The Looming Shadow- China's Growing Influence In The Pacific

'The western nations' continuing tough stand on Fiji will not only draw Fiji closer to the Asian powers, notably China, but also the other Pacific Islands nations that are eligible to draw down aid from the allocated US$600 million.

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Who owns the [Pacific] forum?

DR Roman Grynberg says initiatlly the Forum and its secretariat, then called the South Pacific Economic Community, was there to provide technical assistance to the islands, hand out small bits of cash for training and workshops and to service the annual meetings of leaders.

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US Ambassador To Fiji, Wants Jim Crow Democracy.

While it is fortunate that freedom of religion is vibrant and strong throughout the Pacific, it is unfortunate that democracy is yet to be realized in Fiji.

In actuality, the type of democracy which African American McGann wants for Fiji, is the equivalent of Jim Crow legislation and reduces the ambassadors logic to nth degree hypocrisy and duplicity.

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Fiji President for Cuba Cooperation

Suva, Fiji, Mar 5 (Prensa Latina) Fijian President Ratu Josefa Iloilovato advocated Thursday for expanding cooperation with Cuba, by welcoming Cuban ambassador Jose Luis Robaina.

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Fiji interim PM: Not surprised with CMAG report

SUVA, Fiji, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said on Thursday that the government was not surprised with the statement issued by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) on Fiji situation following its London meeting on Wednesday.


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Video of the CMAG meet (posted below).

Last Week in Fiji; Fourth Week of February

Two further examples of what must be called ongoing, negative "media-generated news" hit the streets last week [...] This is not reporting the news; it is creating it.

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Fiji: One World Church silent over teen’s death

Police are investigating the death of a 17-year old boy in the premises of the One World Church at Tacirua. Fiji’s [deposed] prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, is reported to have consulted a woman who claims to have powers to heal and predict the future.

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In God's Image: The Metaculture of Fijian Christianity

Matt Tomlinson is Lecturer in Anthropology at Monash University in Australia and co-editor of The Limits of Meaning: Case Studies in the Anthropology of Christianity. Tomlinson's latest book, In God's Image: The Metaculture of Fijian Christianity was published by UC Press in January 2009.

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Tuilaepa's Fiji salvo unleashes the newshounds

"AN EXTRAORDINARY verbal attack on a neighbour," says Fijilive. While it is recycling a Michael Field take on Stuff.com over a widely circulated article by Savali editor Tupuola Terry Tavita, it is all fairly remarkable non "Pacific Way" stuff.

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Fiji Times Spelling Mistakes 3.0

In a follow up to an earlier SiFM post, it appears that the Fiji Times quality control is faltering again, as demonstrated in an online article.




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Fiji implementing ADS-B air traffic management system

Fiji is introducing an automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast system covering all its airports, a move that has been touted as the most comprehensive deployment of ADS-B in the world.

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Fiji Grants Oil Exploration Licences

The Fiji Government has granted three companies licences to explore oil in Fiji waters while a few other overseas companies have shown interest to do deep sea mining here.

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Fiji Seeks To Enlarge Sovereignty Under The UN Law of The Seas.

Fiji has joined the scramble to extend its territory well beyond its 200 miles exclusive economic zone.Like other countries that have ratified the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Fiji can stake its claim if it produces the necessary data by May 13 this year.

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Experiences teaching in Fiji- A View From the Gap

Jenny talks about her experiences teaching in Fiji while volunteering on her gap year in Fiji, organized by Lattitude Global Volunteering which is a charity specialising in volunteering for 17-25 year olds.

Lattitude's global vision and aim, is to provide unique experiences of voluntary work placements for young people from around the world.

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Fiji set for China loan

Fiji’s interim Prime Minister has told visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping that Fiji is about ready to access the $US600 million dollar China Soft Loan Facility.

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Fiji poll office unhappy with TVNZ report

Fiji’s Elections Office is unhappy with the way Television New Zealand has reported on a video made by its junior staff as part of a competition.
The TVNZ article read ‘Doubts surround the future of New Zealander Felicity Heffernan who heads Fiji's electoral office.

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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) online article, also parroted the news article from TV NZ and published the item, with few changes.
The excerpt of the ABC article:

Fiji Youtube election skit unpopular with interim government

Updated 8 hours 10 minutes ago

Staff at Fiji's electoral office have landed themselves in hot water over a video they made, in which they voice their frustration at the lack of progress the country has made towards democracy. In the video, which was posted on YouTube, staff members perform a skit where they say it will take a superhuman effort for Fiji to conduct free and fair elections. the skit includes New Zealand Supervisor of Elections Felicity Heffernan.

And remaining in Fiji - The United Nations and the Commonwealth have accepted an invitation from the interim government to send a Joint Technical Team to Fiji from the 9th to the 14th of February 2009. The teams will mediate the President's Political Dialoue Forum on a date to be decided. Registered leaders of each of the country's political parties and NGO's are also expected to be prepresented.

Presenter ABC New Zealand correspondent Kerri Ritchie & Geraldine Coutts.

What was quite dubious about this series of news articles, is that the Youtube video was first posted on SiFM, without attribution from TV NZ or ABC.

Further to that, the SiFM posting had added the most important caveat which was, the video was a submission to an online contest, called Democracy Challenge. Even on the Youtube page, the description of the video had clearly indicated that the video was a submission.
Both TVNZ and ABC news articles, had conveniently omitted that detail and spun their articles in a negative light, as if the video was made by Fiji Elections Office employees, gone wild. Another outrageous fact, was that no other local media agency in Fiji had been quoted, confirming the story angle about Fiji Elections Office employees being in trouble, with the Interim Government. Another new Fiji blog, Talking Fiji posting swallowed the parroted article; hook, line and sinker.

Suffice to say, this is the type of gutter type, purposely deceiving and inaccurate journalism, which the region has been force fed by the Trans-Tasman bullies. David Robie's blog latest posting also focuses on the issue of media matters in Fiji.

Democracy Is...

A video produced by Fiji Elections Office, to the Democracy Challenge contest, which expired in Jan. 31st 2009.

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China's Vice President to visit Fiji

The Vice President and number two man in China, Xi Jinping, will be visiting Fiji soon. Government Spokesperson Major Neumi Leweni says because of the global importance of the Vice President and very tight security, few details of his visit are being released at this time.

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Tut-tutting in Fiji

Richard Fowler, the President of the Wellington District Law Society spent time with officers of the Fiji Law Society last October.In his column in this month’s Council Brief (the WDLS monthly newspaper) he has described their dilemma (and his). Should they condemn and refuse to cooperate with the Commodore’s government? The

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Australia threatens Fiji with suspension from Forum.

A "special leaders' retreat" of the 16-member Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), convened in Papua New Guinea (PNG) on January 27, concluded with a threat to suspend Fiji from the regional body unless the military junta announces elections by May 1 and conducts the poll by the end of the year.

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