Women: Holding Up Half the Sky

N0200. FOURTEEN NEW WOMEN'S CENTRES. Speaking at the International Women’s Day celebration in Bua, PM Bainimarama said Government has approved the building of women centres in the 14 provinces and semi-urban settlements which will act as the hub to establish the infrastructure for empowerment of women through the enhancement of leadership and programme management skills.

Bainimarama said the representation of women in boards and committees is progressing. “Since 2008, for example, more than 300 women, mostly in rural areas, have become members of Hospital boards" and there are now almost a thousand  female students are enrolled in tertiary institutions around the country under various government scholarship schemes.

The PM urged all women to make use of the educational, vocational, training and income generating programs facilitated by Government, and advance the rights of women by taking advantage of this period of reform to shape a better future for the women of Fiji.

He went further to say that it is with this vision to strengthen the collaborative approach to socio-economic development that Cabinet in 2009 approved the establishment of the Fiji Women’s Federation to co-ordinate the programmes and the activities of interested women NGOs to achieve gender equality and empowerment of women. “The Federation will also bridge the gap between the Department for Women and NGOs.”

N0201. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. Domestic violence remains an issue of concern in Fiji and more work needs to be done to ensure that the Domestic Violence Decree is effectively implemented.

Former High Court Judge, Nazhat Shameem, said while huge steps have been taken in the recent past to implement the Domestic Violence and Crimes Decrees, the fact remains that historically domestic violence has been under-reported.

Shameem said around the world, this has been the trend, due to forced reconciliation and institutionalized sexism.The good news is that the decree is in effect and the people of the country and all those involved in the legal system should ensure that it is properly implemented for the benefit of everyone. She hoped the women's NGOs would also play an active role in the implementation of the decree to protect the victims of domestic violence.

In a separate statement, the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre said the recorded number of domestic violence cases for January and February (167) has increased compared to last year (154).

Deputy FWCC Coordinator, Edwina Kotoisuva, said the severity of violence is something that should not be taken lightly and the community as a whole needs to get involved. Kotoisuva said it is important that when women want to access justice, they are able to do so through a system that is supportive and sensitive.

N0203. VIOLENCE NOR RECONCILABLE. High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar has reminded police and judicial officers that under the Domestic Violence Decree promulgated last September domestic violence offences are no longer reconcilable.  He was referring to a case where the Magistrates Court had terminated proceedings when a man charged with assault causing actual bodily harm for assaulting his wife had had reconciled with his wife and wished to continue his relationship with her.

Justice Goundar said it seemed to him "there is a lack of commitment to enforce the law by the law enforcement officers" that defeated the clear objectives of the Decree.

"Judicial experience," he said,  "has shown that women do not have equal bargaining power as their spouses. They are forced to reconcile in domestic violence cases because of cultural and social constraints placed on them."

Blog Reports on Typhoid and the Denarau Decree

NEW QUOTE FOR THE WEEK in the right sidebar.
N0128.
Photo: Denarau Marina.

Line up of three Blogs. Thank goodness for FijiToday.It is now the only reasonable anti-government blog.  Coupfourpointfive once shared this honour before it became a factory for churning out venom and false rumours.

The typical FijiToday article contains its political message in the title; the article itself is usually published unedited and the source acknowledged. My typical article relies less on the heading for its political message which is embedded in a precis of the original article, with source acknowledged. Both approaches are honest in that they are clearly opinions and not news.  This was my gripe with a recent Michael Field article on the FRU crisis (see N0116). Opinion masqueraded as news, and was therefore dishonest.

Typhoid Outbreak — Remember Michael Field

A recent article by FijiToday complained about the delayed information on a typhoid outbreak in Upper Naitasiri. I find nothing unusual about this. There are typhoid cases and minor localised outbreaks every year in Fiji and I do not recall much prominence being given to them when I lived in Fiji in the 1970s and 1990s. But if things have changed FijiToday has a point.  FijiToday's political point was the delay in confirming the rumour.  But the blog hastened to add: "FijiToday wishes to point out that the reported outbreak is well outside the normal tourist area and unless it spreads is no threat to tourists." Compare this with Michael Field and Barbara Dreavers' coverage of last year's outbreak in inland Navosa where they had tourists believing the outbreak was in the main tourist area and it was unsafe to visit Fiji.   Who says blogs are less reliable than the mainstream media!

The Denarau Decree

However,  FijiToday is not quite as honest in an article on the The Denarau (Nadi River) Development Decree 2011.  But it erred with a sin of omission, not commission.  It was not what they said, but what they left out.

Denarau is without doubt the most developed of the tourist attractions in the West. Built on a large area of reclaimed and channelised mangrove swamp, it is close to Nadi International Airport, has a mix of luxurious to not quite so luxurious accommodation (Hilton, Westin, Sheraton,Sofitel, and more), swimming pools galore, a world class golf course, massage facilities and spas, and an extensive shopping complex.  But the area that is the concern of the Decree involve the marina, that provides services to visiting yachtsmen and transfers to tourist island in the Mamanuca and Yawasa Islands to the north of Nadi. 

FijiToday reported that one company, Ports Denarau Marina Limited, had been given a 20 year exclusive licence in 2000 of about 26 hectares for an annual rental of $400 "in return for extensive dredging and development of what was then a swamp. The licence was cancelled without warning or compensation. No legal challenge was allowed. Announced today but came into force yesterday. The Decree vests absolutely in the Director of Lands any existing interest in the channel. Any person who obstructs or prevents any person from accessing or using the channel, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine and/or imprisonment.

What FijiToday did not report, that was also in  the Government release was that the purpose of the decree was "to liberalise access to and use of the Nadi River channel for the public of Fiji for the purposes of tourism, recreation or personal as well as commercial use," and that the Company had been demanding that all persons, including all owners and operators of vessels, payment for access and use of the channel. Complaints from other users and the importance of the channel for the tourism industry were the reasons for the Decree. I presume the fees collected by the company since 2000 was considered sufficient compensation.

Foreshore for All

Readers will remember Bainimarama's opposition to the Qoliqoli Bill that would have given individual vanua exclusive rights over the foreshore was a major reason for the Coup. Free access to the Denarau Channel is entirely consistent with opposition to the Qoliqoli Bill and the liberalisation of all surfing areas by the Regulation of Surfing Areas Decree last year.  FijiToday focused on the loss to the Company and gave no reason for Government's action.
-- Crosbie Walsh

Litiana Loabuka nee Bainimarama, Revenue Collection, Freedom of Information, HIV/AIDS Decree

QUESTION: FIJI LIVE. Are any other readers having difficulty accessing FjiiLive? Google repeatedly tells me the site is suspicious and visiting it could harm my computer.

N0097. ALLEGATIONS OF FIJI SPORTS COUNCIL NEPOTISM. Several readers have stated, some more politely than others, that the appointment of Litiana Loabuka, the PM's daughter, as the CEO of the Fiji Sports Council, was a "further example of jobs for the boys" — and the anti-government blogs took up the chorus. This sort of accusation has followed almost every new government-related appointment.

