Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Ding Tong tries to play big daddy to Fiji

NO WONDER: Anote Tong with Cuba's Raul Castro during an official visit at the Revolution Palace in Havana in December, 2010.


".... I said if we have six children and one is a bad young boy what do you do with him? Do you kick him out? You don't. You never do because we're a family and we must act like a family. Fiji is part of this family and our task is to continue to bring Fiji back."- Kiribati president, Anote Tong.

Now this is the sort of naive Pacific politics the region does not need. Anote Tong, right and above, today tried to steal the show at the Pacific Islands Forum in Auckland by saying Fiji should be readmitted and that other countries agreed with him but were too scared to say so. Tong says it's not fair the people of Fiji are being sanctioned. What a dork. We are suffering because an unelected military regime is in government NOT because of New Zealand or Australia. Go back to sleep, President Tong.

posted by Pacific in the Media at 8:14 PM 49 Comments Links to this post

Pro-regime institute poll claims majority support for Fiji dictator and military

SUPPORT FOR DUNCE: He who took the country by force.

The pro-regime Lowy Institute in Australia has released a poll claiming there is majority support for Frank Bainimarama.

The poll was apparently done last month and surveyed 1,032 people. (Funny how all these things ... like the Engaging with the Pacific were done leading up to the Pacific Leaders Forum)

According to the Institute, 1000 of those surveyed don't like the international pressure being applied on the regime to return Fiji to democracy.

It says 63 per cent of correspondnets either strongly disagreed or partly disagreed with the approach being taken towards Fiji because of the 2006 coup by Bainimarama and his supporters.

According to Lowy, Bainimarama's performance as Prime Minister was highly regarded by 66 per cent and 65 per cent said Fiji was heading in the right direction.

The poll also found 68 per cent approved of the role the military currently play in Fiji and 53 per cent think the RFMF should continue to play a role in politics!

Conveniently, the survey said most people were against the church being involved in politics while 61 per cent think the unelected government listens to the people and 43 per cent think the media has become more reliable since the 2006 coup!

It's not clear how the Institute, which has criticised Australia's approach towards Fiji and tried to spearhead a campaign for a 'new dialogue' with Suva came to do the survey, which was released today to regional leaders at the Forum in Auckland.

But we think it reeks of bias and is embarrasingly pro-regime. And considering Fiji's population of 800,000, a poll of 1,032 is hardly credible.

Not surprisingly, nothing was said about how corrupt the regime is or how Bainimarama is a mere puppet or that he has allowed Fiji to be run into the ground by incompetent people he apppointed. 

Nothing said also about him using the military to intimidate people to ensure his reign continues or that he's breached human rights. This survey is totally removed from the realities of Fiji.

posted by Pacific in the Media at 5:18 PM 60 Comments Links to this post

Fiji protest at Forum today while UN says Fijian soldiers will be replaced

Anti-regime protest outside the Fiji High Commission in Wellington last week

The pro-democracy movement is taking its case against the regime to the biggest gathering of the region's political leaders.

The movement is protesting outside the Pacific Islands Forum in Auckland, where leaders from 16 countries are gathering, including the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki Moon.

The protest has been organised by the Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement NZ, the Council of Trade Unions and Amnesty International.

The rally begins at midday on the corner of  Karangahape Rd and Queen Street and protestors will march down to Sky City, where Forum leaders are meeting.

Those living in Auckland who support democracy for Fiji are being urged to join the protest.

And encouraging words today from Ban Ki Moon, who says he wants Fiji to return to civilian rule as soon as possible.

Asked why the United Nations continues to use Fiji soldiers in its peacekeeping missions, he said the UN didn't have a choice at the time because American soldiers were withdrawing and the UN mission needed the Fiji soldiers.

But he insisted no soldier who has violated human rights is included in the UN peace keeping missions.

And he says they're looking at getting peace keepers from other nations like Nepal to replace Fiji soldiers.

posted by Pacific in the Media at 7:33 AM 34 Comments Links to this post

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Regime reveals Fiji voter registration plans to Melanesian mates first


BLOCKING ROAD TO DEMOCRACY
The regime has announced that voter registration will start early next year, with Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum saying expressions of interest for companies experienced in electronic voter registration will get underway tomorrow.

This is, of course, for the phantom 2014 elections!
But typical of the unelected government, the proposal was revealed LAST to the people of Fiji and FIRST to the delegates from the visiting Melanesian countries attending last week's Engaging with the Pacific meeting in Nadi.

The reason for doing that of course is simple: the regime has the local population in a choker hold and doesn't have to woo it - like it does its neighbours, especially the Melanesian countries who this week led the call for Fiji to be re-admitted to the Pacific Islands Forum.

