Three Messages from Port Vila, and McCully Blames Media

KEY MOUTH AND NO EARS.    As the saying goes, "God gave us two ears and one mouth so that we may listen twice as much as we speak." Heedless of this heavenly advice, what does our PM say in response to comment that Australians and New Zealanders are  not  Pacific Islanders?

TVNZ reported that he 'blasted as a "ridiculous assertion" comments by Fiji's Commodore Frank Bainimarama that Australia and  New Zealand should not be in the Pacific Islands Forum because they were "not Pacific Islanders".' And then, with a touch of immodesty that would not have been missed by Pacific leaders, he went on to say: "We've always played a leadership (sic!) role in the Pacific, we're going to continue to do that."

A little later, Kiribati President Anote Tong, who seemed to be agreeing with Bainimarama, said: "There's a feeling there should be more Pacific in the Pacific," adding that he is not alone in thinking more progress will be made with Fiji if New Zealand and Australia are not part of it.

"I think they (Australia and New Zealand) have their own style of doing things. I suspect it's not working very well at the moment. When you are having a head-on collision with somebody you are not the right person to be talking with that person," he said. Tong thought there needed to be a more traditional approach towards Fiji. "Quite frankly I believe that there is more likelihood of exchange among the Pacific countries themselves," he said.

I hope Key was listening, really listening.

FIJI SENT HOME. The Pacific African, Caribbean, Pacific group meeting usually precedes the annual Forum meeting but Fiji, which is a member of the ACP, was absent from this year's meeting in Vila. Cabinet Minister Joketani Cokanasiga and Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Solo Mara were advised not to attend the meeting an they returned home without attending.

The ACP is a major international body based in Brussels, Belgium, and has an aid, trade and development agreement with the European Union.

PACNEWS reports that Samoa was very vocal against Fiji’s attendance, and Vanuatu Prime Minister and new chair of the Pacific ACP Edward Natapei, "brushed aside" claims that the Fiji delegation had been invited to the meeting by the host government.

However, Vanuatu’s deputy prime minister brought up the issue of Fiji’s absence, recognising that Fiji is an important member of the Pacific ACP and needed to be present. This was supported by Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, said the government official.The official added that Fiji’s participation should have been resolved by the Pacific ACP instead of involving Australia and New Zealand at the Forum Retreat.

WEST PAPUA CALLS FOR ACTION FROM THE FORUM. "It is the sincere hope of the West Papuan people, who continue to suffer under Indonesian rule, that the Forum will not keep ignoring the genocide and will actively address the truly vulnerable communities in West Papua." These were the  words of West Papuan Church and NGO observers at the Forum.They spoke of  "slow genocide, "more than 100,000 people deaths during 40 years of Indonesian rule, and asked why Indonesia has brought at least 15 “official” members to the Forum dialogue and whether pressure was being exerted to keep West Papua off the Forum agenda. Last month tens of thousands of Papuans demonstrated throughout West Papua calling for a referendum on independence and rejecting Indonesia’s autonomy policy.

And Australia and New Zealand are concerned about Fiji!

McCully  blames media for talks failure ... but all the media did was quote him

Natadola Waves Roll On

PHILIPPA MACDONALD REPORTS ON NATADOLA.  Listen to the ABC interview on what she said.

HEAR JOHN KEY ON TV1.  The PM says NZ will do "whatever it takes" to help Fiji towards elections in 2014 but doesn't expect the Forum to readmit Fiji until there's signs of movement towards elections. With an oblique reference to Australia, he said our Embassy staff did nothing to undermine the MSG Plus meeting that should have taken place in Fiji last week, and for which the Engage with Fij meeting was a replacement.  I'm all with you, Prime Minister.  Your first step could be to relax the Travel Ban so that it only applies to the upper levels of the executive and military. This would be one up against the Wallabies before we meet them at the weekend.

FIJI OUTMANOEUVRES AUSTRALIA IN THE PACIFIC. This is how Australian seasoned media commentator Keith Jackson, whose website seeks to stengthen Aust-PNG relations,  views the scene following Natadola.

Australia's benign neglect of its own backyard – the island states of the south-west Pacific – has come back to bite it. That neglect is all the more noticeable given the initial enthusiasm with which the Rudd government approached the job of rebuilding bridges with the region after its election in 2007.

