Saturday, 21 September 2013

Fiji Country Statement on ICPD Programme of Action

Sixth Asia and Pacific Population Conference

Dr. Jiko Luveni

Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation

UNESCAP, Bangkok

16 – 20 September 2013

The Chairperson, Honorable Ministers, distinguished ladies and gentlemen.

On behalf of the Fiji Government, it gives me great pleasure to address this important session. I extend my gratitude to UNFPA and UNESCAP for the invitation.

At the outset I am pleased to inform the forum that Fiji’s new Constitution was assented to by our President just over a week ago. For the first time in the history of our beloved nation and in response to the strong wishes of our people, Fiji’s Constitution has provided for a wide range of socio-economic rights. These rights include rights to education, access to health care, housing and sanitation, reasonable access to transportation, food security and safe water, and social security schemes. It is also the first Fiji Constitution to articulate specific rights to persons with disabilities and to all children. It provides for greater civil and political rights to youths through reduction of the voting age from 21 to 18 years ensuring their say in the political life of the nation. Furthermore, it outlaws any form of discrimination based on sex and gender.

While increasing numbers of young people in Fiji are getting married late or not at all resulting in low fertility, the fertility rate of 2.7 reflects the effect of the increasing teenage pregnancies. The urban population growth rate is 1.5% against -0.1% rural growth rate. According to a recent World Bank report, of the 32% poverty rate in Fiji, poverty in the rural population stood at a high 44% while poverty in the urban population is 25%. The report noted that the high poverty rate is attributed more to monetary poverty as food poverty was a low 7.5%. NCDs are the number one killer in Fiji with increasing deaths due to cancer. Amputation of limbs due to diabetes increased from 300 in 2006 to approximately 800 in 2012.

The effect of climate change and natural disasters such as increasing intensity and frequency of tropical cyclones and flashfloods has very significant negative impact not only on the economy of the country but also on the population challenges. Affected families are reduced to poverty living and there is increase in domestic violence and sexual violence that lead to unintended pregnancies in displaced persons. The availability and accessibility of reproductive health services particularly contraceptives becomes a major issue. Moreover, the special needs of vulnerable population groups such as women, persons with disabilities, children and senior citizens is a major challenge and that it should be embedded in the national development plans.

The government recognizes the importance of gender equality and empowerment of women for equitable and sustainable development. This is proven through its increased budgetary allocation from $200,000 annually up to 2006 to $1, 010,000 in 2013. Subsequently, there have been significant achievements in riasing the social status of women through economic empowerment programmes, effective campaigns to reduce violence against women and children, upgrading and expanding scope in capacity building, leadership skills, etc. and overall participation in the national development process.

Fiji has a relatively young population with 57% below the age of 30. In response to this fact, A National Youth Policy is in place to address the needs of adolescents and youth in relation to community and family support, employment opportunities, participation in the political process and access to education and quality reproductive health services.

The social protection programs of the government include the provision of cash transfers and food vouchers to almost half of the poor category, the single mothers and all those who are 70 years and over. Relevant legal frameworks with resources and structures are also in place for our senior citizens and Persons with Disabilities.

The Government of the Republic of Fiji believes strongly in the value of education as a strong vehicle to ensure that its citizens are well prepared to live free and worthwhile lives. And as we continue to face the challenges of population demographics such as increased rural to urban drift, and changes brought through globalization, we need to ensure that we have an education system that is flexible and responsive to better mitigate the impacts of such challenges.

To conclude, given the fact that parents of the current era and certainly beyond 2015 are becoming better educated than the past generation, in partnership with other relevant Government Line Ministries and CSOs, the Fiji government will strengthen and mobilize community participation to:

Ensure the presence of the ICPD Programme of Action at community level through the Women’s and Young People’s Institutions including educational institutions;
Promote sexual and reproductive health including improving accessibility of contraceptives;
Take ownership of the campaign to eliminate violence against women and girls; and
Ensure the implementation and enforcement of existing legal frameworks to protect the vulnerable population groups.

Thank you.

Friday, 20 September 2013

QUICK ROUNDUP Friday 20 September 2013

VISILIA BUADROMO, Fijian human rights activist, has been appointed Secretary General of the People's General Assembly, a grouping of civil society organizations, that will meet in New York tomorrow Saturday. So, with the PM inside at the UN General Assembly and Visilia outside, Fiji will be well represented, albeit presenting different views.

CCF VIEWS ON THE NEW CONSTITUTION. Click to read.

NIK NAIDU INTERVIEW. Click to listen,

PS SALARY INCREASES. Government has indeed accepted the PriceWaterhourseCooper recommendations for 24 Permanent Secretaries, whose salaries will now range form $160,000 to $220,000. The PM has justified the increases on the basis that with the likely imminent lifting of travel bans by ANZ, if it now be possible to attract the best people for the job — if the salary is right. The string in the tail for the permanent secretaries is that they will lose all their allowance (housing, entertainment, travel, etc.) and be paid the one flat salary. This may moderate the criticism of the increases by the FLP, PDP, PDA and FTUC.