In a document obtained by Coupfourpointfive from last week's Nadi meeting, the self-appointed prime minister, Frank Bainimarama and the deputy secretary of the Strategic Framework for Change, Edward Tunidau, revealed details of voter registration as part of a regime report on its so-called roadmap. 

The document (which we're printing in part only at this stage) detailed also the regime's 'progress' with the media decrees, public service reforms, land reform, investment and health.


Frank Bainimarama: Update on Fiji's roadmap

As we all know good governance is a prerequisite for sustainable development and economic growth.
This in turn will require improved political, economic and social conditions and mechanisms for stability, safety and inclusive governance.
The challenge is to develop approaches that promote an inclusive electoral and parliamentary process in an environment where key security and government principles and values are constantly involved.
In our first EWTP meeting last year, my officials gave a preview on how Fiji is addressing these issues through the Roadmap for Democracy and Sustainable Economic Development 2009 to 2014.
Today we will have the deputy secretary in the Strategic Framework for Change (SFC) co-ordinating office, who is charged with overseeing the implementation of the Roadmap to update us with progress that has taken place in the past 12 months




Mr Edward Tunidau
Strategic Framework For Change was announced by PM in 2009 - it is a blueprint for development as indicated from 2009 to 2014 and it is in 2 phases


The 1st phase from 2009 to 2012 focuses on the economic and social development
2nd phase from 2012 to 2014 focuses on constitution development and general elections


The SFC initiative and all the reforms all originated from the Peoples Charter for Change Peace and Progress consultations.
Initiative was launched in October 2010.
It was launched to produce a comprehensive, fact-based, diagnostic, forward-looking report on the state of the nation.
The findings and recommendations to address the challenges facing Fiji as contained in this report and extensive consultations undertaken at the local, community, and national level formed the basis of the preparation of the draft Peoples Charter.


The Peoples Charter process was a nation-wide inclusive and participatory process. It represents Fiji's own way of addressing its deep-rooted, complex and fundamental problems. The NCBBF had received very strong broad-based support from the people of Fiji for the draft Peoples Charter with an acceptance rate of 64%.

It is on the basis of such a feedback from the people of Fiji that the NCBBF finalised the draft document and submitted this - The Peoples Charter for Change peace and Progress to his excellency the late President of Fiji in December 2008 for endorsement.

The vision of the Peoples Charter has never changed. It is still building a better Fiji for all with the overarching objectives to rebuild Fiji into an all-racial, culturally vibrant and united, well governed, truly democratic nation.

A nation that seeks progress and prosperity through merit based actuality of opportunity and peace and is guided by the following principles.

One of the main objectives of the Peoples Charter is to commit future governments to addressing the critical problems affecting the country rather than diverting resources to other, essentially, non-priority areas.

The key pillars of the Peoples Charter are set out in the PC as a foundation for the rebuilding of Fiji as a nation
These pillars are broad-based strategies and objectives of the pillars are further cascaded and detailed into the SFC which operationalises core strategies in the roadmap.

The SFC has 3 sectors
We will have a look at the governance sector we'll focus on the strategic priorities in this sector which government is currently working on.

The constitution will be developed by September 2013, the formulation will commence in September 2012.
In terms of the electoral reform - elections will be held under a new electoral system - the open list system as  recommended by the NCBBF.

Currently, we are conducting registration awareness and the pilot test of voter registration centres around the country.
Point to note-the electoral voter registrations begin next year.


In terms of accountability and transparency - high on the agenda is the removal of systemic corruption, which FICAC is fully functional with 39 convictions to date.

Fiji has ratified the United nations Convention Against Corruption in May 2008
In 2009 Fiji volunteered to be part of the pilot review in which we facilitated a visit from a delegation of experts from France and Serbia for the purpose of assessing Fiji's compliance with UNCAC.

Again in 2011, Fiji volunteered to be reviewed in the first cycle of the review mechanism. As such, Fiji has been reviewed by the USA and Bangladesh.  Fiji has also been approached and has agreed to be a reviewer during this review cycle- we'll be reviewing Timor-Leste later next year.

Modelled on the NSW system in Australia - the legal practitioners decree imported new definitions of professional conduct from Queensland in Australia and due process to be carried out by establishing the Independent Legal Services Commission as a disciplinary body for the legal profession.

The creation of this independent body created a transparent and independent system to look into consumer grievances and other complaints against the conduct of lawyers.
This contributed to tangible and practicle systems of law, as it applied to lawyers.

posted by Pacific in the Media at 6:15 PM 28 Comments Links to this post

Democracy group condemns MSG leaders for endorsing Fiji roadmap

PNG PM PETER O'NEILL AND SOLOMONS PM DANNY PHILIP

VANUATU PM SATO KILMAN
The Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement has condemned a decision by those attending the Engaging with the Pacific meeting in Nadi last week for endorsing the dictator's so-called roadmap to democracy.

