McCully's Carrot, Fiji's Response; MSG Meeting Update, Qarase Trial Date

N0275. AUSTRALIA- NZ, WHO'S LEADING WHO?  Hard on the heels of Kevin Rudd's statement that showed there was no change in the Australian government's position on Fiji (that is now even drawing criticism from former supporters such as Jenny Hayward-Jones of the Lowy Institute) comes NZ Foreign Minister McCully's statement that NZ would relax its travel bans against Fiji if the Bainimarama government would give a firm commitment to hold elections in 2014.

It is hard to know whether to take this remark seriously because Fiji has repeatedly said there will be elections in 2014. Their Roadmap, as readers will know because it has been stated often enough on this blog, set 2009-11 aside for physical and institutional infrastructure reforms, followed by constitutional reforms in 2012, electoral reforms in 2013, and elections in 2014, probably in September.

This is the Roadmap that was spelt out to Melanesian leaders at the "Engaging the Pacific" meeting at Natadola last year, and is being updated to Melanesian Spearhead Group officials this week in Suva (see N0277, below).  The Roadmap is based on the eleven pillars of the People's Charter and progress towards achieving the Charter goals is being monitored by the Strategic Framework for Change committee that was the subject of another posting in this blog last week.

There really is no excuse for the Minister not to know that 2014 is a definite date unless he chooses to heed  misleading media reports where Bainimarama has said some villagers are saying his government is so good, they don't want elections. The anti-government blogs and foreign media, bless them all, have put the villagers' words in Bainimarama's mouth and said they are the first signs that the government will renege on the elections. They have also speculated the military will not give up the "cushy" positions they now hold in government. 

The Minister, incredibly, seems to think that being able to attend "the Rugby World Cup would act as a carrot for the Fijian interim government to give a cast-iron assurance in return for lifting the travel ban in time for the Cup." We all know Bainimarama likes his football but it's more than a little condescending and patronising of the Minister to suppose Bainimarama would put a game ahead of what he is trying to do in Fiji.

There does, however, seem to be some change in NZ's position. McCully had previously demanded immediate elections. He now accepts 2014 as the election year. And in accepting this date, he acknowledges that the ban will have to be relaxed soon to allow the Fiji Government to appoint the people it will require to plan for the election. He notes they have "struggled to recruit for senior positions because the ban automatically applied to those people." In doing so, of course, he admits NZ policies have helped to increase the military presence in government, an outcome he presumably did not want.

The Minister said, "There's a point where it's going to be in our (sic!)  interests for them to be able to recruit heads of government departments that are not members of the military; that means at that point you have to look at the sanctions." Note "our" interests. I thought we were acting in Fiji's interests.

As the NZHerald notes "Mr McCully's views on softening sanctions to help Fiji appear at odds with the harder line taken by Australia." The Minister denies his approach is different from Kevin Rudd's. But why not? We are a sovereign nation, capable of our own initiatives. We do not need to follow Australia's lead all the time. And Dr Rudd has been far too preoocupied with Asia to have any firsthand knowledge of what is happening in the Pacific.


For a refreshing Aussie look at Australia and NZ's position, read this link to the Auckland University of Technology's Pacific Media Watch.


N0276. FIJI RESPONDS TO MURRAY McCULLY. Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola says the Fijian government is  committed to holding General Elections in 2014.

“Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has time and again emphasized his commitment to elections timeline in 2014. That timeline remains and nothing has changed as far as government is concerned. Government is committed to ensuring that good and fair election is conducted. What more cast-iron assurance can this be for New Zealand or any other country for that matter.”

“New Zealand just doesn’t want to recognize nor understand that Fiji needs to give its people a fair and just election system that makes up the multiracial country of Fiji.” said Ratu Inoke. He said these things cannot be achieved overnight, and the government has set the time to 2014. -- MOI.

Col. Pio Tikoduadua, permanent secretary to the PM's Office,  echoed Ratu Inoke's remarks by saying
Fiji remains committed to holding elections in 2014 as this is  government’s promise to the people.  Note, to the Fijian people, not to NZ or some other foreign power. He said he found Minister McCully's comments "interesting."

The sticking point, once the date is accepted, will be on how open and inclusive the electoral dialogue will be, and which people and which parties will be allowed to stand for election.  I suspect McCully will want the "old politicans" represented.  I doubt this will be allowed.  They created the conditions that led to the coup.


N0277. MSG FOREIGN MINISTERS WERE BRIEFED on the progress of the implementation of the Strategic Framework for Change this morning. The areas covered were: Good governance (progress on the constitutional, electoral, public service and public sector reforms); Infrastructural developments (progress on land reforms, enhancement of international relations, maintaining macroeconomic stability and raising investment levels); and  socio-cultural programmes (reducing poverty, developing a common national identity, improving health service delivery and social justice). The Strategic Framework is based on the pillars of the People’s Charter to which all Government ministries are working to achieve. PNG Foreign Affairs Minister Don Polye expressed his country’s support for the work being carried out to reform Fiji. -- Based on No.0737/MOI.

N0278.TRADE EXPO AT MSG MEET. Some 24 companies and manufacturers of food products, home furnishing, textiles, footwear, financial services and much more are showing what they can offer the region at the expo that will be open at the Vale Ni Bose complex for the duration of the MSG meeting.Visits by the public are welcome. -- Based on No.0735/MTC.

N0279. QARASE TRIAL. The trial of former PM  Laisenia Qarase and former Fijian Holdings Chairman Sitiveni Weleilakeba for abuse of office  has been set for September 12. They have been charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption with ten counts of abuse of office, forgery and issuing forged documents. There will be another pre-trial conference on June 10 when the two men will confirm their availability for the trial.

Legacy of Corruption, Bankers and Consumers, Lifting Part of PER, Wainivesi Mine Worth Millions

WEEKEND READING. ♦ Allen Lockinton Column ♦ People's Charter, For Discussion: Pillar 3 and Chapt 8 State of the Nation paper  ♦ The CCF's Suggested Way Forward

N230. AGRICULTURAL SCAMMERS JAILED. Following the Speight Coup and in the year of the 2001 Elections, SDL politicians in the Qarase government, senior civil servants and leading businessmen colluded to use public money for their personal gain and political advantage.  Some were jailed when the Qarase Government was in power; others who should have been were not.

The court case concluding yesterday that saw Suncourt Hardware director (and former Suva mayor) Dhansukh Lal Bhika  and Principal Accounts Officer for the Ministry of Agriculture Suliasi Sorovakatini sentenced to 5 years and 4½ years was the latest in this sick story that had earlier implicated the SDL Minister of Agriculture Apisai Tora and many others in what came to be know as the Agricultural scam.

Some $20 million of taxpayers' money —set aside for the Farming Assistance Scheme aimed at helping ordinary ethnic Fijians (itaukei)— were skimmed off to provide equipment and labour for the farms of the Fiji elite. The Minister, for example, had diggers and tractors prepare his land at  Sabeto costing some $25,000. The Assistant Minister Marieta Rigamoto was given farming implements and chemicals worth around $15,000 for her farm in Navua. Boats and engines, hoes, caneknives and fertilisers were supplied to villagers for political gain. Some $50,000 worth of equipment went to Baulevu where Tora told the villagers this had  never been done before by any government [that's for sure!], and Qarase himself went to Rotuma to distribute $300,000 worth of farming implements.

All this was approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance and the "democratically elected government" of Laisenia Qarase.

N231. BANKERS AND CONSUMERS. Following complaints by the Consumer Council, the Reserve Bank has announced that it will now require  commercial banks to publicly disclose any increases in interest rate spreads beyond the previously regulated limit of 4% for any given quarter. In addition to disclosing the actual interest rate spread, the banks will also be required to disclose the specific reasons, including management’s stance and justifications for the increase.

