By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – The Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights says that the scheduled review of Fiji’s human rights record before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva will be of utmost importance.

Amnesty International accused Fiji of falsifying its human rights record in a report it submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Amnesty International says the Fiji government’s report is full of lies.

Apolosi Bose, spokesman for Amnesty International Pacific, stated that Amnesty International has documented human rights violations from Fiji since 2006.

Amnesty International expressed its strong disappointment with the way in which the government is misrepresenting its human rights record.

Amnesty International contends that Fiji included various things in its report that were not true. One thing is the statement in the report that everyone in Fiji is free to participate in public life.

Another statement allegedly not true is that religious freedom is enjoyed in Fiji. Bose stated that in the last couple months Amnesty International has seen evidence of the government banning the Methodist Church from having its annual conference, and persecution of senior ministers of the church.

Another thing the record included was the statement that Fiji’s judiciary is intact and its independence is intact. Bose stated that the Fiji government has passed decrees which give absolute powers to the register of the High Court, which decides whether or not a case can go before the court, and this decision cannot be challenged by any other courts. Also, in 2009, five magistrates were summarily dismissed without any explanation from the authorities. Bose says that this evidence shows a pattern of judicial interference.

Fiji is scheduled to have its human rights record formally reviewed by the United Nations Human Rights Council at a meeting in Geneva on the night of February 11, 2010.

The review will be based on one report submitted by the interim regime, another by the UN and a third by NGOs.

The Office’s regional representative, Matilda Bogner, says UN member states will discuss Fiji’s human rights situation and will recommend areas for improvement.

Bogner says Fiji’s interim government will then be called on to respond in a couple of months.

Bogner further stated: ” Fiji will have to state publicly which recommendations it commits itself to actually implement. So in that sense it’s also a very important mechanism, because the state does need to publicly commit to making improvements to human rights and then can be held accountable to those commitments in another four years time when it will be reviewed again.”

For more information, please see:
ABC Radio Australia – Amnesty accuses Fiji of lying over human rights record – 11 February 2010

Matavuvale: Fiji’s Family Network – Amnesty accuses Fiji of lying over human rights record – 11 February 2010

Radio New Zealand International – UN assessment of Fiji’s performance on human rights seen as important – 11 February 2010

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
SUVA, Fiji — The Fiji government has allegedly misrepresented its human rights record in a report to the United Nations.

The UN Human Rights Council is scheduled to review the human rights situation in Fiji on Thursday, February 11 in Geneva.

The report allegedly contains statements indicating that Fiji’s Government is indeed respecting human rights, such as freedom of speech and religion.  However, in its submission to the Council, Amnesty International claims this is inaccurate.

According to Amnesty International’s Pacific Researcher, Apolosi Bose, “[g]overnment assertions that human rights are protected in Fiji are an insult to its citizens, who have had to endure surveillance, intimidation and threats by the military.”

Since April 2009, when Commodore Frank Bainimarama refused to continue to abide by Fiji’s constitution, the government has violated human rights and upset the rule of law in that country. Several magistrate judges have been dismissed without explanation.  The media has also been subjected to censorship on a daily basis.

Furthermore, pastors and administrators at the Methodist Church of Fiji have been arrested since July 2009.  Not only did the government suspend the church’s annual conference until 2014, but it also arrested church officials, detained them and charged them under the Public Emergency Regulations (PER).

In April 2009, the government enacted these regulations, which allowed it to violate basic human rights while at the same time it shielded itself from dissent or criticism.  These regulations enable the government to suppress news and other comments which are highly critical.

According to Amnesty, “[m]ore than a thousand people have been assaulted, threatened, intimidated or subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment, arbitrary arrests, and detention by the military for either being critical of the authorities or on trumped-up charges.”

The PER, extended every thirty days, authorize Fiji’s security forces to prohibit meetings, use lethal force where they feel necessary, and to regulate the use of any public place.

Human rights organizations have suggested that Fiji not renew the PER upon their expiration this month.

Human Rights Watch has also expressed concern over Fiji’s submission.

The organization believes that abusive policies undertaken by Fiji’s military government must be corrected to ensure the nation returns to a democratic rule.   Otherwise, the human rights situation will worsen.

The deputy director of Human Rights Watch Asia, Phil Robertson stated that UN involvement in Fiji is necessary.  “Without an impartial judiciary and other independent institutions to provide checks and balances on the military government, an active role by the UN human rights office is crucial… The UN and its member states need to insist that Fiji abide by its international human rights commitments.”

The UN Human Rights Council is conducting the review in accordance with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, where the Council assesses the human rights record of every state that is a member of the UN.  The UPR occurs on a rotating basis once every four years.

This is the first review of Fiji’s human rights record.

For more information please see:
Amnesty International – Fiji: Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review: Seventh Session of the UPR Working Group of the Human Rights Council, February 2010

Pacific.Scoop – Amnesty accuses Fiji regime over human rights record report to UN – 10 February 2010

Radio New Zealand – Human rights groups scathing about Fiji claims to UN body – 10 February 2010

Human Rights Watch – UN Rights Council: Demand End to Fiji Abuses – 09 February 2010

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – New Zealand immigration officials have warned Pacific Islanders that they may be the targets of a possible immigration scam.

Both Immigration New Zealand and the Ministry of the Pacific Island Affairs have advised Pacific people not to travel to Waitangi in order to gain New Zealand citizenship.

The immigration scam, according to the New Zealand Labour Department, promotes citizenship and residency to individuals who are unable to gain permanent status, also known as overstayers.

Overstayers are being promised citizenship if the Maori tribe (or hapu) adopts them.

