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NO DESIRE TO RESTORE MEDIA FREEDOM: Fiji ranked 67 in the 2017 World Freedom Index. Fijileaks calls Aiyaz Khaiyum, Attorney-General and Information Minister, to drop frivolous court case against Victor Lal

30/11/2017

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 We also call for the removal of the banning orders issued against us

REDDY COURT UPDATE: As widely anticipated, the Chief Magistrate finds Mahendra Reddy NOT GUILTY on
one count of bribery and one count of undue influence.

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The court case was brought against Victor Lal and Fiji Sun staff in 2008 following Lal's disclosure that Aiyaz Khaiyum's fellow Interim Cabinet Minister Mahendra Pal Chaudhry, as Interim Finance Minister and line manager of FIRCA, was hiding $2million in Australia. We see no reason why the case should still be pending against Victor Lal when, in 2014, the Fiji Labour Party leader Chaudhry was found guilty by the Fiji High Court (and conviction affirmed by the Fiji Court of Appeal) of defrauding
the Reserve Bank of Fiji regarding the $2miilion

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The Plaintiffs who rushed to take VICTOR LAL to court are no longer on FIRCA Board: Peceli Vocea passed away in Brussels in 2014; Arvind Datt, a Chaudhry lackey, moved to Australia; Jitoko Tikolevu is now Fiji High Commissioner to London, and Pio Tikoduadua is now president of NFP

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High Court Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe has dismissed the defence objection to the amended information to the charges in the Fiji Times Limited case.

The charges were earlier amended from inciting communal antagonism to sedition.

According to the amended information earlier filed and served to Fiji Times Limited, Publisher Hank Arts, Editor Fred Wesley, Nai Lalakai Editor Anare Ravula and contributor Josaia Waqabaca, it  is alleged that Fiji Times, on the 27th of April last year printed the Nai Lalakai newspaper which contained an article which had content with a seditious intention to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between classes of the population.

Fred Wesley’s lawyer Faizal Haniff had objected to some of the particulars of his client’s charge saying that there are no specifics on the particulars of the charge for Wesley.

Haniff said a specific intention of Wesley is not mentioned in the charge adding that information on the charge sheet must show how Wesley was intending to aid and abet the alleged offence.

While responding to Haniff, Assistant DPP Lee Burney said that it was Wesley’s duty as an Editor to uphold the editorial guidelines and the allegation is clear.

Burney says someone pressed the print button on the printing press and it is clear that one of the employees was told to print the article.

Burney says the contents of the Nai Lalakai article had a tendency to create ill-will between sections of the community.

The trial will now start on the 11th of December this year upon the request of one of the defence counsels. The pre-trial conference will start this Friday. Source: Fijivillage News, 29 November 2017

Fijileaks: Is the DPP saying that every article published by the Nai Lalakai in vernacular Fijian should have been read, vetted, and approved by Fred Wesley and Hank Arts, who does not even speak the Fijian language? Its like claiming that Frank Bainimarama (as party leader) and Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum (as general secretary of the FFP) should have vetted their Cabinet Minister Mahendra Reddy before he opened his mouth at the Ra High School which had landed Reddy before the Suva Magistrates Court. VOTERS will be the final judge, come the general election in 2018

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FNUGATE: VC Nigel Healey wanted FNU to buy furniture from his country New Zealand but Council chairman Iqbal Jannif got them from CHINA. Despite calling tenders to assemble furniture, they are rotting in crates

29/11/2017

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COP23GATE: Coming soon - How Vanuatu delegation tried to skim over $30,000 in airfares to CAPP event in Fiji when airfares was only $4,000

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Fijileaks: Dear Commentators, We had declined to approve all comments describing Mary as "GRACE BAINIMARAMA"
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ROTTING AT FIJI TAXPAYERS EXPENSE: $1.2 million dollars worth of furniture rotting in containers at FNU Nabua Campus, while students and staff suffering because of  maladministration. VC Healey had assured that these furniture will be installed in April this year but its December. FNU sources claim it all began when Healey allegedly removed all senior locals from their existing positions and replaced them with new staff

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THE PRIME MINISTER'S DRUNKEN DRIVER sends media into intoxicated frenzy but are we sure DRIVER was really same one behind the wheels - remember Bainimarama's Minister Bala! Magistrate: 'No one saw Bala'

27/11/2017

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The guard allowed him through the gates! Fijileaks: What if the driver had other intentions: to assassinate Frank Bainimarama? Why didn't the guard call the Police immediately, instead of letting him into the
Prime Minister's compound?

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SAD! Another victim of booze culture in Fiji
52-year-old military officer Jese Navunicagi Bauli [above photo] charged with one count of serious assault, one count of resisting arrest, one count of refusing to take a breathalyzer test, one count of dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm and one count of failing to stop when asked by a police officer, has appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court.

Bauli has been released on strict bail conditions and asked not to interfere with police witnesses and not to re-offend.

The case will be called again on the 27th of February.

It is alleged that the man who was driving a private car, was smelling of alcohol and refused to go through the breathalyzer test at McGregor Road at 3am yesterday.

He said that he was a driver at the Prime Minister's Office.

People who witnessed the incident say that he continued to refuse to undergo the test and allegedly punched one of the officers.

He then allegedly drove off while the second officer had put a hand in the car to take the key out.

The second police officer was dragged by the car for about 10 metres.

The officers and some members of the public then gave chase and the man allegedly drove into the Prime Minister's residence at Ratu Sukuna Road.

It is alleged that the police officers tried to arrest the man however he had already driven into the premises.
The two police officers lodged an official complaint at Totogo Police Station.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has confirmed to Fijivillage that he was only made aware of the incident regarding the driver from the Prime Minister's Office at about 10 o'clock yesterday morning and he called the driver immediately to present himself to the Police.

Bainimarama says the driver had come to the gates of his official residence after 3am yesterday and the guard at the gate had not allowed him in.

However, when the man continued to insist that he needed to drive his private car in, the guard allowed him in. (Fijileaks: What if the driver had other intentions: to assassinate Frank Bainimarama? Why didn't the guard call the Police immediately, instead of letting him into the Prime Minister's compound?)

The police officers had then come to the gate at about 3.30am, however, Police could not take him in. Source: Fijivillage News, 27 November 2017

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Fijileaks: Most Indo-Fijian VOTERS are waiting for this Dancer who wriggled his bottom out of JUSTICE for killing the poor Indo-Fijian farmer. Bala was driving a Lautoka City Council car and had refused to be breathalyzed at the scene of accident; instead, he admitted himself to  Lautoka Hospital, to await his political masters to get on the case, Fiji style! Aiyaz Khaiyum and Praveen Bala seem to believe that Indo-Fijians are a bunch of fools and morons, who will forgive Bala at the poll

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CONFLICT OF INTEREST? National Farmers Union general secretary and FLP leader Chaudhry wants RBF Governor to resign from FSC Board

26/11/2017

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"Also, why no action had been taken against FSC’s former executive chairman, Abdul Khan, who was forced to resign last year after the National Farmers Union revealed his exorbitantly high director’s fees and other malpractices running into millions of dollars. This matter has been pending for well over a year now. We were assured at last year’s annual meeting that Khan was being investigated. The Corporation has been defrauded of millions of dollars by this man. How can FSC sit back and allow him to get away with it? Such malpractices must be nipped in the bud. By not taking action against Abdul Khan both government and FSC were giving the signal that they condone such fraudulent behavior. It seems some people in our society can defraud with impunity. Another case is that of the FF parliamentarian and deputy chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Mohammed Dean who faced an internal investigation on allegations for fraud by the Education Department in 2015. The inquiry was shelved on orders from high” - Chaudhry

Fijileaks:
We have established Abdul Khan was on $800,000 salary


*In his statement Chaudhry also repeats the NFP's proposal for a minimum guarantee price of $100 per tonne:

"Cane growers have been demanding a guaranteed minimum price of $100 per tonne but neither government nor FSC has responded to this."

