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.

Letters to the Editor 1 (22-28.2.10)

ANNOUNCEMENT

The existing Comments feature encourages readers to comment on individual posts. The new feature Letters to the Editor encourages you to write on anything, including what Fiji media editors may self-censor. 

Each Letters to the Editor posted will run for two weeks. A new Letters to the Editor feature will be posted each Monday.

These are the rules:

1. All letters must be signed, even if only with a pseudonym
2. Letters must address issues and treat others with respect
3. All letters must be in English but well known vernacular words may be used. 

4. Letters that are personal, use foul language, or do not meet normal standards will be deleted. Please save me the time of deleting such comments. All you have to do is ask how you would think, feel and react if you were the recipient of the barbs you think so "brilliant and  devasting", and modify your words accordingly.
5. All letters should start with a heading indicating the subject or topic.

Dear Prime Minister 

In some weeks I may suggest a "theme". Writers can write on anything, but to start the ball rolling, the theme for this week is "Dear Prime Minister."  Especially  welcome are letters  on your fears and hopes and "feedback " on what you think he is doing right or wrong, how he can improve government's performance, and letters that seek a "way forward."  

Have no doubt, if he does not read it himself, someone will pass on all helpful ideas!

Support the readership drive. See left column.

(+) Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum*

Remarkably similar editorials have appeared in at least three "independent" NZ newspapers, the Southland  Times, the Nelson Mail and the NZ  Herald, in the past few days.  This is how blog reader Marybelle responded to the Herald's editorial on line. They published her letter, without the opening paragraph.

"I have already read this Editorial yesterday in the Fairfax South Island newspapers - Southland Times and the Nelson Mail. I wonder who wrote this Editorial. I doubt if our government takes advice from Editorial opinion.


Mainstream media here in NZ really haven't a clue about what is happening in Fiji. If mainstream media started to read the truth then maybe we would be seeing different Editorial opinion. To find out more in-depth information I suggest you go to Prof. Croz Walsh's blog "Fiji: The Way it Was, Is and Can Be" www.crosbiew.blogspot.com This blog, unlike a lot of the other Fiji blogs, posts both the positive and negative about what is happening in Fiji. It is balanced.

McCully has done the right thing going to Fiji to talk. Sanctions should be lifted. No matter what side of the fence you are on - we all want to see Fiji become a proper democratically run country instead of the gerrymandered democracy of the past - we all want to see Fiji prosper. Editorials like this one do not help - they only breed negativity about Fiji. How about a positive Editorial next time?
Marybelle
North Shore City."

**Two English fictional characters popularised by Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in  Wonderland and other stories. The Tweedle brothers always complement and never contradict each other.  Photo: Stitchontime.com


Update:
The Otago Daily Times, however, reported differently. As another reader observed: "There must be something wrong - this NZ editorial actually seems to be reporting information rather than peddling bias regarding NZ/Fiji affairs."

Write LETTERS TO THE EDITOR HERE, and post-specific COMMENTS at the end of posts.  

(o+) Letter from Sydney: Just Back from Fiji

"I left Fiji after the 1987 coup and now live in Sydney. I have regularly visited Fiji in the last 20 years with a number of cousins etc still there although every year another one or two leave Fiji.

On principle I could not agree with the 2006 Coup although I am pragmatic enough to move forward at some stage. I have just returned from a holiday in Fiji and can tell you that Fiji is as normal as it ever has been in the last 22 years. You would not know there was any political issues on the streets on Suva or any other town.

There is a strong minority who have lost out a lot after the change of Qarase Govt who are still doing their best to destabilise the country but they are a decreasing minority. Can I please suggest you ignore the anti blogs  as they need ozygen to survive and they are being ignored. Sure, there are a couple of dozen people who write and comment  to these blogs but if you read them, you will see there are a few people involved.

