Enslaved in Paradise - Challenging Common Perceptions in Fiji's History

To make sense of the present, we need to understand more about the past. What you should also know about Fiji's History. -- ACW

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Enslaved in Paradise – A History of Mammoth Betrayals of Fijians by the British, Chiefs and Leaders of Fiji 1876-2006.   

Another book by Rajendra Prasad, author of Tears in Paradise.

A riveting account of Fiji’s history, challenging some of the common perceptions and revealing how the British stranded the Girmitiyas to save Fiji’s sugar industry and colluded with the chiefs who prevented social, political and economic development of indigenous Fijians but blamed Indo-Fijians for it. The book persuasively discloses:

• British statecraft in shaping a Fiji that secured its interests, promoted European enterprise, using cheap Indian labour, facilitated CSR Company exploitation of Indian farmers and confined Taukeis in koros, using the chiefs to fulfil its insidious agenda.

Tuilaepa's Women; Bizarre Asylum Appeal; Xinhua in Fiji; Waste and Solar Energy Projects

N249.GOOD OL' TUILAEPA.  Samoa's PM  thinks he's got the right gender balance in his newly appointed cabinet. “We have two female members and 34 male members [in Parliament, and one woman in the 13-member cabinet]...That’s more than enough,” he said.

Meanwhile in the Fiji he so often criticises, the Minister of Women has confirmed that government departments will now be required to supply gender information in all personnel statistical data in order to better monitor progress towards gender equality.

N250. BIZARRE ASYLUM APPEAL. A Fiji Muslim applied for political asylum in the US in 1989 following the 1987 Rabuka coup. The case was deferred for 14 years when a court ordered his deportation on the grounds that conditions in Fiji had improved. That takes us to 2004.

He appealed, and last Friday, some eight years later, a federal judge said immigration officials hadn't considered evidence of the treatment of minorities since the 2006 coup. They had looked only at general conditions in Fiji, not the situation of someone who had been persecuted under a previous military regime. If they had conducted an up-to-date analysis, said the judge, there is a "reasonable likelihood" they would conclude that Ali would face persecution in Fiji. His case has been referred back to the immigration courts for further review.

Jannif Ali, the applicant, said the military forces that overthrew Fiji's government in 1987 had dealt harshly with Fijians of Indian descent.  He testified that a soldier had beaten him with a gun, military forces had vandalized and dynamited his home, and that ethnic Fijians had regularly thrown rocks at his family and car and threatened to rape his wife.

The court was told persecution of Indo-Fijians resumed after the 2000 coup but then receded but "the human rights situation deteriorated greatly" after the 2006 coup.

This should tell us something about how little American courts know about Fiji and how some emigrants use the appeal system to indefinitely extend their stay on false grounds. It is unlikely to be any different with most of those who have applied for political asylum in Australia.

N251. XINHUA, CHINA'S official press agency, now has  a press agency in Suva. The bureau will cover Fiji and nearby South Pacific island countries.  [The North is getting closer!]

N252.WASTE AND SOLAR ENERGY EFFICIENCIES. Two new energy developments will soon bring economic, environmental and social benefits.

The first, the waste-to-energy power plant under construction in Sigatoka will employ about 600 people in the construction phase and about 200 permanent positions in the factory and 4,000 indirectly when it is complete in three years time. "We are talking about rubbish pickers all around Fiji, in the outer islands and resorts. The whole of Fiji will feel the impact as we try and rid Fiji of this problem – rubbish,"  said i-Viti Disenergy Renewable Power Plant Company president Ratu Enesi Yavala.

The other is at Tavua where in three months time solar street lights will replace existing lighting. Fiji's first town, Levuka on the island of Ovalau, is likely to be next on the list. -- Based on No:0673/MOI.

Gujarati: Wealth and Poverty

Thoughts from a Reader

During the days of girmit, Gujarati from northwest India came to Fiji as free settlers as  they were British subjects. They came as small traders and craftsmen dealing in jewellery, clothing, shoes and laundry work and many, to set themselves up, borrowed from kin in Gujerat and other Gujerati already in Fiji. Imported articles from India, costing a rupee were sold for a dollar in Fiji, making twenty-fold profits. Within two generations, some once “poor” Gujarati became multi-millionaires. Most other Indo-Fijians arrived in Fiji as indentured or contract labourers (girmiti) and while some of their descendants have done well, many are among the ranks of the poorest people in Fiji.

