High Chief Qaranivalu Ratu Inoke Takiveikata (photo) and seven others charged with plotting the assassination of PM Bainimarama, Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Khaiyum and former PM and at the time Minister of Finance Mahendra Chaudhry in 2007.

The other accused are Feoko Gadekibau, Barbados  Mills, Sivaniolo Naulago, Metuisela Mua, Eparama Waqatairewa, Kaminieli Vosavere and Pauliasi Ramulo. Fiji-born NZ businessman Ballu Khan who was arrested, beaten and deported a year ago, is implicated but not charged.

State Counsel, David Toganivalu, asked the then head of Military Intelligence Unit, Major Isireli Narawa, about his first meeting with Ratu Inoke.  He said he met the first accused, Ratu Inoke, at the Sofitel Resort in Nadi in 2007 where the plans to assassinate the commander were made known to him. The Major told the Qaranivalu he did not want Ballu Khan at the meeting, and this was agreed.

Ratu Inoke said the plotters had the backing of the vanua, a number of [Methodist?] churches in Kinoya, Nabua and Cunningham (Greater Suva) had been organised to carry out a rally on the day of the assassination, and an interim administration had been planned. "We basically need to get the prime minister out, to kill him," he was told.

Major Narawa said the military first heard rumours of an assassination plot around February-March 2007, and in a bid to draw out elements planning the assassination, had "released intelligence officer Lance Corporal Peniasi Kuli into the community to gather information undercover."

Kuli, the first State witness, had told the court he posed as a disgruntled senior army officer, willing to support the removal of Bainimarama, when he has first visited Ratu Inoke in a Nadi hotel room on 24 October 2007. He gave the chief his support and an assurance that “he could arrange for the entry of the assassination team into the army barracks on the execution day to carry out the plan”.

Major Narawa said he informed Bainimarama and the Police Commissioner the following day about the situation and the matter was referred to the Military Council. The police were not informed at that time because the military were unsure of the loyalty of the Police Special Branch and Police CID unit.

Further evidence was given by Lance Corp. Kuli that former Fiji nationalist politician Apisai Tora would supply the weapons. Defence counsel Iqbal Khan asked Kuli where he got this information, and Kuli said that he heard it from one of the accused. Khan then questioned Kuli about his statement to the Police on the 11th of September, 2007 that one of the accused Barbadoes Mills and businessman Ballu Khan would provide the explosives/ Kuli said it was another accused, Sivaniolo Naulago, who had told him about the explosives, and that he had a "dry run" of the plan at a training session with four other men at Wailase in Naitasiri. Altogether he had attended 14 meetings with the accused to plan the assassination.

Major Narawa said that Ratu Inoke told him that former politician Peceli Rinakama was out in the highlands gathering ex-military personnel for the cause, and that money had been sent to New Zealand to purchase the arms and weapons.

Ratu Inoke also told Major Narawa he had the support of the international embassies including NZ, Australia, USA and the British embassies and Ratu Inoke alleged that the Australian Embassy had given $1 million to kick-start the economy if something happens. Fiji Live wrongly reported the sum as one billion dollars. Major Narawa said Commodore Bainimarama, the then Chief of Staff, Colonel Samuela Saumatua and the Commissioner of Police, Commodore Esala Teleni were briefed on the plan by him. 

The trial continues on Monday. Photo: FijiLive.

With reluctance but in fairness, I have accepted the advice of several readers not to publish comments while the trial  is still in progress. Comments already published have been deleted.

(o+) Making Sense of Recent Government Actions

OPINION
Something's going on. After months of easing tensions-- no fresh reports of possible human rights abuse, supportive statements from many in Fiji, from this blog and many overseas commentators culminating in the McCully-Kubuabola statements this week, slighter better relations between Government and the Fiji Times, and better than expected economic news despite the recent cyclone -- we have a rash of "aggressive" actions by Government, all within the span of a few days.

First, international juror and  government opponent Imrana Lala was charged by FIAC, the anti-corruption commission, with not having a licence to operate her part-owned restaurant (sic!) and the dismissal of some magistrates. Then Dr Padma Narsey Lal, wife of ANU's Prof. Brij Lal and brother of USP's Prof. Wadan Narsey, both staunch government opponents, was refused re-entry into the country.  Then 15 senior Suva City Council employees were sent home pending charges they were using SCC computers and time to write for anti-Government blogs.

Then Bainimarama announces that retired public servants  -- and that includes former PMs Qarase and Chaudhry -- who speak out against the Government will not receive their pensions (see comment below on this). The very same day he says the Methodist Church will not be allowed to hold their annual conference until after the elections in 2014. He said Government spies within the Church report ongoing anti-government activity.

Why this sudden hostility and blustering when things seemed to be going so well for Government? Is it pure coincidence, or do at least some of these events, all of which threaten freedom of speech, have a common cause or explanation?

