Recent announcements
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- 07/02/2012 - Newcrest's Fiji mine waste should not be underestimated
Newcrest's Fiji mine waste should not be underestimated A leading Australian environmental engineer says photos of pollution from Newcrest's Namosi gold and copper exploration site, in Fiji, suggest ...
Posted 5 Mar 2012 22:27 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
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- 06/02/2012 - LICENSED TO KILL
LICENSED TO KILL - A NECESSARY ANALYSIS BY INTERNATIONAL WATCHDOG TORTURE WATCH ON BAINIMARAMA'S POALicense to KillRegime gives state security personnel license to kill under newly introduced Public ...
Posted 5 Mar 2012 22:25 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
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- 04/02/2012 - Qarase Fiji's best perorming Prime Minister
Qarase Fiji’s best performing Prime Minister decade – but they are now running out of road – just as Rambo did back in 1996/ 1997 after he stole Kamikamica’s horse ...
Posted 5 Mar 2012 22:23 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
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-03/02/2012 - Democracy in the Villages of Fiji..
The illegal Government of Voreqe Bainimarama has been called by some non-Indigenous Fijian individuals to also force democracy in the Fijian village system by the election of our Chiefs ...
Posted 22 Feb 2012 16:46 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
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- 01/02/2012 - Fiji stands a good chance of winning the Wellington Sevens 2012
After the last series, the trend has been that without military inclusion in the sevens team composition, Fiji won the Gold Coast Sevens. After the Gold Coast Sevens saw the ...
Posted 14 Feb 2012 18:18 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
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posted 5 Mar 2012 22:27 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
Newcrest's Fiji mine waste should not be underestimated A leading Australian environmental engineer says photos of pollution from Newcrest's Namosi gold and copper exploration site, in Fiji, suggest heavy metals and sulphuric acid have been released into the environment.
The photos, taken by concerned landowners, show a plume of cloudy water in the Waidina River, collapsed banks and a leaking drill site.
Namosi is in rugged terrain on Fiji's main island of Viti Levu, 30 kilometres west of Suva.
Dr Gavin Mudd, Senior Lecturer in Engineering at Monash University, told Jemima Garrett the toxicity of the metals and acid should not be underestimated. Protesting Namosi land owners.
Presenter: Jemima Garrett
Speaker: Dr Gavin Mudd, Senior Lecturer in Engineering at Monash University MUDD: There's two key aspects from the photos that stand out to me; one is the amount of sediment and erosion problems going on there but the other one, which I think is more serious, is what we call acid mine drainage. Now, acid mine drainage is, I suppose, essentially the leachate that can come out of mines. Basically, if you take sulphide minerals, like pyrite, expose them into the surface environment, where it can then react with water and oxygen and produce sulphuric acid, and that sulphuric acid, of course, dissolves up copper, zinc, nickel, ..a whole range of different of different heavy metals that can be a quite serious concern for aquatic ecosystems.
GARRETT: You say that if Newcrest had had the usual sort of environmental management plans in place, this sort of pollution wouldn't have happened. Why?
MUDD: Well, a lot of companies have environmental management systems in place and certainly Newcrest do do that and, to me, the interesting question is why do we still get problems like this popping up? If the systems are in place, they should be able to prevent this. They should be able to manage the erosion, they would identify risks such as acid mine drainage as being very serious. And I know companies like Newcrest do understand these types of risks. The question to me really cuts to the heart of the rhetoric versus the reality, I guess. These things are well known in the industry. They should be able to be managed.
GARRETT: This is only the exploration phase. If the project gets up it will be a very big development. How does it compare in size to something like Ok Tedi in Papua New Guinea?
MUDD: I think, based on the resource figure that Newcrest are reporting for the Namosi Joint Venture, it is on a similar scale to Ok Tedi, and perhaps even a bit bigger. It is a very large project so, therefore, if things go wrong the risks are therefore very large as well! And we've seen that at mines like Ok Tedi in Papua New Guinea, the old Bougainville mine, of course, which led to severe social and environmental problems that still have not been resolved. I would urge caution because you want to make sure if you are going ahead with these types of projects that you do get it right, that you have good management plans in place, you resource the monitoring and the environmental management properly and so, that way, you can ensure that you are not leaving a legacy that is negative, that overall you can leave a positive legacy. That, to me would be the way I would approach it.
GARRETT: Fiji is currently going through the environmental impact assessment process for this site. What should the Fiji government be looking for in that assessment?