The leaders of the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Tuvalu, together with six foreign ministers attended the meet in Nadi, which was organised as part of the gathering of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
  
They all endorsed Bainimarama’s roadmap which promises that a new Constitution will be drawn up next year with elections to follow in 2014.  

New South Wales Chapter President, Usaia Peter Waqatairewa, says it's regrettable that democratically elected governments of the region have decided to supported a plan that Fiji Citizens were not even allowed to view, via their own media.

“The regional countries that have endorsed the strategic framework and roadmap have done so without considering the fact that these documents were drawn up without any consultation with Fiji Citizens, either individually or via their political representatives.”
 
Waqaitairewa says thes same regional countries were voted into office through democratic means.

“It is kind of hypocritical for them to be endorsing the false initiative of a dictatorship that draws its power from the barrel of a gun.”

The Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement is also appalled that regional countries have decided to endorse initiative proposed by an illegal government that continuous to defy a High Court ruling that have declared it as illegal back in April 2009.
 
“The regional leaders should learn from history that such important initiatives would not work unless accepted by the people and acceptance will not come if no prior consultations has been done. The people must own the initiative and this can only happen if there is widespread consultation by a team representing the various political interest and views of the people of Fiji."


Waqatiarewa says, "All we are asking for is for the regional leaders, especially our so called Melanesian Brothers, to really be honest with themselves and think - is it really normal for the majority of the people of Fiji to be accepting of a narcissistic leader who is persecuting members of the largest Christian denomination in Fiji, and who has ordered the detainment and beating of hundreds of people, the murder of others and have brought economic and social hardship on thousands of people he has forced into poverty?"

posted by Pacific in the Media at 1:50 PM 28 Comments Links to this post

Fiji: once a founding Forum member but now just looking in from the outside

PIF IN CAIRNS, 2009: The year Fiji was kicked out.



As the Pacific Islands Forum celebrates its 40th anniversary in Auckland, Fiji's chair at the Forum will be empty for a third year.

Fiji will get mentioned but it is not expected to take centre stage in Forum discussions and neither will it be a priority for a majority of the Pacific leaders who are adamant it should not be allowed back into the fold just yet.
 
Founded in 1971, the Pacific Islands Forum was originally called the South Pacific Forum. The first meeting was held in New Zealand where Fiji was represented by the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, the prime minister at the time.

Fiji was suspended from the Forum in 2009 after failing to set a date for elections as promised.
 
Since that suspension, Fiji hasn't been allowed to take part in block events or receive development funding from the Forum.  Instead, it has turned to the Melanesian Spearhead Group made up of Papua New Guinea, Solomons Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji, for support.
 
Last week, Frank Bainimarama called a meeting of the MSG in Nadi under the umbrella name of Engaging in the Pacific, obviously wanting to overshadow this week's Forum.
 
He was also trying to establish a new sports meet similar to the South Pacific Games but none of the three Melanesian countries were keen on hosting it, probably because of cost and probably because it doesn't want to get on the bad side of the Forum - all three are still members.
 
At that meet last week, the leaders of PNG, Vanuatu and the Solomons, supported Bainimarama's call for the chair of the Forum, Neroni Slade, to be removed and a candidate of its preference voted in.
 
The question that needs to be asked is: Why are the other three Melanesian countries supporting the illegal regime?


One of their answers would be that it's the Pacific Way. But the leaders of PNG, Solomons and Vanuatu need to be asked: So, is it the Pacific way to beat up citizens and run a dictatorship?


New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has reiterated that Fiji won't be taking centre stage at the Forum this week. Key says he is not overly concerned that some Pacific leaders support Bainamarama because it's a few out of the 16 island members.
 
"Yes, there's been one or two that I'm sure would hold a view that they would like to have Fiji back simply because the Pacific way is a friendly way, but on the other side of the coin from our perspective, we want to see democracy. We think that's the right of every Fijian."
 
Key will be holding one-on-one meetings with each Pacific leader today and said he will discuss Fiji briefly with them.
 
"I'll raise that with every one of them just to get a sense of taking their temperature if you like, but I don't think it's going to dominate the discussion at the leaders' retreat. We don't have a lot of time and the emphasis will be largely economic."
 
The NZ Foreign Affairs Minister, Murray McCully, this morning repeated how important it was to work together for sustainable economic development in the Pacific.
 
