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.

NZ Earthquake, Treason Trial, Tui Cakau, SDL Offices, Tourism Initiatives, CCF, PER

N0173. EARTHQUAKE CONDOLENCES. The PM signed the condolence book for victims of the Christchurch earthquake at the New Zealand High Commission yesterday. His visit to the High Commission follows his sympathy letter sent to his counterpart  John Key last week.  A formal reply is expected later when one also hopes Fiji's condolences will be reported by the NZ media. Confirmed deaths  from Christchurch now total 155 and could rise to 240. New Zealand's worst earthquake death toll was 256 in Napier on 3 February 1931.

N0174.TAGIVEIKATA TRIAL UPDATE. Monday

N0175.PM TELLS TUI CAKAU NO MORE TALKS.  In earlier talks Ratu Naiqama told the PM to step aside and reconvene the Great Council of Chiefs to appoint an interim government.(see N014).

N0176.SDL PARTY OFFICES SEARCHED. SDL senior executive Mataiasi Ragigia  says police searched the SDL headquarters and the staff was ordered to leave. Ragigia described police manners as aggressive, but “None of us were taken in for questioning. We were just told to leave. They got into the office with a copy of the search warrant and a list of the items they wanted to take. They’re looking for some documents that will lead to some charges being laid against some people.”

The SDL had been distributing an anti-government DVD to Fijian villages as a means of countering growing government popularity among rural Fijians.The SDL claim the popularity is misplaced.

N0177.TOURISM INITIATIVES. The PM said several initiatives, such as the highest ever budget for Tourism Fiji, tourist VAT refunds and a tax free zone, have resulted in a dramatic increase of tourist numbers.

Other initiatives include the participation of i-Taukei landowners as equity holders in hotel properties, the relaxation of foreign investment rules, zero rating of tourism items, duty concessions on tourism related equipment such as jet ski’s, yachts and buses, and the introduction of the Super Yacht Decree.

“The equal distribution of land lease monies from i-Taukei owned lands, the modernisation of our penal code, the upgrading of our roads and water systems and the introduction of the Domestic Violence Decree all have either directly or indirectly and positively impacted properties, new tourism development, problems related to staffing and social justice issues.” Tourism now contributes 31% of GNP; it is a major source of employment,business activity foreign currency earnings. -- Based on No:0517 and 0518/MOI.

N0178. CCF CALLS FOR END TO EMERGENCY REGULATIONS. SUVA (Radio NZ International/Pacific Media Watch): Fiji’s Citizens' Constitutional Forum says the Public Emergency Regulations need to be lifted so proper political dialogue can start. The PER were implemented in April 2009, and were to have been lifted when the media decree came in last year, but were not.

The Forum’s head, the Reverend Akuila Yabaki, says the regulations are an infringement on people’s right to participate in the process of reforming the country’s political process.

“I think government could listen to more ideas. And the people have a right to be heard. There’s no civil unrest and I think you cannot prepare people for a new mode of democracy, without opening up and getting rid of the Public Emergency Regulations.”

Reverend Yabaki says while some good work is being done, it needs to continue.

Note:  I support the call in principle but think the timing unfortunate given the uncertain situation this week, but a clear signal from Government to lift PER soon would do much to reduce the rumours and ease the situation.

Nadi-Rarotonga Flights, More Blog Distortions, Thoughts on Village Visits, Ba Iron Sands, Sugar for Japan

N0072. AIR PACIFIC TO FLY TO RAROTONGA.  Regional tourist arrivals are expected to rise with the opening of a new route between between Nadi and Rarotonga. The service was previously provided  by Air New Zealand.

Air Pacific is in the process of reaching an agreement with the Cook Islands Government for a three-year contract on the weekly flight  that will also offer Cook Islanders direct north-bound connections to the Hong Kong service, and enable the islands to better market tourism from Europe and the UK. The international airport in Rarotonga, the largest of the nation's 15 islands, has daily internal flights to some of the other islands.

N0073. MORE BLOG DISTORTIONS. Two news items have been published on housing in Fiji late last week.  One was about the Housing Authority easing the lot of its mortgagees if they were poor or unemployed; the other was about the eviction of squatters who were thought to be drug dealers.

The anti-government blog, Fiji Today (I still hopefully call it moderate) ignored the first news item that  reflected favourably on Government and then distorted the report on the other by missing out what a squatter had to say about the police action.

Its heading-cum-comment read: "The disciplined forces are targetting people ALLEGEDLY involved in criminal activities. Kicking people out of squatter settlements simply moves the problem elsewhere it does not solve it." It then went on to report the first half of the Fiji Times report on the eviction of some people from the  Wailea and Viria settlements along Fletcher Road in Vatuwaqa, Suva who were suspected marijuana dealers and black marketeers. 

In the part they missed out (and I quote the Fiji Times), "Jone Vitukawalu, who lives in the area, said the community were grateful of what the police were doing. Some people are starting to have the perception that this settlement is made up of criminals and of people who support criminals. "

I agree that kicking people out of squatter settlements will not solve the squatter problem but why did Fiji Today not cite what Jone Vitukawalu had to say? It puts a totally different perspective on the evictions.

N0074. MORE ON GOVERNMENT VISITS TO VILLAGES.  A reader had this to say on my"Government and the People: Three Examples" posting: "This, of course, will be branded as pro-regime propaganda by the unholy alliance of activists from the SDL and assorted "human right" and media types. But the fact remains that a remarkably constant theme emerges from these village visits; that no senior government representatives have ever bothered to show their faces there before.