Chaudhry wants RBF Governor to resign from FSC Board

National Farmers Union general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry has questioned the appointment of Reserve Bank Governor Ariff Ali to the Fiji Sugar Corporation Board.

Mr Chaudhry raised the matter at the Corporation’s annual general meeting yesterday (Thursday), pointing out that Mr Ali’s appointment to the FSC Board involved conflict of interest and was “highly unethical”.

He also questioned Mr Ali’s appointment to the Sugar Cane Growers Fund which is a financial institution.

"Mr Ali must resign from the two boards to maintain the integrity of the Reserve Bank, even if he was appointed by the Minister.

“He should not have accepted. The RBF has an oversight and supervisory role. It must not get itself directly involved in the affairs of corporate entities or financial organisations. It is just not ethical,” Mr Chaudhry said.

“The Corporation borrowed money from the Reserve Bank. How can the Governor then be appointed a director to the Corporation? There is a definite conflict of interest involved. The Growers Fund is a financial institution.”

In an unprecedented move, the Governor Reserve Bank was recently appointed to the Board of FSC as well as the Sugar Cane Growers Fund.

On FSC’s plans to boost cane production under its new strategic plan for 2018, Mr Chaudhry said no such plan would work unless growers were given a fair cane price.

“Cane farming is no longer financially viable on the current low cane price. Costs of production are too high. Unless growers are guaranteed a fair price for their cane, they will not want to cultivate cane.

“As it is FSC has been struggling to reach the 2million tonne cane production mark for years now,” Mr Chaudhry said.

Cane growers have been demanding a guaranteed minimum price of $100 per tonne but neither government nor FSC has responded to this. To restore farmers’ confidence in the industry, Mr Chaudhry said FSC must engage with growers’ representatives and ensure that Growers Council elections were held.

Mr Chaudhry questioned why no action had been taken against FSC’s former executive chairman, Abdul Khan, who was forced to resign last year after the National Farmers Union revealed his exorbitantly high director’s fees and other malpractices running into millions of dollars.

“This matter has been pending for well over a year now. We were assured at last year’s annual meeting that Khan was being investigated.

“The Corporation has been defrauded of millions of dollars by this man. How can FSC sit back and allow him to get away with it? Such malpractices must be nipped in the bud. By not taking action against Abdul Khan both government and FSC were giving the signal that they condone such fraudulent behavior.

“It seems some people in our society can defraud with impunity. Another case is that of the FF parliamentarian and deputy chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Mohammed Dean who faced an internal investigation on allegations for fraud by the Education Department in 2015. The inquiry was shelved on orders from high,” Mr Chaudhry said.

YOU SEE ME HERE, YOU SEE ME THERE, YOU SEE ME EVERYWHERE

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From Fijileaks Archive, 14 October 2015:

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Dean's contract was extended for another year til 23 August 2015; the next day, 24 August, Education Minister Reddy ORDERED Education Ministry to transfer Dean to Dr Saukhat Ali Sahib Campus in Nadi

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Teacher to Politician?: On 15 August 2015 Dean resigned without giving any reasons for his resignation to MOE; in fact, he was planning to contest election on FFP ticket!

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BARR, BARR, BARR at the Fiji Labour Party Convention. Professor Narsey takes speakers Jone Dakuvula, Father Kevin Barr and Dr Ganesh Chand to task: 'Why is accountability always demanded of OTHERS?"

26/11/2017

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ANOTHY RAM (pseudonym) please contact Fijileaks with your proper e-mail for urgent communication on a particular issue: [email protected]

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"I have just read in Fijileaks, some of the comments by Dr. Ganesh Chand at the Fiji Labour Party Convention. His analysis of the current situation is quite correct, except that he lumps all the victims of the Bainimarama Government together:  “They have done that to me, to Mr Chaudhry, to Mr Qarase, they tried doing it to Mr Rabuka, they broke the doors and windows in [Aman] Ravindra Singh’s house, even Father Barr was not spared.” It is sad that Dr Ganesh Chand does not hold some of these “victims” to account for their clearly shared responsibility, with Bainimarama and Khaiyum, for all the evils that he points out: such as total control of the media, the silencing of the NGOs and unions, weakening of academic institutions; the breakdown of the separation of the three arms of government. Ganesh fails to mention that the Fiji Labour Party itself strengthened the military government after the 2006 military coup removed the multi-party Government of Qarase (i.e. including members of the FLP and Dr Chand’s colleagues) when the FLP Leader Mahendra Chaudhry joined the treasonous Bainimarama Government and served as its Finance Minister, until he was kicked out by forces and for reasons unknown. I believe that Dr Ganesh Chand and Dr Mahendra Reddy also were advisers to the Bainimarama Government at one stage and they were personally approved to be the senior managers of the Fiji National University established with Bainimarama’s approval (and of course his Education Minister Filipe Bole). I have not heard Dr Chand previously criticize the senior managers of USP who destroyed its credibility as an academic institution...Why is it that radical intellectuals in Fiji (and Jone Dakuvula and Father Barr may be classified thus) only wish to hold other leaders to account, but not their own. Jone Dakuvula was similarly blase about the faults of Rabuka and his post-1987 coup Government, as Victor Lal has amply pointed out on his blogsite FijiLeaks which reprinted Victor Lal’s Fiji Sun articles. Father Kevin Barr has never criticized his colleague Father David Arms (or the Catholic Church in Fiji) despite this Australian citizen’s support of the 2006 military coup and treason so that he could indulge his personal interest (hobby?) in electoral systems." - Professor Wadan Narsey

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By PROFESSOR WADAN NARSEY

My friend Jone Dakuvula gave a presentation at the Fiji Labour Party Conference where he cogently pointed out all the wrong doings of the Fiji First Party, but he totally neglected to point out the very similar wrong doings of his host, the Fiji Labour Party which had quickly joined the illegal Bainimarama Government which had deposed the lawfully elected Qarase Government with the treasonous 2006 military coup
.

So also did Father Kevin Barr in his presentation which criticized the Bainimarama Government for its refusal to allow the decisions of the Wages Councils when Father Barr was Chairman following my review of that mechanism in 2005, conducted for ECREA.

Why is it that radical intellectuals in Fiji (and Jone Dakuvula and Father Barr may be classified thus) only wish to hold other leaders to account, but not their own. Jone Dakuvula was similarly blase about the faults of Rabuka and his post-1987 coup Government, as Victor Lal has amply pointed out on his blogsite FijiLeaks which reprinted Victor Lal’s Fiji Sun articles.

Father Kevin Barr has never criticized his colleague Father David Arms (or the Catholic Church in Fiji) despite this Australian citizen’s support of the 2006 military coup and treason so that he could indulge his personal interest (hobby?) in electoral systems. Yet the Methodist Church and its leaders were readily criticized for supporting the coups of 1987 and 2000.

Over the years, the Fiji Labour Party has drawn upon many USP academics to their cause. As a founding FLP member some 33 years ago, I remember that the leadership was not happy when in my presentation at the 1985 FTUC Biennial Conference which led to the formation of the FLP, I pointed out that the “blue collar” unions (led then by Jim Smith) had concerns which were not being addressed by the white collar unions (like FPSA).

