Friday, November 6, 2009
FYI on Australia and Fiji
FYI on Australia and Fiji: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2734292.htm
MELANESIAN NIUS:
1 # Fiji Labour Party leader regrets expulsion of NZ and Australian diplomats
The leader of the Fiji Labour Party says the expulsion of Australian and New Zealand diplomats is regrettable, and the sending of home of academic, Brij Lal, is concerning.
Mahendra Chaudhry, who quit as the interim regime’s finance minister last year, says he considers Australia and New Zealand to be important neighbours and development partners.
He says the cutting of diplomatic ties will have an effect on Fiji and the sooner relations are restored the better.
Mr Chaudhry says Australia and New Zealand have had a policy on travel sanctions since 2006 and have a right to determine their own policies.
He says detaining and ordering Professor Lal to leave after he criticised the expulsions does not help the situation.
“I’ve always maintained that we can only resolve Fiji’s problems by engaging, and having dialogue and not by taking measures which are arbitrary.”
Mahendra Chaudhry says the Labour Party has been engaging with the interim administration about issues that concern it, such as the harassment of sugar cane farmers.(rnz)
2 # Fiji interim regime says magistrates’ training ongoing
Fiji’s interim attorney general says training of magistrates is ongoing, following a new report finding them to be gender-biased and inexperienced.
The report has been compiled by the Women’s Crisis Centre and looked at how new magistrates ruled in gender-based crime cases.
The new magistrates were appointed after the turmoil in April when the constitution was thrown out and the judiciary sacked.
Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum says the problem hasn’t appeared overnight.
“The Bainimarama interim government commissioned an inquiry into the magistracy and that found a number of issues that needed to be addressed. So, those matters are on foot. There’s also been some very good training that’s been going on within the magistracy and the judiciary by some very competent judges and former judges.”
Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum (rnz)
3 # A former Fiji Human Rights Commissioner says treatment of academic is shocking
A former Fiji Human Rights Commissioner says the treatment of the Fiji born Australian academic, Brij Lal, by military authorities is shocking.
Professor Lal says the military authorities came to his house and took him to the barracks for questioning on Wednesday, giving him 24 hours to leave Fiji.
This came after he gave media interviews criticising the interim regime’s expulsion of top New Zealand and Australian diplomats earlier this week.
Professor Lal left Fiji yesterday morning and is now back in Australia.
Shamima Ali says the military’s behaviour is unacceptable.
“I’m very concerned about what’s happening. We seem to be facing a deteriorating situation politically in this country. And when we thought that bridges have been mended that’s when it seems that it slipped out of our hands again. So it’s not a good place for Fiji to be at the moment.”
Shamima Ali.(5/11/09rnz)
4 # New Sinopec deal for liquefied natural gas seen as huge boost for PNG
A new agreement that will see a Chinese state-owned energy company buy nearly two million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually from Papua New Guinea’s LNG project is being seen as a huge boost to investor confidence in PNG.
Sinopec, also known as China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, says it would build a terminal in the eastern Chinese port of Qingdao to receive the gas from the Exxon Mobil-operated PNG project.
The Programme Director of the Myer Foundation on Melanesia at the Lowy Institute, Jenny Hayward-Jones, says although many foreign investors have seen PNG as a risky place to do business in, the Sinopec deal could mitigate that.
“Both the investment from Japan that we saw a couple of weeks ago and now this guarantee from China is validation of PNG’s credibility as a resources-providing country, also as a relatively safe destination for certainly resources investment. So I think this is a big confidence builder for Papua New Guinea.”
Jenny Hayward-Jones of the Lowy Institute(rnz)
POLYNESIAN NIUS:
5 # Hawaii land dispute awaits resolution
A long-running land rights struggle in Hawaii is closer to resolution after a court ruled this week that the state is liable for damages in failing to provide for native Hawaiians.
The law suit was taken in 1999 by a group of nearly 3000 native Hawaiians who claim they have been economically disadvantaged for a generation when the State denied to award homesteads on 203,000 acres of land between 1959 and 1988.
A lawyer acting for the group, most of whom are now elderly, says he is hopeful the State of Hawaii will now move towards resolving the matter by compensating the group.
Carl Varady says while the State took some measures to restore the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust in 1995, the individuals involved have never received compensation for their losses in rent and mortgages.
“We’ve taken two important giant steps in a case where the state has said it has no responsibility for breaches of trust or making thesehomestead awards and no responsibility for damages. Those arguments are now gone.”
Carl Varady says while it is conceivable the state may appeal the court’s decision, he hopes there will be political pressure to resolve the case soon.(rnz)
6 # Ruling party MP in Samoa faces threaten to kill criminal charge
An MP of Samoa’s ruling HRPP party, Solamalemalo Keneti Sio, has been charged with threatening to kill a man of the village of Faleula.
The charge against the MP for the Sagaga Le Falefa constituency was laid after an investigation by the police into a complaint.
Another man from the MP’s village is being investigated for discharging a firearm which relates to the same incident.
No one was hurt.
The MP is a former bank officer and Manu Samoa rugby player, and will appear in the district court on November the 17th.(rnz)
MICRONESIAN NIUS:
7 # COURT CLEARS FORMER GUAM AIRPORT OFFICIAL Guam Supreme Court reverses Yingling’s conviction
HAGATNA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, Nov. 4, 2009) – Former Guam airport Executive Manager Gerald Yingling's conviction has been reversed by the Supreme Court of Guam.
The Guam attorney general's office did not file opposition to Yingling's appeal on his conviction, "conceding that the evidence at trial was insufficient to support a conviction," according to the Supreme Court in a statement.
A Superior Court jury had returned guilty verdicts on fraudulent use of a government-issued credit card, which is a felony, and official misconduct, which is a misdemeanor.
In an opinion authored by Chief Justice Robert J. Torres and concurred by Justice Pro Tempore Richard Benson and Justice Pro Tempore Miguel Demapan, the court determined, after an independent review of the record, that there was no evidence proving that Yingling intended to obtain property or services unrelated to his official business - an element essential to both of the crimes of which he was convicted, according to the Supreme Court.
Pacific Daily News: www.guampdn.com
PASIFIK NIUS
8 # US and EU to help Pacific power companies improve efficiency
Pacific island utility companies, which have been losing tens of millions of dollars a year from inefficient power systems, are getting help from the United States and the European Union to fix the problem.
The US Interior Department and the EU are funding assessments of plant and line power losses in 20 Pacific utility companies that support populations ranging from 1,000 people to six million.
The Fiji-based utility umbrella group Pacific Power Association’s Tony Neil says the big issue for Pacific utilities is inefficient operations.
He says with fuel costs rising and expected to hit 100 US dollars a barrel again by the end of this year, inefficiencies in operations are becoming a more important issue to resolve.
The Interior Department is providing 300,000 dollars for an assessment of the power utilities in the 10 U.S.-affiliated islands in the region, while the EU is providing a similar amount for a survey of the rest which is expected to start early next year.
In the Marshall Islands, the government’s Marshalls Energy Company lost 3.4 million dollars last year through problems in its distribution system and in the two power plants.(rnz)
SPORTS
9 # AFL eyes Pacific for football recruits
![Nick Naitanui, then playing for Swan Districts in Western Australia, during a WAFL match against the West Perth Falcons last year. [Getty Images]](http://bl102w.blu102.mail.live.com/mail/SafeRedirect.aspx?hm__tg=http://65.55.183.87/att/GetAttachment.aspx&hm__qs=file%3d5ad10903-0c8e-42de-b728-aec811d01971.jpg%26ct%3daW1hZ2UvanBlZw_3d_3d%26name%3daW1hZ2UwMDEuanBn%26inline%3d1%26rfc%3d0%26empty%3dFalse%26imgsrc%3dcid%253aimage001.jpg%254001CA5EE7.6175D910&oneredir=1&ip=10.6.0.135&d=d2209&mf=0&a=01_701cfad37da06be75d4b116c4a859d649b3d785b9adc74b8e8ea0df64e33dbc4 "Nick Naitanui, then playing for Swan Districts in Western Australia, during a WAFL match against the West Perth Falcons last year. [Getty Images]")
PHOTO
Nick Naitanui, then playing for Swan Districts in Western Australia, during a WAFL match against the West Perth Falcons last year.[Getty Images]
Geraldine Coutts
Last Updated:
Legendary former Australian Rules football coach Kevin Sheedy is spearheading a recruitment drive for players from the Pacific.
The sporting code has been increasing its efforts to attract Australian indigenous players for years.
As it turns its attention offshore, a team of internationally born footballers is to compete in the under-16 championships next year.
Mr Sheedy told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat he sees his role in the Pacific as an opportunity to bring some international excitement into the Australian Football League (AFL).
He says the league has realised that in New Guinea, New Zealand, Fiji and other Pacific islands, "there has been a talent pool sitting there".