It seems incredible that given the grass roots nature of Fijian politics, previous elected governments seem to have treated ordinary constituents with such disdain. If this is "the first time" government ministers have got out and about to listen to ordinary peoples' concerns, what on earth has been going on? Have they just assumed that everyone would fall into line and vote for them? Or have they relied on the chiefs to deliver Fijian votes in a collective bloc? It's really quite extraordinary.

In colonial times, district officers and commissioners were constantly holding pow-wows in villages all over Fiji, explaining the government's policies and seeking local opinion. Even successive governors, who were treated like gods, made a point of going on " treks" to the inland or outer islands to show the flag and gauge local opinion.

If it takes a dictatorship to finally bother to listen to the concerns of ordinary people, it doesn't say much for the quality of democracy Fiji had before. It struck me that Frank Bainimarama was being rather hopeful when he said he was planning to win the battle for the hearts and minds of village people over his opponents. But perhaps listening to them and finally delivering some basic services will change attitudes for the better and pave the way for lasting change. Fascinating stuff."

N0075. BA IRON SANDS. Foreign exchange earnings from the mineral resource sector are expected to increase significantly now that Australian-based mining company, Amex Resources, has negotiated a long term (45-year plus) lease agreement over a substantial area of Fiji's major bulk shipping port at Lautoka. The tenure will allow the stockpiling and export of the company's Ba Delta magnetite iron sands concentrates, and with direct access by barge, it now has easy access to the magnetite deposit located 30km away. The length of the lease indicates the expected potential life of the iron sands resource. The company estimates the resource contains  220 million tonnes with further potential both inland and seaward. Initial exports are likely to total an annual 750,000 tonnes.

N0076. FIJI SUGAR FOR JAPAN. Fiji could soon start exporting sugar to Japan. Sojitz Corporation officials from Japan  will visit Fiji soon for direct consultation with FSC officials on proposed quota and shipment arrangements. Fiji's Tokyo Embassy has briefed the visitors on the Fiji sugar industry and the prospects/projection of production from 2011 onwards based on the restructure and streamlining of the various bodies within the Fiji Sugar Corporation, the current crop now under cultivation, and the availability of farm lands for large scale farming as opposed to small scale family unit cultivation.-- Based on 2011, No: 0161/MOI.  Given the FSC record to date, we keep our fingers crossed!

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.

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.

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.

Rinakama Seen in Downtown Suva

This comment  is from "The Max."  I'd be pleased to learn of any more "sightings." If Max is not  mistaken, why hasn't Rinakama or the SDL not admitted he is no longer being held by the RFMF. 
Postscript. It now has. Rinakama is alive and well and was released from detention on March 10. See later postings.

TheMax said...
" Hi Croz,
I just noticed you still have the Peceli Rinakama missing story on your page when I surfed your blog today. I just wanted to put the matter to rest.

Last Saturday, I was standing near a church in downtown Suva and saw Mr Rinakama crossing the street just in front of me. He actually looked well wearing a pair of shorts, canvas/sneaker and a nice jersey (I think it was a Fiji Rugby souvenir jersey, must have worn the jesrsey in support of the Fiji 7s team).

I was even surprised to see him looking well and good considering I've been reading so much negative news about his arrest on the different blogs.

So please end this rumour mongering and let's move on. I'm pretty sure Mr Rinakama must have joined the RFMF guys at Nabua for a grog session after his "arrest" from the Qaranivalu's residence weeks ago.

BTW, you've been doing a good job. Keep it up and just like the passing of the health care bill in the United States congress yesterday, the naysayers will continue to lie about everything done to make lives better because they can't look beyond the tip of their ugly noses. Their narrow-mindedness stinks like the Kinoya sewerage treatment plant I get depressed reading their comments. I've decided to stop going to there sites."

(o+) Appeal to My Cousins Across the Ditch

 The Australian government seems to have taken no notice of Prof. Herr's report, repeating the old line: no relaxation of sanctions until there's signs of progress towards a "return to democracy and the rule of law."  But there are many things happening to improve governance long-term, and the lot of the ordinary Fijian short and long-term.

My Appeal to Australia (and NZ)

Leaving aside the "return to" (How could you  possibly believe the Qarase government was democratically elected or acted in ways that democratically-elected governments should, and usually do), there are "signs of progress": witness the Citizens' Assembly in Suva yesterday and the one in the West next month. Dialogue is going on.  Not as much as you may wish, but dialogue nonetheless.

You could argue that the old parliamentary parties should be included in the dialogue.  This seems reasonable until examined more closely. Qarase's SDL (and its links with the Speight Coup perpetrators) are in large part responsible for the situation in Fiji today. Qarase has also said his SDL party opposes the People's Charter. It's difficult for Bainimarama to include people in dialogue when they refuse to even consider the merits of the Charter. Bainimarama will not negotiate with Qarase and the SDL. He thinks them spent forces, irrelevant to Fiji's future.

For Bainimarama, the Charter is the bedrock on which the future Constitution will be built, and  elections in 2014 will be conducted according to the  new Constitution.

Qarase (if you truly love Fiji), and Australia and New Zealand (if you are truly Fiji's friends), examine the Charter. Spell out what you disagree with, and what you can work with. Acknowledge that the Citizens' Assemblies are "progress." Acknowledge also that the Bainimarama government is doing many things for the ordinary Fiji citizen that should have been done years ago.

I know you, Australia,  are not deliberately trying to  cripple Fiji, its governance and economy. But your rigid stance is making things worse. Your  so-called "smart sanctions" are hurting the ordinary Fijians you say you are trying not to hurt.  I'm told there's an influx of ordinary Fiji citizens into Australia. I suspect this is as much, or more, due to economic than political factors.

