The UFDF said today that the suggestion by Minister for Fisheries, Forests & Agriculture Lt Col Inia Seruiratu that another committee be set up to ‘look into’ the plight of Fiji’s Fishing Industry’ is too little too late given that this problem has been allowed to escalate over the past 7 years to the point that more than 8,000 citizen’s incomes will now be adversely affected.

And who might the members of this committee be? The same officials that have been unable to resolve the issue over the past 7 years and they will advise the Minister how he can resolve an issue they have failed to address in 7 years? Have any of the stake holders been asked for their opinions and input? A quick check yesterday revealed they have not been asked to be part of this Ministerial solution.

The UFDF said while courting China into funding its various projects [all loans no aid] the regime has ignored the fundamental problem that has caused this matter to ‘come to a head’ and that is the ongoing presence of 1,800 or so foreign fishing vessels with licenses issued by our island neighbors. A significant number of these vessels mainly from China operate in international waters surrounding Fiji and other Pacific Islands. 

The UFDF said one does not have to be a ‘rocket scientist’ to work out how long our fish will depleted when 1,800 foreign fishing vessels are catching our resources in our back yard 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Not to mention the damage done to our reefs, our sea life by the trawlers. The loss of other types of seafood that get caught in the process as well as the waste and debris from these vessels.

The UFDF said what makes it even more ridiculous is that these foreign vessels are subsidized by up to $US350, 000 $F662, 000 per vessel to cover costs, fuel, maintenance and they are the only vessels that can sell to China, our Fiji owned and operated vessels cannot sell their catch to China and not one of them are subsidized.

The UFDF say some of the blue painted Chinese subsidized vessels anchored in Suva Harbour can’t afford to operate even with their $F662, 000 subsidies it’s not too difficult to work out why our local boat operators are unable to sustain their operations.

The UFDF says it understands that a major scam is being perpetrated by foreign vessel operators against the Chinese government where operators are falsifying documents and logs of their catch to qualify for the generous subsidy, while remaining anchored. At least 20 officials are reported to have been executed in China for the scam.

The UFDF said none of the foreign vessels are known to hire local crew but if they did it was a minute number, so other than a license fee, there are no real benefits to the Island nations and the areas valuable fishing recourses is being depleted on a scale that will cause catastrophic failure because of the issuance of an excess of fishing licenses by upwards of 400%.

This the UFDF says is despite well researched and sustainable numbers of fishing licenses recommended to all island nations. The recommendations on limiting the issuance of licenses are being ignored for short term financial gain without any regard for the catastrophic long term consequences that will follow the current excesses in fishing of our resources.

The UFDF said the other part of the problem is the local mismanagement of the resource. In Fiji too many licenses have been issued and the resources’ have been depleted.

The problem has nothing to do with migratory fish or seasons it’s all to do with the mismanagement of resources.

The UFDF said the MSG has failed to adequately and prudently address this issue for the long term sustainable benefit of all the island nations and the current discord among the members over the West Papua issue will unlikely allow them to urgently resolve this major economic catastrophe currently unfolding in the region.

Read Michael Field:

Fiji's tuna industry collapsing - report

A MAN charged with disorderly conduct in a public place was yesterday granted bail by the Suva Magistrates Court. Stefan Ali was presented before Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili and the charge read to him. Mr Ali indicated to the court he understood the charge. He is alleged to have made comments regarding the Prime Minister.His defence counsel told the court they would like to defer the plea and asked he be granted bail. Police prosecution told the court they would not object to bail as it was a minor offence but wanted Mr Ali to surrender his travel documents. The defence counsel said since it was a minor offence, he saw no reason in Mr Ali surrendering his passports. The court was told Mr Ali frequently travelled abroad. Mr Ali was allowed bail after he provided a surety.
His case will be called again on March 7. Source: Fiji Times, 22/1/2014

IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI AT SUVA
CIVIL JURISDICTION