N232. BUYING PAPERS A WASTE OF MONEY: LIFT PART OF PER. This is what one reader wrote on posting N224:

Thanks Croz, Most thinking people would like to see the PER relating to the media lifted.  So many agree with your correspondent that buying newspapers is a worthless exercise.  Only the cartoons and sports section are of value.  Currently there is little or no debate on national issues.
 
I would be interested to know from someone with insider information of Government who is opposed to lifting the PER, and who may support a partial lift.

N233. MINING: PART OF THE FUTURE.  On Tuesday Government received its first cheque for royalty payments and export taxes from Fiji’s second operating mine in Wainivesi, Waimaro in Tailevu. The Wainivesi mine produces copper, lead, zinc, silver and  gold and is expected to deliver more than $72m in tax and royalties — and spend more than $150m locally on operation and reinvestment in Fiji, during the next four years. The mine has an expected 20-year life.

The Wainivesi area was first explored in the 1930s and the mine opened briefly but was closed in 1955 due in part to to environmental problems.Exploration area resumed in 1999 and the present mine construction began four years ago and is still expanding. The company has already invested more than F$65m in its development. -- Based on No.0633/MOI.

A mining symposium to be held next month will be the first ever for Fiji with all mining stakeholders making presentations on mining issues.

Thank You, No Thank you, Ratu Naiqama; Revisiting the Lease Payment System

N0104. THANK YOU, NO THANK YOU, RATU NAIQAMA.
Coup 4.5 has released a statement from the Gone Turaga na Tui Cakau dated 3 January offering to help Government.

These extracts capture its essence:

“The Tui Cakau wants to open a dialogue with the PM to show him “the reality of what is happening in Fiji, [assist him] with an alternative set of advice from that which he is receiving at present [and impress upon him the] “the folly of disregarding the role of the Great Council of Chiefs and its role in national affairs in times of distress:- eg. 1874, 1987, 2000 and the present.” [my emphasis]

Comment

The Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, seems to think all the Cakaudrove vanua are behind him (which is certainly not so) and that the only way forward is to reconvene the Great Council of Chief, several of whose members were party to the 1987 and 2000 Coups.

The GCC was so politicised during the time of the Qarase government that it did nothing to warn against or stop the divisive and racist legislation that was a major factor in causing the Bainimarama coup. Indeed, Ratu Naiqama held several portfolios in the Qarase government including Fijian Affairs and he personally was instrumental in advancing the proposed legislation.

Ratu Naiqama was also a leader of the ultra-nationalist Conservative Alliance (Matanitu Vanua) party that included prominent Speight coup supporters and chiefs.

Its policies called for Fiji to be a declared a Christian state and for the offices of President and PM to be held solely by ethnic Fijians. Many members also thought the British government should repatriate Indo-Fijians to India!

To avoid splitting the ethnic Fijian vote (and because it was deeply in debt with legal costs arising from defence of the 2000 coup plotters), his party dissolved after the 2001 elections in which won six seats. Its more prominent members joined the Qarase's SDL party.

In 2003, while a Cabinet Minister in the SDL government, Ratu Naiqama is reported to have called for an overhaul of the country's constitutional institutions, saying that political authority should be returned to the chiefs. As a first step, he called for the abolition of Senate and its replacement by the Great Council of Chiefs.

So last month's statement is not the first time he's made the same incredible suggestion.

Ratu Naiqama is head of the Tovata Confederacy (Qarase is one of his subjects) and one of Fjii's three paramount chiefs. In early 2006 some chiefs wanted him to become President or Vice-President but the Great Council of Chiefs, wisely on this occasion,  re-elected Ratu Iloilo and Ratu Madraiwiwi.

His latest public statement should fool no one of his true intentions.

N0105. LANDOWNER PAYMENTS SYSTEM SHOULD BE RE-VISITED. Two readers have raised concerns about the NLTB new system of distributing rent money.

Rusi Baleisale says "It would not take much for each family of a tokatoka or mataqali to have a bank account for family members and this is how most landowners read Frank's [earlier] announcement. Giving a lump sum to each trustee account is only  continuing the past problems but shifting it from chiefs to trustees. Tinkering with the problem does not solve it. I already know of two trustees who are going to forward the normal percentage to their Ratu. The rest of the trust members are too timid to protest and claim their share."

Cicero raises the question of the NLTB 15% administration charge: "Can you think of anywhere at all in the world where 15% would be considered a 'reasonable' rate to deduct for admin costs? Those responsible would be sacked then and there! Outsourcing should be imperative and it should be done NOW! 3% MAXIMUM for administration. Who is creaming off this fat? It would merit a riot anywhere else.

I take back my hasty comments on this issue, apologize to Fiji Today, and urge government to address these very legitimate concerns. Why can't money be paid into family accounts, and how inefficient — or grasping — is a government rental agency that it charges this exorbitant 15% admin charge?

PM's 2011 Message, Great Council of Chiefs Political, Fiji to Complain NZ Misreporting Bainimarama's Death, Coup4.5's Mr X

SCROLL DOWN TO WEEKEND POSTINGS

PM'S NEW YEAR MESSAGE. "We must all work together and not shy away from taking tough decisions." Click here.

GREAT COUNCIL OF CHIEFS MUST BE APOLITICAL. For many years the GCC has been a body that exerted considerable influence on Fiji politics.  It appointed the President and Vice-President, appointed nearly one-half of the members of Senate (that could veto legislation), and "approved" the SVT and later the SDL parties to represent ethnic Fijians in parliament. It supported Qarase's Qoliqoli and Reconciliation legislation, and after the 2006 coup refused to appoint a Vice-President nominated by the Bainimarama goverment which led to its suspension. 

Government is committed to removing politics from the Great Council of Chiefs, and wants chiefs, not politicians and civil servants. These comments were made by the permanent secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office, Colonel Pio Tikoduadua while confirming that the re-convening of the Great Council of Chiefs was among the issues discussed by the PM and the Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu at their  meeting before Christmas. The GCC remains adjourned for now but government is looking into this and will call a meeting  as and when the need arises. Meanwhile, Government has been convening the meeting of tikina (district) chiefs, and the Bose ni Turaga (Council of Chiefs that has a much larger membership) has already sat three times. These chiefs are constantly in touch with the people and provide a wider representation of  chiefs from the 14 provinces.

FIJI TO COMPLAIN NZ HERALD MISREPORTING. Bruce Hill of the Australian Broadcasting Commission interviews Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and a spokesman for CoupFourPointFive on the story carried by the NZ Hereald earlier this year that PM Bainimarama was dead.  The A-G says Fiji will complain to the NZ media authority. The blogger said such false reports were due to media restrictions in Fiji; the Bainimarama government was "hugely unpopular" and "hanging in by the skin of their teeth" which was a good political plug but irrelevant in the context of Bainimarama's misreported death.  Khaiyum said the paper could at least have checked out its story.  Asked what sort of penalty he expected, he said he was not familiar with NZ penalties but thought the paper could at least apologize. Thank you,  Bruce, for airing this story. It apparently did not merit a mention by the NZ media.

VOICE BUT NO FACE. So whose was the mystery voice on the ABC interview, and why if we had a voice did we not also have a face and a name?  I couldn't hear every word he said, and had to listen twice before I could pick up his general argument, but he sounded male in his thirties, causasian or someone who has lived for years and been educated in NZ, and he's possibly a journalist or someone who makes his money from words.  I doubt he's been to Fiji in recent years but he obviously has some connections, perhaps through once living or working there, or through friendships in Auckland. CoupFourPointFive has several editors.  I suspect he was chosen as spokesman because he had the least reason to conceal his identity. Other anti-Bainimarama bloggers such as Sai Lealea (FijiCoup2006), Peter Firkin (FijiToday), Adi Elisapeci Samanunu Waqanivalu (Luvei Viti) and even Mere Samisoni in Fiji (Matavuvale), reveal their identity.  It would be good if we could put a face to Mr X from CoupFourPointFive.

