From blogger bis betica:
Great rebuttal blog by Dr. Jon Fraenkel to those advocating a delay to the 2009 elections to allow for the Charter farter shenanigans.
———————–
LOWY INSTITUTE BLOG: THE INTERPRETER
Fresh Fiji elections or militarist fatalism?
by Dr. Jon Fraenkel, Research Fellow in the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program at the ANU, responds to Satish Chand and Sanjay Ramesh on our Fiji debate.
The chorus of criticism against speedy elections as a way out of the impasse generated by Fiji’s December 2006 coup is revealing. Of course, it is true that the two year Pacific Islands Forum-European Union timetable for fresh elections set in early 2007 reflected a fairly standard response, advocated by the Commonwealth — one suspects almost regardless of the political situation in post-coup circumstances. That response makes greater sense in situations where there are considerable uncertainties about the outcome of elections. However, in Fiji, elections had been held only eight months before the coup in May 2006. As Satish Chand says, there is a high probability that the next election scheduled for March 2009 produces a similarly polarized outcome to those pre-coup polls. Perhaps, as Sanjay Ramesh anticipates, ‘with an even more violent outcome’. This argument has a familiar ring amongst some sections of the community in Fiji, but it is one that could be used to justify acquiescence under military regimes anywhere in the world.
There were similar uncertainties after the May 2000 coup and particularly around March 2001 when Fiji’s Court of Appeal ruled the post-coup interim government to be illegal — although then the fear was of an ethnic Fijian populist uprising. Then the critics of holding fresh elections preferred instead that the pre-coup parliament be reconvened, perhaps with a different Prime Minister or under a ‘Government of National Unity’.
This time around, the critics of elections for the most part offer no such practical alternative. Many of the more vehement anti-electionists say polls should not be held until the constitution is changed, the electoral system overhauled and a ‘Peoples’ Charter’ popularly endorsed by referendum. These critics range from die-hard coup supporters (such as Fiji Labour Party President Jokapeci Koroi), to the one-time almost pedantic upholders of the rule of law (such as the Citizens Constitutional Forum), to middle-ground opponents of the coup (such as Satish Chand and Sanjay Ramesh). What they all have in common is that they offer no clear alternative to perpetual military intervention in Fiji’s political life.
Imagine what might have happened if this type of response had gained widespread support back in the wake of Fiji’s previous military coup in 1987. Would it then have been a practical and laudable response to reject efforts to restore constitutional government or hold fresh elections because that would threaten to bring yet another military coup? Would it have been better to reject the mid-1987 Deuba accord, because this threatened to unleash a military clampdown, as indeed occurred in September 1987, when the military reasserted its authority and Fiji departed from the Commonwealth? Would it have been better thereafter to have embraced the 1990 constitution, and sought to reshape this into a more moderate and acceptable framework?*
Anyone urging such a course of action, or inaction, back in 1987-90 would have been widely condemned for spinelessly accommodating a ruthless and racist military regime. Anyone who backed the post-2000 coup Ravuvu-led Constitutional Review Commission was condemned as pandering to ethno-nationalist sentiment, whereas those who join the illegal interim government’s ‘National Council for Building a Better Fiji’ are widely welcomed as enlightened bearers of a reform-oriented agenda. Why the difference in response? Why are the critics of elections this time around so unenthusiastic about the prospects of returning to the polls?
The call for fresh elections is a sensible response to the current impasse in Fiji. No-one suggests that elections — or even mandatory power-sharing of the type Fiji tried before this was demolished at the hands of the military — will resolve Fiji’s political or economic troubles, or provide some miraculous antidote to the cycle of coups. That will be the tough task of post-election governments for generations to come.
International pressure for elections is sensible because it reflects domestic pressures that cannot presently be articulated; the majority of people in Fiji also want an elected government, but military intimidation and armed force prevents that aspiration from being realised. It is also a sensible response because the military, and the interim government, claim to be acting in the interests of the people, and that only ballot-rigging or the racially-engineered electoral system prevented their faction from gaining electoral endorsement. Let us put that to the test, and maximise the pressures towards getting the military out of Fiji’s political life (as was successfully accomplished in the 1990s). The real danger is not fresh elections, but that the Pacific Islands Forum succumbs to the pressure to accept all manner of obstacles erected by the illegal interim regime on the so-called ‘roadmap’ for elections. As a Fiji High Court judge said after resigning for coup-related reasons earlier this year, ‘acquiescence is the friend of illegality’.
* The post-coup 1990 constitution reserved the position of President and Prime Minister for ethnic Fijians and gave 37 seats to the ethnic Fijians and 27 to Fiji Indians, despite near equality in their shares of the total population.
http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2008/04/Fresh-Fiji-Elections-or-Militarist-Fatalism.aspx
————————————————————————————
Lowy Institute Blog
Reader riposte: Fiji headed for more violence
by Sanjay Ramesh, political editor of the Sydney Fiji Times, responds to Satish Chand’s contribution to our Fiji debate:
Satish is right on the mark when he states that holding elections in March 2009 may not resolve Fiji’s deep-seated political problems and will not end the cycle of coups, because as I have mentioned in one of my articles in the World Press, ‘holding elections will not magically resolve Fiji’s deep-rooted problems and both Australia and New Zealand know that. There is a need to re-analyze Fiji’s existing constitution, including the electoral system, and arrive at a political-constitutional framework that would in the future encourage inter-ethnic cooperation at all levels of government’.