MAHENDRA CHAUNDHRY is "only" being charges with three counts of violation of the Exchange Control Act, not 12 cases of tax evasion) as earlier reported by The Fiji Times.

RACE-BASED SEATS. The FLP has confirmed that in its submission to the Ghai Commission it wanted one-third of the seats in parliament to be decided by race-voting, with 12 seats allocated to iTaukei, 10 to Indo-Fijians and 3 for General Voters. But this will not be possible under the electoral provisions of the new constitution.

ONE LONELY FEMALE. Dennis Singh on Facebook's Fiji Economic Forum notes that Australia's Abbott cabinet has just one female. Yet the Ausaid funded NGO's ... in Fiji were pushing for reserved parliamentary seats for women. The Bainimarama Government has one female cabinet minister without any need for gender quotas.

Non-political news

GOLF. Fiji will host the first ever PGA tour in August nest year. The event will be an extension of the Australian PGA competition, and the purse will exceed a million dollars.
SCHOLARSHIPS SUSPENDED. Some 220 iTaukei scholarship holders have had their scholarships put on hold due to their failing their university exams. The scholarships may be renewed if the students improve their performance.

PM at UN

MEDIA RELEASE: FIJIAN PRIME MINISTER TO DELIVER STATEMENT AT THE 68^TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama will join global leaders including heads of government and states at the General Debate of the 68^th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The head of government will leave on Saturday 21^st September and will be accompanied to New York by Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.

He will deliver Fiji’s National Statement at the General Assembly on the 25^th of September where he will discuss Fiji’s irrefutable progress towards national elections in 2014, the release of the new Constitution, as well as Fiji’s growing leadership responsibility in both the region and the wider international community, in particular as this year’s chair of the G77 plus China.

Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Peter Thomson said that while the Prime Minister’s visit is to deliver Fiji’s statement to world leaders at the annual UN Meet, he will also attend meetings relevant to Fiji’s Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China.

Whilst in New York, he will participate at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and a separate meet that follows up efforts made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. At both events, he will be one of the leading speakers in his capacity as Chair of the Group of 77.

“On Sunday 22nd September, shortly after his arrival in New York, the Prime Minster will be the keynote speaker at the “High-level Forum on South-South Economic Cooperation for Sustainable Development – Investing in Broadband”,” Ambassador Thomson said.

“This gathering will be attended by Government leaders and business representatives who will address planning for sustainable development through Broadband and technology.”

The visit to the UN will also see both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister attend a series of bilateral meetings with counterparts and other dignitaries during that week.

During the Leaders Week, Minister Kubuabola, will be representing Fiji at a number of PSIDS Ministerial meetings where he will also Chair a day-long G77 Ministerial Meeting on 26^th September and attend the Ministers meeting of the Non Aligned Movement on 27^th September.

Thursday, 19 September 2013

QUICK ROUNDUP Thursday 19 September 2013

Mahendra Chaudhry's trial for failing to declare accounts to the Reserve Bank, a foreign exchange violation, has been scheduled for next year. His lawyer asked for "recusal" High Court judge Paul Madigan on the grounds that the judge had socialised with some public prosecution officials. Judge Madigan refused the recusals and set the trail for 20 January. A guilty decision could affect Chaudhry's election prospects.

Abuse of office. The work of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) continues with the conviction of former Audio Visual Commission CEO Taniela Bolea on several several changes of abuses of office between 2004 and 2007. But Bolea's "whereabouts are unknown."

Australian aid cut. The centre-right Abbott government lost no time in cutting its aid programme, and AusAID looks set to be absorbed by DFAT. This is a move similar to NZ. When the centre-right Key government was election, NZAID was absorbed into the MFAT. As a USP academic observed, "NZ punches above its weight in exporting bad policy advice."

The result will see less aid for Pacific Island Nations but this could be a blessing in disguise. Like Fiji, they may need to look for other donors, and less dependence on ANZ aid could stimulate local economies, promote more intra-regional co-operation, and see the emergence of foreign policies less influenced by their 'big brothers.'

There have been no further statements by the UFDF or its constituent parties, or by government, of a political nature.