I asked Peter Mazzey, President of the Fiji Chamber of Commerce, hotelier and Chairman of the FSC, for his comment.  He replied that the position was  advertised twice in local papers, 13 people applied and three were shortlisted for interviews by the full ten-member Board that, besides Mazzey, includes sports and youth directors and selectors, a lawyer, an accountant, the Commissioner Eastrn, and the Ministry of Sports Assistant Director. The FSC is a government statutory body and the appointment of the CEO requires the Minister's approval.  Board members are appointed by the Minister of Education, Youth & Sports, Filipe Bole, for a period of two years.

Referees of the shortlisted candidates were all contacted for formal comments. Each candidate was asked to respond to the same 22 questions relating to requirements of the position (as advertisement) and the Key Performance Indicators established for the position. These were prepared by Human Resource Manager and the Board. Assessment of each candidate's responses was based on points awarded by each Board member and then averaged.  Each Board Member was also had the opportunity to question candidates. Candidates were then asked  how they would move the Sports Council forward.

Litiana Loabuka was unanimously recommended by the Board to the Minister of Sports who approved the appointment.

Litiana was more qualified than the other candidates. She has a BA in Economics and Management and Public Administration from USP. To take up the position she resigned as Commercial Manager of Telecom Fiji and as Secretary of Fiji Netball. Her salary and allowances are the same as the previous CEO and she dropped salary to take up the position. [There goes another wrong accusation!]

So, as we used to say to detractors in my younger days, "Put that in your pipe and smoke it." Being the PM's daughter was not the reason for Litiana's appointment, and the PM is not privy to the Board's deliberations or its recommendations to the Minister of Sports.

It is surely time the anti-government blogs and commentators made some effort to check the "facts" they want to believe in before rushing into print. Constant error undermines their credibility. Soon only their core faithful will believe their lies.

N0098. REVENUE COLLECTION HIGHEST EVER. Government collected $1.3 billion in different forms of taxation last year,$91 million more than in 2009, and surpassing the revised projected revenue by $22.3 million. The increase was largely a result of improved collection but tax arrears (some $52.3 million) remain a problem. The revenue forecast for 2011 is $1.496 billion.

N0099. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION. Government is working on the implementation of a Freedom of Information Decree, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum  told lawyers at the recent A-G's Conference. He did not say why this is needed with the Media Decree in place or whether it would result in more public information. It is regrettable that the implementation of the Media Decree has not yet resulted in the lifting of PER, as intimated prior to its passing, or a better flow of information.

N0100. HIV/AIDS DECREE 2011. Victims of HIV/AIDS in Fiji and the rest of the Pacific have new hope this month, with the interim Fiji Government adopting the HIV /AIDS Decree 2011. The decree has been widely praised locally and internationally for leading the way in the Pacific for dealing with HIV/AIDS.Its proponents argue more people will have the confidence to be tested without fear of discrimination and will have better treatment options. Listen to the ABD interview with Laitia Tamata, Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation Legal Trainer and Policy analyst

Graham Reid's Third and Last Article on his Fiji Visit

  NZ freelancer Graham Reid concludes his three-part story of his visit to Fiji, telling it as it was told to him by locals as he moved around Suva and travelled along the Coral Coast. 

Versions of the Truth

Subramani on the Media Decree and Overseas Journalists' Misconceptions

 

Good News from Cakaudrove, SFO Threatens NZ Journalists, EU's €, Bruce Hill, Usaia's FDFM and Me

GOOD NEWS FROM CAKAUDROVE. Reports from the Cakadrove Provincial Council meeting in Somosomo, Taveuni,  are that the paramount chief of Cakaudrove, the Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, who is also the head of the powerful Tovata Confederacy, comprising, Cakaudrove, Bua, Macuata and Lau, says he now agrees with changes imposed by the Government for the betterment of the country, and that it is time to forget the past and for everyone to work together to make Fiji a better place to live in. 
Map from Walsh: Fiji: An Encyclopaedic Atlas, 2006, USP.


This, in my view, constitutes a major change in the Fiji political scene and offers hope of early reconciliations and faster progress with the reforms leading to the 2014 elections. Its significance is confirmed by the response of Sai Lealea,  a popular anti-goverment blogger, on his blog Fiji Coup 2006. He writes from Wellington:

"Coming from my paramount chief, this is indeed a monumental decision. It is one I will have to consider in terms of my position against the current illegal regime in Fiji, if indeed it is confirmed as a statement from the Tui Cakau ... I have been heavily guided in my opposition to the illegal takeover of the government of Fiji in 2006, by the principled stance taken by the chiefs of Fiji and the Great Council of Chiefs ... In the event the Tui Cakau's call  to the people of Cakaudrove to support the current regime's initiatives is confirmed, I will be reconsidering my current stance in line with my paramount chief's direction.  In such a case, I will be emboldened by the fact that his call is for supporting the initiatives currently implemented to benefit the people of Cakaudrove, especially those greatly in need of assistance, and those who contribute to the coffers of government through taxes."

Ratu Naiqama said this was a new beginning for the people of Cakaudrove and he hoped there would be widespread support for whatever decision was made. He said development efforts undertaken by the Government continued to lift the standards of living of the people [and] he had never heard of Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama trying to stop the assistance to his people. The latter remark is especially significant because overseas anti-government critics had claimed Government development moneys were only being spent in rural areas loyal to government, or used as bribes to win over areas with uncertain support.

The Roko Tui Cakaudrove Ro Aca Mataitini said the two-day meeting would ensure that the people embrace the reforms outlined in the People's Charter for Peace and Progress. The Government would always respect the Vanua and in return the Government hoped the Vanua would do the same. He said the people of Cakaudrove needed to open their hearts and accept the changes that were currently in place. After the two day meeting which ends today, the Tui Cakau, Provincial Council Chairman Emitai Boladuadua and the Roko Tui Cakaudrove will make an appointment to meet the Prime Minister. For the FijiVillage account, click  here.

I DIDN'T KNOW THIS. Our media raised hell about the Fiji Media Decree.  What it didn't tell us was that the Serious Fraud Office Act 1990 gives the SFO powers to execute search warrants on media offices and to charge journalists who attempt to "obstruct investigations" with imprisonment for 12 months or a fine of up to $15,000; with publishers facing a $40,000 fine. I only found out because of "Sarah's" comment on yesterday's posting.  Had we known this when the international media was calling the Fiji Media Decree "draconian" we would have been in a better position to form an informed opinion. Source:  Scoop.

EU ASKED TO RECONSIDER ITS STANCE. EU Ambassador Peceli Vocea has requested the EU to relax its stance on Fiji. EU suspended assistance amounts to over €24 million in sugar subsidies (and  would do This means withholding development aid worth about 30 million euros ($44 million) and subsidy payments to sugar farmers amounting to 115 million euros ($169).