Neither was the FLP leadership happy when as Chairman of the Policy Committee I requested that the leadership consult the committee before announcing drastic policy changes. I was told by the two FLP leaders (you can guess who they were) that I could leave if I wanted. With no support from my colleagues, I left (just before the 1987 election). For decades thereafter, it always dismayed me that USP academic after USP academic (you can list them if you like) supported the activities of the Fiji Labour Party whose leadership discarded them when they disagreed with The Great Leader on some policy matter. Sadly, the remaining “leaders” in the FLP apparently never objected.

Just as sadly and a great failure of their accountability to their public supporters, these academics  all quietly went away without demanding any accountability from the FLP leadership. Were they just “power groupies” hoping to eventually get into some position of power and influence by keeping quiet about the faults and weaknesses of their Great Leader whose bandwagon they had joined and of whom they had great expectations?

Aman Ravindra Singh is yet another courageous young leader who is challenging those in power but doing so by apparently joining the FLP.

Jone Dakuvula, Father Kevin Barr and Aman Singh might want to think about demanding accountability from the Party whose causes they are choosing to serve with their intellect and courage.

Similar questions may be raised about the many principled persons in SODELPA who will not raise questions about their leader Rabuka, whose many cogent criticisms of the Bainimarama Government are usually targeted at Aiyaz Khaiyum, not at Voreqe Bainimarama  the supposed Leader of Fiji First Party.

Of course, Rabuka will be aware that the many possible valid criticisms of Bainimarama can equally be directed at Rabuka himself.  Note also that Rabuka has not ever publicly criticized any of the military officers (current and former) whose support of Bainimarama is vital for the FFP Government.

Why has he never criticized Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, his collaborator in the 1987 coup and a key behind the scenes instigator of the 2000 coup as well? Do they all know too much about each others’ personal involvement in the coup and mutiny of 2000? Why do they not hold each other to account?

Witness the constitutional immunity granted to Rabuka, Bainimarama and Khaiyum for unknown and unstated crimes committed in association with the coups. This immunity clearly gives the message to all and sundry that “crime pays” in Fiji, as long as you have the military’s guns on your side (while you innocently tell the public that it is God and anti-corruption principles that inspired your coups).  George Speight did not get the immunity he was promised because the guns (and Bainimarama) left his side in the middle of the 2000 coup.

A similar horrible farce is being played out in Zimbabwe where a criminal thug and his rapacious family has been allowed to “retire” with total immunity and their ill-gotten gains intact in tax havens abroad, while the gullible public apparently joyfully celebrate, despite all knowing that Mugabe’s successor is yet another acknowledged “crocodile” who, with his military backers has already proven himself to be as brutal as Mugabe, and will probably be as rapacious as Mugabe in looting taxpayers’ funds.

As the Fiji 2018 Elections draws near, while listening to budding politicians criticize other political parties and leaders and demanding that they be accountable, Fiji’s public should keep asking themselves, who are these same people NOT criticizing and NOT holding to account?

Postscript 1

There is a much bigger issue here for political leaders (young and old) to grapple with. It is only natural that when responsible citizens who are dismayed with a government in power want to “do something about it”, they turn to Opposition Parties as a vehicle for their activism. Unfortunately, they also in the process acquire the historical baggage of that party or vehicle.

But Fiji’s recent political history should point to one sustainable and principled answer. When some Indo-Fijians were unhappy with the NFP leadership in the early 1980s they began the Fiji Labour Party. When some indigenous Fijians were unhappy with Rabukas leadership of the SVT after the 1999 Elections which he lost, they overnight began a new party, the SDL, which won the 2001 Elections.

Bainimarama and Khaiyum also began a totally new party (Fiji First Party- blatantly swiping another party’s name) which supposedly won the elections- albeit with all the benefits of a repressive military dictatorship, control of the media, control of the elections processes and systems, massive corporate support, and liberal use of taxpayers’ funds. 

But they did start a new party, whose foundation is unfortunately the control of the army and the military officers who merrily joined their bandwagon for personal benefit. How long this plundering lasts is anyone’s guess, but the experience of countries like Pakistan, Burma (Myanmar) and Indonesia where the military governments survived and thrived for decades is not terribly encouraging for Fiji and its apathetic public, easily swayed by freebies and diverted by rugby.

I hope to put a post soon on the leadership vacuum and challenges facing our young people (and old).

Postscript 2 (25/11/2017)

I have just read in Fijileaks, some of the comments by Dr. Ganesh Chand at the Fiji Labour Party Convention. His analysis of the current situation is quite correct, except that he lumps all the victims of the Bainimarama Government together:  “They have done that to me, to Mr Chaudhry, to Mr Qarase, they tried doing it to Mr Rabuka, they broke the doors and windows in [Aman] Ravindra Singh’s house, even Father Barr was not spared.”

It is sad that Dr Ganesh Chand does not hold some of these “victims” to account for their clearly shared responsibility, with Bainimarama and Khaiyum, for all the evils that he points out: such as total control of the media, the silencing of the NGOs and unions, weakening of academic institutions; the breakdown of the separation of the three arms of government.

Ganesh fails to mention that the Fiji Labour Party itself strengthened the military government after the 2006 military coup removed the multi-party Government of Qarase (i.e. including members of the FLP and Dr Chand’s colleagues) when the FLP Leader Mahendra Chaudhry joined the treasonous Bainimarama Government and served as its Finance Minister, until he was kicked out by forces and for reasons unknown.

I believe that Dr Ganesh Chand and Dr Mahendra Reddy also were advisers to the Bainimarama Government at one stage and they were personally approved to be the senior managers of the Fiji National University established with Bainimarama’s approval (and of course his Education Minister Filipe Bole). I have not heard Dr Chand previously criticize the senior managers of USP who destroyed its credibility as an academic institution.

While Qarase may have been a victim of the 2006 coup and FICAC, he was not opposed to the 2000 coup (one argument he used then was that “Fijians will not tolerate and Indian Prime Minister”), which brought him in as Prime Minister. Rabuka also has supported coups, not just the 1987 one but also others.

Father Barr also initially legitimated the Bainimarama Government by calling Bainimarama “Prime Minister” in a period when the media was accurately trying to call him “Interim” Prime Minister and justifying the 2006 military coup - that is, until his personal interest, the Wages Councils, were prevented from doing their job by instructions from Bainimarama and Khaiyum. Even the accusation of “crony capitalism” was withdrawn (or apologized for) when Barr was being kicked out of Fiji with colorful language.

The only person who probably would prefer not to be in the “victims” group named by Dr. Ganesh Chand is Aman Ravindra Singh, about whose involvement in coups I know little.  Perhaps Dr Ganesh Chand knows more about him, as he also does about many other wrong things that have gone on in Fiji since 2006 which he has been silent on- even the identity of the few businessmen who he now holds responsible for all the evil goings on.

Dr. Ganesh Chand of all people would know that the business sharks of Fiji (and elsewhere) will side with any Prime Minister who can help them or who will not harm them, and holding them responsible for the evils he is correctly pointing, while ignoring the other powerful agents, is again “rewriting history”.

I sincerely hope that Dr. Ganesh Chand clarified these aspects in his speech, more than is reported in Fijileaks.