The problem is that besides the Fiji Labour Party and the National Alliance Party of Fiji, none of the other political parties are participating in the deliberations of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF). As a result, an election without the necessary political consensus among opposing parties will lead to a repeat of the 2006 general election result with an even more violent outcome.
http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2008/04/Reader-riposte-Fiji-headed-for-more-violence.aspx
——————————————————————————–
The arlier article by Dr. Satish Chand of ANU:
Look before you leap: Fiji’s forthcoming elections
by Associate Professor Satish Chand, from the Crawford School of Economics and Government at ANU.
There is considerable debate about whether Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the interim Prime Minister of Fiji and the coup-maker who overthrew the elected government of his predecessor on 6 December 2006, will (as repeatedly promised) return Fiji to the polls next March. Considerable international pressure is already being put on the Commodore to ensure he keeps his word. PMs Sevele (Tonga) and Somare (PNG) met the Commodore last week — no doubt with the blessing of regional leaders from the Pacific Forum — only to get a reaffirmation of this commitment.
The elections taking place next March are the least of my concerns. If history is any guide, the Commodore will deliver on his promised electoral timetable. The real issues for Fiji are whether the elections will be ‘fair and free’ and if it will enable Fiji to escape its cycle of coups. I’m not sure of either. And another election, at the urging of the international community, could just make matters worse.
Place yourself in the shoes of the Commodore. Would you risk losing an election, knowing full well the consequences that would follow? The Commodore has vowed to stop the SDL, the party he ousted from government, from recontesting the March ‘09 elections. Will the elections be judged ‘fair and free’ if this promise is kept? Even if kept out of the race, what if a re-badged SDL makes it through? Another coup, followed by a repeat of the well-rehearsed chorus by the international community?
The possibility of a return to power of some incarnation of the SDL is not beyond the realms of possibility. The international community will have done Fiji a huge disservice if by pushing for ‘fair and free elections by March 2009′ it edges the nation towards its 5th coup.
I am not arguing for a deferment of the forthcoming elections: in my view it’s a given they will go ahead. I am canvassing for some thought to be given to getting Fiji off its cycle of coups. It is a simple message: look before leaping into yet another election! Some fresh thinking and leadership on how Fiji could be decoupled from its coup culture is well overdue.
http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2008/04/Think-beyond-March-’09-elections-for-Fiji.aspx
May 6, 2008 at 12:14 pm
The Fijian community and the International community , shouldn’t be focusing on an election . They should be focusing on arresting all involved in this coup , that should be the focal point . This is the only action which will deter others from committing treason against the State . Talk of an election on it’s own , is pointless .
May 6, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Interesting to note the articles in the Times this morning , so Fiji will become a bustling trade centre for world Airlines and there will be other problems associated with the increase in traffic going through the ports !
Sounds to me like it will become a great port of call for small arms smugglers , drug runners and anyone in the world who wants to traffic in illegal contraband . I wouldn’t be surprised it people smuggling joins the ever increasing list of afflictions affecting Fijian society .
I had a great idea which the I.G, might be interested in implementing , how about instead of sourcing cheap products from India , you stop sending children to school and start up your own rug manufacturing company employing those same children as workers . imagine the employment opportunities created , the savings on teachers and the infrastructure otherwise needed for school buildings etc. Then there’s the car plants , pollution , the sale of fishing rights , . Once this has been established , the sale of islands to the overseas wealthy can become a serious option . I can see it all now , Suva turned into a slum , the smell from the open tip , the pollution lapping up against it’s pristine ! shores , beggars in the streets , more slums encircling the city . What a sight to behold , like heaven on earth ! Hang on , Suva already looks like that !
The leaders of the I.G. are just so inspirational and such forward thinking individuals aren’t they ? I wonder if they get their ideas from the sreets of Calcutta .
May 6, 2008 at 12:27 pm
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN
I’ll close media: Fiji
Ashleigh Wilson | May 06, 2008
FIJIAN military dictator Frank Bainimarama has threatened to “shut down” the country’s media if coverage of his government does not improve, in a dramatic escalation of his war with independent media outlets.
In an extraordinary meeting with Fijian media executives in Suva yesterday, the self-appointed prime minister claimed that local journalists “hate” him.
And he insisted that deported Australian newspapermen Evan Hannah and Russell Hunter would not be allowed to return toFiji.
The comments by Commodore Bainimarama threaten to further damage relations between Fiji and Australia, with the Rudd Government describing Mr Hannah’s deportation last week as a “reprehensible attack on human rights”.