TRYING TO BE AN IMPARTIAL JOURNALIST. Bruce Hill rang me after my postings (19 October) which suggested a lack of balance in his interviews with Rev Yakabi and Usaia Waqatairewa, and I thank him for that. I think he genuinely tries to be impartial but his choice of topics and those interviewed indicate just how difficult it is to modify the internalised positions we grow up with.

Bruce thinks democracy is the best system of government and has no sympathy for those who overthrown democratic governments. I agree. But I doubt Fiji under Qarase was a democratic government and I think Bainimarama is just as genuine as Bruce in wanting a democratic government.  Bruce thinks some people in Fiji would not talk to him because they were afraid but it is just as possible they are tired of answering the same loaded, anti-government questions. I suggested he ask people what questions they would like to be asked, and thought he would get a better response with this approach.

Bruce knew little about Usaia Waqatairewa and the FDFM but thought they represented a significant number of emigré Fijians. He cited their recent meeting which drew people from all over Australia. My information is that they struggled to get 200 people to the meeting and those attending were exclusively ethnic Fijians.

In the course of the conversation Bruce directed me to his earlier interview with three ethnic Fijian SDL supporters who had been declined refugee status in Australia. The abuses they cited were in 2007 and towards the end of the programme the Australian authorities said they had no information to support claims of ongoing abuses.

Here is the link to Bruce's programme. His interview is fair but why the choice of topic and informants, and the late denial by Australian authorities?

Na Sala Cava Cakaudrove? MSG: Bruce Hill, Usaia, Natapei, IDs: Bruce Hill, Akuila Yabaki, ID Official Release, Complaints Against Lawyers, Rice Back?

THE CAKAUDROVE QUESTION MARK. The province still seems to be divided in its support for government which is understandable given the political record of its Paramount Chief the Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu (photo).  But the Roko Tui Cakaudrove Ratu Aca Mataitini has confirmed that the Tui Cakau will open the Provincial Council meeting at Somosomo, Taveuni, on Wednesday, and this is a good sign. The  Bose Vanua (meeting of chiefs) meets today. Ratu Aca said proper utilization of land for agricultural purposes is one of the issues to be discussed in the two day Provincial Council meeting. He hopes the people of Cakaudrove will follow plans set by the Government which is covered under the People's Charter for Change. We hope it will also be supported by the Tui Cakau.
 

WHO RINGS WHO FIRST, BRUCE HILL OR USAIA? Usaia Waqatairewa of the Australia-based Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement seems to get an extraordinary amount of time on Radio Australia.  He is urging the Melanesian leaders to "open their eyes to the obvious divide and rule techniques Commodore Bainimarama is using to get the leadership of the sub-regional bloc" and deny Fiji the chairmanship. I thought it was Vanuatu's Natapei who was the odd man out. Read on ...

VANUATU NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE. Opposition leader, Maxime Carlot Korman, said he has the backing of 27 of the 52 MPs and is calling for PM Natapei to resign. Yesterday Carlot Korman accused Natapei of causing division in the Melanesian Spearhead Group by cancelling July's summit in Fiji. Korman says if the Speaker accepts his request, the vote could be taken as early as Monday.

YABAKI ON ID CARD. Radio Australia's Bruce Hill tried to get CCF's Rev Akuila Yabaki to condemn the proposed ID card. Click here. Yabaki's lack of concern is interesting because one would have thought he'd be among the first to express concern if he thought the card would be misused. Read on ...

OFFICIAL ID UPDATE RELEASE. The proposed national identification card is essential because it will provide and carry vital personal information. Ministry of Defence, National Security and Immigration official, Mr Joji Washington told a consultation forum the proposed national ID card was to help curb cases of false identification.

He said there had been cases of passports and birth certificate falsifications. “This is why the Ministry of Defence has taken this proactive approach to introduce the national ID card,” Mr Washington said. “Government will include a bio-metric feature, which will be encrypted into the card to add to its value otherwise it will be just an ordinary card.”

Mr  Washington said most countries had adopted this concept because of its ability to interface with e-passports. He said the global approach was for Fiji to introduce a card which had bio-metric security features. “The project runs concurrently with the e-passport platform. Fiji needs to look at it holistically and each government department and ministry has its own input into the introduction of the card,” Mr Washington said. He said the project would benefit the Ministry of Education, Elections Office, Fiji Police Force, (BDM) Births, Deaths and Marriages, FIRCA, Immigration, FNPF, LTA and many more. -- 2010 No: 1712 /MOI.

COMPLAINTS AGAINST LAWYERS. The Independent Legal Services Commission (ILSC) was established under the Legal Practitioners Decree 2009 to hear complaints against lawywers, relieved the Fiji Law Society of this role following complaints that the FLS had not dealt effectively with complaints. The main purpose of the the ILSC, according to the Commmission Justice John Connors, is to protect the public from lawyers who misbehave, hear their complaints against lawyers and, where applicable, discipline the lawyers.

Justice Connors says having a transparent and an independent system in place to look into complaints against lawyers has been well received by the public and he is "hopeful that by dealing with complaints in a timely manner and the imposition of appropriate penalties will hopefully encourage more lawyers to behave appropriately," The ILSC has so far dealt with and handed out verdicts on seven complaints and another six cases are pending.-- Based on 2010 No:1678/AG.

RICE. Fiji used to grown much of its rice consumption, mainly in the Dreketi (Bua) and Navua areas. The removal of import duty on milled white rice in 2008 changed all this.  Fiji Rice Company CEO Ram Bajekal hopes that with government now promoting more locally grown rice, rice production will increase and and its mill will be once again put to full use. FRC has been importing 30,000 tonnes of rice a year at a cost of about $40m.

ECONOMIC TIDBITS.
    FMF Group announces $11.6M   profit
    Lautoka Sugar Mill kept like a  junkyard, says PM
   Acting CEO FSC recommends closure  of Rarawai (Ba) mill

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.

Sad When Domestic Violence Turns Political, Tovata Support But Where's the Work on Ethnic Interaction?

WHEN EVEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TURNS POLITICAL.  In what seemed to be a stand-off slinging  match, the Fiji Womens' Crisis Centre Shamima Ali claimed the Domestic Violence Decree promulgated last December was not in force and is not being implemented. Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khiayum disagreed, saying the decree is in force and is being implemented and Ali is misinforming the public.

To which Shamima replied: "You should check with the courts before slandering us. I never lie about these things. Why don't you talk to me? You all should get your facts right, right hand should know what left is doing ... the Womens' Crisis Centre has more integrity than most. We will never let our women down for our personal gains."

To which Aiyaz responded  that Shamima's information was incorrect. The Decree is very much in operation.  For example, the number of restraining orders that have been issued at all levels. "But if the FWCC believes the Police are not doing their job, they should inform them and or the Ministry of Women, and take a collaborative approach rather than making pronouncements through the media in the first place."

