Fiji: NZ Prime Minister Reflects On The Way Forward; Forum Statement; 2006 Fiji Coup
Posted: September 28, 2008 Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tags: democracy in the pacific, fiji, fiji coup, frank bainimarama, laisenia qarase, niue 2008 forum, nz prime minister, pacific islands forum leaders, pacific islands forum leaders niue, pacific islands government leaders, Papua New Guinea Leave a commentFirst, an opinion column released by NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark. She reflects on the way forward in Fiji following the discussions among Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in Niue last month.
Following that, the full text of the statement of the Pacific Leaders Forum Meeting in NIue.
Finally, looking back to December 2006, Fiji Coup in Pictures.
A Way Forward For Fiji
Public commentary on Fiji since the Niue Forum has focused on the warning Leaders gave to the Interim Government about Fiji’s future participation in the regional body in the event the Interim Government continues down its current path. Much less attention has been paid, especially within Fiji, to the framework Forum Leaders provided in their communiqué to help resolve the current situation in Fiji.
Forum Leaders explicitly acknowledged that there are long-term issues that need to be addressed in Fiji. They recognised that an independent and inclusive political dialogue process could assist in developing understandings among Fiji’s key stakeholders. Leaders considered that the framework for this political dialogue already exists in the Commonwealth-led process of consultations with stakeholders. In the view of Forum Leaders, this could create a more conducive environment for an election to be held under Fiji’s current Constitution by March 2009, and provide a basis for all stakeholders to commit to work with the newly-elected government to advance a framework for reform and broader national reconciliation. Read the rest of this entry »
Local Fiji Media Criticised By Fiji’s Anti-Corruption Commission
Posted: September 24, 2008 Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tags: fiji, fiji coup, fiji times, fiji's independent commission against corruption, frank bainimarama, laisenia qarase, media complaint Leave a commentThis email landed in my inbox this afternoon and sent to a few Pacific journalists in the region.
From Fiji’s Independent Commission Against Corruption, Maraia Vavaitamana and directed to Fiji Times.
Ms Silaitoga,
I refer to the questions sent to FICAC yesterday and to your article today on the front page titled ‘Sacked – FICAC duo face the music for leaking information’
It is rather unfortunate that you have decided to write a speculative piece rather than waiting for an official response from FICAC. Read the rest of this entry »
Case Against Fiji’s Ousted Prime Minister Adjourned
Posted: September 24, 2008 Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tags: FICAC, fiji coup, fiji prime minister, fiji's independent commission against corruption, laisenia qarase 1 Comment
Fiji’s ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has appeared before Magistrate Amani Rokotuinaviti this morning.
The deputy Director for Public Prosecutions, Mr. Anthony Elliot stated that he had looked at the case file but would need more to time to complete assessing the files and discuss with FICAC lawyer, Mr. Paul Madigan.
Mr. Qarase was represented by Ms Peniana Salele. The case has been adjourned to 27th October.
Information from Fiji’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
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