Aust think tanks unite to undermine Fijians, the Pacific region and the Commonwealth

In what can only be described as breathtaking disingenuousness by fellow think-tank comrades of the Lowy Institue now rallying in solidarity to justify thier flawed opinion poll, yet another attempt is being made for Australia to undermine their credibility in the Pacific region and force other Pacific leader's to not keep their word.

In case these brilliant academics are unaware, the Commonwealth takes its cues primarily from the Pacific Islands Forum.

Equally baffling is how this line of thinking is being mooted even as a fellow Australian citizen and a Kiwi one now face "justice", junta style and labour rights of people of Fiji are abhorrently stymied.

Fiji requires our help now: the time is right
by: Anthony Bergin, Richard Herr and Mark Johnson
From: The Australian
October 18, 2011 12:00AM

A WATERSHED is looming for Australian-Fiji relations.

At the end of the month, Julia Gillard will host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth. This will be Canberra's significant opportunity to take a new tack on relations with Fiji before that country's government begins the political phase of its roadmap for a return to parliamentary democracy in 2014.

It is now clear that once the process begins, Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama will hold fast to his own schedule just as firmly as he has done with the earlier phases of the roadmap laid down in July 2009.

Australia has failed to make any impression on the course of Fiji's return to democracy since the December 2006 military coup. In fact, Australia largely created the diplomatic vacuum that has given us negligible influence and seriously eroded our standing in the region.

Canberra demands support for its position from the rest of the Pacific community, who are increasingly showing their sympathy for letting Fiji solve its own internal problems.

Worse for Australia's Pacific leadership aspirations, major allies have increasingly drifted away to pursue their rapprochement with Suva. New players, especially China, fill the vacuum created by this acrimonious fracturing of the region's unity.

Jon Fraenkel's recent response (World Commentary, October 14) to the most serious challenge our regional leadership has faced in more than a quarter-century is for Canberra to do nothing to fix our fractured relations with Fiji, and to refrain from any positive steps towards assisting with the restoration of parliamentary democracy.

A recent Lowy Institute poll of political opinions in Fiji found nearly two-thirds support the present government. If the poll is to be believed, Fraenkel asks, why doesn't Bainimarama not hold immediate elections?

The answer is clear: the Fiji government is working to its own schedule. The government has not replaced the racially divisive constitution that contributed so much to the tensions within Fiji over the years. Nor has it begun to put in place a new electoral system to eliminate the race-based voting that perpetuated these tensions.

These and other political changes were never scheduled to begin before next year.

One might have doubts about the time allowed for these changes, but the Bainimarama government will not embrace the restoration of the Great Council of Chiefs or its racial control of important national offices under the 1997 constitution.

If Australia wants to influence Fiji's path to elections and the return to democracy in 2014, the Prime Minister should take positive steps at the Perth CHOGM for the Commonwealth to re-engage with Fiji.

Most of our Pacific island neighbours want this. And Washington has accepted that the best course for the US is to help Fiji get to 2014 successfully.

A year ago, the Fiji government indicated its receptiveness to getting Australian technical assistance with implementing its roadmap without conditions. It is in the interests of Fiji, the region and Australia that we be there to help the Pacific's key hub state at this decisive turning point.

FNPF to steam-roll pension fund reforms with legislation

It was all to clear that our superannuation pension fund, Fiji National Provident Fund, would continue with their dubious reforms after their sudden reappearance into the public domain with two little sweeteners, and an equally sudden retraction last week:

FNPF still working on planned reforms
Publish date/time: 13/10/2011 [19:11]

The Fiji National Provident Fund is still working on the planned FNPF reforms which includes the reduction of the annual pension rate from 25% or 15% to about 9%.

As work continues on the planned reforms, the Fund stated that it has not dropped the pension cut proposal as announced by the state owned broadcaster, FBC.

The Fund said FNPF’s Assistant General Manager, Tevita Nagataleka was misquoted in the report.

Nagataleka stated, and as highlighted earlier on Fijivillage, that a mandatory pension system was initially proposed and later dropped after the consultations due to considerable opposition to the idea.

Nagataleka stressed that the lump sum and pension option remains for the members.

As is the current practice the members decide when they turn 55 on whether they will take out the lump sum from their FNPF account or opt for pension.

There is still no word on when the final decision on the reform including the planned pension cuts, will be made.

The FNPF board will assess all issues and then take them up to cabinet. Cabinet will make the final decision on the matter.

Story by: Vijay Narayan

The shady Shaista Shameem continues with her case against the FNPF but the outcome is clear, the illegal and treasonous military regime will unilaterally do what it likes with our retirement funds and the FNPF will hide behind the regimes skirt, confirming once again what we already knew regarding the sham reform exercise:

Legalise and implement
Elenoa Baselala
Saturday, October 15, 2011

THE Fiji National Provident Fund will legalise its proposed pension reforms by including it in a revised FNPF Act and then announce to members what are the changes.

The Fiji Times Business asked the fund for an update on what part of the reforms would be implemented and when they would be implemented.

In June, the fund had conducted public consultations on the proposed reforms and the implementation date as announced by the FNPF chairman, Ajith Kodagoda was July 1.

The next date announced by FNPF chief executive Aisake Taito was mid-September.

"This is a major decision and there are other issues that need be factored in before the implementation can be effected, and this includes the review of the FNPF Act," Mr Taito said.

"The proposed changes will need to be incorporated into the Revised Act before the changes are announced."

The FNPF had previously stated the "urgent" need for reform to remain sustainable. At the current pension rates, FNPF experts predicted its death by 2056.