"One of the mystifying aspects of Commander Bainimarama is his strong advocacy of the rule of law when it comes to prosecuting those who instigated the 2000 coups, but his apparent willingness to contemplate RFMF illegal action to remove the current government if it fails to meet his expectations.  Leadership of the opposition FLP seems to have a similarly relativist approach.  The FLP President, Mrs. Koroi, openly admitted to Fiji TV during the civil-military crisis in January that she would find it acceptable for the RFMF to remove the Qarase government and replace it with the pre-2000 Chaudhry government, to restore the previous status quo.  Chaudhry publicly backed away from Mrs. Koroi's statement at the time; but privately he seemed to imply to the Ambassador and Krawitz that it might be justifiable for the RFMF to remove the Qarase government and install an interim replacement, pending fair elections...
Mahendra Chaudhry, former PM deposed by the 2000 coup and still head of the FLP, phoned today to let the Ambassador know he intends to accept Bainimarama's offer of the Finance, Public Enterprises, and Sugar Reform portfolios.
When the Ambassador noted how disastrous the past coups had been for Fiji and for Chaudhry personally on two occasions, Chaudhry suggested this coup is different because the Qarase Government was so awful. 'Fiji could not have survived another five years.'
"
US ambassador Larry Dinger's secret cables to Washington, Wikileaks

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"I believe that Dr Ganesh Chand and Dr Mahendra Reddy also were advisers to the Bainimarama Government at one stage and they were personally approved to be the senior managers of the Fiji National University established with Bainimarama’s approval (and of course his Education Minister Filipe Bole)" - Professor Wadan Narsey

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ONCE A PHONE CALL AWAY FROM POWERS TO BE IN FIJI: Former Vice-Chancellor of the Fiji National University Dr Ganesh Chand and former Education Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy on their phones as they appeared separately for their trials in the Fijian courts
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Hansard, 1 June 2016:

HON. DR. M. REDDY.- Madam Speaker, what is the benefit of free education?

Madam Speaker, we have also recognised our toppers, our great minds who are the ones who will be pushing the frontier, Madam Speaker. Therefore, we have got a policy for them, to look after these people who will come and push the frontier in this country, Madam Speaker.

I cannot see any toppers from the other side, Madam Speaker, I cannot see, Madam Speaker.

(Laughter)

HON. DR. M. REDDY.- If there was any toppers from the other side, Madam Speaker, they would not have raised this issue of petition, Madam Speaker, unfortunately, there are no toppers there, Madam Speaker, I tell you in another ten years’ time, five years’ time, there will be some toppers sitting that side but they will be part of this side, Madam Speaker.
(Laughter)

HON. ROKO T.T.S. DRAUNIDALO.- … a fool …

HON. DR. M. REDDY.- Madam Speaker, as the Finance Minister has said, is a large ….

Madam Speaker, I was a topper.

HON. A. SAYED-KHAIYUM.- Madam Speaker, a point of order. Hon. Draunidalo called the Minister for Education “a fool”.

HON. ROKO T.T.S. DRAUNIDALO.- And he provided worse in his speech, calling us “dumb natives, you idiot” .

(Chorus of interjections)

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Dr Ganesh Chand to FLP Convention: "Fiji was heading towards the same road as Zimbabwe - dictatorship...If you show any signs of dissent, they will send FICAC after you, the police, the military – to CRUSH YOU'

25/11/2017

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“They have done that to me, to Mr Chaudhry, to Mr Qarase, they tried doing it to Mr Rabuka, they broke the doors and windows in [Aman] Ravindra Singh’s house, even Father Barr was not spared...Who is in control in Fiji? It’s a small group of very, very rich people. They decide on policies. They decide what happens...We have been receiving pain and suffering for 10 years now. It is time for us to stand up and fight. Fiji has enormous potentials. We can build it up again but for that we have to stand up and take action...There must be separation of powers between the three arms of government – the legislature, the executive and the judiciary and the processes that led to the judiciary. There was not much hope for a society where this separation of powers had been destroyed, as was the case in Fiji” - Ganesh Chand to FLP Convention

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FLP: Dr Ganesh Chand warns on where Fiji is headed

Academic Dr Ganesh Chand has warned that a society where its “mirror institutions” have collapsed and the three arms of government are no longer independent, that society will be doomed.

Speaking to the Labour Convention last Saturday, Dr. Ganesh warned that Fiji was heading towards the same road as Zimbabwe i.e dictatorship, unless each of us stood up and fought against what was wrong.

In a democracy it is the people who rule collectively. Here we don’t have that, he said and asked:

“Who is in control in Fiji?

It’s a small group of very, very rich people. They decide on policies. They decide what happens.”

He explained there must be separation of powers between the three arms of government – the legislature, the executive and the judiciary and the processes that led to the judiciary.

There was not much hope for a society where this separation of powers had been destroyed, as was the case in Fiji.

Apart from these three arms of the government, there were institutions that acted as mirrors for society – the media, trade unions, NGOs, academic institutions such as universities.

“In the last 10 years, all these have been totally destroyed:

• The media has been totally controlled by government

• The NGOS have been totally silenced

• The trade unions have been totally silenced

• The academic institutions have been totally weakened.

“The situation in Fiji today is that we no longer have these mirrors for society. When you break a mirror where are you going to look for the true images?” he asked.

“The people of Fiji no longer enjoyed the right to dissent. In a society where you purge the right to dissent, that society will collapse, Dr Ganesh warned

“The right to dissent is a basic requirement of any democracy. In Fiji it is totally banned. If you show any signs of dissent, they will send FICAC after you, they will send the police after you, they will send the military – they will use all the weapons of government to crush you because they don’t want dissent.”

“They have done that to me, to Mr Chaudhry, to Mr Qarase, they tried doing it to Mr Rabuka, they broke the doors and windows in Ravindra Singh’s house, even Father Barr was not spared.

“These things are fundamentally wrong. They are abhorrent and it becomes our duty to change what is wrong.”

Dr Ganesh said that both the Geeta (the Hindu scriptures) and the Bible taught that one must stand up against that which is wrong.

Giving his personal example, Dr Ganesh said he lodged a complaint with FICAC because “the 2013 Constitution had been severely breached by certain people in society”.

He never heard from FICAC.

He lodged two other complaints with FICAC involving millions of dollars in corruption. He even asked FICAC for the reference number for his complaint – did not hear from it.

He then wrote to the President and was glad to report that last week the President wrote back to say that he had instructed FICAC to provide a progress report on the matters.

“This is the state of this country. I am an aggrieved party. If as a citizen, my right to redress for grievance is taken away, where do I go? Who do I turn to?

“We have been receiving pain and suffering for 10 years now. It is time for us to stand up and fight. Fiji has enormous potentials. We can build it up again but for that we have to stand up and take action.”

He ended with a quote:

- A body of men holding themselves accountable to no one,
are not to be trusted by anybody -

“It is time for us to stand up and say I do not trust you.”

Dr Ganesh said he lodged a complaint with FICAC because “the 2013 Constitution had been severely breached by certain people in society”. He never heard from FICAC. He lodged two other complaints with FICAC involving millions of dollars in corruption. He even asked FICAC for the reference number for his complaint – did not hear from it. He then wrote to the President and was glad to report that last week the President wrote back to say that he had instructed FICAC to provide a progress report on the matters. “This is the state of this country. I am an aggrieved party. If as a citizen, my right to redress for grievance is taken away, where do I go? Who do I turn to?"
Fijileaks: Like Ganesh Chand, we had asked FICAC what action it was taking against Chand who had been accused of various offences during his time as FNU Vice-Chancellor but we had no response. He later appeared in court charged with one count of abuse of office

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Ganesh Chand is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with one count of abuse of office contrary to section 139 of the Crimes Decree of 2009.The particulars of the offence allege that Dr Chand while being employed in the public service as the vice-chancellor of the Fiji National University, acted in abuse of the authority of his office by approving the payments for overseas medical treatment for the then Minister for Education and the chairman of the Fiji National University Council, Filipe Bole, without the approval of the Fiji National University Council.

