NADI Fiji — During last year’s Pacific Island Forum interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama laid out his commitment to returning democratic elections to Fiji by 2009.  Many international observers, notably Australia and New Zealand, have come to question that commitment, particularly in light of the interim government’s insistence that the People’s Charter must be completed before democratic elections can be held. 

On Thursday, however, the interim PM met with the prime ministers of Papua New Guinea and Tonga in secret to reaffirm his commitment to restoring elections.  While the meeting itself and the agenda were kept secret, interim Finance Minister Parmesh Chand described the meeting as “a friendly meeting among leaders”.  Bainimarama told the Pacific leaders that he is planning to have the elections go ahead as planned in March.  Tongan PM Dr. Fred Sevele told Radio Australia, “Sure, there have been some delays in achieving some of the deadlines for some of the activities, but now things are moving and we are reassured.”

The leaders also reportedly discussed the upcoming Pacific Island Forum, which will be held in August at Niue. 

For more information, please see:
Mathaba News Network — Pacific leaders meet in secret talks with Fiji interim PM — 12 April 2008

Fijilive — ‘Bainimarama reaffirmed march polls’ — 13 April 2008

Pacific Magazine — Fiji, Tonga, and PNG Leaders Meet in Nadi — 12 April 2008

Solomon Times — Quiet Meet in Fiji for Three — 12 April 2008

NOUMEA, New Caledonia — On Thursday, New Caledonian police had to forcibly remove activists from barring the entry to more than two dozen businesses. The pro-independence union members were protesting their right to strike after several members were punished for aiding prior work stoppages.

The protest stems from a clash in January between union members representing New Caledonia’s indigenous Kanak population, USTKE, and police. USTKE members had refused to leave an area of publically owned land next to the bus depot. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up the strike. Roughly 30 people, including police officers, were injured in the scuffle. Union members involved may face jail sentences for their participation.

Thursday’s strike affected some 2,000 workers. Employers are denouncing the strike, claiming the protesters had been involved in illegal industrial action. Strikers firmly hold, however, that the ability to strike is a constitutional right. One protester argued that New Caledonians are still French citizens, and should, thus, be allowed to hold organized strikes.

USTKE has organized about 10 general strikes this year alone. 

For more information, please see:
ABC News: Australia — New Caledonian police forcibly remove striking workers — 11 April 2008

Radio New Zealand International — USTKE strike shuts down New Caledonia businesses — 10 April 2008

Radio New Zealand International — New Caledonia union action broken up by police — 10 April 2008

SUVA, Fiji — Seventeen protesters were arrested yesterday outside of the Chinese Embassy in Fiji during a protest against Chinese human rights violations in Tibet.  The protest was organized by members of FemLink Pacific, Fiji’s Women’s Rights Movement, it’s Crisis Centre, and the Fiji AIDS Taskforce.  Among the seventeen people who were detained were a number of well known Fijian activists including human rights commissioner, Shameema Ali, academic Claire Slatter, Edwina Kotoisuva from the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, and a number of other well known activists in Fiji. 

While the interim government says that the protesters were arrested for not having a permit to assemble, Shameema Ali says that her members did not break the law by engaging in a peaceful protest.  Describing the protest, Ali said, ” Sitting in two and three at a time – no protesting and nothing serious at all, we have T-shirts which have Fiji-Tibet support group, and that’s all no words spoken, Free Tibet.”

The coordinator of FemLink Pacific said today that, despite yesterday’s arrests, their group would continue to protest Chinese human rights violations and Fiji’s interim government’s support for the Chinese government.  Those who were detained have now been released as of this writing.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International —  Fiji peace vigil group set to defy regime — 11 April 2008

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited — Peace vigil show of support — 11 April 2008

Radio Australia — Tibet rights activists arrested in Fiji — 10 April 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Fiji police arrest women protesting over Tibet outside Chinese embassy — 10 April 2008

Radio Australia — Fiji police release anti-China protesters — 10 April 2008

By Ryan Maness
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji — The National Council for Building a Better Fiji and the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progess are at the foremost of Fijian politics today.  Amid the calls by foreign governments for Fiji to return to democratic elections, the interim government has insisted that before elections can take place underlying social and political problems must be addressed.  In order to address these problems the National Council was set up and the People’s Charter was announced.   In the last week, however, both the Council and the Charter have showed signed of progress, but also signs that difficult times may lie ahead.