Ratu Iloilo: Man for All the People; Australia Repeats Itself

The casket of the late president, Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda leaves the Government House. PHOTO: Jonacani Lalakobau, Fiji Times.

N0129. RATU ILOILO PRACTISED WHAT HE PREACHED. Man of all people has left a new comment on your post "Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda 1920 - 2011":

Croz, It's interesting to see the outpouring of genuine sadness and fulsome tributes from the Indo-Fijian community at the death of the Tui Vuda. I don't think anyone realised the extent to which Ratu Iloilo not only engaged that community but stood alongside it.

I was struck by the tribute made by the Rev William Lucas, the head of the Indian division of the Methodist Church. He disclosed that when Ratu Iloilo was a teacher in Labasa, he chose to worship at the local Indo-Fijian church and was a lay preacher there. This is almost unheard of in the local context and speaks volumes for Ratu Iloilo's belief in a multiracial Fiji.

I agree with "What Matters Most?" that the Tui Vuda's more vocal critics need to have a good look at themselves. At the very least, anyone who practises what they preach when it comes to racial tolerance in Fiji is worthy of our collective respect. God knows there are precious few of them and until that changes, nothing else will. (See other comments by clicking 'Comments" at the end of the posting.)

N0130. WHAT AUSTRALIA WILL AND WILL NOT ACCEPT. Last year PM Bainimarama withdrew his invitation for the Pacific Islands Forum  Ministerial Contact Group to visit Fiji and see for themselves after NZ Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, on leaving the Auckland meeting, told a TV audience exactly what he thought about all the bad things happening in Fiji. Bainimarama countered by saying if his mind was made up, there was no point in coming to see for himself.

Now Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs Richard Marles seems intent on doing the same thing. Speaking from Vila where the MCG is meeting, he has reaffirmed Australia's demand for elections before 2014, asked what concrete steps the Fiji government is taking "towards a return to democracy", and demanded Fiji re-establish "human rights and freedom of the press." He has even pre-empted Fiji's question on easing foreign sanctions by saying "Australia would not consider that at the moment."

Marles also seeks an invitation to MCG members to visit Fiji and has laid down the conditions for their visit. They must "have complete access to the political parties in Fiji, to the civil society in Fiji and to the church leaders in Fiji, so that we can have a really good understanding of where the country's at and where all opinions are at in Fiji about its future."

That sounds reasonable except, by singling out the political parties and church leaders (read Methodist Church leaders) he seems to want to talk most to people known to oppose the Bainimarama Government and, most importantly, to oppose the People's Charter that forms the basis of all Government reforms.

I doubt Bainimarama will agree. He has repeated said political parties based on race will not be allowed to stand in the 2014 election, and his stance on de-politicising the Methodist Church is well known. The most Marles can hope for is an agreed list; not one that would breathe new life into Qarase's SDL party whose racist policies while in government were a major cause of the 2006 Bainimarama Coup.

The purpose of the MCG meetings is to maintain dialogue with Fiji. It seems a strange way to start.  But perhaps some progress can be made on Fiji’s participation in regional trade and economic deliberations, including PACER Plus negotiations. The Group will report to their respective leaders in preparation for the next Forum Leaders’ meeting in Auckland from 6-9 September.

Australia and New Zealand would win back some of the respect they have lost if, at this time when Fiji grieves the passing of its former president, they had the common courtesy to publicly express their condolences.  So far I have seen no mention of his passing in the NZ media.

Fiji has invited the MCG to visit Fiji. 

Potato Import Substitution, Grassroots Governance and Rural Shops, I'taukei Defined, Thai-Poosam

N0039. POTATOES IN FIJI'S LITTLE ISRAEL. When Jews set up kibbutz (agricultural villages) in British Palestine from  the early 20th century until the 1950s, they turned land only fit for grazing into highly profitable farms.  In a smaller way this is what is happening at Tadravula near Seaqaqa in Vanua Levu.

There 1,600 acres of land, previously owned by the then Native Lands District Commission that had been idle for 20 years, is being turned into a large integrated vegetable and fruit farm that will produce potatoes as its major crop. The farm is being operated by an Australian company Farm 2 UFresh Fiji Limited that so far has sunk $2 million into the project.