Ability
"So it's about time we actually started make some opportunities for these kids, because the AFL is a very exciting game and their athletic ability is (marketable)."
He pointed to Fijian-born Nick Naitanui, 198cm, coming in at number two in the national draft last year.
The former Essendon coach says the code has about three Pacific players in leading clubs at present.
"Another two boys in New Guinea are to be listed . . . after we had our AFL International Cup here in Melbourne."
Visitors came from around the world last year to see 16 nations play in the International Cup - "and two of those young kids got drafted on to (club) lists, and so that sort of really opened the door and made everybody sit up and have a look."
When football chiefs saw the keenness of the crowds to travel to Australia, "everybody in the AFL was very impressed with it, and they sat down in International Development . . . and (chief executive) Andrew Demetriou said, we've really got to open up this talent with more innovative ideas."
Pathway
Club recruiting officers were already travelling in the Pacific looking for talent, Mr Sheedy said. But personally he would like to see development of the game in the islands, so the AFL could say it had "given a pathway to those kids to have a chance."
Kevin Sheedy does not see it as imposible that one day there will be a whole Aussie Rules team made up just of Pacific Island players.
The Pacific drive is "a great opportunity to bring in . . . a mixture of talent and athletes".
"I have got no doubt that the AFL (executives), Andrew Demetriou and David Matthews, are really looking at ramping it up in the next 10 to 20 years, so that we are actually really truly are a very, very powerful game internationally (abc)
MELANESIAN NIUS:
1 # Goodbye Fiji: Diplomat flies home to NZ
Monika Singh Friday, November 06, 2009
Todd Cleaver at Nadi International Airport last night. Picture: ANOKH KUMAR
"VINAKA vakalevu and moce mada, May God bless Fiji." These were the parting words of acting New Zealand High Commissioner Todd Cleaver as he and his family left Fiji at 6.30pm yesterday.
Minutes before boarding the NZ55 flight to New Zealand, Mr Cleaver expressed his gratitude to those who sent messages of sympathy during the past two days.
"It's a great regret that I and my family are leaving Fiji in such circumstances," said Mr Cleaver.
Mr Cleaver also expressed his sincere thanks for the kind hospitality so many people had extended during the two and a half years he spent in Fiji.
"Vinaka vakalevu (thank you very much) and moce mada (goodbye)," he said.
Before walking into the immigration section to board the flight, Mrs Cleaver said "may God bless Fiji".
When asked about the departure, Mr Cleaver referred further questions to New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.
The family walked into the Nadi International Airport at 5.50pm accompanied by three New Zealand High Commission officials, their driver and the nanny.
The immigration supervisor at Nadi International Airport was also at the International Departure lounge.
Meanwhile, Australian High Commissioner James Batley has been out of Fiji since September.
Director Immigration Nemani Vuniwaqa said Mr Batley flew out to Australia on September 25.
2 # PNG intelligence agency warns of ethnic tensions
Liam Fox, Port Moresby
Last Updated:
Papua New Guinea's spy agency says anti-Asian feelings in the community are potentially the country's most serious national security threat.
A parliamentary inquiry is investigating riots that saw Asian-owned businesses attacked and looted across PNG in May.
A confidential report prepared for the inquiry by the National Intelligence Organisation (NIO) says the riots almost plunged the country into anarchy.
It says the cause is an influx of Asian nationals, mostly Chinese, who have entered the country illegally and are running small businesses like fast-food shops.
The report says they treat local employees poorly and people resent them for operating businesses they feel should be run by Papua New Guineans.
The NIO report warns the anti-Asian sentiments could quickly degenerate into bloodshed.(abc)
3 # Expelled Australian academic speaks of verbal assault by Fiji military
An Australian academic of Fiji origin, Brij Lal, who has been forced to leave Fiji says during his interrogation by the military, there was no assault.
Professor Lal says he was told to leave the country voluntarily within 24 hours.
He says he was told that the military objected to his comments.
“I was not physically assaulted, I was verbally assaulted so to speak. I was told in no uncertain terms that what I had been saying over the past two or three years was simply unacceptable.”
Brij Lal
(5/11/09rnz)
4 # Un pistolet semi-automatique Glock et des fusils d’assaut sèment la confusion - L’histoire est racontée par Firmin Nanol, notrecorrespondant à Port Moresby, capitale de Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée. Tout a commencé le mois dernier avec l’arrestation d’unpassager d’Air Niugini en provenance des Philippines. Dans ses bagages: 4 fusils d’assaut et un pistolet semi-automatique chambré en 9mm. Le passager déclare alors qu’il est en mission recommandée pour un marchand d’armes. Version réfutée par les douaniers papous, qui l’accusent de trafic d’armes illégal. Cette semaine, le chef de la police papoue, Gari Baki, révèle que ces armes sont en réalitédestinées à ses services. “J’ai personnellement autorisé le marchand à faire rentrer ces armes sur notre territoire. Après, je ne suis pasresponsable de la manière dont il s’y prend, et s’il joue avec la légalité, c’est aux douaniers de s’en occuper“. Il a promis que désormais, les marchands d’armes qui abusent de leur permis seront sanctionnés.(abc)
5 # Le gouvernement fidjien approuve la création d’une Fédération des femmes – L’objectif de cette Fédération sera de mieuxcoordonner les activités des organisations féminines non gouvernementales. Liko Luveni, ministre de la Condition féminine, del’assistance sociale et de l’allégement de la pauvreté, ajoute que cette Fédération représentera aussi les intérêts des femmes de l’archipelet veillera au respect de leurs droits. Mme Luveni nous a confié que de nombreuses organisations non gouvernementales (ONG) qui ontles mêmes buts, les mêmes activités, les mêmes projets, travaillent chacune dans leur coin : « Nous avons besoin de coordonner lestravaux des ONG. Et nous devons aussi reconnaître que certaines se sont spécialisées dans différents domaines et nous aimerions queles femmes sachent comment accéder aux services de ces ONG. »(abc)
6 # Remise en question des préservatifs gratuits aux îles Salomon - L’Association de planification parentale de cet archipel affirmeque le taux de natalité est toujours très élevé dans le pays et que les infections sexuellement transmissibles continuent de se propager endépit d’une vaste distribution gratuite de préservatifs à travers le pays. Le directeur exécutif de cette Association, Michael Salini, affirmeque les préservatifs gratuits sont pourtant très populaires étant donné que les distributeurs sont souvent vides à la fin de la journée.Toutefois, M. Salini indique ne pas savoir si tous les préservatifs gratuits sont utilisés où s’ils sont considérés comme un objet de valeur. Le directeur de l’Association de planification parentale ne se fait pas l’avocat des préservatifs payants, mais il est persuadé qu’il fautdavantage éduquer la population sur l’importance de les utiliser.(abc)
POLYNESIAN NIUS:
7 # French Polynesia concerned over possible French funding cuts
There is concern among French Polynesian political leaders that France may fail to disburse the full 220 million US dollars it has been paying the territory every year after ending its nuclear weapons tests.
A French Polynesian member of the French assembly, Bruno Sandras, says he won’t vote for the French overseas territories budget as France has withheld part of last year’s entitlement.
A cross-party delegation is due to go to Paris to ask France to keep its commitments.
But the French minister in charge of overseas territories, Marie-Luce Penchard, has assured French Polynesia that the funds for 2010 will be released if the investment programmes will be realised.
And in a letter sent to the media, the French Polynesian president, Oscar Temaru, says the French state has firmly denied rumours of the funding cut.
He says a meeting will be held with the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, before the end of the month to discuss the funding issue.(5/11/09-rnz)
8 # Tongans to learn tomorrow about recommended political reforms
The recommendations for political reform developed by Tonga’s Constitutional and Electoral Commission will be made public tomorrow.
The Commission, which was created by legislation a year ago, presented its report to King George Tupou 5th today.
The Commission had been directed to come up with proposals for reform to usher in greater democracy, ahead of elections expected in November next year.
