Pasific Week 8 Oct 2000
Posted 11th October 2000

FIJI'S BLUE CAMPAIGN OPENS WITH NEW WEBSITE

SUVA: A grand coalition of non-government organisations, business bodies and constitutional groups has opened a new website defending Fiji's 1997 constitutional framework and will launch a campaign on Tuesday. Fiji's Blue website will campaign for harmony and unity, social justice and the economic and social advancement of all communities in the Pacific country. A "Blue Day" of non-violent protest is planned to appeal to people of all political, religious and cultural affiliations. A statement by the organisers said the main objective of the campaign was a "speedy return to democracy within the framework of the 1997 constitution". "We call upon the business community and various government institutions, schools and every concerned citizen of Fiji - here and abroad - to stand out and show your support for the return to democracy within the framework of the 1997 constitution," the coalition said in a full-page advertisement in the Fiji Times on 7 October 2000. "Let us unite, hold hands and move forward to the future - Fiji for her diverse multiracial, multicultural nation working towards democracy within the framework of the 1997 constitution." Coalition members include: Citizens Constitutional Forum, Fiji Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Fiji-Australia Business Council, Fiji Council of Social Services, Fiji Employers Federation, Fiji Manufacturers Association, Fiji Trades Union Congress, Fiji Womens Crisis Centre, Fiji Women's Rights Movement, National Council of Women, Textile Clothing and Footwear Council of Fiji. Fiji's Blue website is at: www.fijisblue.com

LAW CRACKDOWN PLANNED ON UNIONS

SUVA: Fiji's military backed interim administration plans to impose draconian new laws to counter union efforts aimed at "sabotaging" the national economy with trade sanctions, according to news reports. The interim government will impose a new decree similar to the Public Emergency Regulations which came into force after the 1987 military coups. It would target people who "disrupt the peace or sabotage the economy". Attorney-General Alipate Qetaki said it would be legislation tailor-made for the "protection of Fiji and its people. "Cabinet decided on the new legislation on Tuesday and now we are looking at all policy issues," he was quoted in the Sunday Times as saying. The government would promulgate the new decree to prevent activities that can lead to the sabotage of the country's economy which would be detrimental to the people of the country, the paper said. It is undestood that the legislation would cover individuals and trade union movements in a bid to curtail imposition of smart sanctions or calls for democracy as quickly as possible. Political parties and trade union organisations have hit out at the new legislation, saying it will not work. Fiji Trade Union Congress general secretary Felix Anthony told the Sunday Times any moves to block fundamental rights would be opposed. "We will fight any moves to to curtail people's fundamental rights. This type of legislation will not help at all," he said.

THREATENED JOURNALIST REASSURED OVER FAMILY HONIARA:

Threatened Solomon Islands journalist Duran Angiki has been personally reassured of his family's safety by Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) spokesman Andrew Nori, according to media sources. He was given that assurance by Nori during a telephone conversation on 1 October 2000 before the MEF lawyer called a media conference the following day to deny that threats had been made against 32-year-old Angiki and his family who live in the western town of Gizo. However, media sources told Pacific Media Watch that several threats had been made against Angiki and his family through intermediaries on September 27 and 28. It is understood that Angiki stands by his reports. He had been accused by the militia of being "anti-MEF, anti-Malaita, supporter of IFM [the rival Isatabu Freedom Movement of Guadalcanal]" On October 3, the regional news cooperative Pacnews reported Nori denying media reports that he had threatened Angiki and his family. "I deny these allegations. At no time have I made any telephone calls to any journalists, including Angiki or any member of his family issuing threats against them," he was quoted by Pacnews as saying, citing a Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) report.

The Pacnews report quoted Nori as saying Angiki had rang him last Thursday [September 28] upon learning from other sources that his life and that of members of his families might be at risk. "Nori said during their telephone conversation, he advised Angiki about the 'dangers of making provocative, sensational and false statements' on the current crisis, especially when [Nori] was labouring to bring members of MEF to the negotiation table to restore peace in the Solomon Islands. "He admitted telling the journalist about allegations in Angiki's reports that the government had paid him SOL$1 million (US$201,446) for work done for the MEF. He said the allegations were false," reported Pacnews. "Nori also admitted charging the government SOL$300,000 (US$60,433) for his advisory role to the MEF. He denied charging fees for preparing submissions for displaced Malaitans." On October 2, Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) released a statement on the IFEX media freedom action alert network claiming "[Nori] said he also spoke to Angiki about what Nori called 'absolutely false' statements reporting that he is charging the Solomon Islands government one million SOL dollars for work he is doing." Both the SIBC and PINA reports misrepresented what the Angiki article alleged. The article referred to an alleged payment of SOL$113,000 as part of a "claim" for a total amount of one million SOL dollars. The SIBC reported that clause 11 of the ceasefire agreement obligates the government to pay for professional law services of both the MEF and IFM. Angiki is an experienced independent Solomon Islands journalist and last year won the University of the South Pacific's Storyboard Award for regional journalism.