Managing director Aaron Sharma said they are planting 25 acres of potatoes every week and will soon harvest the same amount in a sustainable system to ensure continuous supply. Sharma hopes to harvest more than one million kilograms in a year.

The farm is seen as a major player for import substitution, and part of government's intention to ensure that all available idle land is brought into production.

N0040. RURAL SHOPS,  many little more than stores serving only one village, require a licence to open, and the price of licences has gone from $30 a few years back to $200 today. 

During a talanoa session with the PM last week villagers in Veinuqa, Namosi, complained this was too much but all their complaints had fallen on deaf ears.  They'd merely been told the $200 now covered all essential services such as the National Fire Authority. It didn't seem to matter that a fire engine could not get to the village and even if it could the whole village would be in flames before it arrived.

The PM has asked the Commissioner Central and the Provincial Development permanent secretary to look into the matter with the authorities concerned. The villagers hope to open a shop in the near future. -- Based on 2011, No:0071 /MOI.

N0041. ITAUKEI MUST DEFINE THEMSELVES.  Institute of Indigenous Studies CEO Emitai Boladuadua has called on itaukei to be educated in their history, culture and language or run the risk that "others will define who we are and what we are ...  We have continually seen ourselves as others did. We have yielded and ceded to them the authority as well as the legitimacy to define us. We need to act now [to change this], he said, drawing particular attention to the need to reinforce the i'taukei worldwide view about the centrality of relationship and reciprocal obligations. Head of the Institute's Academic Unit, former USP university lecturer and deputy PM in the short-lived Chaudhry government, Dr Tupeni Baba said: “We need to repair and rediscover our place in our land. We cannot change the past. however, we can correct and repair the damage that has been done to our culture and identity.”

N0042.VAARSHIKA THAIPOOSAM THIRUNAAL. Thousands of Hindu devotees  gathered at the Sri Siva Subramanya Swamy Temple in Nadi to celebrate the 85th annual Vaarshika Thaipoosam Thirunaal yesterday. The ten-day celebration is expected to attract devotees from around the country and from abroad. People of all races and religions are welcome to take part.

Vaarshik Thai-Poosam Thirunaal is a time of fasting and meditation when devotees show their respect for the Hindu god of war, Subramaniam, who symbolises the victory of good over evil. The festival takes place during the 10th month of the Tamil calendar, which is called Thai and on the day the full moon passes in front of the star, Poosam.

Devotees carry the karvadi (a burden in which a load is tied to the ends of a pole and carried over the shoulders) but many have gone beyond the simple burden and in return for a blessing, they pin themselves with silver needles, long metal spikes and fish hooks. A Thai-Poosam devotee purifies himself by months of a vegetarian diet, and abstinence from alcohol, cigarettes, sexual activities and other forms of contamination. Only after the prayers, does he return to a normal life.

When is an Indian Not an Indian

By Crosbie Walsh 

(a Causasian, once English New Zealander with Maori, Pacific and Indian overlays) 

Note: editorial changes have been made to this article since it was first posted.

The Bainimarama government recently decreed that all Fiji citizens would be known as Fijian and ethnic Fijians as i'taukei.  The move, in line with Pillar 2 of the People's Charter*, which is intended to help nation-building, was understandably objected to by many "Fijians," not because they were not i'taukei — which they demonstrably are — but because they had got used to this name, bestowed on them by Tongans, as exclusively theirs. All other citizens, excepting Rotumans,  were vulagi (visitors) no matter how long their ancestors had lived in Fiji. 

Methodist Division Urges Full Support for Government, Links to Other Stories

The Methodist Church of Fiji Indian Division is urging the people of Fiji to lend their full support to the government to make peace and progress in Fiji.

In his new year’s message the Church Indian Divisional Superintendent-Reverend William Lucas says government is fully committed to bring peace by bringing multiracialism in Fiji.

Reverend Lucas says one of the best resolution people can make for the new year is to work towards peace, harmony and stability by supporting the government.

He also says parents should try and spend more quality time at home with their families as many times children are neglected by elders at home.

Reverend Lucas says no amount of domestic violence and fighting in homes could bring peace in a family and everyone must ensure that the coming new year is kept free of abusive and assault incidents.



LINKS TO HEADLINES

PSA SAYS 2010 A GOOD YEAR. Charter goals on track.