Wikileaks on Fiji from 1 Nov 2006

My thanks to Scoop for the leaks on Fiji,  Their website has a bigger list on NZ leaks generally.

7. WikiLeaks: NZ officials somewhat pessimistic on Fiji 21 December 2010 10:21am | Wikileaks
November 30, 2006. GNZ officials remain positive about yesterday’s talks in Wellington between Fiji PM Qarase and Commodore Frank Bainimarama, and say the PM now has a chance to win hearts and minds to his cause. But they say they believe a coup is … More

6. WikiLeaks: GNZ says Fiji talks constructive 21 December 2010 10:20am | Wikileaks
November 29, 2006. GNZ says Fiji talks constructive but is taking no chances. Fiji Prime Minister Qarase and Commodore Bainimarama today met for two and a quarter hours at Government House in Wellington. New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and … More

5. WikiLeaks: GNZ hosts Fiji’s Qarase and Bainimarama for talks 21 December 2010 10:18am | Wikileaks
November 28, 2006. In a meeting with Bainimarama on November 27, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister won his agreement to a meeting with Fiji’s PM Qarase; PM Clark then called the PM and persuaded him to come for the meeting. The meeting will take place at … More

4. WikiLeaks: GNZ tough but pessimistic on Fiji’s Bainimarama 21 December 2010 10:16am | Wikileaks
November 26, 2006. This is an action cable, see para 7. 2. (C) Summary: GNZ anticipates that Commodore Bainimarama will execute his plan to remove members of the government of Fiji on December 4 regardless of what he hears from foreign critics. New Zealand … More

3. WikiLeaks: GNZ closely monitoring Fiji 21 December 2010 10:12am | Wikileaks
November 21, 2006. GNZ is aware that Commodore Bainimarama told the U.S. DATT in Suva he will mount a coup in early December if GOF does not meet all his demands. NZ ministries are to review a list of possible GNZ responses if a coup takes place. … More

2. WikiLeak: GNZ to deliver strong points to Fiji’s Bainimarama 21 December 2010 10:13am | Wikileaks
November 23, 2006. The GNZ MFAT has prepared strongly worded points, which it has passed to the British Defence Attache Nigel Lloyd (DA), who will convey them to Commodore Bainimarama at a private lunch with Bainimarama on November 23 at the DA’s residence. … More

1. WikiLeaks: NZ’s reaction to political tensions in Fiji 21 December 2010 10:04am | Wikileaks
November 1, 2006. In discussions November 1 regarding political tensions in Fiji with Heather Riddell, Director of Pacific Division at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Post learned that GNZ will shortly be issuing a formal statement … More

Also ----

Policy failure puts Fiji on brink of ruin Sydney Morning Herald The embassy reported that he ''appeared sympathetic towards re-engaging with Fijian military strongman Bainimarama''. Mr Kerr, who has extensive experience ... See all stories on this topic »

WikiLeaks cable: Frictions could derail Pacific Island forum New Zealand Herald She also said she does not believe that recent anti-Government remarks by Fiji's military commander Bainimarama posed an immediate threat to the PIF or the ... See all stories on this topic » US Considers Rudd Plan Weak http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/24/3100913.htm?section=justin US Assistant Secretary Hill on PI Forum, Fiji's fractured opposition and Bainimarama looking for a way out.  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10696184 Forum to suspend Fiji on May 2 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10696427 NZ insists Commonwealth hold the line on Fiji. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10696427

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

Spearhead Reconciliation, US Ambassador, Tui Cakau, Methodist Conferences Again - Just, Qarase's Sermon, NZ Law Society May Help

PIGS WITH TUSKS. Newly elected Vanuatu PM, Sato Kilman,  left for Honiara earlier today for the meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. He was  accompanied by Foreign Minister, Georges Wells, the chairman of national Council of Chiefs, Gratien Alget, and six paramount chiefs representing six provincial governments. Chief Alget and the six custom chiefs will perform a custom ceremony tomorrow to reconcile Vanuatu with Fiji, donating pigs with tusks, mats, kava and food. The  meeting should see Vanuatu hand over the MSG chairmanship to Solomon Islands for it to pass it to Fiji. Photo: a custom chief. skardu.net.

MCGANN AGAIN. There seems to be some confusion about the US Ambassador's recent location and his present status in Fiji.  The Fiji media reported that he had be called in to see Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola but a reader said he was already in Washington.  Then we had a statement from the Ambassador (presumable from Washington) saying that he was updating people there about Fiji and looked forward to discussing things with PM Bainimarama when he returned to Fiji. On top of which came two statements, both presumably from the PM; one asking the people to let him know what he should "do" with the Ambassador; the other saying he looked forward to hearing from him.  All this just about sums up my dilemma on Fiji: which story do I report: one, both or neither? The only thing that's sure is that whatever I decide, the usual anti-government critics will put the least complimentary interpretation on my decision.

Here's the most credible report:

"It is reassuring that the American Ambassador Steve McGann is currently in talks with Washington and briefing them on the issues that the Fiji Government have raised over the past few weeks,’ said Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

"In a press statement released by the US Embassy it states ‘that the Ambassador has been working on these issues since the 5th December in order to expedite visa applications, he will also be briefing the Prime Minister upon his return to Fiji. ‘Given the Ambassador is currently in talk with Washington regarding Fiji, it puts a positive light on our diplomatic relations’ the Prime Minister said. --  2010, No:2157/MOI.

TUI CAKAU TO MEET PM. Cakaudrove Provincial Council chairman Emetai Boladuadua has confirmed that the Tui Cakau will meet the PM next Monday. Both leaders have expressed their willingness to meet to resolve issues and help move the country forward.

METHODIST RESTRICTIONS PARTLY LIFTED. Two years ago Government, not without cause, banned the traditional annual meeting of the Methodist Church on the grounds that it would be used by extremist Church leaders for political purposes. Permission has now been given to hold next year's annual conference or Bose ko Viti but must be held on one day.  Permission was also given to hold the annual meetings of each division or Bose Vakayabaki, and the quarterly meetings or Bose Vula Tolu. Church leaders have decided the quarterly meetings will be held in March; the divisional meetings in May and the Conference in AusgustThe Bose ko Viti usually features choir competitions and other fundraising activities.

The decision was welcomed by acting general secretary Rev.Tevita Nawadra who  called the decision God-inspired and "a stepping stone of getting things right with the Government." the Church would ensure the meetings were conducted according to the conditions set.

Rev. Nawadra did, however,  request that government allow the church to hold its annual bazaar next year as this was a major source of funding, typically some $800,000.

QARASE INVITED TO GIVE SERMON. Speaking after the announcement, the PM said government almost reversed its decision to allow the Methodist Church to hold its annual conference next year when it learnt that a politician, the former PM Laisenia Qarase, gave the sermon at Suva's Centenary Church last Sunday. Bainimarama again warned the church to stay away from politics. Inviting the man largely  responsible for the problems the country is now in to deliver a sermon in Suva's largest Methodist Church was not the way to mend  relations with government. Approval had been given so the church could do its spiritual work better among the people, not to allow itself to be used as an instrument for political influence.

NZ LAW SOCIETY MEETING POSITIVE.  Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary for Justice Christopher Pryde met NZ Law Society  President Jonathan Temm in Wellington last week. This was after Mr Temm indicated he would be unable to attend the Attorney-General’s Conference in Denarau that was attended by 360 people.

The Solicitor General described he meeting as "very positive. We discussed various issues concerning the legal profession in Fiji and Mr Temm has agreed to look at assisting the Fiji legal profession in providing continuing legal education courses in the New Year.”

Trees, Wadan and the Blogs, Two New PMs, Teachers, Multi-Ethnic Devolution, AusAID, Debts, FNPF, Fiji Water

NEW QUOTE FOR THE WEEK. See right sidebar. Scroll down for Weekend Reading.

