WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Dr. Alumita Durutalo, a political scientist at the University of the South Pacific, says that returning Fiji to elections will not be the end to the political conflict.  Durutalo says the country has not completely resolved the political conflict since the first coup in 1987.  It was also suggested that instead of constantly pushing for Fiji to return to elections, Australia and New Zealand could help Fiji by helping to establish good political, social, and economic governance.

Durutalo elaborated on her position when she said, “What leaders have focused on is just going back to elections. That is good but we must remember that the nature of conflicts are so complex, some have evolved from the pre-European period, and that is why I say that we must look for solutions first before we carry on.”

For more information, please see:
Islands Business – Roots of Fiji conflict must be addressed for political stability, says academic – 30 September 2008

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Fiji’s President has rejected the National Federation Party’s request to shut down the interim government. Fiji’s prime minister says efforts to rebuild the country will not be weighed down by criticism.

The NFP is calling on President,  Ratu Josefa Iloilo, to promote democratic elections so that Fiji can reestablish a free and legitimate government. Pramod Rae, NFP general secretary, proposes that Fiji’s president create a “caretaker government” “with the sole objective of organizing free and fair elections under the provisions of the 1997 Constitution.”

Mr. Rae believes that, in rejecting the NFP’s request, the President was following advice from the interim Attorney General’s office.

Meanwhile, interim prime minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, has announced that the legality of the interim government is not what is important, but rather, the efforts to rebuild the nation.

Individuals and politicians alike have phoned in their concerns in an effort to gather support against the interim government’s politics.

The NFP’s management board meets today in Lautoka to draft a reply to the President.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Fiji’s president rejects calls to oust government – 05 October 2008

Fiji Times – No longer about legality: Interim PM – 05 October 2008

Fiji Live – Cabinet will stay, says Fiji President – 04 October 2008

By Ryan L. Maness
Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – As a United Nations delegation toured Fiji this week, interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama called upon the delegation to allow a greater role in the UN’s international peacekeeping efforts for Fiji’s peacekeeping soldiers.  Bainimarama said that Fiji’s forces had a “proud track record” for their involvement with UN peacekeeping.

However, Pacific Concerns Resource Centre has cautioned the UN to not grant Bainimarama’s request.  Organization spokesperson Ema Tagicakibau, said that the training  and confidence that Fiji’s forces have received from the UN have been employed in Fiji to allow the military to stage coups.  Referring to repeated allegations of police and military misconduct, the spokeswoman said, “”After all, a military force that terrorises and violates the rights of its own people and intervenes in political and democratic governance, has no business cleaning up the affairs of other nations.”

“The credibility of the UN will be at stake if it turns a blind eye to the fact that these professional peacekeepers are the very ones breaking the peace at home,”   Tagicakibau said.

For more information, please see:

FijiVillage – Reconsider Peacekeeping Role- PCRC – 01 October 2008

Fiji Times – UN told of coup cycle, peacekeeping link – 01 October 2008

By Ryan L. Maness
Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – As a United Nations delegation toured Fiji this week, interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama called upon the delegation to allow a greater role in the UN’s international peacekeeping efforts for Fiji’s peacekeeping soldiers.  Bainimarama said that Fiji’s forces had a “proud track record” for their involvement with UN peacekeeping.

However, Pacific Concerns Resource Centre has cautioned the UN to not grant Bainimarama’s request.  Organization spokesperson Ema Tagicakibau, said that the training  and confidence that Fiji’s forces have received from the UN have been employed in Fiji to allow the military to stage coups.  Referring to repeated allegations of police and military misconduct, the spokeswoman said, “”After all, a military force that terrorises and violates the rights of its own people and intervenes in political and democratic governance, has no business cleaning up the affairs of other nations.”

“The credibility of the UN will be at stake if it turns a blind eye to the fact that these professional peacekeepers are the very ones breaking the peace at home,”   Tagicakibau said.

For more information, please see:

FijiVillage – Reconsider Peacekeeping Role- PCRC – 01 October 2008

Fiji Times – UN told of coup cycle, peacekeeping link – 01 October 2008

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – New Zealand’s prime minister has announced that Fiji must establish a legitimate government committed to reform before relations with Fiji can be mended.

“The return of a legitimate government committed to advancing a process of reform and national reconciliation would allow us to start down the road of normalization and reconciliation,” said New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark.

Clark believes Fiji’s path to progress should start with the Pacific Islands Forum proposals held in Niue in August. Specifically, Clark suggests that Fiji’s interim government should strive to avoid isolation from the other Pacific communities.

While Clark admits that establishing a successful dialogue between stakeholders in Fiji would be difficult, she also is hopeful that “given goodwill and commitment on all sides, an inclusive and independent political dialogue process could generate outcomes acceptable to all.”

Despite many difficulties facing Fiji’s return to democratic rule, Clark has observed “widespread willingness” among leaders to find solutions, implement reform, and, most of all ,arrive at a reconciliation.

For more information, please see:
Fiji Village – Clark Calls On Fiji To Engage – 01 October 2008

Fiji Daily Post – Fiji -NZ relations depend on legitimate govt: Clark – 01 October 2008