RATU ILOILO TURNS 90. Born 28 December 1920, and still going.

LOCAL GOVTS TOLD TO IMPROVE SERVICES. Rates and blocked drains the main complaints.

LABOUR PARTY QUERIES WHERE ROAD LEVY GOING. Roads still bad.

CHINESE 99 YEAR LEASE FOR  CEMENT FACTORY. The new factory at Veisari, Lami, near Suva.

PAYING PATIENTS TO PAY MORE. No change for non-paying patients but ...

Race, Racism and the 2014 Election

By Crosbie Walsh

In the relatively moderate anti-government blog FijiToday a Pita Massam writes to publisher Peter Firkin  raising interesting questions on race, racism, legislation and the 2014 elections.

Pita writes about an IndoFijjian business friend who says he can think of no one who would be acceptable to both i'taukei and IndoFijians as prime minister. "Both Qarase and Chaudry are way too polarised to be allowed to stand and the PM has promised to exclude them anyway."

Further, his friend doubts any "village Fijian would vote for a “Mongoose” and that is 30% of the total vote. No Settlement Indian would vote for a “Tu” and that is 18% of the population."

"He proposes a question to ask to gauge the level of racism bred into the current population. Would you be happy if your daughter married a Fijian or Indian? He believes that an almost 100% of parents would say “no way.” This will not change in the six years as proposed by the current Government. So if we do get to have an election in 2014 it is impossible that it will be non racial and even the most non political Indians see themselves worse off than before 2006."

The friend thinks "that the current administration has the right policies about non-racial schooling and the next generation is the first opportunity for advances towards a non-racial society [but] irrespective of what dreams the current administration has, racism is way too alive and well in Fiji and the majority Fijian vote will own the next parliament."

Many people probably share these views. At first glance, they seem so obvious but a closer examination is needed. First, it is important not to confuse race with racism. There's no way any legislation anywhere will be able to change people's race, so to this extent the 2014 elections will not be non-racial. But society can put structures in place to reduce hostility and suspicion between races and take actions against institutional racism.  Individuals and groups, of course, may still be racist but the opportunities to treat other races unfairly or unjustly will be very limited by removing institutional racist structures. It is important not to confuse individual or group racism with institutional racism.

Of course, parents may still prefer their children to marry within their own race, or religion or social class. This is entirely natural, but it is only racism when the parents seek to prevent marriage to an otherwise suitable son- or daughter-in-law because of their hatred towards or unreasonable suspicion of the "other" race. And voting for an MP is nowhere near as intimate or permanent as choosing a marriage partner!

Pita's friend correctly says racism is alive and well in Fiji and cannot be "killed by legislation." But institutional racism can be killed and race relations improved.

The next four years, with ongoing institutional and infrastructural reforms, the new Constitution and Electoral reforms, should see Fiji go a long way to ensuring that race is pushed to the sidelines of  politics, and that when the election is held parties will be formed around policies and issues, not race.

Most MPs, the PM and the President after 2014  will probably be i'taukei simple because most people in Fiji are i'taukei. This should not be an issue, but if it is, the Deputy PM and Vice-President could represent other races. The bigger parties at least will be multi-ethnic, and structures will be in place to prevent a return to the race-based and often racist politics and legislation of Fiji before the 2006 Coup. Among most educated people, the race of the country's leaders will be far less important than the quality of their leadership. And given more time, most people will think the same. "By their deeds [and not their faces] ye shall know them."

There is, of course, always some doubt about future outcomes. None of us can predict the future. But if Peter, Pita and his IndoFijian friend want the kind of Fiji I think they want, I'm sure their best option is to keep the Bainimarama regime — for all its many warts and imperfections —  honest to the principles of the People's Charter and on track to elections in 2014. The alternative, the so-called "return to democracy,"  proclaimed by the racists in the extreme anti-government blogs is too frightening to think about.

Robin Hood Casino, Adding Up the Roadmap, Namosi Supports Govt, IMF Thanked, Internet Prices, School Theft

SEE NEW QUOTE FOR THE WEEK in the right sidebar.

SEE the many thoughtful and helpful COMMENTS in the WEEKEND READINGS. 