He announced the Government would give $7.9 million for the construction of a one megawatt photovoltaic solar plant in Tonga.
 
Key also announced a $2.7m to upgrade tsunami risk management systems in the Cooks, Samoa, Tonga, Niue and Tokelau and said New Zealand would also help Pacific nations strengthen their Maritime safety.
 
The New Zealand Government has created a position for a Pacific maritime safety adviser to help with updating regulations or training.
 
Fiji and her people, meanwhile, continue to lose out on opportunities like these, just like it is losing out on the Commonwealth, the United Nations, and aid from international donors including the European Union.

posted by Pacific in the Media at 11:46 AM 9 Comments Links to this post

Monday, September 5, 2011

Once upon a time Fiji , too, was at the Pacific Forum.....

SPOT THE BODY LANGUAGE: Bainimarama at the 2007 plenary session on the opening day of the Forum in Nukualofa. Writing on the wall?


DIPLOMATIC MANOUVERING: Deposed PM Laisenia Qarase with then Australian PM, John Howard, on Denarau Island in 2006....the year Qarase was toppled and Howard was on the outer with Melanesian countries.




The Pacific Forum starts tomorrow in Auckland and as has been the case since 2009, Fiji will not be taking part. Lobbying is underway by Melanesian countries for Fiji to be allowed back into the annual gathering but it's unlikely to happen - and should not happen - with Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum at the helm. And as the PM of host nation, John Key, said today he would be stunned if Fiji was readmitted.



posted by Pacific in the Media at 9:28 PM 23 Comments Links to this post

VRF: police's responsibility to establish cause of Sunbeam fire and inform public

CAMPAIGN CONTINUES: VRF calls on Fiji's president to dissolve Cabinet.



VRF says as far as it knows the Sunbeam bus that ran into trouble on Friday in Nadi caught fire and burnt.


It told Coupfourpointfive: "Police are trying hard to find the cause and inform the public. It is an assignment given to the police to find a solution and inform the public. The burden is now on the regime to get the message and respect the people's voice of regime change. VRF's responsibility is to change the regime and it will do that sooner than later."


VRF says there is no truth to talk over the weekend that two of its people were arrested. In fact, the group countered the claim with information of its own, saying: "However, one of the military vehicles carrying 17 soldiers looking for VRF lost control and 5 are seriously injured and in critical condition. Leaders say that God's children will not be harmed but those of the Devil's will."

Vodafone Fiji has, meanwhile, released a media statement saying it spammed a resistance message from VRF last week:

Received: Aug 31, 2011 10:41 AM


Subject: PEOPLE of FIJI,



PEOPLE of FIJI,ACT NOW 2 return democracy 2 Fiji. Standup & b countd. Suport Methodist Church. Start pasive resistance now. Take leave. VRF acts for a free Fiji

posted by Pacific in the Media at 9:09 AM 40 Comments Links to this post

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Fiji regime fobs rallies off with 'we are holding free elections in 2014'

FUTURE OF FIJI:  Young at rally.

Some acknowledgement by the regime of the workers rallies but the response was fairly predictable.

A government statement quoted by FBC said the regime is preparing for free and fair elections in 2014 and that the illegal government has "enacted a series of reforms and issued decrees that provide the Fijian people with fundamental guarantees to essential human rights and employment protections. These are recognised by principled governments and labour and social organizations the world over."

Meanwhile, a wrap up from the web campaigns office for the Australian Council of Trade Unions shows the rallies got some pretty good media coverage.

Hit the following link to see the story and more pictures, including the one at the top of the page.

http://community.rightsatwork.com.au/Blogs/RAW-News/September-2011/Workers-Rally-For-Rights-For-Fiji.aspx

posted by Pacific in the Media at 7:50 PM 5 Comments Links to this post

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Intel warning about IED campaign for Fiji preceded Sunbeam bus fire

SUNBEAM BUS FIRE: Company waiting for LTA results.





Fiji fire officials say yesterday's blaze on a Sunbeam bus may have been a mechanical fault but intelligence sources tipped Coupfourpointfive weeks ago that those working to bring to an end the regime, had had enough and were going to start using IEDs.

IED stands for improvised explosive device and is the military term for a low impact precision device such as that of a small battery circuit that can be attached to the fuel line of a vehicle to cause a quick fire.

An email sent to us weeks ago said: "We have had enough of talks, this IED warning is real as we have about 15 made on hand. We are not terrorists, but our threat is real." 

Sixty people were forced to flee the Sunbeam bus yesterday when the engine caught fire. The bus was on its way to Suva from Lautoka when it ran into trouble between Nawai and Sigatoka, about 11 am.