To which Shamima said they are not able to protect their clients as the courts and the police are not implementing the Domestic Violence Decree and are not aware of it.

To which Aiyaz replied: There has been extensive training conducted with various stakeholders which included lawyers, prosecutors, police, members of the judiciary, government officials and NGOs to ensure its successful implementation to protect women and children against domestic violence.

And that is how two highly educated people resolve or attempt to use (depending on your standpoint) even straightforward black and white issues in Fiji today. One must wonder  just how much of the dispute was political. The Decree either is, or it isn't, or isn't (being implemented) all the time.  It shouldn't take a slinging match to find out.  What hope is there for "genuine" dialogue on other important issues?

VANUA LEVU AND LAU SUPPORT GOVERNMENT. The Tovata Confederacy that comprisesthe provinces of Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata in Vanua Levu, and the islands of the Lau Province to the east and south, have expressed support for Government putting development work before elections as its number one priority. The current government says it has put a focus on rural development and on effective service delivery to people in rural areas.

[Ed.note: I cannot understand why Government continues to present these issues as alternatives, with development having to come before work on elections can even start. Nor am I persuaded that physical and infrastructural development is any more pressing than work on social development, most especially with regard to initiatives aimed at helping inter-ethnic understanding. What work is going on in schools, the public service, the military, the churches and other religious institutions, and among the general public, to develop basic languages skills in Fiji Baat, Hindi and Fijian, and help improved understanding of Fiji's many cultures and cultural values?   Unless these at least start to change before 2014, what value is the elections?]

NEW FEATURE.   In response to the request of a reader, we have included a

Countdown to Elections 2014 feature at the top of the right sidebar.

Travel Warning, Cakaudrove & the Charter, Signs of Progress, Rewa Dredging

TRAVEL ADVISORY. The Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned people intending to travel to New Zealand to delay unnecessary travel because of an outbreak of swine flu and higher seasonal flu levels that have seen doctor's surgeries overflowing and have caused several deaths. Veteran Travel Consultant Mick O'Field of Pacific Parachute Tours Very Ltd has advised tourists to take out extra insurance policies because local hospitals are severely under-resourced and they may need to be repatriated to Fiji for treatment if they become seriously sick. He said his firm was offering discount insurance and parachute prices.

Meanwhile, Balaba Deliva on FijiOne said, "In a press conference fed via satellite from Wellington, W.H.O. Regional Co-Directors Dr Phil and Dr Oz both said the situation was serious, was serious. Dr Oz also thanked the Fiji Red Cross for its donation of flu vaccines."

Ms Deliva reported that pedestrians interviewed in Cumming Street said they were grateful for the Fiji Government's travel advisory. And when interviewed by the Alternative Government website Luvei Viti, Lami housewife Mary Samson said, "It's only right we should do unto them as they undid us earlier in the year with our cholera outbreak." At last all Fiji citizens are united.--Source:Tongue'nCheek.


QUO VADIS (WHERE GOES) CAKAUDROVE? The PM is expecting to meet the provincial councils of Bua, Cakaudrove and Macuata when he visits Vanua Levu later this week. Bainimarama will be officiating at the RFMF wives annual sports competition. While in Vanua Levu "I thought I’d take up the opportunity to visit the provincial councils," he said.

Of special interested will be the meeting with Cakaudrove which has still not endorsed the People's Charter. In the 2001 Election chiefly influence saw the extreme Fijian nationalist Matanitu Vanua (CAMV) party win three parliamentary seats. Prior to the 2006 Election the CAMV dissolved and its candidates stood on the Qarase SDL ticket.  Qarase's appointment of these Fijian extremists to Cabinet and his refusal to tackle those responsible for the Speight Coup and the mutiny in Vanua Levu, were major factors leading Bainimarama to remove his govenment from power. Cakaudrove comprises seven tikina (districts),  not all of which support the Bainimarama government.  We await Thursday to learn the outcome of the Council meeting. The other two provinces have endorsed the Charter.

ROME WASN'T BUILT IN A DAY. These comments (a little modified) from a reader in Suva: "I see some of your readers say there's no progress on the Roadmap. They can't be living in Fiji because every day we see evidence of progress, sometimes in big developments but more often in little things. In Suva new road works are underway, sidewalks are being upgraded, roads markings painted, the old Olympic pool has just reopened having been closed for years, and is preparing for the Hibiscus Festival.

"Outside Suva, after years of delay, the Rewa river is finally being dredged (Ed. See story below) and in Rakiraki which was recently declared a town, July was a month free of serious crime. Overall, crime dropped 50% compared with last July.

"Nationally, Cabinet has approved the development of a Decree to control the sale and supply of legal but dangerous substances, over shop counters. This decree in particular looks at illegal abuse of substances by school children. The lack of a law and concerns about the detrimental effects on the health of young people has been raised by school administrators, parents, the media, the members of the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council (NSAAC) Council, various stakeholders during consultation meetings and the general public in the past two years.

"And internationally, the Government has been in continuous dialogue with Tonga about our eastern boundary and negotiations will begin soon with Tuvalu and Vanuatu over our northern and western boundaries. It is in Fiji’s interest that all its maritime boundaries are determined and mutually agreed through dialogue and negotiations. This is also in line with one of the key pillars for rebuilding Fiji in this period of political transition, which is ‘Enhancing Global Integration and International Relations’.

"Not much, perhaps, but that's the news for one day.Your readers who say there's no progress don't know what they are talking about.  Even Rome wasn't built in a day."

REWA RIVER DREDGING. Twelve kilometers of Fiji's longest rich, the Rewa, are being dredged by the China Railway First Group Company Ltd at an anticipated cost to Government of $8.9m. The work will reduce flooding and the 2.2m cubic metres of soil removed will add to the mere 20% of the province designated as dry land, making for better road access and more farmland.

The Roko Tui Rewa, Niko Nayacalevu, thanked Government for the project which "will be very beneficial to the people of the delta. This initiative will create more dry land for the people to farm and other economic activities which are being spearheaded by the current Government,” he said. The work should be completed by next year. -- Based on 2010 No:1244/MOI

Timor Lese Journalists and Self-Regulation

Dr Clinton Fernandes of the University of News South Wales say East Timor journalists need to regulate themselves or be regulated by government. Had Fiji followed the course he recommends some years ago,  when there was absolutely no effective regulation, the regulatory provisions of the Media Decree would have been unnecessary.

Police Thought to Have Acted Wrongly; MIDA Appointments; PM Warns Military, Sanctions

If you can, tune in to Radio NZ National tonight (Monday) from about 7:30-7:55  to listen to a panel discussion on Fiji.  Panelists are Nik Naidu, Richard Pamatatau, Peni Moore and myself.  You may ber able to listen to it on http://www.radionz.co.nz/  
See also the new Quote for the Week in the right side bar.

