By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

NUKUALOFA, Tonga– A group of more than 50 women has started lobbying for a greater voice in Parliament.  The group wants a quota of 30 percent political representation and has started a campaign to gather support to begin the quota under the new system of government being developed for 2010.  Betty Blake of the Catholic Women’s League says the group believes mixed political decision-making would lead to a more prosperous economy.  Ms. Blake said, “We feel that women have a place, they have a lot to say.  They can contribute to the development of our country economically, socially, and any other aspects of life.”  She reports that half of the male MPs support the proposal, with one objection being the possibility of all women MPs taking maternity leave at the same time.

Polotu Fakafanua Paunga from the Women’s Affairs Division of the Ministry of Education said the primary objective of today’s consultation meeting was to discuss their proposal that will be submitted before the deadline on February 23.  He said the next step will be to draft the written submission and gather signatures.  A follow-up meeting will be held next week.  The Electoral Commission requires signed submissions from the public be made by a group of at least 200 people over 21 years of age.

Only five women have entered the Tongan Parliament since 1975, including the first woman appointed as Cabinet Minister, Hon ‘Alisi Taumoepeau.

For more information, please see:

Pacific Islands Report – Tongan Women Seek Better Representation in Parliament – 16 February 2009

Radio New Zealand International – Tongan women lobby for 30% representation in Parliament – 16 February 2009

Solomon Star News – Tongan women lobby for 30% representation in Parliament – 17 February 2009

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Fiji’s interim Attorney Generals says that, before the President’s Dialogue Forum convenes, the interim government should hold a second political dialogue meeting to discuss the agenda and terms of reference to be discussed at that Forum.

Interim Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, called for this second meeting during his discussions with a joint technical team made up of representatives from the United Nations and Commonwealth. Last week, the joint team traveled to Fiji to conduct a fact-finding mission on the country’s political situation.

Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum says his discussions with the joint team included the scope of issues to be discussed at the impending President’s Dialogue Forum.

The interim Attorney General also says that interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, is eager to use the Forum to better assess political opinions among Non-Governmental Organizations as well as civil society groups.

FijiLive reports that the second political dialogue is scheduled for the first or second week of March.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Fiji’s interim administration says second political dialogue meeting to be held in March – 15 February 2009

FijiTimes – Our last chance – 10 February 2009

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Commodore Frank Bainimarama says he did not overthrow the Qarase government in 2006 to seize power and remain in control.  He made it known to the Vice President of China Xi Jinping during a meeting that the military will only stay in power until all of its objectives are achieved.

Bainimarama explained, “The military, essentially assumed control of the Government with clear objectives to eliminate corruption, racial discrimination policies and practices, and to bring about necessary reforms in the area of public service, governance as well as the electoral system in an effort to build a better and more progressive Fiji.”

Bainimarama said Fiji will return to a system of parliamentary democracy, “the timing of which will be determined by the people of Fiji alone.”

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Jone Baledrokadroka, the former commander of the Fiji military land force says the military will remain a part of Fiji’s political landscape.  Baledrokadroka said the Government has been militarized at all levels, from ministerial positions to permanent secretaries in all departments.  He continued, “They’ve put people all over our Government. Now they’re talking about municipal councils. So it seems they have a plan to be in power.”

Fiji’s National Federation Party general secretary, Pramod Rae, says Fiji’s people are sick of uncertainty, so it is incumbent that the interim regime commits to a return to parliamentary democracy.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Fiji’s NFP says Forum 2009 deadline achievable – 10 February 2009

Islands Business – Military not power hungry: Bainimarama – 11 February 2009

Pacific Islands Report – Former Fiji Commander Says Military ‘To Stay’ – 12 February 2009

Fiji Times – ‘Hidden agenda’ in army call-up – 12 February 2009

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Auditor General Eroni Vatuloka has said an investigation report into a payout of $184,740 to interim PM Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama will be ready by the end of February.  The payout was reportedly for leave he said he was owed in 1978.  Mr. Vatuloka normally reports directly to Parliament, who would then make the report public.  However, under the interim regime, the reports have gone to the interim finance minister.  Currently the interim finance minister is Bainimarama.

Mr. Vatuloka began investigations in to the payout in July when the payout was made public.  Bainimarama was back-paid for 698 days, totaling $20,406.71.  At the time Bainimrama referred all questions to the army chief-of-staff, Colonel Mohammed Aziz.  Colonel Aziz denied it was a payout and said 40 officers who were seconded since the 2006 coup received similar treatment.  He said it was unfortunate Bainimarama was not paid the money until he was interim Prime Minister.

Professor Wadan Narsey has expressed concerns over the lack of transparency of Fiji’s interim government.  Narsey said, “A terribly loud question has to be asked: Why are our corporate bodies, our senior accounting firms, and our employers’ federations not demanding that the Auditor General and the Interim Government must release the audit reports to the public?”

It is unclear at this point whether the final auditor’s report will be made public.

For more information, please see:
Fiji Times – PM Audit – 10 February 2009

Fiji Times – Audit report not for public – 10 February 2009