The Fiji Times has quoted the National Fire Authority chief, Tupou Saubulinayau, as saying preliminary investigations indicate mechanical problems caused the fire but they are investigating further.

The operations manager for Sunbeam Transports is quoted as saying they don't have a full explanation and are waiting for the results of a LTA investigation next week.

Sunbeam's Zahid Ali is quoted as saying they are very regretful of the incident and want to reassure passengers such an incident will not happen again.
In late July intel sources told Coupfourpointfive a plan was underway to launch an IED campaign aimed at destabilising Fiji's tourism industry in a bid to cripple the regime.  The information went like this:

People of Fiji, Hear this call and hear it well. We have seen information that we provide from the inside hit worldwide ears and eyes and many rattling in the current illegal regime about the issues of:

·   Corruption by current regime leaders
·  Torture, killings and inhumane treatment of citizens of Fiji
·   Demolition and sale of government owned institutions for self gains
People have stood up with these information from us, information that have saved their lives, helped them think outside the box and use the information against the regime. As these individuals seek restoration of democracy from outside Fiji, our chiefs and populace remain gagged and silenced, living in fear of the gun.
Businessmen are gagged through decree by the regime what to do and what not to do! We have had commanders who support this intel group but they also can't stand up due to fear of PER.
Everyone wants democracy but nobody wants to stand up in Fiji because they fear for their life and their families life. Everyone wants PER out, but how ?
This regime is blind and deaf, PER is their life line.  Tourism is our breath at the moment that keeps Fiji economy going. Mara and his group are trying with their gallant effort to cut this life line from this regime, but it’s a indirect action, our tourism is not from Australia and NZ alone, we have seen tourism increase 10 fold from asian market.
So what we do we do to get a deaf and dumb regime to listen, yes its needs a big boom. We are simple smiling people in Fiji, but when devil stands at your door, you can't invite him in. Therefore we want to tell the world, and the Fiji regime, as we always respect the value of human life, you leave us no option but to cripple you from within.
Within next few weeks, we will target all popular tourist spots in Fiji specially in Suva, Sigatoka and Nadi using IEDs’ that we have successfully made. Therefore ,we give our country men a fair warning in advance to stay clear of places where tourists go.
Consider this a fair warning in advance, stay away from Fiji or your families might not even recognize your bodies!
This is not a joke.
We have had enough of talks, this IED warning is real as we have about 15 made on hand. We are not terrorists, but our threat is real. We will blow up big holes at favourite tourist spots.

posted by Pacific in the Media at 9:12 PM 57 Comments Links to this post

World Council of Churches: Bainimarama regime should not be interfering in Methodist affairs

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse says regime should back off.


Growing support for the plight of Fiji's Methodist Church with the World Council of Churches now denouncing the regime's interference.

The Council is made up of 349 churches worldwide with about 550 million Christians and says it is concerned about the blatant violation of freedom of religion by Frank Bainimarama's unelected government.

The general secretary of the Council, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, says the military dicatorship should not be interfering in internal church decisions and affairs.

"This is the third year in a row that the government has cancelled the Methodist annual conference," he said. "Authorities have also suspended the national constitution, restricted media freedom and detained other opponents." 

Tveit is currently in Samoa for the 50th anniversary of the Pacific Conference of Churches and a meeting of Pacific church leaders.

The general secretary of the Methodist Church of Samoa, Rev. Vaiao Eteuati (pictured left), has also called on the global church to put pressure on the regime against what he calls 'unjust actions' towards the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma.  

While other denominations in Fiji have been allowed to hold conferences and meet without restrictions, Fiji's unelected government cancelled the Methodist Church's three-day annual conference and has stipulated it meet only for Sunday services, Friday night youth fellowship, womens fellowship and cell and group fellowships.

Coupfourpointfive obtained the following leaked documents which shows Mosese Tikoitoga signed off on the ruling on behalf of the Military Council and that the documents were marked:"ensure this is monitored."
See earlier story for more information.

Editor's Note: Coming up - what happened to the Sunbeam bus that caught fire yesterday in Nadi?


posted by Pacific in the Media at 6:02 PM 20 Comments Links to this post

Narsey: Ending our cycles of religious intolerance

PERSECUTED: Fiji's Methodist Church followers. pic superstock.com
  
"Today, Hindus, Catholics, Anglicans, Muslims and even Indo-Fijian Methodists, are allowed by this Military Regime to freely practise their religion. But not the indigenous Fijian Methodists."
 
By Wadan Narsey
For 95% of the time, the activities of Fiji’s religions have been good for Fiji’s development.  For perhaps 5% of the time, their actions have caused great harm.
 
