Bainimarama Continues Filling Posts with Trusted Military Men

Interim Foreign Affairs Minister, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau said there has been no confirmation at this stage on who will become Fiji's new High Commissioner to Malaysia after reports surfaced that senior military officer, Colonel Pita Driti may take up the post. Ratu Epeli said announcements will be made in due course and there is no confirmed appointment.

• Meanwhile PACNEWS reports that the RFMF's Land Force Commander, Colonel Pita Driti has begun orientations for his new job at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Suva.
• PACNEWS also said that reporting to the Foreign Affairs Ministry with Colonel Driti was Lt Colonel, Mason Smith, who was Driti's Land Force Command Chief of Staff. Colonel Smith is reportedly joining Fiji's mission to the UN in New York.
• Military spokesperson, Major Neumi Leweni said the RFMF will not comment on the matter as these issues will be addressed by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
  

Bainimarama Expels New Zeland's Ambasador

WELLINGTON (AFP) - Fiji's military coup leader expelled the New Zealand ambassador on Thursday after accusing him of interference in the South Pacific island nation's internal affairs.
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New Zealand quickly warned there would be serious consequences from the decision and said there had been no reason for the "completely unacceptable" expulsion, which comes with Fiji's regime under pressure to restore democracy.

Voreqe Bainimarama, who seized power in Fiji with a bloodless coup in December, did not provide details about the allegations against ambassador Michael Green beyond saying he had meddled in the nation's affairs.

"The practice of quiet diplomacy was foremost, given all the chances to prevail by Fiji authorities in our efforts to seek understanding and cooperation of Mr Green to stop interfering," a statement from his office said. He said the decision had been made with "deep regret and reluctance."

Like other nations in the region, New Zealand has expressed criticism of Bainimarama's December 5 coup and urged him to hold new elections and restore democracy.

Reports in New Zealand said Bainimarama had been angered earlier this month when Green was guest of honour at a rugby match between New Zealand and Fiji.

The Rest @ Yahoo News

Austrailia Denies Visas to Soldiers Who Are Fiji Rugby Team Members

AUSTRALIA has banned the Fiji national rugby team's assistant manager and a key player from entering the country for Saturday's test against the Wallabies.The two have links to the Fiji military, which took power in a coup last year.

Manager Semi Rogoyawa and prop Alefoso Yalayalatabua, who serve in the Fijian navy, have been denied visas under travel sanctions imposed by Australia against members of the Fijian armed forces and their families.

"That is in accordance with Australia's travel restrictions on the Fiji military and other supporters of the coup," a spokesman for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

"Military personnel who are members of Fiji teams are covered by our policy on visas."

The Rest @ Adelaide Now

Qarase Alegedely Free To Travel

Deposed Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase is free to travel the High Court in Suva heard this morning. Qarase who is contesting the overthrow of his government by the military in December last year has been in exile in his village in the Lau Group for six months now.

He has not attended previous sessions of his litigation against military commander and interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama due to concerns that he would be detained under the Public Emergency Regulation if he came to Suva. Despite assurances by the authorities, the presiding judge-acting Chief Justice Anthony Gates today said while he acknowledges that the emergency regulations have been lifted, "unfortunately in Fiji it happens too often that when restraints are lifted, it is still enforced by ill-informed officers or individuals with extra zeal."

The Rest @ Fiji Live

Solid Waste Management Conference Next Week

NATIONAL Solid Waste Management will be the topic of discussions during a three-day workshop under way at Nadi this week.

The workshop, which is fully funded by the Japaneses International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and organised by the Department of Environment and the South Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP), was opened this morning by the acting interim Environment Minister, Adi Laufitu Malani.

The objectives of the workshop are to

• Introduce the Fukuoka Landfill Operation as used in Samoa;
• Develop a concept plan on the Western Region Landfill model;
• Highlight the importance of landfills for Solid Waste Management in Fiji and the region;
• Understand and design policies on Financing Waste in Fiji;
• Understand the operations of the Naboro Landfill;
• Understand the present solid waste management practices in Fiji and to present an overview of JICA's assistance towards Solid Waste Management in the Western Region.