CASINO FUNDS FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION. All funds government will earn from the operation of Fiji’s first casino that will only be used by tourists will go towards poverty alleviation,  says PM Bainimarama. It is expected the casino will boost tourism, especiallt from China. The Methodist church has told FBC News they will comment once they have studied the proposal.

A Tenders Board  will be appointed soon to scrutinise tenders for the proposed casino. Government has invited expressions of  interest for the development and operation of its first Casino from internationally successful and reputable full-casino developers/operators. The EOI submissions close on 30th November.

THE PIECES ADD UP. The opening of the new Tukavesi dental clinic in Vanua Levu is not exactly earth-shattering news. It will only serve 15 villages, 55 settlements and five estates located some way between Labasa and Savusavu, and it only cost government $30,000.

But it's part of a bigger scheme to improve primary health care and deliver better health services, and a bigger scheme to develop rural areas in Fiji.  Look at the list below of other recent and ongoing developments.

They are part of the overall scheme laid out in the Roadmap: concentration on infrastructural developments to 2012, and constitutional and electoral reform processes from then until the 2014 Elections.  Hopefully, by that time Fijians will have a clearer idea of what to expect from a government and will cast their votes accordingly.

• $150m invested into Nadarivatu Hydro project greatly reducing the dependency of fossil fuel. Estimated decrease of 20%. The project is expected to open in August 2011. 
• Opening of 9kms of  new road on Taveuni $900,000. The road is due to open mid November and will greatly improve the lives of dalo farmers in Vuna and Waimaqera
• The Lagi to Nakusere road which opens soon,  at a cost of $850,000 giving access  to villages in Cakaudrove and Macuata. The road also gives access to 12 other coastal villages.  The road has huge benefits in reduction of travel costs, and the ease access to transport.
• Road upgrading from Korovou Town to Waito is valued at $19m. 
• $3m invested in additional water pumps in Labasa, allowing greater access to clean drinking water. 
• Nuknuk settlement at Tabia outside Labasa gets electricity. The cost of the project was approximately $250,000 
• More that $6m currently being spent on electrification projects in 52 rural communities. $29.3m has currently being spent this year on these projects. 
• Naikawaqa village get electricity at a cost of more than $170,000.  In all 48 households and 259 residence get light for the first time. 
• Villages in Deladamanu and Natoaika in Naitasiri celebrate the commissioning of power to villages and schools.
• New sewerage treatment plant to be constructed at a cost of $23m this will greatly enhance investment in Savusavu. 
• $3m to build 200 homes approved in the first phase of rehabilitation works in the North after cyclone Thomas
• Launch of chicken farm at Drue on Kadavu.

And these are just the developments mentioned in last Saturday's Fiji papers!

NAMOSI SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT. Namosi, one of Viti Levu's less accessible provinces, will "continue to support the Government and whatever initiatives it will bring about to steer them forward in terms of development. This will benefit the people for better living standards,” said the Tui Namosi, Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, at the opening of the Namosi Provincial Council meeting last week. He also thanked the Roko Tui Namosi and his officers for their work assisting the people of Namosi in line with government’s intention in terms of development in the province.

The Tui Namosi said that if Namosi wants to prosper then parents and vanua elders need to make  education a top priority. He urged his people to consume kava wisely and utilise resources like idle land for better returns to be able to send children to school.-- Based on 2010 No:1799/MOI

FRB GOVERNOR THANKS IMF. Sada Reddy has thanked the International Monetary Fund for its advice and assistance in improving the country's macroeconomic situation.The IMF gave Fiji US$93 million in the second half of 2009 and Reddy says without the assistance the pressure on Fiji’s balance of payments would have been far more serious.He says the injection boosted foreign reserves and greatly helped restore confidence to Fiji’s economy and financial system. Current foreign reserve levels are now at US$630 million, equivalent to over 3.8 months of imports.

Reddy said Fiji is making progress on the IMF recommendations following on-going consultations for a possible Stand-By Arrangement funding support by the Fund. These include the removal of interest rate caps on commercial banks interest rates, relaxation of capital controls, consolidation of government finances and the review of the Reserve Bank of Fiji Act to enhance the autonomy and independence of the Central Bank.

