Whale Oil Beef Hooked: Guilty of nothing more than being helpful to his constituents

Whale Oil Beef Hooked: Guilty of nothing more than being helpful to his constituents


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Fool Me Once: Pacific Free Trade (Pacer PLUS Negotiations).

Pacific Islands Business Magazine "We Say" column echos the sentiment of the Trans-Tasman 'bait & switch' gamesmanship and diplomatic sleight of hand deals, occurring around the fringes of the Pacer-PLUS Trade negotiations. Apparently,  as the article alluded to, some of Pacific Island States, haven't heard of the idiom: "Fool Me Once".

Croz Walsh's blog July 6th posting does address the fact of the sinister removal of Dr. Roman Grynberg, employed as Economic Governance Director at the Pacific Forum.

The excerpt of "We Say":
WE SAY: [Pacific Island] Leaders hijacked by powerful nations

 

‘It is time Pacific leaders stop bending backwards to see the western point of view that clearly runs counter to their own interests and find their own way in matters of trade that would benefit them all as a region. The old lesson of strength in unity holds true particularly for the Pacific Islands, which as stand-alones can be so easily exploited. Pacific Islands leaders must acknowledge that the Pacific Way is all about inclusiveness and seeing the whole picture for the benefit of all’

The outcome of last month’s Pacific Islands Forum Trade Ministers meeting in Samoa and the manner in which the ANZAC nations so easily got away with so many points to their advantage once again shows the tendency for Pacific Islands leaders to aim for the low hanging fruit, then allowing their agenda to be hijacked by powerful western nations and finally showing satisfaction when crumbs are thrown their way by these nations.
It also shows the tendency of the western nations in the region to ride rough shod over Pacific Islands leaders and by extension their people while making it appear that great favours have been conferred on them.
At last month’s meeting, the Pacific Islands leaders have given too much away too soon and too easily without adequate consultation among themselves despite earlier commitments to do so.
For instance, at the previous trade ministers meeting of African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) leaders, the Pacific Islands nations’ leaders had categorically stated that national consultations before any PACER-Plus negotiations could take place. More sensibly, it was also stated that a fully functional regional trade office, headed by a competent chief trade advisor, needed to be in place to head the office.
Significantly, at this ACP meeting where these statements were made, the trade ministers of Australia and New Zealand were not present. But at the Apia meeting last month which Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean and his New Zealand counterpart Tim Groser attended, the Pacific Islands leaders seemed to have made a mockery of those earlier statements and gave in so easily to the ANZAC nations’ demands.
Consequently, the Pacific Islands leaders gamely agreed to start trade negotiations immediately after this year’s Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Cairns and that too without the important office of the Chief Trade Advisor (CTA) being in place.

Effectively, this leaves no time for national consultations as was agreed to by the leaders at the ACP meeting since the Forum meeting is due next month. Worse, the islands are nowhere near the process of setting up the CTA office or identifying and appointing a competent official to head it.
It is no surprise that trade advisers to the Pacific Islands leaders were left disappointed at this development where the leaders gave away so much in the course of a closed door lunch meeting with the ANZAC nations’ leaders—reminiscent of the green room meetings that happened with leaders sans their advisers at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) meetings.

Not only did the Pacific Islands leaders agree to starting the negotiations after the conclusion of the Forum meet in Cairns, but they committed to finish the process within a timeframe of five years though the western nations are highly unlikely to wait that long and will fully take charge of the agenda and exploit the cracks in the Pacific Islands’ collective leadership to press for a conclusion of the negotiations far earlier.
Knowing well the disarray in the leadership and the weak stance of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in most matters when it comes to dealing with the western donor nations, they won over the Pacific Islands leadership by committing to set up the CTA office and funding it to the tune of half-a-million dollars every year—which indeed must have been seen as a huge favour by Pacific Islands trade ministers.

This seemed to be incentive enough for the islands ministers to bow reverentially and gratefully to what Australia and New Zealand wanted.
Having gamely agreed to these concessions, it is a question of time when the two economically powerful nations get the smaller and poorer Pacific Islands nations on their side to extract further concessions much to the disadvantage of the larger and far more resource rich islands nations like Papua New Guinea and Fiji, which have rightly begun voicing their concerns already.
This is a classic ‘throw a freebie, win them over and then drive wedges between them’ colonial-style policy at work. Divide and rule is a time tested colonial policy that has been used successfully by western powers over the centuries. The trouble is that some of the nations—particularly the Pacific islands countries—are none the wiser for it and still fall for it just as they did a century ago.

There is little doubt this will lead to deepening fissures between the bigger Pacific Islands nations and the smaller ones as the negotiations progress. And going by how beholden the Forum Secretariat has shown itself to be to western powers leaves little hope that it can ever play a conciliatory role.

 Its recent response on a number of issues including the handling of the Fiji situation is testimony to its increasingly weaker role in regional affairs.

This clearly raises big questions in the minds of Pacific people whether their trade ministers and their leaders have the nous to guard their interests both nationally and regionally.
Leaders and people from the more resource-rich Melanesian nations who have more recently come to value their natural wealth and also begun to realise the potential of their economies can only feel betrayed by the smaller nations that have comparatively little to lose vis a vis the niggardly favours that they can expect in return. They cannot be blamed for harbouring such feelings.