Mr Hannah, managing director of the Fiji Times, was arrested and deported last week for an alleged breach of his work permit. Mr Hunter, the editor of the rival Fiji Sun, was deported two months ago.
The Fiji Times, owned by News Limited, publisher of The Australian, has consistently questioned the legitimacy of the military government.
Fiji Times editor Netani Rika said Commodore Bainimarama claimed during yesterday’s meeting that shutting down the country’s media would be the “worst-case scenario.”
“He told us that he can shut the media down, but in his quotes, ‘I don’t want to do that’,” Mr Rika said.
“He told us today that he did not want us to go down the path of Zimbabwe, but he was quite clear … while he did not want to close the media down, that would be an option if we did not take on board the concerns that he raised today,” Mr Rika said.
In a telephone hook-up with News Limited executives, journalists and Mr Hannah, Mr Rika said Commodore Bainimarama, who seized power in a coup in December 2006, made several demands while accusing the media of being “unfair, critical and unbalanced”.
The media executives – from Fiji’s major television, radio and newspapers – were also told not to make mistakes “that are not grammatical or literal”, and that any mistakes should be corrected before publication.
“He accused us of having a certain agenda because we hate him and members of the interim administration,” Mr Rika said.
Commander Bainimarama confirmed he had overruled a Fiji High Court order issued last Thursday rescinding Mr Hannah’s deportation.
News Limited is in talks with the office of Foreign Minister Stephen Smith to find diplomatic solutions to the crisis, as well as ensure security for the company’s 175 employees in Fiji.
News Limited editorial operations director Campbell Reid said the personal intervention of Commodore Bainimarama was “deeply troubling for all Australians living in or intending to visit Fiji”.
“The interim government of Fiji, having already dispensed with parliamentary democracy and the freedom of the press, now clearly intends to ignore the rule of law, thereby erasing the last hope that Fiji could avoid becoming a military dictatorship once again,” Mr Reid said. “Clearly the assertion by Fiji officials that the deportation of Evan Hannah should have no bearing on our investment in Fiji is laughable in the face of Bainimarama’s threat to shut down the media and his confirmation that Evan will not be able to return to Fiji.”
During the meeting, Commodore Bainimarama became agitated when the media representatives made it clear they would not “roll over and do what he wanted”, Mr Rika said.
Commodore Bainimarama refused to explain how Mr Hannah had breached his work permit, he said. “The actual words he said was: ‘There’s no use discussing that matter. This person, Russell Hunter, and the other, Hannah whatever-his-name is, are not coming back.”‘
May 6, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Can the Australian governement question the Korean Airlines management in Nadi as to why they agreed to put Hannah on its flight. This is after knowing fully well that Mr. Hannah is an Australian and there are planes that fly directly to his country. This is very important when deporting nationals of another country.
May 6, 2008 at 1:22 pm
oops, gone too far this time Frank . Latest from the Times .
May 6, 2008 at 2:08 pm
This one line from the above article taken from The Australian says it all about this inept junta.
“Commander Bainimarama confirmed he had overruled a Fiji High Court order issued last Thursday rescinding Mr Hannah’s deportation.”
Now, is he telling the truth and he masterminded this from his korean plane seat or is he covering up for the stupidity of the illegal defense imposer.
May 6, 2008 at 3:25 pm
A bustling hub? So how is it that in light of Frank’s latest, let alone his 2006 tantrum, many are considering there are other options for regarding Fiji as a natural hub. There are more stable options availabe in the region. Samoa, Western Samoa and a host of others that might be better suited to be headquaters for a South Pacific university, head offices of NGOs, Media and any number of other regional organisations that offer, at the very least a number of employment positions.
Bloody good to see YET ANOTHER rational contributor to Pacific public opinion.
Frank: you’re f*cking losing it man!. Exile in Naenae is a damn good option. You might just have to modify the behaviour – a damn sight less than you would if you stay. I mean – only to the extent that if you keep up your bullshit there as you are at the moment, you’ll get your block knocked off. Even so – far less stress and you can park yourself up and just get pissed on a pension.
And for your bum-chum I-Arse – same goes. Sydney is a great place. Hang about Oxford Street, your dreams might even come true even if you might have to live in concrete block and brick in Redfern. Believe me! It’ll be worth it in the long run. I’ll even get me cuzzies to serenade you at night so you feel safe and secure in the absence of Sh..Sh..Shaista
May 6, 2008 at 3:29 pm
*shows his age – remarkably close to Franks. Samoa and American Samoa.
May 6, 2008 at 3:48 pm
There are some good points from the academics above but also some ‘what ifs’.
What if Fiji didn’t have a capable Military (albeit led by a mad man).
What if he could be neutered.
What if Frank was capable of rational thought.
What if his strings weren’t being pulled.
It reminds me of the over-qualified academic Viet Namese refugee from my past. Bloody brilliant in thought and logic, yet hand the man a spade and ask him to dig a hole, and he was stuffed.
Theory has its place but after a year, so does reality
May 6, 2008 at 4:41 pm
@ Tim.
He might make good money on Oxford street and if you set him up in Redfern make sure its right next to that pub above the station and see to it he doesn’t cut his hair, he would pass for a Koorie and they might actually feel sorry for a brother aye!
May 6, 2008 at 5:07 pm
The thoughts outlined by the three Academics above are well intended and one should use one against the other. Dr.Fraenkel deals with the problem from the Australian view,he believes that Election is the answer to Fiji’s problems and goes on to imply that the Pacific Forum should not allow anymore delays to the Elections in Fiji;hinting on a possible intervention by the sound of it. The two Indian Academics deal with the problem from the perspective of someone who has lived in Fiji or has been exposed to the local Fijian politics and life, I don’t really know the three gentlemen but that is what I gathered by reading their article.
What will the Elections achieve? Will it fix the water problem in Suva – no;will it solve the land tenure problems – no;Will it bring back democracy? – Good question; what type of democracy? The one that was being practised by the Qarase Government or the one practised by Australia – sending its Military to oppress its Aboriginal Citizens in the Northern Territory. Will the next elections rid corruption or lessen it? Why don’t we fix these problems first and then have elections. Fiji’s vehicle of development has a problem with its engine,are we going to keep going until the engine is rendered unserviceable and we are permanently classed as a failed State or are we going to repair the vehicle,make some changes and then continue with our journey. We must press on with this Charter and fix our own problem at our own rate with our own way. We must not let outside elements influence us. They will not be the ons who will be living in Fiji,it is you(i.e.if you live in Fiji) and I who will bare the consequences. Most of us speak of the word sovereign state- lets show New Zealand,Australia,US and the rest of the World that it really means a something.
May 6, 2008 at 5:08 pm
The thoughts outlined by the three Academics above are well intended and one should use one against the other. Dr.Fraenkel deals with the problem from the Australian view,he believes that Election is the answer to Fiji’s problems and goes on to imply that the Pacific Forum should not allow anymore delays to the Elections in Fiji;hinting on a possible intervention by the sound of it. The two Indian Academics deal with the problem from the perspective of someone who has lived in Fiji or has been exposed to the local Fijian politics and life, I don’t really know the three gentlemen but that is what I gathered by reading their article.
What will the Elections achieve? Will it fix the water problem in Suva – no;will it solve the land tenure problems – no;Will it bring back democracy? – Good question; what type of democracy? The one that was being practised by the Qarase Government or the one practised by Australia – sending its Military to oppress its Aboriginal Citizens in the Northern Territory. Will the next elections rid corruption or lessen it? Why don’t we fix these problems first and then have elections. Fiji’s vehicle of development has a problem with its engine,are we going to keep going until the engine is rendered unserviceable and we are permanently classed as a failed State or are we going to repair the vehicle,make some changes and then continue with our journey. We must press on with this Charter and fix our own problem at our own rate with our own way. We must not let outside elements influence us. They will not be the ones who will be living in Fiji,it is you(i.e.if you live in Fiji) and I who will bare the consequences. Most of us speak of the word sovereign state- lets show New Zealand,Australia,US and the rest of the World that it really means something.
May 6, 2008 at 5:11 pm
George Clooney , directed a great movie called , ” good night and good luck ” .
It basically explains the importance of free press when people in leadership , choose to use propaganda to meet their own self interests .
I recommend it . It’s based on factual events and i believe it is very relevant to Fiji’s current situation between Frank and the press there now .
God bless Fiji and forgive Frank and the I.G. for they know not what they are doing ! At all in fact !
May 6, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Imroz
the Australian Government put soldiers and police into aboriginal communities because the women there wanted protection from drunken husbands , fathers , uncles and brothers . These drunks have become a answerable only to themselves and they beat their wives as well . White Australians aren’t allowed into some of their communities unless they have a permit from the relevant authorities , this is to protect the Aborigines from exploitation by some people in the white community . The police and soldiers aren’t there to suppress the community , they are there to protect the next generation and their children from the sins of man . Counselling and other programs are being implemented to assist the women and those who are addicted to alcohol . This problem is an ongoing problem in these isolated communities . there are no jobs , no money except from social security and their are just little to no prospects . It would even drive me to drink .
If you have been reading the Fiji Times and other articles coming out of Fiji , you might have noticed the same things are happening in Fiji . Children being raped , abortions on the increase with foetuses being flushed down the toilet , infants abandoned at hospital etc. by their mothers , men beating their wives , neighbours murdering neighbours , wives husbands daughters sons uncles aunties and brothers murdering each other . Poverty increasing , unemployment increasing , job prospects out the window , tourism declining and robberies with violence increasing and the list goes on and on and on .
So before you criticise the Australian Government , it’s Police Service and it’s Military , take a look at your own situation and see the difference . Australia has a Government , it is prepared to take the initiative for the right reasons despite the fact that it’s an unpopular action .