Richard Naidu

POLICE ACTION ON FIJI LIVE CONFUSING. As reported on Saturday, Online FijiLive publisher Richard Naidu was taken in for questioning by the police  on Thursday and released the next day for an article that erroneously claimed Police Commissioner Commodore Esala Teleni had been suspended. I think the action taken was excessive, and I am further disturbed by the following statement:

"Police spokesperson  Ema Dimila, in a Radio Five item titled 'Fiji Police Warm Media Outlets,' is reported to have said the police will not hesitate to take action against those that don’t abide by the Media Decree. She said:

“It is a Decree to safeguard everybody – the media and other parties as well. And I think it should be followed precisely and exactly as it is. What happened to Mr Naidu is unfortunate. We will not highlight what happened to him but we will highlight that a Media Decree is in place and everybody who is concerned with writing, printing, broadcasting or televising news or even on the web – those using electronic media should be mindful of the Decree.”

My understanding is that while the police could detain Richard under PER, they had no authority to detain him under the Media Decree.  It is the job of the MIDA Tribunal to take action on complaints, not the police, unless complaints are referred to them by the Tribunal.  

If I am wrong on this, I stand correction, but it is the job of Government to make sure its decrees are clearly understood by the publc and those they affect.  Decrees that are variously interpreted and acted on independently by different state authorities do not make for confidence in Government.  It may take a while before decrees are fully understood and correctly acted upon, but the longer it takes, the more ammunition to Government's opponents.

A reader writes that Fiji Live is back on line but I could not access it on Sunday night.

MIDA MEMBERS APPOINTED. Members of the  Media Industry Development Authority are Prof.Subramani (chair) who replaces Prof. Satendra Nandan who withdrew due to health reasons; Asilika Uluilakeba,representing children's interests, Jimaima Schultz, representing the interests of consumers, especially regarding nutrition, Peni Moore, representing women's interests, and Matai Akaoula, representing the media industry.-- based on 2010 No:1143 / MOI). I think the Solitor-General, Christopher Pryde, will head the Tribunal.

ELEVEN MEDIA OUTLETS HAVE REGISTERED with the Media Industry Development Authority when registrations closed on Friday. They are the  Fiji TV, Communications Fiji Ltd, the Fiji Times, Mai TV Group, Fiji Sun, Active Media (the Turaga, Marama Magazine), Sporting Pulse Magazine, Half Time Magazine, Bula Namaste, Islands Business International Ltd and Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Fiji Live, an important online paper, appears not to have registered and its site was no longer available on the web at the time of writing. -- based on 2010 No:1143 / MOI. 

PM WARNS OF ANOTHER COUP IF ...Did the PM Bainimarama tell the Australian there could be another another coup if next election is rushed?  Not quite.  He actually said if the election is rushed under the current race-based electoral system, then Fiji will go back to extremist and ethno-nationalist policies that would divide the nation.

BAINIMARAMA WARNS MILITARY OFFICERS. Acting on  complaints about isolated incidents of military officers abusing their powers, Bainimarama has warned they will be severely punished if this proves to be the case. Land Force Commander Brig.Gen. Pita Driti said the Fiji Military Forces will not tolerate its people abusing their power.“Suchpractices should not be happening in the military at all.” Driti said that time and again the Commander had stressed good governance, transparency and accountability.“They should show the way for others to follow.”

LETTER IN THE AUSTRALIAN. 31 July.  Nothwithstanding the censorship of free expression in Fiji, there is also no question that Frank Bainimarama's efforts to build a better and more democratic Fiji have been hampered by travel sanctions placed by Australia and NZ against members of the Bainimarama regime ("Hurricane Frank an ill wind that we should help quell", 24/7, and "Getting to know the neighbours", 30/7).

For the good of the whole of the South Pacific, the sooner Australia and NZ throw away their big stick, drop their sanctions and enter into meaningful and helpful dialogue with Fiji the better.  

Bob Rankin, Apia, Samoa

MANUBHAI WAY TOO HIGH. Hardware company, R.C. Manubhai, has denied all allegations made by the Commerce Commission on the trade practices of hardware companies in the country. Managing Director, Dinesh Patel, said it is surprising and grossly unfair that the Commerce Commission would choose to air allegations to the media before even putting it to them. According to Patel,  allegations were made against them, particularly profit shifting and exorbitant markups - as much as 34,000% (sic!) on certain items. But the Commerce Commission has not put any of these allegations directly to them. But 34,000%?  3-4,000% is just just credible:34,000% would have a one cent nail sell at $340. Unbelievable. 

 

The meaning is clear but just about everything else is wrong about this cartoon posted on the ozfiji. com website.  The cap is not a RFMF one, the palms are not coconuts, hardly anyone lives in a bure any more (under 4% in 1996, or 4,800 Fijians and 465 Indo-Fijians!) and  not many bure have so many windows. Ling Ling should visit Fiji to see what things really look like.

As for the message, my understanding is that  ethnic Fijians have always been i-taukei and Fijian, and they always will be.  The only change is that now  all citizens  are legally Fijian.

Just as in New Zealand where there are Maori New Zealanders, Pakeha New Zealanders, Chinese and, yes, Fijian New Zealanders, Fiji will now have i-taukei Fijians, Rotuman Fijians, Solomoni Fijians, Kailoma Fijians, and so on.  In some situations Maori will say they are Maori; and in others New Zealanders. Ethnic Fijians will be i-taukei or Fijian as the situation demands.

The Decree is about promoting national identity and a sense of belonging for all Fiji citizens. No one loses anything. All should gain.

MSG Plus & Underhand, Undiplomatic Aussie High Com Behaviour

Letter From Suva: Aussie Eyes on Natadola 

by Laisa Taga, Islands Business Editor-in-Chief (Link)

Concerted effort to undermine Fiji summit
The bureaucrats who advise Australia’s new prime minister Julia Gillard will be closely watching Natadola Bay in Fiji this month. They will be following what transpires at the Melanesian Spearhead Group summit as Ms Gillard prepares for the Pacific Islands Forum meeting next month. From what is being written about her Pacific Islands knowledge, she has a lot of catching up to do before she arrives in Port Vila. She and her Pacific advisers will be closely monitoring the discussions at the MSG meeting and its outcome to gauge the islands mood.

The MSG meeting is being hosted and chaired by Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama on July 22-23 at Natadola, Fiji, an hour’s drive from Nadi International Airport.
Apart from the normal MSG business, Fiji is expected to use this summit to explain its position to other Forum islands member countries who have also been invited to attend. This is for what will be known as MSG Plus. When this edition went to press, Kiribati and Tuvalu had officially accepted the invitation to attend MSG Plus. Tonga is understood to have also accepted.

Overbearing presence
Leaders in the Northern Pacific have informed Fiji they won’t be able attend as they will be having their pre-Forum Micronesian meeting at the same time. But their officials, however, will be at Natadola, Fiji’s foreign ministry officials have been told.

