Truth or Dare?

Fiji anti-IG blog posting raises some important questions about U.S selective policy regarding their own interests, on which there is no debate.
Intelligentsiya: Truth and Rhetoric: Why the US selectively backs F...: "When fellow bloggers from Real Fiji News posted up their expose on the US's tacit support (despite all the rich political rhetoric ) [...]"

Radio Fiji (R.F)article on the matter. Excerpt of R.F article below:

Cables confirm Qarase sought Australia military intervention
Friday, August 12, 2011


Leaked cables released by Wikileaks confirm that Fiji's former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase sought the intervention of the Australian Military during the December 2006 takeover.

According to the cable - then Australian Prime Minister John Howard told the press on December 5, 2006 - that Qarase had telephoned him that morning to request for military intervention to prevent a coup.

Howard stated he had declined the request as it was 'not in Australia's national interest' to intervene - adding he could not countenance Australian and Fijian troops fighting each other on the streets of Suva.

In response to the takeover - Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer imposed bans on defense, travel and trade on Fiji.

Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) article outlines Australian Government efforts to side line Fiji from UN peacekeeping.

Excerpt of SMH article:

Push to block Fiji from UN peacekeeping
Jonathan Pearlman Foreign Affairs Correspondent
April 29, 2009

THE Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, says the United Nations should look at punishing Fiji's military rulers by further limiting the involvement of its soldiers in peacekeeping forces - a move that would seriously damage the country's economy.

Australia and New Zealand have been leading efforts to pressure Fiji's interim government over its recent abrogation of the constitution and crackdown on the media and the judiciary.

Covered ... Fiji's economy is reliant on peacekeeping payments.
Photo: AP

(Note by SiFM Image above was from 1996 Qana massacre, caused by Israeli shelling of a Fiji BATT UN refugee compound, where dead bodies were cropped out. It was covenient for SMH to omit the origin of the image, ironically, 15 year anniversary is in 2011.)

Original Caption: The bodies of Shiite Muslim refugees lay covered by blankets at the headquarters of the Fijian battalion attached to the U.N. peacekeeping forces in the village of Qana, Lebanon Thursday, April 18, 1996 after Israeli shelling killing at least 70 and wounding at least 100. (AP Photo) 

 

 

 

 

More images of 1996 Qana massacre. Journalist  Robert Fisk eye-witness account of Qana.  Video of incident. BBC article.

The country's military ruler, Frank Bainimarama, seized power in a bloodless coup in 2006 and has backed away from earlier plans to hold elections this year.
Advertisement: Story continues below

Mr Rudd discussed the crackdown at a meeting in Canberra yesterday with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare. The two agreed to press ahead with efforts to suspend Fiji from the Pacific Islands Forum. "Australia's position is hardline," Mr Rudd said. "You cannot sustain within a family of democracies [such as] the Pacific Island Forum or the Commonwealth a government like that of Fiji which simply treats with contempt the most fundamental democratic institutions and press freedoms.

"Through our interventions with the United Nations, supported by New Zealand and other countries, the UN now is not going to engage future Fijian troops for new operations. There is a question which now arises as to whether there should be a further tightening on top of that."

Fiji's economy is heavily reliant on UN payments for peacekeeping contributions and remittances from soldiers abroad. About 600 soldiers serve as peacekeepers in Lebanon, Iraq, East Timor and in the Sinai.

Fiji's interim government dismissed claims it would not be allowed to provide further peacekeepers, saying the UN had not taken action against other countries that have had coups.

"Precedents have been set, like Pakistan, Thailand, all these are very big troop contributing countries to the UN, so what are they talking about?" a government spokesman, Neumi Leweni, told the news website Fijilive.

Two commentators on Fiji from the Australian National University, Jon Fraenkel and Stewart Firth, have argued in a new book that UN peacekeeping operations helped build up the strength of Fiji's military and led to the coups in 1987 and 2006.

"Over the 30 years since 1978, around 25,000 Fiji soldiers have served on overseas peace-keeping missions, bringing home an estimated $US300 million [$428 million]," they write in The 2006 Military Takeover in Fiji: A Coup to End All Coups?, published by ANU E Press.

"In recent years the Iraq War has brought more income to Fiji … Tens of thousands of Fijians have served in foreign theatres in almost 30 years of peacekeeping … The overall effect has been to boost the morale of officers and troops … and to professionalise the [force] as a military institution."

Although, Australian Government efforts coupled with an online petition drive by the likes of overseas based Fijian political opportunists were ineffective and Fiji continued its commitment to peacekeeping missions unabated.

Fiji reiterates commitment to UN peacekeeping

05-10-2011 15:12 BJT
Text:A A A |Email
Share |

SUVA, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Fiji has reiterated its firm commitment to peacekeeping and peace-building around the world, saying it is a manifestation of the island nation's trust in the multilateralism of the United Nations.

Fiji's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Peter Thomson made the remarks in a speech during his recent visit to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) first Battalion at its Baghdad garrison, the Ministry of Information said in a press release Tuesday.