Non-political news includes:

HEP for Taveuni. Work is about to start on hydro-electric power for Taveuni by Chinese contractors. The work is expected to take 18 months.
Methodists and Kava. The new Methodist President Rev. Dr Tuikilkila Wagairatu has banned smoking and the drinking of yaqona (kava) on Church premises, informed the wives of ministers they should not drink yaqona at all, and urged ministers to show restraint.
The image of Iliesa Delana, the Fiji paralympic gold medallist, is on the new 50 cent coins.
Bagasse is the fibrous pulp left after the juice has been extracted from sugar cane. The FSC has obtained a $19m loan from the Fiji Development Bank to fund a project that will see bagasse used to produce electricity at the Labasa mill.
MIDA. Matui Akauola, the Pacific Islands News Agency (PINA) manager has been appointed director of the Media Industry Development Authority that was set up by Government to improve standards in Fiji's media industry.
Reserve Bank Governor Barry Whiteside says the domestic investment sector is showing "strong potential growth." Not quite sure what this means. Is it growing or is it showing signs that it might soon be growing?

Tuesday, 17 September 2013

QUICK ROUNDUP Tuesday 17 September 2013

QUICK ROUNDUP. Summarising and providing hyperlinks on the regular News and Comments postings takes up quite a time so, starting today, I'll also be posting Quick Roundups, sans hyperlinks and tidy summaries, but probably with more personal opinions. If you need to follow up on an item, you can of course always refer to the online Fiji media.

What the NFP is up to is still anyone's guess. Their meeting in Nadi indicates they will stay with the United Front for a Democratic Fiji because they (or at least Attar Singh) think the Bainimarama government is a greater evil than SODELPA (the old SDL) and FLP parties. It's ironically that the political system approved by these parties denied the NFP any seats in recent parliaments.

I do, however, share their concern about open lists. The closed list system is more likely to see more women, youth, minorities and marginalised representation in parliament because they can be selected by the political parties to ensure wider representation.

FLP's Mahendra Chaudhry says he will raise the basic wage, increase pension eligibility, and increase the retirement age if the FLP is elected to government. And then wait for the next coup!

SODELPA spokesman Pio Tabaiwalu has warned people against the new constitution, saying the decrees should have been analysed first. But most of the decrees are only part of the constitution until the elections, when the incoming government can remove them.

He said, "The things that we [the UFDF] have in common are democratic rule, free and fair elections and freeing up the media." I find the claim hard to swallow. His comments, and those of the NFP and FLP parties, are fully reported in the media. The former SDL was subject to racist influences, the electoral system it supported gave votes unequal values, and undue powers to the unelected Great Council of Chiefs. What unites the UFDF is not democracy; it is the need to survive.

Three youth groups, the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji youth group, the Youth Coordinator for the Serua Province and the the Namosi Provincial Youth Coordinator, have said youth have no problems with the new constitution.

NZ's Murray McCully's statement that some travel bans will be lifted, scholarships re-opened and electoral assistance offered in recognition that some progress has been made towards elections was met by Bainimarama who said the offer was "insincere, unneeded and too late."

My guess is that the Fiji government is no longer really interested in these minor concessions. It wants a genuine change in policy that would see NZ urging Fiji's immediate return to the Commonwealth and the EU to resume aid to the sugar industry. Others have said Fiji is far more interested in what the new Australian government has to say.

Bainimarama also said Fiji was not interested in re-joining the Pacific Islands Forum. They consider it too much influenced by Australia and NZ.

Government has advertised for a new Supervisor of Elections who must have at least 15 years experience in conducting elections; be able to conduct an election in one day, and pass on skills to local people. Applications close on 25 October and the expectation is that an overseas person will be appointed.

Under the new Constitution, the appointment should be made by the Constitutional Offices Commission that includes the Leader of the Opposition and another person appointed by him. This raises a question, with no Leader of the Opposition at present. Will Government make the appointment itself, or invite two reputable people to represent the Opposition, and if so, who would would be widely accepted as reputable?

Of non-political news,

Jittu Upgrading. I was pleased to read that another upgrading of the old Jittu Estate squatter settlement in Suva is now complete. Some 53 Lagilagi households will soon move into new homes. The initiative has cost $5m funded by Government and the German Catholic NGO MISEREOP. Peoples Community Network Semiti Qalowasa says it will take another $5m to complete stage 2, of double- and three-storey buildings totalling 150 units.
The Consumer Council registered 10,769 complaints worth $16.3million over the past five and a half years, and recovered $6.7m by solving 6816 complaints through mediation. The Council and the Commerce Commission mediation workshop being held in Lami this week aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of mediators from Small Claims Tribunal, Fiji Commerce Commission, legal practitioners and the council."Mediation is a useful tool to alternatively resolve disputes to save money and time." Chief Justice Anthony Gates said the judiciary "have found the dialogue with and positive criticism from the Consumer Council very helpful, focused, reasonable, and just." He said new laws and new courts in the consumer field were in the pipeline and would bring about a healthier approach to consumer concerns.
Micro-finance. The Reserve Bank has announced awards in micro-financing that are soon expected to involve 150,000 "unbanked people", an increase of 20,000 on those already receiving awards.
Telecentres. Some 31,500 people (school children and adults) now have access to telecentres, and the number continues to increase as more schools get broadband access. And access costs the users nothing.

