<![CDATA[ - FIJI NEWS]]>

<![CDATA[ - FIJI NEWS]]>Wed, 23 May 2012 23:02:20 +1200Weebly<![CDATA[REGIME LIES: GAY COMMUNITY LATEST VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN FIJI]]>Tue, 22 May 2012 01:33:59 +1200http://www.thetorturewatch.com/1/post/2012/05/regime-lies-gay-community-latest-victims-of-human-rights-violations-in-fiji.html

REGIME LIES: GAY COMMUNITY LATEST VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN FIJI

The organisers of the first planned march against homophobia in Fiji say the police cancelled it at the last minute when they realised it was a gay march.

Oceania Pride organised the event and say that the group received a police permit last month to hold the march in Suva last Thursday 16 May however they were informed by the police Thursday morning that the permit had been cancelled.

The police informed the organisers that they didn’t realise it was a gay march and even though it was explained to them that it was a peaceful march, and it’s a human rights march it was still rejected. The police informed the organisers that they had overlooked the information and didn’t realise it was a gay march and that they could not have a gay march.

The police officer also said the decision came from the police commissioner, and the Ministry of Defence. It just goes to show what the regime thinks of gay people in Fiji.

Does it also expose how scared the regime are these days! Scared of a small group of men and women marching through Suva City.

]]><![CDATA[REGIME HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS CONTINUE: GAY COMMUNITY MARCH PERMIT REVOKED]]>Fri, 18 May 2012 12:50:38 +1200http://www.thetorturewatch.com/1/post/2012/05/regime-human-rights-continue-gay-community-march-permit-revoked.htmlREGIME HUMAN RIGHTS CONTINUE: GAY COMMUNITY MARCH PERMIT REVOKED

A permit given for a pride march through Suva was cancelled at the last minute yesterday. The event was planned to mark International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.
The official word was that the person who vetted the permit application had not realised what the words homophobia and transphobia referred to Police said the march was stopped because of concerns about the safety of participants following recent media attention.

This is all a farce and the regime simply did not want this march to go head due to the group it represented in our society. This is a direct attack on the human rights of the gay and lesbian community.
]]><![CDATA[DESPERATE REGIME CHANGE AIRLINE NAME IN BID TO GET MORE TOURISTS]]>Thu, 17 May 2012 11:59:21 +1200http://www.thetorturewatch.com/1/post/2012/05/desperate-regime-change-airline-name-in-bid-to-get-more-tourists.htmlDESPERATE REGIME CHANGE AIRLINE NAME IN BID TO GET MORE TOURISTS

The desperate regime in Fiji has once again delivered. This time its to do with the changing of the national carrier Air Pacific's name to Fiji Airways.

Illegal AG and among his numerous other titles illegal Minister for Civil Aviation said the rebranding was a milestone for the company and part of the [illegal] government’s agenda to make better use of the Fijian brand.

The fact of the matter remains no matter how you rebrand Air Pacific, travelers do not go to a destination based on a national airline, travelers simply chose the best and cheapest deal.

This is a laugh! The regime telling the Fijian people that a name change will mean more people traveling Fiji Airways to get to Fiji. Never! Travelers will always take the cheapest and more affordable flight available.
]]><![CDATA[FIJI TRADE UNION CONGRESS TEAM RE-ELECTED UNOPPOSED DESPITE REGIME OPPOSITION]]>Tue, 15 May 2012 10:32:19 +1200http://www.thetorturewatch.com/1/post/2012/05/fiji-trade-union-congress-team-re-elected-unopposed-despite-regime-opposition.html

FIJI TRADE UNION CONGRESS TEAM RE-ELECTED UNOPPOSED DESPITE REGIME OPPOSITION

This news has hardly made it into the mainstream media and the only explanation is media censorship. Torture Watch spoke to a number local journalists and they have all confirmed that media censorship is truly alive in Fiji.

News rooms are still under the tight control of the military thugs and the Ministry of MisInformation. The team of executives at the Fiji Trade Union Congress including the president Daniel Urai and the National Secretary Felix Anthony were re-elected unopposed at the Biennial Conference last Saturday 12 May 2012. This was great news for the union movement but surely made the regime mad!