This does not bode well for regionalism, the pursuit of which has begun to look akin to chasing a chimera for some time now with such a string of non-starters in regional initiatives over the past several decades. 
It is time Pacific leaders stop bending backwards to see the western point of view that clearly runs counter to their own interests and find their own way in matters of trade that would benefit them all as a region. The old lesson of strength in unity holds true particularly for the Pacific islands, which as stand-alones can be so easily exploited.
Pacific islands leaders must acknowledge that the Pacific Way is all about inclusiveness and seeing the whole picture for the benefit of all. Indeed, that is the ethic that has helped the Pacific people thrive so well in some of the world’s remotest locations. 

Australia had the Pacific Islands for lunch in Apia

In a follow up to an earlier SiFM posting that covered the controversial PACER Plus negotiations in the Pacific. An interesting letter to the Editor of Matangi Tonga adds context to the debate. 04 Jul 2009, 06:36

Australia: Editor, THERE'S an old saying in trade negotiations, if you're not on the menu, you're on the table. So there's no doubt that Australian trade officials are happy with what was served up in Samoa last week, June 17/18. When trade ministers from the Pacific region met in Apia to discuss a potential free trade agreement, they concluded with a unanimous recommendation to their leaders to enter into negotiations come the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Cairns this August. Before the meeting Australia, New Zealand and a number of other countries, including host country Samoa, were pushing for an agreement. Many expected this meeting to conclude with a recommendation to enter into negotiations, but few expected it to happen so easily. What was scheduled for the whole second day of the meeting was in effect agreed to over a luncheon on the first. The Ministers went out to lunch without their delegation of advisors and government officials and ended up agreeing on a statement that would most likely have been pre-drafted. By the afternoon it was all stitched up, some happy, some very happy, and some quite rightly embarrassed. Just six months ago the Pacific had presented to Australia and New Zealand a draft roadmap for dealing with a Pacific trade agreement, the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations, or PACER-Plus. In that draft road map, the Pacific Island nations mapped out a much longer timeframe, first starting with national consultations and research to determine whether or not to enter into negotiations. If the research suggested negotiations were a good idea, this would be followed by informal negotiations, and then finally formal negotiations beginning in 2013. In addition to this was the $11 million proposed for an Office of Chief Trade Advisor, a separate entity that would provide research and negotiation capacity and even act as a point of contact for negotiations. This would all up take 5 years. All these would have combined to place the Pacific in a much better position to assess and participate in any negotiations. What did they end up with? Negotiations to be announced in August with the first round likely to be one week after that with timelines for the whole process yet to be decided. An Office of Chief Trade Advisor funded to the tune of $3 million over 3 years with a reduced remit that boils down to essentially facilitating meetings. In terms of funding for research and capacity building, Australia has offered $65,000 for research and will continue with its ten module training course for negotiators. That's right, the Pacific officials are learning how to negotiate their sensitive trade issues by discussing them with Australia before hand. This is a far cry from the Pacific's initial call for an independent Office of Chief Trade Advisor that would act as a collective point for research and negotiations. You do have to hand it to the Australian and New Zealanders, they comprehensively outmanouvered and outplayed their Pacific counterparts. Critical to this was the removal of Roman Grynberg from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. Dr Grynberg has long been a thorn in the side of Australia's trade ambitions with his expertise and strategy in negotiations, particularly in providing assistance to the under resourced Island Countries. So it must have been much to Australia and New Zealand's delight that his contract was not renewed last year on account of some Pacific Islands Forum members not being happy with his role in the servicing of all the clients, including Australia and New Zealand, in Pacific Islands Forum. To add even more insult to injury, it now looks like an Australian, Dr. Chakriya Bowan will fill Dr Grynberg's role as Economic Governance Director. Not only this, Australia played the old trick of starting out with the outrageous and then 'compromising' on something more in line with what they wanted. Australia was initially demanding to have a say in the governance of the office of chief trade advisor. This is highly controversial as any negotiating party should not have a say in the structure of the capacity and negotiating support for another party. This is something that Australia would surely not stand for in negotiations with other trade partners and the Pacific should have done the same. This was one thing that should never even have been on the table, yet there it was and there were no surprises to see it cut back in the giving and taking of the final decision. However with the Office of Chief Trade Advisor initially being housed at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat the likely Australian replacement of Dr Grynberg will, as it turns out, have some involvement in its governance. How this influences the OCTA remains to be seen but as a symbol it further erodes any supposed 'taking' for the Pacific in the negotiation of this decision. If that wasn't enough, there was the presence of Bob McMullan, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance. Throughout this year Bob McMullan and Simon Crean have been touring the Pacific talking about the benefits of free trade and handing out aid money as they go. With Pacific countries so dependent on aid money, the message was not lost: free trade and aid go together. Fiji's absence was also apparent. Fiji has been one of the strongest voices in holding a strong Pacific position and their absence significantly weakened the stance of the Pacific. Simon Crean has maintained that the suspension of Fiji from the Pacific Islands Forum automatically applies to PACER-Plus talks, a very convenient position from Australia's point of view. Fiji's exclusion however, is being challenged. A legal opinion released to the media by the Pacific Network on Globalisation claims that PACER is a separate legal framework to the Pacific Islands Forum, hence the suspension of Fiji from the Pacific Islands Forum doesn't automatically equal suspension from PACER-Plus talks. This means that the recommendation to launch PACER-Plus negotiations is technically not legally binding. Fiji has already issued a statement condemning their exclusion from the talks last week and stated that any outcomes from the meeting violate the terms of �consensus� and therefore doesn't apply to Fiji. How this gets taken up by the rest of the countries remains to be seen. This was the situation that faced the Pacific. Not only were they facing pressure from Australia and New Zealand to negotiate, but they also faced the issues of diminished capacity and extreme demands. With media statements from various Ministers within the Pacific Islands buying into the idea, as well as the host of the meeting and agenda setter, the pressure on those trade ministers from still holding out was immense. Not only this, the lunch �meeting� without government officials also meant that the expertise of the officials was lost on the decisions of the Ministers. With decisions needing to be made by consensus it's hard to be the lone dissenting voices. It was this backdrop that greeted us non-government organisations when we rocked up to the Ministers' cocktail party. Despite officials from the Australian delegation reassuring us that there was a consensus and general happiness with the outcomes one only had to talk to those who weren't 'celebrating' at the cocktail party. A number of ambassadors from the Pacific Islands expressed their anger at what Ministers had agreed upon to the non-government groups. One Pacific Minister from the Cook Islands was so upset by what was agreed to he was on the first plane home, without a cocktail. As the Pacific enters this new era there are big questions that need answering. All the social, environmental, and labour issues associated with a proposed PACER-Plus remain, this decision to enter into negotiations does nothing to answer them. Not only that, the trade ministers from all these countries need to be called to account. It is reckless for all involved to enter into negotiations without knowing the full impacts of what is proposed. In particular, Simon Crean needs to explain why undermining the capacity and time for the Pacific to be prepared to enter into negotiations (if they found it was worthwhile) helps them enter into what he refers to as �enhancing prosperity in the Pacific�. With PACER set to diminish $10 million in government revenue for the Pacific as well as see thousands of jobs go the Pacific has a lot of soul searching to do. Australians on the other hand shouldn't let their government get away with pushing their neighbours around like this. Adam Wolfenden campaign@aftinet.org.au Adam Wolfenden is the Trade Justice Campaigner for the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTINET). Top of Page