MUDD: I have read through the guidelines that have been published by the Fiji government and they are quite extensive and they do cover a lot of the range of issues and it is now up to Newcrest to decide which way they plan to develop Namosi. Are they going to be building a tailings dam or are they going to use marine tailings like Lihir? Now, on that type of question, to me, I certainly think there is a good case to be made that they can deliver a conventional land-based tailings dam and deal with risks such as earthquakes and so on. If you look at a country like Chile, they've learnt from the past, in terms of when earthquakes happened and tailings dams collapsed because they weren't engineered to withstand earthquakes. So these are all the options that should be considered. The other critical aspect with any kind of environmental impact assessment is good baseline data i.e. what was everything like before the mine started? Now that can be on environmental grounds, surface water quality, ground water, marine and so on but also the biodiversity. But also, social as well, because a lot of the concerns that people have about some of these large developments are not just environmental but also social. So good quality baseline data that can really answer in the future any questions about what changes have been caused by the mine versus what might be natural or maybe climate change related, or all sorts of various factors. But good baseline data, good options and thorough assessment of different options -these are all the things that should be looked at as part of any environmental assessment.
GARRETT: Fiji hasn't had a big open-cut mine like this before and I guess it is going to be looking at preventing problems rather than cleaning up the mess afterwards. What sort of regulation and what sort of monitoring will it need to protect the environment?
MUDD: There is a whole range of things that really cut to the heart of that. One is extensive surface water monitoring, and by that I mean not just at one spot you know maybe a handful of times a year but regular. At places like the Ranger uranium mine they now actually have online monitoring where they have probes permanently in the creeks to monitor the water quality continuously and that gives you excellent detail to look at what is being released from the mine in terms of any sort of run-off from the mine but also making sure, especially in the rugged terrain, that exists on the islands in Fiji, it may be that you need to monitor multiple streams not just one. So really in that sense extensive monitoring and independent checks on that monitoring.
GARRETT: This mine, if it goes ahead will be a big mine on a small island. It is in the headwaters of Fiji's biggest river, the Rewa River and it is also quite close to the Coral Coast where the tourism industry is located. Is it possible that this mine is just too big for the situation that it finds itself in?
MUDD: That is certainly one line of thought. At the moment, of course, it is really up to Newcrest to answer that and for the government to accept Newcrest's position, or for the community to say no, actually we do not think this is worth the risk. And that is, I suppose, where everything is up to at the moment. So you can only hope that the studies are thorough, that there are extensive baseline studies, that good options are put on the table and they are all assessed comprehensively. So, at the moment that is an open question. It certainly is a very challenging situation and it is not something that should be taken lightly at all. Source: ABC Radio Australia ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
posted 5 Mar 2012 22:25 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
LICENSED TO KILL - A NECESSARY ANALYSIS BY INTERNATIONAL WATCHDOG TORTURE WATCH ON BAINIMARAMA'S POA Regime gives state security personnel license to kill under newly introduced Public Order(Amendment) Decree 2012 Introduction For many in Fiji, the announcement on New Year’s Day that the regimewould lift the Public Emergency Regulations (PER) on Saturday 7 January2012 was met with elation and joy. Many thought that the regime had turned the corner from its worst days and that a new dawn was beginning with the positive news and overall tone of the broadcast. However once again this joy has been cut short and only now the truth is slowly emerging.The regime has not turned the corner into a new dawn and continues to lie and deceive the people of Fiji just like every other day. Public Order (Amendment) Decree 2012With the newly introduced Public Order (Amendment) Decree 2012 whichcame into effect on 06 January 2012, the regime has given members of thesecurity forces a license to kill. This license to kill can be found undersection 9 of the decree and reads as follows: “Prohibition and dispersal of assemblies 9.—(1) The Commissioner of Police or a Divisional Police Commander, if he or she considers such action to be necessary for the securing of public safety, or for the maintenance of public order, or for maintaining supplies and services essential to the life of the community, may, by order a) prohibit absolutely or subject to such conditions as he or she may think fit,any procession, meeting or assembly in any place or building, whether publicor private, notwithstanding the fact that a permit for such a procession, meeting or assembly may have already been granted; (b) direct any procession, meeting or assembly in any place whatsoever, whether public or private, whether or not any order shall have been made prohibiting such procession, meeting or assembly under subsection (a), todisperse, and it shall there upon be the duty of the person taking part in such procession, meeting or assembly, to disperse accordingly; (2) The Commissioner of Police or any Divisional Police Commander may prohibit any procession, meeting or assembly in any place (whether public or private) or may direct any procession, meeting or assembly (whether in public or private) to disperse, if the Commissioner of Police or any Divisional Police Commander is satisfied that any person or organisation organising, assisting or participating in any such procession, meeting or assembly has on any previous occasion been refused a permit under section 8 or any such person or organisation has on any previous occasion failed to comply with any conditions imposed with respect to any meeting or procession or assembly, or any such person or organisation has on any previous occasion organised any meeting or procession