TREES, GIFTS FOR THE FUTURE. More than half a million trees have been planted around the country in response to government's “Plant a Million Trees – A Gift for the Future" initiative, and another half a million trees is expected to be planted to ensure the full implementation of the campaign. --  FBCL News.

'NADAN' BLOGGERS THE IMAGINATION. The Blogs FDFM copied by Coup4.5 wrote:

"  Quoting the work of Nadan (sic!) Warsey (sic!) ... the military will have busted its annual budget by $700,000,000 if it's allowed to continue until 2014."

What Wadan actually wrote was: "Roughly, between 2000 and 2010, the military has illegally overspent by $225 million ...If the present trend continues ... the military will have taken  ... some $700 millions over and above their normal pre-2000 allocations between 2000 and 2014."

There are four elements: 1) Wadan's "normal" pre-2000 allocation of $50m a year; 2) the increase in the military budget that started under Qarase, 3) the over-spending that has continued after Qarase, and 4) the expenditure guestimate from now until 2014.

The anti- blogs attributed all the increase and overspending to the Bainimarama government, choosing to ignore the Qarase period from 2000-2006. Their $700m does not mention the pre-2000 "normal" expenditure.  And a less than careful reader could assume the $700m is annual.

Wadan was also a less than honest. He made no allowance for inflation, the 20% devaluation, and the troubled times since 2000, blaming the military, and no one else, for the 2000 and 2006 coups. Of course military expenditure will increase in a country where race is used to create civil unrest that could — and did — threaten other citizens.

He also made no allowance at all for the extended work of the military since 2006  in the administration of the country from district to national level, or the civic work now being done for example by Army engineers. The engineers have always performed civic tasks but the magnitude of the tasks has increased in recent years.  In the last three years, for instance, they have worked on hurricane evacuation centres, school buildings, church repairs, the Fiji School of Nursing,  bridges, river embankments, the Nukulau and Naboro prisons, the Quarantine Station in Rotuma and the Sigatoka Hospital.

In planting his flag so firmly in their camp, Wadan should look very carefully at his new comrades. They only partly understand what he is saying (and misuse what they think they understand); they are likely to want a very different Fiji from the one he wants — and they don't even know his name!

BAINIMARAMA WELCOMES TWO NEW PM's. In his congratulatory letter to the new Vanuatu PM Sato Kilman, the Fiji PM said, 'I am confident that your appointment will provide a new momentum and marks a new impetus in the ever growing close bilateral relations between Fiji and Vanuatu.”   And to new Cook Island PM Henry Puna he said, “With your leadership I believe that the existing warm and friendly relations between our two countries will be further strengthened in the years to come.” A third Pacific nation Tonga is expected to announce its new PM in the next few days.

BOLE THANKS TEACHERS.  School ended for the year on Friday, with Education Minister Filipe Bole extending his "sincere gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to all 9,826 of the country's teachers for their immense contribution to education in Fiji."  The Minister hoped they will enjoy their Christmas break and be refreshed when schools reopen on January 24th. -- Based on 2010, No: 2073 /MOE.

DEPT OF MULTI-ETHNIC AFFAIRS. As announced in the 2011 Budget Address, the functions, staff and assets of the Department are to be "devolved" to relevant line ministries. Public Service Commission permanent secretary, Parmesh Chand, said the proposed devolution "is in line with provisions of Peoples Charter for Change, Peace and Progress to remove ethnic bias in government programmes and [is] also commensurate with reforms in the Public Service to remove duplication, maximise use of resources through rationalisation and bring about improvements in service delivery." -- Based on 2010, No: 2065/MOI. [The general aim is a worthy one but in some matters each of Fiji's ethnic groups needs special attention. It is to be hoped that they will not be lost in the devolution.]

AUSAID IN FIJI. Australia has allocated $F37.2 million to its its volunteer aid programme in Fiji for 2010-2011. There are currently 35 volunteers working in areas such as education, health, disabilities, poverty reduction, protection, climate change/environment and humanitarian emergencies.

DEBT REPAYMENTS. Representatives of overseas funding agencies are in the country to work out a plan with government on extending the time frame of paying back debts left by past governments. government is also negotiating with India to extend the time frame of the repayment of the $86m loan for the upgrade of the sugar mills.

FNPF RETURN $198 MILLION.The Fiji National Provident Fund's fixed income portfolio FYE June 30 was recorded at $198.3m. Earnings from the portfolio make up 87.9% of the Fund's investment portfolio and 90% of the total investment income. Fund CEO Aisake Taito said total investments in government bonds for the financial year were $317.30m, compared with $268.82m in the 2009 year

FIJI WATER: ONE OUT, FIVE IN. I didn't know that Fiji Water had "paid less than $F1 million in total corporate tax since its inception, and received up to $F5 million UNDERLINE a year in value-added tax refunds for its export sales." Hamish Macdonald  tells all in this article in the Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/world/bainimarama-shows-hes-the-full-bottle-but-challenges-await-20101203-18jvg.html

Natapei Out, Election Date, 2011 Budget, PACER, Tui Cakau a Villager, EU Fish, China Cement, Pine Dividend, Qarase in Court

 WEEKEND READING (published 8:40 — 9:00 am Saturday
♦  Allen Lockington column
♦  Fr Barr on Productivity and Stability
♦  Peter Gleick on Fiji Water
♦  Fire at Fiji Museum by Roderick Ewins

NATAPEI OUT. Vanuatu PM Edward Natapei  has been ousted from office in a 30:15 no confidence motion. Former Deputy Prime Minister, Sato Kilman has been sworn in as Prime Minister.

The move happened while Mr Natapei was out of the country, on his way to Cancun for the UN Climate Change Conference, and was driven by unhappiness over his push to have five opposition MP's suspended from the house, and also over his refusal to hand over the rotating chairmanship of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to Fiji, many said because of Australian pressure.

Mr Natapei was to officially apologize to Fiji for this action in a reconciliation ceremony in Honiara next week.  Mr Kilman will now presumably perform this task for him

ELECTION DATE REAFFIRMED. The Strategic Framework for Coordinating Change spokesman Edward Tunidau has assured those attending the Fiji, Australia and New Zealand Business Forum that elections will be held in September 2014. He said the implementation of government's Roadmap and the Strategic Framework for Change was high on the agenda of the Public Service Commission. Mr Tunidau highlighted issues of good governance practices and how they planned to achieve this.

"Our commitment to the betterment of Fiji is continuing and we are now focusing on the economic and social development from 2009-2010. From 2012-2014, we will focus more on political development," said Mr Tunidau.He said the Constitution would be developed by 2013 with public consultation by September 2012. Other changes to be expected include electoral reforms that will be implemented under the new electoral system. "The voting age has moved to 18 years and there will now be a one-person-one-vote electoral strategy," said Mr Tunidau.He said good governance relied heavily on accountability and transparency. He said this had been taken up by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption.

THE 2011 BUDGET. I will reserve my comments on the Budget until after I've obtained  a copy. Meanwhile, here is a link to straightforward summary with some tables, and here's a polemic critique by Prof Wadan Narsey. Comments on Wadan's article (from Pacific Scoop, copied unacknowledged by Coup4.5) by economists would be particularly welcome.

PACER PLUS AND PIPSO. Fiji was barred from Pacer Plus meetings following its suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum.  It seems, however, that Australia and New Zealand have  recognized  Fiji's economic importance in the region and indicated that they wish for some Fiji participation in the negotiations. The result is that Fiji will be "represented" by its private sector at the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisations second Business Forum in Nadi December 8-9  where topics for discussion will include PACER Plus, funding availability in the region, how the region can benefit from the current economic boom in PNG and the expected economic boom in Guam as a result of the multi-billion dollar relocation of US Marines to the island country.

CHIEF 'JUST A VILLAGER'. Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, the paramount chief of Cakaudrove,  has not yet met the PM after saying a month ago that he wished to do so. Cakaudrove is the only province to withhold its support for Government which, given Ratu Naiqama's extreme nationalist politics, is no surprise. Cakaudrove chiefs and the provincial council, however, do not all agree with Ratu Naiqama's position and this is probably a reason why he said he wished to meet the PM.