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The Audacity of Change- Fiji's Beta Democracy (Part2).

Jenny Hayward-Jones' latest blog posting on "The Interpreter" titled "New Strategic Framework", features new developments in the arena of Fiji's political cross-roads.
The article in question, began with the factual play-by-play events, then abruptly ends with a "did not convince" rhetorical device.

This particular rhetorical device was somewhat confusing, as it veered the otherwise impressive objective opening, to a myopic ending; un-intentionally or intentionally spinning ignorant readers into the cornucopia of biased projections about Fiji.

ABC Pacific Beat program July 1st 2009 , previews the expected speech by Fiji's Interim Prime Minister, in an abrupt interview (last quarter of show)with Vijay Narayan.

Also interesting was the similar vein of questions, alluding to the question: "timing of elections", in the context of the media reports, highlighting the formulation of a new constitution in Fiji, as outlined in a speech by Frank Bainimarama. Brief audio of speech.

The common thread between Lal and Hayward-Jones' comments were undeniably similar as if they were 'peas of the same pod'. Both analysis's started off with the speech's focus on the fixing the economy and morphed in the harangue about the delay about election timing, with a pinch of monologue related to the future of the military. Neither Lal & Hayward-Jones, addressed the issue of native land which was also raised in the same speech by Bainimarama.

Another misleading angle, peddled by Professor Lal, pointed out national statistics of poverty, while conveniently ignoring that those poverty rates did not rise out of a vacuum and implied all those economic woes are directly related to the activities of the Interim Government.

It seems both Lal and Hayward-Jones selectively feel that a 3 minute democracy is the best remedy for Fiji. Undoubtedly and unsurprisingly, this flawed sentiment was also echoed by the Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith.



Dr. Lal, later questioned the issue about the consultation phase, regarding this new Fiji Constitution. However the ABC host did not bother to challenge Lal's remarks or even bother to compare the present and continuing consultations, to the diluted 1997 version. Neither did ABC offer any other opposing views, apart from their favorite talking heads, in their so called forum.

A surreptitious version of due diligence; that was formed during Lal's celebrated and at times, over-glorified tenure as 'architect' of the 1997 Fiji Constitution. Irregardless of the glaring failures of the 1997 legal document; in the context of racial equality- a crucial issue which Brij Lal has vacillated on repeated occasions.

Later the Radio Australia's news forum discussed the question of Fiji's 2014 Elections and the speech contents.