For all Fijians, "it can be said with great national pride, that from just a few years after Fiji's independence, UN peacekeeping has been central to Fiji's foreign policy," Thomson was quoted as saying.

This has been so because "Fiji is determined to play a positive role as a signatory to the United Nations Charter, and because small countries like ours depend on membership of the United Nations for our security, sovereignty and independence," he said.

According to the Fijian envoy, to date, Fiji's peacekeepers have served in Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Croatia, Kosovo, Lebanon, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Sinai, Solomon Islands, Somalia and Timor Leste.

In thanking the Fijian men and women peacekeeping soldiers in Baghdad, Thomson praised them for "doing a difficult job in a dangerous environment and holding Fiji's name high".

The RFMF first Battalion has since 2004 served as the UN Guard Unit (UNGU), made up of 223 Fijians led by Colonel Netani Rika. It is tasked with guarding the facilities and personnel of the United Nations as they undertake their work of assisting the Iraqi people rebuild their nation.

Thomson said he had heard nothing but praise from UN representatives in New York and Iraq for the battalion's conduct of duties, adding he was in Iraq to show them the respect they deserved and to thank them on behalf of the government and people of Fiji for their service.

Posted below are videos of Fiji soldiers in Iraq interacting with US personnel.

Club Em Designs

The Moral Dimensions for Gunslingers.

(Above image: Fiji boys employed in private security in Iraq)

This Washington Post article which covers the private security industry in Iraq and the particular article mentions two Fijian employees of Triple Canopy and their brush with a trigger happy member of their security detail.



<






Youtube video below portrays the Private Security in action.



A video posted below covers the subject of private security industry in Iraq.


Club Em Designs

Across the Great Divide.

Barak Obama, Senator from Illinois and the charismatic Democratic, recently launched his campaign for the 2008 Presidential elections in the US. Obama rallied enthusiasts against the back drop of the old State Capital, the same venue where the President Lincoln gave his infamous "House Divided" speech. Senator Obama's speech announcing his candidacy, encompassed a similar tone of eloquence, weaved expertly with a forthright perspective for the future.





ABC International article reports that Australian Prime Minister, John Howard "slammed" the Iraq plan outlined by Senator Obama and continued to bad-mouth the Democratic caucus as a whole. These crude comments is certainly creating tidal waves on both sides of the Pacific and only adds support to the popularity of Obama, the 2008 candidate for the office of U.S President. The remarks of the uncouth variety made by the Australian P.M was corroborated by Radio New Zealand, Globe and Mail.com, CNN, NEWS24, Guardian.

Television New Zealand (TVNZ) article's opening sentence, described John Howard's gobbing off as setting off a firestorm. An article by newspaper "The Australian" also used the analogy of a 'firestorm'. CBS article went further and singled out a particularly apprehensive line, in John Howard's comments.

"If I were running al-Qaida in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and be praying as many times as possible for a victory, not only for Obama but also for the Democrats."

Australian P.M defended his comments in a report by Herald Sun, as well describing the opening salvo of flak by Opposition leader, Kevin Rudd.

Melbourne's Age Newspaper article reports that, Senator Obama's laughs off Howard's comments with a classic comeback.

This is the excerpt of the article by AGE:

Obama laughs off criticism by PM Howard

February 12, 2007 - 7:04AM

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has laughed off criticism from Australian Prime Minister John Howard about his plans for an Iraq withdrawal. Mr Howard said Obama's plans for Iraq "encourage those who wanted to completely destabilise and destroy Iraq."

The American senator has called for capping the number of US troops in Iraq and then beginning to withdraw them on May 1. He wants a complete pullout of combat brigades by March 31, 2008.

"It's flattering that one of George W Bush's allies feels obliged to attack me," Obama said, about Mr Howard's comments. Obama said that if Howard did not think enough was being done in Iraq, he should consider sending more Australian troops to the region. Australia has about 1,400 troops in Iraq, mostly in noncombat roles. Obama formally announced his candidacy in Illinois on Saturday.

Obama's religious background has come under scrutiny because he attended a Muslim school in Indonesia from age 6 to 10.

Obama, who was born in Hawaii, lived in Indonesia with his mother and stepfather from 1967 to 1971 and subsequently returned to Hawaii to live with his maternal grandparents.

Obama now attends a Chicago church with his wife and two young daughters. "If your name is Barack Hussein Obama, you can expect it, some of that," he said. "I think the majority of voters know that I'm a member of the United Church of Christ, and that I take my faith seriously," he said.

Obama dismissed concerns about his own security, but would not answer directly when asked if he had received death threats. The Reverend Jesse Jackson drew early Secret Service protection because of violent threats during his campaigns for president in the 1980s.

"I face the same security issues as anybody," he said.

© 2007 AP DIGITAL

What does this have to do with Fiji one may ask. One simply has to view the 2008 race, as an early indicator of the changing political climate. The same climate that affects Australia's foreign policy, Fiji and the rest of world in one indirect way or another.

