Michael Field
Six days after announcing the end of martial law, Fiji dictator Voreqe Bainimarama has came up with a new military decree controlling public order.
In the face of severe international criticism, Bainimarama on New Year’s Day announced his three year old Public Emergency Regulations (PER) would be lifted tomorrow.
Today he unveiled a military decree amending the country’s Public Order Act.
That act passed in 1969 ahead of Fiji’s independence so that any dissent could be controlled during the transition period.
Bainimarama said he was modernising it to provide stability.
“This modernization is necessary to effectively address matters such as terrorism, offences, offences against public order and safety racial and religious vilification, hate speech and economic sabotage," he said.
Since seizing power in 2006, Fiji has had no parliament and all laws are set up a military council through decrees.
Bainimarama said he imposed martial law in 2009 to bring stability. He did not say that this occurred because the country’s Court of Appeal had declared his government illegal and as a result he scrapped the constitution.
"We have sought to empower Fijians, modernise our country and strengthen our economy. We have sought to rid our institutions of behaviour and practises that discriminate - that spread prejudice and misinformation."
Bainimarama attacked the Fiji Times, the country’s biggest daily, and Fiji TV, saying they had shown “outright bias” against him.
This was why PER included censorship.
“Media is undoubtedly powerful. Personal, political and racial agendas can be allowed to take precedence behind the facade of a free press."
Bainimarama has retained the right to keep people in detention for up to 14 days without being taken before court.
"Know that we will not tolerate an iota of disruption to the peace, safety and stability and common citizenship we now enjoy. I caution those individuals and organisations who intend to abuse these freedoms, as they have done previously."
The new decree deals with a wide range of public gatherings and public order.
It also outlaws malicious rumour and inciting racial antagonism.
His move to scrap martial law will end the role of military censors in newsrooms from tomorrow, but Bainimarama has set up a Media Industry Development Authority which has strong powers over all Fiji media.
The authority’s deputy chairman Matai Akauola says they will be monitoring news items in print, broadcast and television media.
“We should be glad that censors are being removed but in saying that, we are not out of the woods yet,” he said.
“It is just that according to the goodwill of … Bainimarama the PER has been removed.
“In removing the PER, the democratic process hasn’t kicked in yet. … The democratic process will only be up and running when we have general elections in 2014. From now until then, whilst the PM has announced the removal of PER, for the media, it is a matter of adhering to the code of ethics,” he said.
Fiji's Public Order Act 1969
6 January 2012
- INTELLIGENT RESISTANCE -
Free. Fair. Fearless. Intelligentsiya is made up of Fiji Islanders who are libertarians in their own way and who cherish the free flow of news, ideas and information and will peacefully resist any attempts by the country's military rulers to stifle free speech. intelligentsiya will also bear witness, report and discuss human rights abuses by the authorities.
January 06, 2012
January 02, 2012
Michael Field: Top NZ lawyer heading to Fiji over jailed grandmother
Michael Field
Prominent Auckland QC Peter Williams is heading to Fiji to act for a 74-year-old grandmother who is in military regime custody and will face charges that she tried to overthrow dictator Voreqe Bainimarama.
Her detention since Friday coincided with Bainimarama yesterday announcing he would on Saturday end martial law imposed over two years ago when the country’s Court of Appeal ruled that his 2006 coup was illegal.
On Friday the police seized businesswoman and former MP Dr Mere Samisoni and three others.
They have been interrogated in custody, without lawyers, since then.
This afternoon the military regime said Samisoni, Mataiasi Ragigia, Apete Vereti and Semisi Lasike would be charged “with the offence urging political violence,” contrary to a military decree passed in 2009.
“The four, between the months of September and December 2011, in Suva in the Central Division intentionally conspired to overthrow by force of violence the Government of Fiji,” the Ministry of Information said this afternoon.
“They are to appear at the Suva Magistrate Court tomorrow morning."
Williams, who has a 50-year record of involvement in New Zealand criminal courts and acted for some of the biggest names in court history, left for Fiji this afternoon to act for Samisoni.