Now, Ratu Naiqama is playing games. He says the PM "is a busy man and needs to set a time and date in which they can meet" and the PM is saying "if Ratu Naiqama wants to talk, he will have to make an appointment like everyone else."

Ratu Naiqama says “I’m waiting for him, the reason being, him being in that position of Prime Minister, it is a very busy position. Me on the other hand, I am just a villager in the village, so I think it is only proper that he provides the time and date as to when he wants to meet me. As for me, I am ready anytime.”

FISH FOR EUROPE? Fiji may soon re-commence fish exports to the $100million worth European market. Fiji was banned from exporting fish to the EU after it failed to fulfill phytosanitary conditions in 2008 and lost the market, which at that time was worth $100m. The report of an EU Food and Veterinary Office mission in September is likely to give Fiji a clean slate which could mean exports may recommence in 5-6 months time..

CHINESE CEMENT AT SIGATOKA? A Chinese delegation from the Northern Heavy Industries Group Company is currently in the country to hold talks on the proposed establishment of a cement factory in Sigatoka.

PINE PAYS FIRST DIVIDEND. For the first time ever Fiji Pine Ltd has handed over an interim dividend of $1 million to Fiji Pine Trust and dividends will be paid to landowners.The Trust has also bought back $500,000 of government shares in the company.

Ministry of Fisheries permanent secretary Viliame Naupoto is the  new board chairman of Fiji Pine Co.Ltd, replacing LtCol Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara who was chairman from April 2009. Ratu Tevita is currently on extended leave from the military.

QARASE BAKANI IN COURT. Former PM Laisenia Qarase and former NLTB General Manager Kalivati Bakani appeared in court yesterday for the consolidation of their fraudulent conversion charges.

The FICAC prosecuting lawyer told the court that during his tenure as Minister of Fijian Affairs, Qarase had submitted a paper in cabinet for the approval of a $100,000 grant to invest in the Vanua Development Corporation, a corporation created for the purpose of investing money from indigenous landowners.
Qarase and Bakani face six counts of fraudulent conversions each.The case was adjourned to January 24.

Why Did Qarase Send Ridgway Packing?

"  There is next to zero knowledge about things like the plan to burn down Suva in 1999. Crooks like Duvuloco were even able to stand for election in 2006 when it's clear he should have been locked up with Speight. Something was very wrong with the Qarase Government when they were preventing Peter Ridgeway from completing his investigation."   - No Escaping the Truth, a comment on this blog.

This interview between ABC's Paula Kruger and Peter Ridgway, former Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions says something about the type of democracy that existed in Fiji between 2000-2006.

From the Archives: "Fiji — Democracy by the Gun," Interviews by Graham Davis

The link below is to interviews conducted by Graham Davis (photo in Queenstown, NZ) in early May 2006 for the Nine Network's now defunct Sunday programme,  prior to the Fiji May elections and  only a  few months before the 2006 Coup. Those interviewed included Voqere Bainimarama, Mahendra Chaudhry, Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes, Deputy Prosecutor Peter Ridgeway, Nationalist leader Iliesa Duvuloco, and 2000 (Speight) Coup conspirators Maciu Navakasuasua and Jo Waqabaca. It makes interesting reading in terms of what was to follow, and helps explain attitudes today.

In the interview  Bainimarama brands  Qarase  a liar and expresses a preference for his main opponent in the forthcoming election, Indo-Fijian Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry. The military chief is enraged that in a recent speech Qarase  had said there was no guarantee that the coups of 1987 and 2000 wouldn't be repeated if Chaudhry won the election. The interview sheds new light on the shadowy instigators of the 2000 coup, led by renegade businessman George Speight.  Davis talks at length with one of the chief conspirators, Maciu Navakasuasua, who points the finger at some of Fiji's most prominent politicians and businessmen.

Double Dipping, You Just Can't Win, Qarase Court Update

DOUBLE DIPPING ACCUSATION. Some of the anti-government blogs are circulating the rumour started, I think,  by Pacific Journalist Michael Field on his blogsite that the PM and A-G are receiving exorbitant salaries. My guess is that Field has used simple arithmetic to add the salaries of several of their respective ministerial portfolios.

Thus, Cde Bainimarama is the Prime Minister, the Minister for Public Service, People's Charter for Change; Minister for Information and Archives, Minister for Finance and National Planning and Sugar, Minister for Provincial Development, Indigenous and Multi-Ethnic Affairs.

And Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is the Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Electoral Reform, Public Enterprises and Anti-Corruption, Industry, Tourism, Trade and Communication.

The rumour is totally untrue. They receive salary for only their more substantive position.  Field and the rumour-mongers may, however, care to note that Cabinet now comprises 11 members compared with 36 in the Qarase Government. They do not ask or reveal what their combined salaries were.

YOU JUST CAN'T WIN. If you check out recent comments to postings, you'll see there's been a persistent demand to "see" the Roadmap and an equally persistent refusal to accept its existence despite all evidence to the contrary. Though where, other than from the Roadmap and the Charter, do these people think Government is planning its reforms on land, housing, health, roads and all its other projects?

My postings that attempted to explain the relationship between the People's Charter, the Roadmap, the Strategic Framework for Change had readers saying "Forget the Charter and the Roadmap. What we  want to see is action."

I suspect some such comments are merely anti-government protestations. The blog has been full of them lately. Whatever Government does or does not do, it will be wrong.  Invariably this line of questioning goes back to the redundant argument, "It's an illegal government that overthrew a democratically elected government at the point of the gun."  Their only way of going forward is to go backwards.

But many readers genuinely want to see these unpublished documents, and some of them still seem to think the Roadmap is only about the constitution and elections.

For those with open minds, the Roadmap is not simply about constitutional and electoral reform. These will come later, in 2012 and 2013 prior to the election in September 2014. For the moment Government's focus is on physical infrastructure and services and on institutional and governance reforms. The Public Service reforms are an example of the latter.

The triangle diagram in the previous post shows the route from Charter to actions and project implementation.

Using the diagram and the example of the new health centre in Bureta, Ovalau,  reported in the same posting, we can trace its origin from Charter Pillar 11 (improved health services for all) to the pinpointing of remote rural areas (Roadmap); to rural health clinics (Strategic Framework for Change and the Health Ministry Corporate Plan 2009-11); to the financing of the building, equipment and staffing of the Bureta clinic (Health Ministery Annual Corporate Plan). The Clinic is now open and its progress no longer needs monitoring by the Strategic Framework for Change Operating Committee.

The Clinic is a product of each of these planning stages that originated in Pillar 11 of the Charter. People in the seven villages serviced no longer need to travel half way round Ovalau for basic medical care or emergencies. They don't yet have a Constitution and there's no election for a while, but they do have a very tangible clinic. Other examples are occurring all around the country. Multiplied, they are bringing about significant change.

QARASE COURT CASE UPDATE. The Suva High Court is expected to deliver its ruling next month on an application to consolidate the cases of former PM Laisenia Qarase and Sitiveni Weleilakeba. The application was made by FICAC Prosecutor Madhawa Tennakoon yesterday morning on the grounds that the two cases are linked.

It is alleged that Qarase whilst being the Managing Director of the Fiji Development Bank in 1991 - 1992 and at the same time a board member of Fiji Holdings Ltd, advisor to the Fijian Affairs Board and advisor to the Great Council of Chiefs, abused his office by increasing the annual dividend on Class A shares (of which his family held a significant number) to 20% . Weleilakaba is alleged to have given false information to the Registrar of Companies causing the declaration of Fijian Holdings Limited as a Public Company.

Thoughts on Fiji: The Wrong End of the Stick

 John de Bueger,  a New Plymouth writer and engineer,  reckons we might all have got the wrong end of the stick about Fijian hard man Frank Bainimarama.