or assembly which has prejudiced peace, public safety and good order and/or which hasengaged in racial or religious vilification or undermined or sabotaged or attempted to undermine or sabotage the economy or financial integrity of Fiji. (3) Any police officer, if in his or her opinion such action is necessary for the public safety, after giving due warning, may use such force as he or she considers necessary, including the use of arms, to disperse the procession, meeting or assembly and toapprehend any person present thereat, and no police officer nor any person acting in aidof such police officer using such force shall be liable in criminal or civil proceedings for any harm or loss caused by the use of such force.Analysis of Section 9(3). The part that gives the security forces a license to kill is found under section 9 (3). This subsection is for starters vague and towards the end brutal. The vague part consists of: ‘Any police officer’. Any police officer means that it can be a police officer of any rank, it can be the lowest ranking officer which in this case will be a Constable all the way to the top with the highest ranked officer being the Commissioner of Police. The public is then at the mercy of any police officer who: ‘if in his or her opinion such action is necessary for the public safety, after giving due warning…’ This officer will act without any proper guideline or guidance from a higher ranking police officer or authority. There is no definition or explanation as to what consists of ‘due warning’. How will it be ascertained that the policeofficer has made sure that his or her warning is heard by the members ofthe public who are gathered? LICENSED TO KILL Under this subsection, a police officer is given wide ranging powers without any consultation or second opinion and can go ahead and do as he or she pleases. Also once this police officer has made up his or her mind and in his or her opinion such action is necessary for the public safety, this police officer is then authorised and: ‘may use such force as he or she considers necessary’. Again without any proper guidelines or guidance from a senior officer, this officer may use such force as this person considers necessary. The use of force is not limited to physical force only but also: ‘including the use of arms’. Arms being guns which the police and military have in theirpossession and can be used against citizens at any given time. Section 9(3) continues by authorising the police officer: ‘to disperse the procession, meeting or assembly and to apprehend any person present there at’. The brutal part of this subsection states that: ‘no police officer nor any person acting in aid of such police officer using such force shall be liable in criminal or civil proceedings for any harm or loss caused by the use of such force’. 1) Firstly: No police officer, military officer either from the Army or Navy,prison officer or any person shall be held liable under criminal or civil law while aiding or assisting in dispersing of any procession, meeting or assembly for any damage to property belonging to members of the public caused by the use of such force; 2) Secondly: No police officer, military officer either from the Army or Navy, prison officer or any person shall be held liable under criminal or civil law while aiding or assisting in dispersing of any procession, meeting or assembly for any harm or physical injuries suffered by members of the public caused by the use of such force. 3) Thirdly: No police officer, military officer either from the Army or Navy, prison officer or any person shall be held liable under criminal or civil law while aiding or assisting in dispersing of any procession, meeting or assembly for any loss or death suffered by members of the public caused by the use of such force. Analysis of Section 17B- Another section under the Public Order (Amendment) Decree 2012 gives state security personal a license to kill is section 17B. Under the heading Power of arrest, search and to use force, this section reads as follows: Power of arrest, search and to use force 17B. — (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other written law, it shall be lawful for any police officer –(a) to effect the arrest of any person whom he or she has reasonable grounds forsuspecting to have committed an offence against public order, or an offenceagainst this Act;(b) to search any person whom he or she has reasonable grounds for suspecting to have committed an offence against public order or an offence against this Act;(c) to search any building, vehicle, cargo or baggage which he or she has reasonable grounds for suspecting may contain any matter connected with anoffence against public order or an offence against this Act, and for the purposeof effecting the arrest of any person whom he or she has reasonable groundsfor suspecting to have committed an offence against public order or an offenceagainst this Act to use such force as he or she considers necessary, including the use of arms, and no police officer nor any person acting in aid of suchpolice officer or member using such force shall be liable in criminal or civil proceedings for any harm or loss caused by the use of such force. License to Kill This subsection states that: ‘it shall be lawful for any police officer’… ‘to use such force as he or she considers necessary, including the use of arms, and no police officer nor any person acting in aid of such police officer or member using such force shall be liable in criminal or civil proceedings for any harm or loss caused by the use of such force’. Once again any police officer, military officer either from the Army or Navy,prison officer or any person shall not be held liable under criminal or civillaw while aiding or assisting for the purpose of effecting the arrest orsearch of any person by the use of such force for any damage to property, personal injuries or death caused to any member of the public. Conclusion Under the Public Order (Amendment) Decree 2012, all police officers, all army and navy officers, all prison officers are immune from criminal andcivil liability for any death caused while taking action under this decree.These state security personnel are also immune from any criminal or civil prosecution in a court of law. The draconian measures introduced under the Public EmergencyRegulations Decree 2009 have been repealed and done away with only tobe replaced with a new decree with a new name – Public Order(Amendment) Decree 2012. For many the joy was short lived! 