Judicial Review No. 5 of 2013

BETWEEN : RAJESH LAL, as next friend of Nathaneal Caleb Lal (Index No. 1041008200) (an infant), of Labasa, Student AND ADDITIONAL 8 OTHERS NAMED IN THE SCHEDULE OF THE APPLICANTS APPLICATION

APPLICANT

AND : THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, NATIONAL
HERITAGE, CULTURE AND ARTS, Education Department, Suva, Fiji Islands

FIRST RESPONDENT
: THE PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION,
NATIONAL HERITAGE, CULTURE AND ARTS, Education Department, Suva, Fiji Islands

SECOND RESPONDENT
BEFORE : Hon. Justice Kamal Kumar

 

The UFDF said today that statements attributed to Lt Col Netani Rika as reported by the Fiji Sun and Frank Bainimarama as reported by Vijay Narayan and Mohammed Feroz show clear breaches of the Civil Service Standing Orders [2011 revision] and abuse of office.

The UFDF says the Civil Service Standing Orders on Campaigning Sec 1222 states quote ‘  Campaigning or political activity by a Civil Servant while on duty is forbidden. Civil Servants must not be canvassing or by any other means attempt publicly to further the activities or aspirations of a political party, or the election or return of an individual (whether a member of a political party or not) in any election to the House of Representatives or to a local Government body including Provincial Councils unquote

The UFDF says Lt Col Rika’s comments are political in nature and breach The Civil Service Standing orders 1222 that disallow quote ‘canvassing or by any other means attempt publicly to further the activities or aspirations of a political party’ unquote. There can be no doubt that Lt Col Rika was canvassing for Bainimarama’s party and as Commissioner Eastern he is abusing the privileges of his office as well as Sec 14 (1) (c) (d) of Decree 4 of 2013.

The UFDF says in the case of Frank Bainimarama he remains Commander of the Military and according to his Regimes own decree No 4 of 2013 he is in breach of the following provisions-

POLITICAL PARTIES (REGISTRATION, CONDUCT, FUNDING AND DISCLOSURES) DECREE 2013 DECREE NO 4 OF 2013

Restrictions on public officers in a political party.Sec 14    (1)   A public officer shall not-

(c) Engage in political activity that may compromise or be seen to compromise the political neutrality of that person’s office; or

(d) Publicly indicate support for or opposition to any proposed political party or a political party registered under this decree or candidate in an election

(2) For the purposes of this section, ‘public officer’ means any person-

(c) Holding any office in the public service, the Fiji Police, Fiji Corrections Services or the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.

(4) Any public officer who intends to be an applicant or a member of, or hold office in, a proposed political party or a political party registered under this decree, must resign from the respective public office prior to applying to become an applicant or a member of, or hold office in, a proposed political party or a political party registered under this decree.

(5) A public officer is deemed to have vacated his or her office mentioned in subsection 2 immediately before the time at which he or she applies to become and applicant or a member of. Or hold office in, a proposed political party or a [political party registered under this decree.

The UFDF says the Commander’s repeated statements about forming his own party and contesting elections is in clear breach of Sec 14 (1) (c), (d), (2) (c) and (4) and (5) of Decree 4 of 2013. Just as Lt Col Rika’s statements are in breach of the Civil Service Standing Orders.

The UFDF says Lt Col Rika and Commodore Bainimarama have broken the law and the Acting Commissioner of Police and the Civil Service Commission are obliged to uphold the laws that govern these public office holders and appropriate and immediate action should be taken against them just as they would apply it to any other citizen.

The UFDF says if the newly elected Electoral Commission is serious about ensuring free and fair elections  and remaining impartial and independent then it cannot ‘look the other way’ when clear abuse of office and breaches of the law as reported are committed by their employer.

STATEMENT ONE: [No 5 /2014], [JAN 20 2014]

The UFDF says while it sympathizes with the plight of the people of West Papua, the MSG members only have themselves to blame for the alleged acceptance of $500,000 from Indonesia by their Chairman Frank Bainimarama in exchange for betraying an MSG commitment to the West Papua people.