Saturday, 14 September 2013

The New Constitution: Checks and Balances

President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau

By Crosbie Walsh

The draft constitution that became law last Friday saw opinions still divided on its legitimacy and fairness. The identities and allegiances of those for and against are well known but one surprise came from Randall Powell, the Australian Fiji Appeals Court judge who with two other judges found the 2006 coup to be illegal, an event that led the Bainimarama government to the watershed decision to abrogate the 1997 constitution, and a hardening of Government's attitude towards local and overseas detractors. Justice Powell had reservations about the immunity clauses and the legality of the new draft constitution but otherwise he thought it a sound document.

Although the Government draft can make no greater claim for legal legitimacy than the Yash Ghai draft it supersedes, it also involved extensive public consultations, and the final Government draft is different in many respects as a result of this consultation. In March, for instance, the Citizen's Constitutional Forum (CCF) published an analysis that criticized the concentration of power in the hands of the Prime Minister and Attorney-General, noting their role in appointments to 16 commissions and offices. In the final draft, changes have been made to 14, with most authority devolved to a new a six-member Constitutional Offices Commission, which includes the Leader of the Opposition and another member recommended by him.

The legality issue also troubles the leaders of the old political parties, combined as the United Front for a Democratic Fiji (UFDF), despite the fact they were happy to go along with the Yash Ghai draft, even though, using the same criteria, it also had no legitimacy. The UFDF is also unsure whether its members will contest the 2014 elections, which they claim will be run by government for its own purposes, although international and local supervisory arrangements have not yet been announced.

This article does not contest these issues. Its sole concern is to address one question: Are there sufficient checks and balances in the new constitution to ensure that essential political and human rights will be protected? To answer this question it looks at the commissions established in the Constitution, their purpose, membership, and which body or person appoints their members.

In general terms, the commissions are the executors of parliamentary and government decisions. They appoint or recommend appointments to the judiciary and public prosecutions, the public service, the constitutional and electoral commissions, and the disciplined forces, and independently or as direct agents of a future elected government they are, or should be, the best measure of whether the constitution is upheld and the interests of Fiji citizens best served.

Few of the commissions are new. They were in place, with the same or similar name, under previous administrations So what has changed, and do the changes provide sufficient checks and balances on the powers of future governments?

Three positions head the administration: the President, the Prime Minister and the Attorney-General. The President is the Head of State and the Commander-in-Chief of the RFMF. He or she is appointed by Parliament from candidates proposed by the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, and can only act on the advice of Parliament or a government minister.

The PM is the leader of the party or coalition of parties that can muster over half of the votes in Parliament. The Attorney-General, who must have at least 15 years legal experience, is appointed by the PM and if there is no suitably legally qualified MP, the A-G may be appointed from outside Parliament. If this is the case, he is a member of Cabinet but he cannot vote. Other senior positions are the Solicitor-General, appointed by the Judicial Services commission and the A-G; the Secretary-General of Parliament, appointed by the President on the advice of the Constitution Offices Commission (COC); and the Auditor-General and Governor of the Reserve Bank who are appointed by the COC.

Compared with the 1997 Constitution, the Leader of the Opposition has fewer powers; the Fiji Law Society, that influenced judicial appointments, has none; and the Great Council of Chiefs, that greatly influenced the appointment of the President and members of Senate, has been disbanded. Senate and the position of Ombudsman have also been disbanded, government arguing that the former is unnecessary and the functions of both have been assumed by government departments.

The commissions form three broad groups: those dealing with 1) the judiciary, 2) the public service, and 3) constitutional matters, including responsibility for the disciplined forces and electoral matters.

The Judiciary

The Chief Justice is appointed by the President on the advice of the PM and A-G. Formerly, the Leader of the Opposition was also involved.

The Judicial Services Commission (JSC), around which most judicial matters revolve, comprises the Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal, the Permanent Secretary of Justice, and a lawyer of at least 15 years experience and a citizen chosen by the Chief Justice following consultation with the A-G.

Judges of the Supreme, Appeals and High Courts, the Independent Legal Services Commission, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Accountability and Transparency Commission and the Legal Aid Commission are appointed by the President on the advice of the JSC following consultation with the A-G. The Mercy Commission, that advises the President on appeals for mercy, comprises the A-G and four people recommended by the JSC. The A-G appoints members of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption. The removal of all senior members of the judiciary requires the appointment of a special Tribunal comprising senior judges from Fiji and overseas.

To my mind, this is a sufficiently robust system, although some people, thinking it is written to enhance the authority of the present A-G, may think his authority excessive.