Among the encouraging signs was the announcement by technical and support secretariat director John Samy who said that the was on schedule to be finalized before the end of this year.  Currently, the Council plans to have the People’s Charter completed by October and this date can only be changed if the the national council feels that it is necessary to do so.  In order to help bring about a national consensus on the Charter, the Council has also begun a national campaign to reach out to citizens in towns and villages across Fiji in order to explain the political and economic changes that have occurred in the last thirty years.  By explaining these differences, the Council also hopes to receive input from the people regarding how the citizenry wishes to have the government lead.

However, the progress of the Council is not without bumps in the road.  Five member of the Council all expressed similar sentiments today that the media should assist the Council in spreading news regarding the efforts of the Council.  Jokapeci Koroi, Desmond Whiteside Rajesh Kumar, Dewan Chand Maharaj and Lorraine Tevi all told reporters that they want the message of the People’s Charter to be spread on a grass roots level.  Committeeman Whiteside said that members of the Council’s working committees could not be relied upon to accurately relay information to the whole of the People and that the media will allow the People to hear what is being proposed and allow them to respond with what they want. 

There are also those, including deposed PM Lasenia Qarase, who have come to question the financial structure of the Council.  He has called upon the Council to publicly announce their budget sheets and spending reports in order that the interim government can live up to its promise to restore fiscal responsibility to the Fijian government.  Among the efforts that has raised eyebrows is a music video (viable below) commissioned by the Council, which depicts a man singing about the need for Fiji’s leaders to find a new way forward. 

The Council itself has said that it will not make these financial disclosures and that, in fact, it may be forced to ask for more money.  While recognizing that the cost benefit factor is important, Committeeman Whiteside said, “We have the opportunity right now to change that. If we get it right, we will be the model around the world. The cost will be immeasurable.”

 

For more information, please see:

 Fiji Times — Samy sets date for People’s Charter — 09 April 2008

Radio New Zealand International — National Council for Building a Better Fiji says it may need more funding from donors — 08 April 2008

Fijilive — NCBBF seeks media support — 08 April 2008

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited — Media urged to assist NCBBF — 08 April 2008

Fiji Village — NCBBF Launches State of the Nation Document — 08 April 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Ousted Fiji PM calls for accountability of interim regime — 03 April 2008

Fijilive — NCBBF tight lipped on funds — 08 April 2008

YAREN, Nauru — Yesterday, Nauru’s Supreme court declared an amendment passed in a controversial Parliamentary session two weeks ago illegal. The amendment would have ousted two key Cabinet Ministers and given the Opposition party a majority in Parliament.

On Easter Saturday, Parliament Speaker and Opposition member, David Adeang, called a Parliamentary session without notifying the Government. With three members out of the country and the electricity disconnected, Mr. Adeang gathered mostly Opposition members to amend the Citizen Act. Although the meeting lacked a quorum, the amendment would force two of Nauru’s senior Cabinet Ministers out of office for having dual citizenship.

President Marcus Stephen stated that Foreign Minister, Dr. Kieren Keke, and Finance Minister, Frederick Pitcher would not be disqualified from their positions. Mr. Adeang subsequently accused the President of seeking to stage a Parliamentary coup.

On Monday, Chief Justice Robin Millhouse of the Supreme Court declared the impromptu Parliament session illegal and all rules decided at the meeting, thus, void.

Mr. Adeang believes the Court’s decision effectively overturns 40 years of Parliament practices in Nauru. Meanwhile, President Stephen has praised the Supreme Court, calling the holding a stabilizing influence on Nauru’s government.

For more information, please see:
ABC News: Australia — Nauru judge blocks citizenship law change — 08 April 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Nauru speaker at odds with Supreme Court ruling — 08 April 2008   

Radio New Zealand International — Nauru Government says Court has ruled that Speaker acted unconstitutionally — 07 April 2008