The Wider Context

The wider context within which these events can perhaps be better understood is one in which Government sees the "normal" workings of civil society, where opinions are freely expressed and exchanged, as distractions and impediments to what it says it is trying to do.

Hence their delayed attention to political change, and their immediate focus on economic and infrastructural changes -- roads, electricity, the use of idle land, and agricultural initiatives in rural areas; getting rid of corruption and poor work ethics in the civil service; reforming national and local institutions such as the NLTB (Native Land Trust Board) and urban councils; opening up jobs and scholarships to all races; support for garment and tourist industry marketing; and a number of actions to reduce poverty, including housing assistance, the introduction of a minimum wage,access to micro-credit, a fairer distribution of land rent money to ordinary Fijian villagers, food coupons and free or subsidized school meals and transport.

Government wants to see major improvements in all these areas before it fully addresses political, constitutional and electoral issues in 2012-13. But just as foreign investors seek political stability to protect their investment, the Bainimarama Government seeks to impose stability (where it is not freely given) so it can get on with the job. Hence its constant references to the need for "unity" to "take the country forward."

This is not the normal way democratic governments operate, but it is not unknown. It is the way Allied governments operated during the two World Wars; how the US military, with and without government connivance, operates from time to time, and, perhaps even more relevantly, how Singapore dragged itself up from a poor, racially and politically fractured Third World country to become the country it is today.  In the early days, Lee Yuan Yew was far more oppressive than Bainimarama, and no less of a dictator. This, I think, is the wider context.

The Immediate Context

The more immediate context involves high celebrity court cases with Qarase, and possibly Weleilakemba and others, charged with corruption and abuse of office. My understanding is that these hearings will commence next week. The other big event is the first meeting of the Citizen's Assembly on the 27-28th.

Whenever Government anticipates its opponents will use events to trigger discontent, it is likely to send out strong warnings about "consequences", take measures to break or disrupt opposition networks, and forestall all overt expressions of opposition. This is how it operated in the lead up to last year's Methodist Conference, and this is how it could be operating now.

What we think of as unconnected, vindictive, arbitrary acts could in fact be part of a pre-conceived plan for civil society until 2014 -- modelled on a first-strike military manoeuvre. –- Crosbie Walsh.

Readers are urged to read comments to all posts, and particularly to this post. Just click "Comments" below.

(o+) Mahendra Chaudhry's Diwali Message:

The Leopard Who  Only Appears to Change His Spots

The full text of the FLP leader's message may be read courtesy of RawFijiNews, the anti-Government blog that last year could think of nothing nice to say about him.  How things change, as Chaudhry himself acknowledges in his opening comment, first a biased media (when he was part of the Government), now a media-gagging government (when he is not):

"This year again, as last year, I have been unable to convey to you my message on the auspicious occasion of Deepavali through the media. But the reason for my inability to do so this year is different from that of last year. In 2008 it was because of a hostile and biased print media; this year it is because of the media gag put in place by the interim government on April 10 following the abrogation of the constitution and the imposition of Emergency Rule."

Mahendra Chaudhry is an accomplished politician who most times turns every event to his own advantage. The only time he got things  seriously wrong was when Labour won the 1999 election. To survive,  he should have allowed Tupeni Baba to be the PM;  been far more cautious on proposed land and lease reforms that could so easily be distorted by rabid Fijian nationalists, and he should have heeded warnings about the prospects of the 2000 Coup.

Following the 2006 Coup --that some say he helped engineer-- he became  Minister of Finance in the Interim Government, but disassociated himself from the Bainimarama Government early this year.  My guess is  he  foresaw the July judicial findings and the inevitability of the events that followed, including the abrogation of the 1997 Constitution.  At some point he decided his long-term political survival (that rests on race-based Indo-Fijian politics) gave him more things in common with Qarase and the SDL party than with the Interim Government.  I think he's hoping that one way or another, the Bainimarama government will be overthrown before the 2014 elections.

The censors should not have stopped his Diwali message. They should have advised the media to print it -- as an advertisement.

Chaudhry's FLP on the Commonwealth Suspension, But Where's the FLP's"Road Map"?

The Fiji Labour Party website reveals something of Mahendra Chaudhry's thinking. He sees Fiji's Commonwealth expulsion as regrettable (but is heartened it will remain engaged in seeking an early return to constitutional rule); largely symbolic (because little technical aid is involved, although Fiji's young people will miss out on the Delhi Games) -- but it does send a "clear message" to Bainimarama to reconvene the President’s Political Dialogue Forum and hold elections by October next year.

In awaiting the arrival of the Commonwealth special representative, Sir Paul Reeves, this week, Chaudhry lists the things the Government needs to do: include the SDL and FLP in discussions; reconvene the PPDF; and re-examine its roadmap.

