The end of small "d" democracy by Pablo in Kiwipolitico

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The practical impact of universal laws, to paraphrase Gramsci, descends through a complex tissue of class, racial, ethno-religious, gender and other vulgarisations on its way to becoming enforceable edicts, with the effect being that law enforcement is often non-universal or discriminatory in nature. In order for universal laws to be universal in application, there needs to an underpinning consensus that they be so regardless of circumstance.

What follows is an extract from Pablo's article. To read it all, click here

Solomon Islands Soccer Disqualification has Lessons for its General Election

■ See also my next posting pn345 on the election results.
This anonymous article by a Solomon Islander is very critical of the way its governments have performed, pointing to many instances of likely corruption, foreign influence and damage to the environment, all  to the detriment of ordinary Solomon Islanders.  The election results (pn345) with its indicate the difficulties of applying a Westminster style of elections READ ALSO the election results. 

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Ownership of the NZ Media: NZME and the Herald

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The concentration of media ownership is a growing cause for concern. It reduces independent ownership, restricts media sources, curtails investigative journalism, and limits the informed, balanced presentation of news on important issues. Reader numbers and profits are the driving force of production. 

With media sources tied to the same ideological hitching post, there is less likelihood of differing ideas and informed, virulent debate on the news which in turn, increases the possibility of fake and biased news, depriving  us of information needed to make informed views and decisions. 

Democracy is threatened.  We do not need lobby groups to sway our leaders, legislators and public opinion as in the USA.  The media does it for them.  "Comment" and "Opinion" by biased journalists and talkback hosts thrive.

NZME, NZ Media and Entertainment,  is a octopus.  It reach an estimated 3.2 million New Zealanders through ownership of 57 newspapers, 3 sport news and 25 entertainment channels. (See list below) 

Its flagship is the NZ Herald whose readership has bucked the general trend with numbers increasing to 459,000 print readers daily. Nielsen poll data shows its Weekend Herald has 515,00 readers and the Herald on Sunday 359,000. The company's Facebook page has a further 843,000 readers a day. It is estimated that "Kiwis are also spending big chunks of their weekend reading these two papers - on average people spend 49 minutes on a Saturday poring through the Weekend Herald, and 44 minutes with the Herald on Sunday." 

Over on million people read the Herald on working days and a further 1½ million the two weekend papers.

The NZ Herald prides itself on it "facts, truth and expert analysis" claiming it is a "reflection of us as a nation." 

Their website claims:

"... the quality journalism from the Herald’s stellar stable of staff across news, business, politics, sport, lifestyle and entertainment.

 "The Herald is a reflection of who we are as a nation, and our regional titles are the foundations of their community.

"The Herald is still and always will be passionate about delivering New Zealand’s stories. It is created by New Zealanders for New Zealanders and reflects the shape and culture of the country we all love. This campaign celebrates the Herald’s journalism, expertise, credibility, variety and ultimately, the truth it shares."

NZME,  NZ Media and Entertainment owns:


THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD
HERALD NATIONAL NEWS
NEWSTALK ZB
WEEKEND HERALD
HERALD ON SUNDAY
HERALD BUSINESS
BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
HAWKE'S BAY TODAY
THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE
ROTORUA DAILY POST
WHANGANUI CHRONICLE
HERALD WORLD NEWS
HERALD CLASSIFIEDS
HERALDJOBS
NORTHLAND AGE
THE AUCKLANDER
COASTAL NEWS
WAIHI LEADER

KATIKATI ADVERTISER

TE PUKE TIMES
HAMILTON NEWS
TE AWAMUTU COURIER
ROTORUA WEEKENDER
TAUPO & TURANGI WEEKENDER
WHANGANUI MIDWEEK
HOROWHENUA CHRONICLE
STRATFORD PRESS
KAPITI NEWS
HASTINGS LEADER
NAPIER COURIER
HAVELOCK NORTH VILLAGE PRESS
CENTRAL HAWKE'S BAY MAIL
WAIPA POST
BUSH TELEGRAPH
MANAWATU GUARDIAN
NZME. LOCAL NETWORK

NZME. NEWS SERVICE
NZME. EDUCATIONAL MEDIA
NURSING REVIEW
INSITE
EDUCATION REVIEW SERIES
JETMAG
NZ EDUCATION GAZETTE
CULTURAL BRIDGE
NZME DIVERSE AUDIENCES
TALENT17
THE COUNTRY
NZ HERALD FOCUS
CREATE ME
EDUCATIONCENTRAL.CO.NZ
EDUCATIONCENTRAL FUTUREFOCUS
HEALTHCENTRAL.NZ
YUDU
ONEROOF

RADIO SPORT
HERALD SPORT
HERALD RUGBY

ZM
THE HITS
GRABONE
BE WELL
TRAVEL
VIVA
TIMEOUT
DRIVEN
CANVAS MAGAZINE
WEEKEND
SPY
RADIO HAURAKI
IHEARTRADIO

MIX
HERALD ENTERTAINMENT
HERALD LIFESTYLE
HERALDHOMES
COAST
FLAVA
HOKONUI
INDULGE
VIBE
WATCHME
TRUECOMMERCIAL
RESTAURANT HUB

People's Charter Pillar 1: For Discussion

My thanks to the reader who suggested a regular weekly posting on each of the eleven pillars of the People's Charter that will enable all readers to consider each pillar carefully, offer their opinions and comment on what has been done —and what yet needs to be done—to implement them. Here in the first week is Pillar 1. Please use the opportunity to comment and exchange opinions with other readers. Please try to comment over the next seven days. Pillar 2 will be published next Saturday.