Things are moving in Fiji, slowly, erratically and not always as you may wish. Often Fiji government spokesmen are their own worse enemy. It's often a case of two steps forward, one step back.  But Bainimarama, at least, is genuine.

Applaud the good things his government is doing.  Offer technical and other support to help him achieve his stated goals. Stop pushing him into a corner. Ease back on the isolation. And hurry. The longer this takes, the greater the dangers.  Help to keep him on track. He's far more likely to heed a friend than an enemy. Offer  all the help you can to promote truly democratic change in Fiji.

Heed the advice of many: Richard Herr, Peter Thomson, Scott MacWilliam, your fellow Australians, and in Fiji that veteran stalwart of "true" democracy, the Rev. Akuila Yabaki. All of them want more flexibility in your policies. None of them like coups but all of them want positive outcomes from a coup that has already happened.

The only clock you can turn back by your inflexible policy is a return to the far-from-democratic and racist government of Qarase -- and none of the deep-rooted problems which caused the 2006 Coup would have been resolved. Back to square one and -- counting -- and over three years lost.  You (and my own government)  cannot want this!

(+) More on Ratu Naiqama: Chiefly and Clerical Abuse of Power

Letter from a Reader

Dear Croz,   Your recent report on Paramount chief Turaga Na Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu was well-put. Even so, you missed a more recent episode in his chiefly career:

Towards the end of August last year (2008), the National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF) offered to explain the draft Peoples Charter to participants at the annual Methodist Church Conference; however the offer was rejected by the church’s ‘Think Tank’, shortly thereafter resulting in the church [read, ‘it’s leaders’] rejecting the draft Charter. Immediately following the rejection, the heads of all three confederacies (Ro Teimumu Kepa – Burebasaga; Ratu Naiqama – Tovata; Ratu Apenisa Cakobau – Kubuna) presented a tabua to the Methodist Church as a token of their support for the church’s stance on the Charter.

This act was perceived as the chiefs using the Methodist Church and their own symbolic status to promote the interests of the SDL (the three are open supporters) – and by accepting the tabua, of the Methodist Church conducting a political campaign on behalf of the SDL to stop people exercising their individual rights with respect to the draft Charter.

In addition, I perceive the act – offer and acceptance – as evidence for and strengthening of the close relationship between the Methodist Church and the chiefs, that commenced in the mid-1800s with missionaries Cross and Cargill and was otherwise openly demonstrated during the 2008 (or was it 2007?) Methodist Conference in Macuata when 84 turtles were presented (dead, of course) to the Methodist Church leaders: as far as I am aware, in Fijian custom turtles are presented ceremoniously only to chiefs.

With reference to your report therefore, and recalling the 2005-06 'qoliqoli bill' that helped to precipitate the installation of the current Fiji government, it is interesting to muse over Ratu Naiqama's position regarding that bill.


[Name withheld]

(B) How Credible Is Peter Foster's "Fiji Truth"?

Thakur Ranjit Singh closely examines ten allegations made by convicted conman Peter Foster which, if true, implicate a number of prominent people opposed to the Bainimarama-led government in the planning and execution of the 2000 Speight coup, the murder of John Scott, and election fraud in the 2006 election.

Read more...

Fostering and Adding Credibility to Peter Foster’s “Fiji Truth”
Thakur Ranjit Singh

The mountainous scrap heaps of respectability, chastity, trust and reverence are littered with skeletons of priests, swamis, mullahs, Rabbis and other guardians of faith, godliness and goodliness on whose good character we are prepared to will our lives away. Despite this, at one time or the other, they end up betraying our trust.

Yet, we are so unprepared and unwilling to listen to people with shady past and who happen to be the other side of the chastity coin. We are so preconceived about such people who could deliver thoughts, opinions, view and revelations that strangely may hold great deal of water and credibility, had we not been blinded by their past.

One such person is the celebrated, and perhaps notorious Peter Foster who the New Zealand media in general and NZ Herald in particular has brushed aside as a mere “convicted conman” In a very unbalanced and unprofessional article, NZ Herald failed to elaborate on what Foster has said and only took comments from those who suited the paper’s line of thinking on Fiji. They failed to speak to anybody who may have contributed a bit of light on what he had said in his ‘Fiji Truth “article. I will try to do what a first world media failed to do.

I will pick excerpts of Peter Foster’s revelation in his article, “Fiji Truth” and attempt to link them to other independent sources to show their credibility and a plea to the supposed balanced first world media to dig the truth and accept that what Foster revealed are not only the ranting of a convicted fraud but some facts that have independent proof of credibility. I enumerate them as follows:

1) Foster revealed 2000 coup was all about forests and mahogany (p.9). This has been substantiated by other writers including Brij Lal and lately Susan Trnka in her book, State of Suffering: Political Violence and Community Survival in Fiji (p.40). The burning of the offices of Fiji Hardwoods and many writings and revelations reveal what Foster is saying on this issue is true, and they have been well covered by Fiji media. Dr Brij Lal adds: “But it would be grave mistake to see George Speight acting all on his own. If he were, the crisis would have had a limited and inconsequential life. Behind him, in the shadows, were individuals and groups, writing his speeches, devising position papers, building up the mass support base and orchestrating the crowds, people who had little to lose but everything to gain from the overthrow of the Chaudhry government. Among them were politicians defeated at the last elections or otherwise excluded from power, and seeking redress and probably revenge……“Speight was also supported by people like himself, young businessmen on the make, who rode the gravy train of the 1990s, benefitted from opportunistic access to power, secured large unsecured loans from the National Bank of Fiji, but then found their prospects for continued prosperity dimming upon the election of a new government.. Prominent local businessmen-cum politicians in the previous SVT government supported the destabilization campaign. Peter Foster merely repeated what reputed academics have already stated.