The A-G in the constitution, however, is the primary legal adviser to future governments, and these are his natural functions. I would have preferred the Leader of the Opposition to retain his former authority in judicial appointments but, importantly, he has a say in other appointments by being a member of the powerful Constitutional Offices Commission, and ultimate authority still rests in Parliament,

The Public Service

Senior positions in the public service are advertised and appointments are made by the Public Services Commission (PSC) whose members are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. Permanent Secretaries to the various government departments are appointed by the PSC in consultation with the Prime Minister. The Public Services Disciplinary Tribunal is appointed by the JSC and the A-G.

These arrangements seem to provide sufficient checks and balances, with cross-links between Government, the Judicial Services Commission and the Constitutional and Electoral Offices Commissions.

Constitutional Matters

The establishment of the Constitutional Offices Commission is a result of public consultations. Government seems to have heeded concerns expressed by groups such as the CCF about the concentration of power in the hands of the PM and A-G.

Commission members include the PM, the A-G, the Leader of the Opposition, two people chosen by the PM and one chosen by the Leader of the the Opposition.

The Commission has extensive powers and makes or recommends appointments to the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, the Public Service Commission, and the Supervisor of Elections and the Elections Commission.

It also, in consultation with the relevant minister, recommends the appointment of the Auditor-General, the Solicitor-General, the Secretary-General to Parliament, the Governor of the Reserve Bank, the Commissioner of Police, the Commissioner of Corrections and, significantly, the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF).

In the earlier draft, most functions now assumed by the Constitutional Offices Commission were the responsibility of the PM after consultations with the relevant minister.

Dismissals from these appointments can only be made by a tribunal appointed by the Chief Justice following consultation with the A-G. The Commission must provide regular updates on its activities to Parliament.

Summary

The importance of the commissions to good governance is self-evident. The system of appointments seems reasonable although it could be argued that too much power still resides with the PM and A-G, especially in the appointment of the Chief Justice. I would have preferred a committee-appointed Chief Justice with some input from the legal and perhaps academic communities.

My overall view is that the commissions, and their systems of appointment, provide adequate checks and balances on misuses of power. Whether this will prove to be the case, of course, only time will tell, but this could also be said of the Ghai draft constitution or any other human document.

Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Take Care

Now that gold is being bought easily from doubtful sources (as per advertisements), may I encourage Fijians of Indian origin to take more care in who they invite to their homes. The lady who was killed by an alleged miracle worker should be a warning.

We are surrounded by people who prey on the defenceless. Please don't talk about how much jewelry you have at home because these people could tell others, and your home could become a target.

Those who prey on the poor and vulnerable should be given lessons that they will never forget.

Water Cuts

With a the prolonged water cuts in Lautoka one thing struck me as not unusual. Grog sessions were going on just as if nothing was wrong. Anyway, I have to commend the Water Authority of Fiji for their constant efforts to bring us (hopefully) no more water cuts.

New pipes were put in a few years ago yet water cuts persisted. It would seem the engineers in the then old authority didn't do their homework very well. Now we have another water cut for further upgrading to be done. I have one simple question: Will this latest upgrade now stop water cuts for good?

If some people are curious and wondering why I am complaining about the water cuts in Lautoka when my address says Mulomulo - I have two homes, one in Mulomulo and one in Lautoka. Homes that is, not kitchens.

[Footnote. PM expects more from civil servants. - Ed.]

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.

Friday, 13 September 2013

What Goes Down Must Come Up

Telecentres: a new form of patron-client relations?

Some Contra-Opinions

by Croz Walsh

Stories coming out of Fiji over the past week or so suggests that little has changed: everything reported has to be taken with a pinch of salt and almost everything is seen differently by one party or another.

At the international level, the Bainimarama government's move towards elections, and the release of the new constitution, have been welcomed by the NZ and UK governments, the E.U. and the Pacific Islands Forum, albeit with a few provisos. Indications are that Australia will soon follow suit.

In Fiji, however, those opposed to the Bainimarama government continue to oppose these developments. A week ago 14 protesters outside the President's residence were briefly arrested and their arrests were seen to breach the right of assembly guaranteed in the constitution they were protesting against. No one seemed concerned that they had assembled without obtaining the usual permit required for all meetings on public land.

Opponents to the Bainimarama government report that the deputy directors of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International Asia Pacific have both condemned the new constitution, the former calling it a "backward step for human rights" and the latter saying it "weakens human rights protection." But they do not specify in what ways the constitution transgresses human rights.

The constitution spells out human rights covering almost every situation but in each case there is a caveat that the right may be suspended in certain specified situations for a short period of time without parliamentary approval. If it is these caveats to which the local opponents and HRW and AI object, they should be reminded similar caveats exist elsewhere to limit human rights in special situations.

After talks with the Attorney-General on the parts of the constitution which caused concern, trade unionist Attar Singh was reported to agree with the constitution. Not so, said Singh. So, said the A-G. These people say one thing in private and another in public. Who to believe? On this one, my money is on Singh.