In an another one sided interview-a known maker's mark of Radio Australia, featured the same celebrity expert of Fiji politics, Dr. Brij Lal; a tenured Professor of History at Australia National University (ANU).

Another SDL stalwart also on the ANU tenure, Jone Baledrokadroka, is the contracted Fiji military expert; consulted by Radio Australia and underscored in the quotes featuring Baledrokadroka, in the June 26th 2009-ABC article.

Undeniably, these series of articles by ABC, does raise eyebrows about the impartiality factor. Although, those allegations may now have a ring of truth to it; such questions are usually dismissed by the proponents of media freedom and political naysayers, as simply baseless.





In the above posted ABC article, the image shown and article is misleading to say the least and was captured few months earlier, then the event reported. It is unclear, how any times the ABC web page continues to show this out-dated image of Frank Bainimarama in uniform, along side their breaking news on Fiji?

Case in point, Fiji TV video footage (posted below) actually shows Fiji's Interim Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama wearing a suit during the delivery of his national address.






However, these media generated 'stimuli' designed to agitate Fiji's population, a template realistically spear headed by a 2007 white paper funded by ADF's Section of Defense Science and Technology Organization.




The paper in question, with an eye-opening title "Historical Analysis of Population Reactions To Stimuli-A Case Study On Fiji", was unveiled in a thread started by 'No Sapo' on Fiji Exiles Board and does give legitimacy to the well documented and coordinated Australian media assault. Coupled with the Trans-tasman diplomatic cold shoulder and colonial mentality. Case in point, PACER Pluse negotiations.

A micro-excerpt of the paper:

1. Introduction

Previous reports [1-4] have discussed the impact that non-combatant populations can have on Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations, particularly in urban environments. Indeed, the success or failure of an operation may depend on the reactions of the civilian population, and as such, the study of population reactions becomes a matter of importance.

These reports [1-4] have demonstrated that valuable insights can be obtained by analysing the stimuli which have in the past resulted in reactions from the population (thereby creating an event). These events may range from insurgences1 through assisting/supporting one side in a conflict to popular support of a group or ideal. Hence, understanding the stimuli2 which have in the past caused (and hence might cause) the population to act in a particular way, resulting in some event, can give insights into how they might react in the future, provided there are sufficient historical trends.

This report is the fifth historical analysis of stimuli and effects of populations in the South East Asian/South West Pacific region, which was identified as of particular interest to Australia in the 2000 Defence White Paper and the 2003 National Security Update [5, 6]. Fiji falls in this region as well as having a well documented history of coups, insurgencies and violence. A timeline of these events for Fiji is in Appendix A3.

This study provides insights into how this population have reacted to past stimuli, which may have both operational and strategic applications. The resulting qualitative data could be used in war games or training exercises where the input of the reaction of a population is from a real environment. Additionally, these studies provide baseline data for futures studies, regional assessments and comparisons. They are aimed at providing contextual information and guidance on socio-cultural issues for planners in multi agency operations in the region.

2. Methodology

The methodology used in this report is similar to that used in previous reports [1-4]. Because this methodology has been explained in detail previously, only a brief description is included here. This work uses a multidisciplinary approach taken from such disciplines as operations research, political science, anthropology and qualitative historical analysis. These methods were used to extract stimuli and events from qualitative data that was obtained from a broad literature search on Fijian history. It must be stressed that this data is not 'statistically valid' in the sense that each event has only occurred once, thus rendering statistical results

1 Insurgences are defined as riots, rebellions or revolts by the Macquarie Dictionary 3rd Edition.
2 Stimuli are represented as causes and triggers throughout the report.
3 This work was undertaken prior to the coup at the end of 2006.

From Croz Walsh: Race Used To Divide The Nation.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

(+) Race Used to Divide the Nation

There
is no room for racial discrimination is this government, says interim
PM Cde Voreqe Bainimarama. Speaking at Dawasamu, Tailevu yesterday Cdre
Bainimarama said the interim government was committed to eradicating
discrimination at all levels. "I will not tolerate racial
discrimination as a way of dividing people of this nation."

This
may mean having to write a new constitution "so that racial
discrimination, a tool previously used by many politicians to win
votes, is eradicated."

Cdre Bainimarama said Government did not
want a repetition of the 2000 [Speight coup] event where little trust
was shared by Fijians and other races and drove many people to
parliament to support rebel leader George Speight for no reason. FijiSun.

The Question Of Trust. (Updated)

In a follow up to a March 2008 SiFM posting, that highlighted the issue of Fiji veterans regarding their claims. The veterans were subsequently hung out to dry during the 1956 "Operations Grapple" .

Video of actual Operation Grapple, posted below.




Recently, the Fiji Veterans of the Christmas Island won their legal battle, according to a Fiji Times article. The excerpt of F.T article:

Veterans win case

By SAKIASI NAWAIKAMA
Sunday, June 07, 2009

Justice at last ... Jone Tabaiwalu with his wife, Kacaraini Bolalevu, and daughter Lanieta Valeloloneirokotuibau at their Nasinu home yesterday. Picture: SITIVENI MOCE.