A regional observer said, “Suspended from the Forum, and excluded from PACER and PACER Plus negotiations almost certainly due to Australian and New Zealand persuasion, Fiji has merely struck back. “MSG Plus will give islands leaders the chance to talk with—and see what it is happening in Fiji—without the overbearing presence of Australia and New Zealand. The Forum Melanesian nations were never totally happy with Australia and New Zealand’s hard line on Fiji,” the observer said.

What the direct outcome of the MSG meeting will be is anyone’s guess. But Australia will be watching it like a hawk. And it has been acting even before the meeting. Already Australia has been accused of working behind the scenes to undermine Fiji’s preparations for the MSG meeting.

Australia actively trying to undermine MSG Plus meeting
Letter from Suva has been reliably told that the Fiji foreign ministry has on two occasions summoned the acting Australian high commissioner Sarah Roberts to appear before the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. This was after the Ministry was told by several heads of missions based in Suva that the Australian envoy had been “attempting to influence them from accepting invitations to the MSG.”

This was again repeated by her in the most recent meeting of the Diplomatic Corps here in Suva.
It is also been alleged that Ms Roberts had invited heads of missions in Fiji to participate in a discussion on possible evacuation scenarios of foreign nationals in the event of political instability.

A diplomatic source said: “While I understand that foreign missions as part of their consular role have contingency plans for evacuation of their nationals in times of natural disasters, evacuation in the event of political instability, I understand falls outside of the ambit of such preparatory measures and presupposes something else.”

The diplomatic source added that “Ms Roberts’ undiplomatic approach has been the subject of much consternation among foreign diplomats here in Suva and constitutes interference in the internal affairs of Fiji, in breach of the United Nations Charter and International Law.”

Australian officials right around the region, Letter from Suva has been told, have been working behind the scenes to influence senior officials of the various countries they’re represented in not to attend the MSG. “They even spoke to the Solomon Islands Prime Minister, not to attend the MSG,” the diplomatic source said.

Whatever the outcome of the MSG Plus will be, Fiji and the rest of the Pacific will be closely watching Ms Gillard. They hope Ms Gillard’s government will do a little more than her predecessor Kevin Rudd. They hope that come the Port Vila meeting next month, they will hear more positive news in relation to Fiji/Australia relations and particularly the Pacific Islands guest worker scheme which has failed to get off the ground. The hope is Australia under Ms Gillard will put more effort into real developments like this, and less into its fixation with undermining Fiji.

MSG PLUS R.S.V.P.  Fiji has  invited Australia and New Zealand to attend next week’s Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting as dialogue development partners. MSG nations attending are Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Fiji, with New Caledonia’s Kanaks represented by the FLNKS. Non-member nations that have so far accepted are Kiribati, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau. Northern Pacific countries are involved in a pre-Forum meeting but thier officials will attend. Tonga has not yet replied. Samoa has said it won’t be attendng and it looks like Niue and Cook Islands will also say no.

SAMOA OBSERVER EDITOR Savea Sano Malifa  says Bainimarama is taking no notice of what he calls Samoa PM Tuilaepa Sailele’s tricks. The PM made a number of derogatory remarks when refusing Fiji’s invitation to attend the Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting but Bainimarama did not rise to the bait. Malifa says Tuilaepa is trying to steal the limelight from Bainimarama.

If PNG Needs Australia, Australia Also Needs PNG, Surfing Decree

PNG, AUSTRALIA, FIJI. It is disturbing to read about Fiji in the PNG-Australia joint communique released after the meeting of their foreign ministers Abal and Smith in Alotau, Milne Bay Province last week.

The two Fiji clauses could have been tagged on as a sort of necessary afterthought to discussion on the Australian $457.2 million 2010-11 Budget aid package, an increase in ODA, co-operation on the LNG (liquidised natural gas) project, minerals, Torres Strait, seasonal workers, and the nostalgic Kokoda Trail**

But I think PNG would be quite aware that this Australian "benevolence"  comes at a price.

Paras 48 and 49 read:

•  Ministers reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to working together to help Fiji return to democracy and the rule of law. 
•  Ministers expressed grave concern about the continuing deteriorating economic and political condition in Fiji. 

Ministers noted that the Fiji interim government had taken actions further to limit free speech, and deny Fiji's people their human and democratic rights. Ministers reaffirmed their support for Pacific Islands Forum Leaders', and for Commonwealth Heads of Governments' suspensions of Fiji. Ministers urged the Fiji interim government to take concrete measures to return to democracy and the rule of law.

The rhetoric is not new.  They insist the situation continues to deteriorate, despite the evidence. When will it ever end? Soon it could be as bad as that endured by the indigenous people of West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya) about whom the ministers had nothing to say.

I think PNG is underplaying their hand.  They need not go cap in hand to receive Australian aid and economic co-operation because Australia needs them at least as much as they need Australia. Their strength lies not just in natural resources of interest to Australian companies, but in the "cheap" protection the country gives Australia's northern frontiers.

Imagine a PNG where, due to Indonesia cross-border intrusions, civil unrest or government connivance, the country became a base or destination for boat people from South Asia and Chinese hoping to leapfrog into Australia, triad gangs, illegal Indonesian fishermen, drug smugglers, questionable Asian and Chinese entrepreneurs, money launderers and human traffickers. Australia's RAMSI mission in Solomon Islands would be nothing compared to a situation like this.

Australia needs PNG to be peaceful and orderly, whatever the price. It is for this reason that PNG can afford to play a much more independent role in Asia-Pacific, and put real pressure on Australia to moderate its policy on Fiji. They will have the opportunity at the Melanesian Spearhead Group Plus meeting at Natadola, Fiji, in two weeks time.

** Kokoda Trail, along which Papuan "fuzzy wuzzy angels" dragged supplies and the Australian wounded during World War II, and for they also died, or received no or minimal war pensions many years later.  For many years they were not even officially thanked.

SURFING DECREE. The newly promulgated Surfing Decree opens up the country's surfing spots by vesting all powers in those areas in the Director of Lands and overriding all title claims and possibilities of payments for the use of those areas.

The move is expected to create a marine industry that will create jobs, upskilling and economic growth and put Fiji on the world surfing map. One estimate is that it could bring an additional 20,000 tourists a year. Previously a number of surfing areas were exclusively licensed to a couple of hotel operators, which deprived other tourists and Fijians from access. There are numerous reports of tourists and Fijian surfers being physically and violently harassed and assaulted for surfing at these exclusive surfing areas.

Speaking on the Decree, the Attorney-General and Minister of Tourism said, “We see again that since Cabinet announced the decree, the beneficiaries of the exclusive rights have began a campaign of propaganda and misinformation. We urge them to refrain as this decree is for the benefit of all and of Fiji, and not just a select few operators or the rich.”

He said free access also provides "a wonderful opportunity for all Fijians including i taukei landowners in the proximity of these surfing areas to profit directly and indirectly by way of engaging in businesses themselves as opposed to relying on handouts from  hotel operators who charge premium rates." There will be opportunities for surf-tour operators, life savers, surfing-specialised hotels, backpacker resorts, and home stays. This will be  particularly so in rural and outer islands such as Lau and Kadavu where additional employment can now be generated.” Anyone may now access and use any surfing area for surfing or any water sport without payment, permit or approval.

