PM yet to decide on 2014 election

January 22, 2013 03:12:14 PM

Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama is still yet to confirm whether he will contest the 2014 General Election or not.

Bainimarama in an interview with Sky News in March last year had stated that he was still considering his options, however he told FijiLive today that  he has not made a decision yet about standing in the election.

"My priority right now is to move Fiji forward and to see that the constitutional process is completed," he said. 

"I cannot comment on elections because I have to ensure that things are in order so our country can return to democracy."

Under the new political party registration decree 2013 the Prime Minister is allowed to contest elections however as the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Bainimarama will have to resign from his post before applying to be an applicant or a member of a party.

Meanwhile while visiting students at Vatuwaqa Primary School today Bainimarama has promised teacher and students that government will be looking at more ways to improve the school’s infrastructure and to provide them with a better pay ground.

He also said everyone needs to have positive view about things as this would be a way to move people forward.

By Mereani Gonedua

Chaudhry and Baba speak on the United Front

Publish date/time: 23/01/2013 [08:05]

Some years ago, it was almost unthinkable.

But now the Fiji Labour Party, SDL, United People’s Party and the National Federation Party who could not see eye to eye on a number of issues in the past which resulted in public disagreements are now working together.

Their group is known as the United Front for a Democratic Fiji.

In the past, parties like the SDL had even said publicly that they were diametrically opposed to the Labour Party when they were given the opportunity to form a multiparty cabinet but they later formed a cabinet minus Chaudhry.  

The FLP had joined the Commodore Bainimarama led government from 2007 to August 2008 and had rubbished parties like SDL then.

FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry said this about the leadership of the SDL and its leader Laisenia Qarase in June 2008.

Mahendra Chaudhry now said the United Front for a Democratic Fiji is just looking at common issues however this group may develop further as they come closer to the elections.

However, he started raising questions and making allegations against the media when Fijivillage asked Chaudhry the important question that many have been asking on how Chaudhry can work with the same people and parties who he could not work with before.

When contacted, United People’s Party leader Mick Beddoes only said that he is happy to support the statements made by the United Front for a Democratic Fiji.

Meanwhile, Doctor Tupeni Baba who is a spokesperson of the SDL said they are part of the United Front because the group has a common enemy.

When asked how he can work with the FLP leader who he has strongly opposed and criticized over the past years, he said it has to be done.

The National Federation Party will comment later.

Story by: Vijay Narayan & Akuila Cama

China backs RFMF

• Increased training help
• Machinery for engineers
• Possible new navy boats

January 22, 2013 | Filed under: Fiji News | Posted by: newsroom
By MAIKELI SERU

Fiji could receive new navy vessels from China.

They would replace the ageing navy boats which have been servicing and guarding Fiji waters for decades.

Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander and Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama revealed this after meeting Major-General Qian Lihua, Chief of the Foreign Affairs Office in China’s Ministry of Defence, yesterday.

Major-General Qian and his delegation were treated to full Fijian traditional ceremonies of welcome at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks (QEB) in Nabua yesterday morning.

Commodore Bainimarama said the visit was part of their annual defence co-operation briefing.

“We discuss areas of co-operation, training and development,” he said.

Major-General Qian also assured in his short speech after the ceremony that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of the People’s Republic of China would help and support the RFMF.

He made a tour of the RFMF facilities, including the Engineers Corps, the Forces Training Group in Nasinu and the Fiji Navy.

“The inspection will allow them to see areas they can further assist us,” Commodore Bainimarama said.

“We have discussed a few areas and where they can help like machinery, which we will use for more rehabilitation and regional development.

“We are also looking at replacing our navy boats and also possible help in improving our band,”

This latest development will also result in increased assistance in the form of vehicles, uniforms, other equipment as well as training opportunities for defence personnel.

Major-General Qian was accompanied by Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Huang Yong to the QEB.

In 2011 the RFMF received road construction and maintenance vehicles from the People’s Republic of China, which is assisting the Government with its rural development projects being implemented by the Engineers Corps.

China’s partnership and bilateral relations with Fiji were strengthened following the so-called smart sanctions imposed by Australia and New Zealand in 2007. The Prime Minister and RFMF Commander has acknowledged the willing Chinese support.

Australia, UK to tackle cyber threat

PUBLISHED: 16 JAN 2013 20:11:00 | UPDATED: 17 JAN 2013 08:46:42
JOHN KERIN

Australia and the UK will commit to closer co-operation on cyber security amid alarming growth in attacks on government and business systems.

Annual ministerial talks involving Foreign Minister Bob Carr, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, Defence Minister Stephen Smith and British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond will be held in Perth on Friday.

Among other topics to be discussed are Fiji’s stumbling efforts to restore democracy, Afghanistan, Australia’s United Nations Security Council push to ensure protection of medical personnel and supplies in Syria, co-operation on defence equipment purchases and the joint operation of diplomatic posts.

Support for the French intervention against Islamist forces in Mali, which Senator Carr warned on Wednesday risked becoming a terrorist haven like Afghanistan, is also expected to be discussed. Mr Hague told New Zealand’s TV3 yesterday that the UK was increasingly looking to work more closely with countries like Australia and New Zealand to help counter the growing cyber threat.

Mr Hague has previously conceded government and business in the UK is attacked every hour and that losses can be great. The menace had the potential to undermine Britain’s security and international competitiveness, he said.

UK intelligence sources suggested in October that British government and private sector websites were being targeted by up to 1000 cyber attacks every hour.

Australia and the UK have beefed up their cyber defences through the establishment of dedicated centres to deal with attacks and provide intelligence and support to the private sector.

States such as China and Russia, cyber criminals and hackers have all been blamed for launching increasingly sophisticated attacks.

Mr Hague is also expected to raise with Senator Carr his proposal for the UK and Australia to open joint diplomatic missions as a way of extending both countries’ diplomatic reach to more countries and stretch straitened government budgets.

Mr Hague said the UK also shared Australian and New Zealand concerns that Fiji be returned to democracy in a timely fashion.

Senator Carr confirmed Wednesday evening that Fijian interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama’s stuttering efforts to restore democracy were likely to be discussed at the Australia- UK ministerial talks.

Fiji remains suspended from the Commonwealth after the coup Commodore Bainimarama staged in 2006.

Though Commodore Bainimarama has pledged to hold democratic elections in 2014, the Fiji government has proposed a decree restricting union leaders and other public officers from founding political parties and imposing other onerous conditions on political party formation.

“Fiji’s transition to democracy must enshrine human rights protections, media freedoms, judicial independence and parliamentary checks and balances,’’ Senator Carr said.

“We all want to see a Fijian democratic constitution developed which will put the country beyond the culture of coups.”

Commodore Bainimarama has also come under fire for expelling an International Labour Organisation delegation and proposing a redraft of a new constitution.

The Australian Financial Review