by Bula Bee on Monday, January 30, 2012 at 6:21pm -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
posted 5 Mar 2012 22:23 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
Qarase Fiji’s best performing Prime Minister decade – but they are now running out of road – just as Rambo did back in 1996/ 1997 after he stole Kamikamica’s horse. Qarase grew the economy from 1.6 billion in 2001 to 3.1 billion in 2006. That is the strongest sustained performance ever in Fiji’s economic history – in effect the Fijian economy basically grew 100% in those 6 years under Qarase – it doubled in size. thats an undeniable fact - Qarase holds the record for the sharpest and strongest periods of growth in Fiji’s history its stands up favourably with the record Kamikamica set – although Kamikamica was around for only 4 years he managed to grow the economy by 25% from 1.1 billion in 1988 to 1.5318 billion in 1992 Qarase’s record is the best ever in the history of Fiji – only one other Prime Minister in the history of Fiji has achieved a doubling of the size of the economy and that was Rt Mara but the growth Qarase created was done in a shorter timeframe and from a higher base – which is made Qarase’s result all the more spectacular. Qarase’s was sharper and faster and aggressive – Rt Mara’s was more gradual and smooth. you have to admire what Qarase achieved – but i still don’t agree with his affirmative action policies because i believe they are inefficient over the medium to longterm – and in fact by 2005 that growth was starting to level off as the fiscal tensions created by the distorted affirmative actions programs began to show – it eventually levelled off in 2008 (three years later) – and then we had the massive drop in GDP down to 2.82 billion FB and these guys are only living off the foundation Qarase set in the first six years of the last Reported by RealJack 
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posted 22 Feb 2012 16:46 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
The illegal Government of Voreqe Bainimarama has been called by some non-Indigenous Fijian individuals to also force democracy in the Fijian village system by the election of our Chiefs for some fixed term. The uneducated interim Prime Minister has been called together with educated Indigenous Fijians to force the change.
Ratu Eparama Kitione Tavaiqia installed as new Tui Vuda
The change, if it finally happens will see the anhilation of the Indigenous Fijian culture, land rights and ownership something that is held very dearly by the Indigenous Fijians. This call is a breach of the Indegenous Peoples Rights adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council and declared in 2006.
The call is also inciteful and can lead to a backlash of Indigenous Fijian resistance who will fight to stop any move to take away our rights to the protection of our cultural property and identity and also ownership to our land collectively.
Read below Raymond Bakers view on the issue:
I think that Government and modern educated Taukeis should encourage bringing democracy to the villages of Fiji. Local Villagers should be able to elect their chiefs to serve for a fixed term, and if they did a good job for the villagers, then she/he can get elected again. Otherwise elect fresh person who promises to bring improvement to the villages. This is n...ot a far fetched idea, but a modern one where the old ways are questioned by many educated people as redundant and serving the privileged few for life. Democracy should be brought all the way to grass roots levels, all the way to the villages.
This is not so different as historically, chiefs of villages were replaced when by new chief grew old and could not perform his duties. Then a new warrior would rise up, dispose the old fool by killling him and become the new chief. This made sure that the chiefs did not become a dynasty family, or a dictatorship, and not for a privileged few generations after generations.
More on his comments, he said that " I think FB (Voreqe Bainimarama) should start this modern day democratizing the whole country from grass roots up by choosing a small island like Taveuni which has a sizable population and teach the villagers to elect their village chiefs. If the current chief d...oes not like this and opposes this freedom and democracy movement, then it means he is against freedom and democracy and will make sure his villagers will also hate democracy and freedom. Litmus test time !!!"
Raymond Baker.
In a conversation taken regarding the above topic, here is what people have to say:
Nacanieli Rogoimuri: Baker, you can take your suggestion to wherever you originally came from, just leave the changes in our Fijian system to us the Fijians, we are also aware of Chiefs taking advantage of their position and we are encouraging our people to face them boldly and correct their ways in our own ways. You are a hypocrite for suggesting that as you don't apply that same logic to that suguraki Bainimarama the Fiji dictator. How we can turn blind eye on some and force issue on the weak.