It is expected that many overstayers will travel to Waitangi because they were told that in exchange for $1,000 they would be able to gain citizenship from Ngapuhi elder by being adopted into the hapu.

A Ngapuhi elder claims that Pacific peoples will be welcomed but there are no plans to grant them citizenship.

Earlier this week, One News broke the news of this alleged immigration scam.

Former Maori vice-president of the National Party, Rahiri Dargaville, labeled the Ngapuhi elder’s comments as ‘misleading’ and that there was no intention to grant Pacific people citizenship.

Mr. Dargaville further stated that “[p]olarizing such issues using the media is not in keeping with Ngapuhi customs and traditions”.

The Immigration department requested those who may have been subjected to the scam to be report it to the police.

In assessing the accuracy of information presented to Pacific people, the chief executive of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, Dr. Colin Tukuitonga, advised these individuals that its probably a scam if it sounds too good to be true.  “Only Immigration NZ or people licensed by them are able to issue permits.  Don’t give your money to a fraudster.”

In order to remain in New Zealand, Immigration NZ has the sole responsibility for the authorization of the visas.

Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman stated that “[a]doption into a hapu will not legally confer citizenship or residency upon anyone.”

Pacific people should be aware that individuals authorized to give advice on immigration in New Zealand must hold a license or be exempt from the license requirement under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act.

For more information please see:
Fiji Times Online – Warning over NZ immigration scam – 04 February 2010

New Zealand Herald – No plans to ‘adopt’ Tongan overstayers – Ngapuhi elder – 03 February 2010

Radio New Zealand – Overstayers told citizenship not available at Waitangi – 03 February 2010

TVNZ – Tongan overstayers warned over immigration scam – 03 February 2010

By Eileen Gould
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – New Zealand immigration officials have warned Pacific Islanders that they may be the targets of a possible immigration scam.

Both Immigration New Zealand and the Ministry of the Pacific Island Affairs have advised Pacific people not to travel to Waitangi in order to gain New Zealand citizenship.

The immigration scam, according to the New Zealand Labour Department, promotes citizenship and residency to individuals who are unable to gain permanent status, also known as overstayers.

Overstayers are being promised citizenship if the Maori tribe (or hapu) adopts them.

It is expected that many overstayers will travel to Waitangi because they were told that in exchange for $1,000 they would be able to gain citizenship from Ngapuhi elder by being adopted into the hapu.

A Ngapuhi elder claims that Pacific peoples will be welcomed but there are no plans to grant them citizenship.

Earlier this week, One News broke the news of this alleged immigration scam.

Former Maori vice-president of the National Party, Rahiri Dargaville, labeled the Ngapuhi elder’s comments as ‘misleading’ and that there was no intention to grant Pacific people citizenship.

Mr. Dargaville further stated that “[p]olarizing such issues using the media is not in keeping with Ngapuhi customs and traditions”.

The Immigration department requested those who may have been subjected to the scam to be report it to the police.

In assessing the accuracy of information presented to Pacific people, the chief executive of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, Dr. Colin Tukuitonga, advised these individuals that its probably a scam if it sounds too good to be true.  “Only Immigration NZ or people licensed by them are able to issue permits.  Don’t give your money to a fraudster.”

In order to remain in New Zealand, Immigration NZ has the sole responsibility for the authorization of the visas.

Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman stated that “[a]doption into a hapu will not legally confer citizenship or residency upon anyone.”

Pacific people should be aware that individuals authorized to give advice on immigration in New Zealand must hold a license or be exempt from the license requirement under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act.

For more information please see:
Fiji Times Online – Warning over NZ immigration scam – 04 February 2010

New Zealand Herald – No plans to ‘adopt’ Tongan overstayers – Ngapuhi elder – 03 February 2010

Radio New Zealand – Overstayers told citizenship not available at Waitangi – 03 February 2010

TVNZ – Tongan overstayers warned over immigration scam – 03 February 2010

By Eileen Gould

Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

CANBERRA, Australia – The foreign ministers of Australia and New Zealand met with their Fijian counterpart, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, yesterday to discuss improving their relations. New Zealand minister, Murray McCully, and Australian minister Stephen Smith, met with Kubuabola to re-open communications amongst these countries, as they dissipated following diplomatic expulsions and Fiji’s suspension of democracy. Smith waived the travel ban that was imposed on members of the military regime in Fiji so that Kubuabola would be able to meet with them. The significance of the meeting was solely to initiate some sort of dialogue with Fiji. Smith indicated that “[i]t may well be that all we agree as a result of the meeting is to speak again in the future.” A statement from Fiji’s Ministry of Information said the meeting was positive and a step towards resolving issues of mutual importance to the three Pacific nations. A Fijian democracy group based in Sydney, Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement, is urging Australia and New Zealand to include those political parties that were ousted by the 2006 coup in any future discussions. Usaia Waqatairewa, a representative of the groups said, “It is good enough that they are sitting round the table talking because that is a first step towards something positive but at the same time the Australian and New Zealand governments should not compromise on asking these people, if they want to talk about constitutional changes, they have to include people who represent the voters of Fiji.  It[‘]s not going to be a sort of top-down decision that’s shoved down our throats so to speak.” Waqatairewa also mentioned that regarding human rights abuses or the travel ban on regime members and their families, the governments should not compromise. Both McCully and Smith indicated this discussion was not evidence of softening their approach towards the regime. The three Ministers also met last year at the United Nations in New York.

For more information please see:

Fiji Village – Positive talks between Ministers – 05 February 2010

New Zealand Herald – McCully in fresh talks with Fijian counterpart – 04 February 2010

Radio New Zealand International – Call for re-opened talks with the Fiji regime to include ousted political parties – 04 February 2010