Fiji's New Diplomacy has Implications for the Region

 by Sandra Tarte

Dr Sandra Tarte, Director of the Politics and International Affairs Programme at the University of the South Pacific, discusses Fiji's growing diplomatic and military relationship with China, why Fiji is establishing new embassies in non-aligned nations, the concern by Pacific Islands nations that they have lost ownership of the PI Forum, and the poor state of Fiji-Australia-New Zealand relations that she considers unhelpful to any party. The Tarte family has been in Fiji since 1871.

Click here to listen to the  Radio Australia interview.

Resolving the Fiji Impasse: Let the Pacific Lead

By Gerald McGhie*

Former NZ diplomat, former Director of the NZ Institute of International Affairs,
former Chairman Transparency International NZ

 

Interim Prime Minister Bainimarama’s track record does little to encourage those who look to an early negotiated settlement to the current coup/crisis. But the coup is now in its fourth year and Bainimarama remains well entrenched. Action to date has not brought him to the negotiating table.

Short Briefs Mon 22.2.10

New Feature. Letters to the Editor.  Scroll down.
Support the Readership Drive. See left column.

Fiji-NZ impass broken. Thank goodness this unnecessary delay in restoring some diplomatic presence, caused by Fiji's nomination of Neumi Leweni, is now over.Mere Tora, who served as First Secretary in Wellington in 2004, has been accepted as Fiji's First Secretary and Acting Head of Mission in Wellington, and MFAT career diplomat Phillip Taula as First Secretary and Acting Head of Mission in Suva.

Australian journalists to put the world right. It seems The Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Age in identicaql articles are now trying to persuade the Australian government to get Sri Lanka suspended from the Commonwealth. Who do these guys think they are? Prosecutors, jurors and judges in a Kangaroo Court? An Australian Sri Lankan takes them to task, and in doing do reveals parallels to how the same media cover Fiji. But the newspapers did not print his story. Link.

PM urges Fijian landowners to renew land leases.  Link.

Qarase's corruption trial. Former PM Laisenia Qarase and his counsel Qoroniasi Balewas called before the High Court on Friday. The Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption alleges Qarase acted outside his powers when he authorized the use of extinct mataqali funds from the Native Lands Trust Board for investment purposes. The case was adjourned to February 26th . Former Divisional Commissioner Central, Inoke Devo, appeared briefly in court charged with corruption and abuse of office. His case will be heard on March 2nd.  Link.