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Andrew Moti Singh, FNU's former Manager Finance Project, to FICAC:

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ANDREW MOTI SINGH TO FICAC:

Abuse of FNU credit card


In the past, both men [Ganesh Chand and Narendra Prasad] have used their FNU credit card to pay for their personal expenses and to the best of my knowledge have not repaid the amount to FNU. This is contrary to FNU’s own credit card policy which I enclose [ANNEXURE D]. It is patently clear from this policy that any FNU credit card must only be used for “official purposes” (1.1.1).

The policy goes on to clearly state that that the credit card “is not for personal expenditure” (3.1). There is nothing in the FNU credit card policy which specifically gives Chand and Prasad any authority whatsoever to use their allocated FNU credit cards for both business and personal purposes.

Despite such clear restriction, I have found out that both men have been using their FNU credit card for their personal expenditure and have created their individual debtors account for this purpose, in clear violation of the policy. Both will direct the finance staff to debit their personal expenditure incurred through use of their credit cards to their respective debtor account (or customer account). My investigations further revealed that instead of paying their debts the duo would either prolong payment, ignore or anticipate to have these written off. This was all done in collusion with a Shalend Anand whose role I have described below.

I enclose the customer accounts of Chand [ANNEXURE E] and Prasad [ANNEXURE F] from which FICAC will note that Chand owed FNU $15.45 since 2011, $6,810.03 since 2012 and $7,523.55 for 2013. Similarly, Prasad owed $2,159.17 for 2012 and $6,260.93 for 2013. It is patently clear from these documents that both men have been using FNU’s funds to pay for their personal expenditure, in flagrant disregard to FNU’s policy.

Even in a recent internal audit commissioned by Chand, the external auditors Price Waterhouse Coopers implicated Chand and Prasad using their credit cards to pay for their personal expenditure under the pretext of business expense. I enclose an extract [ANNEXURE G].

Despite this finding, both men have not paid their customer accounts, notwithstanding the fact that both knew (or ought to have known) they never had any authority whatsoever to incur the personal expenditure in the first place and then create a “customer account” in the FNU books to evade payment. In short, both have abused their position by unlawfully using FNU funds. What makes matters worse is the duo’s recent attempts to have these amounts written off. I am investigating this aspect of the matter and shall provide documentary evidence to FICAC separately.

This practice has been ongoing for years and should have been questioned by FNU’s senior finance manager, Shalend Anand. Anand is a CA and CPA and the most senior of all finance managers at FNU. The only reason he failed to question Chand and Prasad was because like others, he too was in Chand’s pocket. My investigations revealed that Mr Anand was given annual performance bonus of some $5,000 as kickback for being loyal to Chand/Prasad while other finance staff were ignored for their hard work, simply because they were not part of the Chand/Prasad clan. Those who queried the practice were sacked by Chand/Prasad.

I claim that both men have breached s139 of the Crimes Decree. That statutory provision clearly states that a person working for the public sector who directly or indirectly abuses the authority of his office by an arbitrary act prejudicing the rights of another person is guilty. As already mentioned, both men are employed by FNU – owned by the Government of Fiji. By using FNU’s credit card for their personal expenditure contrary to FNU policy and then not paying the amount due to FNU for such expenditure is clearly prejudicial to FNU and the taxpayers of Fiji. They attempt to have their debts written off makes matters worse. FNU is a “person” within the definition of s4 of the Decree.

Even if the men have recently paid their debt to FNU, this does not absolve them from any criminal liability whatsoever. The legislation makes that very clear. Had they borrowed the amounts outstanding in their credit card accounts from commercial banks, they would have to pay interest and charges. By using FNU funds both have avoided this which must attract severe sanctions, given their seniority and positions of trust. Anand has been complicit in the whole saga and his inactions must be properly scrutinised.

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HOOK, LINE AND STINKER: Fiji Times swallows the catch from John Connor, Executive Director of COP23 Presidency Secretariat: 'COP23 has not cost the Fijian Government anything...Fiji's costs covered by others.'

24/11/2017

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Fijileaks: Did John Connor abuse the Procurement Regulations 2010 to obtain $5million from AIYAZ SAYED KHAIYUM, the Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for Climate Change. We have sent questions to both of them.

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We have redacted the details while waiting for reply from John Connor and Aiyaz Khaiyum. The above letter contains Connor's signature

Let us make it very clear. We are NOT belittling Fiji's role in the COP23 presidency in Bonn but we are piercing through the CLIMATE OF SECRECY that prevails and the road to BONN. In fact, when the United States approached Fiji in Morocco to take up the presidency, Khaiyum was very hesitant, for after all, it was NOT his BABY. He was a reluctant Johnny-Come-Lately but gradually took control of the financial purse. But like the Prime Minister's Cyclone Relief Fund, will the general public ever know the true facts, figures, and donors to the Climate Fund? What will the taxpayers of the donor countries ask if they found out how their money was spent, running into millions of dollars. Many may argue the money could have gone to Fiji to get its people out of Winston tents!
Fijileaks: We have decided not to run any statement from that nationalist windbag NIKO NAWAIKULA, the Shadow Environment Minister.
HISTORY informs us that if this man is encouraged, Indo-Fijians will
either sink or swim out of Fiji, a plan his SODELPA leader Rabuka had in 1987. VICTOR LAL: "I have spent over three decades fighting for democracy, human rights, and corruption free Fiji. I don't want to wake up and find the likes of Nawaikula and other hardcore SODELPA nationalists throwing our people into the sea. In any event, not a day passes when Nawaikula's statements are not devoid of indigenous rights issues, as if other races or issues don't exist, or matter. No self-respecting Indo-Fijians (except maybe Jai Ram Reddy and Mahendra Chaudhry) must ever allow themselves to become second-class citizens in Rabuka-Nawaikula's Fiji. Niko Nawaikula is to Sitiveni Rabuka in 2017, what Apisai Tora, Ratu Meli Vesikula and Ratu Inoke Kubuabola were to Rabuka in 1987, which saw Indo-Fijians being beaten up, raped, made landless, forced to flee Fiji or remain second-class citizens. I have always put FIJI FIRST."

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MOE: MINISTRY OF ECONOMY under the control of Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, the MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

WELCOME HOME: The President of COP23 and Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama at the traditional welcome ceremony organised by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs at GCC complex

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Men of Vaturova, Cakaudrove at the traditional welcome ceremony organised by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs at GCC complex.
Every Fijian should be proud of what our country (Fiji) has achieved from the COP23 meeting that was held in Bonn, Germany earlier this month.

This was highlighted by the President of COP23 and Prime Minister Hon. Voreqe Bainimarama at the traditional welcome ceremony organised by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs at GCC complex.

In his speech, Prime Minister Bainimarama thanked all Fijians for their support during the three week meeting in Bonn, Germany.

“The meeting in Bonn, Germany was successful and this was possible through the long months of preparations and I must thank everyone for their support,” PM Bainimarama said.

“We have a huge task ahead of us next year and we need to work together to raise awareness on climate change and how it’s affecting everyone.”