---- N192A ----

Postscript. I have added Chapter 1 of the State of the Nation paper 

on the recommended electoral reforms  at the end of Pillar 1.

PEOPLE'S CHARTER

PILLAR I

ENSURING SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRACY AND GOOD

AND JUST GOVERNANCE¹

Critical Problems and Issues:

A fair and just Constitution is the basis of good governance. However, a Constitution that divides the people and separates them, which does not provide for equal opportunities, can be neither fair nor just. The world community, in declarations and treaties expressing the highest ideals, has opposed racism and injustice. We the people of Fiji are all too aware of the harm racial division has to our country. We declare, through this Peoples Charter, our commitment to a Fiji free from all forms of discrimination.

Democracy must be entrenched in our Constitution in accord with our pledge to rebuild a Better Fiji for All: one nation, one people with a common identity and shared destiny.

Government and the People: Three Examples

See the new (Ratu Mara) Quote for the Week in the right sidebar and scan down to the Weekend Reading postings.

GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE. The three items in this morning's posting are about recent Government visits to villages. On the first two it should be noted that the i'taukei sense of politeness and appropriate hospitality sometimes goes a little overboard in thanking people, especially those with power and influence.  This is likely to be a factor here but the message — and the comparison made with previous governments — is so often repeated in so many villages that it cannot all be hyperbole. 

Government really is doing things at rural grassroots level and its work seems to be winning support. I attempted to show the relationship between such happenings and the Roadmap in my Weekend Reading article on the Roadmap.

N0062. NOTHING WILL STOP THE 2014 ELECTIONS. Yet another group of villagers has urged the PM not to hold elections in 2014. When this happened before the PM used it to illustrate people's satisfaction with his Government. Predictably, this was then taken by his opponents to show he was not serious about elections. This time there can be no misinterpretation.

At the breaking ceremony for the construction of two bridges and the Wailotua-Nayavu Roadin Wainibuka tikina last week  the local spokesman said his vanua were happy with the development work undertaken by government and they wanted the current government to continue to lead the country after 2014. In reply Bainimarama thanked the vanua for their confidence but said that nothing would stop his government from holding "good and fair" elections in 2014.

N0063. THIS GOVERNMENT IS DIFFERENT. Something similar happened when Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni visited Naganivatu village in Naitasiri province to donate sewing machines to the village women just before Christmas.

Ulaiciri Tuvotu, the Turaga ni koro (village head), said they were touched by her visit.  “This is the first time for any Minister to visit us and we are very happy with the sewing machines for the development of women in this village. The machines will provide income for the women and especially we thank the Minister for taking out time to come and visit us to see the problems we are facing in this area.”

“We are thankful to the Government and the Government officials who visit us. Not like the government in the past, they never visited us but with this Government it is not only helping the people with road, bridge, hospitals and good housing, but also assist in everything to improve the lives of the people in the rural areas, especially in the Naitasiri province.  The Government has really shown what it says it does. We are thankful for the People’s Charter through which people are assisted in farming, education, health and transport. The poor people are now being heard and recognized.”

Women’s coordinator Mrs Taraivina Tamani said: “We are so happy with the Minister’s presence here today. This is history for the village as this is the first time for any minister to visit us. Most of the time women are fishing and now these sewing machines will provide an alternative source of income. School uniforms are our first priority and with these machines we will save money to make our own clothes. -- Based on 2011, No: 0155/MSWPA.

N0064. SITTING, TALKING AND LISTENING. Last year government officials visited each of Cakaudrove's 15 tikina (districts)  and all major villages to inform people of government's plans and listen to their ideas and concerns.  This year visits, starting next month, will target the chiefs and village stakeholders in each of the tikina to help familiarise them with the policies of the Government and the Taukei Affairs Board. Topics for discussion will include good governance, improvement in the standard of living, utilisation of natural resources and the general wellbeing of the people. The Roko Tui Cakaudrove, Ro Aca Mataitini,said "We all sit and discuss how we can tackle the problems of the people in villages and what the Government wants."

The American Mid-Term Elections Ask Questions about Democracy, and Lessons for Fiji

The cartoons tell all

by Crosbie Walsh

Two years ago Americans elected their first Black president and the world looked, very briefly, as if it might become a better place. Voter, and particularly young voter, expectations were high. America would become a fairer society with health reforms that would enable poorer Americans to receive free medical treatment when required; US troops would be withdrawn from a war in Iraq in which they never should have been engaged; and relations with the Muslim world would see a solution to the Afghanistan and Israel-Palestine conflict. It was still an American Century. 

Mosmi Bhim on Grassroots Citizenry, the Media and Democracy

An exceptionally useful paper that traces the course of democratic endeavour in Fiji and the problems it still has to face.  A long read but worth it.  I had to reformat it from a pdf file. You may need to zoom in. My thanks  to Mosmi and PJR for permission to publish this paper.

Does the Government Accept Criticism?