Lawrence Lal: Village young girls becomse victim of village chiefs...it's being there for years...these village chiefs/tui/turanga in koro/roko/buli should be role model.
Trisha Moore: That's a very crude view you've got. Don't know which village you're from, but try not to be too racist. The aim here is to get past the bloody racial issue! Your kind and Nacanielis is the reason why the two ethnicity can't get along!!!!!
Rishab Nair: The racial characteristics are becoming less clearer by the day. We have reached a situation where there is no difference between an Indo-Fijian or a native. Both can excel equally if given the same opportunity. Hence, its time to just give everyone equal opportunity and let the best shine.
Crystal Tuinaceva: Now that we've been kind to accommodate vulagis they want to rule our chiefdom too with their so called educated mind.
Viliame Waka: try and ask your vulagi neighbours in your vicity to converse in Native Fijian and ask them how long have they been staying in Fiji. Then you research what language people speak in Scandinavian countries, Asian Countries and maybe you should ask your self why Tonga has more educated people per capita then Fiji.
Sila Kotobalavu: Raymond what exactly are u trying to prove?? Do u come from any of these villages? Chiefs are not and will not be elected! Thats why theyre called Chiefs n not PMs! Its like telling England to elect their next Royal Family!!
Raymond Baker: some people dont like changes that will benefit most of the people, they want to maintain the status quo that benefits a chosen few. these chosen few will destroy the whole country for their own selfish agendas, to keep that power, control, and wealth of the nation, like the gcc.
Saltenberg Sorby: Oh yes Raymond, it is their democratic right; whether to move forward or not. You can't force it down their throat. The acceptance of FB's coup will be decided and determined by the 2014 General Election. It is and will always be the people's choice...But traditional inheritance is different story Ray and is their chiefs
Jale O. Baba: They want Fiji to be exactly as it was when they deserted it (meaning ppl commenting from overseas), and Fijians not to think for themselves but leave it exactly as Ratu Sukuna did.
Source: Fiji Economic Forum FB page
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posted 14 Feb 2012 18:18 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
After the last series, the trend has been that without military inclusion in the sevens team composition, Fiji won the Gold Coast Sevens. After the Gold Coast Sevens saw the inclusion of military people in coach Alifereti Dere, Aminiasi Nava and Nikola Matawalu and Fiji's performance deteriorated to the point where we were thrashed 48-0 by Wales the same team that we beat 19-0 yesterday.
After the pool games in Wellington on the first day, we won convincingly against Argentina, lost to Tonga in the second game and came back to win against Wales in the last game.
Osea Kolinisau defends against Wales in the pool games of the Wellington Sevens.
The lost to Tonga was due to complacency both on the part of the players but mainly on management. Including new sets of players as a rotationaal basis to give everyone gametime backfired badly especially when they put Dan Rawaqa out of position in play makers role, one of the key positions in Sevens rugby. Now that has been done, some important lessons that the management has learnt is never underestimate your opposition, treat every game as a final, when making changes players should play in their usual positions that they are comfortable in.
When all these are addressed, Fiji will be unstoppable in the quarter finals where they are bound to play South Africa and only New Zealand will stand between them and the Wellington Sevens victory.
Until then, let us wait and see if the theory that Fiji without the Military will bring us victory and glory in our endeavour to do well and compete strongly against the rest of the world.
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posted 10 Feb 2012 01:22 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
the single biggest item of expenditure in the Fiji budget over the last twelve years since 2000 has been the millitary – 3500 guys have eaten up $1.2 billion over a ten year period between 2000 and 2010 (and its currently ongoing – it hasn’t ended).
as a proportion of their contribution to the GDP of this country – you can also check their yearly contribution, its negligible – next to zero when stood up against what they eat out of the national budget – the returns on peacekeeping over the last twelve years comes nowhere near even 10% of what they have eaten out of the national budget in that same period, and its even eroded further when you consider that the millitary has been at the forefront of every destabalising and unlawful removal of a civilian govt in the history of this country – either in the form of rogue units who have broke rank discipline (indiscipline) or officers who have decided to remove lawful Govts at gunpoint via coup d’etat
Fiji military used by Dictator Bainimarama to terrorise civilians
the only things they have been ”contributing” to this country in the last 24 years is consuming the biggest chunk of the countries budget for eating, sleeping and once in a while marching around on public occassions furling and unfurling flags at Albert Park and doing coup d’etats and destabalising the country every so often – otherwise they now contribute nothing meaningful or of value to the nations economy the RFMF was formed in World War 2 because it was to fight in a war which was being conducted in Melanesia and which was threatening Fiji, and other countries in this region – there was value and purpose at that time. they were engaged in Malaya because it had geopolitical value for the broader Asia Pacific region in so far as the issues of the extending commnunism were concerned
but today it has no meaningful role – so all they have been basically doing is eat up the biggest chunk of the national budget and have their officers plan coup d’etats - lately they have taken on new habits of kidnapping and tourturing and terrorising Fiji citizen civilians and even non Fiji citizens – and they have also engaged in civilian murders since 2006
Sakiusa Rabaka's mother still mourning the brutal killing of her son by the Military in Nadi.