Club Em Designs

Turning on a Dime.

Scoop article reports that, New Zealand Government's meddling into Fiji politics has gone as far as lobbying the removal of Fijian troops operating under the U.N banner in Iraq. Helen Clark's response was also criticized by the National Party spokesperson, as being a significant "back down".

New Zealand's Green Party spokesperson, Keith Locke interviewed in a Niu FM article accused the U.N of virtually funding the Fiji Army, resulting in its present strength. Locke concluded that without this funding, Fiji's coup might not have occured. Podcast of Keith Locke's interview.

Realistically, the final U.N decision was a sterling "smack down" of the New Zealand Government, which is also being buffeted by concerned local exporters; on the uncertain trading ties with Fiji, reported in an article by Stuff.

This is the excerpt of the article on the United Nations decision:

UN decision unprincipled; Clark response weak
Wednesday, 24 January 2007, 8:59 am

The United Nations decision to deploy additional Fijian troops to Iraq totally undermines the credibility of both the New Zealand Government and the UN, says National Party Foreign Affairs spokesman Murray McCully.

Mr McCully describes the UN decision as "unacceptable and unprincipled" and says the comments reported to date from the Prime Minister are "weak and represent a substantial backdown."

"The New Zealand Government warned the Fijian military that there would be consequences if they proceeded with threats to overthrow the elected Fijian Government. Both the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs warned that the removal of Fijian military personnel serving on UN peace-keeping duties would be one of those consequences.

“The National Party supported the Government in issuing those warnings at the time.

"New Zealand, along with Australia and many other nations, has now put in place the threatened sanctions. Fiji has been suspended from the Commonwealth.

"The Prime Minister's reported statement that the decision about use of further Fijian military personnel is a matter for the UN is weak and hollow in context of her earlier statements.

"We all have a huge stake in stability in the Pacific. There can be no stability without the rule of law. That is why the National Party has backed the position of the New Zealand Government. The Government now has some explaining to do about its communications with the UN over recent weeks. It must also make clear to the United Nations that this decision is unprincipled and unacceptable,” said Mr McCully.

Ends

Sydney Morning Herald article has now confirmed that, the New Zealand proposal was denied by the powers that be.

Is the U.N decision, a reminder of the worth of Fiji soldiers in international peacekeeping?

It is also a stark indication, of New Zealand's own reluctance to contribute soldiers on a large scale to war ravaged nations. This U.N decision, also underscores N.Z's juvenile approach to geo-politics.

This is an excerpt of the SMH article:

Fijian peacekeepers to stay: UN to NZ

January 24, 2007 - 5:54PM

New Zealand has attacked a United Nations decision not to suspend Fijian soldiers from peacekeeping missions as punishment for the Pacific nation's military coup last month.

Prime Minister Helen Clark on Wednesday put the decision down to the dire need for peacekeepers in Iraq. She said New Zealand had presented very strong arguments to the UN, saying Fijian soldiers must not be allowed to continue working as peacekeepers given their military's overthrow of the elected government.

"We've made it very clear to the UN that we do not believe they should be using Fijian troops," Clark said.

"Unfortunately our point of view did not get support from the United States, the United Kingdom or the United Nations bureaucracy.

"It's a considerable irony that when you look at the UN mission in Iraq which is to try to help restore some kind of decent government and democracy that Fiji troops are welcome there."

Clark said that former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had agreed with her that a coup in Fiji would lead to the loss of peacekeeping work with the UN.

But things had changed by the time New Zealand approached the UN in the wake of the December 5 coup. "There has been a change of the secretary-general. There's a lot of pressure on the UN to maintain the mission in Iraq, it's very, very dangerous there," Clark said.

"We have one person there as a military liaison observer but New Zealand is not prepared to fill in any gap left by Fiji troops - we think it's extremely dangerous.

"I imagine the secretary-general has been under pressure to try and keep his small force of security up and he's ended up looking back to Fiji but it's not a step we approve of."

Clark believes that Fijian soldiers will become a less attractive proposition for the UN over time, as the military government is deprived of assistance programs from countries like New Zealand and Australia.

© 2007 AAP

U.N webcast on recent geopolitical events including a response to a question posed on Fiji's contribution to peacekeeping.
The reporter inquired whether the former U.N Secretary General, Kofi Annan's remark inferring the scaling down the use for Fijian soldiers in Iraq, still holds.

In spite of the additional recruitment of Fiji soldiers to Iraq, reported by a Radio New Zealand article confirmed by NZ TV3 news; the U.N spokesperson acknowledged that, he was unaware of the comments made by the New Zealand Prime Minister and skillfully skirted around the issue of removing Fiji from U.N operations in Baghdad, Iraq. The U.N spokesperson later clarified that, Annan's comment only applied to future use of Fijian peacekeepers and not existing engagements.

Website for Fiji's Mission to the U.N.

Club Em Designs