PM Bainimarama further added that Fiji has accomplished a lot in terms of its presidency at COP23 meeting in Bonn and every Fijian should be proud of this achievement. Source: Fijian Government Facebook

TRAVEL COST FOR MARY, by the 'GRACE' of DONORS, runs into $$$$$$

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http://fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=424979

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ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CHIEF: Remember this chief, Ratu Tevita Momoedonu? He was branded a traitor by Fiji Labour Party, for acting as Prime Minister for 24 hours, so that deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, could be sacked after the 2000 George Speight coup. Now, Momoedonu is cynically collecting pension as 'former Prime Minister'. Yesterday, he was at the Great Council of Chiefs complex waiting to welcome Bainimarama and his COP23 delegation from Bonn
"Turaga nai Taukei Sawaieke, Ratu Tevita Momoedonu, await the arrival of the President of COP23 and Prime Minister Hon. Voreqe Bainimarama"

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BACK FROM THE COLD: Momoedonu waiting to greet Bainimarama

VICTOR LAL: During the 2000 crisis, I had recommended (in May 2000) that the then President Ratu Mara should dismiss Chaudhry who was held hostage and appoint Momoedonu, albeit briefly, as Prime Minister so that Momoedonu could advise Ratu Mara to suspend Parliament and assume emergency powers.  In 2000, Momoedonu was the only FLP Cabinet Minister not present in Parliament when George Speight stormed the complex on 19 May 2000, taking Chaudhry and other government members hostage. I had cited Section 106 of the 1997 Constitution of Fiji which provided: 'The President may appoint a minister to act in the office of other minister, including the Prime Minister, during any period, or during all period when the minister is absent from duty or from Fiji islands, or if for any other reason.' I had argued that there can be little doubt that given the then existing hostage crisis that Chaudhry was not only absent but also was unable to perform the functions of that office. However, that Ratu Mara was obliged under the section to appoint an existing minister to act. Momoedonu fitted the bill as that Minister, I had argued, in one of my political columns.
And, in 2001, I had recommended that the new President Ratu Josefa Iloilo should consider re-appointing Momoedonu as Prime Minister to advice him to dissolve Parliament, and for Fiji to go to the polls, instead of re-appointing Chaudhry as Prime Minister because of bitter divisions over FLP leadership and defections from the deposed Peoples Coalition Government.  There was no longer, I had argued, a cohesive PCG in waiting. But I had recommended that there should be a provision disallowing Momoedonu to exploit his appointments and start claiming pension in the future. The appointments, although brief, controversially entitled Momoedonu to a lifetime pension amounting to 20 percent of the then Prime Minister's salary of $70,000 per year. The FFP government has also restored his pension; his first term of office was on 27 May 2000 and lasted only a few minutes. His second term - from 14 to 16 March 2001 - was for two days. Yesterday he was in his chiefly regalia, welcoming Bainimarama, who during the 2000 hostage crisis was army commander

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VICTOR LAL in Fiji's Daily Post, Option Two: Military Rule but which Lal discouraged and suggested a constitutional solution - appointment of Momoedonu and sacking of Chaudhry to resolve the hostage impasse
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VICTOR LAL in Fiji's Daily Post, March 2001. Option Three - Dissolve Parliament and for Fiji to go to the polls instead of calling on a fractured deposed Peoples Coalition Government to return to power
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COP 23 Welcome Party was planned by well-intentioned but NAIVE Civil Servants says Khaiyum, Minister Responsible for Climate Change. But $35,000 party cost is small change compared to millions at his disposal

23/11/2017

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Two and half million at disposal of Bainimarama and Khaiyum for COP23

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We have redacted the account number of the Climate Fund

This Act may be cited as the COP
23 Presidency Trust Fund Act 2017

MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY
The Act comes under the responsibility of the Minister responsible for finance.
A. SAYED-KHAIYUM
Attorney-General

WAIT! Bainimarama had assured Parliament that no funds would be diverted from other Ministries to fund COP 23. So why $245,508.01 was diverted from MOE?

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MOE: MINISTRY OF ECONOMY under the control of Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, the
MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

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Amena Yauvoli is the Director General for the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). As the COP23 Presidency’s Pacific Special Representative, Ambassador Yauvoli is responsible for outreach to and engagement with other Pacific island countries and territories. Prior to his appointment as Director General, Ambassador Yauvoli served as Fiji’s Ambassador for Climate Change.
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COP23GATE: More to follow from bank statements, emails etc, etc, etc!!!
Half a million was set aside for Agriculture Minister Inia Seruiratu to globe trot as designated CLIMATE CHAMPION when Fijians are living in tents after Winston

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From Fijileaks Archive, 20 October 2017

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Large scale welcome ceremony to greet COP 23 delegation was not government’s intention - AG

The Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Climate Change Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum has highlighted that having a large-scale welcome ceremony to greet the COP 23 delegation was not the intent of the government, the Prime Minister or his team but was the result of independent planning by a few well‑intentioned but perhaps naive civil servants.

Sayed-Khaiyum says some people are making political points after the success of COP 23.

He says they accomplished far more than the state parties expected Fiji to do so.

Sayed-Khaiyum says that Fiji is now more than a vacation spot and a rugby powerhouse to the international community, as it is now a global leader at the forefront of the most pressuring issue of our time that is climate change.

He says they have attracted hundreds and millions of dollars in green infrastructure projects that will be rolled out in the next few years that will not only make Fiji more climate resilient but will boost a thriving economy.

What were the main benefits to Fiji after COP23?

Fijivillage had asked Sayed-Khaiyum to give details on how it will benefit Fijians after the meeting.

Sayed‑Khaiyum says the climate change leadership has already yielded many fruits domestically.

He says projects from the World Bank, the Green Climate Fund, the European Investment Bank and the Leonardo Dicaprio Foundation will make our villages and rural areas more secure, water and electricity cleaner and helps in building a brighter and more resilient future.

The Attorney General says the value of all the exposure Fiji gained from the COP is immense and there is no monetary value to it.

This also came at zero expense to the Fijian taxpayer thanks to generous support from the international community.

He says while the responsibility is great, it is one with the continuous support.

The European Investment Bank has partnered with the Fijian Government to fund a water and wastewater investment programme to better protect water infrastructure against natural disasters in Fiji and strengthen the resilience of water distribution and wastewater treatment.

The project will focus on improving current service levels, reduce leakages and enable quicker resumption of water supply following cyclones.

They have signed a $75 million loan agreement to support the project.

The Drua Insurance Incubator will be an important new initiative to develop finance and insurance products that are tailor‑made to the needs and circumstances of vulnerable and low‑income households in Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries.

The Government of Luxembourg has agreed to provide initial funding of 1 million euros for the initiative.

At the request of the Fijian Government, the World Bank carried out a Climate Vulnerability Assessment of Fiji to identify the scale of climate risks posed to Fiji to better inform climate adaptation measures.

The assessment determined Fiji’s annual losses due to extreme weather events could reach 6.5% of GDP by 2050 and that an estimated $9.3 billion over the next 10 years is required to finance adaptation work across Fiji.

The assessment will have a direct impact on Fiji's critical climate adaption work to ensure resources are allocated appropriately in vulnerable regions across the country.

At COP23, Australia also committed an additional $9.4 million towards the initiative to support efforts to protect and manage coastal blue carbon ecosystems in the Pacific, in partnership with Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries. 

While important work remains to be done, COP23 made significant progress toward clear and comprehensive implementation guidelines for the Paris Agreement, which will make the agreement operational.