The Decree overrides i-taukei qoliqoli rights in these areas much as NZ's Foreshore and Seabed legislation overrode Maori traditional rides, making access to the sea the right of all New Zealanders.  But it does have the potential to generate much more income for villagers and others living in surfing areas than some of them obtained from previous "arrangements" with resort owners. The Government seems determined to turn Fiji's land and sea resources to commercial use in the expectation this will assist the economy and benefit all, including i-taukei who often previously received only token benefit from ownership.

Sherlock say Field "Completely Wrong" and Other Stories

SHERLOCK TO SUE BANK, BLAMES MICHAEL FIELD FOR FALSE STORY. NZ resort owner to file claim against FDB RadioFiji reports that former Fiji Lagoon Resort owner Jim Sherlock will file a claim against the Fiji Development bank over the closure of his business. (Photo Michael Field)
The Resort was seized in May by the FDB over a disagreement on the conditions of the repayment of a $300,000 loan.Sherlock says he has lost a lot from the closure and blames the FDB lawyers for much of the problem.

“What I’m doing is, I’ll just claim against Fiji Development Bank for destroying my business. The Bank itself has been quite good to me, as soon as the lawyers took over they saw that a bit of money was there to be made and they are in like robber’s dogs. So, I was really disappointed about that. I sold three properties in New Zealand, all put into this resort. Their lawyers didn’t think about the tourist side of it at all.”

FDB CEO Deve Toganivalu told FBC News he is not at liberty to publicly discuss confidential details of the Bank’s dealings with any of its customers.

Sherlock continues to be the major shareholder of time-shared Fiji Palms which he says is performing like a champion. He says he started Fiji Palms in 1988 and will never leave Fiji.

Meanwhile Sherlock says reports in the overseas media that he has been told to leave the country with just a suitcase are wrong.

“No! That’s a Michael Field one! I have only talked to Michael Field once and that was in May. He told me of a story he was going to print and I told him it was completely wrong. He wasn’t going to let the truth get in the way of a good story so he went ahead and printed it!


Note: Government critics have said the Fiji media are not reporting anything on the Sherlock saga because of censorship. This article is from RadioFive.

SINGAPORE ELECTIONS INVITE. Singapore High Commissioner Justice MPH Rubin  has invited Fiji's elections officials to visit Singapore to see how their electoral system works. Like Fiji, Singapore is an ethnically diverse society and its election system was designed to promote racial harmony and social cohesion in an ethnically diverse country. The High Commissioner, who is based in Wellington, leaves Fiji today.

A NEW USE FOR COCONUTS. A month on from the PM's opening of the coconut bio-diesel plant on Koro Island,  Vice Chairman of Koro Bio-diesel Cooperative Ltd, Tevita Vunileba, reports that the new fuel is cheaper and cleaner than ordinary diesel. Of the 14 villages on the island, 13 had generators, five of which are so far using the new fuel. He's hoping the remaining villages will switch to bio-diesel.

LAYWER FOUND GUILTY of misconduct. 

FIJI TELEVISION LTD. Fiji Television Limited said its board has now met to discuss the impact of the decree on its business.

TUILAEPA A DICTATOR. The NZ Herald, reporting the Samoan PM's rejection of Bainimarama's invitation to attend this month's MSG Plus meeting, also  noted,  "Letters to the editor in the past month have also seen readers call Tuilaepa a dictator, citing several controversial laws recently including the switch to right hand drive."

Don't forget to check out the Na Sala Cava questions noted yesterday by clicking on the orange directions icon in the right side bar. 

WEEKEND READING.   Allen Lockington's Column, Reader questions Ranjit Singh on Fiji Holdings Ltd Story,  Thoughts on Fiji by a Taranaki engineer and writer. Posted from 8:55 am tomorrow Saturday. 

New Land Legislation, Old Students and PINA, PM and the Forum, Tonga and MSG Plus, Consumers, Rotuma

NEW LAND LEGISLATION JUST AND POLITICALLY ASTUTE. Land lease money will be distributed equally among mataqali (landowner unit) members, when new legislation is passed.  The PM  said present distribution methods are a major cause of village disputes and leadership tussles. Government will be distributing lease money directly to the landowners without charging fees or interests. The new legislation, which cuts out the Native Land Trust Board 15% deduction and allocations to the chiefly hierarchy, will, according to the PM, empower people to take on responsibilities in their respective villages.

Meanwhile, the Land Use Decree will provide the legal framework for leasing of i-taukei and State-owned land at market rates. The PM said, “The law allows for the establishment of a land bank from which potential investors and farmers can sub-lease or lease land from the State for up to 99 years. This will provide certainty of tenure, improved rental return to the i-taukei landowners and to the State, and be a much needed boost to the economy. The role of the NLTB will be to provide the necessary information to the land bank.

Both moves are socially just and politically astute.  The former means that the landowning unit will receive all the rent to be distributed equally among mataqali families, a move that will undermine the influence of chiefs and "middlemen" at grassroots level. The latter move should see more mataqali willing to lease land; the withholding of leases will be no longer capable of political manipulation, and, the 99-year leases should see more people, individuals and companies, renewing or taking up leases. More land in production can only be good news for Fiji.

P.S. A statement by the Australia-based Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement which sees sinister implications in these decrees has received wide publicity overseas.  I shall comment on their statement later in the week.

OLD STUDENTS AND PINA. I'm sorry to see two of my old students, 'Eakalafi Moala and Lisa Williams-Lahari, break from PINA and join others to form the  new Pacific Media Association that has the questionable advantage of including Australia and New Zealand. I understand and respect their reasons, but doubt it will help Fiji in any way. Could they not stay in PINA and join the new organization? I trust they will read -- and use --  my blog from time to time to get another slant. My weekend post reassessing the Media Decree would be a good place to start.

CONGRATULATIONS TO RADIO NZ INTERNATIONAL for printing some "good" news about Fiji. They report the Consumer Council's approval of incentives in the 2010 Review budget, and commend the Bainimarama Government for "being socially responsible by providing the means to spur economic activity and growth that will benefit all sectors of society."

TWO SRI LANKAN JUDGES  have been appointed to appointed Acting Chief Registrar and Acting Chief Magistrate. The Chief Registrar’s positions was recently held by Ms Ana Rokomokoti. Mrs Irani Wakishta-Arachichi is now Acting Chief Registrar and Mr Pamila Ratanayake is Acting Chief Magistrate.