The one thing that hurts in Fiji is that the ordinary people are struggling to make a living as always and the anti govt blogs [don't help.] Australia and NZ govt etc are hurting them directly. This is where you have done a great job in bringing another perspective on the situation.  Regards, Vy"

(o+,o-) Three Letters to the Editor, DominionPost
20 December 2008 on

(o+)In no position to scream
I’d hoped that the new Government would lift the petty, yet vindictive, sanctions on Fiji.It has never done New Zealand any harm and it’s both presumptuous and arrogant for us to try to dictate its form of government, especially when former prime minister Helen Clark welcomed to Wellington and effusively praised Pakistan’s General Pervez Musharraf, who, like Bainimarama, used the military to overthrow a corrupt civilian government that was robbing the country blind.A cynical and unprincipled government such as New Zealand’s, which happily concludes a free trade agreement with communist China - probably the most murderous, odious and environmentally destructive regime on earth - is in no position to preach to Fiji.The campaign against Fiji, driven by an elite of Left-wing, liberal ideologues in the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry, is clearly against our national interests, because it will only drive the Fijians into the arms of China, which is busy extending its hegemony and making mischief throughout the South Pacific.More for our own sake than for Fiji’s, it is time to make a magnanimous gesture by lifting the sanctions and talking constructively with Fiji instead of screaming at it.
J McLLean (Khandallah)

(o+) Hoist by their own petard
No one, least of all TVNZ executives, should be surprised that reporter Barbara Dreaver was refused entry into Fiji last Monday.The manner in which TV One news reported Fiji’s alleged threat to expel New Zealand’s acting high commissioner by misleadingly featuring old footage of Fiji soldiers on patrol, dressed in combat attire, was sufficient to raise the ire of Commodore Frank Bainimarama and his staff, especially when they remembered the outrageously misleading film clips broadcast during the first coups, which showed tanks charging through the local jungle.It seems TV One was hell bent on boosting a minor diplomatic incident into war.Its reporters made sure we were facing a major crisis by over-emphasising the situation beyond its newsworthiness.If they had bothered to ask Ratu Isoa Gavindi, Fiji’s permanent secretary for foreign affairs, they would have been told that expelling diplomats would not solve the current dispute with New Zealand. And taxpayers would have been able to save the cost of Dreaver’s abortive trip to Nadi.
Jim Carney (North Shore City)

(o-) Isn’t there a better way?
Would it not be better to encourage the sons of Fijian government officials to finish their education in New Zealand (Dec 17)? Who knows they might learn something about democracy to pass on to their parents.
Ian Cook (Taupo)

(o) No wonder Fiji looks to China
Dominion Post Letter to the Editor 19.1.09

The grant of $100,000 to Fiji for the floods that have devastated the lives of thousands, with hundreds fleeing their homes, is another example of the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry’s childish and pathetic response to anything Fijian.It is not even enough to buy a bottle of water for those affected by the floods.How much did New Zealand give to Indonesia?We gave more in special aid to Tonga to buy its support for dismissing Fiji from the Pacific Island Forum. No doubt, Niue will be offered a substantial amount to support New Zealand when Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully visits it.I thought that, with the change of government, our dealings with our Pacific neighbours would rise above being childish, but I was wrong. Nothing has changed at the ministry. Our minister obviously has the strength of a wet bus ticket so there is little prospect of change.Is it any wonder Pacific nations are turning to China for assistance and advice?
Stuart Keene (Tauranga)
[Ed.Corrections: Tonga did not, and could not, dismiss Fiji from the PI Forum. NZ Govt flood assistance remains surprisingly low but now exceeds $100,000.]

(o+) NZ and Australian Policies Hindering Democracy Moves in Fiji

Letter to NZ Listener Jan 31-Feb 6 2009

I wholeheartedly support the sentiments in the well-balanced letter on Fiji by Crosbie Walsh of the University of the South Pacific in which he calls for a review of New Zealand's policy against that country (January 17).

