By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania
SUVA, Fiji — On Tuesday interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama and ousted PM Lasenia Qarase met for the second time to discuss the way forward for Fiji. While the two have been trading barbs with one another about the future of Fiji since the military coup a year and a half ago, a statement issued after the talk emphasized “the great importance of constructive forward-looking dialogue, including the efforts that are now needed aimed at healing and reconciliation at the national level.”
The primary topics of the talk was the People’s Charter, a road map for change and a plan for reconciling the division of the nation. Observers described the talk as candid.
Also present in the talks were Methodist Reverend Laisiasa Ratabacaca and the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Fiji, Archbishop Petero Mataca. Fiji Times reports that the four leaders urged that civic, community and religious organizations would need to work together to move Fiji forward.
While no specific time line was established for another meeting, the Fiji Times reports that another meeting is expected.
For more information, please see:
Fiji Village — Rev Ratabacaca impressed with Interim PM, Qarase Meet — 18 June 2008
Fiji Times — Peace talks — 18 June 2008
Pacific Magazine — Bainimarama and Qarase Meet Again, in Suva — 18 June 2008
Fiji Times — Ousted PM questions reference terms — 18 June 2008
Radio New Zealand International — Bainimarama and Qarase meet to focus on moving Fiji forward — 17 June 2008
Fiji Village — Interim PM, Qarase Meet — 17 June 2008
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SUVA, Fiji — A dispute arose as Tuesday in the Court of Appeal in the deportation case of Evan Hannah. Jon Apted, Hannah’s lawyer, said that neither he nor his client had even seen the deportation order that was issued in the case and that the document had never been presented before the court. Solicitor General Christopher Pryde explained that the reason for this was that the Immigration Minister, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, only issued an “oral order”.
The controversy did not stop there. While the permanent Immigration Secretary did eventually generate a form securing Hannah’s deportation, Apted argues that the interim government did not follow the law in issuing the order. Under the Immigration Act of 2003, a person can only be deported seven days after service of a removal order. Solicitor General Pryde says that Hannah was eligible for immediate deportation and that the interim government had simply used the wrong form.
Evan Hannah was expelled from Fiji by the interim government in April of this year. According to Immigration Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau, Hannah’s deportation was based on his opinion that Hannah was a threat to Fiji’s national security.
For more information, please see:
Fiji Times — Lawyer disputes order — 18 June 2008
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited — Wrong form issued — 17 June 2008
Fiji Village — Hannah Lawyer Yet to Sight Deportation Order — 17 June 2008
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SUVA, Fiji — Fiji President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, announced this week that Sela Molisa will be the new chairperson of the independent monitoring group for the People’s Charter for Progress and Peace.
The role of the chairman is to monitor the activities of the People’s Charter and provide reports to the President about its progress. Specifically, Molisa is meant to report on the transparency, robustness and integrity of the process of the People’s Charter.
Radio New Zealand International reports that Molisa was surprised to have been headhunted for this role. He did not apply for the role and was reportedly shocked to have it offered to him.
Molisa is taking over for Geert van der Linden who resigned as chair last month.
For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International — Newly appointed Fiji People’s Charter Monitoring Group chair prepared for difficult role — 13 June 2008
Radio New Zealand International — Vanuatu MP appointed chair of Independent Monitoring Group on Fiji charter — 13 June 2008