its abundantly evident that they create no value for the nation today – they only create instability – the fact is that all the millitary and political instability in this country in the last twenty four years has emanated from the millitary, either through rogue units or through the officer corp assuming for themselves, at the barrel of the gun, the leadership of the country.
its sad, but its true.
thats whats happening in this country
By realjack |
posted 6 Feb 2012 19:50 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
Fiji’s growth prospect for the economy this year is expected to be affected states the Reserve Bank’s latest economic review.
This is due to the possible weakening in Fiji’s trading partner demand and adverse impact from the recent floods in the western division.
Flooding has affected the agriculture, wholesale and retail, construction and - electricity and water sectors greatly.
And the Eurozone economy is expected to enter into a mild recession this year while growth for both advanced and emerging economies are expected to slow down which will have an impact on the Fijian economy.
The Reserve Bank says the latest data on sectoral performances in the last quarter of 2011 has shown mixed results.
RBF says while output from the sugar industry and visitor arrival remains buoyant; gold, electricity generation and construction activity fell further in the review period.
Report by: Ritika Pratap |
posted 6 Feb 2012 19:41 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
Australia's Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has stressed to his Russian counterpart the need to be transparent with the development assistance it gives to Pacific island nations, amid ongoing concerns Moscow is using aid to buy diplomatic support in the region.
Rudd met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Sydney yesterday.
With Lavrov due to visit Fiji later this week, Russia's role in the South Pacific was high on Rudd's agenda.
Russia has been accused of giving vast sums of money to Pacific island nations like Tuvalu and Nauru in exchange for those countries recognising the sovereignty of the disputed territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which are officially part of Russia's enemy Georgia.
The claims last year prompted the Australian Government's Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Richard Marles, to accuse Russia of "cheque-book diplomacy" that could undermine efforts to eradicate poverty in the region.
There are also fears Russia's dealings with Fiji could set back the diplomatic campaign to coax the country's military regime to restore democracy.
Rudd stressed to Lavrov yesterday the importance of maintaining democratic norms in the region.
"They discussed the engagement many countries have with Fiji, and Rudd explained Australia's engagement, which includes substantial development assistance," a summary of the meeting provided by Rudd's office said.
"He stressed the importance of transparency in development assistance with the region."
The pair also discussed the worsening bloodshed in Syria.
Australia and other Western governments want the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution adopting an Arab League peace plan that calls on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to resign and hand power to his deputy.
But Russia has signalled it will use its permanent member veto powers to sink the resolution and has offered a softer alternative resolution.
"Mr Lavrov explained the Russian approach to the issue, reflected in its draft resolution before the Security Council," the summary reads.
"Mr Rudd explained that Australia supported the resolution presented by the Arab League which contains elements in common with the Russian draft and calls for measures to be implemented against the Syrian regime, and for Assad to hand over power to his deputy."
An estimated 5400 Syrians have been killed since anti-government unrest broke out in March last year.
In October, Rudd took aim at Russia and China for using their veto powers to block a resolution demanding Assad's regime end its crackdown on anti-government rebels.
"China and Russia must now bear a particular responsibility for persuading Syria to end the violence and implement meaningful change," he said at the time.
Posted by Keep The Faith
Deaths mount as Russia resists UN drive on Syria
DAMASCUS: Fresh bloodshed swept Syria on Wednesday after the West and the Arab League demanded immediate UN action to stop the regime’s “killing machine” but holdout Russia vowed to veto any “unacceptable” proposal.
Wrangling at the United Nations came as fierce clashes raged across Syria, killing 59 people, mostly civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The Britain-based monitoring group said the heaviest toll was registered in the province of Damascus, where 24 civilians were killed.
Fifteen soldiers were reported killed in the central city of Homs and six army deserters in the capital itself.
There were also reports of fierce fighting between the army and dissidents in Damascus, Homs and Idlib provinces. Syria’s Al-Watan newspaper gave a rundown of dozens of deaths in clashes in Homs and elsewhere in central Syria over the past two days.