FIFTY years after the British conducted nuclear tests on Christmas Island, surviving Fiji veterans will be compensated after a British court decision ruled in their favour for compensation for ill effects they suffered.

The 60 survivors from the 289 servicemen who took part the tests between 1952 and 1958 will converge in Suva on Tuesday to decide on compensation.

"It's been a long struggle and many have gone. This is the first time for Fiji and the world where we can sue a government for the ill effects of such tests," said Jone Tabaiwalu, president of the Fiji Nuclear Test Association.

Delivering his judgment on the case at Room 73 of the London Royal Court of Justice on Friday (Fiji time), Justice David Foskett rejected arguments by the Ministry of Defence that the claims should be thrown out because they were outside the three-year time limit.

Nuclear test veteran Pita Rokoratu was accompanied by association counsel Adi Lusiana Sivo Ganilau to London earlier this year to testify in court.

The British Government were also recently forced to acknowledge the plights of retired Gurkha soldiers and allowing them to reside in the United Kingdom, according to the Guardian newspaper. The excerpt of the Guardian article:

Gurkhas win right to settle in UK

Lumley campaign succeeds as Home Office rewrites rules to give veterans with four years' service permanent residency

Gurkha veterans were today given the right to settle in the UK after an extraordinary campaign led by the actor Joanna Lumley.



The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, completed the expected U-turn by confirming that veterans who had served four years or more, their wives and dependent children could apply to come to Britain.

She said the move "recognises the unique nature" of the soldiers' service and was consistent with the government's broader immigration policy.

Lumley, who joined with Gurkhas outside the Commons to hear the announcement, praised Gordon Brown for his "brave" decision on behalf of "the bravest of the brave".

"A great injustice has been righted. The Gurkhas are coming home. ..It is a day of such exhilaration. I can hardly believe it."

Lumley, who had been briefed on the announcement in advance, visited Brown at Downing Street earlier and met Phil Woolas, the immigration minister last night, said: "It is wretched that the government has taken so long but we must remember that this is the first administration to take action. Consecutive governments ignored us, so we owe a lot to them."

Smith will reverse government guidance issued last month that made the obstacles to entry almost insurmountable for many ordinary Gurkha soldiers, who are traditionally recruited from Nepal.

Smith is changing the rules to allow entry into the UK for Gurkhas previously excluded because they retired from the regiment before 1997, provided they have served with the British army for at least four years.

She promised 1,400 outstanding applications would be processed "as a matter of urgency''.

Smith told the Commons: "Generations of Gurkhas have served the United Kingdom with great courage, sacrifice and distinction and they continue to make a vital and valued contribution to our operations around the world."

Smith said she expected up to 15,000 Gurkhas would come to Britain over the next two years, but they would not get the same pension rights as those who retired after 1997.

The Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, whose Commons motion led directly to the rapid change of heart by ministers, said: "Gordon Brown has finally woken up to the principle that people across Britain understand instinctively: if someone is prepared to die for this country, they must be allowed to live in it.

"Tragically this decision will come too late for many of those brave Gurkhas who have been waiting so long to see justice done.

"Gordon Brown's claim of a 'moral compass' rings hollow when, on every issue from Gurkhas to expenses, he has to be dragged every inch of the way towards doing the right thing."

Chris Grayling , the shadow home secretary, said: "First and foremost this case has been about basic decency. People from around the world have to come to live in this country in the past decade.

"There was never a justification to deny that right to a group of people who have lived long in the nation's affections, and who have risked and often given their lives for its protection.

"It is just a shame that the government had to be dragged kicking and screaming through the courts and then through the crowds of Gurkhas outside parliament before it finally did the right thing."

The turnaround came after the government suffered its first big defeat last month by 21 votes, as 27 Labour rebels joined the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in demanding equal residency rights for all Gurkha soldiers.

Al Jazeera news footage (posted below)capture the elated reactions of the retired Gurkhas, once the news of the decision became public.





The British Government is also not the only country forced to re-look and re-engineer their policy on veteran's welfare and related affairs. US veterans are in no better position than their Atlantic allies, considering the Walter Reed fiasco. A Waco Tribune article reports that an army veteran is living in a shed.

In 2001, the French Government was also forced to examine the past injustices on migrant soldiers from Africa, according to a BBC news article.

The French case of injustice to veterans were dramatized in a wonderful movie titled "Days Of Glory". The trailer of the movie is posted below.





While the issue of pensions have been addressed by the UK and French Courts. What is interesting, is the subject of pensions also intersects the abuse trust and finances.

On The Media (OTM) podcast titled "Grade Inflation" examines the role of Ratings Agencies and their role in the sub-prime fiasco, where numerous pension funds had invested in, on account of the flawed AAA ratings, allocated to the mortgage backed securities. Podcast available on player below.





This American Life (T.I.A)podcast also raises the issue of trust among those rating agencies, that seemed to have grossly failed on many different occasions and many different levels; resulting in the most catastrophic economic meltdowns in the world's history.

Trust was a commodity in short supply, as the economic balloon began inflating; as the banks and mortgage brokers went on a high-stakes binge, fueled by the greed of Wall Street and the collusion of Federal regulating institutions. US President Barack Obama is keenly aware of the failure of regulation and his latest proposal to reform the financial industry, was unveiled by Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geitner.