2) Foster’s claim that 2000 coup had to do with intra-Fijian struggles, (p.10) having to do more with confederacy rivalries– Fijian struggles rather than the racial issue. There was push by Speight to pass leadership of Fiji from Eastern chiefs to Kubuna leadership, hence his demand for Adi Samanunu to be made PM. When this was said and revealed in Fiji TV “Close-Up” programme by Jone Dakavula, Fiji TV was trashed during occupation of parliament by Speight’s thugs. This has been well documented and covered by Fiji media.

3) Foster’s claim of Savua’s involvement (p.11) is confirmed in Michael Field and Baba’s book, Speight of Violence (p. 264) where Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, in Richard Broad bridge’s TV interview, named Savua as somebody tied up with events of 2000. This was also revealed in Savua Enquiry article in the Daily Post of 6 May, 2001(Liu Muri by Aage Picche). This article led to dismissal of yours truly as publisher of Daily Post for the article which called the then Chief Justice’s enquiry on Savua as a fraud on the nation, and refusing to apologize and retract the paper’s claim. Romanu Tikotikoca and Mesake Koroi are well aware of the push by Judge Tuvaga and the Lauan mafia on the Daily Post. The world cries when Anglo Saxon ( read “white”) publishers of The Fiji Times and the Fiji Sun get booted out but the sacking of the Indo-Fijian Daily Post publisher by Qarase regime was a muted event, both in media circles and in reaction by the international community.

4) Foster’s claim on involvement of Fijian Holding Limited (FHL) office for planning coup and involvement of Qarase in FHL corruption (p- 13) is substantiated by Hansard report of 1993. In the Senate sitting of 18 May, 1993 (pp. 731-748), Senator Manu Korovulavula moved a motion for the Senate to call on Government to carry out an investigation into the method adopted by the Board of the Fijian Holdings Limited to allow limited liability companies to buy shares into the company (FHL) without the knowledge of 14 Provinces. Senator Korovulavula had stated that the motion was brought on a point of principle to reveal less than honest dealings of people in position of power, knowledge and trust. This reveals the wheeling and dealing of the mighty and powerful including Qarase, Weleilakeba, Bakani, Vitusaqavulu, Yabaki and other big names. A widely circulated article by yours truly details the wrong-doing of the FDB/ NBF connection.

5) Foster’s claim on murder of John Scott and Savua’s involvement and cover-up (p.14) is quite intriguing. This was brought into light by a TV documentary by John Scott’s brother that raises more questions that it answers. This documentary was also shown in the Asia Pacific Journalism course by head of Pacific Media Centre and Associate Professor at AUT, Dr David Robie in the first semester of 2009. It links the killing to political leanings rather than to a supposed action of a religious anti-gay fanatic who was merely confined to a mental institution, and may soon be released.

6) Foster's claim of Qarase rewarding Savua and others who had given hand in the ultra-nationalist agenda, with diplomatic postings. Among others this included Savua, Adi Samanunu, Inoke Kubuobola, Anare Jale and Waqanisau. Yours truly had documented this in his opinion articles but no action was taken and Qarase was allowed to rape democracy under a supposed democratic regime.

7) Foster’s claim of Ratu Jope Seniloli’s release by disbarred Attorney General Qoriniasi Bale on medical grounds but the medical report went missing from the files. This has been substantiated by the newspaper reporting.

8) Foster’s claim that Chaudhry was charged, convicted and jailed for death driving. This is true and is substantiated by the newspaper reports.

9) Foster’s claim of election fraud (p. 4) and Agriculture scam are facts supported by court cases and newspaper reports. The then Permanent Secretary of Agriculture Peniasi Kunatuba became the fall guy who copped the blame for the fruits of fraud that Qarase gained as part of Agricultural scam. This has been well enumerated and detailed in J. Fraenkel and S Firth (eds) book, From Election to Coup in Fiji: the 2006 Campaign and its Aftermath. In the article titled,” Tainted Elections”, there is a long list of things that went wrong during 2006 election, and lends light to claims that things did not go well in 2006 elections and credibility of the observer team was brought into question. Father David Arms is quoted:” On the basis particularly of the ethnic bias which was so pervasive in the 2006 election; I cannot possibly give a verdict that they were” free and fair” “(p. 348) There is claim of vote-buying with $30m agricultural scam. “The FLP has consistently held that the 2001 general election was not free and fair – marred by vote-buying/bribery, defective electoral rolls, official bias and systematic vote-rigging. As a result, the FLP was deprived of victory in at least six marginal Open constituencies, which altered the results in favour of SDL” (p.348) He claims a detailed report listing the cases of malpractice were given to the then Supervisor of Election, Walter Rigamoto, but he failed to take any actions. Hence, there was no guarantee in fairness of 2006 elections.

10) Foster's claim of involvement of Methodist Church leaders in the instability and election is also revealed in the book mentioned above – The role of the Assembly of Christian Churches (ACCF) in Fiji in 2006 elections by Lynda Norton. (pp. 300-314). Norton outlines how the Methodist Church and their associates were directly involved in mobilizing Christian support for SDL by castigating non-Christians. In paid advertisement during elections, (The Fiji Times, 10 May, 2006) it virtually said that Fiji should be ruled by Christians and unless this was done, God’ wrath will be placed on people of Fiji (p.301). The intention of ACCF has been to declare Fiji a Christian state and solicit Fijian and Christian rule in Fiji.