It said 37 rebels were killed in the Homs district, four soldiers in an attack on a checkpoint in Bab Dreib and 15 rebels and two members of the security forces in clashes in Rastan, another central town.
Against that background, the rebel Free Syrian Army’s Turkey-based commander Colonel Riyadh al-Asaad told AFP that half of the country was now effectively a no-go zone for the security forces.
Activists said the unrest had killed nearly 200 people over the previous three days, while France said 6,000 people had lost their lives since the beginning of the uprising nearly 11 months ago.
The French figure comes after UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said last week that her organisation had stopped counting the dead because it was too difficult to get information.
In January, UN data showed more than 5,400 people killed in Syria since the uprising began in mid-March.
In New York, Western diplomats were to try again on Wednesday to persuade Russia to back a tough UN Security Council resolution condemning the violence, and UN ambassadors were expected to hold a two- to three-hour meeting, diplomats told AFP.
“We can hope that Russia has understood the message but for now there is no notable progress,” a diplomat told AFP, while noting “some slight signs” of flexibility from Moscow.
Earlier on Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov appeared to snuff out any hopes of a quick vote.
“Attempts are being made to find a text that is acceptable to all sides and would help find a political solution for the situation in Syria. Therefore, there is going to be no vote in the next days,” he told Interfax news agency.
The draft resolution introduced by Morocco calls for the formation of a unity government leading to “transparent and free elections”.
It stresses that there will be no foreign military intervention in Syria as there was in Libya, which helped to topple Muammar Gaddafi.
In Rabat, Foreign Minister Youssef Amrani said on Wednesday that Morocco was committed with all the partners to achieving a consensus on the resolution.
“What is important today is to stop the violence and support the Arab plan which will allow us to stabilise the country,” Amrani was quoted by the official MAP news agency as saying.
On Tuesday, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani told the UN Security Council that Assad’s regime had “failed to make any sincere effort” to end the crisis and believed the only solution was “to kill its own people”.
“Bloodshed continued and the killing machine is still at work,” he said. Russia, a long-standing ally of Assad and one of his top arms suppliers, has declared that the UN body does not have the authority to impose a resolution that calls for regime change in Syria, a position supported by China.
“If the text is unacceptable then we will vote against,” Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.
Russia would not approve a text it viewed as “incorrect” and would “lead to a deepening of the conflict”, he said.
But French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Russia had a “less negative” attitude towards a Security Council resolution.
Analysts warn that the conflict, between a guerrilla movement and a regime increasingly bent on repression, has largely eclipsed the peaceful protests seen at the start of the uprising. “It is the beginning of an all-out armed conflict,” said Joshua Landis, head of the Centre for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma. afp
Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C02%5C02%5Cstory_2-2-2012_pg7_10 |
posted 6 Feb 2012 19:37 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
A source from the PM’s office has revealed to me the details of the meeting that took place between the illegal ruler of Fiji and the Land owners of Namosi. In his opening address to the Land owners the illegal self appointed Prime Minister said “The last thing I want to see is this situation prolonged and having to send the military up there to sort it out”
Bainimarama announced to the country when he was on his last overseas jaunt he would take over the negotiations between the land owners and the Newcrest Joint Venture Company. We now know why. If any one else handled the negotiations the Land owners might get their way and deprive Bainimarama and Khaiyum of their big Mining payoff.
This is not negotiating as we know it. This is negotiating Dictator Style. This is where the dictator tells the rightful landowners of Namosi they have no say in the future of their province, because Bainimarama and his soldiers call all the shots. This is hard evidence that Fiji is ruled by the power of the gun.
Members of the Fiji Military carrying out Bainimarama's dirty work
I was sent the following from my source. “Dou ciqoma na veivakatorocaketaki e kauta tiko yani na matanitu, ena kalougata kina na nomudou vanua, vakavure cakacaka kei vakaduri bisinisi eso. Kena toso tiko ga na vakaduduile e sana keitou sana muri tale edua na gaunisala kaukauwa na matanitu. Nai otioti ni ka au via raica ke mani toso tikoga na leqa oqo keitou sana vakaqiqica yani e cake qori na mataivalu."
An English translation is below, “You people accept development this Regime is bringing to your province, your province will be blessed by it, and it will bring employment and business as well. If you continue with your indifferences against this regime, we will take a harder approach. The last thing I want to see is this situation prolonged and having to send the military up their to sort it out”
The land owners have nowhere to turn. The Government spin doctor Sharon Smith Johns is trying to portray Bainimarama as the saviour of the Fijian people. She is trying to tell us that he is the only prime minister who has ever worried about their development and invested in infrastructure in rural areas. That is patently not true and here in a closed meeting we learn the true colours of a dictator. “Do as I say and I will give you things. Don’t do as I say and I will give you a bullet.”