It has been meeting since January.(5/11/09rnz)
9 # Inaugural flight
AIR Kiribati has contracted Our Airline to initially provide a weekly service from Tarawa to Nadi and return. Our Airline will commence an inaugural flight to Nadi tomorrow. Our Airline ground services manager Tony Boulter said the inaugural flight would arrive at Nadi on Saturday afternoon, laying over all day Sunday and departing early Monday morning. He said Our Airline operates two B737-300 aircrafts. (6/11/09FijiTimes)
10 # China gives aid
CHINA handed over US$850,000 (F$1,618,314.92) to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat towards several projects for Forum member countries. Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Dr Han Zhiqiang handed over the funds to the Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat, TuilomaNeroni Slade, during a brief ceremony at the Secretariat. "The funding will greatly assist the implementation of the Forum leaders' decisions to address the issues of air and sea transportation between the island nations of the region, and to develop ICT access," MrSlade said.(6/11/09FijiTimes)
11 # Law ‘useless’
Source:
ISAAC NICHOLAS
COUNTERFEIT products are sold cheaply on the streets because our laws allow them into the country, Customs officials revealed yesterday. Human smuggling and other illegal activities are also happening under the very noses of Customs officials but they do not have the capacity to prevent or monitor them, Customs officials told the parliamentary committee investigating the anti-Asian riots in May at Parliament House yesterday. (See story on Page 2). The officials were responding to questions and concerns raised by members of the committee. “As the organisation responsible for policing imports of goods, a lot of containers coming make false declarations and bribe Customs to stamp papers for their clearance,” committee chairman Jamie Maxtone-Graham said. Senior Customs officers who gave evidence at the inquiry, including Walio Abilo, John Pamoso and Benjamin Sine, said manpower and resource constraints had contributed to Customs not monitoring seaports, airports and border ports as effectively as they would have wanted to. Mr Abilo said Customs officers had now signed a code of conduct promising not to accept bribes, but he admitted there was corruption in the organisation. “There is no room for corrupt people but we have officers on ships and out there and anything can happen,” he said. He said at the moment, Customs had five officers to physically check 80 containers a week but they could not possibly check everything as any delays would hinder trade. He said some companies made false declarations when importing items which were difficult to trace, but when suspected companies know that they were being monitored, they register other subsidiary companies to avoid detection. He said most companies were registered with the Investment Promotion Authority in order to be able to import. “At the moment, there is nothing in the law that says these products are of low standard and are prohibited.” Mr Abilo said PNG used to have anti-dumping legislation that gave power to Customs to remove cheap products being sold in shops, but it was repealed in 1997. “We could reconsider that law for Customs to enforce.” He said, however, that major companies like British American Tobacco and Ramu Sugar had registered with Customs and any fake cigarettes and sugar products were removed. The Customs officials said they had now decided to coordinate operations with other line agencies to ensure strict adherence to PNG laws. Mr Abilo said the PNG Customs Services, which is separating from the Internal Revenue Commission, was looking at a restructure to have 200 new positions. Customs is also looking at buying x-ray machines from China to scan containers coming into the major ports of Port Moresby, Lae and Kimbe. (The National PNG)
12 # Local history needs to be told
Source:
BOSORINA ROBBY
A NATION can only be built from its own past, not necessarily from outside influences but from within, which is why local history needs to be recorded and made available to all. Community Development Minister Dame Carol Kidu said this was an important part of a nation’s development. She said when travelling overseas, there were a lot of physical evidences of a country’s history in the crumbling palaces, stone walls and other national monuments. But when she comes to PNG, there is nothing to show our history. Dame Carol was speaking at the presentation of a framed portrait of PNG World War II veteran Ben Moide in honour of his services to Papua New Guinea as a soldier with the PNG Defence Force in the Papuan Infantry Battalion on Wednesday. Now retired, Sgt Moide was a corporal during World War II along the Kokoda Trail and he is thought to be one of the last living soldiers from that era. Dame Carol said honouring these soldiers was the greatest thing we could do because they were the ones from whose lifeblood we enjoy our lives today. “Our history needs to be written. Our children need to know who they are, where they are from and what they are. “That is why stories need to be told through the eyes of the ones there, not having our story told by others,” she said. Present on the occasion were PNGDF commander Commodore Peter Ilau, Lt-Col Anthony Oawa, commanding officer of the Forces Support Battalion (formerly Murray Barracks), other soldiers and officers, family and friends of Mr Moide and Terry and Marilyn Ward, who supplied the framed portrait. (The National PNG)
13 # Sir Michael to quit politics in 2012
Source:
JAMES APA GUMUNO
PRIME Minister Sir Michael Somare says he will bow out of politics in 2012. Sir Michael flew to Kandep in Enga province on Wednesday to campaign for his candidate Don Polye, who was bidding to win back the Kandep seat he lost in a successful election petition. Sir Michael told a big crowd at a political rally for Mr Polye that this was his last time to visit Kandep as Prime Minister. He said serving the country for 42 years in politics was a very long time and he was growing old. He said he would retire, go to his village, get involved in village life, and watch politics from there. He said the country had young capable leaders who would drive the country forward. Sir Michael has led the National Alliance party since its inception, and would hand over the reins to its new leader by 2012. There were suggestions a successor might be announced earlier, during the party convention next year. He said he had four good deputy leaders representing the four regions who were capable of taking over. Sir Michael said Mr Polye had shown great leadership during his seven years in Parliament. He said the benefits of his work could be seen at the district and national level. The Grand-Chief urged the crowd to vote for Mr Polye and return him to the Parliament. He said the other 14 candidates vying for the seat were worthy candidates, but Mr Polye was his man, from his party. Mr Polye thanked the Prime Minister for his support, describing him as a committed man with the right principles who had a vision to change the country for the better. Other leaders who attended the rally included Police Minister Sani Rambi, Education Minister James Marape, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal, National Alliance president Simon Kaiwe, Police Commissioner Gari Baki, chairman of thePorgera Development Authority Nixon Magape, and National Alliance Enga branch president Paul Kurai.
(The National PNG)
14 # Enquiry on foreshore, underwater land | |||
FRIDAY, 06 NOVEMBER 2009 | |||
DEAR EDITOR – The announcement of the Law Reform Commission enquiry into the foreshore legislation is welcoming news seeing that our Government is endeavouring to facilitate development. To be frank, I (as with some Solomon Islanders) used to take little notice of the bills and legislations that were passed by our legislators. However, the rate and haste at which some bills and legislations were passed with limited consultation and informed submission prompted me to ponder and ask questions as to ‘why this or that bill is being put forward for amendment or consideration? What sort of ramification it would have on our future? And whether some of these changes are there to facilitate advancement of certain interests that would not be beneficial for the country in the long term and so forth. As people who will be affected by any policy or legislation, we should always ask these sorts of questions and be vigilant as to how and why new legislations, bills or amendments are being rushed through Parliament or subcommittees or what not. This is because if the government is adamant on passing a specific bill there is likely to be no effective opposition (when it comes to voting on bills and legislations). I am no expert of the law but from my layman’s perspective, that is how I view the current balance of power. I believe most of us have read and notice what power can do to policy and how external influence and power could influence policy – I think the Moti case is an excellent example. We must also be vigilant of the advice from advisors who do not have a deeper understanding and appreciation of our culture and traditional relationship we have with our land and sea for this matter. Land and sea are an integral part of us, our culture and of our ancestral ownership and that must be protected at all cost. We must dare not let that be taken away from us or we will be like some indigenous people around the world who have recognition only on paper but absolutely no power or say when it comes to their customary rights in relation to the land and the sea. In Fiji, one of the issues embedded in their current problem relates to seabed and foreshore views and aspirations of certain proportion of their indigenous people. In New Zealand, the review of the Seabed Act 2004 has just been completed and there is overwhelming support for the recognition of Maori (indigenous) customary rights to foreshore and seabed and for the Act to be repealed. As indigenous Solomon Islanders, the same should be our determination and that of our Government. I urge all Solomon Islanders to be more concerned about their future and that of their children and tribes and go out there and make known of their desire to have their full rights and say on the land and sea protected. Having said that, this does not mean that we should stop development; instead with our rights protected, we should invite development to reciprocate the recognition of our protected ownership and rights enacted by our national leaders for the prosperity of our children, children’s children and our nation. It is with this notion that I welcome the proposed consultation. I now call on the responsible Ministry to have a wider communication and dissemination of the consultation paper through various communication channels – publication in local newspapers, broadcasting of periodic radio programs over an extended period, availability on electronic website such as the PFNet and setting up of a dedicated website for viewing of consultation papers (and all other proposed national amendments and reforms) and so forth. This will ensure people around the country are well informed and thereby able to participate and provide informed debate and submissions. Robson Lumukana Honiara (6/11/09 SolomonStar) | |||
MICRONESIAN NIUS:
15 # Le chauffeur du gouverneur du Commonwealth des Mariannes du Nord était aussi « dealer » - Le Gouverneur de ceCommonwealth administré par les États-Unis, Benigno Fitial, est obligé de conduire lui-même sa voiture depuis que son chauffeur/gardedu corps, Peter Reyes, a plaidé coupable d’avoir vendu de la drogue depuis la voiture officielle du Gouverneur. L’agence AAP, préciseque selon des documents présentés au tribunal M. Reyes aurait vendu 0,12 gramme de méthamphétamine, ou « ice », à un membre del’US Drug Enforcement Administration. La transaction s’est déroulée dans le parking du bureau du gouverneur le 16 mars dernier. Peter Reyes a ensuite été mis sous surveillance et finalement arrêté en septembre dernier. Le Gouverneur indique qu’il n’a pas, dansl’immédiat, l’intention de recruter un autre chauffeur et précise que Peter Reyes ne lui a jamais présenté d’excuses et ni même parlédepuis le jour de son interpellation.(abc)
PASIFIK NIUS
16 # Vers la fin des paradis fiscaux dans le Pacifique – L’Océanie ne sera bientôt plus ce paradis fiscal qui fait le bonheur des réseauxd’évasion fiscale off-shore australiens. Le gouvernement de Kevin Rudd vient en effet de signer 9 accords bilatéraux pour lever le secretbancaire dans les îles du Pacifique, y compris les îles Cook. Une politique saluée par Kim Ralston, une avocate australienne du cabinet PLM a Sydney: « C’est un acte décisif entre l’Australie et les îles Cook. Désormais si vous avez l’intention de placer votre argent là-bas,sachez que le fisc australien peut avoir accès aux informations concernant vos comptes. » Le gouvernement australien maintenantconvaincre le Vanuatu de suivre l’exemple des îles Cook. Une mission difficile! (abc)
17 #Wold Bank i hamamas wantem East Asia na Pacific
World Bank economic update blong East Asia na Pacific i hamamas wantem ol wok moni blong despla region long wonem oli hariap tru nakamap gut ken bihaenim global financial crisis. Maski sopos despla ripot ibin lukluk na glasim gut ol wok moni long tripla Melanesian kantri olsem Fiji, Papua New Guinea na Solomon Islands, Wold Bank i tok hamamas long ol wok em ol kantri long East Asia na Pacific ibin mekim blong halvim ol wok moni long kamap gut ken. Regional economics professor, Satish Chand, blong University of New South Wales School of Business, itok olsem ol Pacific islandkantri ibin lainim planti gutpla samting bihaenim ol bikpla heve blong ol wok moni oa global fainensal kraisis. "I think the lessons for the Pacific islands are - diversification, including having access to foreign labour markets and two, having some savings, this is true of nations as it is for households."(abc 5/11/09)
MELANESIAN NIUS:
1 # Ratu Epeli Nailatikau becomes new Fiji President
Fiji’s former military commander and parliamentary speaker, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, has been sworn in as the new President, succeedingRatu Josefa Iloilo who retired in July.