Conclusion

From the 60-page document that the supposed convicted fraudster has written, I just enumerated some ten points which can be independently substantiated or verified. The claims by Peter Foster cannot be swept under the carpet just because of his reputation. New Zealand Herald just cannot pass the issues as insignificant just because Peter Foster is a convicted fraudster. They had gone and obtained only statements which they wanted to hear and failed to give the story any balance. I have in the past written perspective articles in NZ Herald and they have my contacts and are aware of my alternative views, but it suits the blinkered mainstream media of NZ not to talk to those who would shatter their myth on Fiji’s political problems and its failed democracy.

Chaudhry's FLP on the Commonwealth Suspension, But Where's the FLP's"Road Map"?

The Fiji Labour Party website reveals something of Mahendra Chaudhry's thinking. He sees Fiji's Commonwealth expulsion as regrettable (but is heartened it will remain engaged in seeking an early return to constitutional rule); largely symbolic (because little technical aid is involved, although Fiji's young people will miss out on the Delhi Games) -- but it does send a "clear message" to Bainimarama to reconvene the President’s Political Dialogue Forum and hold elections by October next year.

In awaiting the arrival of the Commonwealth special representative, Sir Paul Reeves, this week, Chaudhry lists the things the Government needs to do: include the SDL and FLP in discussions; reconvene the PPDF; and re-examine its roadmap.

He has no list of the things his party (and the SDL) need to do. Which is a pity because positive FLP (and SDL) roadmaps just might produce a positive Bainimarama response. The FLP and the SDL need to spell out what they have learnt from the past six years, and what they plan to do to correct the situation that led to Bainimamama's ascendancy and the 2006 Coup.

If they don't, they could find themselves excluded from discussions with Sir Paul, and from the PPDF, and that would not be good for Fiji. Constructive dialogue requires concessions by BOTH sides. Unfortunately, for the moment, Chaudhry's vision of the future seems to be a return to the past. Illustration: FLP logo.

(o+) Is Convicted Con-man Peter Foster Telling the Truth? If so, the 2001 and 2006 Elections Were Rigged!

STOP PRESS. CAN ANY READER PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE TAPES AND WHETHER ONE WAS IN FACT BROADCAST ON TVFIJI?

"I don't expect anybody for one minute to believe one word Peter Foster says. I'm just a silly bugger who wore the video camera and listening device. Listen to what they say."-- Peter Foster.

Australian convicted con-man Peter Foster (photo*) has been jailed in six countries, been charged with money laundering, selling slimming products without a licence, work permit violations and dubious political and land dealings in Fiji, and has only recently been released from jail in Australia. With this reputation he's difficult to believe, but he's also been an undercover agent for the Australian and British police; a backer of Tupeni Baba's NLUP party in the 2001 Fiji election; a confidant of SDL 2001 and 2006 election strategists Navitilai Nasori and Jale Baba, and, in early 2007, he was "wired" by Fiji's military to secretly tape a meeting with Nasori and Baba. They freely admitted the elections were rigged, and said Qarase and most of his ministers were deep in corrupt practices. The first of these tapes was shown on Fiji TV, before Foster was whisked out of the country to reappear in Vanuatu before extradition to Australia.

Here are his main claims:

• NLTB officers accepted backhanders to arrange land deals for overseas investors.
• The 2000 'Speight' coup was about mahogany deals, not indigenous rights.
• The coup was backed by about 20 businessmen and prominent Fijians. Speight was just a frontman.
• There was a plot to "take out" two key witnesses, Josaia Waqabaca and Macui Navakasuasua, who could identify the 2000 Coup backers.
• Red Cross worker John Scott and his partner Greg Scrivener were murdered for similar reasons.
• Police Commissioner Isikia Savua was involved in the 2000 Coup and in rigging the 2001 election by swapping ballot papers. Savua also helped cover up Scott's murder.
  
• Both the 2001 and 2006 Elections were rigged. Police were involved.
  
• Qarase and most of his ministers were very corrupt.
• Australia's Howard government turned a blind eye to what was happening and was behind Qarase's re-election.
• Some people in the SDLparty had plans to stop Bainimarama's return from NZ just before the 2006 coup/military intervention, and to "take him out" if this failed.
  

All or at some of this could, of course, be another con trick, but having read his interview by ABC journalist Monica Attard (click here for a transcript of the full interview) and his own account of his political involvements in Fiji from 2001 to early 2007 (click here), I think those he names have a case to answer. Too many of his accusations tally with the accusations of others and with well known events and actors to be merely figments of a con-man's mind.

For the record, he believes "Frank Bainimarama ... for all the right reasons has removed a very corrupt, very dangerous government. I understand everyone says you cannot remove a democratically elected government through a military coup. Of course I understand that. However, there isn't a thinking man, woman or child in the world today who wouldn't understand if the military regime in Zimbabwe had stood up and got rid of Mugabe. And I'm using the same analogy."

Extract from the Attard Interview

Monica Attard: Don't you think it's a real shame that while you have the ability to use your notoriety to bring attention to Fiji's problems like you are right now, that really at the end of the day, you can't be taken seriously because of your chequered past?

Peter Foster: This is why I said at the time. I worked for Fiji military intelligence and I wore listening devices and I had these tiny little video cameras on me and I videoed three top people who said that the elections were rigged. And when we came out with this, I said "I don't expect anybody for one minute to believe one word Peter Foster says. I'm just a silly bugger who wore the video camera and listening device. Listen to what they say."