The Rest @ Fiji Times

Interim Government Sacks Two law Firms

It's the State's right to protect itself from situations where privy information can be compromised says Fiji's Public Service Commission permanent secretary Taina Tagicakibau.

Tagicakibau said there are "chances that the information divulged to the law firms can be turned around and used against you".

She said that only these two law firms are affected. Howards lawyer Graham Leung is currently contesting the establishment of the Fiji Islands Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) that was established by the interim administration.

The Rest @ Fiji Live

Army Quit's Looking for Opposition Bloggers

Update: 10.34am THE military has decided it will stop hunting for the anti-military bloggers and stop its attempts at shutting down blog spots.

Colonel Pita Driti said they were no longer bothered or concerned by the blogs and had decided to ignore them.

However, he did say that if bloggers were eventually found they would be taken to the camp to be questioned.

The military was working with FINTEL last week in trying to shut down several of the anti-military blogs.

The action of the military has been condemned by international bloggers who have offered assistance to Fiji bloggers.

New Zealand bloggers called on their government to condemn in the strongest possible manner the action of the military.

The Rest @ Fiji Times.

Army Intimidating Lawyers

THE Fiji Law Society is worried the profession may be under threat if lawyers are detained by the military for representing their clients.

Society president Devanesh Sharma said this would lead to fear, intimidation and suppression of the bar.

Mr Sharma said the detainment of lawyers Kitione Vuataki and Ratu Savenaca Komaisavai last weekend was of great concern. He said freedom of the bar was an absolute necessity in every country.

The Rest @ Fiji Times

Fiji'a Banking System Profitable but Operating Without Competition

An Interesting Blog popped onto a blog promoting Fiji Investment. I can't vouch for the numbers, this appears to be a commercial site - definitely coming down on the Indo-Fijian side of recent political issues; But he presents some interesting Figures and allegations:

• The Reserve Bank of Fiji has announced a net profit of F$10.7 million for 2006
• 50% of such profits are paid to the Government Consolidated Fund
• Total assets grew by 10.6 per cent to $8.7billion in 2006
• In 2007, the economic growth is expected to decline by 2.5 per cent compared to an initial growth forecast of 2 per cent.
• Fiji does not currently have a purely competitive financial system.
• The banking industry is led by two major banks.
• Non-bank financial institutions are also very few thus affecting competition

Read here the entire series of articles on the Fiji Reserve Bank

The EU Cuts Sugar Prices, puts Fiji Economy at Risk

Fiji's Finance and Sugar Minister Mahendra Chaudhry delivered the warning on Tuesday night at an African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Ministerial meeting on sugar in Nadi.

The EU announced in late 2005 that it would slash sugar prices by 36 per cent over the next four years, threatening vital income to Pacific, African and Caribbean nations who have benefited from EU sugar subsidies.

EU funding to Fiji to help it cope with the cuts is also under threat following December's military coup.

The Rest @ The Sydny Morning Herald

The Fiji Military Forces is continuing talks with FINTEL to stop blog spots on the Internet which it claims are a threat to national security. Land Force Commander, Colonel Pita Driti says they are trying to close all anti military sites namely, Intelligentsia .com, Resistfrankscoup and Fijishamelist.

[I also note that every site I read regularly from fiji now requires an email registration and has an IP Address tracker on the page, so I can attest to this first hand]
-Lee

The Rest @ Fiji Live

Army to Redeploy to CheckPoints and Join Police

THE military has dispatch soldiers to almost every police station to help stamp out the rise in organised crime.

The development was triggered by the overwhelming calls from the community to re-install the army checkpoints in light of the recent spate of violent robberies.
Military spokesman Major Neumi Leweni said about four or five officers would be based at every police station around the country to help deter violent criminals.

The Rest @ Fiji Times

Fiji Invited by the US to attend Pacific Leaders Conference, Bainimarama Refused.

Interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the United States for allowing Fiji to participate in Pacific leaders conference in Washington this week.

Commodore Bainimarama was not invited to the meeting but Fiji will be represented by Interim Public Service Minister Poseci Bune and Permanent Secretary in the PM’s Office Parmesh Chand.