CQ Politics article outlines the role, some of Obama's financial advisers played in the creating the perfect storm of economic calamity.
According to Los Angeles Times article, Wall Street is not buying it; Wall Street are also wary of their reputation among the middle class who have seen their equity and pension plans wither before their very eyes.

The subject of trustworthiness of regulators, as T.I.A outlined in the podcast, also has bearing in Fiji; with respect to 283 pending cases against Fiji Lawyers, as a Fiji Live article reports.

The excerpt of the F.L article:

New unit to probe Fiji lawyers

June 12, 2009 08:20:49 AM

A special unit within the office of the Chief Registrar will be set up to investigate the 283 pending cases against lawyers.

This follows the downgrading of the Fiji Law Society to a voluntary body with the issuance of the Legal Practitioners Decree.

Acting Chief Registrar Ana Rokomokoti said her office receives five complaints per day on average against lawyers. “Some of the complaints lodged against lawyers dates back to 2000 which were pending before the Fiji Law Society for action,” she told FijiLive.

The complaints against lawyers include malpractice, misconduct, deliberate attempts to delay cases, trust fund account violations, incompetence, negligence, discrepancy with costs charged to clients, failure to follow client’s instructions and failure to communicate with clients.

Raw Fiji News blog posting, also raises the issue about Twitter and its use in Fiji, implying that Iran's situation was similar to Fiji.

In a rather adequate response to that RFN claim, was neatly addressed by a Michael Madden's post on Salon.

Not long ago, Republicans were talking about attacking Iran. Now they think Obama doesn't love Iran enough

Undeniably, those like the Republicans, are queuing up to capitalize on Iran's domestic situation, to shore up their own political position in Fiji; which raises the trust issue yet again.

Croz Walsh latest blog posting, addresses the issue of Trust, in deciphering the intentions of the Trans-Tasman nations, as friendly or unfriendly in their engagements with Fiji. An OP-Ed by World Press.org has accurately outlined the back ground story of Fiji's political situation.

One concerning aspect of the recent foreign policy of both Trans-Tasman nations, is their incessant megaphone diplomacy in the region; as if the island states within the area were

an extension of their empire and more recently NZ Foreign Minister had to poke his nose into the recent developments in Iran.

The neo-colonist interference by these Trans-Tasman bullies is multi-faceted. One thrust is to poison the Sino-Viti bi-lateral relationship, as reported in Australian Network News article.

The other, constant hectoring through the media-the Australian and New Zealand media.
If criticizing Fiji was a favorite past time, both Trans-Tasman nations would take the prize as being the most vocal and belligerent.

Even Micheal Field the disgraced journalist, was among those echoing the news of S & P down grading the investment ratings of Fiji. Ironically, it was S & P among other agencies, which gave the Mortgage backed Securities an AAA rating and the end result is the quantitative easing, of the Global Financial Collapse. This whole affair brings us back to the question of Trust and the abuse of it by these ratings agencies.

Although, both Australian and New Zealand's Foreign Minister were quoted in NZ radio web article, as being concerned about Fiji's economy, because it was allegedly on the decline; what was omitted was that, their own economies are also being disintegrated by the Global Financial Collapse, according to Bloomberg.

What is not being questioned, is the Trans-Tasman moves to fast-track the highly controversial PACER-Plus negotiations for a Free-Trade deal with the Pacific Islands.

An ABC Australia web article quotes from Australian Trade Minister, Simon Crean who has a pollyannic outlook on the PACER-Plus negotiations in Apia and often used the buzz words: "level of trust", "capacity building", "genuinely desire to make this work".

These sultry words are almost equivalent to the one-liners, used by Wall Street Brokers to sell junk bonds to the unaware. Undoubtedly, the Australia Trade Minister, Simon Crean comes across in the ABC interview; as the type of person, who sells steak knives and food processing equipment on late night TV.

The excerpt of ABC article:

Varied reaction to PACER Plus negotiation timeline

Crean is strongly in favour of Pacific free trade negotiations. [ABC]" title="Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean is strongly in favour of Pacific free trade negotiations. [ABC]">

PHOTO

Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean is strongly in favour of Pacific free trade negotiations. [ABC]

AUDIO from Pacific Beat

Pacific trade

Created: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:51:40 GMT-0700

Jemima Garrett

Last Updated: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:50:00 +1000

Samoa's Associate Trade Minister Jo Keil says all the Ministers at the Pacific Trade Ministers meeting in Apia are happy with the decision to recommend that negotiations for a PACER Plus trade agreement begin this year.

A joint statement issued by the Ministers stressed the importance of progressing PACER Plus as a means of underpinning the economic security of the region.

Samoan Minister Jo Keil said all the ministers were happy with the decision to recommend negotiations start this year.

"Very friendly and very good," he said. "I was there, we were there the whole time and we got along very well - the ministers were all friends." Pacific Australian and New Zealand civil society organisations represented in Apia say the Pacific ministers conceded too much to Australia and New Zealand.