This issue was discussed in three comments to a posting last week. They are republished here for readers who, in not regularly checking comments to posts, can so easily miss out on one of the blog's most valuable features — the open exchange of intelligent opinions.


Debate and Opposing Views Needed said...

Croz, I noticed a growing trend from your bloggers celebrating the silencing or removal of the remaining government/military critics. I have no problem with people getting excited about the fact that Fiji has silenced pretty much everyone - that's their right to say as much. It is worry though.

What is worrying is they seem to think that removing all criticism will some how make everything better in Fiji. I suggest it won't. I suggest it makes for a complacent and lazy government.

We need critics, even biased and sometimes misguided ones have their place to draw attention to issues.

For example I at time hate with a passions the unions i have to work with. They are not professional, always angling for a fight and the execs usually are more interested in securing their roles by creating noise than actually doing something for benefit of the majority of their members. Despite all that I fully support the rights of unions to exist. They keep me on my toes as an employer.

Fiji without critics and without debate will become even more lazy than pre-2006. Many of the quotes you have posted sum this up better than me but just thought I would throw in my two comments.

Anonymous SOE said...

@ Debate and Opposing Views needed....

 No need to fear unnecessarily about a failure to ventilate views. That will take place while reforms continue with greater ease as people of character and good qualifications are increasingly positioned where they are required. Previously, under Qarase and earlier governments, the qualifications were there but no character or good judgement to speak of. Often, highly qualified people were perfectly assured that their actions were justified and endorsed in some way: by whom, by what code of conduct, in whose best interest? Their own.

Anonymous Critical Boundaries said...

    @ Debate. No-one is saying all criticism is bad, including, incidentally, the regime, though it is plainly oversensitive when it judges that criticism to be unfounded or unfair.

The problem is that many of the regime's critics are harping critics, unable or unwilling to give it credit for anything lest they be seen to give it even the slightest legitimacy. The main criticism is always the government's refusal to hold an early election. In the absence of electoral reform, this presupposes an election held under the pre-2006 racially based system. For the regime, this is unacceptable and non negotiable. So it judges any criticism about this issue as unacceptable and gets highly irritated when its critics press home the point.

The other sensitive issue is anything to do with the economy and especially comments that the regime judges capable of undermining confidence in Fiji. This is why people like Warden Narsey cop a bucketing even when they're not specifically in the ranks of the regime's political opponents.

On both the aforementioned issues, I think many people would sympathise with the regime even if they're not staunch supporters. We desperately need to remove race as the determining factor in Fiji politics. Now that Indo-Fijians are in the minority, there's no valid reason whatsoever not to adopt the principle of one-man-one vote. And no reason whatsoever to further empower indigenous Fijians with things like qoliqoli rights when their hold over the land is so inviolable and absolute.

On the economy, only the most hard hearted SDL zealot would want to see ordinary people in Fiji suffer from an economic collapse. Yet that's precisely what would happen if the regime can't maintain at least a modicum of confidence in its economic program and keep the tourists coming. Whatever the present threat to general prosperity, you'd have to admit that that likes of Sada Reddy have done an impressive job in keeping Fiji afloat against a tsunami of negativity.

And the maintenance of law and order has been a key factor in hundreds of thousands of Aussies and Kiwis ignoring their government's advice not to visit Fiji in the four years since the coup.

Also to be fair, Frank Bainimarama is showing more practical determination to fix the chronic problems in the sugar industry than any of his democratic predecessors since Ratu Mara.

And thousands of ordinary people in rural areas are starting to see basic services like water delivered after decades of inaction and neglect.

Is any of this acknowledged by the regime's critics? No. Start giving credit where credit is due and some of the intolerance to dissent you refer to might abate. But back the regime into a corner and keep whacking it then it's plainly axiomatic that you'll get whacked back.

The Times They Are A Changin'

* The Heading: For Bob Dylan's lyric, click here.

SEE NEW QUOTE FOR THE WEEK by Machiavelli. Also new: POPULAR RECENT POSTINGS. Both in right sidebar.                SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WEEKEND READING.

In many ways the recent stories of the Fiji Times —and the stories around the Fiji Times— have epitomised the dilemma that is Fiji, with all its apparent contradictions and the need to rethink values and attitudes once taken for granted. If a just way forward is to be found, most dichotomous thinking in terms of black and white, and moral absolutes on right and wrong, can no longer remain unquestioned.

Whatever our attitude to the 2006 Coup and the Bainimarama government, the situation requires that we abandon our rigid right or wrong positions and look for the shades of grey that may produce the outcomes required for a Better Fiji, better than in 2006, better than now. To do this, we may need to compromise in order to stand firm; balance media responsibility against media freedom, and accept the ultimate contradiction: a military-led dictatorship to protect a future democracy. These themes, and more, are raised by where the Fiji Times has come from and where it is, or might be, heading. For these reason it has exclusive coverage today. -- Crosbie Walsh.

FULL TEXT OF SWINSTEAD INTERVIEW by FBC's Stanley Simpson's interview on 6 October 2010 as  published on the Pacific Media Centre blogsite.    Here are three extracts pertinent to our dilemma:

"Yes, we are changing direction. Having watched News Ltd perish in this country, there’s no sense in committing suicide, even with a locally-owned replacement. There is no doubt that The Fiji Times  cannot be antagonistic to the government, What on earth does it prove? But we will ask questions in a fair and balanced way because we will be helping to bring the people to the government.