Bainimarama does not believe in land owners rights in Namosi. His puppet master Khaiyum has convinced him all minerals belong to the government and so the regime can do what it wants and to hell with the Namosi Landowners.
This is a very difficult situation for the Namosi Land owners. How do they save their province, how do they save their fields, how do they save their rivers, how do they save their way of life? If they try and they will be shot for their troubles.
Taking the dictators approach forward what does it say for the constitutional discussions that are supposed to happen this year? What happens when a participant pushes for something the Dictator does not want? Bainimarama will use the same negotiating tactic. “Shut Up or I will send the military to pick you up and take you to the camp!”
People of Fiji understand there will be no free and fair elections in 2014. We have seen in January how the dictator manipulates votes and then if he does not get the right result he uses government backed institutions to punish the “guilty” party.
We see here how Bainimarama negotiates dictates an outcome. It will be the same in 2014 the negotiated constitution will be so in his favour the result is a foregone conclusion. And if by chance the result goes against Frank he will simply take over the country with the military once again.
Thumbs up for Democracy!
Ratu Tevita Mara
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posted 6 Feb 2012 19:34 by fiji democracy freedom movement victoria
Unemployed graduates in Fiji keep rising while unqualified soldiers receive big pay pack
there are 3500 guys in the RFMF eating up 10% of the Fiji budget – the equivalent of $120 million a year – between those 3500 guys they eat up 10% of the Fiji budget. then they also bust their budgets regularly and need supplementary funds – which is always at least another 10 to 15 million – altogether those 3500 guys eat up $135 million
per capita this is one of the most expensive armies in the world to maintain – its the equivalent of $42,847:14 per soldier – you can round that off to $43,000 FJD. the latest listing of our per capita GDP for the country as at this year (2012) is $USD 3600 which is $FJD6356.87
you can see the gross imbalance in those figures – the per capita of $43,000 FJD of the RFMF and Navy versus the per capita $6356.87 FJD of all the rest of the people of Fiji.
the millitary of 3500 people eats up 7 times what the rest of the 850,000 normal people of Fiji eat up out of the budget
basically 3500 people eat up 10% of whatever the country produces – but they do not produce that level of value or income for the country, peacekeeping doesn’t produce anywhere near 10% value or income for this country. nowhere near it.
and then all the political overthrows in this country have been led by the millitary.
that is a significant imbalance – and its now being reflected in the gross underdevelopment of the country.
we shouldn’t be surprised with kids not getting jobs and all that sort of thing – the imbalance in our economy is pronounced – and its telling, and its showing.
we have Colnels riding around in Pajeros’ financed by the State whilst young engineering graduates and teachers and accountants and all those other skilled graduates coming out of University can’t find any employment because there are no intergrated economic structures existing in the economy to make use of that value in their skills – and so our economy is reduced to Colnels now running around trying to get people to plant cassava and do the Bula wave and Bula smile at the Tourist resorts better – their idea of governance is to load the country with unsustainable debt - there’s no high knowledge economy being created. no value adding industries being created. no synergies being created. no sustainable economic structures being created.
so why are you surprised about the lack of employment for our skilled graduates ?
since 2000 the millitary has collected $FJD250 million because of over-expenditures (busting their budget)
that is in addition to the actual budgeted monies they have been receiving since 2000 – they have been getting 100 million per year since 2000 on average. between 2000 and 2010 they got 1 billion – and if you add on the overexpenditure blow outs for which they also got supplementary funding that figure goes upto $1.2 billion FJD.
thats a MASSIVE CHUNK of money sucked out of the Fijian economy.
its money which could have gone to agriculture, strengthening our economy and growing it – and lifting standards of living across the country by putting in place sustainable sub regional economies.
and in that period these guys haven’t drawn into the country anywhere near half of those monies – there’s no value adding been created by the millitary over that 10 year period – even peacekeeping hasn’t gotten in anywhere near 1/3rd of those monies.
if we had balance in our systems of governance we wouldn’t have had to be seeking funding from the ADB for the water restructuring projects and all that stuff – we would have funded it out of our own monies.
and we wouldn’t be having all these kids coming out and not finding jobs. those lost monies represent lost multipliers for our economy.
we have spent it on Colnels who ride around in Pajero’s and like to strut around with their medals every public occassion they can – and takeover the elected Govt everytime they feel like doing so.
thats the reality of our development.
and it cannot be denied.
by realjack |
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