THE PI FORUM AND SELECTIVE VISION. The PM has again expressed a wish to be readmitted to the Pacific Islands Forum but seems to think this unlikely as long as Australia and New Zealand turn blind eyes to current reforms. While not reissuing his earlier invitation to the Forum Ministerial Action Group to visit Fiji after Smith's and McCully's statements that the situation in Fiji had worsened, the PM said, “My government is always open to dialogue. It is most unfortunate that some of the foreign countries are turning a blind eye in terms of development and the reforms that this government is carrying out. In terms of the situation on the ground Fiji is not worsening as many would have thought, stats indicate otherwise given the various measures implemented. However, Fiji is one of the founding members of the Forum so we would like to see ourselves back in.”

TONGA STILL NOT SAID YES. Fiji is still waiting to hear from Tonga about participation in the forthcoming MSG-Plus meeting. My guess is they won't accept and this was one of the reasons why Tongan PM Feleti Sevele paid a friendly visit to Fiji last week. Tonga, and the other small Pacific nations, need to sit on, or very close to, the  top of the fence or they could offend their major aid donors. I hope I'm wrong.

THE CONSUMER COUNCIL REPORTS it has helped consumers save about $300,000 in the first quarter of the year by mediating and resolving their complaints. Some 654 complaints were received, the highest number concerning landlord and tenancy cases.

ROTUMA-TUVALU TRADE. Rotuma's exports to Tuvau, mainly in root crops, was due to start in August but the Agriculture Department in Rotuma wants it to start in November to fit farming schedules. Write 'Rotuma' into the search facility in the left sidebar to learn more about this new trade initiative that is part of Government's Roadmap to develop Fiji's outer islands.

CAN FIJI CUT UNEMPLOYMENT to 4.2% by 2012? Some 57% of Fiji Live pollsters said No.  It's nice to see "political" polls on Fiji Live again.

Mainly Media, Fiji Times, Tourism, Corruption, Phone Decree, Investment

ONE PICTURE's WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS. Saturday Suva, their readers could have thought. This is the photo used on Saturday by the Sydney Morning Herald to illustrate an article on Fiji. It's more truthful than the tanks one paper used soon after the Coup (Fiji has no tanks), and not much worse than always seeing Bainimarama in military uniform, but it's pretty deceitful nonetheless. Small excuse that below the picture in small, easily missed print, it read, A soldier guards a military checkpoint in Fiji's capital Suva in 2006.The article was written by Michael Field.

MY LETTER TO THE UK NEWSTATESMAN. "Your story is misleading and very one-sided. What else would you expect John Hartigan to say? 

His company is an aggrieved party. There are concerns about the Media Decree but it also has some commendable features, including a code of ethics that many readers of the Fiji Times would say is long overdue.

"For a contrary, and I think more balanced account, of this and other political happenings in Fiji,  I invite your editors and readers to visit my blog www.crosbiew.blogspot.com.  I have studied Fiji since the 1960s, worked and lived there for nearly ten years, and my most recent visit was two weeks ago.   Concerted negative reporting by the foreign media is not helping to resolve a very complex situation." I urge readers to use every opportunity to comment on media websites when they report misleading stories on Fiji. 

JOKE OF THE WEEK. A Coupfourpointfive article by Suliasi Daunitutu from the  Fiji Democracy Movement in Australia talked about the "foreign journalists who try to give an unprejudiced insight to events that have unfolded since December 2006." Come on, Suliasi, name one!

GOING OUT WITH ALL GUNS BLAZING. A reader writes, "Rupert Murdoch has launched his predicted offensive against Fiji with two explosive stories in today's Australian newspaper. The length and tone of these clearly indicate that News Limited intends to bow out of the Fiji Times with all guns blazing. Whatever the merits of these stories, the damage that will be inflicted on the country will be enormous. The regime was warned and so was everyone else. Now, we're going to be taught a lesson in the realities of the international marketplace. One of the stories is plainly aimed at deterring Australian tourists from visiting Fiji. The coming weeks will be very ugly."  Here's two from the Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal and The Australian. With all the points raised, there is no need for further comment.  One Two. 

KIWI TOURISTS PREFER FIJI. Most New Zealanders prefer to spend their holidays in Fiji despite political differences, according to Tourism Fiji Regional Director Sala Lesuma. Political differences have never deterred New Zealanders from coming to Fiji.

"We focus in on what sells Fiji and why people are coming to Fiji. The politics will continue but I think they [tourists] are mature enough, they are educated enough, they know Fiji. They have had a love affair with Fiji for the last forty years. They are fair enough to realize that politics is politics, we are going to Fiji for holidays and nothing's going to stop us".

AUCKLAND TO SUVA DIRECT. Flight FJ 430 arrived at Nausori on Friday, the first of a weekly service between Auckland and Suva that will also assist connections to Labasa, Taveuni, Kadavu, Savusavu and to the eastern maritime regions. Flights will increase to two a week next month.The national carrier brings in over 66% of tourists annually.

LABASA, NORTHERN DIVISION NOT READY FOR TOURISM.Tourism Fiji Regional Director Sala Lesuma says more infrastructural development is needed in Labasa to attract more tourists. "People need things to do other than just sit by the pool and sip Fiji Bitter, If the infrastructure is there, Tourism Fiji will promote Labasa and the North for sure".

THE PHONE DECREE. I have been informed the phone industry is in agreement with Government that this legislation was needed. Industry stakeholder were involved in drafting the legislation but are concerned about two particulars: the thinking is that the penalties are too high and that registration cannot be completed by the time stipulated. They will meet with the Minister this week to discuss these concerns.

Phone registration is required in most developed countries. It is compulsory in Australia. In NZ only prepay registration is not required. India recently introduced it and operators apparently had to cut off 20 million users!

A TIDY SUM. Over the last five months more than $400 million dollars worth of  foreign investment projects have been approved by Government, most of which have been in the tourism, commercial, industrial and agricultural sectors. A number of other local and foreign investment proposals are in the pipeline. -- Minfo.

THE DAILY POST AND EMBEZZLEMENT. Could any reader tell me how the 10% foreign ownership limit in the Media Decree affects the Daily Post? My understanding is that Australian Alan Hickling owns 51%, Government 45% and CJ Patel 4%.  But according to the Sydney Morning Herald, Hickling now owns 80%. The Herald also revealed that Hickling "Doing due diligence after the sale [six years ago], they [was] 'gobsmacked' to find a $1 million injection of government funds had been embezzled." Was anyone brought to court for this?

My Re-Assessment of the Media Decree

        Opinion
         Crosbie Walsh

On April 12^th I published a list of ten items that I took to be people's general concerns about the Draft Media Decree, together with my comment where necessary. To read, click here.

Four months on, the Decree has been promulgated in its final form. The reaction of the international media, then and now, has been almost wholly negative which is not altogether surprising given that the existence of one of their own, the Fiji Times, is threatened. A closer and more open-minded examination of the Decree, however, would show that many of the concerns have been addressed, and for the most part the Decree fills the acknowledged longstanding gap in media regulation in Fiji. Indeed, in some respects, but particularly in its stated aims and code of ethics, the Decree could well be emulated by other countries.

The following discussion compares the ten areas of general concern noted in April with the Decree as it it now stands: