BLOG AIMS, ITS PUBLISHER AND USE
Wednesday 29 April 2009
(o-) Criticism from a Well-Wisher: Rod Ewins*
Do keep up the good work - and I do know what a lot of work it is! There are many Fiji blogs out there at the moment, most of them fitting the hysterical mould, and with no serious analysis, so yours is a breath of fresh air.
Kind regards, Rod Ewins
Rod, Yes, you are right and I was not unaware of the "shift" myself. My difficulty has been in reacting to others' reactions on the implementation of the Emergency Regulations. Most anti-government comment has not placed the actions of the Government within the context of the Regulations. Placed within, they make sense, even if they seem excessive; out of context, they point only to an on-going abuse of power. We would be in a better position to judge if the local media could comment more freely, but our first real indication of where things are heading may have to wait 14 more days. If the Emergency is extended beyond its original 30 days without due and obvious cause, many will have cause to doubt Bainimarama's stated intentions. Thank you for picking me up on this.
Croz
* Dr Rod Ewins, a Research Associate at the University of Tasmania, was born in Fiji, into the 4th generation of settlers who first arrived in 1875. He has published three books, a video and a number of articles on Fijian art. His PhD thesis was on "the social role of Fijian traditional art in the negotiation of identity". His website is www.justpacific.com
See also two opposing but related comments to my post "The Coup Was Not Necessary": Expert
(o-) Important New Book on 2006 Coup
An invaluable, wide-ranging collection of papers, mainly by Coup opponents, but with no apologies for the policies of the deposed Qarase Government. Click here for the whole 472 pages. 1.5MB, but quick broadband download.
Brij Lal's comment quoted below points to one, as yet little considered, possible consequence of a failed coup. While race is not the only driver of politics in Fiji, it is an easy way for the unscrupulous to rally support.
"People in power in the FLP–RFMF* interim administration appear unconcerned about the incontrovertible fact that a large cross-section of the indigenous Fijian community feels deeply humiliated. They are the outright majority of the population, and in their view they are the underprivileged ones who needed special assistance, who as the taukei, the indigenous inhabitants, were ‘by right’ entitled to control the levers of power. And now this: Unceremoniously tossed out of office, deprived of government handouts, and told to compete on equal terms with everyone else. The days of state-sanctioned pampering are over. It is a timely, if severe, message relayed with unprecedented bluntness. If the SDL and the nationalists ever return to power, they would likely pursue an ethno-nationalist agenda with a vengeance never seen before in Fijian politics.
"It will be the politics of grudge and relentless score-settling all over again. This is a fear that lies deep at the back of the Indo-Fijian mind. This is the main reason why so many are so desperate for the military to succeed in its campaign. For, if it fails, Indo-Fijians know they will be doomed permanently to a subordinate future in the cul-de-sac of Fijian politics from which escape will be difficult."(p.434) * Republic of Fiji Military Forces- Fiji Labour Party.
Tuesday 28 April 2009
(-) "The Horrifying Consequences of the Coup": Narsey
For those unfamiliar with Waden, he is probably Fiji's most eminent academic economist; a long-standing NFP supporter and opponent of the FLP; and the brother-in-law of Prof. Brij Lal, one of the architects of the Reeves Report that resulted in the adoption of the 1997 Constitution. To read the lecture in full, click here.
P.S. My correction and apologies for the underlined. See post 6 May My Sincere Apologies to Prof. Wadan Narsey.
Monday 27 April 2009
(+) NZ TV1 Gutter Journalism
It started with the sensational News Headlines: "Talk of Uprising in Fiji"-- surely of extreme importance but unmentioned in the story! When the item started journalist Lisa Owen, freshly arrived from New Zealand, interviewed a Fijian female silhouette who spoke tearfully of the President's "treason", Fiji Law Society Dorsami Naidu who appealed to people within the government who "secretly doubted Bainimarama's master plan" (perhaps this was the talked-of uprising), and another anonymous person who asked the interview be not televised after reportedly receiving threats from the censors.
The journalist said some people asked NZ tourists to stay away to "deprive Bainimarama of tax dollars" (no mention of lost income in the tourist industry). Lisa continued: "Here in Fiji under the current military regime, it is illegal to hold a meeting if it includes the media or a conversation about politics". No mention was made to the 30-day Emergency Regulations which imposed these rules. Listeners would think it a normal condition.
This commentary was filmed against a backdrop of crowded buses, a squatter settlement, and a street beggar contrasted with Cdre Bainimarama, resplendent in his white naval uniform. No text was needed; the film told all.
How could any decent New Zealander do anything other than condemn the evil Bainimarama and what he's doing to Fiji!
On TV1 News tomorrow Lisa will report on one of Fiji's squatter settlements. No doubt we'll hear that poverty is worse due to the coup (not to the world recession and travel advisories from New Zealand and Australia*. Depending on the squatter settlement selected, we may even hear that many squatters are recent arrivals, impoverished by the Coup, when many new squatters are in fact Indo-Fijians whose land leases were not renewed due to pressure from some prominent supporters of the deposed Qarase regime. [P.S. I was wrong. Lisa interviewed three Fijians whose political comments were probably representative. But the item only lasted two minutes!]
What is the point of sending a journalist to Fiji who knows absolutely nothing about Fiji to interview three people of similar persuasion who tell us nothing new? Unless, in deliberate breach of the Emergency Regulations, she is deported ... and then TV1 will have another story!
*P.S. The original post had "sanctions"which is not strictly correct. Travel advisories (and ongoing negative reporting) have had a direct economic effect on tourism, Fiji's major industry.
Saturday 25 April 2009
(-+) The Coup Was Not Necessary: Expert
Here are the points he made (RR) and my responses (CW).RR: “Fiji emerged from those political storms [the 1987 coup] stronger than ever, with a hugely sophisticated and active civil society, a dynamic free media and a strong legal system... and ethno-nationalism had retreated.”
CW: A rather rosy picture of Fiji not altogether borne out by more recent reactions of some NGOs, the media and the Fiji Law Society, but not altogether wrong either. But on ethno-nationalism, unfortunately, absolutely wrong. The racist reasons forthe Speight Coup were identical to those of 1987. Further witness to ongoing ethno-nationalism of the worst kind includes: the votes won by the extremist CAMV party in 1991 and its absorption into Qarase's SDL for the 2006 election; the overt racism of some of his Government ministers; the sporadic desecration of Hindu temples; the continuing use of the race card, and the blatant racism in numerous anti-Government blogs.
RR: “A new constitution in 1997 that it could rightly be proud of.”
CW: Appearances in 1997 were not borne out by realities, especially from 2000 onwards. The Constitution, eagerly adopted by the Great Council of Chiefs and an exhausted Indo-Fijian population thinking anything was better than the totally racist 1991 Constitution, has proved defective in (a) its electoral system; (b) its Government power-sharing provisions; (c) the power given to the Great Council of Chiefs, and their representation in Senate; and (d) the absence of the President's “reserve” powers, or similar.
RR: “The 1997 Constitution was helping to break down the racial divide through eventual power-sharing … Bainimarama chose to overthrow the recently elected parliament in which power was being shared for the first time among the representatives of 80 percent of the population.”
CW: Qarase refused to admit the Fiji Labour Party to power-sharing, and at the time of the 2006 Coup, the “Opposition” was Mike Beddoes, representing the UPP, a very small party. Power-sharing deprived Parliament, and Fiji, of an effective opposition.
RR: “There was no need for the coup. Change was already in the air because the purported threat Indo-Fijians posed to Fijian dominance has dissipated....may fall to under 25 percent by 2020”
CW: I can't see what has this to do with the Coup? Does Robbie propose a correlation between increasing “Fijian democracy” and a decline in Indo-Fijian numbers, presumably because Fijian politicians would no longer need to play the race card? The 2006 coup had several causes: Qarase's betrayal of Bainimarama's trust by entering politics and his inclusion of 2000 plotters and activists in his government; the high level of corruption; proposed legislation that would have excused the plotters; the divisive Qoliqoli Bill, and other bills promoting ethnic Fijians (more accurately their elite and chiefs) to the detriment of other races. It had nothing to do with current or future demographic shifts.
RR: “This [the smaller Indo-Fijian population] will mean electoral change will have to take place ….”
CW: The only change required from a smaller Indo-Fijian population would be a decrease in the number of their Communal seats. Robbie seems to assume (despite opinions to the contrary in his own writings) that race is the sole driver of Fiji politics and Fiji society. This view has some merit if we substitute “race card” for “race” but only if we also ignore significant divisions within both Fijian and Indo-Fijian communities.
RR:...and such change was already being publicly debated before Bainimarama chose to overthrow the recently elected parliament. “
CW: The Reeves Commission that resulted in the 1997 Constitution recommended the gradual reduction of Communal electorates and an increase in Open electorates, a change that Qarase's SDL would have blocked. The “public debate” was mainly about the scrapping of the Alternative Vote and its replacement by proportional representation. This would be an improvement, but as long as the Fijian Communal seats remained, the value of Fijian votes in some (mainly rural) provinces would continue to be worth between two and four times the value of Fijian votes in other (mainly urbanized) provinces; General Voters (other races) would be over-represented, and Fijians living in towns and cities would continue to be under-represented. In other words, it would continue to be grossly unfair and undemocratic. And as the saying goes: There's many a slip between the lip(debate) and the cup(genuine electoral reform). Robbie wrote of 20-30 years. Bainimarama decided not to wait that long!
But all this begs the question, the People's Charter is now central stage, and of this electoral reform is only a part. In a message to Café Pacific Robbie said: “I fear that even if he [Bainimarama] delivers, the result may not be what we wish for. [adding] Bainimarama should be judged by what he does, not what he says.” How true, on both counts. Bainimarama may not get the full People's Charter--it is still to be discussed-- but if he gets the major part of it, an optimistic view could be that the Coup and all it has brought may yet be judged worthwhile.
RR: Robbie expresses a far less optimistic view:“The danger Bainimarama poses lies not in what he says he will do but what he does. Here is a man who claims he and the military forces he represents have the right to interfere in the political process whenever they, and they alone, choose. This is the Rabuka legacy, and if Bainimarama succeeds in recreating Fiji's democracy in five years' time, he will have confirmed for all time the role of the military as Fiji's political kingmaker.”
CW: Yes, this is a distinct possibility and a very real concern that will be addressed during the People's Charter process. But one could also argue that without the Coup, Fiji would have become even more racist. We can no more read past futures than present ones.
(-+) One Picture Worth a Thousand Words: Fiji Military Has Tanks?
“I understand, for example, in Australia – one of the TV stations was showing tanks when they were talking about Fiji – the pictures in the background. The military does not have tanks in Fiji. You have old file footage being shown as current footage - but not saying ‘file footage.’ You have a lot of sensationalism. You have media organizations reading [anti-Government] blogs. That doesn’t of course help.”
(+) Clinton Told Australia NZ Misleading Over Fiji
"It makes no sense, Madame Secretary, for the leaders of Australia and New Zealand to demand early elections for the sake of having elections in Fiji, when there are fundamental deficiencies in Fiji's electoral process."
Update: For a much fuller account, with comments from David Robie, click here.
(o) Unbelievable But True : Fiji and NZ
And secondly, in New Zealand, Jim Salinger's dismissal from Niwa.* Salinger is NZ's internationally renowned top climate change scientist. What was he sacked for? Talking to the media about glaciers (sic!) without permission. And we criticize Fiji!!!
*The state-owned National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
Wednesday 22 April 2009
(o) Kiwi's "Scary" Arrival in Nadi
[The article goes on to describe economic problems due to the downturn of tourism, the recent floods, devaluation, and the effects of ill-informed NZ media information...
Every New Zealander interviewed there said they had received phone calls and emails from panicky family and friends worried for their safety.
While the media is telling people it is unsafe, the official New Zealand travel advisory service does not. It simply explains the current political situation and says to be alert to any deterioration, especially in Suva, which is not the main tourist destination. Having said that, contacts who have been to Suva say everything is normal, even around Government House and the business district. The western side of the island is the main tourist hub, and there is no evidence of any unrest there. If it were not for the barrage of concerned emails and texts from New Zealand, and reading the online papers, life in Fiji would be just the same.