He has no list of the things his party (and the SDL) need to do. Which is a pity because positive FLP (and SDL) roadmaps just might produce a positive Bainimarama response. The FLP and the SDL need to spell out what they have learnt from the past six years, and what they plan to do to correct the situation that led to Bainimamama's ascendancy and the 2006 Coup.

If they don't, they could find themselves excluded from discussions with Sir Paul, and from the PPDF, and that would not be good for Fiji. Constructive dialogue requires concessions by BOTH sides. Unfortunately, for the moment, Chaudhry's vision of the future seems to be a return to the past. Illustration: FLP logo.

(oB) Fijian Commoner 'Should Be Free': CAMV

Politics, especially politics in a small-scale society where personal loyalties and pride are often more important that ideologies and policies, are never simple. I've sometimes wondered whether this is why Fiji bloggers of opposing persuasions first insult and then pray for each other. Today's enemies could be tomorrow's friends, and vice versa, so it's wise to cover your bets.

There have always been shifting alliances within and between Fiji's political parties, and chiefs (often from the same family), business people, academics and civil rights leaders stand on both sides of Fiji's present political divide. But now we have developments and alliances that only six months ago seemed impossible. Two weeks ago we saw old enemies Qarase and Chaudhry unite in a letter to Bainimarama. I put the letter down to a publicity stunt but there could also be real substance in what I called their "arranged marriage."

Now there's an even more amazing development. The extreme Fijian nationalist party, the Conservative Alliance Matanitu Vanua (CAMV), is apparently backing the Bainimarama Government whose politices most certainly do not support extreme Fijian nationalism.

Read more...
A little background is necessary. The Conservative Alliance Matanitu Vanua party (CAMV) was formed by high-ranking chiefs and others (Rev.Manasa Lasaro attended the inaugural meeting!) who supported or were involved in the 2000 Coup, so that a party with policies similar to the plotters could contest the 2001 election. Their platform included obtaining amnesty for the coup plotters and mutineers, ensuring the President and PM would always be ethnic Fijians, affirmative action programmes for Fijians, and turning Fiji into a Christian nation. They won six seats in the election and Qarase's SDL party needed their support to ensure ethnic Fijian parliamentary paramountcy.

Prior to the 2006 election the CAMV dissolved and merged with the SDL. Following the SDL election victory they were given the speaker's chair and several ministries, and the government's promotion of the Tolerance and Reconciliation Bill that would have freed those imprisoned for treason, the Qoliqoli and the Indigenous Claims Tribunal Bills (see earlier posting) and affirmative action programmes.


Now step back a little. After the failure of the 2000 Coup, thanks to military intervention, Bainimarama had backed Qarase's appointment as interim PM and later as PM on the understanding the coup plotters and military mutineers would not escape justice, and legislation would be pursued to build a united Fiji. It was Qarase's breach of this understanding that prompted the 2006 military coup. Bainimarama felt betrayed.

The decision prior to the 2006 election to dissolve the CAMV and merge with the SDL had not been unanimous. Ropate Sivo opposed the decision and it is Sivo who has sought re-registration of the CAMV. He says he wants Fijian commoners to be free of their obligations to chiefs, hence his backing of Bainimarama's proposed reform of the Fijian Affairs Act. He is also backing the proposed electoral reforms and the People's Charter. Sivo said “CAMV supports the Prime Minister’s roadmap to build a sustainable and accountable democratic system by 2014”.

Just how much the CAMV has changed -- and how many more changes we may expect as the different Fiji "factors and actors" reassess their positions in an ever-changing Fiji -- is too early to say, but this new development points to unexpected and increased support for Bainimarama (contrary to Dr Fraenkel's view in an ealier post) and contrary to the general overseas view of Fiji as a country where complex problems can be resolved with simple solutions. -- Sivo report based on FijiLive.

Map: Fijian Communal Electorates 2001. The CAMV took 5 (all of Vanua Levu and Tailevu North); the SDL took the other 12. The CAMV also won one Open electorate, Cakaudrove West. Source: Walsh 2006: Fiji: an Encyclopaedic Atlas.

(+) Fiji's Commonwealth Suspension (See Correction)

Unfortunate. Inevitable. Sad. Fiji is fully suspended from the Commonwealth.

This outcome was obvious months ago. Ever since the Commonwealth followed the Forum's lead on insisting on conditions that would not --and could not -- be met if Fiji were to carry out the reforms chartered by the Bainimarama government before elections were held.


One can, of course, see where the Forum and Commonwealth are coming from. They had to react to what they saw as an illegitimate regime imposed by the military. The pity is they could not also see that the regime that was deposed was far from democratic, even though it had the support of most ethnic Fijians. And that the only way to break the cycle of coups, and establish a just and more genuine democracy, was to remove race as the inflammatory accelerant from Fiji politics once and for all. The party leaders, Qarase and Chaudhry, the Commonwealth insist Bainimarama include in dialogue do not want this. Race-based parties and electorates guarantee their re-election. That's why their recent letter to Bainimarama copied the Commonwealth's insistence on inclusive dialogue with no conditions and no determined outcomes, and why the Government will always resist this sort of dialogue with politicians like this.