Spokesperson Maureen Penjuelli said none of their concerns had been addressed. The organisations will ask Pacific leaders to use their meeting in Cairns in August to delay PACER negotiations.

ABC podcast (posted below in MP3 player) interviews the Samoan Associate Trade Minister, Joe Keil and PANG Coordinator, Maureen Penjuelli. Both interviewees were present at the Apia Trade talks. However, Penijuelli who met with several other Trade Ministers found a sense of disappointment among them. The PANG Coordinator also disputes the label of general concensus, as described by the Australian and Samoan Trade Minister.




Fiji, one the largest economies in the region was recently excluded from the recent talks held in Apia, Western Samoa as reported in Fiji Live article, including the reaction from the Interim Attorney General.

The excerpt of F.L article:

Fiji regrets trade talk exclusion: AG

June 20, 2009 03:21:01 PM

Fiji’s Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has labeled as “regretful” Fiji’s exclusion from regional trade talks in Samoa, which ends today and questioned the motives of big brothers Australia and New Zealand.

“Fiji’s exclusion from regional trade talks has the potential to adversely impact on the country’s economic development by affecting its regional trade and economic integration, thereby hurting its most vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens,” Sayed Khaiyum said today in a statement.

“Fiji is a party to PACER (Pacific Closer Economic Relations) having signed and ratified the Agreement in 2001. The decision to exclude Fiji from discussions under PACER is a violation of her rights under the treaty," he added.

"Any decisions reached by the Forum members in the absence of Fiji on PACER are legally challengeable under the principle of ‘consensus’ espoused by the treaty and the Pacific Islands Forum in general and will not be legally binding on Fiji.

European Union funded trade talks among members of the Pacific Islands Forum had kicked off in Samoa on June 6, a two weeks event which excluded Fiji. This was a direct result of its suspension in April from Forum membership. Sayed-Khaiyum said it was a regret that Fiji, being one of the founding members of the Forum, had to be excluded from these talks.

Fiji Times article also reports on the reaction of Fiji's Government.

Whether or not these neighbours are genuinely concerned about the welfare of the inhabitants is highly questionable. What these Trans-Tasman nations have banked their hopes on and the recovery of their own domestic economies is, the trade with Pacific Island nations and the most convenient vehicle to back their budgetary projections on, is cementing these free-trade deals with the Pacific Island states, whether they want it or not.

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Congressman Points Out Inept Trans-Tasman Policy On Fiji.

New Zealand Herald article reports that, American Samoan Congressman, Eni Faleomavaega reiterated has view on Canberra and Wellington's misguided foreign policy on Fiji.

Congress told 'inept' Fiji policies risk US interests

2:53PM Sunday May 31, 2009

American Samoa's member of the US Congress has warned that the "inept policies and heavy-handed actions" of the New Zealand and Australian governments in the Pacific are putting American interests in the region at risk.

Eni Faleomavaega - who discussed Pacific issues with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in April -- has called for the United States to step up its influence in region. He has claimed that the USA has increasingly deferred to the governments of New Zealand and Australia on Pacific issues, and that the State Department has neglected Oceania.

Mr Faleomavaega is reported to have told Mrs Clinton that Australia and New Zealand are making "nasty accusations" against Fiji and "acting with a heavy hand" about a "situation that is more complex than it appears". According to Mr Faleomavaega, who has set out his views in an opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald, Fiji and its one million people plays a vital part in trans-Pacific trade routes with vast marine and seabed minerals.

The US should play a more proactive and independent role, one offering the country a better chance of emerging from its current crisis, eliminating its "coup culture" once and for all and establishing a more stable government," he said.

"For too long, the US has deferred to Australia and New Zealand ... despite their obvious policy failures".

"Heavy-handed tactics and misguided sanctions" used by Wellington and Canberra politicians had hurt average Fijians far more than the coup government, he said. Punishing average Fijians would never solve the country's problems, and by making life in Fiji increasingly difficult, "Canberra and Wellington may well be sowing the seeds of civil unrest and violence".

Mr Faleomavaega, who chairs the Congress subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment, warned that China had stepped in to fill the vacuum, offering grants, concessionary loans and enhanced trade opportunities. He noted that Australia and New Zealand's combined exports and imports to Pacific island nations were more than US$25 billion ($40.3 billion), and that Fiji alone counts for almost US$4 billion during the same period.

But the interests of Australia and New Zealand may diverge -- sometimes significantly -- from those of Washington, and their "foreign policy elites" wrongly viewed the region with a eurocentric mentality. Fiji's complex ethnic mix was not adequately appreciated in Canberra and Wellington.

"Fortunately, the Obama Administration is gaining a better understanding of ... how our friends in Canberra and Wellington have dropped the ball," he said. The USA should offer the country the necessary resources to reform its electoral process, redraft its constitution and to hold successful elections.