Why the commitment waned is debatable. Perhaps there were bigger items on the diplomatic agenda. Perhaps it was a way of Australia expressing distaste for various developments in the region – like corruption and misgovernance. Perhaps it was a sign of Australia rethinking a failing approach. Perhaps it was sheer incompetence.

Whatever, this cooling of enthusiasm was seen tangibly in the government’s failure to appoint a new Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs. In 2007 this had been an innovative and creative move. By 2009 it was dead.

Duncan Kerr had been a committed and energetic appointee. When he announced his retirement from the job, for reasons that are now unclear, no replacement was announced.

At the weekend, Fiji’s illegal military regime for the first time won international support for its coup. Late Friday, at the conclusion of Frank Bainimarama's summit in Suva, the heads of the governments of PNG, the Solomons, Kiribati, Tuvalu, East Timor and five other Pacific states signed a communique which endorsed Bainimarama's eight-year ‘road map’ for a return to democracy. The communique, issued late on Friday, agreed that the road map was a credible home-grown process for positioning Fiji as a modern nation and to hold "true democratic elections".

Rowan Callick reports in today’s The Australian that this raises the prospect that next week’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders' summit will be asked to lift the suspension of Fiji from the Forum. Along with Samoa, Australia and New Zealand have been the most consistent supporters of the suspension.Australia has not yet decided whether it will attend the Forum meeting. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith – who’s making a real mess of his regional diplomacy - said he would decide whether to attend "in the context of the [Australian election] campaign". Meanwhile, Fiji is making hay of its diplomatic outmanoeuvring of Australia and New Zealand.[abbreviated]

MAY VISITOR ARRIVALS SET NEW RECORD.  The latest figures released show the country hosted
more than 45,000 visitors in May, and international visitors for the five months to May totalled over 216,000, a 22% increase on the same period last year. The results were bouyed by an especially  strong performance from the Australian market.

NZHC Says John Key 's Words "Misunderstood"

There are 5 Comments on this posting. Check them out, and add your own.

So that's why the news was not reported in NZ's mainstream media, except for Michael Field jumping the gun in the DominionPost. The NZHC in Suva says PM John Key was "misunderstood."  He didn't say what others took him to say.

I expressed my doubts in the  22 December report of the Radio Tarana interview (o) New Zealand Initiative? "A new initiative," I wrote, " or merely a repeat of the old conditions? We shall have to wait and see, but considering it's Christmas week, we'll give PM Key the benefit of the doubt -- and keep our fingers crossed."    

But why did Key allow himself to be misunderstood, and wait so long for the misunderstanding to be corrected? He certainly said more than the HighCom concedes.  I quote: "I’m actually in the process of sending him [Bainimarama] a letter actually – for trying to engage in more dialogue." The HighCom's reported this as  "Mr Key replied along the lines he planned to communicate with Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama." And he did talk of possibly reinstating our respective High Commissioners.

But, no matter. What's done is done. The PM's had second thoughts or  been advised to think differently or he hadn't fully thought through what he was going to say. And those who hoped and prayed  NZ was stepping back a little from its hard (and unrealistic) stance on Fiji rushed in, reading into his remarks what they wanted to hear.  We can now uncross our fingers. The magic of Christmas has gone for another year.

(+) Ranjit Singh, John Key and Lasting Solutions for Fiji

Fiji Needs Lasting Solutions and Compassionate Neighbours

Thakur Ranjit Singh, Waitakere City, New Zealand

If there are any lessons to be learnt from the previous coups, hurriedly-prepared elections and token changes to rules do not usher in real democracy.

As New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 descended on Port Moresby on the night of 26 January, 2009, carrying New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to attend Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting, we had hoped his first trip to the Pacific since coming to power would make a difference.

However the outcome of the PIF meeting was a big disappointment. We had expected and hoped for some change with a new bloke in control. But it appears that despite his right arm in plaster, John Key was still using the other arm to cling on to Helen Clark’s petticoat when it comes to determining his stance about Fiji.

(o) New Zealand Initiative?

A new initiative or merely a repeat of the old conditions? We shall have to wait and see, but considering it's Christmas week, we'll give PM Key the benefit of the doubt -- and keep our fingers crossed. Radio Fiji made one error with the PM's name. It is Key not Keys but it only takes one Key to open most doors.

NZ PM Wants Dialogue

New Zealand Prime Minister John Keys (sic!)  has told NZ Media that he is seeking renewed engagement with the Fiji Government.

Speaking to Radio Tarana this morning Keys says he wants to have dialogue with Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimama.