The UFDF said this interference by Indonesia is not unexpected as it has also occurred in Fiji with the outgoing Indonesian Ambassador Aidil Chandra Salim stating in an interview with the regime’s Fiji Sun on Dec 8th 2013 that quote ‘Commodore was a strong and transparent leader, urging Fijians to vote for a strong leader, saying Fiji was lucky to have a leader like the Commodore’ unquote

In the same interview Ambassador Aidil Chandra Salim also said that the ‘Indonesian government was totally behind Commodore Bainimarama’s bid to become Fiji’s elected Prime Minister’ and that Bainimarama’s Pacific Islands Development Forum [PIDF] was stronger than the Pacific Island Forum, even though the PIDF is still being set up.

The UFDF said that while such utterances from a Head of Mission is in contravention of the norms of diplomatic protocols, it is does demonstrate a consistent pattern of interference by Indonesia to try and influence and ‘buy’ its way with the MSG and others so as to avoid facing the issue of the West Papuan’s Campaign for independence.

The UFDF said the call for Independence of West Papua is a matter that not only the MSG group should take up and support, but the Pacific Island Forum members including Australia and New Zealand should unite and support the West Papua’s people’s call for independence, just as we all sought our Independence from colonial rule many decades ago.

The UFDF says the West Papua people must realize that the Commodore is Prime Minister in name only and his support base comes from his use of the military to intimidate and threaten his own people, just as the Indonesian government is doing to the West Papua people. He does not represent the Chiefs and people of Fiji

The UFDF says it members, who include 2 former legally elected Prime Minister’s and other legal representatives of the people will lodge a formal protest against the Indonesian Government interference in Fiji’s domestic politics as well as in the MSG.

The UFDF says it sympathizes with the people of West Papua and is confident that after the 2014 elections, the new government elected by the people will develop a supportive and more engaging policy towards the West Papuan people’s quest for Independence.

STATEMENT TWO: [No 6 /2014], [JAN 20 2014]

RUGBY HOUSE FINANCIAL MESS

UFDF says that the problems at Rugby House must be thoroughly investigated with the view to prosecuting those involved in the mismanagement of FRU affairs.

The United Front for a Democratic Fiji (UFDF) says that the suspension of all direct funding support to the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) by the International Rugby Board (IRB) has come as a national shame not only to rugby followers but to the people of Fiji.

UFDF says that the problems at Rugby House must be thoroughly investigated with the view to prosecuting those involved in the mismanagement of FRU affairs.

It has been seven years since the illegal Fiji Regime placed its stooges in leadership roles at Rugby House. The objective, we were told, was to improve and transform rugby and its administration in Fiji. Instead, from what we can gather from the IRB statement, the IRB audit report would suggest serious flaws in the management of funds and in the administration of rugby in Fiji. This state of affairs is totally unacceptable and must be rejected by the people of Fiji.

The current FRU Board is quick to disassociate itself from the IRB audit outcomes. This may be justified but the Board must now take decisive actions to hunt down those responsible for the mess and bring them to justice without delay.

UFDF says that the debacle at Rugby House is not surprising. Similar problems have surfaced in all areas where the illegal Regime has interfered in their management and activities. The problems at FRU are mere extensions of the illegal Regime’s mismanagement of the nation’s affairs which has resulted in our critical financial position, weak economy, high unemployment, low income, extremely high poverty level, high inflation, rampant corruption, nepotism and rising crime rate.

UFDF has urged the Regime to ensure that a thorough and independent investigation is carried out immediately at Rugby House and that all those responsible for misdeeds are brought to account for their actions before the law.

Fijileaks Update: Digicel Matches Offer

Digicel Fiji has announced that it has matched a competitive offer for sponsorship of Fiji Rugby’s properties and submitted the required documents to FRU House. Digicel Fiji CEO Maurice McCarthy said that Digicel has invested over $15 million in the past 7 years, and as such retains a contractual right referred to as an ‘Option to Match’. This option was exercised by Digicel yesterday.