This is crucial to help governments plan their economies, and give confidence to investors and businesses that the low‑carbon economy is here to stay.

Countries will need to finalise the implementation guidelines at COP24 in Poland next year.

The Fijian COP23 Presidency launched the Ocean Pathway Partnership to encourage the climate negotiations process to address the relationship between climate change and the ocean.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) contributed 110 million euros to launch the InsuResilience Global Partnership for Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance Solutions to bring affordable insurance and other financial protection to millions of vulnerable people around the world.

The contribution from BMZ follows a £30 million commitment that was made by the Government of the United Kingdom in July.

Launch of the Fiji Clearing House for Risk Transfer: This new online resource will help connect vulnerable countries with the best available information on affordable insurance and solutions – tailored to their unique circumstances – that will allow them to better prepare for the risks posed by climate change.

Countries also finalised the first‑ever Gender Action Plan. It also seeks to increase awareness of and support for the development and effective implementation of gender‑responsive climate policy at all levels of government.

A new platform will provide direct and comprehensive means to give a greater voice to local and indigenous people in the climate negotiations and allow them to share their traditional knowledge and best practices on reducing emissions, adapting to climate change and building resilience.

Countries also reached a historic agreement on agriculture that will help countries develop and implement new strategies for adaptation and mitigation within the sector, to both reduce emissions as well as build resilience to the effects of climate change. This was historic because it was the first time in the history of the climate negotiations that countries had reached an agreement on agriculture.

The Adaptation Fund was also replenished with a total of US $93.3 million, exceeding this year’s funding target by US $13 million. The Adaptation Fund has a track record of providing valuable resources to communities in developing countries for projects that help improve resilience to the effects of climate change.

A delegation of sub‑national US leaders led by Gov. Jerry Brown of California and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg presented a report on the ongoing efforts by American states, cities, businesses and civil society to uphold the emissions reduction target of the United States under the Paris Agreement.

Local and regional leaders gathered to officially adopt the Bonn‑Fiji Commitment of Local and Regional Leaders to Deliver the Paris Agreement at All Levels, a pledge that signals their commitment to bring forward a critical shift in global development.

The Bonn‑Fiji Commitment highlights the pledge to raise collective ambition for climate action.

The World Health Organisation has also launched a special initiative to protect people living in Small Island Developing States from the health impacts of climate change.

Its goal by 2030 is to triple the levels of international financial support to climate and health in Small Island Developing States.

The Fijian COP23 Presidency also presided over the first ever Open Dialogue between governments and non‑state actors (including civil society, municipal governments and businesses) within the formal climate negotiations.

The Attorney General has also confirmed that the President of France Immanuel Macron called for a similar sort of meeting for all the leaders on the 12th of December which the Prime Minister will be attending and more new initiatives are expected to be announced. Source: Fijivillage News, 24 November 2014

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FLP CONVENTION: The party's latest member and the former People's Democratic Party general secretary and lawyer Aman Ravindra Singh to convention: "Speak UP for your rights. People living in fear under FFP"

23/11/2017

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Human Rights lawyer Aman Ravindra Singh’s message to the Labour Convention on Saturday was for people to stand up and fight against the denial of their human rights in this country.

“You must start getting engaged. Talks to your friends, talk to your families. You need to oppose. Do not remain silent. Your silence is telling the regime that you accept all this,” he said.

“If you see anything wrong. Oppose. You need to stop accepting illegal activity. You need to stop accepting torture and violence.”

Speaking on Human Rights and Elections, Aman warned that unless we were prepared to force the issue, “…We will be robbed again next year. And that is a fact”.

“They boasted about 1-day elections. But that was a big lie. We had two weeks of elections.”

On government’s failure to implement the recommendations of the Multinational Observer Mission on changes to electoral process, he asked: “Is this government serious about free and fair elections?”

“The core issue here is our civil and political rights. If we want transparency, free and fair elections, we need to be more active. We need to make demands.”

He said in a country where people were denied their basic human rights – their right to think freely, their right to speak openly, their right to choose their own city and town councils – that government had no right to speak to the world about Climate Change.

“That is not democracy. That is dictatorship,” he said.

Referring to the decaying ships in the Suva Harbour, he said a government that could not respect environmental rights, had no right to go about advocating Climate Change.

“Fiji is posing as the champion of ClimateChange … government is out there on the world stage preaching about Climate Change … right now it looks more like an extended tourism show.

“It is all a façade. It is all a fake. What they are trying to do is to detract you and I from the realities here. The reality is that in Fiji we are being denied our fundamental human rights.

“You and I live in an environment of fear. People are scared. They live in fear. When you say anything about government, they will start looking around, they will hush up. Is this democracy?

“They have taken away your right to express yourself freely, your right to think freely. You have a right to speak freely and not what you are forced to say.

“Government is a bunch of bullies, a bunch of murderers. Fiji government is so scared it continues to use torture as its main weapon to instill fear in people. It practices State sponsored torture as a tool to make sure people do not criticize the government.

“… I know because I speak from experience,” said the lawyer who has represented a number of cases of people accused of sedition and who himself has been subjected to intimidation and other forms of pressure from the authorities.

From Fijileaks Archive, 2 March 2016

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COP23 issues coming home to roost? As Fiji prepares $35,000 party to welcome the delegates home on Friday, we look back at NFP leader Biman Prasad's analysis which had attracted rebuke from Bainimarama

23/11/2017

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"It is noteworthy that there was no communications or consultations nationally, regionally or internationally as Fiji lobbied to get the presidency for COP23 in Marrakesh. Even our fellow members of the Pacific and SIDS (Small Islands Developing States) were caught unaware." - NFP leader Professor Biman Prasad, January 2017

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We will reveal soon how AMERICA arm-twisted FIJI to accept COP23 Presidency when it became clear IRAN was emerging favourite to take over the presidency from MOROCCO.
We will also reveal the millions the consultants charged Fiji in fees, based on e-mails, project details, and the bank statements leaked to us

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Iran's Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar delivers a speech during the opening day of the UN Paris Climate Change Conference at Le Bourget on the outskirts of the French capital, Paris, on November 30, 2015
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Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum opens the United States Agency for International Development’s Climate Ready Project Office in Suva. Khaiyum said adaptation is a huge focus for Fiji and the Climate Ready Office set up is timely. “Eighty-percent of all climate funds that are available goes towards mitigation and only 20 percent is allocated for adaptation which is a huge challenge for many countries like Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries (PICs) where the money is required primarily for adaptation as opposed to mitigation,”
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Prasad: COP23 presidency — facing the gravity of the task for Fiji

January 15, 2017,
The Fiji Times


ANALYSIS:

By Professor Biman Prasad

It has been interesting to read about Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s intentions on COP23 (Conference of Parties 23) in his 2017 new-year message. This seems to have been the first “official” comment on the COP23 presidency which has thus far been shrouded in secrecy.

The narrative

It is noteworthy that there was no communications or consultations nationally, regionally or internationally as Fiji lobbied to get the presidency for COP23 in Marrakesh. Even our fellow members of the Pacific and SIDS (Small Islands Developing States) were caught unaware.

A robust consultation nationally would have helped government appreciate the gravity of the task which Fiji as a nation was committing to, both in terms of the costs of undertaking this and our capacity to do so.

Coming straight after Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, as many of our citizens are still struggling to get their lives together, a legitimate question is whether this should be really our priority. This has been further exacerbated by the recent revelation of over F$11 million costs because of the recent floods.