INTERNET PRICES COULD PLUMMET 50%. This is the prediction of Commerce commission Chairman, Dr Mahendra Reddy speaking at the launch of TFL's (Telecommunication Fiji Ltd) direct line access to the Southern Cross Cable Network. He said Internet Service Providers will now have to compete with each other by offering more reasonable internet charges to its customers. Communications Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said Government recognized that Fiji has very low internet penetration and expects the direct connection and lower prices will bring the rate up.

ALLEGED THEFT BY FORMER MARIST PRINCIPAL. Police are investigating this alleged theft of over $100,000. Many Old Boys raised questions about the alleged theft at their recent Reunion, including the Prime Minister who wanted to ensure proper action was taken to recover the missing money.

Brij Lal's Book on Jai Ram Reddy

The life of Fiji’s statesman Judge Jai Ram Reddy: Dr Brij Lal’s “In the Eye of the storm.” 

-- by Thakur Ranjit Singh
 

India’s first Prime Minister and Indira Gandhi’s father, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru once said that history is always written from the viewpoint of victors. So is true about Fiji’s history, especially those relating to the suffering of the indenture and the trials and tribulations of its descendants.

Fiji's Muslim League Thanks Fiji, and PM's Address to Da’Wah Council

'We’ve Been Treated Well'

The Fiji Muslim League has applauded the Government for the equal treatment Muslims have enjoyed over many decades.

League national president Hafizud Dean Khan (photo, right)  said Muslims living in Fiji have not suffered the indignities or bigotry many Muslims around the world face.He made the comments at the presidential dinner of the 26th Executive Meeting of Regional Islamic Da’Wah Council of South East Asia and the Pacific (RISEAP) held at the Natadola Intercontinental Golf and Spa on Monday night. The Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama was the guest of honour.

“You hear about western countries where there are protests about Muslims building a school or a mosque or the Muslim wearing a ‘hijab’ or a veil or whatever. We don’t have that situation in Fiji,” Mr Khan said.

“Muslims feel free and we are only six to seven per cent of the population. Yet we feel this is a Muslim country, although not strictly because it’s a country for everybody.”

“But in no way has there been anything disparaging placed before Muslims, either in the faith they belong to, they go to the mosque, they go to school, or the way they are dressed, or the way they eat. Nobody bothers them. This has been the hallmark of all governments in Fiji regardless of who was in power.

“And with that respect we are grateful to the people of Fiji at large. But particularly the chiefs and the landowners who have given us land for schools and mosques."

PM on Just, Fair Society

The Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has called for greater partnership in the achievement of a just and fair society. Commodore Bainimarama was speaking at the presidential dinner of the 26th Executive Meeting of Regional Islamic Da’Wah Council of South East Asia and the Pacific (RISEAP) held at the Natadola Intercontinental Golf and Spa on Monday night. 

He said the Government was focused on building strong state institutions through good governance. “Building such a society requires first of all participation of all its citizens, it requires honesty, candour, and transparency,” the Prime Minister said.

“It requires laws that are equally applicable to all and when applied are justly applied. Having a just and fair society is not only the job of Governments.  It is also the role of all citizens, business houses and organisations such as yours. Individual organisations must function and act in a fair and transparent manner. For example, as I have seen many times nepotism and clientalism become the norm in many NGOs. This must not be allowed to happen.”

Commodore Bainimarama said justice should be also exercised through allowing everyone access to basic needs. He urged RISEAP to help Fiji in allowing this access. 

“Today in the world and I am sure it is the same in your respective countries, the lack of access to basic needs such as food, water and housing are causing not only social problems but it also lends to political unrest and prejudices,” the Prime Minister said. 

“It provides fertile ground for the fundamentalists to recruit the underprivileged.” -- 2010 No: 1722 /MOI

Japan Will Assist, MSG Chair, Fiji-US Relations, Namosi Gold, Carnival of Lights

NOTICES.  1) Reminder: Anonymous comments will not be published. 2) Fiji Daylight Savings started yesterday. 3) Check out the Weekend Readings and comments. 4) Tomorrow posting: Driti on leave?

JAPAN READY TO ASSIST. Japan's willingness to assist with the electoral and other reforms could herald a major improvement in its recognition of the ongoing developments that will lead to elections in 2014. The offer was made by Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara during discussions with his counterpart Ratu Inoke Kubuabola last week.