In Fiji , your police are working with their hands tied behind their backs , they are led by a treasonous leader who is inept but can’t be voted out , your military are weak as the honourable soldiers have left already and they are led by a man who throws tantrums when he’s not sitting in the front seat at the rugby or the Times says nasty things about the I.G. which hurt his feelings . He also is possibly implicated in the murder of fellow Fijian soldiers in 2000 and the abduction , detaining , torture and the murder of several Fijian civilians since the coup in December 2006 . Your Government has been banished by this criminal and no-one in the I.G. is capable of giving the Fijian community the type of support the Australian Government has given to the isolated Aboriginal communities . Your country no longer has the finances to support itself , the will to govern itself nor the leadership that is required .
God bless Fiji and her people . And God help them and you too Imroz !
May 6, 2008 at 6:00 pm
@Imroz – right now Frank is showing the entire world that his idea of sovereignty means absolutely nothing. It means nothing because no one in Fiji has any right to self determination or any guarantee of human rights – including a very basic right to life.
As for democracy, it will hopefully be somewhat different from anywhere else when it arrives. It won’t come instantly as none have. The point is that they change according to the dynamics of those within. It won’t as long as the likes of Frank place their will and assumed power over and above everyone else and decide that their Fiji is the way the world should be
May 6, 2008 at 6:18 pm
There’s no doubt where this regime will end up . With no intentions of respecting Human Rights and the Constitution or Rule of Law , it will be up to the International community to bring them to their knees . I can see sanctions being placed on shipping , importing and exporting of goods etc. Tourism crumbling further into the depths of despair and the returning of Peace keeping Police and Military personnel by the United Nations .
May 6, 2008 at 6:41 pm
THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN FIJI IF THEY SHUT DOWN THE MEDIA
Junta gave no cyclone alert – First Lady Font Size: Decrease Increase Print Page: Print By Oliver Knox in Washington | May 06, 2008
US First Lady Laura Bush accused Burma’s military rulers of failing to warn their citizens in time about a killer cyclone and pressed the junta to accept US aid in the disaster’s wake.
“Although they were aware of the threat, Burma’s state-run media failed to issue a timely warning to citizens in the storm’s path,” Mrs Bush said today.
“It’s troubling that many of the Burmese people learned of this impending disaster only when foreign outlets, such as Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, sounded the alarm,” she said.
Laura Bush, who has taken a leading role in shaping US policy towards Burma, said Washington “stands prepared” to increase its assistance well beyond an initial emergency 250,000-dollar outlay by the US embassy in Yangon.
She declined to give a precise dollar figure, saying the junta first had to allow a US disaster assistance response team into Burma to assess the scope of the devastation from Tropical Cyclone Nargis’s weekend rampage.
“I can’t speak to how large that would be. But I feel assured that it would be substantial, if we can give it,” she said, promising help to provide water, sanitation, food and shelter.
Bush made clear any assistance would go through the United Nations or international nongovernmental organisations – and not directly to a regime under US sanctions for failing to embrace democratic reforms.
“I hope that the military will realise they have to accept aid from everybody they can possibly accept it from. And maybe that will be the something good that can come out of this terrible destruction,” she said.
May 6, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I wonder what will happen if the PIG got slaughtered and put on the barbie, who will be up to take over?….anyone or will it be the end of the Charter, farter & IG.
May 6, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Those against an early elections with their cleverly camouflaged arguements to support no elections are clearly the law breakers in Fiji.
Because if the majority of people in Fiji respect the rule of law, then elections will resolve the problems we are facing. Those who do not have respect of the rule of law there are places for them either in St Giles if they are found to be insane and prison if not.
The Fijian community have been accused in previous coup as uneducated, cannibals and does not have respect for human rights and the rights of other communities.
Now they have traded places, the same people that were the saint then are now the devils with cleverly cloaked arguments to gloss over the wrongs that are currently being carried out.
These are the same people who argued vehemently to give the 1990 constitution a chance after the 2000 coup are now all for the farter charter to be implemented.
May 7, 2008 at 6:14 am
Who the f**k are those two kulinas in the above posting to determine if our election results are free and fair.Just because the SDL won convincingly,they say that it was not free and fair.
And if the SDL were to win under another banner,would they deem that result free and fair even though the elections were run by this illegal regime?
It seems that they will only judge the election results to be free and fair if the FLP won by a huge majority,even if it meant changing the rules ,as is being done now.
No matter what the pig and his kutus do ,the next election will be won by a Fijian dominated party,a party that is against this regime.
May 7, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Elections will not solve the problems in Fiji, that is the reality. Another reality is that the Charter will be suported by the majority of the people in Fiji and the only ones that oppose it would be the ones that are opposing it in this forum and those that are continually opposing it in the media. That is the reality of things. The majority of the grassroot people who have been visited by the Charter Teams fully support its aims and are right now making submissions to the NCBBF. That is the reality. The other thing is that Fiji will only go to the Polls after the Charter process is complete and the constitution abrogated to make way for new Electoral system. That ladies and gents of this forum is the reality.