"The meeting [with Sharon Smith Johns] went well. I presented my credentials, which if I may say so, are pretty good; I said my piece and the permanent secretary said hers. I certainly understood that she was delivering the government’s line and in my short time here I already chosen to support that line. Why? Because most respected people here have spoken to me about infrastructure finally taking shape; about one nation one people, about equality from coast to coast. If you like, you can be cynical about it, but from where I stand —and I first made up my mind about this in 1979 as I left after four years in the chair at the times — the two main communities have to learn to live together EQUALLY, with equal opportunity and equal hard work.

"We have to help people understand that there some highly-educated soldiers walking on this path set by their leader and, given that education, they will all yearn for democratic elections when the time comes. It is, I believe, inevitable and exciting."

HOW AN ANTI-GOVT BLOG SEES IT. "The new owner, the Motibhai Group and its chairman, Mahendra Patel, and publisher Dallas Swinstead are taking the paper in a new direction —straight into the arms of the military regime— in an effort to win back the favours of the dollar disposers, Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum."

FIJI TIMES OLD AND NEW (as seen by an Old Timer).  The big test comes when those who were systematically excluded from the Letters Page or the 'Columns without By-Lines' of the former Fiji Times under News Corp are once again admitted if they objectively have something serious and useful to say.

Why  was there no investigative reporting on corruption or organised crime over the past five years or more? None that was of any use to those receiving long-standing, multiple threats? Or of murders linked to organised criminals when relatives of the murdered were still under threat? This was a sign that the inherent "Shoot the Messenger" racism of former executives had dominated their wits. There was a duty, more than a duty —an imperative— to investigate these criminal, intimidatory threats and to report on them.

Particularly, when the Fiji Police were failing in their duty to investigate fully and charge all involved. A mother and her daughter have been obliged to leave Fiji because of this. The Fiji Times staff then refused to report from the High Court on the case and others like it where the matter was 'vacated'. Why was thispermitted? Why did the Police quite happily and obligingly (for the criminals) allow these persons to go free? Until the Fiji Times and other media entities come to terms with this, we must  conclude that the entire landscape was flawed and inimical to justice.


At least, the registration of all phones, mobile and landline, allows for blocking. This is working. Three calls were blocked just yesterday to my knowledge on only one line. They can now be traced. This is the world of le Carre and Frederick Forsyth's novels. With the exception that it is now on the ground in Fiji and has been for more than five years. How could the PER have been removed with all this in play? We need to "get real".

FIJI WITHOUT THE FIJI TIMES IS UNTHINKABLE. Saturday's editorial "A Breath of Fresh Air"  by new editor Fred Wesley.  Republished from Café Pacific. "It is time to share with our readers where we are and where we plan to go ..."   Read on.


NEWS LTD STRIKES FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE. With not a cent left invested in the Fiji Times, Rupert Murdoch's The Australian will not give up. Using the same old sources it tells the same old stories about the never-ending disasters occurring in Fiji. If you wish, again, to read about the gagged media, Chaudhry's arrest, Rika's resignation, Fiji Times staff in tears, subscribe to The Australian.  More disasters are promised next week.

But I am unfair, amid the disasters, they reported one contrary view, from the new Fiji Times publisher Dallas Swinstead, who said business in Fiji is "bowling along", and he is impressed by the military leadership.

"It's a helluva undertaking, but very well organised, and however brutal it might seem to us in Australia, it's not all that harsh," he says. "There is no sense here of military control. It's the same old Fiji. I have very early reached the conclusion that what they are doing is right."

He says an editorial about freedom of speech was recently rejected by the censor, resulting in the paper being delayed, and thus losing sales."I did not blame the censor but felt that it was the writer's fault: he could have done a better job."

SWINSTEAD ON THE NEW GUARD  at the Fiji Times.

Fiji Sets Vision for a Modern State

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Legal equality, modernising laws and liberalising the economy are the key components of the Fiji's vision of a modern state, says Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
 
Sayed-Khaiyum says the vision stemmed from the belief that there are some fundamental problems within Fiji’s governmental system.

Bainimarama Needs to Show World, Election Electronics, Field Fiction

Prime Minister Bainimarama has  invited leaders  of Pacific  Island  countries   to  participate in an “Engaging  Fiji" meeting  to be held at the Inter Continental Resort in Natadola  on July 22 – 23. More later. 

CONGRATULATIONS, SOLOMON TIMES, for publishing the only balanced foreign media account of Sarah Roberts's expulsion that I have seen. Click here.

CONGRATULATIONS ALSO to the people who have taken the time to write insightful comments on recent postings, though I do wish people would use pseudonyms. Readers' response to Na Sala Cavu, however, continues to disappoint. If you've not been there before, click on the orange forked road icon in the right sidebar. Read. Vote. Comment. Then scroll down to earlier questions on Fiji's future.

BAINIMARAMA NEEDS TO SHOW THE WORLD.  Hi there Croz, I agree with your analysis of Bainimarama’s ad lib reaction as well as Field having another field day! There is little doubt in my mind about Aussie interference with the MSG process and meeting.

