Gripes of Roth, "Permanent" PER, $F1m Thieves Caught, Child Abuse, PM China Trip, Naitasiri

New Quote for the Week.  See right sidebar.

DAMPENING THE FIRES.  Fiji’s information ministry says it’s hoping to put to rest concerns about doing business in Fiji at a forum in Fiji this weekend. The Permanent Secretary for Information, Sharon Smith Johns, says she wants to reassure investors following last week’s deportation of Fiji Water executive David Roth (photo). She says she and other government representatives are expecting questions about the affair at the two day Fiji Australia and New Zealand Pacific Business Forum in Sigatoka.

    “I’ve said that the issue with David Roth was between David Roth and the government and not Fiji Water and the business. It’s good to be able to reassure overseas investors, local investors and local business that it was between a person and the government not the business.”

She said the PM may elaborate further on Mr Roth’s departure on his return from China. The interim Prime Minister is due back in Fiji at the end of the week.

FIJI WATER AND ROTH'S DEPORTATION.  I have to agree with readers that whatever the cause, Government has made a serious mistake in deporting the Fiji Water CEO. If he was really interfering in Fiji's internal affairs in a major way,  whether it was purely personal or whether it was a tax issue involving Fiji Water, is beside the point. The matter could have been dealt with much better, and at a better time.

It would seem Government is unable or unwilling to handle criticism or questioning of its position without over-reaction. The signal they have sent to investors and the international community is not very reassuring, especially with Fiji Water being an American company and America's recently inferred more conciliatory towards Fiji. Kid gloves are needed in diplomacy not mailed fists.  The incident also reflects poorly on prospects for genuine dialogue within Fiji.  The Permanent Secretary for Information should be able to report good news and fuller explanations of events in Fiji.  She needs a pen, not a fire extinguisher!

PER EXTENDED.  The Public Emergency Regulations  have been extended for another month and a reader has wondered when the "Permanent" Emergency Regulations will ever end.  My view is unchanged. PER should be lifted. Unless there is a very real threat to national security, its maintenance is doing considerable harm to Government and Fiji's image, both in Fiji and overseas.

THE MILLION DOLLAR THEFT.  The one million dollars in F$20 notes  destined for the Reserve Bank that was found missing in early September led to all sorts of speculation. Thanks to co-operation between Fiji, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia two Singapore nationals have now been charged with the theft, and appeared in the Singapore Court on Friday.

CHILD ABUSE.An alarming increase in the rate of crimes against children has been recorded but whether this us due to an actual increase or better reporting is unclear. Last year there were 1008 cases of child neglect, 666 sexual offences, 610 physical abuse, 430 beyond control cases, 314 abandonment and missing persons cases and 250 cases of emotional abuse. These figures were announced by Ministry for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation Permanent Secretary Govind Sami at the launch of the Blue Ribbon campaign at the Suva civic auditorium this morning. He called for "a concerted effort by all stakeholders including Government, non-government organisations, faith-based organisations and civil societies in the fight to putting a stop to child abuse in Fiji.” The week-long campaign is coordinated by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation in collaboration with UNICEF. -- Based on 2010, No:1941/MOI.

PM SAYS CHINA TRIP SUCCESSFUL. Speaking from China this afternoon, the PM described his trip to China as a success after more than a week of meetings with Chinese officials and business leaders.“These meetings have been important in assuring investors that the Fiji government is committed to providing an environment where business can prosper. It is important that Fiji has the right platform, infrastructure and a program for fast tracking quality business investment into the country.” The PM said he is also aware of bureaucratic red tapes that often hinders possible business prospects. Key topics discussed include streamlining of government processes, the need to be pro-active when evaluating investment proposals and ensuring that investment provides employment and training opportunities for Fijians. Meetings are continuing with the Prime Minister due to return this week.   -- Based on 2010, No:1959/MOI. [ Readers will remember that Baledrokadoka reported from Canberra that Bainimarama had suffered a heart attack at Nadi prior to his departure. Another unfounded rumour.]

NAITASIRI DEVELOPMENTS. The $460,000 upgrade of the Vunidawa Reservoir is now complete and will , will bring to an end to water woes faced by the community in Naitasiri. People at Vunidawa, an hours drive from Suva, and in nearby villagers will also have access to fresh water. Other government assistance includes seven income generating projects in Matailobau and Nagonenicolo tikina (districts) that will start harvesting their dalo this week. A $100,000 has been set aside for development work in the province. -- Based on 2010, No:1938/MOI.

(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) Deportation of Fiji Times Publisher
Opinion: Crosbie Walsh 27 January 2009

The deportation of Fiji Times publisher Australian Rex Gardner has been widely criticised by many parties in Fiji. Media Council chairman Daryl Tarte said the action sent a "damaging message to foreign organizations." The Law Society questioned the "process". The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) claimed further evidence of attacks on a "free press." Citizen's Constitutional Forum chairman Akuila Yabaki said the act was "unreasonable and ineffective" (no improvement in media reporting had occurred after three previous deportations.) And a Fiji Times editorial asked who was offering such "dubious advice" to the Interim Government . "It is inconceivable", it said, "that a government would take such drastic action on the eve of a regional forum to discuss the nation's future."

One cannot but agree with these judgments, whatever their motivations. Gardner was deported in the wake of a High Court decision fining his paper $100,000 for contempt. Its editor was given a suspended three months jail sentence but Justice Hickie made no judgment against Gardner because a judgment would have visa and work permit implications. The IG, however, thought otherwise, arguing that in pleading guilty to contempt of court Gardner had automatically breached work permit conditions. Immigration Director Viliame Naupoto said "It is consistent with other foreign nationals that were deported. Once they are in breach, they leave.”

Whatever the rights and wrongs of this incident, it provides the IG's critics with more fuel for their fires, and is another example of the IG's diplomatic ineptness. The Government desperately needs wise advisers and spokesmen who think very carefully before they speak. If its cause is just, as it believes, it is certainly not winning any friends by Gardner's deportation.

The irony is that Gardner's work permit expired in a month's time and he was returning to Australia on Saturday, anyway.

For the court decision, see http://www3.paclii.org/fj/cases/FJHC/2009/8.html