This Document was sent to us from the RFMF's Intelligence Unit

Preface

The 2014 general elections are around the corner and the current administration headed by Cmdr. J V. Bainimarama has been ruling the country for past 8 years under military rule.  With active manpower of 4000 plus soldiers Prime Minister and Military commander has ruled with an iron fist with support of super power countries like china.

The country, ruled by the decree, has now adopted a constitution that deems it necessary for any person(s) wanting to contest elections must not be a public servant. Therefore the Prime Minister and Commander have announced that he will resign from  the army in March 2014 to concentrate on forming his party and running for elections.

The Next Commander

There are so many issues to look at as the current commander and PM will make recommendation to the President the name of next commander. It is well understood that PM has sole right to choose his pre-successor but he will decide on the following 3 keys points:

1. Is the person trustworthy  not to carry out a coup on him?

2. Can he fall back on the army commander should he lose elections?

3. Will  the  Army  accept  the  appointment  and  does  the  person  convey  respect  and command of the Fiji Military Forces?

The Candidate List

It is no secret that the next person to be appointed or diplomatically recommended to the President for appointment will be a current enlisted Officer of the Fiji Military Forces. It is also no secret that the following officers listed here are still in army payroll therefore eligible for a shot at commander’s post:

ONE:
Brigadier General Mohammed Aziz is the current Chief of staff though after 2011 saga of attempted coup plot he has been relegated as ceremonial role officer but still his current rank qualifies him in contention to be the next first ever Indian (Muslim) Commander.

From intelligence point of view this is very highly unlikely as he has only served as a lawyer in his earlier days in the army.

Also the army personnel distrust of him has been much more after Brigadier General Pita Driti was sentenced for attempted coup and his name also appeared on co- conspiring list in courts during trial.

Aziz is rumored to have established his exit plan after he bought a half million dollar house in US in 2013 and recently been frequently out of country for longer periods.

Despite all this, he is in the candidate listing.

Status:

Health: No current issues

Education:

LLB/ Masters

Rank:

Brgd. General - Active

International Clearances

US Department of State: Flagged

Australia: Active / Request

Fiji Leaks understands that the delay in announcing the new portfolio of Fiji Rugby Union sponsors is due to legal issues with former lead sponsor Digicel, who had the naming rights for the national 7s team and major provincial tournament until their contract expired at the end of 2013.

Under Digicel’s just-expired contract, they were given a right of last refusal – basically the ability to continue with their sponsorship if they could match the last best offer of any new bidder.

It is understood that the FRU only sent out the letter to Digicel on Wednesday, formally triggering that right of last refusal, and the company – owned by Irish telecommunications billionaire Denis O’Brien – has a week from receiving the letter to submit their final offer.

Vodafone have been crowing that a consortium of sponsors they have stitched together, including regime friendly companies like CJ Patel and Fijian Holdings, had created a single offer to take over all of the FRU’s major properties for between $5m and $6m per year. It’s not clear whether this was an all-cash offer, and included or excluded VAT. Six million dollars a year inclusive of VAT would see the FRU have to pay almost $1m of that sponsorship income to the government as VAT.

If the FRU had not formally triggered Digicel’s last right of refusal, it’s not clear why Rugby House was so keen to tell the media that the new sponsors would be announced on Friday.

The FRU had all the Vodafone consortium sponsors lined up for the big unveiling on Friday, including Fiji Airways CEO Pilcher. Then it was quietly explained that Digicel was still 'alive' so the party was packed up and everybody was sent home, grumbling.

If Digicel were to renew, by matching the Vodafone consortium’s offer, it would be hugely popular.

As well as a huge poke in the eye to the Bainimarama regime’s attempt to shoehorn its own crony capitalists into Fiji rugby, there is much disquiet about the way Vodafone has pulled together its deal.

A number of the companies within the consortium have Sri Lankans in senior positions, including ATH (Vodafone’s parent), Vodafone itself and Fijian Holdings – a symptom of the December 2006 coup – and it is thought that this Sri Lankan back channel has been the means by which the FRU properties have been divided up, and the finance for the proposal agreed.