"I’m actually in the process of sending him a letter actually – for trying to engage in more dialogue. We have been a bit disappointed with the way things have gone this year. We are not – anti-Frank Bainimarama. We do want to see democracy restored in Fiji. And we are prepared to do whatever it takes – as financial sources and human sources – to allow that to take place."

And in what looks like a change of policy Keys says New Zealand is in no position to tell Fiji what to do as that will be left with leaders – in the upcoming [Dialogue] Forum.

"It’s not for New Zealand dictate the rules that should be in place for Fiji – but it’s gonna be a genuine engagement – where the other political parties are part of the process because - if they are not, then our views won't be sustainable."

Keys adds that discussions are on-going between Fiji’s Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola and his NZ counter-part Murray McCully to see the return of a NZ High Commissioner to Fiji.

"Let’s see how things go and I’d like to see the same tract (sic!)  that we were on before Todd Cleaver [The NZ High Commissioner] was declared persona-non-grata and you know that would be our preference because there are about 20,000 visas issued to Fiji in a year – so having a commission in operation in Suva is important." Read what readers say. Click "Comments" below.

Snippets: NZ, China, Economy, Religion, Melanesian Spearhead Group, Political Change

Notice: See new poll in lefthand column.

Now Hear This!

John Key has told China its aid the the Pacific Region may undermine what he called Australian and NZ efforts to "improve governance in the region."

China, Government Loans to Housing Authority
Government has guaranteed $150m over five years to the Housing Authority in case the Authority's soft 2% loan of $70m with China falls through. The money will be used to house approximately 10,000 families, including squatters.

Fiji-China Trade
A China Embassy spokesman said trade last year was good for both countries, and is expected to increase again this year, especially in tourism from China.

Tourism Up
The Hoteliers Association says tourist numbers have increased over the past two months and are expected to remain bouyant until Christmas. Many, however, are visiting for shorter stays.

Read more...

Momi Bay Auction The failed multi-million dollar Momi Bay resort will be auctioned tomorrow. The auction has attracted over 100 possible buyers from around the world.

At Last
The Fiji Times in its first political coverage for months reported "Some Methodist churches, particularly in greater Suva, yesterday sang songs they had prepared for the banned annual choir competition." Subtle, eh!

Assemblies of God
AOG, with about 40,000 members and 80% ethnic Fijian membership, is holding a week-long conference in Nausori this week. Over 5,000 people are expected to attend. They had no difficulty in obtaining a permit.

Melanesian Spearhead Group
MSG foreign ministers meeting in Suva this week have taken legal opinion into account in stating that "Fiji should be part of the PACER-Plus discussion," according to PNG's Rima Ravusiro. MSG holds that Fiji's suspension from the Forum should not affect its PACER and other trade positions because they are legally different. This view is not shared by Australia, NZ and Samoa, although Mr Ravusiro thinks there has been some improvement in this regard. Fiji says it has every legal right to be part of the negotiations meetings and that its role in such trade agreements is separate to its Forum status.

New District Commissioners
Radio NZI reports Tupou Vere of the NGO Pacific Concerns Resource Centre as questioning why army officers have been appointed commissioners for Fiji's four administrative divisions, and not civilians from the Ministry of Provincial Development. Is it, as Government claims, part of plan to improve efficiency, or evidence that "Fiji’s military regime has increased its grip on power," as Vere and RNZI obviously believe?

PM on Political Changes
Radio Fiji reports the PM as saying the Presidency and the Parliamentary system will be two issues that Government will consider when drafting the new Fiji Constitution during the the upcoming Constitutional review. He said "it will be put to the public if they want a President to be leading the country or just to have a Prime Minister to lead the country". Other decisions to be made include: whether there's a need for Senate, whether to reduce the number of MPs, and whether to adopt a new electoral system.

Photo credit: Chinese dragon. www.scapetv.com.

Links to NZ Over-the-Weekend Discussion on Fiji

New Zealand radio and TV gave much attention to Fiji over the weekend, and for a pleasant change some programmes presented a range of opinions. Listen to David Robie, Barbara Dreaver and Ranjit Singh on TVNZ Media 7. The Cafe Pacific site also has a copy of my separate posting on the Sunday Group. Click here. Listen to Robie on Shine TV saying that Australian and New Zealand policies have backfired. And to Ranjit Singh saying that the media is not telling the full story.

