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TAKING A LEAF OUT OF FIJI'S COUP BOOK: Vanuatu Speaker Pipite pardons himself and 13 others convicted of bribery, saying it was done for sake of stability, otherwise like Fiji, "We will have coups in Vanuatu"

12/10/2015

7 Comments

 

When pressed on how the bribery convictions could spark instability,  Pipite failed to answer. He was acting president, claiming he had received advice from five lawyers to enact the pardons, and gazetted the
decision on Sunday

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"CONROTE" WHO: Fijians and even Rotumans take to social media asking who is Jioje Konrote - the new President; he is best known for taking part in all three Fijian coups, and finally gets top position in Fiji!
Pipite had signed a MOU with Speaker Luveni to foster close association with the parliaments of Fiji and Vanuatu

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August 2015: The Honorable Speaker of Parliament of Vanuatu Hon. Marcellino Pipite MP today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with his counterpart Speaker. Hon. Dr. Jiko Luveni of Fiji in a historic gesture to foster closer relations with the Fiji Parliament. On introductions yesterday 6th of August, the Speaker of Parliament for Vanuatu congratulated Dr. Jiko Luveni on her appointment as the Speaker of parliament for the Republic of Fiji and further congratulated her for being a role model figure for women in the pacific region steering politics in this vital role. The initiative taken by the Vanuatu speaker of parliament envisages a reciprocal regional engagement forum where speakers from within the region can discuss and share ideas and assist each other to develop their respective houses and improve the standard of services to their members. The Speaker further proposed that regional parliaments should have a charter of all speakers’ to provide a foundation of cooperation to foster democracy and good governance and leadership within the region. The MOU between Vanuatu and Fiji is the beginning of what the speaker of Parliament for Vanuatu believes is a foundation of the partnership he envisages for the pacific region.
Vanuatu anti-corruption group slams mass pardon of convicted MPs as 'a national disgrace'; ombudsman receives suspension notice

An anti-corruption group in Vanuatu has blasted a minister's decision to pardon himself and 13 other government MPs of bribery convictions as "a national disgrace".

Speaker Marcellino Pipite used his interim executive powers while the president was abroad to issue presidential pardons on Sunday, following last Friday's convictions by the Supreme Court.

Justice Mary Sey ruled that payments amounting to 35 million vat ($452,000) were corruptly made by the deputy prime minister, corruptly received, and designed to influence MPs in their capacity as public officials.

Mr Pipite said the unprecedented move was made in the best interests of the country and to avoid political instability seen elsewhere in the Pacific in recent decades.

But Jenny Ligo, the chair of Women Against Crime and Corruption, said it is "a national disgrace" and her group is planning a march to express their feelings.

"This is not on. They should wait patiently for the sentencing. But instead they have come to another level of doing (sic) a criminal act," she told Pacific Beat.

"They don't care about this country and its people, they only care about themselves.

"I'm calling on the citizens of Vanuatu, especially in Port Vila, if they can see the importance of upholding the law because this is all corruption.

"The opposition having not come out yet. Even the prime minister of this country is not doing anything. He also allows part of his government to mess up his administration."

Mr Pipite and the 13 other MPs, including deputy prime minister Moana Carcasses, were due to be sentenced on October 22.

They were facing a maximum of 10 years in jail along with the loss of their seats in parliament.

Ombudsman also 'suspended'

It emerged late this afternoon that Mr Pepite also issued an order suspending the nation's ombudsman, Kalkot Mataskelekele, while in his acting capacity as president.

Mr Mataskelekele, a former president himself, is refusing to accept its legality and insists he is still the ombudsman.

He said the letter, which he only received this morning, is dated October 10 and "alleges to suspend me because of alleged gross misconduct".

"I have conferred with senior staff of the ombudsman's office and especially the principle legal officer, and looking at the Ombudsman's Act myself there's nothing at all in the Ombudsman's Act referring to the power of a president to suspend an ombudsman," he said.

"I am still the ombudsman of Vanuatu, and I am in the throes of writing a letter to the head of state to seek his advice on the allegations of the acting president, previously."

Extraordinary' case

Under Vanuatu law, the speaker acts as president when the latter is travelling overseas and has the powers of pardoning, commutation and reduction of sentences.

President Baldwin Lonsdale returned to Port Vila late Sunday afternoon, ending Mr Pipite's acting role.

Professor Cheryl Saunders, from Melbourne University's law school, said that while the pardon appears to be constitutional, it remains to be seen whether the decision can be overturned by a court.

"There is a provision in the constitution that allows the president to pardon people who have been convicted, and the section appears to be unrestricted in the sense that it doesn't prevent a president pardoning himself or herself," Ms Saunders said.