Ratu Epeli, who is also the son-in-law of the late President Ratu Mara, was sworn in by the chief justice, Anthony Gates,
His appointment became public last week when the interim prime minister, Commodore Bainaimarama, told the Fiji Sun newspaper thatRatu Epeli had been confirmed to be the head of state.
No details of the selection process have been made public.
According to Commodore Bainimarama, there will be no vice-president.
Ratu Epeli was appointed the Vice President by the interim regime following the abrogation of the 1997 constitution last April.
He replaced Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi as vice president after his removal in the 2006 military coup.
In 2007, the Great Council of Chiefs, which is the appointing body according to the constitution, rejected Ratu Epeli’s nomination to be vice-president.
As a result, the interim regime suspended further GCC meetings and withdrew the resources of the GCC secretariat.(rnz)
2 # Amnesty critical of Fiji treatment of Australian academic Lal
Amnesty International has condemned the action taken by Fiji’s military against a Fiji-born Australian academic, Dr Brij Lal.
Amnesty says Professor Lal, who flew to Sydney today, was told he would be killed if he returned to the country.
Professor Lal says the military authorities came to his house and took him to the barracks for questioning yesterday, giving him 24 hours to leave Fiji.
This followed media interviews about the interim regime’s expulsion of top New Zealand and Australian diplomats earlier this week.
Amnesty International’s Pacific researcher, Apolosi Bose, says the situation in Fiji is deteriorating.
“People were scared before, but the danger from Amnesty’s point of view is that Fiji’s situation will become worse as it becomes more isolated and away from all the scrutiny.”
Fiji’s immigration director is denying that Professor Lal was deported.
Major Nemani Vuniwaqa, says he was not expelled.
“Dr Brij Lal was in Fiji on a visitor’s permit and according to our records he had left the country on a flight to Australia. He was not expelled from the country as claimed by him.”
Nemani Vuniwaqa would not make any comments as to whether or why Professor Lal has been taken in for questioning.
The Australian National University, the ANU, is considering making a formal complaint to the Fiji government over its treatment of Dr Lal.
ANU Vice-Chancellor Ian Chubb says he’s considering a response but wants first to speak to Professor Lal.
Meanwhile Australia’s National Tertiary Education Union has also condemned the expulsion.
Its spokesperson, Ted Murphy, says Professor Lal’s expulsion is a direct violation of free speech and academic freedom.
Mr Murphy has warned that the regime’s actions will destroy educational partnerships between Australia and Fiji.
He says it will ultimately be to the detriment of both Fiji and its future prosperity, but also to Australia’s research and academic community.(rnz)
3 # No monitoring of visitors, PNG inquiry told
Firmin Nanol, Port Moresby
Papua New Guinean immigration officials have admitted they lack resources to prevent foreigners entering the country, taking employment and going into business.
Senior immigration officials told an inquiry into an anti-Asian riot in May this year they do not have the manpower and money to do their job effectively.
The riots were sparked by a protest organised by a non-governmental group which claimed foreigners enter the country illegally and take jobs locals could undertake.
The inquiry summoned PNG's Foreign Affairs Department to explain how thousands of foreigners are given entry visas.
Departmernt deputy secretary Elias Woangu says there are only 30 officers to deal with visa applications and they cannot monitor foreigners entering and leaving the country.
Deport
He also blamed the government for not providing enough resources to be able to deport illegal immigrants and people overstaying their visas.
Mr Woangu also told the inquiry certain immigration officials accept bribes to issue or renew visas and passports, bypassing proper processes.
The inquiry will make recommendations on changes to the country's labour, immigration and business laws.(abc)
4 # AUSTRALIA BUSINESSES EYE PNG TRADE Cairns seeks to become trade hub
By Nick Dalton of The Cairns Post PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Nov. 4, 2009) - Cairns business leaders recognize Papua New Guinea as the new frontier as the city seeks to extend its economic base.
They want Cairns to become the key hub for business between Papua New Guinea and Australia.
As part of its "new deal" to broaden the city’s economy, Advance Cairns, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and the Cairns Chamber of Commerce are calling on the Federal and State Governments to work with them to help better identify and define the opportunities in PNG.
Advance Cairns chairman Russell Beer said the chamber and his organization were already working on developing business opportunities, including two separate trade missions.
"More resources are needed to fund an urgent and holistic study into opportunities for Cairns region businesses to sell goods and services into PNG to take advantage of the significant developments in that country’s resources sector," he said.
"We aim to develop the Cairns brand in PNG so that Cairns is the automatic choice for a base for Australian engagement with PNG the same way Darwin seems automatically to be seen as the Australian access point for business with East Timor.
"(We need) better engagement with our closest capital city, Port Moresby, and neighboring country PNG to allow our businesses to take advantage of the major projects to take off there."
Mr. Beer said the trade missions were the first in seven years and the slots filled quickly.
"We have a 30-year history of air links but currently no direct shipping links and see big opportunities as both an air and sea transport hub for both cargo and passenger traffic," he said in the Relief, Recovery and Reform Plan presented to high-level government leaders in Brisbane and Canberra.
"We are about to conduct a study of shipping demand to generate a feasibility study to see if we can justify a regular shipping service between Cairns and PNG," the report said.
The report said Cairns had some notable advantages, including the largest PNG expatriate population in Australia and a new PNG consul.
"Cultural and family connections offer an opportunity to strengthen business links," it said.
Papua New Guinea Post-Courier: www.postcourier.com.pg/
5 # PNG POISED TO OUTPERFORM REGIONAL ECONOMIES ANZ Bank says growth resilient despite world slump
By Madeleine Arek PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Nov. 4, 2009) - Papua New Guinea looks poised to outperform many emerging market economies in Asia in the near term, according to the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ).
The bank said growth had remained relatively resilient despite the global economic and financial crisis and public finances continued to be run prudently.
However, the external sector has taken a hit from the crisis and high credit growth continues to fuel inflation.
ANZ has warned that while public revenue and dividends from the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project would be large once the project is complete, these funds would need to be managed and spent prudently and in a transparent manner.
Paul Gruenwald, ANZ chief economist for Asia, said expectations of these flows were already showing up as demand pressure grew.
"By wisely managing the windfall from the LNG project would help to permanently diversify gross domestic product (GDP) growth, helping and addressing longstanding development needs," Mr. Gruenwald said.
In his discussions on the outlook for emerging Asia and PNG, Gruenwald told a Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry breakfast last week that despite the global economic and financial crisis, GDP growth had remained solid, falling only a few percentage points, and should come in around 5 percent this year.
This, he said, reflected in a large part the composition of output, most of which was orientated toward domestic activities.