TV1 had a lengthy interviewed with Ballu Khan, with whom I sympathise at a human level because he was very badly beaten up by the military in the early days of the Coup, but otherwise is a person in whom I do not place a great deal of trust. His later comments were similar to those of Baidrokadroka (mentioned in an earlier post) and our PM John Key. All of these statements could be seen as inflammatory and decidedly dangerous interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, whatever their government. For this reason I have not provided a link to the Khan interview, but Key's comments may require a later posting. Meantime, I'm not sure whether he intended the media to "enlarge" on his story (promoting his "last resort" as the first resort, and demoting the provisos) or whether the media did it on their own, or a bit of both. Statements like this can only make the Fiji situation worse, as indeed all of those in the interviews noted above made very clear.

(+) Opinion: Fiji Needs Lasting Solutions and Compassionate Neighbours
Thakur Ranjit Singh, Waitakere City, New Zealand
This article was published in the Fiji Times, 5 February 2009.

If there are any lessons to be learnt from the previous coups, hurriedly-prepared elections and token changes to rules do not usher in real democracy.

As New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 descended on Port Moresby on the night of 26 January, 2009, carrying New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to attend Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting, we had hoped his first trip to the Pacific since coming to power would make a difference.

However the outcome of the PIF meeting was a big disappointment. We had expected and hoped for some change with a new bloke in control. But it appears that despite his right arm in plaster, John Key was still using the other arm to cling on to Helen Clark’s petticoat when it comes to determining his stance about Fiji. He still appeared to be doing that in Port Moresby as he met the Pacific leaders and gave an undiplomatic and paternalistic grilling to Aiyaz Khaiyum, Fiji’s Interim Attorney General, who represented Bainimarama. Key even went to the extent of suggesting he (Khaiyum) should be tried for his crimes.

For those of you who are unaware, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key suffered multiple arm fractures after a fall at Auckland’s Greenlane ASB Showgrounds to mark Chinese New Year on 17 January, 2009, just over 2 weeks before PIF meeting. He attributed his tripping and falling down the small flight of stairs to “…..momentary lapse in concentration, I was looking out instead of looking down."

While we are sorry to see this happen, at least some thought that there was a brighter side to this unfortunate incident - with one arm already pre-occupied, he would be less tempted to snatch at Labour’s petticoat. There are indications that National Party was still copying and pasting the non-compromising foreign policy of Labour Party and its former leader Helen Clark who is reported to be National’s de facto advisor on Fiji matters.

So much has already been written as to why election alone would not solve Fiji’s problems. New Zealand and Kevin Rudd’s obsession with elections is merely an escape valve to show to the world that these big Anglo Saxon brothers still rule the Pacific. The only problem is that these two countries are bereft of any brotherly love. They have always gained from Fiji both in terms of trade imbalance and the well-trained English speaking professionals, businessmen and qualified blue collar workers who do the jobs that need to dirty the hands. The biggest beneficiaries of the coups and instability in the Pacific have been these two big brothers who saved millions, if not billions in not having to train migrants who were already trained by Fiji government, its taxpayers, its work ethics and its stable family environment. I am one of them.

Fiji has had elections since its independence in 1970, but these elections were a mere shadow of democracy. John Key and Rudd need to understand that even in the past Fiji elections, real democracy had never been achieved. It had merely been a sham of democracy; in many instances autocratic leaders used their traditional powers and influence to manipulate democracy and masquerade as democratic leaders.

In my past writings, I have already enumerated the fundamental problems with Fiji, but today, the biggest problem on election issue is an unfair electoral system and arrangement that hits at the heart of democracy.

There is a need to remove the race-based politics and election and have an electoral system and process that gives same weight and importance to every vote. The current system in flawed in this respect where some provinces with only 6000 people have a seat while others with three times more people still have one seat. Fewer rural population have greater number of seats while urbanites miss out.

United Nations and internationally recognized principles of democracy dictate that each person's vote is to be of equal importance; hence Fiji’s electoral system is in breach of these. In addition, some twenty percent of voters in 2006 either did not vote because of a rigged and ineffective system with many names not on the roll or had their votes declared invalid because the system is too complicated for many to understand.

Is John Key aware of this major flaw in Fiji’s electoral system? Are other Forum leaders aware of this? Would they tolerate this in their countries?