As a New Zealander who has been resident in the Pacific Islands for most of the past 60 years, I think the hard-line policy of New Zealand and Australia against Fiji has been a disaster. Most Pacific Islanders feel Frank Bainimarama had no option but to move against a corrupt and racially divisive Government in Fiji. They also believe he is doing the right thing in refusing to hold an election until the voting system is truly democratic.

The travel ban imposed by New Zealand against family members of the Fiji regime and military has severely reduced the goodwill New Zealand has built up over the years throughout the Pacific.

Worst still, it has hampered Bainimarama's efforts to move towards a democratic government, and to improve the economy, because some of Fiji's best people have not wanted to lose their family's right to travel to New Zealand by co-operating with the regime.

The excuse offered by New Zealand leaders --that its "big stick" approach has the support of Pacific Forum leaders -- does not carry much weight, for Pacific leaders don't always represent the will of their people and most got to their position through corruption of varying degrees. They, more than most, know which side of their bread is buttered and are unlikely to bite the hand that has been feeding them so liberally for so long.

Certainly, there has been fault on both sides, but one would expect better of New Zealand political leaders than the childish posturing evident to date.

I hope some appreciation of the real situation will emerge and moves will be made towards a logical solution and a return to normal friendly relations.

Bob Rankin (Otahuhu, Auckland).

(o+) Fiji - More than Meets the Eye
Crosbie Walsh
Letter to NZ Listener, 17-23 Jan.2009

I’m not an avid supporter of the Fiji 2006 military takeover or the far-from-democratic regime it displaced. I’m even less a supporter of New Zealand politicians, diplomats and journalists who wittingly or unwittingly continue to misrepresent the Fiji situation. My credentials? Fifty years of study, research and writing; 16 years of work and residence in the Pacific, eight of them in Fiji.
The current diplomatic crisis should cause us to ask what our Government still hopes to achieve, two years after the military takeover, by the indiscriminate application of its travel ban? The young goalkeeper whose fiancé was the daughter an army officer was not closely linked to the regime. Neither is the daughter of the former Permanent Secretary of Health, or the son of the Permanent Secretary to the President. No one questions the President’s legitimacy and his secretary is a career public servant appointed in 2004, two years before the military takeover.

The Fiji Interim Government was not asking that the travel ban be removed, as the New Zealand public has been informed; only that it not be applied indiscriminately. Our High Commissioner was expelled for more than the travel bans: Wellington allowed her to engage freely with the regime opponents but not in any meaningful way with the Interim Government. Similar reasons explain TV reporter Barbara Dreaver’s expulsion. Her Fiji interviews have been very one-sided. And TV’s continuing use of two-year old film footage of armed soldiers patrolling Suva’s streets is a little more than innocently deceptive.

It is the responsibility of the media to be informed and fair-minded. They should report that the Interim Government intends to end widespread corruption, check extreme Fijian nationalism and religious fundamentalism, counter laws and practices which discriminate against non-Fijians, check alleged election irregularities, and devise an election system which guarantees these undemocratic practices will not be repeated. And we should be told what its opponents say about these claims. It is reported that the Interim Government has taken no steps towards parliamentary elections. This is not true. We should be informed of these steps, and left to decide for ourselves whether they are genuine or not.

More of the same will not help resolve the Fiji crisis. Fiji is a deeply fractured society with “goodies” and “baddies” in each of its many camps. Its leaders must resolve the situation in the Pacific way, by dialogue and, hopefully, consensus. We can assist this process by adopting a critical but even-handed manner, and demonstrate that we do indeed have some idea of Pacific ways, or we can continue to demonstrate what some see as arrogance and others as an abysmal ignorance of Pacific mores.

I would urge the new government to discard our former PM’s ideological blinkers, and take a new look at what we can do to assist Fiji along the path towards a more inclusive democracy.

Crosbie Walsh
Adjunct Professor
University of the South Pacific