May 7, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Imroz – can you give us at least a draft of what is being referd to as the People’s Charter. The people are no longer going to accept hot air – they want to be able to hold on to something, read it for understanding and hopefully they will be free to make up their own mind.
So if you cannot give people a copy of the charter – even in draft from then we should continue talking about it – otherwise forget it.
May 7, 2008 at 5:03 pm
don’t give people like Imroz the benefit of being heard in this forum – while the people he/she supports are raping media freedom. frustrate them by not publishing their views here and/or deleting them as promptly as they deported the two publishers out of Fiji.
May 7, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Good point Frida. Rika said
oh wait I have another idea
later
May 7, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Balanced Media
Editorial Comment – FT
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
_____________________________________________________________
IN recent days, much has been said by the interim government on the need for fair, balanced and accurate reporting.
And the media has been reminded by several members of the interim Cabinet along with the Fiji Labour Party, that the freedom of expression is not unrestricted.
The usual suspects have also resurrected the message of the need for media to act responsibly.
We will be the first to agree that the freedom of the media and the freedom of expression must be practised with responsibility.
That is why we insist every day that our reporters speak to everyone involved in the issues we publish.
The desire to act responsibly causes us to publish views which contradict our personal beliefs.
And the Media Code of Ethics which we cherish, ensures that every political party or government minister is given the right of reply, despite what we think of their arguments.
However, responsibility and balance in the media is a two-way street. The interim regime cannot expect a fair and balanced media when its ministers have been instructed not to speak to journalists.
This newspaper has written several times to officials of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji to ask that our staff accompany their teams on visits around the country. No response has been forthcoming.
While investigating the alleged disappearance of money from the Native Land Trust Board, we sought documentation and interviews from every official possible. No response.
NCBBF officials have been ordered not to discuss salaries, army officers have told not to answer media queries and journalists must channel their queries to the interim government through a central answering service.
It takes several days to receive answers. Often we are not given the courtesy of a response.
Yet the interim administration continues to call for the media to be balanced, fair and accurate.
We stand ready to be accurate, fair and responsible. That is, and has always been, our role.
What the interim government must do is to take a critical look at how it has handles the media so far. It has the ability to deflect public criticism in the media every day. That it chooses not to avail itself of the opportunities we provide can hardly be our fault.
Nor should it be used as a club with which to beat the media for supposed unfair reporting.
Yesterday, the interim Prime Minister made a commitment to ensure a free flow of information to the media. We welcome this promise because it will help us provide information on all issues to the people of this nation.
That is our role, just as it is the role of any government to ensure that it is open to questions from journalists.
–END–
_____________________________________________________________
Frida, you referenced the printed version of the charter. Had the Fiji Times been granted their request as stated above then we would have been informed all throughout about its content. The question I raised upon reading Rika’s editorial is what is buried within this charter that must not be seen ? You know the mantra “the devil is in the detail” Everyday I waited for a printed version through the media and I even faulted the media for failure to ensure we get it.. duh! I should have known to trust the media and not the regime especially on that count. I am so relieved Rika stuck to revealing the truth. These people think they can have it both ways tsk tsk tsk .. not how things work in the world.
May 7, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Also, why all the need for secrecy. They talked a good spin around good governance leading up to the coup and immediately thereafter always pointing fingers at previous governments for their failure at it. Transparency (when practiced) is heart and soul of good governance. The lack of free flow of information is damaging UNLESS they have more to gain by the obvious self-sabortage. Which then raises the issue of taking up leadership through the guns for the sole purpose of serving themselves.
May 7, 2008 at 10:18 pm
@Imroz Buks…the reality of the situation is that the illegal IG will shove the farter charter down peoples throat….accept it or shutup.
The reality of the situation is that we are been ruled by idiots who are self serving and covering their backsides for breaking the law or they would be in prison.
The reality is that people in Fiji are non violent people and are very tolerable to been victimised and are very durable that they will survive this ethnic cleansing carried out by a dictator who thinks he is the man…but rest assured when he is placed in the same cell as George Speight he will be sobbing like a little baby.
The reality of the situation is that the farter charter is been pushed by law breakers who think themselves above the law. Reminds us of the characters of Satan….He desired to make laws rather than observe them…Isaiah 14:12-14.
They IG desires to make law “farter charter” but will not obey the law.
May 9, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Homo Extremist
Imroz Buksh is a fool. Fraenkel lived in Fiji for at least a decade working at the University of the South Pacific, whereas the two Indian academics he mentions as in fact live outside Fiji, in Australia, and have done so for many years!