The trade union movement continues to be targeted by the regime. This month on 01 May, Labour Day - the Fiji Times news paper refused to print a paid press statement by the FTUC saying that the military would not allow them to do so.]]><![CDATA[14 MAY 1987: 25 YEARS LATER: THE DAY TERRORISTS OVERTHREW DEMOCRACY IN FIJI]]>Mon, 14 May 2012 18:18:10 +1200http://www.thetorturewatch.com/1/post/2012/05/14-may-1987-25-years-later-the-day-terrorists-overthrew-democracy-in-fiji.html
14 MAY 1987:
25 YEARS LATER:
THE DAY TERRORISTS OVERTHREW DEMOCRACY IN FIJI

Democratically elected Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra - removed by terrorists on 14 May 1987

The Face of terrorism: Chief terrorist Sitiveni Rabuka

Terrorists then proceeded to brutalise, beat, rape, steal and torture Fiji citizens from 14 May 1987 onwards

University lecturer Dr. Anirudh Singh was abducted and tortured by these terrorist for opposing racism and illegal laws and rule.

]]><![CDATA[CONSTITUTIONAL HEAD HOPES FOR OPEN FIJI CONSULTATIONS ]]>Fri, 11 May 2012 17:39:23 +1200http://www.thetorturewatch.com/1/post/2012/05/constitutional-head-hopes-for-open-fiji-consultations.htmlCONSTITUTIONAL HEAD HOPES FOR OPEN FIJI CONSULTATIONS

Fiji’s Constitution Commission head Professor Yash Ghai says the country’s impending civic education process will be a chance to find out if people in Fiji are holding back from giving their views on the constitution.

The Kenyan academic has been in Fiji to set up the Commission which is due to be up and running in a month.

Professor Ghai says he has been told by some they are not brave enough to speak out but he did not yet have enough knowledge of the contentious decrees involved.

He says there are sometimes good reasons for restrictions but people should be free to meet without too much bureaucracy.

“I hope that the authorities will have a review of the laws and to see if the restrictions go beyond what is strictly necessary for the reason for which they are instituted.” Professor Ghai says he’s sure of the authorities’ commitment to the process and he has experienced no obstacles in doing his job so far.

Source: www.rnzi.com

]]><![CDATA[FIJI'S CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS DETAILS ANNOUNCED]]>Thu, 10 May 2012 14:51:56 +1200http://www.thetorturewatch.com/1/post/2012/05/fijis-constitutional-process-details-announced.html

Professor Yash Ghai

FIJI'S
CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS
DETAILS ANNOUNCED

The chair of Fiji’s constitutional commission, Yash Ghai, has promised Fiji people will have full access to the body which has begun consulting on the new constitution.

The regime abolished the 1997 constitution three years ago when the appeal court ruled that the interim government was illegal. The Kenyan expert has been in Suva to set up the commission’s office.

Sally Round reports from Suva.
“Professor Ghai says the commission will be based in a wing of Suva’s parliamentary complex, and helped by some of the existing staff. He says funding is being sought from the UN Development Programme, as well as the interim government. Professor Ghai says the public will have full access to the body’s accounts, documents and submissions. He reiterated his own view that it is time for a review of laws which might be restrictive, but says he has been assured by regime leaders of their commitment to the consultation process. Professor Ghai says no obstacle has been put in his path. He says Fiji can learn from other countries’ experiences, and his main role is to listen, deliberate and encourage dialogue.”

Source: www.rnzi.com

]]><![CDATA[WHEN WILL THE ILLEGAL PRIME MINISTER RELEASE FUNDS FROM THE FLOOD RELIEF FUND.]]>Wed, 09 May 2012 18:53:02 +1200http://www.thetorturewatch.com/1/post/2012/05/when-will-the-illegal-prime-minister-release-funds-from-the-flood-relief-fund.html

Flooding in Nadi - January 2012

WHEN WILL THE ILLEGAL PRIME MINISTER RELEASE FUNDS FROM THE FLOOD RELIEF FUND.

The latest press release from the Ministry of MisInformation says that the Ministry of Works and Public Utilities today presented a sum of $3520 to the Ministry of Provincial Development which will go towards the 'Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund.'

Torture Watch had urged readers after the January 2012 funds to donate to wisely. That it was best to give money or any other form of assistance to good NGO's who were on the ground and providing assistance to the people. Read here: REGIME SPIN: ANY IDEA WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM?

The question Torture Watch would like the illegal Prime Minister to answer is this: When will the funds from the Flood Relief Fund be used on the victims? Will there be transparency telling the public who gave how much money? What is the delay in using the money to provide assistance to the poor right now?

The victims of the flood continue to suffer and the illegal regime is enjoying money given to them for their own selfish ends. A rough estimate at the moment shows that money in the region of over $3.5 million Fijian Dollars has been collected by the illegal Prime Minister.

