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CAMPUS VIOLENCE?: "I was assaulted by USP Student Association president Whitlam Saeni", Wansolwara student newspaper editor Sonal Singh; "No, I did not assault him, it was Melanesian type banter" - Saeni

17/4/2015

8 Comments

 
PictureSaeni
USP investigates student editor assault claim

Security authorities at the University of the South Pacific in Suva are investigating a report that the editor of the student newspaper was allegedly assaulted on campus for a report in the Wansolwara paper.

Editor Sonal Singh was allegedly assaulted by the President of the USP Students Association federal council, Whitlam Saeni for a report about the auditing of one of its affiliated body’s finances.

Singh alleges he was assaulted by Whitlam Saeni outside the library on Sunday evening.

“People are saying that youths should raise their voices against what is going wrong but now since we have raised our voice ,we are getting punched for it. what do people want from from this. So I am deeply disappointed with what happened. He was the president of USPSA and this was totally unexpected from him."

In a written statement given to FBC News, Saeni said there was no assault as alleged by Singh.

He added it was a ‘cultural and psychological issue.’

He says he tried to correct Singh about the article which was not verified and he did not give permission to use his photograph.

Saeni says he raised to Singh’s face -‘the normal thing he did with Melanesian friends.’

USP has confirmed receiving a complaint in regards to an assault and investigation into the matter has commenced in adherence to the university policies.

A statement says the parties that were involved will be informed of the outcome .- See more at: http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/28651/usp-investigates-student-editor-assault-claim#sthash.yCOa8sVc.dpuf

Picture
Wansolwara editor Sonal Singh (centre) with two editorial colleagues and the front page report on USPSU finances. Saeni says he raised to Singh’s face -‘the normal thing he did with Melanesian friends.’

SELF-CENSORSHIP or SLACKNESS? We note that to date the Fiji Media has NOT reviewed (apart from Wansolwara) David Robie's book Don’t Spoil My Beautiful Face: Media, Mayhem and Human Rights in the Pacific. Although it came out last year it is astonishing that Fiji media has not reviewed the book in spite of the ongoing issues confronting the Pacific addressed in Robie's book. Another classic example of self-censorship in Fiji? In some respects DSMBF is a sequel to Robie's earlier book Blood On Their Banner

PictureProfessor Robie
Writing in the latest Media International Australia, Associate Professor Pradip Thomas, co-director of the University of Queensland's Centre for Communication and Social Change, said Robie's Don't Spoil My Beautiful Face: Media, Mayhem and Human Rights in the Pacific was an important addition to the literature on the media in the region, "uncovering the lapses of failed states, distant empires and domestic politics":

"This book is a compendium of writings by David Robie and is a reflection of his long and eventful career as a journalist, media educator, political commentator and human rights activist in the Asia-Pacific region.


There are expats who opt for patronising accounts of the realities that they have been part of and others who have intentionally learned from the communities that they have been privileged to be a part of.

Thankfully, Robie belongs to this latter category. It is difficult to understand the Pacific precisely because of its extraordinary diversity, but also because there is a paucity of information on the realities of life in the Pacific.

David has tried hard to set that record straight and this book is a reflection of the reporting of key events that have shaped the Pacific  – from the struggles related to the decolonisation of New Caledonia to the 1985 bombing of the
Rainbow Warrior (on which Robie incidentally was still on board two days prior to the bombing), the political economy of the media in the Pacific in particular in Fiji, the travails of media education in the Pacific and the general volatility in the region caused by economic and political instability and the impunity with which colonial and neo-colonial relationships continue to shape the Pacific.

The writings are important historical accounts of the shaping of Pacific nations caught as they are between their own internal ethnic complexities on the one hand, and external drivers of change on the other, who quite often deal with the symptoms and not the causes, thus opting for the "dependency" model and band-aid solutions.


It is extraordinary that David has been writing about climate change and nuclear fall-out refugees in the Pacific perhaps for much longer than anyone other journalist. The stories on the nuclear crisis include textured accounts of the lives of ordinary people who were mere pawns in the context of French nuclear testing in the Pacific and who endured humanitarian tragedies that were scarcely reported in the rest of the world.

That David covered such stories with an eye for detail and commitment to truth-telling is one of the strengths of this volume.