The fund had suggested a rate reduction to about eight per cent from the current rate of 15 per cent.

When asked on which of the proposed reforms have been removed due to member rejection, Mr Taito said they would review this in due course.

But the reduction of the pension rate is not negotiable.

"We have already stated that this is not negotiable - pension rates will be reduced. This is in line with recommendations that have been received in the last 30 years from the World Bank, International Labour Organisation, Blaxland and other consultants," Mr Taito said.

He added that the new pension conversion rate would be announced in "due course".

The fund was also not ready to reveal the cost of its pension review or public awareness exercises. "The cost to the members will be in ensuring the fund remains sustainable in the long term," Mr Taito said.

Not in FNPF's favour again, is the timing of their public announcement. With all the continued publicity (and retaliation) relating to the unjust removal of workers rights, and the curtailment of free expression, the FNPF would do well to tread very carefully insofar as the public mood is concerned, no matter how desperate the 2012 Budget is looking.

Military Regime's meddling in rugby confirmed

As we always knew, the illegal and treasonous military takeover of rugby in Fiji would take its toll and no one can validate this better and with credibility than veteran flyhalf Nicky Little.

Fiji style at World Cup "so not Fijian"
15 October 2011, 08:54

Veteran flyhalf Nicky Little has blamed Fiji's failure at the Rugby World Cup on an intransigent management that enforced a style of play he described as "so not Fijian."

Little, who played at the World Cup for the fourth time in a 15-year career, said team members were unhappy off the field because of rigid management which banned swearing and forced players to attend two hour church services.

The 35-year-old told the Fiji Sun newspaper, "We were given a game plan that was so not Fijian. There's no excuse for not performing on the field but I know the boys could have been happier off it."

Fiji traveled to New Zealand with a coaching and management team of more than 19 people. Head coach Sam Domoni is deeply religious, has led prayer meetings on earlier tours and once tried to have Fiji's pre-match challenge banned as a relic of the nation's pre-Christian past.

"Those who were running the team on the field were torn between following orders and trying to make the best of a bad situation," Little told the Sun. "Fiji Rugby has had these weaknesses in our game for a long time.

"I also thought some officials thought players were there to pay them respects. Maybe not to us older guys but some younger members really got a hard time, which we joked about to ease the tension."

Fiji was drawn in the hardest pool at the World Cup, alongside reigning champion South Africa, Wales and Pacific Island rival Samoa. It won only one match, its opener against Namibia, and was well beaten in the others. Fiji left the tournament after a 66-0 loss to Wales, its worst World Cup defeat.

"No one is more disappointed than us, the players," Little said. "After 15 years of service to Fiji Rugby I know the boys work better when they're happy. Too bad though!"

Little said the Fiji team that reached the quarterfinals of the 2007 World Cup in France was much happier.

"We were more honest to each other, more organised and happy off the field. We knew what our job was," he said. "But this year we weren't allowed to swear or shout at each other so as to not hurt feelings, so our bad habits were glossed over which only bred more of the same.

"I felt the rugby took a second seat. The management preached unity but at the expense of freedom."

Little said team management refused to listen to players' concerns.

"I was asked by the team to query management about some two-hour church sessions and why the dory-dirties (players not involved in the next match) must stay in (the hotel) but ironically I was told that it was a team call," he said. "They weren't moving on their decisions.

"I don't blame them. The management don't have my knowledge of touring, that's OK, but to not listen was quite infuriating."

The Fiji Rugby Union spent two days this week interviewing players, coaches and management over causes of the team's failure. A decision on the future of Domoni as head coach is expected next week.

Military Regime attempts to clamp down on graffiti artists

Fiji Village reports that the Sri Lankan born New Zealand citizen Jagath Karunaratne who was under arrest last week, has now been charged with writing seditious words in public places, with 4 others.

5 in court for writing seditious words in public places
Publish date/time: 15/10/2011 [09:05]

Five men appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday charged with writing seditious comments in public places earlier this year.

It is alleged that Jagath Karunaratne, Mosese Bulitavu, Eroni Takape, Usaia Koroi and Waisale Daganayasi, between the 21st and 27th of August this year, conspired to do an act, mainly writing of seditious words in public places and billboards along the Nausori and Suva roads, with a seditious intention and thereby purported to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite dissatisfaction against the Government of Fiji.

The five have pleaded not guilty to the charges before Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili.

Their bail has been refused and the five have been remanded in custody.

They will reappear in court on the 21st of this month.

Story by: Vijay Narayan & William Waqavakatoga

While the illegal and treasonous military regime and their various minions induce hype around this case implying that this it is a clear "open and shut case", the finer details confirm the MO of the regime that we are more accustomed --- threats, intimidation and violence:

Police forced me: Suspect
Mary Rauto
Saturday, October 15, 2011

A MAN facing sedition charges alleged he was threatened by police.

Jagath Karunaratne told Acting Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili that he was asked to sign the charge sheet yesterday and was threatened on two occasions by police.

Mr Karunaratne and four others pleaded not guilty to a charge of writing seditious words in public places and billboards, mainly along Nausori and Suva roads.

"I was threatened to be taken to the army camp," Mr Karunaratne claimed.

He said when he requested for his lawyer's presence, he was told that the lawyer's presence would not make any difference.

He claimed that he was told to open his e-mail account and when he asked if it could be done in the presence of his lawyer, it was refused.

Furthermore, he claimed that on one occasion he was threatened that he would be hung by his legs.

Mr Karunaratne said he had co-operated with the police.