Currently, the Military Regime continues its persecution of the Methodist Church, blatantly contravening Article 19 of the UN Declaration of Basic Human Rights:  “Everyone has the right to freedom .... either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
 
Other religions in Fiji who are allowed to freely have their gatherings and functions, remain quiet.
 
These Catholic, Anglican, Hindu, and Muslim religious organizations are at a crossroad in Fiji’s troubled history.
 
They can do the difficult but right thing today, by speaking up to express their disapproval of the Regime’s treatment of the Methodist Church.  Or, wallowing in the past injustices, they can remain silent.
 
If religious leaders remain quiet, then the religious followers and their educated leaders, must rise to the challenge.
 
If both religious leaders and followers remain silent during these troubled times, Fiji is unlikely to come out of our cycles of religious intolerance.
 
Easy to have revenge
No doubt, many Hindus, Catholics and Muslims feel a quiet satisfaction that the Methodists are being persecuted by the Military Regime - “maleka” - “now you see what it feels like” to be persecuted!
 
They, of course, remember 1987 and 2000 when the Methodist Church supported the military coups that removed democratically elected governments, and demanded the imposition of a “Christian State” and “Sunday Bans”.
 
Temples and mosques had been burnt creating great psychological anxiety, distress and anger among Hindu and Muslim followers, many of whom began to feel that Fiji could never be their home, if they could not freely practice their religion. Many did emigrate.
 
But in 1987, the Catholic and other Christian clerics and adherents (and don’t forget the few conscientious Methodists like Rev. Koroi and others) earned huge goodwill from Hindus and Muslims by speaking up for their religious freedoms.
 
This no doubt also encouraged Hindu and Muslim participation in the Council of Churches, which played a powerful bridging role between religions and ethnic groups.
 
Today’s Catholics and Hindus as guilty as 1987 Methodists
Since 2006, the Catholic and Hindu religious organisations have behaved just as badly as the Methodists did in 1987.
 
They came out in support of a military coup that treasonously removed a democratically elected government.
 
The leaders of the Catholic Church, the Hindu Sanatan Dharam and Arya Samaj, and the Muslim League took prominent part in the NCBBF whose culmination was the People’s Charter, with its first paragraph swearing allegiance to the 1997 Constitution.
 
Many Catholics and Hindus took up positions in the Military Regime’s Boards.
 
They continued to support the Regime, even after the Appeal Court ruled in 2009 that the 2006 coup and the President’s actions were illegal and treasonous.
 
The military allegations of widespread corruption, both financial and electoral, have never been proven after five years- and are unlikely to be.
 
Without any public statement against what has happened since 2006 and 2009, these religious leaders remain collaborators in a treasonous military coup, and all its resultant evils: lack of accountability for hundreds of millions of tax-payers funds, destruction of the economy, draconian media censorship, and personal enrichment, to name just a few.
 
These actions of the Catholic, Hindu and Muslim organisations are no different today from those of the Methodists in 1987.
 
They have never publicly withdrawn their support of the 2006 Military coup, and they do not speak out in support of their sister Methodist Church who are persecuted.
 
Of course, neither has the Methodist Church ever made clear public statements admitting that their support of the 1987 and 2000 coups was treasonous and morally wrong.
 
And so the sad vicious cycle of religious intolerance continues, building up dams of evil for the future.
 
Religion is personal AND social
The purest and truest religion is between the individual “Person” and “God”.  There is no real need for religious organisations, leaders, buildings, or gatherings.
 
Yet all religions the world over have organisations, leaders, buildings of worship and gatherings.  These all strengthen the social bonds that the adherents have with each other, and enable them to collectively achieve many other good things in life often neglected by the State.
 
Despite our destructive military coups, Fiji is still one of the more developed countries in the Pacific because all our many religious organisations, have very successfully built and managed schools, technical and agricultural colleges, now universities, old peoples’ homes, orphanages, and welfare organizations.
 
Despite their great poverty, they also build ostentatious churches, temples and mosques, even though God has no need for physical buildings.
 
But one of the social benefits of religion, that even agnostics like me acknowledge, is that religious “peer group” social pressure is often the only thing that stops many ordinary humans from doing evil towards their fellow citizens.
 
For this valuable social aspect of religion, people must be allowed to freely gather together - to pray, to sing, to raise funds, and to discuss whatever matters they wish to discuss.  It is their basic human right to do so.
 
No one should be allowed to stop this basic human right, least of all an illegal Military Regime which has callously turned its tax-payer funded guns, on its own people.
 
Today, Hindus, Catholics, Anglicans, Muslims and even Indo-Fijian Methodists, are allowed by this Military Regime to freely practise their religion. 
 
But not the indigenous Fijian Methodists. 
 