On Thursday, Mike Beddoes as spokesman for the United Front for a Democratic Fiji (the old SDL, FLP and NFP parties) attacked government on several fronts, none of them new.

Bainimarama's government was 'self serving' and had awarded itself pay increases ranging from 46 to 193%. He failed to say these increases were recommended by the accountancy firm Price Waterhouse. It remains to be seen what government will do with the recommendations.

Bainimarama said his government does not make 'empty promises' but it abrogated the 1997 Constitution; did not hold elections in March 2009; corruption has increased; there is no transparency; it has wrecked the sugar industry; key exports are down, and external debt has trebled. He did not acknowledge the long-neglected infrastructural improvements that are the main reason for increased debt; that this year's sugar harvest look promising, and he ignored the Reserve Bank news that the economy is now growing.

Beddoes also said the standard of living for the poor had deteriorated under the Bainimarama government. He made no mention of external factors not of government making or the many forms of assistance aimed at the poor, especially in education, housing and rural development. Instead, he pointed to FNPF pension funds cut by 50% (because the previous level was unsustainable) and an increase of VAT to 15% (originally a proposal of the SDL government which he did not then criticize). He made no mention of price controls on staple food or food coupons for the very poor.

Beddoes says government has shown no interest in dialogue with the registered political parties (the People's Democratic Party has refused to join the UFDF). Government says there is little point when they continue to insist on a return to the 1997 Constitution, and the appointment of a caretaker cabinet prior to the 2014 elections.

Beddoes promises that the UFDF will continue to "keep government accountable" and "expose its shortcomings at every opportunity", and that it will continue this pressure until the elections — even though it is not yet sure whether any or all of its constituent members will contest the elections. I cannot see how such threats can be considered helpful to the election process.

Two other events raised eyebrows during the week. First up, and reported in the reputedly pro-government Fiji Sun, was a new alignment of chiefs, the Fiji Native Tribal Congress, originally formed in 2011 but silent until now. With the government-funded Great Council of Chiefs no longer operating prominent members of the former Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party are leading the way with the new pressure group to protect indigenous rights. They include two top chiefs-politicians in the SDL Government removed in the 2006 takeover, Ro Teimumu Kepa and Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu. Spokesman Suva lawyer and former SDL member Niko Naiaikula says there are plans to hold a meeting "but chiefs have to fork out monies for themselves."

The other event was an address to the World Association of Christian Communications by the new Catholic Archbishop of Suva, Peter Loy Chong, in which he criticized patron-client relations in politics, saying there was little hope of building a democratic Fiji while such relationships persist.

Government critics, including NZ journalist Michael Field, focused on the part of the address that said Fiji's present system of power was divisive, breeding a culture of coups and silence. The local media adopted a different stance, focusing on the general and omitting the Archbishop's comment that the military had merely replaced the chiefs.

One of my friends said the address distanced the Church from the Government which may have appeared not to be the case with the former Archbishop. I replied: "The Archbishop's address criticized all such relationships, and must therefore distance itself equally from all iTaukei power seekers, past and present, including Ro Teimumu and Ratu Naiqama and their 'tribal council'. Patron-Client relations are, by definition, unequal, but they are also based on trust. Trust that patron and client will behave as they are expected to within the relationship.

I continued: "Such relationships are not unique to iTaukei, witness Chaudhry's record, nor to Fiji. They typify social relations in much if not all of the Third World, so they could be very hard to get rid of. Indeed, some scholars think the relationship survives and plays an important role in Developed Countries.

"Such structures persist because they are seen by many to serve a purpose that in part also serves their purposes. Until such dependency ends or is greatly diminished, patron-client relationships will persist, and be used to political advantage. Scholars need to be asking themselves, and informing the Fiji public, on how democracy fits in a society where patron-client relations are so important politically, and how society may be protected against their abuse.

"Ultimately, you and others in Fiji must answer two questions: First, who do you most —and least— trust, now and post the 2014 elections (when a very different regime may be in power)? Secondly, are the 'fall back' institutional structures sufficient to prevent excessive abuses of the relationships? In Fiji's case, this would include the constitution, parliament, the judiciary and the public service. (See my article on the Constitution's commissions published tomorrow on my blog).

So where does all this leave Fiji, another week down the road?

At the international level, opinions seem to be moving in Bainimarama's favour; the battle of words show no signs of abating in Suva; and Government continues to wean rural and remote Fiji (and its voters) away from their client relationships with chiefs.

Starring most prominently last week were the ongoing roadshows that advise people how to access government services; the PM's talanoa sessions with villages in Vanua Levu; and the opening of more telecentres where schools use their new broadband facilities in the daytime and the community uses them after school hours.

All patron-client relationships come at a price but an increasing number of ordinary Fijians may now be thinking they are getting their money's worth.