However, as you have suggested previously, Bainimarama and his government need to show the world that there are moves afoot towards constitutional discussions including ‘dialogue’. There should be discussions on the most appropriate electoral system for the country over a longer time frame which might help us to eschew those racial pitfalls of the past. It is hardly likely that we’ll have the most appropriate constitution and electoral system if we delay discussion until 2012, and elections in 2014. **

Apart from the bill of rights, many things will require prolonged discussion. These include the parliamentary set up (a single or two houses), elections and nature of franchise/representation, constituency boundaries, duration of governments, constitution offices, the presidency (elected or unelected), entrenched provisions including land ownership, etc., political parties (their organization, accountability and transparency), constitutional amendments, etc., etc.

It is hardly likely that we’ll suddenly have fully fledged democracy in 2014 after 7-8 years of military-backed unelected governments without opening up discussions very soon. This will entail the lifting  of PERs and media controls.

The deep seated ‘racial mistrusts’ also need to be addressed and this far very little has been done in any systematic way beyond rhetoric. -- Name withheld, Suva, Fiji.

** Ed. note. Na Sala Cava is an informal way to start these discussions. 

TRAINING FOR 2014 ELECTIONS STARTS. The first group of officials to learn about the new Electronic Voting Registration system to be used in 2014 have completed their training. Strategic Framework for Change central coordinator Sitiveni Raturala  told FBC News the training is part of the Roadmap to democratic elections announced last year by Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama.

Raturala says preparations are on track and going to plan.The new voting system will have no communal voting and everyone will be registered under one roll. Raturala said the Roadmap directs that by 2013 a constitution should be in place and elections should be held in 2014.

This is good news but not quite good enough. Preparations for the elections require more than technical know how by a small team.  They need the "big team of Fiji" to be engaged in discussions on electoral reform, starting now with small groups and increasing to fuller consultations and dialogue well before 2012.


FIELD BLOWN AWAY. Michael Field has been making news recently. Two weeks ago he reported on cyclones and termites and the Revised Budget; this week he tried to have Bainimarama set a new date for elections. But back to the cylones and termites. 

Field Fiction: On his website, he writes,"Another clue that all is rotten in Fiji is in Voreqe Bainimarama’s emergency [actually, revised] budget. He said he had to bring it out because of unexpected events that he did not think of in his earlier budget. These included cyclones and rain. Cyclones and rain, unexpected, in Fiji?"  

The Cyclone Facts: "Thousands of Fijians have fled their homes as Cyclone Tomas sweeps across the island nation. Tomas, a category four storm and bigger than Hurricane Katarina which destroyed New Orleans ...Tomas has  estimated average winds of 175kmh and momentary gusts up to 230kmh close to the centre, Fijian weather officials said."  The PM and Minister of Finance said $143 million had to be diverted from other purposes to meet the cost of two natural disasters ( Hurricanes Mike and Tomas), which struck Fiji within four months. Total hurricane damage was estimated at $1 billion. Tomorrow we'll continue this exciting saga.

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?"

Questions for Government, and Other Stories

Testing the Water

'On the Sideline in Viti Levu' writes: "Croz, You are always asking for helpful suggestions and often giving advice on what NZ or Australia must do. Here are a few things I think Fiji Government should do:

1. Decide if they want to be friends with Australia and NZ or not. If yes, then stop the wild outbursts and work on a plan to re-engage.
2. Be flexible - even bringing the election forward say 6 months would be signal that they are prepared to negotiate. Why the hard line on this one ?
3. Deal with some of the respective poor decisions made after the coup that continue to dog them. For example, remove Mr Kean from Navy command. You have to live what you preach. maybe hand back the back pay - no one believes the PM never took a day of leave in all his career. On Kean surely he must be replaceable? There are plenty of other examples, e.g., the soldiers released early. Also stop the army taking people to the barracks and put a professional police person in charge of the police.
4. On the media decree,  give the Fiji Times  12 months to sell or scrap that component altogether.
5. Start the dialogue forum TODAY. Get a draft new voting system out soon. It's not surprising that people are becoming suspicious about 2014 when nothing is being done to work towards it. The claims of 'we are concentrating on the economy' are rubbish. Government has to be able to do both. Fifty Decrees have been pumped out so clearly they do have some resources for doing this stuff.
6. Lift the public emergency NOW. Govt promised they would. There is a lot of self-regulation happening anyway and that will continue.
7. Learn to live with critics. It's part of being Government. Don't react to everything. Accept some criticism - change things accordingly and for other criticism just ignore it.

Some of these are big asks but this government has a huge credibility problem internationally and has to get on the front foot.

Regards,

On the Side Line in Viti Levu. What do YOU think about these ideas? 

Record your opinions and answer the polls in our companion blog Na Sala Cava by clicking on the orange 'directions' icon in the right sidebar.

DON'T  COMMENT ON THESE QUESTIONS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POSTING . Record your comments more permanently on Na Sala Cava, and wbile you are there, check out the earlier questions.


LEST WE FORGET.   A readers suggest (see comment on Wednesday's posting) that Government build a memorial in Suva for Fiji soldiers who have been killed fighting other people's wars."Surely this is something we could raise money for not just in Fiji, but from the British and Americans and those other countries for which these guys have given their lives?"  What do other readers think?

