By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

WELLINGTON, New Zealand– New Zealand politicians are criticizing the United Nations for using Fiji’s troops for peacekeeping, claiming they are propping up the military regime.  Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, said the UN was assisting the military regime that has stripped citizens of rights and shut down freedom of speech.  Mr. McCully explained, “They sustain the interim regime both in terms of credibility and in terms of cash.”

Foreign affairs spokesman of the Green Party, Keith Locke, said, “The UN is helping fund Fiji’s military rulers by continuing to recruit Fijian military personnel for peacekeeping missions.”  Mr. Locke said there are 282 Fijian troops currently involved in peacekeeping missions, a number that has remained about the same since before the coup in 2006.

Mr. Locke continued, “It is deeply ironic that Fiji is involved in rebuilding Iraq.  Fiji’s military is more about destroying democracy than restoring it.”

He has also called on New Zealand to pressure other nations, such as the United States and Britain, to act on the issue.  Many former Fijian soldiers work for the United Kingdom and United States private security firms, and there are more than 2,000 Fijians serving with the British Army.

Phil Goff, New Zealand Opposition leader and former minister of foreign affairs and defense, also wants to pressure Britain and the United Nations to stop employing Fijian soldiers.  Mr. Goff says that after the latest developments in Fiji more pressure must be applied.

“It’s absolutely inappropriate to have Fijian peacekeepers trying to bring good governance in other countries in the world when the Fiji [military] has overthrown democratic governance in Fiji.  If the UN made that decision to send the Fijian peacekeepers home immediately that would impact very seriously on the military,” Mr. Goff said.

Mr. Goff says the same should apply to the Fijians in the British military.

For more information, please see:

3 News – NZ politicians criticise UN for using Fiji troops – 15 April 2009

New Zealand Press Association – NZ Politicians Criticise UN For Using Fiji Troops – 15 April 2009

Radio New Zealand International – NZ opposition leader calls for UK and UN  to stop employing Fiji soldiers – 20 April 2009

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Fiji’s interim government will begin appointing new judges today after Fiji President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, abrogated Fiji’s constitution and dismissed judicial members on April 10th.

A new decree has established the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, the High Court and other courts as necessary. This decree has made it possible for a chief justice to be sworn in, as well as other judiciary members.

In addition, Fiji’s President has been given the power to establish the appointment of the Chief Magistrate, Master of the High Court, and other officers.

But there is growing concern over the new court system’s independence.

The new decree has eliminated the President of the Law Society from the group that decides the judicial appointments.

The head of the Law Society, Dorsami Naidu, believes that this decree will make it more likely that interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama will choose judges who are only sympathetic to his position.

For more information, please see:
Fijilive – Fiji courts take shape today – 20 April 2009

Radio New Zealand International – New judges to be appointed in Fiji – 20 April 2009

Radio New Zealand International – Fiji’s interim government will today begin to appoint country’s new judges – 19 April 2009

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – The re-confirmed interim regime has decreed that Fiji’s retirement age is now 55.  The regime has ordered that any public servant over the age of 55 who is still working must retire by April 30, 2009.  The age applies to everyone in the civil service, the Fiji Police Force, and the Fiji Prisons Service.  The decree exempts top civil servants such as the Commander of the Military Forces, the Commissioner of Police and Auditor General, who shall retire at 65.

New Zealand Public Service Association national secretary, Richard Wagstaff, has said it is a “deplorable” move that discriminates against age and breaches fundamental human rights.

The retirement age in Fiji has always been left at 60, though Bainimarama had ordered the age reduced to 55 soon after the coup in December of 2006.  The decision was taken to court where the reduction to 55 was upheld.  The Court of Appeals then stayed the decision, effectively keeping the age at 60.  This new decree wipes out that Court of Appeals decision.  The decree also abolished the Public Service Appeal Board.

The government claims the decree was made to cut Government spending in Fiji’s rapidly shrinking economy.

For more information, please see:
Islands Business – Retirement reset at 55 and appeals scrapped – 15 April 2009

Radio New Zealand International – Fiji regime decrees retirement age is 55 – 15 April 2009

Fijilive – Fiji retirement age fixed on 55 – 16 April 2009

The New Zealand Herald – Fiji slashes retirement age in bid to cut costs – 17 April 2009

Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – The Pacific Islands Forum chairman has stated that Fiji’s military regime is a threat to the region’s stability and must return to democratic rule as soon as possible.

Toke Talagi, Forum chairperson and Niuean Premier, has recommended that Pacific leaders force Fiji to set a date for elections ahead of the previously imposed May 1st deadline.

In addition, Talagi has condemned the recent abrogation of Fiji’s constitution and the reappointment of several Fiji ministers including interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

Talagi says that such action is in contradiction to the Court of Appeal’s ruling last week, declaring the 2006 military coup led by Bainimarama illegal.

According to Talagi, Fiji’s military regime now poses a serious threat to the region’s stability.

“It is our belief that Fiji poses a real threat in terms of the stability of the region and we’d like Fiji to go back to democratic rule as quickly as possible. This is not withstanding the fact that the military regime has influenced the president to state that they won’t hold elections for the next five years,” Talagi said.

If the Pacific Islands Forum suspends Fiji from the group, Talagi says the Forum will still support the people of Fiji and offer what assistance it can.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Fiji military actions threaten regional stability, says Pacific Forum chair – 15 April 2009

ABC News – Pacific Islands Forum head says Fijian expulsion likely – April 15 2009

Sydney Morning Herald – Pacific bloc leader attacks Bainimarama – 15 April 2009

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – The Fiji interim regime has ordered the reporter of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Sean Dorney, to leave Fiji immediately because they are unhappy with his reporting.  Mr. Dorney was contacted by information ministry officials after he reported the absence of political news from newspapers which have been subjected to new censorship since the constitution was abrogated.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith has urged Mr. Dorney not to take any unnecessary risks.  Mr. Smith said, “He should follow the request or the instruction of the Fiji authorities however so obnoxious he might regard those to be, because they are impinging upon his capacity to do his job as a journalist.”  Mr. Dorney has said he much prefers to be on a plane than in the military barracks.

The government has also arrested and begun proceedings to deport a television journalist, Edwin Nand.  Mr. Nand’s detention is based upon Fiji TV’s transmission of reports of the detention and deportation of Mr. Dorney to overseas news services.  The interim regime says such transmissions are now illegal.  A New Zealand television reporter and cameraman are also facing deportation.

Journalists in Fiji have been told not to publish or broadcast stories that present the reinstatement of the military government in a negative light, and police censors are now in newsrooms across Suva to check on the stories intended to be run.  The Permanent Secretary for Information has been given almost total control over what is printed or broadcast in Fiji.  The penalty under the Emergency Regulations for not obeying may be an order to cease all activities and operations.

Commodore Bainimarama says he hopes everyone will follow the restrictions.

For more information, please see:
Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Fiji virtually a military dictatorship: Rudd – 12 April 2009

Austalian Broadcasting Corporation – Fiji cops backlash over media crackdown – 13 April 2009

Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Fiji begins process to deport ABC’s Dorney – 13 April 2009

Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Fijian journalist arrested as Dorney awaits deportation – 13 April 2009

Radio New Zealand International – Austalian reporter to be deported from Fiji – 13 April 2009