As to Buksh’s insistence that before elections via the Charter, this may sound nice and practical, but what it really means is that Buksh thinks that the best way to is by trampling all over the aspirations of the Fijians, or at least those hundreds of thousands of Fijians who dont support the charter and see this as a dangerous device to legitimise an illegal military-backed regime. In other words, Buksh is a bona fide member of a new-ish species – the Indian ethnic extremist. These people do not articulate their communal self-interest in straight ethnic terms (as ethnic Fijian ethno-nationalists often do). Instead, they dress this up in very terms as if it were about water, agriculture, sugar, the economy, the election system, the media, etc etc. Of course, anyone who questions the Indian extremists competence in any of these things or whether they have a mandate to do this, is condemned as pandering to racism. And of course, it has nothing to do with communal self-interest (supposedly!) that they assume positions on boards, in the civil service and throughout the increasingly military-determined political order. All this is done for entirely altruistic reasons, supposedly, to advance the nation, and take Fiji forward. And to keep up the grand pretence of the extremists, any other views (ie including those of the MAJORITY of people WITHIN Fiji) are condemned as nastyincursions on sovereignty by Australia, New Zealand, US and the rest of the world.
May 9, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Who wants to have elections????? hopefully we will not have elections next year but twenty years down the line, no one else in Fiji is complaining except the foreigners who can go back to their country and 10 people or so on this blogsite! so who cares. Take a break, chill out and plant more cassava people. PSC reform coming and hope fully half of them will go home, the bloody money wasters!!
May 9, 2008 at 11:58 pm
V O R E Q E
A N D
H I S
I D I O T S
H A V E
N E V E R
B E E N
S O
P A N I C K E D!!
F R A N K ‘S
R E G I M E
I S
F A L L I N G
A P A R T
A T
T H E
S E A M S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GET IT AND GET IT GOOD!!
May 10, 2008 at 8:02 am
Fiji Fighter Says:
May 9, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Who wants to have elections????? hopefully we will not have elections next year but twenty years down the line, no one else in Fiji is complaining
“no one else in Fiji is complaining ” Are you mad or just plain stupid. The majority of Fiji hates the illegal, criminals holding guns pretending to be the govt of Fiji. You are so thick and stupid you don’t even know the difference.
May 13, 2008 at 3:57 pm
why should the international comm ask for FIJI to have elections? why not ask Burma, thailand, and other military dictatorhip countries to have elections before asking Frank to do so.
Simply, he has stopped the white rulers ‘divide n rule policy’ because it is dividing fiji into fijians v indians, hindus v christians v muslims.
He said it is enough. Now China put their hat in the ring, white Aus and kiwis jumping up n down! U getting your own back, pal. Let me ask you white dudes this:
why was Western mining corporation involved in the 87 coups? The rioting started in Vatukoula and Rambo took over? GOLD MINE.
Why did WMC cease gold prodn on 5 dec 07, the day Frank took over?
Why were white men in parl on 14 may 1987 – First coup?
what role did Paul freeman and Peter forster play in Fiji when they were money trickesters? Peter gave money to Tupeni Baba (a labour party member $200,000 to split the labour vote in the 99 elections?) Did he get from Buckingham palace? Hew as there before coming to Fiji – Cherry gate affair.
Open the files on Peter Stinson and his son Peter, both Fiji’s Mins of Finance, in Fiji who borrowed $million for Soqulu plantation and the national bank of Fiji went bankrupt.
Suffice to say the white people have a hidden agendas such as the Fiji Times (racist propoganda tool) to incite racial and religious hatred so their companies could carry on ’stealing’ indigenous resources and have a few elites (chiefs and their cronies) in power, so they get favours.
So shut up u supporters of so called white man’s democracy, rule of law, freedom od speech crap, because all u are doing is in your self interests. White men (secret business) never issued death threats to dark skinned people but took over FORCEABLY all over the the world. The Queen violated human rights (she should be charged with CRIMES against HUMANITY): murder, rapes, children taken from parents, burning and looting villagers, destroying civilisations (fijians, maoris, Indians, aboriginals), and used LEGALISED slavery, and these so called journos are talking about elections and rule of law, for what? so ur jobs are intact. So the ‘developed countires’ go into others soveriegn states, take over, make laws such the one in Aust (aborigines have to show that they lived cont on the land b4 being recognised it is their land, hello, white man took it away and created these rule of laws so Aborigines cannot get it back!) Why? because of capitalism: resources for growth of their companies and what some of these coy’s do – they hide the money in tax havens and fund overthrows in countries where they have ‘their interest’- selfishness.
No care for anyone else except their jobs, coys.
How come when Peter Forster escaped from Fiji and taken to Vanuatu, there was an EX- SAS officer on an ex-Aust naval boat (registered in Panama- tax haven for boats)?
As u can see there many questions that are not answered. Freedom of speech: journos have to be responsible in reporting or writing articles that is the view or the opinion that supports their owner. Rubert Murdcoh lost $billions in China but got nowhere. So I suggest leave Frank alone and if their is no elections in Mar 09, too bad. Live with it, Fank is cleaning up, so it was wrong to do so, in a take over, but he sees this as bringing together of different races rather than dividing the country which the white man has done for the several hundred years. What goes around comes around.
May 13, 2008 at 7:06 pm
@ kai viti n kai indai, what was the course of the Bainimarama coup? What was the cause of the Speight coup? What was the cause of the Rabuka coup?
You will note that it all cases it had nothing to do with the Constitution at all, but the Constitution was used as an excuse.