"So if the speaker is standing in the shoes of the president, the speaker has power to perform all the president's functions, so on the face of the constitution it seems to be allowed, extraordinary it may be.

"On the other hand, you can ask yourself 'are there any subtle legal arguments that might enable for this decision to be attacked, is there an argument based on separation of powers ... or is there some sort of argument based on bias' — the principle that says a person may not be judge in his own court."

Vanuatu finance minister Willie Jimmy, who pleaded guilty, did not have his conviction overturned in the announcement.

In 2004, then-Vanuatu president Alfred Maseng Nalo refused to use his special powers to pardon himself of his criminal conviction. Source: Pacific Beat

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A number of people and the Rotuman website have quoted Konrote as being President elect.  Not true!  Konrote was not elected by the people of Fiji, as it is in the United States.  Konrote was voted in by the dictatorship! There is a big difference between being voted in by the "People of Fiji" and being voted in by the "Fiji Dictatorship in parliament".   Konrote is therefore NOT "President Elect" but the parliamentary dictatorship's President just like the speaker of house, dentist Jiko Luveni - TruthforFiji

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May 2012: The Minister of Education of Vanuatu, Honourable Marcellino Pipite and the Vice-Chancellor and President of USP, Professor Rajesh Chandra holding the MOU signed during FEdMM (Forum Education Ministers Meeting)
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7 Comments
Chiku
12/10/2015 10:36:18 am

Now you know why there is such an affinity among these Melanesian mob and why they always close rank with the usurpers and thug rulers in Fiji - they are birds of a similar CORRUPT feather!

Reply
rajend naidu
12/10/2015 12:12:57 pm

It is hard not to agree with Jenny Ligo the chair of Vanuatu's women Against Crime and Corruption who said the Acting President's decision to pardon himself and his 13 co- convicted MPs is a " national disgrace " and that "they don't care about this country,they care only about themselves".
The president Pipite defended his decision to pardon himself and his fellow corrupt politicians saying it was made in the best interest of the country.
But everyone knows that decision was made ONLY in the best interest of the crooked politicians to protect them from facing the consequences of their corrupt behaviour and the full force of the law.
People will notice that using the national interest is a common pretext used by rogue political leaders to avoid facing justice and to hang onto to power.
They bring shame to their country .

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rajend naidu
13/10/2015 01:05:05 am

News has just come to hand ( Liam Fox ,Abc 13/10 from Port Vila ) that the above mentioned women's anti- crime and corruption group has gone to the police to seek a permit to stage a public protest against this perverse decision to pardon corrupt politicians after they were convicted. The ordinary members of the public are not stupid. They see this pardon for what it is. One said it was simply " a way to by pass the law"; another said it was to allow them to hang on to their positions as MPs and a third said they were convicted for corruption and " should be thrown in jail " . I salute the women's group for organising a protest. They and all the people who join the protest are the people who truly care about their country and what is in the best interest of the country and it's people. Not The Corrupt Politicians .

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Canada Boy
12/10/2015 06:24:35 pm

One question, what has konrote in his life done to foster national unity, contributed to the betterment of Fiji
The answer is NOTHING
He was a military man and public servant who could not make it in life if it was not for a cushioned public service job
This fiasco proves how tone deaf bainimarama is
Parliament of Fiji is a sham with democracy wrapped in dictatorship and when you peel the onion one layer at a time it stinks of dictatorship

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Dekho
12/10/2015 09:32:15 pm

Look you so right. This man Con Rot has done nothing for the country, it's prosperity and multiculturalism. If anything he undermined it by his active involvement as a key player in the coups.
But this is nothing but a case of birds of the same feather as the coupist Bainimarama flocking together. Bainimarama himself was a mediocre military man who has risen to power by crooked means. It's not at all surprising that he should get another coup tainted military man in as President. This is no commoner v elite issue although the Bainimarama regime pretends it is.

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Its All Politics As Was Always
13/10/2015 02:03:31 am

Fijians are cunning politicians. Fiji's constitutions are suppose to be one that keeps Indians out of Government control and where they have no say.

Now all military commanders since 1987 Ganilau Nailatikau Mara Coup had been rewarded to top jobs. All were part of 1987 coup but one that started in March 1977 by Bau Chief.

Only backfiring is this time the spoilers Speight group messed it up and cassava patch chase went to change the game plan.

Why would Bainimaram support Ganilau when he can split FFP support by being the President?

If Kububola and Nailatikau can be rewarded from 1987 coup, why racist Rotuman Konorote is any different?

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Bahuki
13/10/2015 07:39:58 am

Birds of a feather flock together like the true Melanesian partners that they are, in a not so good way.

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