* Peter Foster's mother, Louise Foster and her Fiji Trust. have been supporting humanitarian causes in Fiji for over 30 years.

Speculation Elections in November-December, and Other Stories

The NZ DominionPost reports (2 March):  "Fiji's military regime is quietly moving towards general elections for later this year despite public utterances by dictator Voqere Bainimarama rejecting regional calls for an urgent return to democracy, sources in Suva say.  Growing speculation around a November-December election was reinforced by a statement that he had been looking at Indian voting machines this week."  [One really does wonder about the sources for these stories and why no effort is made to check their reliability. Any news is better than no news?  Note also the "unbiased" choice of words!]

Col. Pita Driti continues with his warnings about who will not be allowed to participate in the President's Political Dialogue Forum.  His most recent "victim" is former SDL MP and HotBread owner Mere Samisoni who he accused of supporting the 2000 Speight Coup. She had delivered bread to the coup-makers for which she said they paid.  I suspect Mere did support the coup, which she denies, but Col. Driti, with respect, how come you decide who will attend?  Very moderate statements are needed from all parties as we head into the Forum landing. 

This advice also applies to  SDL Director Peceli Kinivuwai who has laid the blame for Greater Suva's worsening water supply on the Interim Government. Secretary for Information Neuma Leweni correctly accused him of trying to get political traction from a long standing problem. The water pipes were laid over 40 years ago and have been irregularly maintained as Suva's population more than trebled. Speaking on World Consumer Day in 2004, when Greater Suva used 150 million litres of water daily, former PM Qarase noted leaks responsible for 15-25% water loss in Greater Suva and close to 50% nationally. It was hoped to reduce this to 30% by 2007. Hardly the fault of the Interim Government! (Walsh Fiji: an Encylopaedic Atlas 2006: 184)

Some 18 political parties have submitted suggestions for the 15 NGOs that will be represented at the President's Political Dialogue Forum.The Interim PM will make the final selection.

FHRC Shaista Shameen has been elected chairperson of the UN Working Group investigating the employment of military mercenaries.

The Court has issued a stay order, deferring the introduction of a compulsory retirement age of 50 for public servants.

The Fiji Island Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has launched its own website www.ficac.org.fj Some 29 charges have been laid but to date there's only been one conviction.

Who Dunnit? Attar Singh's Car

All major English-medium newspapers ran articles on last week's night-time stoning of Attar Singh's car. All those invited to comment by the media (except Government spokesman Major Neumi Leweni) called upon the Interim Government and the Police to condemn this and other recent similar actions. The attacks would seem, as Mike Beddoes told the Fiji Sun, to be the work of "elements linked or sympathetic to the Interim Government."

The Police said the enquiry was especially difficult: it was dark and there were few witnesses.

Major Leweni said, "The Interim Government does not need to be told what to do." But I'm afraid it does, if it does or says nothing. The DepSec. of Information could have approved, condemned, or said he would respond later. The one thing he could not do was not answer the question. This could --and no doubt has-- been taken as approval. Showing no knowledge of (civilian) tactics, he has played straight into the hands of the IG's opponents.

Other comments included:

SDL party NatDir. Peceli Kinivuwai:
"The attacks are...typical of police states with no respect for law and order ... The incident is clearly part of a systematic campaign of intimidation aimed at critics of the interim regime,” Fiji Daily Post.

Former parliamentary Opposition leader, Mike Beddoes:
"... despicable and cowardly and was counter productive to the successful outcome of the President’s Political Dialogue Forum meeting last week ... the attacks were not random and come after similar incidents against Fiji Times Editor Netani Rika, unionist Kenneth Zinck and other known figures who have openly expressed their views against the military-backed government." Fiji Sun.

CCF ExecDir.Rev. Akuila Yabaki:
“The attacks are following a clear trend, targeting a particular group of civil society members members who may possess similar views on democracy ... Interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama should condemn these attacks as a matter of priority and assure civil society members of their safety.” Fiji Live.

Movement for Democracy Fiji DepChair., Emitai Boladuadua:
"The Movement will not be intimidated by those who use the cover of darkness to terrorise families of known advocates of democracy, human rights and rule of law in the country." Fiji Times.

My Comments

There would seem to be three possible lines of enquiry:

1. The attacks are by persons with pro-IG links. This seems the most probable explanation. If correct, I'd want to know whether they were officially approved (which seems most unlikely) or if anyone in Government or the military knows or suspects who these misguided culprits might be.

2. The attacks are not politically motivated. They were conducted by the same (or by different groups of) vandals for "kicks." This seems the least likely explanation but it should not be discarded too early.

3. The attacks are by persons with anti-Government links seeking to gain political mileage for acts which the public will --incorrectly-- blame the Government.

This last possibility is the least likely but the tactic has been used many times before throughout the world. Perhaps the most infamous example was when the Nazis set fire to the Reichstag (German parliament) and successfully passed the blame to their main opponents at the time, the Communists. The Nazis gained, and the Communists lost, public support.

If I were a Government adviser, I would immediately condemn these attacks, and do everything I could to bring the culprits to justice, starting with an enquiry among my supporters.

I would also ask why now? Could it have something to do with the PPDF? Who stands to gain most by these actions at this time? Surely it is NOT the Interim Government.