Mr Maehara emphasised the importance of the election date and urged Fiji to try to engage the international community in its reform process. Other bilateral relations issued discussed were Japanese Official Development  Assistance (ODA), trade and investment relations, and the possibility of Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Funds being managed through the Japanese Embassy in Suva. Japan will discuss this possible arraangement with the Pacific Islands Forum.  Click here.

MELANESIAN SPEARHEAD GROUP. The special meeting that was to have taken place in Honiara this week -- at which  Vanuatu was expected to pass the relay baton to Solomons and Solomons to Fiji has been postponed indefinitely but the Solomon and Fiji PM's are expected to meet soon.

Alfred Sasako, Solomon Islands PM's Press Secretary   interviewed by ABC said, "I am not aware of any pressure, but I think there seem to be a lot of undercurrents at the moment that perhaps it is in the best interest of every stakeholder, that the whole issue is sort of left to cool down and then therefore I think the decision was taken rightly that the meeting ought to be postponed indefinitely."

NORMALISING US-FIJI RELATIONS.  Frank Gaglioti writing on the World Socialist website identifies several moves that suggest the US hopes to normalise relations with Fiji, possibly due to concerns about growing Chinese influence in the Pacific. US and Japanese pressure on Canberra could also bring about a change in Austalian policies. Click here.
 
MORE FROM THE LOWRY INSTITUTE. I wondered which researcher could have written such tripe, and then I saw he was from the Lowry Institute.

GOLD AND COPPER IN NAMOSI are expected to deliver an annual income of about $1 billion a year within the next four to five years. The claim is made by Lands Minister Netani Sukanaivalu (photo).

CARNIVAL OF LIGHTS. The Fiji Broadcasting Corporation and Digicel are  hosting a three day ‘Carnival of Lights’ at the Valelevu grounds from this Thursday, the 28th. Organiser Ronny Kumaran  says the event is about building relationships with one another. ‘The carnival will help us all understand and respect each other. We know you will enjoy the carnival of lights as there will be opportunity to meet and mingle with all races in order to create mutual respect amongst the cultures of Fiji.’ The Carnival, open from 8am to midnight, will have "exciting programmes during the day" and Live entertainment and fireworks displays in the evening.

Diwali, the Hindu "Festival of Lights," is a week later on Friday 5th November.

Layers of Conmen by Crosbie Walsh

It's a little like Russian dolls with one doll hidden inside the other.  Except in this case it's deceit that's hidden.

The story from Australia is that ethnic Fijian conmen, some of them lay preachers back in Fiji (and all claiming to be religious pastors in Australia), are promising to obtain "bridging visas" for people who have overstayed their entry visas and are likely to be repatriated to Fiji by the Australian authorities. Their "fee" might  start at $2,000 increasing to $5,000 when the "client" is hooked on the idea, and then to $10,000 when the hook bites.  The story came to light with the recent suicide of Josefa Rauluni at Villawood Dentention Centre when he was due to be repatriated to Fiji. 

The conman who conned the Rauluni family is well-known in the Fijian community. He is Jolame Nale (or Joe Naliva) who claims to have helped more than 200 Fijians stay in Australia. He says he never asked for any money from the Rauluni's. They offered him $2,000 to help with expenses, and he's going to give the money back.

So how many dolls are that? A conman inside a pastor inside a Fijian. But the likes of Jolame Nale are not the original conmen.  There are two more.

First, the likes of Usaia Waqatairewa of the Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement who claims hundreds of Fijian are seeking sanctuary. "People are coming over every month probably by the plane-loads or the majority of people on the aeroplane. They coming over and they don't have any intentions of going back." Asked why, he said, "It's a lot to do with the political situation and also the other aspects, which is the economic situation and the social disruption the policies of this present government has brought upon the people of Fiji." This doll exaggerates the numbers involved, the social disruption, and what supposedly will to happen to people were they return to Fiji. And all this keeps the ethnic Fijian emigre population on tenterhooks and thus even more vulnerable to the financial conmen.

Finally, back in Fiji, there's the ultimate con that for years now has conned ethnic Fijians into believing  stories about threats from Indians and supposed attacks on their culture. Until this ultimate con is exposed, the more gullible ethnic Fijian may be taken out of Fiji, but Fiji won't be taken out of the gullible ethnic Fijian.