After a less than perfect in-transit-stop-off-holiday in Tahiti about 30 years ago, I declared that nothing short of a team of wild horses would drag me to sample afresh the tropical delights of silver sands, balmy breezes and coconut trees - anywhere. Consequently I have never been to Fiji.

The place has seldom been far from the headlines since the last coup, and the recent crop of stiff penalties against journalists and media organisations who portray the present regime in less-than-glowing terms, suggests Helen Clark had grounds for waging a vendetta against the good commodore and his merry men. But is Commodore Bainimarama in fact a better interim deal than the bunch of racially riven gentlemen he turfed out?

It is all very well harping on about how terrible losing democracy is - as if that is the sole criterion by which to judge a country. Try telling the Chinese that and see how far you get. They will curtly remind you that after 5000 years of civilised turmoil, they are not about to risk hare-brained ideas like democracy.

The old adage that democracy cannot be imported was demonstrated again when it delivered the Gaza Strip into the hands of Hamas; and its record in tribal whirlpools such as Iraq or Africa shows it's not for everyone. Unless a country has a dominant law-abiding middle class who will not countenance corruption, you can forget about democratic universal suffrage. Where this essential element is missing, democracy just won't work. As far as Fiji is concerned, Helen Clark and Murray McCully both signally failed to understand this fundamental truth, and barked up the wrong tree.

A few months ago we had a brunch with my daughter's boyfriend's parents - who had recently returned home after lecturing at the University of the South Pacific in Suva for several years. They confirmed what I had long suspected: we aren't being fed the whole truth about Fiji.

Not everyone in Fiji is unhappy at the turn of events - particularly those who had been on the wrong end of tribal dictates, corruption or racial discrimination. There is an implicit general understanding that the place needs cleaning up, and that this can only happen under a strongman who won't tolerate the mates-rates, sweetheart deals that had proliferated under democracy.

Recently, I had a most interesting chat with a Taranaki businessman who travels to Fiji regularly, and who has many contacts throughout that country. He told me most people in Fiji aren't in a state of sullen acceptance, but, on balance, consider the commodore to be a welcome change, and a great improvement on his predecessor, Laisenia Qarase. The latter was installed as prime minister after being rescued by Frank Bainimarama from the thug George Speight, who is at present incarcerated. Also, the essential changes are being made, slowly but surely.

Under the commodore, street gangs who had terrorised neighbourhoods have been well and truly sorted, schoolchildren get free transport to school, and native landowners have been ordered either to use their arable land or lease it (thereby putting it back into production). For the first time, dual citizenship is allowed, giving the expatriate community some certainty about their futures, efforts and investments.

It is not widely appreciated that the reason for the coup was to stop three Bills being passed by the Qarase Government: "The Qoli Qoli Bill", which would have handed ownership of the foreshore and seabed (and the huge tourist industry) to local villagers, and given them a windfall at the expense of those in the interior; the "The Forgive and Forget Bill", which would have freed George Speight; and the "This is Mine Bill", a load of crazy nonsense whereby if you think that something belongs to you, then others have to disprove it.

Fiji is a strategic neighbour which needs help to develop its huge resources for the benefit of its people. At last, it has a genuinely non-racist leader who, while being a rough disciplinarian, is not corrupt.

Bainimarama is a resolute, honourable man, who won't be bullied and who is probably about right when he says it will take until 2014 to sort the place out. His main worry is potential assassination.

It would make rather more sense if we calmed down and asked, "Neighbour, how can we help?"

FHL Pay Back, FNPF Pay Out, Echo Before Sound, PINA Split, CCF Wants Transparency Registrar Appointment

ANNIVERSARY. One year ago today I started the Flag counter.  Since then the blog has had  over 37,000  "unique visitors" from 131 countries some of whom visited the site 85,000 times.

(-) FIJI LIVE POLL.  Q: Is the Media Industry Development Decree good for Fiji's media industry? A: Yes  41%; No  59%. I've no idea how many people voted but the question surely should have been, "Is it good for Fiji?"  The media and Fiji are not synonymous, although sometimes one has to wonder. And, hey! I thought all negative reporting was censored.

(o) FAB AND FHL PAY BACK. Twenty-one years ago Government loaned the Fijian Affairs Board   $20 million at no interest to broaden the participation of indigenous Fijians in commerce and business. The FAB put it all in Fijian Holdings Ltd which, n turn, invested the money in a diverse collection of businesses. In 2001 the Qarase government converted the FAB loan to a grant.No money needed to be repaid.

Qarase's family trust have a significant shareholding in FHL, the questionable ownership of which is currently before the courts.  This week  the Bainimarama government reversed the Qarase government grant, turning it back again into an interest-free loan that must be repaid by the FAB and thus FHL. Fortunately, FHL profits increased dramatically during 2009, only partly due to its sale of it Forster interests, and high dividends were paid to shareholders. The holding company should have no difficulty progressively repaying the loan.

(+) FNPF. The Fiji National Provident Fund Board yesterday paid out about US$60 million to its members after declaring a 5% interest payment for the year ending June the 30th.

(-+) R's BEFORE FACE. ABC reports that "criticism of Fiji's new media laws by Australian and New Zealand governments has been echoed by journalist and rights groups in the region." This is a world first: an echo before the sound, something like thunder before lightning. The PMs were reacting to media releases. But the echo bounced off one media outlet after another in an amazing endless procession. News Limited, sole owner of the Fiji Times, unsurprisingly  called the move "an appalling assault on free speech and a terrible blow for the fragile economy of  Fiji".

(-+) DISAPPOINTED WITH SUVA-BASED PINA (Pacific Islands News Association), the editor of the Cook Islands News John Woods is setting up a new media organization to "promote media rights and represent all media in the region." He claims PINA is not standing by its core values of defending and standing up for media rights, giving PINA's failure to condemn the Fiji Media Decree as an example."All [they] seem to do is compromise and amend our ways and talk to the Fiji regime as if it’s recoverable and as if they are trainable. Well, that is not going to happen.”

PINA president Moses Stevens dismissed the criticism and  said  they’ll continue to work alongside the Fiji regime. “Apparently some people don’t agree to how this Board is carrying out its duty in terms of the media freedom situation in Fiji. And we have said many times that the government in Fiji is not a normal democratic government that’s in place. It’s a military regime and we cannot deal with the situation as we would deal with a normal democratically elected government, and we’ve responded to that.” Seems sensible to me.  You do what you can, and don't do what you can't, thus leaving your options open to influence government when Fiji comes out of the "woods.

Stop Press "Surprise." The Prime Minister of Samoa says he will give his full support to a new media organisation being established in his country.

(o) CCF: NEW CHIEF REGISTRAR'S APPOINTMENT MUST BE TRANSPARENT. The Citizens’ Constitutional Forum says that government needs to be transparent about the appointment and also the termination of the Chief Registrar’s position, as this is essential for an independent judiciary.

“For the public and the international community to have confidence in the independence of Fiji’s judiciary, it is essential that appointment and terminations for key judicial positions are conducted in an open and transparent manner by the government,” CEO Rev.Akuila Yabaki said.

The the position should be gazetted within the Civil Service and if a suitable person cannot be found, the position should be advertised.  CCF also wants to see a civilian appointment as this would "depict a more independent judiciary," ensuring that the appointment is in line with the recommendations from the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to the Fiji government on the judiciary.

Reactions to Media Decree, Not Disingenuity, Aust PM, Whaleoil Again

FOREIGN MEDIA REACTIONS TO MEDIA DECREE. Predictably these are almost totally hostile, not least from those who, from what they have written, have not even read the Decree. Their main concern has been with the limitation on foreign ownership which could result in the demise of The Fiji Times, owned by Rupert Murdoch's New Ltd.