TUILAEPA SAYS NO. Not unexpectedly, the Samoa Prime Minister has rejected the invitation to attend this month’s Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting in Suva. He said "he rejected the invitation as it’s from someone who overthrew a democratic, elected government using guns  ... only Pacific Islands Forum leaders can discuss the situation in Fiji." I'm not sure what he means by this. That MSG countries are not Forum members, or that Fiji has no right to discuss the Fiji situation?

STOP INTERFERING. Prime Minister Bainimarama has called on the Australian Government to refrain from interfering with the internal affairs of this country, following a reported comment made by an unnamed Australian Foreign Affairs Official in the News Limited-owned Newspaper The Australian. The official was quoted as saying, “The people may have no choice but to stand up to him (Bainimarama) and his thugs”.

The PM said this is inciting the people of Fiji to rise against my Government, and promoting further unrest. He said "calling Government Ministers 'thugs', is derogatory, mischievous, and portrays the condescending attitude of the Australian Government.On the one hand they say they are concerned about the welfare of the people of Fiji, whilst on the other they are inciting and promoting unrest in Fiji, the Prime Minister stated.

FOREIGN MEDIA REPORTS 'DECEIPT AND LIES'. Attorney-General Aiyaz Syed-Khaiyum has also attacked the foreign media. He says it is now clear that the foreign media are breaking basic rules of journalism to get back at the Fiji government.

“All these things are reported as if they have happened but they have not, in fact they are inaccurate, they are dishonest. It would now appear that we have a situation that the media in Australia and New Zealand have decided that they will wage a campaign against Fiji and that campaign is based on deceit and lies so even though they talk about freedom of expression, of getting the right information across, the fact is they are the first ones to break those principles and values.”

Sayed-Khaiyum also lashed out at New Zealand reporter Michael Field who he accuses of constantly writing misleading reports about the situation in Fiji. He questioned Field’s so-called expertise of the Pacific.

ALLEN LOCKINGTON  ASKS "Can government invite staff of the newspaper, The Australian, to come over to Fiji and see for themselves what is going on? Invite them for a week for a all expenses paid holiday and suggest that they visit the people in Waiyavi [where Allen lives] to live for one week. To mingle with us and then go back and make a report. It may just change their mind." [Unfortunately, Allen, few of the staff have anything to do with policy and the staff who do, know that "He who pays the piper calls the tune."]

NEW FIJI LIVE POLL. Will the government's land reform initiative boost Fiji's sugar industry? Yes 100%. No 0%

(o) Some Thoughts on Democracy: The Polling Booth, Imposed Guided Choices and Grassroots Participation

In the Western democracies we rely -- sometimes too heavily -- on the power of the ballot box to keep our politicians honest and intent on improving the lot of all citizens. In Fiji, the Bainimarama government, with limited consultation, is setting up structures it hopes will produce a fairer Fiji for all its citizens, but in seeking to do so it is largely excluding the people whose lot it says it seeks to improve, although a small group of leading citizens are being asked their opinions.

Put nicely, government sees itself as a benevolent dictatorship that knows best what is needed. Less generously, it is imposing its ideas, excluding those with contrary or moderating views, and doing too little to harness or mobilize grassroots opinion in support of its cause. 

The hope is that this approach will bring about permanent beneficial changes for Fiji. I fear it could be mistaken. The four years to elections is too short a time to change ethnically-moulded mindsets unless ordinary people, the so-called grassroots, are actively engaged in the transformation. One way of doing this -– long known and advocated by some NGOs and development thinkers –- is by participatory democracy. Engaging vocal or otherwise prominent representatives of the people is not the same as directly engaging the grassroots. 


Before disguarding the idea as too idealistic, think how useful mataqali (and not NTLB) discussion could be on land use, and joint local Fijian and Indo-Fijian discusions on leases and land rents. Think how the problems of the sugar industry could be lessened or resolved if the ordinary people affected had a say.  Think how useful it would be for local communities to voice and have some control over their own development priorities. Think what could happen if women and young people, and if Kai-Solomoni and other marginalized groups, were fully involved in local discussions. Think how beneficial it could be if ordinary citizens were encouraged, through their local committees, to carefully think through race relations and the sort of Fiji they want for their children. And think what could happen if they asked their children.

In the Pacific, the work of the Solomon Islands Development Trust provides an early example of this approach, and ECREA's squatter empowerment work a later Fiji model. The Pacific can also learn from others' experience.


Two old friends emailed me this example from Brazil. The Brazil situation did not last forever, and it need not in Fiji, but the idea of neighbourhood democracies, also practised in Singapore, intent on addressing local issues and seeing how best to locally implement the People's Charter, could, with adaptation, be "a way to go" in Fiji.  

(o) NZ Foreign Minister McCully "Step by Step": How NZ Can Really Help Democracy in Fiji

Murray McCully's recent  statements on Fiji suggest a much more realistic appraisal of the situation than was evident under the former Labour-led government, and an improvement on his own earlier statements. McCully's meeting with Fiji Foreign Minister Kubuabola last week will bolster diplomatic representation. It did not change NZ's basic position --  elections with which it is prepared to assist in whatever ways it can -- but it was a crucial first step. 

The second step is his reaction to kerfuffle about pensions and the Methodist Church, both quite misrepresented by the media (see earlier post on pensions). McCully dismissed them as moves to quell dissent but "not a reason for us not to try and improve diplomatic relations. We expect progress to take place in terms of the relationship step by step with allowances for some setbacks from time to time."