* BACKGROUND:

Nori held a media conference on October 2 but did not communicate with the various media and human rights monitoring groups which reported the allegations. In mid-September, gunmen threatened and attacked prominent people who had called for civil society to be allowed to play a role in the peace process, and who had publicly opposed a blanket amnesty for those involved in the conflict, which has left more than 100 people dead, according to Amnesty International. One outspoken person calling for civil society to be given an active role in the talks was Matthew Wale, a manager from Malaita island. His family was attacked at home by gunmen, believed to be MEF members, on the night of September 8. His cousin was severely beaten, and the gunmen stole valuables, in an apparent punishment attack for Matthew Wale's role in a Solomon Islands Christian Association organised "National Peace Conference" Following the conference, MEF members also threatened the director of the University of the South Pacific Centre, Julian Treadaway, for his plans to hold a public forum to discuss the proposed amnesty. MEF gunmen also reportedly threatened to burn down the university centre. Amnesty International remains concerned about the situation in the Solomon Islands.

The MEF is a paramilitary group supported by sections of the police. In June it led a coup, forcing the Prime Minister to resign and the Parliament to form a new government. The new Prime Minister promised to consider an amnesty for armed groups involved in the conflict, as an incentive for a ceasefire. Since then, civil society groups and journalists, who have warned against the idea of a blanket amnesty for paramilitary groups that have committed human rights abuses, have increasingly been threatened or attacked by MEF, according to Amnesty International (see UA 282/00, ASA 43/08/00, 13 September 2000). The human rights organisation says all sides to the ethnic conflict have been responsible for human rights violations, and so far there has been almost complete impunity for those responsible.

OUTRIGHT REJECTION SUVA:

Fiji's two main Hindu movements have agreed to sack members and relinquish all association with the organisations if they join or support the controversial Constitution Review Commission, the Fiji Sun reports. The movements reiterated that they would continue to pressure all Indo-Fijians into disassociating themselves from the review team, to be headed by University of the South Pacific academic Professor Asesela Ravuvu. The military installed interim administration has since last week claimed that four members of the Indo-Fijian community have agreed to join the review commission after being approached. The names will be announced by the end of the week together with a representative of the general voter population, according to the newspaper. The Fiji Sun understands that some former members of Parliament have been approached to join the review commission. When contacted yesterday, a "renowned figure" in the Indo-Fijian community refused to comment, saying "there was nothing official yet" and that "it should only come from the top".

During a meeting held at Tavua last Saturday, the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji decided to sever ties with anyone who supported the drawing up of a new constitution. Sabha president Kamlesh Arya said he believed no self-respecting Indian would want to be part of the review team. "Judging by the way things are going, it seems that at the end of the day everybody, except indigenous Fijians and Rotumans, will be disenfranchised," Arya said. "We don't know who these Indo-Fijians are but if they have consented then they certainly do not represent the Indian people." Arya said that if indigenous Fijians had grievances, it should have been done through the framework of the 1997 constitution. Shri Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha's national president, Harish Sharma, expressed similar sentiments, reports the Fiji Sun. Sharma said he had predicted that some Indo-Fijians, despite discouragement, would join the review commission. "During my submissions to the ACP fact-finding team, I stated that the new constitution would be like the 1990 constitution and there would be some Indians who would shamelessly join the review panel," Sharma said. "These stooges who do not represent the Indo-Fijian community but the interim government will claim otherwise." Sharma said his organisation would also relinquish association with members who intended to join the review process.

Earlier, United General Party spokesperson Mick Beddoes had called on general voters (all races other than Indo-Fijians, indigenous Fijians and Rotumans) not to accept invitations to join the commission. Beddoes said both the UGP and rival General Voters Party (GVP) could not participate because the parties needed to widely consult members. This was diffificult because of the restrictions under martial law on political meetings and the curfew hours. * The commission said it would name the final 12 members this week. It is expected to start work next week to pave the way for the next general elections scheduled for 2002. A report by the commission is expected by next August. .

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