No-one likes to see the media muzzled, but the local people are well aware of what has happened. They all read the news online as well. They have to, as the standard of local media leaves a lot to be desired. The more cynical among them think the journalists who were asked to leave were scratching hard to create a story out of nothing.
The feeling among the locals I spoke to is that Frank Bainimarama is doing not too bad a job. They are put out that the judicial hearing took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the decision was given on Thursday. [This refers to the unexpectedly short time it took the Australian judges to reach and publish their verdict.] To read the full story, click Pacific MediaWatch
Tuesday 21 April 2009
(+) Kiwi Laywers Committed to Fiji
Based on Fiji Live 21 April 2009
New Zealander Christopher Pryde, reappointed today as Fiji's Solicitor-General, has criticized NZ Law Society president John Marshall QC’s comment that lawyers should not accept office with the Fiji government. Pryde said people could bury their heads in the sand and wish that things were otherwise, but the fact remained that the President had abrogated the 1997 Constitution. He called NZLS president's advice “paradoxical.”
“It is precisely at this time that Fiji needs good, competent lawyers to assist it and I am pleased that all the New Zealand lawyers working in the various ministries and departments in Fiji, including in my office, have committed themselves to staying on and seeing the country through this difficult period. The reappointment of people, including lawyers, to government positions and judges to the judiciary is an important part of that process without which, the road will be longer and rockier.”
(B) Fiji Crisis: Behind the Headlines - Fr Kevin Barr
Monday 20 April 2009
Links to NZ Over-the-Weekend Discussion on Fiji
TV1 had a lengthy interviewed with Ballu Khan, with whom I sympathise at a human level because he was very badly beaten up by the military in the early days of the Coup, but otherwise is a person in whom I do not place a great deal of trust. His later comments were similar to those of Baidrokadroka (mentioned in an earlier post) and our PM John Key. All of these statements could be seen as inflammatory and decidedly dangerous interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state, whatever their government. For this reason I have not provided a link to the Khan interview, but Key's comments may require a later posting. Meantime, I'm not sure whether he intended the media to "enlarge" on his story (promoting his "last resort" as the first resort, and demoting the provisos) or whether the media did it on their own, or a bit of both. Statements like this can only make the Fiji situation worse, as indeed all of those in the interviews noted above made very clear.
Sunday 19 April 2009
(o) Radio NZ Sunday Group Discuss Fiji
Feedback so far has been very positive. Vinaka vakalevu to Chris, Christine, and fellow discussants. Apologies to Janet for butting in. I think Chris handled us all very well but it's a pity the format did not allow for a some discussion between discussants.
Friday 17 April 2009
(o+) Ratu Epeli Nailatikau New Vice-President
(o+) Dealing with the Dictator: Highly Recommended Commentary*
Thursday 16 April 2009
(o) The Presidential Decrees and Related Matters: Brief Comments and Links
The President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, has signed a number of decrees to replace the abrogated 1997 Constitution that cannot be legally questioned until there are democractic elections held in accordance of a new Constitution. Most decrees concern his Executive Authority (as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief, and his power to appoint a Prime Minister and other ministers); and laws "for the peace, order and good government of Fiji." All laws existing before the Appeals Court decision, other than those related to the 1997 Constitution, will continue in force. To read the decrees, click here.
Bainimarama has been reappointed PM along with his former ministers. Most senior civil service appointments have been renewed. All State offices have reopened and most officeholders reappointed, their earlier dismissal being necessary because they had been appointed under the abrogated Constitution, an important explanation omitted by most media.The State Services Decree by the President also establishes Electoral Offices, including the Constitutional Boundaries Commission, and the Supervisor of Elections. Exceptions include the Constitutional Offices Commission, Judicial Service Commission and the Disciplined Services Commission. The new Chief Justice is Nazhat Shameem and the new Governor of the Reserve Bank Sada Reddy.
PI Forum reactions on the abrogation differ. Predictably, Australia and New Zealand have so far not adjusted to the new situation. Today's NZHerald editorial sums up their likely position. The Cook Islanders say Fiji must be suspended; Niue, Samoa and possibly Tonga seem likely to follow. Kiribati, however, is against suspension and has urged Australia and New Zealand to adopt a more helpful attitude. Some Melanesian countries may follow suit.