He also said the kina had appreciated sharply against the Australian dollar as the latter fell early in the crisis, but had been much more stable against the US currency and in trade-weighted terms, appeared close to its decade average.
Gruenwald also told the breakfast meeting that the overall budget balance remained near zero, as public sector debt-to-GDP level continued to trend downward.
This prudent fiscal policy meant that public sector risks were being lowered and the fiscal path appeared sustainable.
Gruenwald also said that while trade had contracted sharply since the onset of the crisis, with both volumes and prices falling, the current account has remained in surplus and as a result, external vulnerability was low.
He was until recently, head of the Asia regional studies unit at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and its representative to Hong Kong and Korea, and deputy chief of the IMF’s China division.
The National: www.thenational.com.pg/
6 # AIR VANUATU BOARD OF DIRECTORS FIRED High salaries, free tickets among complaints
By Royson Willie PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, Nov. 3, 2009) – The Spokesperson of the Alliance bloc in the Opposition, Mr Jack Erick, has congratulated the shareholders of the national airline for its decision to terminate the full board of Air Vanuatu, but that one other factor that has crippled the airline is that of overpaid managers.
Erick alleged that the Opposition has discovered that the airline pays out a total of an alleged amount of over Vt8 million [US$84,193] each month to eight general managers of the airline.
This action to terminate came four days after Air Vanuatu became the only airline in the region to have the youngest fleet of aircrafts from Y-12, ATR, to Boeing.
This amount is the total of salaries and allowances per month for the eight general managers of the departments within the airline, Erick alleged.
He said the amount did not include salaries of staff in Port Vila and Santo and other agents.
The Alliance bloc spokesman said this issue of high salaries and allowances is part of the problems that is crippling the aircraft such as tickets issued free of charge.
"The Alliance bloc strongly asks the ministry concern to consider the state of the airline operation and target better services for the country.
"Now that the Director Generals are appointed as board of directors, how much more will a DG earn from Air Vanuatu to his salary?
"The Alliance bloc understands that Director Generals of government ministries earn more than elected members of parliament, therefore the newly appointed board of directors should sacrifice their service to get the airline back on track but not to ‘suck up all the blood’ from the airline."
The Air Vanuatu board was recently terminated by shareholders and are replaced by the DGs for Finance, Public Utilities and Prime Minister’s Office.
Daily Post contacted the DG for Finance to get a reason behind the sacking of the board but he was not available to comment along with finance minister Sela Molisa who was overseas.
Vanuatu Daily Post: http://www.vanuatudaily.com
7 # PUBLIC INVITED TO SOLOMONS PARLIAMENT Effort to educate citizens about democracy
HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corp.,Nov. 4, 2009) – The Speaker of the National Parliament, Sir PeterKenilorea has opened the doors of the Solomon Islands parliament building to the public this morning.
Sir Peter is inviting members of the public to find out more about their system of government.
He says democracy is government by the people, for the people - so it is vital that people find out about how different institutions of government work, so they can be part of the process.
Sir Peter says Solomon Islands' democracy is still young and awareness is an important step for people to become involved in their government.
The public and media have been invited to the opening at 9 o'clock this morning where traditional pan-pipers were performing before Sir Peter officially cuts a ribbon and invited the public into the parliament building.
Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corp.: www.sibconline.com.sb
8 # SOLOMONS TASK FORCE TARGETS CORRUPTION Government body seeks citizen cooperation
HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Times, Nov. 4, 2009) – The Government's Anti-Corruption taskforce is stepping up on its work against corruption - with an appeal to community leaders and people to come forward with their experiences with corruption in politics and in public services.
Taskforce Chairman and Special Secretary to Prime Minister, John Keniapisia says community leaders and people can help the taskforce to fully understand how and why corrupt practices exist in these essential institutions.
He says the government recognizes that it must have support from people of all walks of life because they can help identify corrupt practices, which will need to be rooted out whenever and wherever it appears.
The taskforce chairman says the government also recognizes that services to the people will be affected, reduced and made inefficient if those in leadership and government services are corrupt.
SIBC News understands the Anti-Corruption taskforce is inviting sixty participants to contribute to the workshop.
The participants will be drawn from targeted political groups, church, business, civil society leaders and the media.
The next anti-corruption workshop will be on the ninth and tenth of this month.
9 # Solomons Commission says Kemakeza candidacy was unacceptable
The chairman of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission says Sir Allan Kemakeza should have been disqualified from contesting last week’s Savo/Russell by-election.
The by-election saw Sir Allan reclaim the seat he lost when he was sent to prison for six months last year after a conviction for authorisingmilitants to raid a law firm while he was the Prime Minister in 2002.
Before the by-election, the returning officer had accepted the legality of Sir Allan’s candidacy.
However the commission chair, Sir Peter Kenilorea, says due to the 12-month suspended sentence for Sir Allan’s conviction still being active, he should have been disqualified.
He says by the time they had informed the returning officer, he had already published the candidate list.
“He has no other authority to change that. On the Commission’s side, we just recommended to him that whilst he’s operating the law, the Electoral Act, the constitution itself disqualified Sir Allan from the very beginning.”
Meanwhile, the by-election’s four main losing candidates plan to file a petition to the High Court challenging Sir Allan’s candidacy.(rnz)
POLYNESIAN NIUS:
10 # FORMER FRENCH POLYNESIA PRESIDENT FACING PRISON Most recent indictment alleges bribery, corruption
PAPEÉTE, Tahiti (Tahitipresse, Nov. 3, 2009) - The French Senate Office lifted the parliamentary immunity of Sen. Gaston Flosse of Tahiti on Tuesday. Having already been indicted in an embezzlement and corruption case in Tahiti, the Senate Office’s decision opened the door to the 78-year-old former French Polynesia president being held in custody in Tahiti’s Nuutania Prison.
Senate President Gérard Larcher told the Paris media that the decision to lift Flosse’s parliamentary immunity was made "by a large majority", according to a variety of media reports on the Internet. This was the third time the Senate Office voted on Flosse’s immunity. The office is composed of representatives of various French political groups.
The first time, the Senate Office partially lifted the immunity in July. However, the second time the French Justice Minister made the request, the Senate Office refused to comply because Flosse had not been indicted.
Sen. Flosse, Tahiti’s president from 1984 to 2004, was indicted on Sept. 30 on three charges stemming from a long, ongoing judicial investigation into an alleged corruption scheme centering on the French Polynesia Office des Postes et Télécommunications (OPT).
The veteran politician was indicted on charges of receiving bribes, the misuse of corporate assets and complicity in the destruction of evidence in connection with the investigation of the OPT and the advertising agency 2H, which handled ads for the yearly telephone book and the in-flight magazine for the government-owned international airline Air Tahiti Nui.
Centrist Senate Vice President Jean-Léonce Dupont told a Paris press conference Tuesday, "The provisional detention of Mr. Flosse can now take place at any moment. Mr. Flosse can be placed in custody for a maximum period of four months."
However, Sen. Dupont continued, "In some contexts there’s a possibility of extending the detention period up to a maximum of one year."
Flosse is due to attend a Nov. 9 hearing before an investigating judge in Papeete for further questioning in the OPT case. It will be up to the judge to decide whether Flosse should be placed in detention.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated investigation, the financial prosecutor for the "Chambre Territoriale des Comptes" (the French Polynesia Territorial Audit Chamber) submitted his recommendations Monday in another Flosse case.
The prosecutor recommended that Flosse be ordered to reimburse Tahiti’s government for part of the 231 million French Pacific francs (US$2.9m) allegedly used to pay for presidential cabinet contracts involving elected officials and labor union officials. The prosecutor also called for Flosse to be fined 11.5 million French Pacific francs (US$145,570).
The 23 elected officials and union officials named in the 14 dossiers before the Audit Chamber are French Polynesia’s two French National Assembly deputies -- Papeéte Mayor Michel Buillard and Papara Mayor Bruno Sandras -- and former French Polynesia Vice President and Pirae Mayor Edouard Fritch, Flosse’s son-in-law.
The Audit Chamber is due to make a ruling on Dec. 8.
Flosse is one of 12 persons who have been indicted in the OPT investigation conducted by a special financial branch of the Paris Police Department. Two of those persons are still being held in Tahiti’s Nuutania Prison. One is French businessman Hubert Haddad, an advertising executive who has allegedly admitted having made regular payments of money for at least 10 years to Flosse’s political party.
The other is Geffry Salmon, the former OPT and Air Tahiti Nui board chairman. Salmon has been held in Tahiti’s Nuutania Prison for over four months on a charge of alleged money laundering stemming from investigators’ discover of significant financial assets in his bank safe deposit box.
James Estall, the head of that bank -- Banque Socredo -- was indicted last Thursday on a charge of money laundering for having not informed investigating authorities about the suspect movements of large funds through his bank, particularly with regard to Salmon.
