SUVA, Fiji – Accusations of treason against top Fiji officials went unreported because, according to a Fiji Police spokeswoman, an investigating officer was unavailable to take down the complaints.

According to police, all allegations of treason will be filed with Police Commissioner Commodore Esala Teleni.

Among the top Fiji officials implicated, however, are Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Teleni. The allegations came from the ousted Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, as well as the former Opposition Leader, Mick Beddoes.

Qarase told Fiji Live, that he was asked to give his statement at the Raiwaqa Police Station, only to be “turned away because an investigating officer was not available.” Meanwhile, the police said that the matter did not warrant investigation.

“We haven’t received any update on that case for now. When we do receive the complaints, it will be forwarded directly to the commissioner’s desk and it will be filed, but as far as investigations are concerned, there will be none,” said police spokeswoman Ema Mua.

Teleni was reportedly out of the country on “unspecified official business.” Mua added that Teleni’s schedule is unpredictable, making his date of return to Fiji uncertain.

For more information, please see:
Pacific Magazine – Police Continue To Hold Off On Processing Treason Complaints – 14 September 2008

Fiji Live – Fiji treason files ‘only for top cop’ – 14 September 2008

GIZO, Solomon Islands – The Solomon Islands’ government has earmarked over two million US dollars for 3,000 tsunami victims still living in tents in Gizo after their homes were ruined in the 2004 tsunami.  Danny Kennedy, a Housing Relocation Committee member in Gizo, says Solomon Islands’ MP, Gordon Darcey Lilo, is withholding those funds.

“Every time the committee makes a decision and the papers are finalised there’s another issue that crops up,” says Mr. Kennedy.

Mr. Lilo rejects Mr. Kennedy’s claims, saying the money has not been released from the government in Honiara.  According to Mr. Lilo, “It’s still sitting in the treasury of Solomon Islands. The two main reasons are that there are some who have received money from NGO’s for housing funding assistance and they have already built their houses yet they also want to have assistance provided by the government. There’re people from other islands, just for the benefit of money made available for building houses, they just came in and put their names in. These are false claims.”

Mr. Lilo has said he hopes the funds will be released soon.

For more information, please see:

Radio New Zealand International – Solomon’s MP rejects claims of withholding tsunami funds – 12 September 2008

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

SUVA, Fiji – Despite the interim government describing ousted Prime Minister Lasenia Qarase’s allegations of treason as a political “gimmick”, several organizations have called for the civil complaint to be taken seriously.  These organizations which range from international non-governmental organizations to Fiji’s Human Rights Commission, express the sentiment that the letter of the law requires that the police investigate the allegations.

Dr. Shaista Shameem, chairperson of Fiji’s Human Rights Commission, said that just because the ousted PM filed the claim, that should not stop the police from investigating.  She also emphasized that Qarase’s right to file such a complaint is protected under Fiji’s Constitution.  However, unlike others who have weighed in on this issue, she does not believe that police commissioner Commodore Esala Teleni needs to step aside in order for the investigation to proceed.

The Pacific Centre for Public Integrity, which had previously called for police action, reiterated its call today with harsh language. Peter Waqavonovono, the organization’s campaigner, said that Teleni’s stance toward the treason allegation was “a slap in the face of the justice system and is a violation of the rights of citizens.” Waqavonovono added that the Attorney-General’s claim that an investigation could not be conducted due to the pending case of Qarase v. Bainimarama was “legally incorrect, and a blatant attempt to subvert justice.”

The Citizen’s Constitution Forum also added its voice to the chorus, with its director Reverand Akuila Yabaki saying that the law was clear that an investigation was appropriate

For more information, please see:
Fiji Daily Post – Treat complaint seriously: PCPI – 12 September 2008

FijiVillage – Teleni Should Allow Treason Investigations-CCF – 12 September 2008

Radio Australia  – Fiji police must investigate alleged treason: Commission – 08 September 2008

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga – Tonga’s announcement to reassert and expand its emergency police powers has drawn criticism and concern from Parliament members.

Nearly two years ago, the pro-democracy movement in Tonga turned violent, causing the death of eight and destroying Tonga’s capital city, Nuku’alofa. The riots erupted after the Legislative Assembly of Tonga adjourned for the year without employing promised reforms.

Following the 2006 violence, the government issued a 30 day state of emergency, and has since renewed those regulations on a monthly basis. The last state of emergency declaration was allowed to expire last month without renewal.

The new regulations grant significantly greater power to the Tongan government under the guise of emergency police powers. For example, Tongan police are now allowed to stop individuals, search them without a warrant, and even enter into and seize evidence from any vehicle, ship, or aircraft.

Prime Minister Feleti Sevele has justified these measures as necessary to combating the state of danger still existing in Nuku’alofa.

But pro-democracy MP, Clive Edwards, believes the new regulations constitute an abuse of the political process:

“It’s a selfish stupid motive that is behind it. And they are not to be questioned, not to be disputed in what they are doing and not to revert back to civil law and constitutional rule. We are being denied that because they want absolute power and we don’t have access to the TV and radio and things like that,” Edwards said.

The Tongan government, meanwhile, has issued a statement defending the new police powers as necessary “to preserve public order and secure the public’s safety for another month.”

For more information, please see:
ABC Radio New Zealand – Tonga reimposes emergency regulations – 10 September 2008

Radio New Zealand International –  Anger in Tonga after emergency police powers put back in place – 10 September 2008

AFP News Service – Tonga extends area under emergency powers – 10 September 2008

By Sarah E. Treptow

Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji — Police Commissioner Esala Teleni has said police would not investigate the treason complaint filed against interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and his government by the ousted prime minister, Laisenia Qarase and his Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party.  Mr. Qarase claims “the regime took an unlawful oath, aided and abetted and became benefactors of treason.”

Mr. Teleni made his decision not to investigate despite the police force’s no-drop policy on complaints.  Police Spokeswoman Ema Mua has said, “In this case, the no-drop policy is subjected to elements that are before the court and police will respect the judicial process.”

Two political parties have called on Mr. Teleni to step down from his post in order to allow investigations to proceed.  Peceli Kinivuwai, national director of the SDL party and opposition leader Mick Beddoes claims stepping down would be the honourable thing to do in the interest of police credibility, transparency and good governance.

Fiji’s Interim Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, says the move is a stunt.  Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum believes, “The complaint is a gimmick, it’s a stunt because Qarase and his lawyers are fully aware that the matters are before the courts; the matters before the courts involve the legality or otherwise of the interim government, which also involves the promulgations made by his excellency our President and go directly to the events prior to, on and after 5 December [2006].”

SDL laywer Niko Nawaikula reports that the police were being very cooperative and took down his clients’ complaint in great detail when it was filed with them.

The Fiji police is run by Fiji’s interim government and the police itself has come under scrutiny since the December 2006 coup.  Specifically, many international observers suspect that the police force is being used to seek the political ends of the interim government.

For more information, please see:

Fiji Times Online — Rejected — 09 September 2008

Fiji Times Online — Police hold back on treason claim probe — 08 September 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Fiji interim regime says a complaint of treason from the country’s ousted leader is a stunt — 08 September 2008