He could, however, underestimate Fiji's threat to withdraw from PACER (Pacific Closer Economic Relations Agreement) unless it is represented at Forum discussions on PACER Plus, the Australian-initiated add-on to PACER that has been received with suspicion in many quarters. I doubt Fiji will be satisfied with being "briefed on progress."

What was particularly pleasing to hear was that Fiji's exclusion from the PI Forum, and PACER Plus discussions, is not fixed in concrete. McCully "would regard this as just one of the pieces of the jigsaw that is on the table over the coming months." 

Step 3 would see NZ supporting Fiji's readmission to the PI Forum, or some accommodation not too short of admission, which in turn could lead to similar rapprochments with the Commonwealth, the EU and the UN, and a resumption of aid and other economic assistance. 

Step 4, though stated last, should be high on the diplomatic agenda, and needs to be implemented ASAP. It is composed of several elements, all concerned with good governance.

• The travel sanctions have to be relaxed to allow Fiji's most talented administrators to apply for government positions. 
• NZ (and Australia) should second suitable qualified lawyers to draft legislation, especially constitutional legislation, and to prosecute corruption cases. 
• Fiji also needs forensic accountants to unravel the corruption, and experienced senior judges.

Fiji is lacking in these specialised skills. Later, in 2011- 2012, assistance would also be welcome with elections and electoral reform. Assistance in these areas will do much to restore our relationship with Fiji.
We have the expertise to assist Fiji to establish a much fairer society than in has been in the past. It is a pity a military-led and non-elected government seeks these reforms. Earlier "democratically-elected" government had the opportunity but none put its hand up.

Postscript. New Zealand lawyer Robert Miller has been appointed Chief Legal Draftsperson in the Attorney-General’s Chambers. This is a Fiji Government appointment, unrelated to McCully's "steps," but it is the sort of assistance that is sorely needed.       Photo:guide2.com

(o+) Making Sense of Recent Government Actions

OPINION
Something's going on. After months of easing tensions-- no fresh reports of possible human rights abuse, supportive statements from many in Fiji, from this blog and many overseas commentators culminating in the McCully-Kubuabola statements this week, slighter better relations between Government and the Fiji Times, and better than expected economic news despite the recent cyclone -- we have a rash of "aggressive" actions by Government, all within the span of a few days.

First, international juror and  government opponent Imrana Lala was charged by FIAC, the anti-corruption commission, with not having a licence to operate her part-owned restaurant (sic!) and the dismissal of some magistrates. Then Dr Padma Narsey Lal, wife of ANU's Prof. Brij Lal and brother of USP's Prof. Wadan Narsey, both staunch government opponents, was refused re-entry into the country.  Then 15 senior Suva City Council employees were sent home pending charges they were using SCC computers and time to write for anti-Government blogs.

Then Bainimarama announces that retired public servants  -- and that includes former PMs Qarase and Chaudhry -- who speak out against the Government will not receive their pensions (see comment below on this). The very same day he says the Methodist Church will not be allowed to hold their annual conference until after the elections in 2014. He said Government spies within the Church report ongoing anti-government activity.

Why this sudden hostility and blustering when things seemed to be going so well for Government? Is it pure coincidence, or do at least some of these events, all of which threaten freedom of speech, have a common cause or explanation?

The Wider Context

The wider context within which these events can perhaps be better understood is one in which Government sees the "normal" workings of civil society, where opinions are freely expressed and exchanged, as distractions and impediments to what it says it is trying to do.

Hence their delayed attention to political change, and their immediate focus on economic and infrastructural changes -- roads, electricity, the use of idle land, and agricultural initiatives in rural areas; getting rid of corruption and poor work ethics in the civil service; reforming national and local institutions such as the NLTB (Native Land Trust Board) and urban councils; opening up jobs and scholarships to all races; support for garment and tourist industry marketing; and a number of actions to reduce poverty, including housing assistance, the introduction of a minimum wage,access to micro-credit, a fairer distribution of land rent money to ordinary Fijian villagers, food coupons and free or subsidized school meals and transport.

Government wants to see major improvements in all these areas before it fully addresses political, constitutional and electoral issues in 2012-13. But just as foreign investors seek political stability to protect their investment, the Bainimarama Government seeks to impose stability (where it is not freely given) so it can get on with the job. Hence its constant references to the need for "unity" to "take the country forward."

This is not the normal way democratic governments operate, but it is not unknown. It is the way Allied governments operated during the two World Wars; how the US military, with and without government connivance, operates from time to time, and, perhaps even more relevantly, how Singapore dragged itself up from a poor, racially and politically fractured Third World country to become the country it is today.  In the early days, Lee Yuan Yew was far more oppressive than Bainimarama, and no less of a dictator. This, I think, is the wider context.

The Immediate Context

The more immediate context involves high celebrity court cases with Qarase, and possibly Weleilakemba and others, charged with corruption and abuse of office. My understanding is that these hearings will commence next week. The other big event is the first meeting of the Citizen's Assembly on the 27-28th.

Whenever Government anticipates its opponents will use events to trigger discontent, it is likely to send out strong warnings about "consequences", take measures to break or disrupt opposition networks, and forestall all overt expressions of opposition. This is how it operated in the lead up to last year's Methodist Conference, and this is how it could be operating now.