(o) The PM's Unwise Decision on PPDF Meeting: Opinion

The Interim PM's decision not to invite* three hostile political parties (Qarase's SDL, the Indo-Fijian NFP, and the racist Vanua Tako Lavo) to the President's Political Dialogue Forum process meeting (due to start tomorrow to decide the PPDF's terms of reference and agenda) can only be bad news for Fiji. Perhaps the worst in a long time.

The reason for their exclusion is obvious. Their collective record over the past two years has not helped Fiji, and they would almost certainly have sought to disrupt the Forum process, or walk out having not agreed to the agenda and terms of reference. From this perspective, Bainimarama's position seems perfectly understandable (“we want people involved in the political dialogue process who are loyal to Fiji and will discuss issues in terms of the national interest of the people of Fiji.”).

But it is also besides the point. This is a process leading to dialogue, not a rally of political supporters. You cannot arrive at an acceptable consensus by only talking to your friends. NFP leader Pramod Rae is right in saying "the non-participation of both parties will place a lot of doubt on the credibility of the Forum." At the admittedly flawed 2006 elections over one-half of voters voted for the SDL or NFP. Had they been invited and then walked out of tomorrow's meeting, Bainimarama's position would have been strengthened.

There are two further reasons why these parties must ultimately be included. First, as USP historian Dr Sandra Tarte says in another Fiji Times article on March 12th: "Now is the time for flexibility and pragmatism from all political parties ... One should also not rule out the possibility that the positions of the major political parties on certain issues might have shifted since the last election." It is a big ask, but it is a possibility. Little, politically, is as it was before December 2006, and Fiji needs to hang on to every possible helpful possibility.

The second, and more important, reason is that UN and Commonwealth representatives will be at the main Forum meetings. Their presence alone should increase the likelihood of reasonable debate. It will be easier for the public and the world to distinguish between obstructionists and those who seek progress towards a genuine democracy. Their presence should also result in the Forum's decisions being accepted by fair-minded people in Fiji and the international community. Justice, it is said, must be done and be seen to be done.

One can only hope that when the full PPDF finally meets, Voqere Bainimarama will have seen the wisdom of inviting those who have been his most vocal critics, even Laisenia Qarase whom he has the most reason to despise.

To do otherwise could turn the PPDF -- quite possibly Fiji's last lifeline to normalcy -- into something of a farce. -- Crosbie Walsh

* POSTSCRIPT Fiji Times 12:57pm. Parmesh Chand, the permanent secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, said the reported withdrawal of invites by interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama was news to him because he was unaware of any such development. Click here. My remarks may be premature.

POSTSCRIPT. Fiji Times Update: 5:11pm "No political party has been barred from the meeting, contrary to earlier media reports."

POSTSCRIPT 10:30 NZ time. No explanation or apology was given for yet another string of false media reports. Why does the media keep doing this? Is it incompetence, their normal way to "make" (and then "unmake") news, or just sheer political bias? Whatever, it's a poor record from which to argue the need for freedom of the press!

(+) Un-Pacific Neighbours

Auckland-based journalist and political commentator Thakur Ranjit Singh (TRS) has a weekly column in the Fiji Times. Last week, in "Un-Pacific Neighbours", he reflected -- fairly but a little sharply -- on recent comments by Samoan PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegao that he thought aggrevated the situation and could make Bainimarama more resistant to calls from the PI Forum.

Here are some extracts.

Tuilaepa advised Bainimarama to seek advice from his Church leaders.
TRS: "He fails to realise that the Methodist Church has become a political wing of the SDL Party and has been so heavily embroiled in politics that it has overlooked its manifest functions of promoting spiritual enhancement, love for neighbours and moral values."

Tuilaepa advised Bainimarama to return to the barracks.
TRS: "I shudder to think of the outcome of Tuilaepa's advice to Bainimarama: allow for elections within this year to fulfill the Forum's demand, return to the barracks and make the military firmly answerable to the elected government. Was not Bainimarama doing exactly that to the elected government of Qarase when the fundamentalist Church and militant Taukei leaders manipulated his racist SDL for their blinkered and jaundiced agenda?"

Tuilaepa advised Bainimarama to hold early elections.
TRS: "What will [such] an election achieve? SDL will come up with bigger numbers, there would be vote rigging as in the past and the unfair and uneven representation from a flawed electoral system will create similar coup situations. After so-called democratic election, the Forum and international community will go back to sleep and Indo-Fijians will be destined to slavery and girmit (indenture) under a morally bankrupt and racist regime. Is that what TISI*, NFP, Fiji Law Society, elements of some trade unions and NGOs wish for Indo-Fijians? If that is also the level of understanding Samoa and its supporters in the Pacific Forum have of Fiji, then we need to question the usefulness of this august body."

*Then India Sanmarge Ikya Sangam Fiji (TISI) is a South Indian religious and cultural organization based in Nadi. Dor Sami Naidu is TISI's National President, President of the Fiji Law Society, and a strong Interim Government critic.

Click here to read the article in full.

Two Interim Govt Critics with More than One Hat
Readers should be aware that opinions can double (or even treble) their apparent importance when the media asks one person belonging to several organizations to speak on issues. Attar Singh is the best example. He speaks as a trade unionist, an NGO activist, and as a member of a political party. Pramod Rae is another example.

Attar Singh. GenSec Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions; Chairperson, Movement for Democracy In Fiji; Executive member of National Federation Party; unsuccessful candidate in several elections. In the 2006 election he polled 6% of votes in the Suva City Open electorate.

Parmod Rae. GenSec National Federation Party; formerly GenSec Bank and Financial Sector Employees Union - removed by the Court after an appeal that the election was rigged; unsuccessful candidate in several elections. In the 2006 election he polled 5% of votes in the Samabula Tamavua Open electorate.