Fiji, India and the World

Political Crisis in Fiji and India's Concerns

Political Crisis in Fiji and India's Concerns

Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses

The tiny island nation of Fiji located in the South Pacific Ocean is back in the news again. Fiji, frequently referred to as a ‘land of coups’, is coming out of its international isolation thanks to the help it receives from China.

Fiji’s and China’s mutual attractions are understandable. Fiji was expelled from the Commonwealth and the Pacific Islands Forum for its failure to establish liberal democratic rule. Politically isolated in the international community both at the regional and multi-lateral levels, it has found an apt ally in China to ward off any further pressure including in the form of United Nations Security Council resolutions. As a permanent member of the UNSC, China can veto any resolution against Fiji brought by the United States and Great Britain.

Agricultual Scam, Chinese, Kai Solomoni Injustices, Fiji Helps Australia, Bio-Diesel, Girmit Announcement

AGRICULTURAL Scam 2001. The Court of Appeal has dismissed all nine grounds of appeal filed by former Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests, Peniasi Kunatuba who is serving a four year sentence for his role in the $16 million agriculture scam of 2001. Judges Justices John Byrnes,  Paul Madigan and Priyantha Fernando all ruled that Kunatuba had been lawfully convicted and properly sentenced. Agricultural implements distributed in the "scam" were used to buy ethnic Fijian votes in the 2001 Election.

CHINESE Businessmen have expressed an interest in two FNPF projects, the Momi Hotel and the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.

KAI SOLOMONI Injustices. In February last year my post "Solomon Community Wants to Return "Home" described the terrible injustices done to the descendants of Fiji's first indentured labourers, from what is now Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. Yesterday I received this comment: "Thanks Walse for the blog. I am one of the decendants and what you have highlighted is true and I hope that one day we will be recognized and not seen as outsiders."

After six or more generations in Fiji, with no knowledge of their paternal ancestor's islands; with Fijian mothers and a largely Fijian culture, language and lifestyle, they are still seen as "visitors" and are not recognized as Fijians by ethnic Fijians. In pre-Contact Fiji they would have been "absorbed" generations ago. Their continued exclusion today is the result of the fossilisation of an idealised homogenous culture that did not exist. Traditional Fijian practices were far more flexible than the colonial-interpreted law used today.  Click here to read the original post.

FIJI Helping Australia. The Suva High Court  ruled last week that a child abducted by the father and now living in Fiji be returned to Australia and placed under the care of its mother. Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum pointed to the obvious irony: Australia made the application for the child's return to the very same courts they tried to undermine by placing Fiji judges on a travel ban.

BIO-DIESEL Has Teething Problems.Koro Island's Bio-Diesel Mill opened recently by the PM is having difficulty selling the new product to wary villagers. It's also likely the "strong" 20/80 blend with normal fuel will cause mechanical problems for newer vehicles that, without adaptation, require a 5% blend.  There's a bright future for copra bio-diesel in Fiji but the infrastructural "mix" is not yet right.

ANNOUNCEMENT. Indo-Fijians in New Zealand will be celebrating the arrival of their ancestors from the Asian, Indian and Afghanistan sub-continent at Fickling Centre, Three Kings, Auckland, on Friday May 14, 2010 from 7pm to 9pm.

(o) Sulu More Than an Item of Clothing

Sulu or No Sulu

By Subhash Appana, whose "humourous" school memories tell us much of race relations in Fiji

 Sulu Uproar 

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=139250

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=139494
http://babasiga.blogspot.com/2010/02/labasa-college-and-short-pants.html
http://www.allvoices.com/news/5174495-sulu-uproar
STOP PRESS. Education Minister Filipe Bole says students can wear shorts or sulu Link.

The raging Sulu v. No-Sulu debate in Fiji makes one wonder whether the country really wants to move with the times. But hang on; this was a limited case of just two schools in the North wasn’t it? Two Principals had suddenly been found to have been left in an evolutionary time rut somewhere along the line.

That’s how the thinking would go amongst those who oppose the stance taken by the two gentlemen – and there are many of these progressives. From experience I know that much more would’ve been involved to prod the schools to make a public stand and ban sulus among Indo-Fijian students.

Having said that, I’d like to take us back three  decades and share my own experiences with the sulu issue. I was born in the village of Vuna in the southern tip of Taveuni; the most beautiful of Fiji’s many islands. I spoke Hindi at home and Fijian outside. Those were my two native languages.