The adage that age brings maturity was aptly displayed by the host of PIF meeting, Sir Michael Somare. Despite their economic richness and advancement, Key and Rudd were rendered mere dwarfs by the sensitivity, reason, humility, compassion and generosity flowing from this eminent person.

It is hoped Australia and New Zealand bureaucrats in the Beehive (Parliamentary Office) in Wellington can teach this lesson to their leaders that I have been echoing for years now and Sir Michael summed it very aptly: “If there are any lessons to be learnt from the previous coups, hurriedly- prepared elections and token changes to rules do not usher in real democracy.”
In true Pacific way, PNG gave NZ and Australia a lesson in diplomacy, neighbourly love and maturity in pleading that the Forum owed it to the people of Fiji not to commit the same mistakes of the past. He suggested that a roadmap be drawn up with realistic timelines to return Fiji to a durable democracy. Sir Michael promised financial and logistic support, and volunteered to provide all the assistance that Fiji required to carry it towards path to a long-lasting democracy, based on equality and justice. Perhaps the developed-country (read Australia and NZ) leadership in PIF countries need to learn from the supposedly backward Pacific countries which have a heart for their neighbours in trouble. It has become obvious that the two strong and rich Pacific neighbours do not understand and appreciate the true meaning of the Pacific Way.
Sir Michael’s pronouncement should echo for a long time and reverberate in future Forum Meetings: “… Forum leadership is not about imposing our will, but about listening and extending a helping hand in ways that bring about long term solutions.”
New Zealand can continue to ignore the advice of migrants like me and others, but they need to heed the advice of their own former diplomat who suggested that a team of experts should be sent to Suva to establish the broad outlines of new constitutional requirements. He cautioned that tone and style would be important and New Zealand need to stop acting ethnocentrically.

His advice to his own government was to reflect on the observation: There's only one thing worse than a coup, and that's a failed coup.

On that fateful day when John Key stumbled and fell in Auckland, he blamed it on momentary lapse in concentration as he was looking out instead of looking down.

John Key needs to learn from his experience. He once again stumbled and fell in Port Moresby and further fractured the relations that NZ Labour Party had failed to mend. He needs to learn from the elder Sir Michael Somare, and he needs to free his non-plastered hand from previous government’s policy and develop his own foreign policy on Fiji with advice from seasoned leaders with a heart, like Sir Michael.

My advice to John Key is to start looking down and closely at Fiji before looking out at far away countries, to avoid future falls, like his stumble in Auckland followed by the one in Port Moresby.

He may end up being the fall guy of NZ Labour Government’s failed and non-compromising foreign policy on Fiji.

He may, hence end up copping the blame for a failed coup and the resulting dictatorship in Fiji!

(E-mail: thakurji@xtra.co.nz)

(About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is an Auckland-based political commentator.)

Announcement
This Blog Site and the Pro-Government IG Blog Site
Crosbie Walsh 30 Jan 2009

I added a link to the IG blog (Pro-Govt Blog) because IG's views are important and I'm pleased IG responded with a link to my site, which it describes as "neutral".

This mutual inclusion of links does not, of course, mean that we necessarily agree with each other's individual postings. For the record, I am particularly disturbed by the tone and threats in its recent post Double Minded RFN Bloggers.

It is easy, of course, for "armchair outsiders" like myself to call for reasoned and less emotional outbursts from all parties. It is much harder for those directly involved or affected to remain calm in the face of what, from their different perspectives, they see as obstructionism, insult or worse. It is also rather satisfying to "let fly" at opponents. But this does not mean that such an approach is wise or helpful. Indeed, it could be counter-productive. Old "enemies" will not be persuaded (so why bother to insult them), and new friends and those seeking information on the Fiji situation could well be repelled by vindictiveness.

I was repelled by John Key's personal attack at the Port Moresby Forum on Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. I find IG's threats against opponents, including Methodist leaders, Pramod Rae, Kiribati and Tuvalu, equally offensive.

To all parties, my advice would be: state the facts as you see them, try to see your opponents' viewpoint (if only to sharpen yours), present a reasoned argument, and avoid offensive personal attacks, no matter how much you are provoked. Fiji is a small country. One day your son may wish to marry your old "enemy's" daughter!

Footnote:
The opportunity for readers to comment and exchange opinions on postings is an important part of blogging. I have now learnt how to enable this feature and your comments are most welcome -- but do heed the advice noted above. Abusive and personal comments will be blocked.