The Prime Minister has warned the military of possible UN reactions, and has reiterated that nothing will dissuade him from electoral reform before elections, not scheduled for 2014. Waikato's Dr David Nielson, who was part of the team that found serious flaws in the 2006 elections (see Background Material) makes this and other important points in Thursday's NZHerald.
Bainimarama also had harsh words for the Australian Appeal Court judges who, he said, ignored the support for electoral reform (64% of those surveyed for the People's Charter). He says the Court of Appeal judges had made up their minds in advance (evidenced by their quick verdict) and were trying to force an election under a system those surveyed did not want. The situation regarding NZ lawyers previously employed by Government, including Justice Gates, is unclear but the Auckland Law Society (undertandably but wrongly, in my opinion) has urged NZ lawyers not to take up Fiji appointments.
If a newpaper survey is any indication, Bainimarama has a surprising amount of support in NZ.
In a separate article veteran Pacific scholar Prof Hugh Laracy said NZ had not enough understanding of the Fiji situation. He thought Bainimarama had "Fiji's best interests at heart."
An interesting and in parts amusing interview of Bainimarama by TVNZ journalist Adrian Stevanon may be read (and heard) onTVNZ.Bainimarama answered a question on a possible military mutiny in jest (they were playing rugby this afternoon) but a more serious and sinister prediction -- a 50/50 chance -- came from former Land Force Commander Colonel Baledrokadroka, now living in Australia, who has been saying much the same thing for months.
The most economic important news, that the previously overvalued dollar has been devalued by 20 percent, has been welcomed by exporters, especially by garment manufacturers, and the tourist industry. The reverse side of the coin is that the cost of imports will increase, impacting badly on household budgets.
The retired age for civil servants has been again set at 55 years (when most are eligible for a pension) but some will continue on fixed term contracts. The move will create vacancies, which will "trinkle down" to younger, unemployed, qualified people, of whom Fiji has many.
Tuesday 14 April 2009
The Emergency Situation
Monday 13 April 2009
Links: Court Judgment, President's Speech, Fiji and International Reactions
See also my initial comments on the post belowWhat On Earth Did the Court Expect?(The symbols are explained in "Notices" at the bottom of this page.)
Sunday 12 April 2009
(+) What On Earth Did the Court Expect?
Wednesday 8 April 2009
(oB) To-morrow 9th April : Too Many Big Question Marks
Tuesday 7 April 2009
(o) What's Going On, Commander?
Speaking in Fijian to Radio Fiji yesterday, Cdre Bainimarama said the military council has advised him to exclude the SDL, NFP, UPP and certain NGOs from Thursday's meeting, adding that they "should not be part of the meeting."
I've no ideas what this charade is supposed to convey. Could Bainimarama and the military think they gain public support, or throw dust into their opponents' eyes, by this posturing, knowing all along that if they don't admit the opposition groups, the meeting itself -- and the President's Political Dialogue Forum which follows -- is turned into a charade. Or has the hoopla been "ordered" by the media? Whatever. Fiji could do without it.
Forum co-ordinator Jone Dakuvula said all parties would be present at the Forum. I sincerely hope so!
(+) If You Point Your Finger at Your Neighbour, How Many Point Back at You?
So it is all of us - newspapers, magazines, television, radio and increasingly web sites on the internet - who have become ever more dependent on the information traders. There have been a whole range of consequences. And I fear it is our standards as journalists - our ethics - which are increasingly under threat."
Police said they were looking for a petition signed by Ministry of Finance staff addressed to the Public Service Commission, which they warned the FT not to publish. The FT did not deny their reporter Reijeli Kikau was (or had been) in possession of the document, or that it had at some time been in their offices.
If this were the case, how come that a petition (or its copy) addressed to the PSC was in the possession of their reporter? Who gave her this material addressed to somone else, and what did she -- and the person who gave it to her -- expect her to do with it? What would the public think had the petition been published? With whom, the petitioners or the petitioned, would the public most sympathise? And why should the police not search for this sort of document?