Does the government have the resources for accepting such an extravagant international agenda, when nationally it is in dire need of resources to assist with the recent disasters?

The government should be open and reveal details such as the expected costs and arrangements of hosting both the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) COP23 and the Oceans Conference and the cost of consultants if any. Aren’t these fundamental values; openness, transparency, inclusiveness in the UN ways of doing things?

It is extraordinary that Fiji has opted to take the leadership on two of the most important issues on the international agenda for 2017. The taxpayers of this country have a right to know how much of their money is being spent on these commitments, especially when the wealthier members of the Asia-Pacific group opted not to take on this responsibility.

The PM talked effusively about his “need” to travel the world and host pre-COP meetings. This comes at a significant cost to the nation when the leader of our executive branch takes (not seeks) approval by way of a New Year’s message, to traipse all over the world.

Fundamentally, citizens and taxpayers of this country, must to be consulted extensively on what positions we are taking on many of the vexed issues within the climate change and oceans agenda with a clear view in mind of the benefits to us or in economic terms, the return on investment. After all it is still unclear what tangible benefits we derived from the chairmanship of the G77 and recently the SBI within the UNFCCC.

Now that Fiji has cajoled the UN membership into taking on this huge privilege and responsibility for the COP23 presidency, the National Federation Party will advocate that this critical issue of climate change and environmental leadership is only possible through genuine and meaningful partnership, backed by a strong track record at the national level.

As members of the Opposition, we will strongly advocate for transparency in multilateral environmental negotiations that should, in the first instance, be taken to the people’s house for robust debate and scrutiny
We offer the following observations.

COPs: Unravelling

The ‘technicalese’

It is widely recognised that COP23 will be a “technical” COP where work on the “rule book” for implementing the Paris Agreement will continue. We also know that the technical capacity within government is extremely limited.
Does the Climate Change Unit, now situated in Ministry of Economy have the required expertise to deal with this issue? Perhaps the Prime Minister’s office and the Ministry of Economy should consider where the Climate Change Unit should be based, given the COP23 will be handled by the PM’s office.

It becomes manifestly evident that the move of climate change to the Ministry of Economy is with one objective in mind — to access global climate change funds. If this is the mind-set which is the driver of our engagement at these negotiations, it is a zero sum game.

The much lauded Green Growth framework that was echoed at the PIDF (Pacific Islands Development Forum) and again in the 2016/2017 Budget supplement remains glaringly non-existent at the implementation level. High-level narratives can no longer cut it.

The strength of our participation in our negotiating bloc AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States), which corralled the world into the acceptance of the 1.5 degree benchmark has been because of the strength and exceptionalism of our technical arguments, driven by our environment ministries and their performance on our reporting obligations.

All of which were based on science and research. It isn’t the cutting edge science alone that won these debates, but rather the ingenuity of our technical specialists in putting forward suggestions that AOSIS members had to work with, based on our limitations.

Over the years, Fiji’s contributions in the negotiations has been almost non-visible as is evident from the lack of communications to UNFCCC Secretariat on matters seeking parties’ views, the dearth of Fiji participants taking the lead on any of the technical issues on behalf of AOSIS (in spite of a delegation size of over 40 — one of the highest from any developing country!) and our abysmal record in terms of fulfilling our reporting obligations under the UNFCCC. The fact that Fiji’s INDC report, supported by off-shore technical assistance reached the UNFCCC late, is telling.

Fiji cannot claim to be impoverished by a lack of intellect on climate change. There are many individuals, civil societies and institutions who are experts on climate change and multilateral environmental fora and who would only be willing to provide assistance, if they are politely requested to.

Indeed, if the mantra of this government on trade is to “Buy Fiijan Made”, this should surely also extend to our local knowledge and expertise that we should be aggressively promoting if we are sincere about COP23 being Fijian made.

That being said, being completely inclusive does not ensure sincerity.

The genesis of the PIDF, another publicly assisted body that is yet to show any tangible benefit at the ground level, was advocated for by certain IGOs. It remains to be seen how taxpayers paying about $100,000 for parking for the PIDF complex a few years ago, has added any real value to our people.

If citizens and taxpayers are subjected to a COP23 presidency that is held up by publicly funded offshore contractors with no obligation or commitment to Fiji, and whose ultimate interests and agendas leave us wide open and vulnerable as a COP president, the zero sum game then becomes riddled with added vulnerabilities that our people then become liable for.

A genuine SIDS presidency by Fiji is possible but it can only be meaningful if we reach out to involve our AOSIS family. It would be important to define the key issues that our COP23 presidency will promote.

This is a great opportunity to bring to the top of the climate agenda the specific issues of small island states. Clearly the identification of these issues should be done through inclusive consultations nationally, sub-regionally, regionally as well as with our fellow members of the AOSIS.

Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement recognises the participation of the civil society and the private sector as vital to the goal of implementing the Paris agenda. The government needs to reach out to the civil society groups and the business sector in an open, transparent process where these can contribute meaningfully to the process.
Fiji should begin by signing the Doha amendment to the Kyoto Protocol and lobby to have this ratified so tangible actions are taken by countries for the next three to four years before the Paris Agreement comes into effect.

Given the PM’s stated goal to get the industrialised nations to reduce the emissions, and the concerns that the current commitments would lead to nearly 30C temperature rise, actions taken before 2020 will be vital in our attempts to reduce global emissions. The Doha amendment will require these countries to take pre-2020 actions according to the Kyoto Protocol commitments.

These are not new ideas, the whole world is aware of the changes that need to take place, and industrialised nations continue to lag behind.

What will make Fiji’s COP 23 presidency different where decades of international pressure has failed to curb the world’s worrying 3-degree trajectory? These are valid strategic and tactical negotiation aspects that only a sincere and meaningful “Fijian Made” COP23 presidency can unleash.

From the ground up

The greatest strength to any negotiation tactic is to “show not tell”. Around the world, technological innovations are happening at breakneck speed. What seemed impossible, is now possible and many of these great ideas are coming from places least expected.

Inquisitive young minds are encouraged to break the mould and venture into start-ups. All this is possible if policies and incentives are in place to encourage radical innovation.

Imposing reduced tariff’s for electric cars as a policy by the Ministry of Economy is old-school thinking
.
Our record on renewables and energy efficiency can be enhanced greatly through use of solar, wind and ocean power, through the use of efficient energy appliances, and proper policies and plans at sectoral levels that should all converge nationally.

However, Fiji’s NDC lacks depth and scope, as it merely talks about the electricity sector (where we are fortunate to have a significant contribution from hydro but contributions of other renewables is less than 1 percent) but fails to consider opportunities in transport (the largest growing sector for emissions), agriculture, forestry, tourism etc. Cabinet has yet to adopt the draft Energy Policy that was developed over two years ago.
Loss and damage, a key negotiation push is being timidly approached nationally.

Conversations with the insurance industry are necessary but there is much in the national policy space that can also be explored so that there is parity in the burden.

Chance for new narrative

Citizens should all actively look forward to detailed announcements on the preparations for the COP23. Questions like which particular ministries or arms of government will be directly involved; who will be the key experts advising Government; meaningful strategies for the participation of NGOs and the private sector; anticipated costs and how Government should raise revenue, should be answered both in public spaces and in the august house.

As always, the NFP stands ready to assist but the record of FijiFirst government on bipartisanship in matters of national importance will prove us right again.

While time ticks on, Mother Nature the final arbiter, is under no obligation to the Qorvis narrative.


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