(o+) Pushing Fiji Regime into a Corner is Not the Way
Opinion. Crosbie Walsh 29 January 2009

The special PI Forum meeting in Port Moresby has come and gone. The Interim Government's case went unheeded. NZ and Australia pressed for firm action. Sir Michael Somare called for further dialogue. Tonga was surprisingly silent given its earlier assurance to Baimarama it would support Fiji if the "promised" deadline for March elections could not be met. John Key reportedly mouthed personal insults at Fiji's Attorney-General. Kiribati and Tuvalu wavered but eventually agreed to support the "unanimous" resolution (Fiji, presumably,opposed it).

Fiji is not to be suspended from Forum membership (the NZ media got it wrong again) but the "ultimatum" to nominate an election date by May 1 and elections no later than December 2009 is going to be hard to meet. Meanwhile, sanctions will remain in place and the Ministerial Contact Group (MCG) will continue to monitor the situation for the PI Forum.

Fiji Live reports that Fiji must:
(i) provide to Forum Leaders a new timetable agreed with all key political stakeholders, specifying in detail the agreed steps to elections and a return to democracy, and the timing for completing them, reflecting a consensus reached through a genuine, open, inclusive dialogue without threats, preconditions, ultimatums or predetermined outcomes;
(ii) make a clear commitment that any reforms agreed through political dialogue will be implemented in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Fiji; and
(iii) undertake and sustain serious and credible election preparations, including allocation of necessary resources to the Office of the Supervisor of Elections, and the prompt preparation of the electoral roll.

On the surface, these demands may appear reasonable. But in reality they will be hard to meet. The IG will not abandon the coup objectives and revert to the status quo ante, and the Qarase grouping will not co-operate (or even meet) with the IG so long as it continues to have such unconditional outside support. Why should it support electoral reform when the present system served it so well?

For the "ultimatum" to be met by the IG, the Forum (and particularly New Zealand and Australia) must put pressure on all parties involved in the Fiji impasse, not just the IG. And it must offer legal and other support to find a way of meeting the conditions which do not force the IG to abandon the coup's objectives. If this cannot be achieved before an election, there must be a firm assurance that the incoming government will reform the electoral system to make it truly free, fair and democratic.

If it does not, the IG will be backed further into the corner. As one seasoned Pacific commentatator put it:

"My worry is that the harder the Pacific countries push the regime in Fiji, there is a danger that it will transform from a relatively benign but authoritarian military-backed administration into a full dictatorship with a full crackdown on the media and total denial of human rights. As the political and economic situation deteriorates, the sort of oppression seen in some other post-coup developing countries, notably in Africa (and the Philippines under Marcos and even now under a "democracy"), could emerge".

Evidence that a seige mentality is already emerging is provided by several coup supporters responding to the Forum ultimatum:

"Let the ban come - we will not be harmed. Our decisions are our own and Fiji does not bow to any other country. If the (Forum) leaders wish to remain thick-headed about their decision, then it is their loss. Fiji will continue to slogger on as we always have. Our people are hardworking and they care enough about this country to help rebuild it and take it forward. Do not fear what you write - only fear what will happen if you do not write the truth or stand up for what you believe in. Our cause is genuine and we will not stop simply because there are a few people crying as a result of the government discovering their corrupt ways and stopping it forever".

"It is really an act of war! Where in the world have other countries put deadlines to a sovereign state!"

"I'm fighting for my country. Count on me, Frank. Don't let them dictate things to us."

Former diplomat Gerald McGhie, well experienced in Pacific affairs (Dominion Post 23.1.09), asks how "links between such longstanding Pacific partners (can) have reached such a low point" and how they may be repaired. He makes several important observations:

• Our far less "restrictive and didactic approaches" to Asian coups."For all his faults, Voqere Bainimarama's rationale for the December 2006 coup was, among other things, to introduce proportional representation and rid Fiji of corruption."
• Our preoccupation with the timing of elections, in the hope they will lead to constitutional change. Since this has not happened before, "perhaps constitutional change should precede an election" (as Bainimarama requires).
• Our failure to apply the lessons learnt in resolving Treaty of Waitangi issues to conflict resolution in the Pacific.

The way forward?

"Why not," he asks, "send a team of experts to Suva to establish the broad outlines of new constitutional requirements?"

Perceptively he adds, " In discussing these issues with the politically acute (sic!) Fijians, tone and style will be vital."

My own advice to our Government? Reflect on the observation: There's only one thing worse than a coup, and that's a failed coup.