They chose to ignore that Fiji is not alone in limiting foreign media ownership; the long history of the Fiji Times's misuse of media freedom; and none queried the obscenity of one man owning so much of the world's media and having such power to influence world opinions.  Media ownership is only important to media freedom when ownership is threatened, not when ownership threatens freedom.

Readers are probably correct. News Ltd will continue to mount a campaign against Fiji that will not result into a more conciliatory attitude by the Australian Government.One wonders whether the attack would be less frenzied had the Decree limited foreign ownership to, say, 40% instead of 10% that, in my opinion, should be more acceptable.  I doubt it.  

Congratulations to Leighton Smith for his interview with the A-G on Newstalk ZB. His listeners at least had the chance to hear the other side. I doubt other media will follow.

On April 12 I posted my assessment of the draft Media Decree, noting ten areas of concern.  I will publish a reassessment when I've had time to digest the changes to the draft and their implications. Like so many popular quotations, Thomas  Jefferson's on the media is an oversimplification but, in the context of foreign reactions to the Media Decree, it is not too far off the mark: "The man who never looks into a newspaper," he said, "is better informed than he who reads them, insomuch as he who knows nothing is nearer the truth than he whose mind is full of falsehoods and errors."

DISINGENUOUS MEANS SKILLED IN CONTRIVING. A reader writes that my comment "Readers who remember Qarase's call to Australia for military help in 2006 and the presence of two
Australian warships just outside Fiji's territorial waters will understand Fiji's reluctance to rely on Australia for protection" is unnecessarily disingenuous and places you [me] firmly in line with other media who spread disinformation through innuendo and distorted presentation of ‘facts’.

"Australia has always denied that they had any intention of involving themselves militarily in what was perceived to be a worrying, but domestic, problem. The country’s main concern was for its citizens and the warships (two, remember – not exactly an invasion force) was on standby IF citizens needed to be evacuated quickly. It was the measured and prudent response from a concerned government. Had Australia been even remotely serious about stepping in, there would have been a great deal more hardware on open display."

My comment concerned three issues: Qarase's call, the Australian warships, and Fiji's (Bainimarama's) reluctance to rely on Australia for protection. The reader is correct in saying that Australia never had any intention of invading Fiji.  PM Howard was quite clear on this point.

But there is no doubt Qarase asked Australia about a possible invasion, not once but three times, and his argument that his enquiries were not formal requests seems, yes, disingenuous.

As for the warships, coups seldom if ever threaten foreigners. It's possible they were there to evacuate Australians, though this would have been a lengthy job by helicopter (and NZ would have been remiss in not also sending a warship to evacuate its citizens). It would have been much better to put on extra Qantas flights to Nadi. But it is at least as possible the warships constituted a "presence," a veiled threat or warning to Bainimarama, and I would opt for this explanation.  The reader is possibly correct in saying "Bainimarama astutely elevated the perceived ‘threat’ as a diversionary measure" but if he did, he was no more disingenuous than Australia in sending them.

For readers wishing to check out things for themselves, these links: Just before the Coup
The Australian; Qarase's denial, Fijian Government. ABC News; Howard's refusal of Qarase's request BBC; and Victor Lal with details on the question: Did Qarase commit treason?  Fiji Buzz.

IN HIS CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO AUSTRALIAN PM GILLARD, Bainimarama stressed "the links between Fiji and Australia in particular in trade, investment, tourism, sports and  strong people-to-people links through the emigration of Fijians to Australia are pervasive, strong and cannot be ignored." He hoped she would re-look at the current policy of the Australian government towards Fiji with the objective of co-operation based on equality and understanding for the mutual benefit of the countries and their peoples.

WHALEOIL HAS TWO SWIPES AT NEW ZEALAND'S POLICY towards Fiji.  Read swipe one. Swipe two is a follow up Read swipe two. Thanks, White Fraqngipani, for these items.

Qasase Is/Isn't Shamozzle*, PER, Lagoon Resort, Fiji Forests

(o-) QARASE'S PENSION. Yesterday we welcomed a statement from Radio Australia and Michael Field that Qarase's pension was among those to be reinstated. Today the PM's Office says it is not. The incident once again illustrates the importance of Government pre-empting releases from anti-government sources, and not having to counter the reporting of events after they have been reported.

The Lagoon Resort incident reported below provides another example.  A Government News Agency, responsible for all government press statements, is urgently needed. Perhaps this could be a further task for the Acting Permanent Secretary for Information.   
P.S. A note to "Roy" and others commenting on this issue. These are not FNPF pensions!!!!

* Shamozzle = A problem that really isn't necessary, or that could easily be fixed, but usually isn't.

(o) MY PAPER ON FIJI BLOGS AND 'CYBERNET DEMOCRACY'. Several readers helped with the comments for the paper I presented at the Pacific Islands Political Studies Association conference in December. The paper, Political Blogs on Fiji: A 'Cybernet Democracy' Case Study has now been published in the Pacific Islands Journalism Review.  If you would like to read it now or later, copy this link to Mediafire, and then sscroll down to the pjr file Fiji Blogs. Alternatively click here. http://www.mediafire.com/?j3zgmndzijb  To check out and possibly subscribe to PJR, founded  by David  Robie, click the links in the left hand column.

(o-) WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH PER? Last week we were told the proclamation of the new Media Decree was very close, and then the Public Emergency Regulations would be lifted.  Now Government  has extended PER for another 30 days from 28th May.

PER came into effect on April 10, 2009 following the abrogation of the 2007 Constitution and has been extended on a month-to-month basis ever since. It is important Government gets its relations with the media back on track as soon as possible. Extending PER won't help this. There now also seems no further need to have restrictions on public meetings and other rights of assembly. Abuses of these rights can be handled by the police.

(-) INCREASING THE NEGATIVES FOR TOURISM AND INVESTMENT. It's strange. While Government and the tourist industry are working hard to grow the industry, and while everyone knows the effect of negative reporting, hasty action by the Fiji Development Bank, and insenstive on-site handling of a resort mortgage dispute by Homelink Security (a private firm staffed by former military officers), has generated more negative news for the intrepid Michael Field to release to the world. Ignore his several errors and exaggerations. This is par for Field when reporting on Fiji. The kernel of the story is bad enough. Why on earth has the FDB stopped the Lagoon Resort at Pacific Harbour, west of Suva, from operating while it disputes a mortgage issue?   The mortgage was not foreclosed. The sensible thing is surely to keep the resort open so that it may earn money to repay the mortgage and keep its staff employed. 

The NZ resort's owners, Jim and Heather Sherlock, are well known in National Party circles. They are exactly the sort of people to persuade the NZ government to "ease up" on Fiji. Let's hope they continue to do so. Their application for an injunction will be heard in Suva today, but the resort has been closed for 16 days already and forward bookings have been cancelled.

(+) CORRUPTION COMMISSION AND FJI FORESTS.The FICAC is to  investigate the suspicious sale of Fiji Forests shares.

Qarase's Pension Restored, Cybernet Terrorism, Women's Centres, Govt Borrowing, Govt & Media: PINA Says Keep Door Open

(+) ONE STEP BACK, THREE STEPS FORWARD. The PM's announcement that pension payments will resume for former parliamentary leaders and other outspoken critics is the sort of forward-looking conciliatory acts we need to see more of. Among those affected by the December Pensions Decree were former prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, and the leader of the 1987 coups, former Prime Minister Sitiiveni Rabuka.

The pension stopped was not the  FNPF pension to which all members contribute, but pension entitlements under the Parliamentary Retirement Allowances Decree 1989, the Prime Minister's Pensions Act 1994, the Judges Remuneration and Emoluments Act and the Pensions Act. This important distinction has never made clear by the international media who left the public thinking that Fiji's "John and Jane Citizen" had been reprived of pensions to which they had contributed for the whole of theire working lives.  So much, once again, for the impartiality of the media!