Learning from the past
No religious organisation today can sit on their high horses and say “We are innocent”.
 
Many anonymous Methodist bloggers look back with great regret, to their own support of the coups in 19897 and 2000, and turned a blind eye to all the resulting injustices to others.
 
Today, many genuine Catholics must be wondering whether their support of the 2006 military coup has done far more damage to Fiji and the interests of poor, than the good done by small sums thrown around for social welfare and squatter housing.
 
Clerics who supported the Military’s alleged electoral reform after the 2006 coup, must be wondering, whether they were merely used to justify a coup, and perhaps will soon be recalled out of their little boxes, for the next Act in the Military Charade.
 
Many ordinary Hindus, following the Military requirement for permits to have religious gatherings like Ram Naumi, now must have great doubts about the honesty, integrity and accountability of the Military Regime, which has also destroyed the sugar industry, and persecuted their political and trade union leaders.
 
Ending the cycle of religious intolerance
Religious leaders have a glorious opportunity to rise above past discordance and defend the religious freedoms of all religions, Methodists and others, while all acknowledging their mistakes in the past.
 
Religious leaders, who know the importance of repentance, are surely ideal people to take the lead in reconciliation in Fiji today, especially as most should not have personal material agendas (although some clearly do).
 
It is in such difficult times that religious leaders can prove their leadership mantles, just as some did in 1987 and 2000.
 
Here also is a valuable opportunity for the many intellectuals of all races, who support these religious bodies, to offer their wise advice and guide the religious leaders.
 
If the religious and intellectual leaders fail to lead, then they place enormous burdens on ordinary Christians, Hindus and Muslims to “do the right thing”.
 
Usually, ordinary people can’t witness all the global nightmares of religious intolerance and violence - between Christians and Muslims, Hindus and Muslims, Hindus and Christians.
 
Good people of Fiji: you have an opportunity to end the cycles of religious bigotry that began in 1987.
 
Let not the evils of media censorship and Public Emergency Decrees, or the pernicious desire for “revenge”, stop you in this worthy endeavor.
 
Blessed will be they who extend their helping hands to those who are down. And doubly blessed will be Fiji.       

posted by Pacific in the Media at 3:49 PM 26 Comments Links to this post

Melbourne's Fiji community steps up for global rally

 FIGHTING FOR FIJI: Unions and community in Melbourne.



The numbers were small but passionate. 

Those who took part in yesterday's rallies to highlight workers rights and the treatment of trade unionists, say the campaign keeps the fight for democracy visible and gives morale support to those still living in Fiji, and under the illegal rule of Frank Bainimarama. 

These pictures, today, from the Melbourne rally.

The country's two main unions, FTUC and FICTU, are meanwhile leading the way and promising to keep working together in the interests of workers.

Read joint FTUC and FICTU statement
http://www.mediafire.com/?3jcg3p3fhz44h2m

Editor's Note: There have been comments on this forum that mainstream did not cover the rallies. That is incorrect. Note links to stories by ABC and 9News below. There may have been others, too.

Protesting against deteriorating Fijian human rights
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2011/s3308940.htm
Fiji is no paradise for workers: unions 
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8293496/fiji-is-no-paradise-for...






posted by Pacific in the Media at 2:26 PM 8 Comments Links to this post

Friday, September 2, 2011

Regime paper work for Methodist Church restrictions: 'ensure this is monitored'

Question: What does Mosese Tikoitoga do when he's not crying about being refused a visa to attend the Rugby World Cup? Answer: He bullies the Methodist Church.
Tikoitoga is the big heavy enforcing the regime's edict to keep the Methodist Church in line. See his signature on the orders for the police to make sure the Church doesn't try to meet outside stipulated times.

The Director Operations, SSP Rusiate Tudravu, is the other bully. His is the second signature on the directive aimed at keeping the Church under thumb.


 
Below is a communication sent by one of the stewards to church leaders.

PLEASE NOTE:
The Government has decided that no MEETINGS shall be permitted in all Methodist Churches until further notice.  This NOTICE applies to all of the following:
  • Any ministry meeting (Youth, Women, Men, Social Welfare, Finance & Property etc)
  • All Church and Circuit Leaders Meetings (F&P, Lay Preachers etc)

Fellowship and worship programmes are permitted to continue as usual, that is:
  • Regular Sunday service programmes
  • Friday night Youth Fellowship programmes
  • Women's Fellowship gatherings
  • Cell Group and Home Church programmes

We hope this NOTICE will not stand for long.  Updates shall be sent out by email as they come in.  If you seek further clarification you can call the Office Administrator, Eka on 3313952 or reply to this email or call the Church mobile, 9760093.  On our Divisional Superintendent's behalf, I apologise about any inconvenience caused.