The Rest @ Fiji Live

Fiji Money Laundering

A very positive article follows. It shows just how [relativley] difficult it is to launder Money in Fiji. I'm sure it is going on, but on a Fiji Scale. If you read late in the full article you will see that they seem to have implemented USA PATRIOT Act-like measures.

-Lee

April 23, 2007 While Fiji is no longer being used as a conduit for money laundering, it however remains a money laundering destination, says Fiji Intelligence Unit head Razin Buksh.

This, he says follows a number of cases that Fiji has seen (with one conviction in 2005), or as a result of pending cases that it is currently being investigated, or is currently before the court, or is before the law enforcement agencies. "I am confidently saying that we are not just at the threat of money laundering but it is a reality in Fiji," he said.

The Rest @ Fiji Live

UN sends fact-finding mission to Fiji

Australian News.NetSaturday 21st April, 2007

A UN fact-finding Mission has been dispatched to Fiji because of Security Council's concerns about the situation there.Fiji fell to a military coup four months ago resulting in a sharp decline in the economy. The Security Council has called for a peaceful resolution and the restoration of democracy.

The fact-finding mission's objective is to gain a first hand assessment of the situation in Fiji through broad consultations with the interim authorities, representatives of all political parties and civil society. The Mission, which arrives in Fiji on Sunday, will also meet with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the resident diplomatic community.

The mission is being led by Mr. Jehangir Khan of the Department of Political Affairs and will include political and electoral experts as well as representatives from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNDP. Following its consultations in Fiji, the Mission will report its findings and recommendations to the Secretary-General.

The Rest @ Australia News.net

Typhoid Outbreak in North Fiji: Apprpriate Steps Taken

One person has died in the north while 65 others have been infected with the potentially deadly disease.

Acting Director Public Health Dr Josaia Samuela warned that the outbreak could easily hit the Central Division through infected people traveling from Vanua Levu to Viti Levu.
"Someone in the family diagnosed with typhoid travelling between the islands could easily pass it on,'' he said.

Dr Samuela said he was aware that this happened in 2005 when a patient from Savusavu transmitted the disease to an individual in Lami.

The Rest @ Fiji Times

Embasy Barriers Can Stay say Commodore Frank

Update: 12.55pm The security barriers outside the US embassy in Loftus Street can stay.
Interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama moments ago announced he had rescinded his order for them to be removed.

''Fiji shares the grief and sorrow which the Government and the people of the United States of America are going through as a result of the unfortunate and barbaric shootings at Virginia Tech University,'' he said.

''I feel and my heart goes out to the families of those who have died in the shootings as well as those who were injured,'' said Commodore Bainimarama.
''This tragedy has again driven home the fact that in this global environment, external threats to our national and personal security are very real. We all need to work together to make our lives safe.

The Rest @ Fiji Times

Bainimarama Bans the Meeting of the Great Council of Chiefs

The interim Government has suspended all meetings of the Great Council of Chiefs, saying it does not recognise it.

In reaction to the council's rejection on Wednesday of the nomination by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo of a Vice President, interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said all government resources within the council secretariat would now be re-directed to other government departments.

"The GCC will only be convened if, and when, the interim government sees it appropriate," he said.

The Rest @ The Fiji Times

Bainimarama Tweaking the Nose of the US

Update: 1.32pm INTERIM Prime Minister, Commander Voreqe Bainimarama said he will only engage with countries and parties that are genuinely committed to assisting Fiji in moving forward.

Commander Bainimarama's comment was to explain his refusal to meet the United States Assistant Secretary for State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Glyn Davies.

The rest @ the Fiji Times

American Embassy in Suva

THE security measures placed by the American Embassy on Loftus Street in Suva will be removed by the end of next week.

The directive by interim Prime Minister Commander Voreqe Bainimarama to the relevant ministries and authorities is in line with the withdrawal of military personnel from the various checkpoints and the relaxation of restrictions at those installations.

'Look at what they are doing here on our doorstep on Loftus Street. Somehow, they have ended up getting this whole street closed, thereby denying the taxpayers who have funded the construction of this road,'' Commander Bainimarama said.

Loftus Street has been cordoned off since the September 11 2001 bombing of the Twin Towers in New York.