Her British based family fear the grandmother of 11 would be one of the last to be prosecuted under martial law.
Samisoni, who founded the popular 30-store Hot Bread Kitchen chain before turning to politics where she won the Lami Open ward for the party of prime minister Laisenia Qarase, has been held in Suva's infamous Central Police Station over the long New Year's weekend.
Daughter Vanessa Charters, speaking on the family's behalf, said they had been told that Dr Samisoni had allegedly made a confession.
“At this moment in time we aren’t sure what this alleged confession relates to but we do know for a fact, we have had it independently verified, that mum's lawyer was not present at the time of this so-called confession,” she said.
Yesterday in an address to the nation Bainimarama said the lifting of the Public Emergency Regulation on January 7 would lead the way to a discussion on a new constitution – the fourth since independence in 1970.
Martial law, introduced in April 2009, banned any public meetings and imposed tight censorship on all media. It gave the military and police to detain people for days without charge and in some cases to take people to the military barracks near Suva where they where physically and mentally abused.
Bainimarama gave no details of what will replace martial law, but in the case of the media the regime has already created a state controlled media council with tough powers to control what is printed.
Bainimarama, who seized power in a military coup in 2006, says he will hold elections in 2014.
He claimed that the existing voting system was racially based with indigenous Fijians having greater voting power than the ethnic Indians who make up around 35 percent of the 900,000 people.
He said Fiji had been mismanaged and hindered by greed and selfishness.
“You and I must not allow a few to dictate the destiny of our country for their own selfish needs,” he said.
He warned features of a new constitution will be non-negotiable.
“The constitution must establish a government that is founded on an electoral system that guarantees equal suffrage – a truly democratic system based on the principle of one person, one vote, one value.
“We will not have a system that will classify Fijians based on ethnicity….”
Consultation would begin next month: “To facilitate this consultation process, the Public Emergency Regulations will cease from 7 January 2012.”
Under martial law people are not allowed to gather without authorization and all media faces tough censorship.
But its been revealed that in the Namosi highlands west of Suva villagers have protested against a planned gold and copper mine operated by Australia’s Newcrest Mining Ltd.
The protest on December 14 was not reported at all in Fiji but witnesses say the people of Namois “staged a quiet protest against the proposed mining project on their land…
“(The) women and children sat outside holding banners calling for their land to be left alone. Witnesses say some women were crying as they sat outside.”
So far the regime has not responded to requests for comment on Samisoni, or the mining protest.
Meanwhile the Fiji Government’s website - www.fiji.gov.fj – last night published Bainimarama’s statement, but since then has been hacked into and cannot now be reached.
2 January 2012
Prominent Auckland QC Peter Williams is heading to Fiji to act for a 74-year-old grandmother who is in military regime custody and will face charges that she tried to overthrow dictator Voreqe Bainimarama.
Her detention since Friday coincided with Bainimarama yesterday announcing he would on Saturday end martial law imposed over two years ago when the country’s Court of Appeal ruled that his 2006 coup was illegal.
On Friday the police seized businesswoman and former MP Dr Mere Samisoni and three others.
They have been interrogated in custody, without lawyers, since then.
This afternoon the military regime said Samisoni, Mataiasi Ragigia, Apete Vereti and Semisi Lasike would be charged “with the offence urging political violence,” contrary to a military decree passed in 2009.
“The four, between the months of September and December 2011, in Suva in the Central Division intentionally conspired to overthrow by force of violence the Government of Fiji,” the Ministry of Information said this afternoon.
“They are to appear at the Suva Magistrate Court tomorrow morning."
Williams, who has a 50-year record of involvement in New Zealand criminal courts and acted for some of the biggest names in court history, left for Fiji this afternoon to act for Samisoni.
Her British based family fear the grandmother of 11 would be one of the last to be prosecuted under martial law.