The situation is anomalous but the irony is not hard to see. Read it slowly. Two democratic, non-racist institutions oppose a military regime -----and so unwittingly continue to extend support for undemocratic, racist politicians----- and so undermine the wobbly efforts of the military regime (sic!) ---- to impose democratic, non-racist political procedures.

One can only hope that Sir Paul Reeves' visit later this month and the probability that talks and some contacts will continue off stage, will ease the pain the Commonwealth's decision will inflict on ordinary people in Fiji.

Meanwhile, massive Commonwealth financial support for the ailing sugar industry remains frozen, and the industry, the country's third largest employer, that also needs major reform, totters close to the edge of collapse. Thousands of ordinary people are affected.

I can only echo Ratu Epeli Ganilau's words: "Hopefully by the time we get to elections in 2014 all these things can come back to normal ... [These are the] sacrifices that have to be faced, in order to achieve what we’ve set out to do. Reforms don’t happen overnight. We’re talking about major reforms to the political process.”

Read the Fiji Times story.

Correction: It is the EU, and not the Commonwealth, that is withholding support for the sugar industry. My apologies. But, just as Australia and NZ influence the Forum, and the Forum the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth influences the UN and the European Union. The "succession" is captured in the old nonsense poem --

Big fleas have little fleas
Upon their backs to bite 'em.
Little fleas have lesser fleas
And so on, ad infinitum.

The Chaudhry-Qarase Arranged Marriage (Amended)

It was certainly not love at first sight, they hated each other for years, but for several months now they have been seeing an unusual amount of each other, and we were all left wondering when an engagement notice might be expected. It seems that when Chaudhry's earlier courtship with Voqere Baimarama foundered, the disappointed Mahendra turned his attention to his earlier rival Laisenia. And it's now official. FijiLive reports the couple have sent a "joint letter" (sic!) to the PM asking him to be best man.

Read more...
At first sight things look promising. Chaudhry and Qarase seem to have accepted the need for electoral reform, or at least that the issue be discussed but with no "prejudice to outcomes." They will participate in a reconvened Dialogue Forum, to meet this month, but only on their terms, one of which is the immediate lifting of the Emergency Regulations that would see "freedom of the press" restored. The Forum must focus on holding elections before October 2010 at the latest, and all issues must be finalised by this October. Meanwhile, a caretaker government must be appointed and the military return to Barracks.

What's new? Very little. Perhaps the mention of "constitutional safeguards to hold elected governments accountable and ensure good governance." But are they asking this of the 1997 Constitution that has already failed to offer these safeguards? There's no mention of a new Constitution that Bainimarama wants. There's not even mention of the People's Charter that's about much more than elections, or the many reforms Bainimarama has set in motion. It's not difficult to guess how Baimarama responded. He'll have seen it for what it is: at the best, a publicity stunt; at the worst, a way of perpetuating unrest and deferring real dialogue.

But it's a good political move by Qarase and Chaudhry. Bainimarama will appear to many to have refused a real "olive branch," and they can pose virtuously before the world's cameramen -- holding hands.
.

Click here for FijiLive article.

(o+) Would the Real Mahendra Chaudhry Please Stand Up

It's difficult to gauge Mahendra Chaudhry.

Ousted Labour-led Government Prime Minister. Brave and defiant prisoner of the Speight coup.
Opponent then colleague in the Qarase's SDL-led government. Fierce advocate for cane farmers or obstructionist in the sugar industry. Banker for displaced Indo-Fijian refuges, or tax evader and shady banker for himself. Supporter of Bainimarama's People's Charter, briefly minister in the Bainimarama Government, and now -- apparently-- compatriot of Qarase (two people who once were barely civil to each other). Once denied entry to Australia and now mysteriously admitted, with no explanation.

Martyr and people's advocate? Self-serving and two-faced opportunist? Pragmatist, realist, survivor? Who knows? But there's no questioning he's an important wild card in Fiji's deck of cards.

With these thoughts in mind, I read the FLP website release, initiated no doubt by the great enigma himself. The proposals are sound, except possibly for their timing and the insistence that all initiatives should come from Government; it's just that you're left unsure about their motivation. The old saying "I cannot believe a word you say, for what you are is speaking louder still" comes to mind -- but what is he? The word "restoration" in the "restoration of democracy" line also raises suspicions. Restoration to the race-based communal electorates that ensured him earlier election successes, or "restoration" used loosely to encompass elections but only after electoral reforms?


To read the Fiji Labour Party release, entitled Lift Emergency Rule and Talk, click here.