Although Flosse has lost his parliamentary immunity for a certain period, he remains one of Tahiti’s two French senators as well as a member of the 57-seat French Polynesia Assembly. Although an appeals court decision in September ruled that Flosse should immediately become ineligible to hold public office, Flosse’s attorneys have taken that case on appeal before the Constitutional Council.
However, the council decided on Oct. 22 to await a ruling by the Court of Cassation in Paris before ruling on Flosse’s eligibility. And based on history, the Court of Cassation could take up to a year to rule on the pending Flosse appeal of a Sept. 24 Papeete Court of Appeals ruling in connection with a case unrelated to the OPT corruption investigation.
That involved Flosse’s conviction of misusing more than $30,000 in public funds for a 2004 election night celebration for several hundred political party supporters. However, Flosse never got to celebrate because he ended up suffering the biggest political upset of his long career.
Known in Tahiti as the "sushi case" because of the sushi and Champagne ordered for the celebration, Flosse was given a suspended one-year prison sentence, a one million French Pacific franc (US$12,987) fine and a one year ban against holding public office.
Flosse was first elected to a nine-year term as Tahiti’s only French senator in 1998. The Senate then adopted some reform measures, under which the terms of Flosse and some other senators were extended one year, while the length of the term was reduced from nine to six years.
Flosse was re-elected to a second term, this one for six years, on Sept. 21, 2008. This was the first election in French Polynesia that chose two French senators. The other senator is Richard Tuheiava, a member of Temaru’s pro-Tahiti independence party.
If Flosse were to eventually lose his Senate seat, a by-election would have to be held to elect someone in Tahiti to serve the remaining years left in his six-year term. For Flosse’s seat in the French Polynesia Assembly, no special election would be necessary. The replacement would come from the list of Windward Islands candidates that Flosse headed in the last election in January 2008.
Tahitipresse: www.tahitipresse.pf
11 # Tonga People’s Committee for Political Reform submits petition to King
Posted at 03:29 on 05 November, 2009 UTC
A petition from the People’s Committee for Political Reform in Tonga calling for the removal of the Prime Minister and his deputy is now with the King.
The number two People’s Representative on Tongatapu and a member of the committee, Isileli Pulu, says just over 5,000 people signed the document.
The submission comes as a Royal Commission of Inquiry continues into the August sinking of the Princess Ashika ferry, in which 74 people drowned.
Mr Pulu says the committee wants the King to replace Drs Feleti Sevele and Viliami Tangi because of the way they handled the disaster.
“We are hoping for the King to give us an answer, we don’t know when but we’re still hoping that he will because it’s very serious. We submitted many petitions before but we hadn’t received any response most of the time, no.”
Isileli Pulu of Tonga’s People’s Committee for Political Reform.(rnz)
MICRONESIAN NIUS:
12 # OUTSIDE PARTY TO CONTROL GUAM SCHOOL FUNDS U.S. says Guam mishandling federal funds
HAGATNA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, Nov. 4, 2009) – The U.S. Department of Education is not convinced that the Guam Department of Education can do a better job of managing federal funds, so U.S. DOE has decided that a "third party fiduciary agent" should take over that role from Guam DOE, according to a Nov. 2 U.S. DOE letter.
"The U.S. DOE has determined that GDOE has failed to demonstrate why U.S. DOE should not begin to take immediate administrative action under the special conditions to procure the services of a third-party fiduciary agent."
The agent must be responsible to the U.S. DOE and perform the financial management duties required under certain federal requirements, according to U.S. DOE.
Guam DOE " will not receive any funds under pending or new awards subject to the special conditions until a fiduciary agent is in place, and is prepared to manage federal grant funds on behalf of U.S. DOE," the federal Education Department states.
This story is developing.
Pacific Daily News: www.guampdn.com
13 # CNMI readies for elections
Gemma Casas
Last Updated:
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is preparing for general elections this Saturday.
They will determine the next elected governor, who will be the first to rule the islands under an American federalised immigration system.
The Commonwealth Election Commission mailed ballot papers to more than 2,000 absentee voters, and expects more than 14,000 registered voters to go to polling stations.
The polls will elect the CNMI's next governor, lieutenant-governor, senators and congressmen, and representatives to different boards and municipal councils.
Four candidates, including incumbent governor Benigno R. Fitial, are vying to become the next governor of the Northern Marianas.
Mr Fitial expects a run-off election because a law now mandates the winner must have a 50 percent plus 1 of the votes cast.
If re-elected, he says he will continue to fight the law mandating the United States to apply its immigration laws on the islands.(abc)
MELANESIAN NIUS:
1 # Ex-Fiji commander seeks protection in Australia
![Fijian soldiers on parade at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in the capital, Suva. [Reuters]](http://bl102w.blu102.mail.live.com/mail/SafeRedirect.aspx?hm__tg=http://65.55.183.87/att/GetAttachment.aspx&hm__qs=file%3d95d88370-6efb-462e-a344-352b8a259ccc.jpg%26ct%3daW1hZ2UvanBlZw_3d_3d%26name%3daW1hZ2UwMDIuanBn%26inline%3d1%26rfc%3d0%26empty%3dFalse%26imgsrc%3dcid%253aimage002.jpg%254001CA5E04.78E45330&oneredir=1&ip=10.6.0.135&d=d2209&mf=0&a=01_701cfad37da06be75d4b116c4a859d649b3d785b9adc74b8e8ea0df64e33dbc4 "Fijian soldiers on parade at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in the capital, Suva. [Reuters]")
PHOTO 1 of 2
Fijian soldiers on parade at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in the capital, Suva. [Reuters]
VIDEO from NewsHour
Deteriorating relationship
Created:
AUDIO from Pacific Beat
Fiji academic expelled
Created:
Geraldine Coutts, Campbell Cooney
Last Updated:
The former head of Fiji's land forces says he would not be welcome back in his country, and has applied for a protection visa to stay in Australia. Colonel Jone Baledrokadroka's application, in the wake of retaliatory diplomatic expulsions betweern Fiji, Australia and New Zealand, is being considered by the Australan Government. He is a visiting fellow at the Australian National University, in Canberra, where Fiji-born academic Professor Brij Lal - just expelled by the Fiji regime - also works. The colonel says Lal, a colleague, is "quite well known to be a critic of Bainimarama and a critic of all coups, back to Rabuka." Commodore Bainimarama "is just sending a message to Australia that he doesn't want anyone butting in on what is happening in Fiji at the moment."
Hell-bent
The colonel, who says he had a polical argument with interim Prime minster Frank Bainimarama in 2006, says on present indications he would not be allowed back by the military-backed regime. "Obviously no. It seems he is hell-bent on a sort of tit-for-tat childish response," Colonel Baledrokadroka told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat. "He sees anyone who speaks out as an enemy. "At the moment he is hell-bent on retaliation against Australia and New Zealand. "Any people - I suppose myself . . . there is a heavy media censorship in in Fiji. Obviously he can use that to throw anyone out of the country." His argument three years ago with his fellow officer was over Colonel Baledrokadroka's belief that Fiji's military should be apolitical.
Running
"He wanted obviously to politicise the military as it is at the moment." He said that the present situation was, as Professor Lal had said, that the miitary "is effectively running the country in all departments." Professor Lal has been expelled from Fiji for commenting on the latest diplomatic dispute between Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. He was detained by Fiji's military on Tuesday afternoon in relation to public comments he made about Fiji's expulsion of Australia and New Zealand's heads of diplomatic mission. He says he was interrogated by the military for three hours, and told that his views were uninformed and unwelcome by Fiji's military-backed regime. Professor Lal was then told he was unwelcome in Fiji and had 24 hours to leave the country. He was leaving Fiji on Thursday. Professor Lal is an Australian citizen, and a leading academic and researcher on Fiji's political history. In 1997, he was involved in drafting the country's new constitution. He said he hopes to return in the future. "I hope that next year some time, when things settle down, when emotions have cooled, that I will be able to visit. "I mean, I am a scholar, I have devoted 30 years of my life writing about Fiji. "Right now I have a book project on the squatter settlement in Fiji, so I hope this is a temporary setback."