FYI, Chaudary and the FLP won the General Elections in 1999 on the current Constitution, so the Constitution is not the cause of the coup mentality, but rather the coup is only executed by failed politicians, egotistic manics and undisciplined Military Commanders.
That being said, so why defer General Elections in 2009? No one in their right mind believes holding General Elections will guarantee the demise of the coup culture, but everyone knows that results from the General Elections is what the people’s wishes.
The coup culture as rightfully stated by Tui Savu will only be terminated when people are held responsible for their actions and brought to justice and not the People’s Charter or any other document.
It seems, some people including kai viti n kai indai don’t want General Elections because the rsults will speak for itself as it seems highly probable that SDL will be returned to power with an overwhelming majority and the demise of the FLP.
May 13, 2008 at 7:30 pm
@kai Viti n kai Indai
The international community will push for our return to democratic rule for one simple reason. They have poured in millions of $$$$ in aid money for the development of this country. And, as you know, the European Union for example, had committed 300+million Euros for sugar reform alone!
In the Pacific Islands Forum process the international community is known as the DONOR countries. Because they give, and give, and give for our development. And it is the policy of their individual countries to deal only with a democratically elected government.
Thats the power of democracy!
May 14, 2008 at 1:17 pm
There are bigger players at play in Fiji, u have to go beyond elections as it is not going to solve Fiji’s ethnic conflicts and land problems, which is created by the kai valagi’s – divide n rule policy, go back to the national achives and read some of the very early hansard reports.
Indians and Fijians were not allowed into clubs and restaurants, under racist policies of the Queen. Yet u still listen to them.
The international comm (incl Britain) conquered Fiji and other soveriegn countries around the world, and u want elections? Fiji gets donations because the developed countries have taken resources that BELONG TO THE FIJIAN PEOPLE, via WMC, Carpenters, BP’s, etc. This made Fiji dependent on them.
See now China has given $167M and Aust and NZ, jumping, wai lei, we don’t want them here, go away, yet you keep accepting whatever sanctions the developed countries place on Fiji citizens.
Why did the international com not place travel sanctions in 87? Cause they the tamana of all crimes against humanity. They the ones who destabilised Fiji, PNG, Solomons.
Frank, Mahend and Shaista (raica: dua na Christian, Hindu and a muslim – in unity fighting against the evil forces) saw through that.
If SDL wins, what have the so called saviour of the native Fijians done for the Fijian people? Since independence, nothing, that is why so many are unemployed and live in socially unacceptable conditions in urban areas.
The elites and kai india supporters gain from getting them elected, same with the Alliance. The average fijian has received nothing from Fijian controlled governments. So where the money gone?
Yes, the last elections were rigged, so where is democracy when u have lobby groups giving a lot of nalavo to political parties so their own agendas are followed? It is a capitalist world which means u got the money, u get the benefits. Everybody else, raica na yalo-yalo.
The westminister democracy stops once you vote, after that no one has control except the pressure groups, who control people like Qarase.
Bob Marley sang in the song ‘war’: “…until the man’s skin is no more significant than the colour of his eyes, there will be war…”.
Look around the world and you shall see conflict. US and UK, AUST (under Howard) went into Iraq for oil but lied to all the world Saddam had WMD? none have been found. Yet u want elections.
Fijians and Indians have not killed each other in Fiji, so Frank/M/S should be given some credibility, or do you want people to kill each other? U want to see free for all fighting?
International comm should get other military dictatorship to hold elections first, before asking Fiji to do so. Let the charter take it course.
God bless, but please think hard and see the real tevoro at work.
May 4, 2009 at 9:01 pm
@ Kai Viti kai Idia,
Enough already with blaming the colonial rulers, we all know that,!!! We cannot keep harping on the mistreatment as a way of explaning our problems. The solution lies in our children – It is time to think about our children, and the sort of Fiji they will inherit.
I wish people would go home and really take a look around them, look beyond the frangipani curtains. You’d be amazed at what you see.
On the school grounds, the lunch boxes will have roti and curry parcels, for Jone, Arvin, Thomas and Lunik. On the streets, the girl in the jiamba and sulu is not necessarily a taukei, and not all the girls in salwar khamiz are of Indian decent.
Our children are dating and falling in love, irrespective of what they had for breakfast!! Yes we have come a long way and have a long way to go. Why dont we just support our children, they are showing us the way forward. They really do not give two hoots what ones ethinicity is!!!
The problems are the parents, seeing the negatives, making mountains out of each problem and blaming it on racial tensions. Do what parents are supposed to do – Create a safe environment for our children , so they can grow to their full potential as with their country.
Enough with the armchair analysis. Our children’s growth are being stunted in everyway possible whilst Fiji is being ruled by guns!!! Think of the children and give them what they deserve.
Get rid of the guns and the military,bring about a democratic environment, spend the money on educations and health care. Let Fiji be the peaceful environment it was prior to Rabuka, Speight and Bananarama, and let our children have the right to live in freedon.