What we think of as unconnected, vindictive, arbitrary acts could in fact be part of a pre-conceived plan for civil society until 2014 -- modelled on a first-strike military manoeuvre. –- Crosbie Walsh.

Readers are urged to read comments to all posts, and particularly to this post. Just click "Comments" below.

(o) Against Anonymous Comments: Sudarsan Kant

Allow me to revisit a question that you raised a few months ago between liberal democracy and new media, specifically the art and science of blogging. For political practitioners, amateurs, curious onlookers and enthusiasts, blogs and websites have become an ideal cynosure to visit and engage with fellow travelers on important and mundane issues of the day. 

Your site certainly serves as a good model of how new media has enabled the emergence of a cyber community focused on the events unfolding in Fiji as well as its relationship with Australia, New Zealand and the rest of Oceania. The diversity of news and commentary is refreshing and thoughtful for many of us who spend a lot of time analyzing and exploring issues pertaining to governance, institutions and public policy in Oceania.

While creating a community engaged in political discourse is a substantive achievement in a fickle age, the continued use of anonymous comments undermines essential prerequisites for communal dialogue, which are transparency, sincerity and civility. Central to the democratic project is our capacity for dialogue as a means to negotiate, compromise, explain and disagree on the proper ordering of society, politics is ultimately a conversation of mankind, to borrow Michael Oakeshott’s lovely phrase. How difficult it is to have a conversation over substantive matters with people behind hidden doors and faces unencumbered by the virtues that make political discourse purposeful, civilizing and humane.

It is possible that on rare occasions a nom de plume is prudent and even necessary, but I am not convinced that the current situation in Fiji merits that privilege. What are needed among all interlocutors are transparency, courage, wit and humor as we struggle in our own ways to make sense of the world we live in. You have created an excellent forum for a robust exchange of ideas and issues; it would be nice to know whom we are having an exchange with.

kantsudarsan@hotmail.com

Note: I agree with almost everything Sundarsan has said, and I'm delighted with the growing number and quality of (most) comments. They often exceed the value of the post on which they are commenting. Blogs really can serve a truly democratic purpose. 

But I think Sundarsan underestimates the possible consequences, for some readers, of revealing their real  names. Fiji is essentially a "small society" where events are acted out on a small stage. And where the actors know each other, there is always the possibility of retribution.  That said, write anonymously if you must but please do use a pseudonym (pen name).  Genuine discussion does not need a real name but it does require some name.  Croz

Cartoon: www.clipartof.com

(B) What the People Think: FijiLive Polls since 20 March 2008

 FijiLive runs an on-line poll on sporting and political issues. Here are most of the political issues polled for the past two years. Such polls are, of course, only indicative of the opinions of those who read FL and answered the poll questions, and  responses at each date reflect the news and mood at that specific time. Answers could be quite different if a question were again asked six months later. Nonetheless, there are some "constants:" 

On most issues people were evenly divided (40-60% range; topics underlined scored over 70%)) but most pollsters: (1) thought Australia and NZ should ease up on Fiji, (2) Accepted the reasons for Fiji's international exclusions; (3) thought Fiji should not retaliate, (4) were in no great hurry for elections. They thought other issues should be fixed first and that electoral reform should precede elections, (5) were not happy with former PM Qarase and his SDL party, lawyers and the Great Council  of Chiefs, (6) accepted the need to abrogate the Constitution, (7) were uneasy about the Police Christian Crusade but thought religion and political did mix, (8) thought leaders should co-operate with Bainimarama, the PPDF and People's Chartert initiatives although most thought them a waste of money (a poor, mixed question), (9) thought international community should support Bainimrama's roadmap and elections in 2014, (10) the media hadn't given the Interim Government fair coverage, (11) Fiji is ready for a commoner President. The poll order is from most (7 Nov 2009) to least recent (20 Mar 2008).

(+) Grassroots Democracy: Government and the Poor

Set against the usual run of negative postings from anti-government bloggers and foreign media, it is a pleasure to report Government's positive response to a grassroots petition on school bus fares facilitated by ECREA.

This is the latest in a number of measures taken by Government to ease the lot of the poor.  Earlier measures included legislation on minimum wages (soon to be extended to poorly-paid media workers!),  assistance to urban squatters, rural road developments, islands shipping, Rotuman exports, and support for new rural crops. Government is also urging people to buy Fiji produce to reduce imports and increase local incomes.

For a press release on Government's decision, click here. A month ago Government approved bus fare increases. Click here to read what an anti-government blog had to say.  Read on to see how ECREA persuaded Government to make school bus fares free, at least until the end of the year, and what less prejudiced people had to say.

(-) The Moral Gutting of Fiji ..... Narsey

In a 15-page but well spaced article, USP Economics Professor Waden Narsey takes every one the Government's actions and stated intentions to pieces, nut by nut and bolt by bolt. He covers the whole institutional scene, from the President down to social and sports organizations, showing how, in his opinion, the whole of Fiji society is unravelling. Along the way he has harsh words to say about those who, for various reasons, have offered the Bainimarama regime support. The full article may be read on a number of anti-Government blogs, and on MediaFire by clicking here. This post has been abbreviated due to its availability elsewhere.