Samisoni, who founded the popular 30-store Hot Bread Kitchen chain before turning to politics where she won the Lami Open ward for the party of prime minister Laisenia Qarase, has been held in Suva's infamous Central Police Station over the long New Year's weekend.
Daughter Vanessa Charters, speaking on the family's behalf, said they had been told that Dr Samisoni had allegedly made a confession.
“At this moment in time we aren’t sure what this alleged confession relates to but we do know for a fact, we have had it independently verified, that mum's lawyer was not present at the time of this so-called confession,” she said.
Yesterday in an address to the nation Bainimarama said the lifting of the Public Emergency Regulation on January 7 would lead the way to a discussion on a new constitution – the fourth since independence in 1970.
Martial law, introduced in April 2009, banned any public meetings and imposed tight censorship on all media. It gave the military and police to detain people for days without charge and in some cases to take people to the military barracks near Suva where they where physically and mentally abused.
Bainimarama gave no details of what will replace martial law, but in the case of the media the regime has already created a state controlled media council with tough powers to control what is printed.
Bainimarama, who seized power in a military coup in 2006, says he will hold elections in 2014.
He claimed that the existing voting system was racially based with indigenous Fijians having greater voting power than the ethnic Indians who make up around 35 percent of the 900,000 people.
He said Fiji had been mismanaged and hindered by greed and selfishness.
“You and I must not allow a few to dictate the destiny of our country for their own selfish needs,” he said.
He warned features of a new constitution will be non-negotiable.
“The constitution must establish a government that is founded on an electoral system that guarantees equal suffrage – a truly democratic system based on the principle of one person, one vote, one value.
“We will not have a system that will classify Fijians based on ethnicity….”
Consultation would begin next month: “To facilitate this consultation process, the Public Emergency Regulations will cease from 7 January 2012.”
Under martial law people are not allowed to gather without authorization and all media faces tough censorship.
But its been revealed that in the Namosi highlands west of Suva villagers have protested against a planned gold and copper mine operated by Australia’s Newcrest Mining Ltd.
The protest on December 14 was not reported at all in Fiji but witnesses say the people of Namois “staged a quiet protest against the proposed mining project on their land…
“(The) women and children sat outside holding banners calling for their land to be left alone. Witnesses say some women were crying as they sat outside.”
So far the regime has not responded to requests for comment on Samisoni, or the mining protest.
Meanwhile the Fiji Government’s website - www.fiji.gov.fj – last night published Bainimarama’s statement, but since then has been hacked into and cannot now be reached.
2 January 2012
January 01, 2012
Michael Field: Fijians protest against miners, despite martial law and censorship
These pictures are astonishing - people are finally protesting in Fiji.
They are ignoring martial law and the brave journalist who got them to the outside world, has broken Fiji's tight censorship. This is the message that came with the photos - the author can reveal him/herself if they wish, I will not:
"Something you won't see in Fiji's mainstream media ... On December 14, 2011, the people of Namosi staged a quiet protest against the proposed mining project on their land at Waisoi. Representatives from Namosi Joint Venture (NJV) turned up for a meeting with the villagers in the area where the landowners are worried about the potential environmental effects and the loss of mataquali (landowning unit) lands.
"The project is in the wish environment impact assessment stage.
"While the men sat in the hall with representatives of NJV, the women and children sat outside holding banners calling for their land to be left alone. Witnesses say some women were crying as they sat outside. The villagers appear to want the developers to slow down and not make hasty decisions regarding the project, but the regime is keen for companies to start mining. Reports and photographs on the December 14 meeting have been censored."
Word of what has happened is known in high places, and the regime controlled i-Taukei Land Trust Board (it used to be the Native Land Trust Board) is now saying they are powerless in land issues involving mining.
Board manager Alipate Qetaki told military controlled Fiji Broadcasting that they are not involved in mining negotiations and that the interests of land owners are protected by the Mineral Resources Department.
He admitted Naitasiri landowners are wondering why the board is not involved in the mining negotiations underway there.