While the book includes accounts of struggles in the Philippines, Timor-Leste and Fiji, it also includes a very interesting section on the status of, and the challenges faced by journalism education in the Pacific.

Having been involved in assessing the programme at the University of the South Pacific, Fiji, I am familiar with David’s critique, in particular, the lack of enabling environments supportive of journalism education in the Pacific.

The volatility in the region shapes all enterprises including the practice of journalism and David’s account clearly reveals the consequences of this continuing uncertainty on both the practice of journalism and  journalism education in the region.

PicturePradip Thomas
This is an important addition to the literature on the media in the Pacific. Investigative journalism at its best, uncovering the lapses of failed states, distant empires and domestic politics." - Pradip Thomas, [Book Review] [online]. Media International Australia, Incorporating Culture & Policy, No. 154, Mar 2015.

DSMBF is available in Fiji: http://uspbookcentre.com/store/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=UBC&Product_Code=9781877484254&Category_Code=NR

8 Comments
Truth about the student president link
17/4/2015 04:58:09 am

Saeni has a tendency to throw his weight around and threaten. His usual dialogue is " I will go and see the VC if you don't listen to me". He threatened me 2 years ago. My respond was go and see anyone anyone you like, I won't change my decision.

Reply
Chun Mun
17/4/2015 07:03:56 am

Is this the USPGate that was promised by Fijileaks?

Reply
welcome Home
17/4/2015 07:37:24 am

We are not surprised, are we, by thiis aggressive, inordinate response? The constant excuse of cultural relevance and misrepresentation of violent language and actual assault/insult (viz the Crimes decree 2009) as mere banter, shows us all where we have now arrived. In the absence of robust investigative journalism over a period of eight years including a declared State of Emergency lasting three years or more, the psychological state of the country is shot. Ordinary people do extraordinary things and believe that they may. Who is likely to prevent them? Citizens Arrest should be reinstated in law but will serve no good end unless all agencies of the state are there to uphold the Rule of Law and Good Order. Leadership of a high order is demanded. A failure to review books however worthy is small fry in such a climate. Recall the notice in a prominent book department : "No FREE reading"". It is enough to make one weep! This is a town where since 2005 no fewer than five murders took place and scarcely merited a line of cogent reporting. The Town Special Administrator is now charged with Abuse of Office and bribery along with others. What of the conspicuous lack of courageous reporting in the face of this catalogue of ills?

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Suspend Him
17/4/2015 08:18:53 pm

The culprit should be sent packing, shame on him.

USP needs to reassess it's image, VC also was a regime appointee, now post election 2014 he should not be hanging about shamelessly.

Reply
No FREE Reading
19/4/2015 01:43:57 am

Let's be specific about this town - Nadi. There is a so-called City council and also a chamber of commerce. Both Daily newspapers have offices. Both NCC and Chamber were alerted to conspicuous corruption, organised web of crime leading to alleged murder of at least two businessmen at their home premises and vicious harassment of women in business and their immediate family. Nil action and nil response from either Daily Newspaper over four years. No Court Reporting because no court presence in Nadi, Sigatoka or High Court even at Appeal Cases for murder, cocaine trafficking, aggravated robbery and aggravated rape. Is this conduct becoming? Conduct worthy of a functioning government with a perceived rule of law and duty of care towards all citizens and residents? The Cabal of Corruption has extended nation-wide and now we may see WHY and HOW. A grievous, grubby March of Folly. Ask Sitiveni Rabuka who holds a signed copy.

Reply
Dekho
20/4/2015 02:19:13 am

This is the new breed of student leaders at USP. They will go on to become thug rulers later on.

Reply
Criminal Offense
20/4/2015 04:21:04 pm

The bottom line is that assault is a criminal offense. It should not be tolerated....banter or not.

Reply
Asking the Right Questions in Nausori
20/4/2015 11:07:46 pm

Has Nausori Chamber of Commerce bothered to ask itself why thugs and mayhem run riot in their streets? The ASP is failing to ask also. There is a direct connection between the corruption in Nausori and that in Nadi and Ba towns. The hard yards must be applied. In Nadi at least one man lost his life at his own gate due to this ingrained organised criminal network. Stop this disingenuous nonsense .... Failing to ask the smart questions begs another: are you part of it?

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