]]><![CDATA[FIJI REGIME ILLEGAL AG SEEKING MORE ATTENTION]]>Mon, 07 May 2012 20:14:32 +1200http://www.thetorturewatch.com/1/post/2012/05/fiji-regime-illegal-ag-seeking-more-attention.html

Fijian's have a right to vote and elect a government of their choice.

FIJI REGIME ILLEGAL AG SEEKING MORE ATTENTION

The poor illegal Attorney General, just cannot help himself and wanting to be in the news headlines. So what does he do after getting less then 25 minutes with the Forum Ministerial Contact Group, he continues to make noise in the local media without any foundation. Now the Fiji regime says it will not accept an offer by New Zealand and Australia to soften travel sanctions.

The sanctions continue to work and until and unless power is handed to a totally civilian government, the overseas nations should not remove sanctions. The regime have themselves complained that decent professionals do not wish to take up government positions or join the regime due to these sanctions.

Last month, the New Zealand foreign minister, Murray McCully, said the government was keen to promote a demilitarisation of the Fiji administration and would consider exempting civilians from the sanctions to replace soldiers in key posts.

The sanctions must remain until Fiji is democratic once again.

]]><![CDATA[ACTU SAYS ANY MOVE TO EASE SANCTIONS ON THE MILITARY REGIME IN FIJI WOULD BE TOO EARLY]]>Sun, 06 May 2012 20:35:29 +1200http://www.thetorturewatch.com/1/post/2012/05/actu-says-any-move-to-ease-sanctions-on-the-military-regime-in-fiji-would-be-too-early.htmlAUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS SAYS ANY MOVE TO EASE SANCTIONS ON THE MILITARY REGIME IN FIJI WOULD BE TOO EARLY

Australian Council of Trade Unions President Ged Kearney says the visit by the Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group to Fiji came as a surprise to her.
Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speaker: Ged Kearney, Australian Council of Trade Unions President

KEARNEY: Well we were surprised that the Foreign Minister was going to visit Fiji. We understand he's going to meet with the Pacific Islands Ministerial Contact Group. We certainly hope that this is going to be a serious fact-finding mission, that he will meet with civil society, including trade unions whom we all know have grave concerns about the regime and how it operates there, particularly in the area of civil liberties, and we hope he will come back an enlightened person. We would certainly also hope that he follows the advice of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group recently where they have agreed not to allow Fiji back into the Commonwealth until they actually show that they really are returning to a true democracy.

HILL: There has been some pressure on the Australian government to change its policy towards Fiji. Do you think that Mr Carr might announce some change in the sanctions regime on members of the Fiji interim government or not?

KEARNEY: I think it's far too early, certainly while the Public Order Act is still in place we know that true freedom of the press, true free discussion by anybody in Fiji really cannot take place, and until that Public Order Act is removed there can really be no free and democratic election. So I would be very surprised if the Foreign Minister considered lifting sanctions so soon.

HILL: This is a Labor Party government here in Australia and you're head of the trade union movement, which has a lot of influence on Labor Party policy. Is the ACTU trying to work behind the scenes to make sure that the sanctions aren't lifted yet until your concern about trade union rights are ameliorated?

KEARNEY: Well as you know this has been a serious issue of concern for the trade union movement for a long time, and we use every means we can to raise awareness, be that through community awareness through our own members, and certainly through speaking with politicians on all sides of the political divide, not just the government. And we hope through that we'll actually keep this issue at the front and centre of our foreign policy.

HILL: An Australian minister hasn't visited Fiji for many years now, wouldn't you perhaps agree with some of the criticism of this that dialogue is better than staying away and not having anything to do with that government in Suva?

KEARNEY: Well unfortunately in normal circumstances you would think so , but the Bainimarama regime has made many, many statements about changing, it's given us many promises that it is on the road to democracy, that it is going to allow freedom of speech, it's going to remove some of its draconian orders that are in place, and sadly none of these have ever come to fruition. It seems to us that dialogue with the regime produces nothing.

HILL: If the Australian government or a future Australian government does lift the sanctions on the interim regime in Suva, would the Australian trade union movement do anything about that, or would you acquiesce this?

KEARNEY: We would certainly raise our disagreement with that. We do not think this is a good time at all to be lifting sanctions or even talking about it. We still need to be talking to the regime about having a free democracy and democratic elections in Fiji.

Source: www.radioaustralia.net.au
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