What is more striking is that military dictator Voreqe Bainimarama, who is pushing the mining, has completely overlooked what happened to his Melanesian Spearhead brotherhood in PNG when mining was pushed through against the wishes of the traditional landowners: it was the Bougainville civil war.
30 December 2011
Michael Field: Samisoni accused of inciting violence
Updated: 2.30 pm 31 December 2011
Michael Field
A leading Fiji business figure is in custody over allegations she is inciting political violence against the country’s military regime.
The seizure last night of Mere Samisoni, 74, coincided with the leaking of photographs of a rare protest by Fijians against military leader Voreqe Bainimarama, who seized power in a coup in 2006.
Other unspecified people have also been taken in and are being held.
Samisoni, who runs a nationwide chain of bakeries, was a member of Fiji’s last democratically elected parliaments.A longtime critic, she has been threatened with arrest before (earlier reports).
Family sources say Samisoni was taken into custody yesterday after she returned from Lau Islands, her home.
Bainimarama operates under martial law and anybody can be held for up to seven working days without charge.
Samisoni is being questioned by police in custody over what they say is her "incitement to political violence".
It is far from clear what is going on as she has not been particularly prominent in dissent recently although the regime did act and detain a number of trade unionists last month.
By taking her into custody on a long weekend, police can extend the time they can hold her.
Suva social worker Peter Waqavonovono spoke with police at midday Saturday with an Inspector Ropate confirming Samisoni had been detained over allegations of "incitement and cyber activity trying to bring government down".
Ropate told Waqavonovono that they could do nothing about her age: "We cant do much, call coming from the top, there are other people here too, they all arrested with Mere."
Under Fiji’s martial law people are not allowed to gather without authorization and all media faces tough censorship.
But its been revealed that in the Namosi highlands west of Suva villagers have protested against a planned gold and copper mine operated by Australia’s Newcrest Mining Ltd.
The protest on December 14 was not reported at all in Fiji but witnesses say the people of Namois “staged a quiet protest against the proposed mining project on their land…
“(The) women and children sat outside holding banners calling for their land to be left alone. Witnesses say some women were crying as they sat outside.”
So far the regime has not responded to requests for comment on Samisoni, or the mining protest.
31 December 2011
Michael Field
A leading Fiji business figure is in custody over allegations she is inciting political violence against the country’s military regime.
The seizure last night of Mere Samisoni, 74, coincided with the leaking of photographs of a rare protest by Fijians against military leader Voreqe Bainimarama, who seized power in a coup in 2006.
Other unspecified people have also been taken in and are being held.
Samisoni, who runs a nationwide chain of bakeries, was a member of Fiji’s last democratically elected parliaments.A longtime critic, she has been threatened with arrest before (earlier reports).
Family sources say Samisoni was taken into custody yesterday after she returned from Lau Islands, her home.
Bainimarama operates under martial law and anybody can be held for up to seven working days without charge.
Samisoni is being questioned by police in custody over what they say is her "incitement to political violence".
It is far from clear what is going on as she has not been particularly prominent in dissent recently although the regime did act and detain a number of trade unionists last month.
By taking her into custody on a long weekend, police can extend the time they can hold her.
Suva social worker Peter Waqavonovono spoke with police at midday Saturday with an Inspector Ropate confirming Samisoni had been detained over allegations of "incitement and cyber activity trying to bring government down".
Ropate told Waqavonovono that they could do nothing about her age: "We cant do much, call coming from the top, there are other people here too, they all arrested with Mere."
Under Fiji’s martial law people are not allowed to gather without authorization and all media faces tough censorship.
But its been revealed that in the Namosi highlands west of Suva villagers have protested against a planned gold and copper mine operated by Australia’s Newcrest Mining Ltd.
The protest on December 14 was not reported at all in Fiji but witnesses say the people of Namois “staged a quiet protest against the proposed mining project on their land…
“(The) women and children sat outside holding banners calling for their land to be left alone. Witnesses say some women were crying as they sat outside.”
So far the regime has not responded to requests for comment on Samisoni, or the mining protest.
31 December 2011
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