(Name withheld)


posted by Pacific in the Media at 8:53 PM 51 Comments Links to this post

Fiji's Sydney community at front of global rally

STANDING UP: Sydney pro-democracy advocates.

A show of strength today from the Fiji community in Sydney, at the rally outside the Fiji consulate.

As in New Zealand, the rally was part of a global day of action co-ordinated by the International Trade Union Confederation.

The Australian Council of Trade Union led today's Sydney march;  ACTU has been running its own web campaign by LabourStart and Australian unions, with thousands of unionists from Australia and across the globe already sending protest emails to the Bainimarama Government.
 
ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence says Australians are outraged at the continued repression of human and worker rights by the military regime led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
 
“It is becoming increasingly unsafe for workers in Fiji to stand up for their rights, which are being removed systematically by Bainimarama as his military seizes control of workplaces.

"We will not sit back and allow the rights of Fijian workers to be trampled by this military regime.”

Lawrence says Australian unions condemned the arrest and subsequent court hearing of Daniel Urai and Danesh Gounder, as a violation of the rights of trade unions and Fiji’s international obligations.
 
In a show of support for workers in Fiji, the ACTU Executive recently resolved to support Fijian unions, including calling on the Bainimarama Government to restore workers’ rights by revoking the draconian Essential National Industries (Employment) Decree, and to hold democratic elections.
 
A delegation from the International Labour Organisation last month travelled to Fiji to investigate serious allegations of human and worker rights violations.
 
Lawrnece said: “Independent trade unions are needed in Fiji to deliver decent work to its people, 40% of whom live below the poverty line."
 
MUA National Secretary and ITF President Paddy Crumlin also condemned the Fijian Government for its ongoing attacks on the rights of union members and their leaders.
 
"In Fiji, not only are workers' rights being attacked but union leaders like Daniel Urai are being detained by the regime for speaking out.

"The MUA and ITF have a long history of fighting for the rights of union members around the world and we won't be stopping now."
 
TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon said under the new decree, workers in some sectors had been totally disenfranchised of any rights, including the most fundamental entitlements.
 
“For instance, a Fijian baggage handler working 50-55 hour week for Qantas would lose up to half their pay, down to less than AU$90 a week. Qantas and Air Pacific just think they should stand by and collect profit. That is simply unacceptable."

http://www.actu.org.au/

FIJI SUPPORT: For marginalised workers and unionists.

posted by Pacific in the Media at 6:08 PM 12 Comments Links to this post

Rallies call for a combined effort against Fiji regime

TIME TO FOR A JOINT EFFORT: CTU's Helen Kelly and supporters including Green MP, Keith Locke (middle), holding sign. Below: Democracy advocates fly the Fiji flag and supporters rally for Fiji brothers and sisters.

The message was clear today: people have to work together to remove the unelected military government of Frank Bainimarama.
 
At the Wellington rally, the president of the Council of Trade Unions, Helen Kelly, acknowledged that Fiji people on their own have not been able to dislodge the dictator and neither had the unions. She said it was time to pull together.
 
Today's rally in Wellington, Sydney, London and Belgium outside Fiji's diplomatic posts is the start of a united global campaign against the regime. 
 
Helen Kelly says today also marks the start of renewed efforts for boycotts and other industrial action saying there were a number or pressure points that could be applied. 

Individual protests will continue in coming weeks, including the Pacific Forum in Auckland and the Rugby World Cup where people will be asked to wear white arms bands as a sign of protest against the regime.
 

In a statement sent earlier, the Council of Trade Union and Amnesty International called for the regime to remove the Public Emergency Regulations.

The statement supported FTUC's Daniel Urai, union organiser Nitin Gounder, who were due to appear in court today charged with unlawful assembly.

Kelly said “Daniel and Nitin were detained and questioned, apparently for having met with union members about collective negotiations with hotel management and earlier in the year, Felix Anthony of the FTUC was physically assaulted.

"The regime is perpetrating a deliberate attack on trade union rights by issuing decrees making it almost impossible for unions to function and removing internationally recognized civil rights of freedom of assembly and collective bargaining.”

Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand spokesperson Margaret Taylor said “the on-going persecution of trade union leaders and attacks on worker’s rights is further evidence of the Fijian government’s assault on human rights generally.”

“Amnesty International supports  workers in Fiji and the Fiji labour movement in their struggle to defend their rights and  calls on the Fijian government to immediately repeal the Public Emergency Regulations which allows it to violate key human rights while providing immunity to those committing such violations."



 

posted by Pacific in the Media at 2:12 PM 16 Comments Links to this post