Abbott Must Bring Fiji in from Cold

Richard Herr

By Richard Herr and Anthony Bergin in The Australian 13 September 2013

The Coalition's foreign policy statement, released just prior to the election, promised to work with Fiji to normalise relations as soon as possible. Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has indicated he would welcome the Coalition's making good on this promise. Of course, it takes two to tango; both sides will have to agree to get on the dance floor.

Bainimarama has long bristled at the "interim PM" label Australia has put on him. He associates the open mocking of him and his government by our media with the Australian government's support for such reporting.

Anthony Bergin

As much as some in Suva would like Bainimarama to be invited to Canberra for talks on re-engagement, the Fiji government recognises this would court disaster if the meeting failed to live up to expectations. The October 10 Fiji Day celebrations could be used to mark some symbolic reconciliation, if the Abbott government has the will to help mark the occasion appropriately.

A visit by soon-to-be foreign minister Julie Bishop would be welcomed in Suva. (As she'd be in Brunei for the East Asia Summit on Fiji Day, she could send her parliamentary secretary.) Getting the atmospherics right is critical for building trust in the longer term. But the immediate need is to address some irritants in the relations.

The sine qua non of keeping the Coalition's promise to normalise relations will depend on lifting the travel bans.

The sanctions regime of the past 6½ years has failed to achieve any useful outcome. Worse, some have worked against the early return to democracy. Preventing qualified civilians from taking up positions with the Fiji government has only intensified the need to rely on able military officers to staff upper levels of the public service.

Lifting of some sanctions, especially the travel bans, is a necessary early gesture from Fiji's perspective. That's the least the Bainimarama administration expects from the new Australian government. Fiji's new constitution came into force on the Saturday the Coalition was elected to power. The constitution has generally received positive reviews despite some criticism on the process and its content.

Setting aside the travel bans could be a gesture of good faith pending further talks. Indeed, it's difficult to see how meaningful engagement on normalising relations could be pursed without lifting travel bans.

There can be no objection to an immediate and unconditional lifting of sanctions against the family members of sanctioned officials on grounds of natural justice and fairness. The same applies to any civilian taking a position with the Bainimarama government working for a return to parliamentary democracy.

This should also include public service positions, whether related to elections or not. It would help restore civilian authority in the public service.

The Abbott government will have to come to terms with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. The RFMF will remain part of the Fijian political scene, even after next year's elections in Fiji. Our defence engagement with Fiji will be an important part of our bilateral relationship. Sanctions on the repair of the three patrol boats we donated to Fiji some years ago have been dysfunctional for both Fiji and for regional security.

The restoration of defence attaches and other aspects of normalised relations, such as assistance to Fiji's military officer training school and the participation of Fiji officers in our military colleges, will need to be included in the Coalition's approach.

The Abbott government will have to do something significant to redeem its pre-election promise or Fiji will assume the election was simply a continuation of business as usual in Canberra.

Richard Herr and Anthony Bergin are co-authors of Our Near Abroad: Australia and Pacific islands regionalism, Australian Strategic Policy Institute

If you would like to read the book by these authors that is mentioned at the bottom of the article, you can get it free either as a hard-copy or as a pdf from . I'm not sure if the hard copy is only for Australian postal addresses, but the pdf is just a download.

Monday, 9 September 2013

President Assents to Constitution

MEDIA MATERIALS – PRESIDENT ASSENTS TO FIJI CONSTITUTION

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, - 6^TH SEPTEMBER, 2013

Editors,

To access the speeches from today, please click on www.fiji.gov.fj

For photographs, click on http://goo.gl/JXyoi3 and for videos, please click on http://www.youtube.com/user/minfofiji (after 1 hr to allow all uploads)

Vinaka,

MINFO NEWS

Saturday, 7 September 2013

Dr Steve Ratuva Comments on the 'Rival' Regional Bodies

REGION: Forum questioned - regional powers 'not interested', says academic

Leaders at the Forum retreat during this year's Pacific Islands Forum. Image: Pacific Islands Forum

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Item: 8401

AUCKLAND (Pacific Scoop / Pacific Media Watch): As this year’s Pacific Islands Forum enters its third day, the Pacific remains divided on the role and relevance of the region’s largest leadership summit, and whether Fiji should be a part of it.

Carbon emissions and fishing industry regulation have been among topics of conversation for delegates from sixteen member states during Wednesday’s talks – but an about-turn by New Zealand government on Fiji received the most attention.

The New Zealand government recognised Fiji’s constitution – due for assent tomorrow – as a step towards liberal democracy and human rights in the country.

It also looked towards greater engagement with the state. It followed similar stances from the Australian government, Australian opposition and New Zealand opposition.

And it came just days before an Australian election in which Tony Abbott’s Coalition have suggested substantially greater relations with the Fijian government.