CYBER TERRORISM WRITES: "Croz, I think it's terrific that you've finally done what other blog owners routinely do and that is to approve every comment before it's posted. I used to admire you for upholding the principle of freedom of speech in giving people direct and unfettered access. But this freedom has been totally abused by a small minority and the recent cyber attacks make it impossible to continue with your previous practice. Sad that it's come to this but that's life on the internet - an information highway dotted with intellectual thugs and technical vandals."

Another reader, Cyber Bores,  said "Maybe we can have cyber floggings in which adolescent minded cyber vandals receive fatal doses of radiation from their screens." [To make the fullest use of this blogsite, read Comments by clicking on "comment" at the the end of each post. They add information, argument and sometimes humour.]

(+) WOMEN'S FEDERATION CENTRES. Ministry of Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation head, Dr Jiko Luveni,  says government will set up six centres, two in each Division, to help "pull women out of poverty and enable them to realize their potential in national and economic development." The centres will be run by the Fiji Womens' Federation to ensure all Government resources directed towards women empowerment are well coordinated without any duplication. The first centre at Tacirua outside Suva will open soon.

(o-) WARNINGS ON FSC AND GOVERNMENT BORROWING. The Fiji Sugar Corporation  has borrowed $86.9m locally in the last nine months, over half from the Fiji National Provident Fund at 9-10%, $22.5m from the Reserve Bank at 7-8%, and $19m from the Bank of Baroda at 8-9%, $1.4m from the Bank of South Pacific at 8.3%.Offshore borrowings was $4.2m million from the EXIM Bank of India. Total borrowings stood at $91.1 million. FSC lost $8.3m in the three months ending in February.

The Asia Development Bank and the IMF are looking for ways to assist but futher loans will depend on the success of Government's structural reforms to improve the economy. Fiji's current total debt is about 53% of GDP, which is above theshold of sustainability that international agencies prefer to loan against. The ADB has adopted a"wait and see" approach while talks continue.

GOVERNMENT AND THE MEDIA. Newly appointed Acting Secretary for Information Sharon Smith-Johns says her job is to improve communication between the interim regime and the media. She says she wants to open up the channels of communication, by making ministers and civil servants more available to the media.

“It has been difficult. The government is always willing to talk to the media. There has been some irresponsible reporting in the past, and we all know that, we recognise that, both sides. But I think moving forward, we can’t spend too much time looking at the past, what is past is past, it is moving forward, it is forming relationships, it is understanding from both sides.” She says government does not want to gag the media, and the media decree, when it is implemented, will ensure balanced reporting.

(+) MEDIA DECREE AND PINA. Pacific Islands New Association President Moses Stevens  says he has received assurances that changes were being made to the decree in areas such as the proposed penalties for for journalists deemed to have breeched the legislation.

He said it was important dialogue with the government was kept open: “If we had a closed door between us and the government, then we would be left out of the process and I think that door should be open, the government must understand where we are coming from and we will understand them and maybe we will work together at getting the people ready for 2014.” PINA says it would like to help train members of the interim government in Fiji on understanding the role of the media.

Short Briefs: Milk, Poverty, SDL Pensions, Tuilaepa, Methodists, Somare, Unoffical Villages, Asylum Seekers

Sweetened Milk. Government has made an irresistable proposal to Fiji's 235 registered dairy farmers. They will receive government subsidies for milk production, directly access assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture, manage their own co-operative, and retain their shareholdings in Rewa Dairy. The farmers supply about 11 million litres of milk a year, all which will be purchased by Rewa Dairy.

The Poverty Eradication Unit of the PM's Office held a workshop, addressed by a World Bank expert, on impact assessment yesterday.  The Qarase and Bainimarama governments have  paid out $1.5 billion from 2000 to 2008 towards poverty alleviation but poverty levels continue to rise.  The Roadmap, I think rather unrealistically,  aims to greatly reduce poverty levels by 2014.  Very major changes are needed to the Fiji economy, wage levels, land tenure, housing, institutional structures and the empowerment of the poor, to significantly reduce poverty.  At best, World Bank tweeking will only help Government keep better tags on how its money is spent.


SDL Parliamentary Pensions Cut.  The cut now affect 35 former SDL MPs and Cabinet Ministers. Parliamentary pensions should not be confused with the ordinary, contributory,  FNPF pensions which are unaffected.

PM Bainimarama thinks Samoan PM Tuilaepa's constant attacks on the Fiji Government are because he wants the Forum Secretariat to relocate to Samoa.

Methodist Church top leaders have decided not to resign because they don’t want to repeat the mistakes of the past when the church’s constitution was by-passed. [The Constution does not allow resignations?] This follows calls from within the Church for them to resign to help improve relations with Government that accused the leaders of being politicized.

Methodist Church Members have been asked to pay $60,000 towards the court expenses of Church officials who broke the Public Emergency Regulations.  The Ministers are due to appear in Court tomorrow. The charge against seven of them now involves their attempt to hold the 2009 Conference in defiance of PERs.

Sir Michael Somare may seem to have been batting simultaneously for two opposing teams by making contrary statements on Fiji in Wellington today, but this is often the Pacific Way when offence is to be avoided.

Unofficial Fijian Villages to be Official. Cabinet has addressed the longstanding anomaly of "unoffical" Fijian villages, that have mostly grown up on peri-urban Native land, and remained unrecognized because of the absence of guidelines to assess their eligibility. To be eligible a village must be on the Native land of its parent Yavusa, the landowners must have agreed to surrender their rights, and the villagers must be from one yavusa and have a recogized leader.

Asylum Seekers. It seems some former Fiji citizens now in the USA having failed in all else are now seeking to claim political refugee status in order to remain there. In one recent appeal it was ruled: "The critical question is . . . whether circumstances have changed sufficiently that a petitioner who previously did not have a legitimate claim for asylum now has a well-founded fear of future persecution." The appeal was rejected. Apparently things are no worse in Fiji.

Sunday Feature: An Insider's View from the Outside

Nesian is a pseudonym for a moderate, Fiji-born, part-Fijian, Hindi-speaking, sky-blue passport-carrying, former Fiji-resident. An Insider's View From the Outside is the result of years spent thinking about all that has happened since the 2000 coup.  Photo.  Earth from space.Oakfieldmedia.com

Looking for a Prime Minister After the Speight Coup

Former development banker Laisenia Qarase was, to Bainimarama, the perfect candidate to turn his dream of a united Fiji into reality.

Ever since Independence, Fiji’s politicians had relied on the

tried-and-tested methods of racial politics. If you were Indian, you blamed the “lazy” Fijians. If you were Fijian, you criticised the“selfish” Indians. If you were kai-loma, well you tried to align yourself with the Fijians who owned all the land, or the Indians who had all the money.Otherwise, you put your head down and hoped no one would see you.

But the stalemate that followed initial discussions between George Speight’s group and the military was resolved when Qarase was appointed interim Prime Minister. Here was a Fijian without political connections, who was untainted by the nationalistic spores that seemed to have contaminated everyone else. And for Bainimarama, he was the better choice than the openly xenophobic alternative, Adi Litia Cakobau.

As campaigning began for new elections in 2001, Bainimarama sent out civil affairs teams from the military to the remotest parts of rural Fiji. They had one directive, to urge the people to vote for Laisenia Qarase and the new Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party.It was a decision Bainimarama would regret.

The army commander was full of optimism that Qarase would use his position as leader of the country to find, expose and bring tojustice all those who allegedly had a hand in the 2000 coup and mutinies at Sukanaivalu Barracks in Labasa and Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Suva.

In Bainimarama’s eyes, Qarase rewarded them instead: a posting as high commisioner here, ambassador there, an executive posting elsewhere. And whenever someone with links to the 2000 coup was brought to justice, Qarase’s government found imaginative legal methods to let them off.

They now found themselves at odds, drawn inexorably towards their December 2006 showdown. Bainimarama, feeling betrayed; and Qarase, doing all he could to satify, if not his nationalistic leanings, at least those of his political partners with their unique creed of patriotism.