Washington should also offer to help strengthen Fiji's economy -- and long term stability -- through the promotion of bilateral trade and investment, particularly in tourism. The congressman also wants the USA to hold a Pacific Islands "conference of leaders" in Washington so that President Barack Obama and senior officials can meet the region's leaders.
- NZPA

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Corruption Charges Proceed.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

From Croz Walsh's blog:

(+) Corruption Charges Proceed

A little reported event in early May was the three-day visit to Fiji of a UN delegation there to assess Fiji’s compliance with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). The team is reported to have said the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) showed promise and needs government support.

Papua New Guinea and Australia are also parties to UNCAC from the Pacific, but only Fiji has volunteered to be part of the pilot review programme.This is probably because getting rid of systematic corruption in the civil service was a major reason given for the 2006 military takeover.

Government opponents have ridiculed this motive, and made much of FICAC's lack of success in obtain convictions against those charged with corruption. As previously stated, this an incredibly
difficult task without forensic accountants, that only countries like NZ could have supplied. But last week (22 May) we reported on one case under the heading "Corruption Charges and Pitiful Waste."

Since then charges have been laid against a Cakaudrove Provincial counsellor for allegedly receiving a four-wheel drive vehicle in exchange for supporting a contractor's bid for major roadworks. And today's Fiji Sun reports an FICAC application for a retrial against former Fiji Ports Corporation Limited chairman, Sialeni Vuetaki, who allegedly approved payment of $177,000 to the Ports CEO without authority of the Board or Higher Salaries Commission.

The Government entity most charged with corruption is the Ministry of Works (the old PWD) where over $300,000 has been allegedly misappropriated. In the past two years 27 employees have been dismissed for various offences and a further 12 employees are under investigation.

The Ministry investigation team, working in cooperation with the FICAC, thinks there has been a drastic reduction in corrupt practices and believes that by the end of this year it can confidently claim to have curbed corrupt practices. Fiji Daily Post. For further information about FICAC and its website, click here.

NZ Law Society limp on Fiji

Not surprisingly the NZ Law Society is limp on the Fiji government’s siezure of control of the previously independent Fiji Law Society. Our Society is mumbling about the Fiji government’s intentions [ignoring that]the NZ government in 2006 took over control of lawyer registration and discipline in New Zealand.

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Corruption Charges and Pitiful Wastage

Croz Walsh's blog outlines: The corruption and gross Government inefficiency were among the reasons given by Bainimarama for the 2006 Coup, and many in Fiji were supporters of his "Clean Up" campaign.

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According to a Fiji Sun article, additional corruption charges also have been filed against the former General Manager of Native Lands Trust Board (NLTB)Kalivati Bakani and former permanent secretary for the Infrastructure and Public Utilities Ministry, Anasa Vocea.

The excerpt of Fiji Sun article:

Bakani, Vocea charged

5/22/2009


A hearing date for former Native Land Trust Board (NLTB) General Manager Kalivati Bakani and former permanent secretary for the Infrastructure and Public
Utilities Ministry, Anasa Vocea has been set.

Both accused appeared at the Suva Magistrate Court where a hearing date was set after they were charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) last year.

Bakani and Vocea appeared before chief magistrate Ajmal Khan. Bakani was charged by FICAC with seven counts of abuse of office. FICAC alleges that between 2002 to 2003, Bakani approved investment of extinct Mataqali funds into various financial institutions without authority.

The funds total to $3million. FICAC says rightfully the funds should go to the Fijian Affairs Board to be used for the benefit of native Fijians.

Magistrate Khan has ordered Bakani to return to court on July 27. Meanwhile, Mr Vocea who was charged with eight counts of extortion by public officer also appeared in court yesterday. Magistrate Khan then adjourned the matter to June 25, for hearing.

Earlier SiFM posts had hightlighted the corruption in N.L.T.B. The post titled "More Vice Than Virtue-NLTB's General Manager" alluded to the character of Bakani.
7 Sins of NLTB, outlined the Natadola scandal that involved a former NLTB board director.

Fiji PM: Forum should exclude Aust, NZ

Australia and New Zealand would not be part of the inter-governmental Pacific Island Forum if Fiji Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama had his wish.

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Island Style Captivates Chicago Man.

South Chicago man just uploaded a great video of his Fiji holiday between May 9th-May 15th 2009. The captions and graphics are unique, as well as its sound track.





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Fiji’s neighbours disagree on how to deal with Fiji.

WELLINGTON - Differences among Fiji’s Pacific neighbours over how to deal with the island’s military regime emerged Tuesday following top-level talks between New Zealand and Tonga.

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Rudd and Key Should Call Bainimarama's Bluff & Visit Fiji

All speakers on a Radio Australia programme agreed that Australia and New Zealand needed to change their approach to Fiji. Ati George Sokomanu, former Vanuatu President, thought PMs Rudd and Key needed to sit down with Bainimarama face-to-face over a bowl of kava.

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Australian "Authority" on Lasaro Arrest

Dr Keith Suter of Macquarie University, billed as an authority on military governments, believes that the detention of Reverend Lasaro is a sign that the Fijian military regime is panicking.

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Fiji lay claim to Southern Ocean.

Fiji is awaiting word from the United Nation’s Commission on Limits to Continental Shelves on the large swathe of ocean floor it’s claiming south of Kadavu.

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