However, the move was heavily criticised by Fijian opposition politicians – and the constitution raised the concerns of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

“Contrary to the claims of Fiji’s government over the last few months, the new constitution actually weakens human rights protections in the country,” Amnesty International deputy Asia-Pacific director Isabelle Arradon said.

“The new constitution not only erodes basic human rights for the people of Fiji, but grants military, police and government officials absolute immunity for past, present and future human rights violations. This will only serve to allow the perpetrators of serious crimes to act with impunity.”

Development Forum
This year’s Forum came as Fiji has tried to ramp up its engagement with the increasingly powerful Melanesian Spearhead Group trade agreement and the Pacific Islands Development Forum sustainability summit.

Although Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama accused Australia and New Zealand of undermining the newly-created Suva-based Pacific Islands Development Forum, it was attended by representatives from across the region.

In an interview with Pacific Scoop, University of Auckland academic Dr Steven Ratuva said the success of the Development Forum raised questions about the future of thePacific Islands Forum.

It seems that the two forums are at loggerheads. But the members of the Development Forum are drawn from the Forum, I suppose there is room for both of them, and I suppose there is room for engagement between the two.

The only differences between them are membership and strategy. The Development Forum is more inclusive of civil society organisations and the private sector, while the Forum is fundamentally to do with political leaders.

Dr Ratuva said the state-centred and elite-centred nature of the Pacific Islands Forum needs to be reconfigured, and the Development Forum could provide the model for that change.

“All they need to do is reconfigure with Pacific people. The Pacific Plan has failed to do that, the PIF has failed to do that, but once that’s done there is no need to worry about the Development Forum,” he said.

Pacific Plan
Dr Ratuva said the current review of the Pacific Plan, led by former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta, was the perfect opportunity to reconsider how the Pacific Islands Forum operated.

He said most Pacific people did not even know that the Pacific Plan existed, let alone felt “a sense of ownership” of the elite-driven, “ambitious and unworkable” document that did not appear to have the interests of the Pacific Islands at its core.

Pacific Studies researcher Dr Steven Ratuva. Image: auckland.ac.nz

“Hopefully, the Pacific Plan Review will look at some of the issues that were drawn from the discussions, and use those as the basis we can reframe the future of the Forum. There is a lot to be done in terms of making it more effective and making it more relevant,” Dr Ratuva said.

“At the moment it is just a beautiful piece of paper with ambitious plans on pillars – security, governance, sustainable development or economic growth. Whether those pillars are reflective of the interests of the Pacific people or whether they are reflective more of the big funders, like Australia for instance, is an issue that has been of major concern over the last few years.”

Dr Ratuva questioned the level of interest Australia and New Zealand had in the concerns of their Pacific neighbours.

At the moment Australia and New Zealand are not interested in the Pacific. They are more interested in Asia because China is their major trading partner and Asia is where the money’s coming from.

When they look at the Forum meeting, they see themselves as part of the Pacific. But in the daily operation of government, the Pacific doesn’t exist. They would rather be members of APEC and ASEAN and engage with Europe and the United States.

‘Not a backyard’
Dr Ratuva said Australia and New Zealand need to take their social, cultural, economic and geographic connections with the Pacific seriously – and it is their non-engagement that opened the door for China’s growing relationship with Fiji, Samoa and other Pacific countries.

The Pacific is seen as the backyard, but at the end of the day they are part of the Pacific. I think it is important they should start to take the Pacific more seriously, because they are neighbours and there are a lot of historical links.

The fact that China is coming into the Pacific has raised a lot of concern in both countries, because they haven’t been good guardians of the Pacific. So the Pacific Island nations are looking north to China.

For a long time the Forum has taken for granted being the only political summit in the Pacific – the undisputed representative of the Pacific people. But now, with competition, it has to re-strategise and re-look at how it can maintain its support within the Pacific.

But, at the end of the day, the sub-regional organisations of the Pacific should not act as oppositions to the Forum. They should try to be cooperative and supportive of each other, and a lot to be learned by engagement with each other rather than competing for dominance.

The Pacific is a very small space in a very large place, and Dr Ratuva said its “very small constituency” simply cannot sustain a myriad of forums competing for supremacy.

Multiple forums, many concerns
Oxfam New Zealand director Barry Coates said both the Pacific Islands Forum and Pacific Islands Development Forum had their part to play.

The Pacific Islands Development Forum provided small states with an important opportunity to discuss trade and a range of other matters “without Australia and New Zealand in the room” and the Pacific Islands Forums could provide the opportunity for leaders to raise important issues at a regional level, he said.

Coates hoped leaders would discuss gender equity issues, including access to credit, wages, employment, land and political representation, and educating against domestic violence.

He said New Zealand and other Pacific countries also needed to be “commended” for important work and discussion towards renewable energy.

Pacific Island Forum delegates continue their talks at a retreat today, before being joined by an international delegation of donor states on Friday.