3 # Drop Fiji from UN forces: Australian opposition
![Australian politician Julie Bishop says the United Nations should no longer use Fijian soldiers in its global peace-keeping. [ABC]](http://bl102w.blu102.mail.live.com/mail/SafeRedirect.aspx?hm__tg=http://65.55.183.87/att/GetAttachment.aspx&hm__qs=file%3d61107695-32a9-4a49-87a5-91e85ea1cda1.jpg%26ct%3daW1hZ2UvanBlZw_3d_3d%26name%3daW1hZ2UwMDQuanBn%26inline%3d1%26rfc%3d0%26empty%3dFalse%26imgsrc%3dcid%253aimage004.jpg%254001CA5E04.78E45330&oneredir=1&ip=10.6.0.135&d=d2209&mf=0&a=01_701cfad37da06be75d4b116c4a859d649b3d785b9adc74b8e8ea0df64e33dbc4 "Australian politician Julie Bishop says the United Nations should no longer use Fijian soldiers in its global peace-keeping. [ABC]")
PHOTO
Australian politician Julie Bishop says the United Nations should no longer use Fijian soldiers in its global peace-keeping. [ABC]
Simon Cullen, Canberra
Last Updated:
Fiji's top representative in Australia is due to return home as relations between the two countries sour further. The acting high commissioner in the capital of Canberra has until Wednesday morning to leave Australia. His expulsion followed a decision by Fiji to order Australia's high commissioner to leave the country. Tensions between the two countries were further strained after Fiji briefly detained and then expelled an outspoken Australian academic,Brij Lal. The Australian opposition's foreign affairs spokeswoman, Julie Bishop, says the government should urge the United Nations to stop using Fijian troops in peacekeeping operations. That is the major source of funding for the military regime. About 280 Fijian troops and police are involved in peacekeeping efforts.
4 # Fiji throws out Australian academic
![Brij Lal was questioned by Fiji's military. [National Library of Australia]](http://bl102w.blu102.mail.live.com/mail/SafeRedirect.aspx?hm__tg=http://65.55.183.87/att/GetAttachment.aspx&hm__qs=file%3d54949b80-276a-4407-b680-0f9c40b2a2ce.jpg%26ct%3daW1hZ2UvanBlZw_3d_3d%26name%3daW1hZ2UwMDUuanBn%26inline%3d1%26rfc%3d0%26empty%3dFalse%26imgsrc%3dcid%253aimage005.jpg%254001CA5E04.78E45330&oneredir=1&ip=10.6.0.135&d=d2209&mf=0&a=01_701cfad37da06be75d4b116c4a859d649b3d785b9adc74b8e8ea0df64e33dbc4 "Brij Lal was questioned by Fiji's military. [National Library of Australia]")
Brij Lal was questioned by Fiji's military. [National Library of Australia]
Campbell Cooney, Pacific correspondent
Last Updated:
A Fijian-born Australian academic has been expelled from Fiji for commenting on the latest diplomatic dispute between Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Professor Brij Lal, from the Australian National University, was detained by Fiji's military on Tuesday afternoon in relation to public comments he made about Fiji's expulsion of Australia and New Zealand's heads of diplomatic mission. He says he was interrogated by the military for three hours, and told that his views were uninformed and unwelcome by Fiji's military-backed regime. Professor Lal was then told he was unwelcome in Fiji and had 24 hours to leave the country. He was leaving Fiji on Thursday. Professor Lal is an Australian citizen, and a leading academic and researcher on Fiji's political history. In 1997, he was involved in drafting the country's new constitution. He said he hopes to return in the future. "I hope that next year some time, when things settle down, when emotions have cooled, that I will be able to visit. "I mean, I am a scholar, I have devoted 30 years of my life writing about Fiji. "Right now I have a book project on the squatter settlement in Fiji, so I hope this is a temporary setback."
(Professor Lal is well known to Academics & Students @ ANU and other Instituations,he has written a few books on the Pacific Islands)
5 # OZ and NZ match Fiji's diplomatic volley
Australia and New Zealand are matching Fiji's latest diplomatic volley, announcing the expulsion of Fiji's envoys from the two countries and expressing frustration that their overtures for dialogue are continually frustrated. In Canberra, the Rudd government is steadfastly refusing to expand sanctions, though, to include trade and economic bans. It doesn't want to do anything, it says, to harm ordinary Fijians. Canberra has also dismissed as unjustified Fiji's allegations of interference in Fiji's internal affairs -- the justification for Fiji's expulsion of Australian and New Zealand diplomats. The Australian and New Zealand responses signal determination to stay the course in the push for a return to democracy in Fiji, though all efforts appear to end in yet more political upheaval. Presenter: Canberra correspondent, Linda Mottram Speakers: Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd; Australia's Foreign Affairs minister Stephen Smith; Fiji's interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama. MOTTRAM: Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was emphatic in a slew of radio appearances responding to news of the expulsions. RUDD: Their military coup is unacceptable to every country in the region. That's why they're unhappy with us. MOTTRAM: And he repeatedly invoked what he says is the collective view of South Pacific nations insisting on an immediate return to democracy in Fiji. RUDD: We have drawn a very hard line, not just as Australia, not just as New Zealand, but through the Pacific Island Forum with every other island democracy. We belong to a family of democracies in the South Pacific with the exception of Bainimarama's military rule. MOTTRAM: And so as consultation and formulation of an Australian response proceeded, Fiji's acting High Commissioner, KamleshArya, was seen entering the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra .. and then leaving again. Shortly after, Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith, speaking in the West Australian capital of Perth, announced why. SMITH: Australian officials in Canberra firmly advised the acting Fiji High Commissioner to Australia that he had been declared persona non grata, and as a consequence was required to leave within 24 hours. This is deeply regrettable and Australia is deeply disappointed at Fiji's conduct in this matter. MOTTRAM: It was a proportionate response he said, and it would go no further. Specifically, he rejected any consideration of widening Australia's travel, military and diplomatic sanctions against Fiji to include trade or economic sanctions. SMITH: We don't want to do things which adversely impact on the Fijian people themselves, to the contrary, which is why we never engaged in trade or economic sanctions. MOTTRAM: Describing the whole matter as a backward step, and his concern that Fiji wa s further isolating itself from the international community, Stephen Smith comprehensively rejected Fiji's allegations that Australia and New Zealand diplomats had interfered in Fiji's internal affairs, specifically in the appointment of judges. SMITH: Both Australia and New Zealand have made it clear to Fiji in recent times, that as a consequence of the aggregation of the Constitution early this year and as a consequence of changed arrangements, so far as the appointment of judges in Fiji were concerned, that Australia would regard judges appointed as judges of Fiji after the aggregation of the Constitution as effectively appointments by Commodore Bainimarama and as a consequence subject to Australia's travel bans. MOTTRAM: As Mr Smith spoke to the media in Australia, his counterpart in New Zealand, Foreign Minister Murray McCully was would be announcing similar moves. Earlier, Mr McCully told Australian radio that Australia and New Zealand had thought they were moving down a path to improve channels of communication with Fiji. McCULLY: Last week I had agreed in principle to the appointment of a new counsellor position, at the Fijian mission in New Zealand and sort a reciprocal gesture in Suva from them and so we were moving down that path when this difficulty hit us. MOTTRAM: Stephen Smith also said that he had held talks with Commodore Bainimarama on the sidelines of the recent United Nations General Assembly in New York. SMITH: In recent times, I have been hopeful that once the dust had settled from Fiji's suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum, Fiji's suspension from the Commonwealth, that once the dust had settled on those matters, that we could find a way of having a dialogue with Fiji, to bring Fiji back to democracy, to bring Fiji back as a fully fledged democratic member of the international community. Indeed in December in New York in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, I spoke to Commodore Bainimarama, and made precisely that point to him. MOTTRAM: But speaking on Radio Tarana Commodore Bainimarama has cast doubt on Australian and New Zealand claims about wanting dialogue. BAINIMARAMA: Australia and New Zealand only say we always want dialogue and we continue to ensure that our doors are open for dialogue, which is done to protect the sovereignty of this nation. MOTTRAM: All sides then remain backed into their separate corners. And though the Commodore taunts Australian leaders with the continuing flow of Australian tourists to Fiji, Australia says that for ordinary Fijians economic gloom continues to deepen as a direct result of Fiji's increasing isolation.(4/11/09abc)
6 # Australian Fijian communities differ on diplomatic row
Indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians living in Australia are both worried about the diplomatic situation, but have differing perspectives on how best to resolve it. That's according to Sanjay Ramesh, political editor of the Sydney-based community newspaper the Fiji Times. He says most Fijians want elections for a new government immediately, while Indo-Fijians are more ambivalent. Mr Ramesh tells Bruce Hill that both communities are more concerned about the practical effects of the latest diplomatic expulsions. Presenter: Bruce Hill Speaker: Sanjay Ramesh, political editor of the Sydney-based community newspaper the Fiji Times RAMESH: The Indo-Fijian community are really concerned about this ongoing tension between Australia and Fiji. As you probably know a lot of Indo-Fijians as well as indigenous Fijians, they travel for Fiji for Christmas holidays and they usually go for like a three to four week break and they are really concerned as to the changes in the diplomatic missions and what will be the outcome of this and it is causing a lot of grief to both the communities in Sydney, especially. HILL: Is there any sign that the two communities are taking sides between Fiji and Australia or blaming one side more than the other in this? RAMESH: I believe most of the indigenous Fijians are pretty much very disturbed by what has transpired and they think the best option would be to hold elections as soon as possible and to move it forward as quickly as possible and not wait till 2014 as the Fiji militiarycommander has suggested. On the Indo-Fijian side, I think there is in the Indo-Fijian side, there is a bit of division. There is quite a lot of concern about the situation on the ground, but there are also some within the Indo-Fijian community that think that Bainimarama's approach is the only way to develop some sort of a de-ethnicised Fiji. So I think there is two streams of thought in the Indo-Fijian community, but the indigenous Fijians seem to be pretty much dead set on that, they need to move quickly towards their democratic path. HILL: Is there any sign that the two communities, the Indo-Fijians and the indigenous Fijian are becoming further apart under the Diaspora or is the Diaspora experience bringing them closer together? RAMESH: I think the experience at the moment, the way the events have been unfolding in Fiji, the both communities are to some extent coming together, but at the same time it's not to level that we would say they will speak with one voice at this stage. Because I think there are still differences in the way both communities look at the 2006 coup and the developments there after. HILL: Is there any concerns in either community that if this diplomatic stand off between Fiji on one hand, and Australia and New Zealand on the other continues the rift might become so wide that they are going to in some sense be forced to make some sort of a choice as to where their allegiance lies? RAMESH: Ah yes, I think that is really a concern about that. I mean a lot of the people that I have spoken to, especially in the Indo-Fijiancommunity, I think they are worried that they will be forced pretty soon to make a choice as to how, what they support. I mean whether they will end up supporting the actions of the Australian Government if they're anticipating further sanctions against Fiji. I think it's just something that they will have to decide. But it has not come down to that critical point, but I think certainly it is moving in that direction. There is fair degree of support for the peoples Charter and the vision that was outlined by Bainimarama in the Indo-Fijian community, but I think people generally in both communities are concerned of the time line of 2014 being too far off and that's probably where there is some convergence between the two communities. (4/11/09abc)
7 # FIJI: Australian na New Zealand i rausim pinis Fiji diplomat long kant
Interim Prime Minister blong Fiji, Commodore Frank Bainimarama i tok, Fiji ino nap larim Australia na New Zealand long tokim em longwanem samting em i mas mekim na i tok, em ino sori long salim ol diplomat blong tupela kantri igo bek long kantri blong ol. Commodore Bainimarama i bin tok long Zealand Radio Tarana Fiji olsem, oli saspendim em pinis long Commonwealth na Pacific Islands Forum. Em i tok, olsem na tingting long rausim tupela diplomat long kantri, em i raitpela tingting. New Zealand i bin pasim High Commission blong em long Fiji, longanem, ino gat inap staff, na sutim tok long militari long rausen diplomatblong em long kantri. Pacific niusman Campbell Cooney ripot Foreign Minister blong New Zealand, Murray McCully i tok, em i bin toktok wantaim Foreign Minister blong Australia, Stephen Smith, long tingting blong Fiji interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama long rausimdiplomat blong ol long Fiji.(4/11/09abc)
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8 # Defending Melanesian Land (AID/WATCH)
An evening of film, photos, and discussion about the importance of customary land in Melanesia. 'Defending Melanesian Land' is a short video in which Melanesian activists explain why indigenous land is important to people in the Pacific, and why they have formed a regional alliance (The Melanesian Indigenous Land Defence Alliance – MILDA) to defend indigenous Melanesian land.
When: Wednesday 4 November 6.30pm/ Where: Amnesty International Australia / Contact: AID/WATCH – 02 9557 8944 orgary@aidwatch.org.au
· New alliance to defend melanesian land
· Concern about long leases in Vanuatu and Mining in PNG
· Concern that land owners didn’t understand what they were getting into.
· Concern about corruption in granting leases/rent was not insufficent as in not enough.
· Minning companies yes a lot inside Melanesia/only paying 5% or less to local land owners,argue that it costs them heaps to set up.
· HALLELUYAH AMEN: 90% of MELANESIAN LAND IS CUSTOMERY LAND.
Yufala ia! mi tekem notes/summary:
There is no videos available yet? You can email Gary or go direct to www.aidwatch.org.au.
MILDA-Oli no ready yet…blong yufala i subscribe….askem Gary blong more information//and bae mi keepim yufala posted for any latest Nius Update Tasol.
Acknowledgement: Thank you MP Ralph Regenvanu and all other Melanesian People on the Video, 3 Meri PNG,1 Man Solo and wan youngfala Meri Vanuatu.
Keep up the good work for Awareness in preserving 90% of our MELANESIAN LAND.
EDUCATIONAL.
Thank yu tru.
Regards/ Phil wantok.
Friday, October 23, 2009
New Dawn FM, 22 October 2009
Autonomous Bouganville Nius.
Credit Ms Taloi Havini & New Dawn Fm Staff.
Panguna reconciliation unites old enemies
By Aloysius Laukai
The people of Panguna today attended a traditional clenching ceremony in preparation for tomorrow’s reconciliation ceremony.
The traditional ritual was to remove blood stains from former fighters in the Bougainville crisis that killed about 20,000 people and left another 40,000 people homeless.
The Panguna event was the first of three reconciliation ceremonies scheduled for the area around the former minesite.
The reconciliation was between uncles of the late chief and Panguna landowner killed at the start of the Bougainville conflict.
Those who were clenched included fighters in the conflict, Mekamui soldiers, Bougainville revolutionary fighters and those who fought alongside the PNG Defence force, the resistance fighters.
After the ceremony, ABG President, James Tanis said the ritual had united the youths of Panguna and there should be no more factions in the area.
Bougainville administrator gets out to districts
By Aloysius Laukai
Bougainville’s acting chief administrator, Patrick Koles, says his administration will meet with district staff to get first hand information on what the districts are doing.
Speaking at Wakunai, Mr Koles said that his administration will meet with the people and public servants in all the districts of Bougainville.
The team later travelled to Arawa to attend the first reconciliation in Panguna ceremony.
The chief administrator is being accompanied by regional inspectors and divisional heads of the Bougainville administration.
New Dawn FM understands this was the first meeting between him and the Wakunai district officers.
Representatives of the UNDP, AusAID and Law and Justice are also accompanying the Administrator.
Akoitai endorses leadership of president Tanis
By Aloysius Laukai
Former Bougainville national parliamentarian and runner-up in the ABG presidential by-election last year, Sam Akoitai, has announced he will not contest the 2010 ABG election.
Mr Akoitai was the Member for Central Bougainville and Mining Minister in the last national government until his defeat at the 2007 national election.
Speaking at a meeting of Wakunai chiefs attended by ABG president James Tanis, Mr Akoitai said he would not contest the presidential seat and appealed to his supporters to give their votes to Mr Tanis.
He said President is a young energetic and talented politician who deserves a full five year term in office. He said Mr Tanis had proven his worth and delivered services to his people.
Mr Akoitai said he is happy with the president’s vision on building a cooperative relationship with the national government and other institutions.
The former member said he would be working closely with the president who, since being elected, had achieved a lot to bridge the gap between former warring parties.
The two leaders will attend the Panguna reconciliation tomorrow.
Funding secured for Panguna reconciliations
By Aloysius Laukai
ABG President, Hon James Tanis, said he would remain in Bougainville and not and be travelling for some time so he can work on outstanding issues that needs to be addressed in the province.
Mr Tanis made these remarks after a recent trip to Port Moresby where he secured AusAID funding for the Panguna reconciliation.
He said the reconciliation has been awaited for many years.
Three separate events have been planned for Panguna starting with the first reconciliation ceremony tomorrow.
http://bougainville.typepad.com/newdawn/
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Solomons warning about outdated malaria drug
Health authorities in Solomon Islands are warning people not to take an outdated malaria drug which could lead to treatment failure or even death.
Dr Lyndes Wini, the medical officer for the Health Ministry’s vector borne disease control prgramme, says they are advising people to use a new combination drug, coartem, which is very effective in treating malaria.
He says another drug, artemedine, has been available in many shops in Solomon Islands for some time, but it only contains one active ingredient, artemether, which is not as effective.
“If we do have artemether or artemedine resistance in Solomon Islands it just means there will be more treatment failures. It’s not as effective as if you were to use a new drug regime, putting lives at risk if they develop severe malaria as a result of not adequately treating the simple, uncomplicated malaria.”
Dr Wini says coartem was launched in Solomon Islands in December, and is now being distributed to all health facilities free of charge.(22/10rnz)
Fiji interim regime records third quarter surplus
The Fiji interim government says it has recorded a fiscal surplus in the three months to the end of September.
The interim prime minister and interim finance minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says the third quarter yielded a surplus of 16 million US dollars while forecasts were for a 60 million US dollar deficit.
Commodore Bainimarama has told Fijilive that revenue exceeded 534 million US dollars.
He says efforts to curb wasteful spending of the past are producing results.(22/10rnz)
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