Last Week in Fiji: First Week of March

SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR THIS WEEK'S NOTICES

Punch Drunk and the 3R's

It's been a bad week for the Interim Government. First they were hit by the US Human Rights Report; then the International Bar Association Report ; then the Commonwealth CMAG Report (each with opportunites for umpteen opponents to make umpteen comments) and, if that was not enough, this weekend produced some bad economic signals from Moody's and the tourism industry, on which brief comments below. I will comment on the "human rights" reports later in the week.

Postings this week included:
* Commerce Commissioner dismissal
* Two important "historic" comments by Steve Ratuva
* Ratu Isoa on the role of the military [Major post]
* Walsh on Bainimarama's need for a public relations
officer --- the Commonwealth announcement [Major post]

(o) The Commonwealth Ministers' Action Group.
I thought their decision very reasonable. They didn't ask for elections by September; only that the process started. If all goes well with the PPDF, it should be possible to announce an election date before then, and indeed before May 1st. But there's no way elections can be held in less than 12 months. See 26 February post: Why Elections Cannot be Held by December.

(o+) The Slightly Lengthened Arm of the Law

The Fiji Law Society, the US Human Rights Report and High Court Judge Nazhat Shameem are all agreed: it takes too long for civil and criminal cases to be heard before the courts. The Law Society says this is due to the shortage of "suitably qualified" judges. Let's hope the appointment of Suva Magistrate Ajmal Khan as Chief Magistrate and Justice Sosefo Inoke as a Puisne (pronounced 'puny') Judge meet American and Law Society approval.
[Note: The Constitution recognized three courts: the Supreme Court (headed by Chief Justice Anthony Gates and the Justices of Appeal); the High Court (CJ and at least ten puisne judges); and the Court of Appeal comprising puisne judges. The latter hears cases referred to it by the Magistrate's Court, the first level of the court system, headed by the Chief Magistrate.] FijiLive 3 March 2009.

(+) The Years of the Red Fire Dog (2006) and the Ox (2009)

Cdre Bainimarama really didn't pick the best year for a coup. He should have left it three years so that Qarase had to face the bad economic news now hitting the country. Oxes are more propitious than dogs. Coups and revolutions are best conducted in bad economic times. With Qarase's high borrowing levels and economic management up to 2006, and likely increased debt to fund racially-skewed affirmative action schemes, Fiji could have been close to bankruptcy today. He wouldn't have a coup to blame, and since he now disbelieves Bainimarama, he couldn't blame it entirely on the world depression. Even the excessively vocal present critics of the Interim Government could be against him.

But the reality is different. Fiji's international economy rating (an indicator to potential investors and lenders) seems likely to suffer a downgrade from New York-based Moody's Investor Confidence, according to their V-P Stephen Hess who was in Fiji last week. "The level of reserves was now low compared to the country’s need for foreign exchange not only to pay its debt, which was not that large, but also to pay for imports." Investment levels have been "falling quite substantially over the last few years as a proportion of GDP.” The ability to borrow offshore was "uncertain ... due particularly to the political situation." And the budget deficit will be higher "due to the floods and slowing economy." [Economic statements from Fiji Live.]

(+) Lying by Omission: Qarase

Former PM Laisenia Qarase is considering legal action against the Interim PM for saying he "lied to the court in applying for permission to travel to Australia." [Qarase applied to visit his grandchildren.] He said he did not tell the court of other places he would be visiting because it was "irrelevant". Qarase "irrelevantly" attended fund-raising dinners for the SDL party in four Australian cities. The money "will be used for our legal challenges. We have at least two major cases before the courts and we have more in the coming month.” [Which should keep the courts and the Government busy! Qarase is charged with three counts of abuse of office and related charges brought by the FICAC, the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.] Condensed from FijiLive. 5 March 2009.

Opinion. One can't help thinking that the main purpose of these --- and several other legal --- challenges is to embarrass the Interim Government, disrupt its everyday functioning, and sidetrack it from major issues facing the country. If so, Qarase's short-term advantage will be at some cost to the Fiji economy and normal government business. In Fiji's present circumstances (for which some would say he is equally accountable) petty litigation is not the way to go.

(-) Qarase's "Grandchildren"

I don't suppose you can blame him, but Qarase was allowed to leave Fiji pending a court case to visit his family and grandchildren. He now admits he is on a fundrasing tour to defray SDL legal costs, and SDL leaders Samisoni Tikoinasau and Peceli Kinivuwai will soon join him. Some 30 Brisbane Fijians attended a fundraising dinner last Saturday. The low turn out? "Many people did not want to get involved as they did not want to be seen at the event." The ABC reported Qarase as saying the interim government was ruling through fear, and that his life remains under threat from the military-led government. “I was warned by an anonymous callers that I would be killed or thrown into jail.”[This was months ago and the claim was investigated by police] Qarase also said he wanted the other 12 Forum countries to apply a travel ban similar to the "very effective" ban imposed by Australia and New Zealand. Of the Interim Government he said “Their message is ‘Agree with the regime, do what we say or else.’” Qarase's lawyer says he would only break the court order if he did not visit his family. What else he did is up to him. [Y-e-s, but wasn't he just a little deceitful in his bail extention request.] Condensed from Fiji Daily Post.
Update. Sunday's FijiLive has Qarase in Sydney at another fundraising dinner. He told Fijilive that although he is on a private visit to Australia (sic!), his party supporters there have insisted on inviting him to dinner so he could inform them of the situation on the ground back home.