Impunity Watch: Oceania

UPDATE: Chaudhry's Future in Interim Government Uncertain; Winters Proposes Pacific Court ; Fiji Law Society President Wants New Leaders

By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji -- The Fiji military council is reported to be once again calling for the ouster of Fiji's interim finance minister Mahendra Chaudhry, but no official comment has been released by either the military or the interim government concerning the reasoning.  The speculation rose to the point where rumors were circulated among Fiji's political circles that Chaudhry had been sacked.  Interim prime minister Frank Bainimarama, however, was clear that the finance minister had not been asked to resign. 

Previously Chaudhry was under pressure to leave government due to allegations from the Fiji Times of inconsistencies in his taxes (an interim government investigation cleared him of any wrong doing).  The current tensions are reported to arise regarding differences of opinion regarding a proposed taxation on bottled water.

For more information, please see:

Fiji Times -- Military keeps cards close to chest -- 26 July 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Speculation in Fiji over Chaudhry's continued role as interim finance minister -- 24 July 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Fiji interim PM says Chaudhry stays despite differences over tax -- 24 July 2008

 

------------------------------------
NADI, Fiji -- Addressing the Fiji Law Society, former Fiji High Court justice Gerard Winters said that the Pacific should consider creating a Pacific Court to offer legal analysis and hear certain cases.  He said that such a court, which could be based in Vanuatu, would serve as the paramount court for hearing cases arising out of Fiji.  Such a court, he explained, such a court is workable because of the close bonds that exist among Pacific nations. 

Professor Brian Opeskin, of the University of the South Pacific, thought that the idea should be encouraged.  "I think this is just another mechanism that can be considered in order to try and make the region a strong one that can ensure the rule of law across the region and to avoid problems of political instability and problems with law and order that we have seen arise from time to time across the region," he said.  "So the idea of strengthening judicial services including through the court is certainly a good one that needs to be explored."

Dr. Shaista Shameem, chairperson of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, is not as optimistic that the planned court is workable.  Noting that the idea is about 30 years old, she said that Pacific countries are too legally and socially diverse for such a court to function.  "It [would require] acceptance by member states and at present this seems somewhat remote since there is no common human rights or legal identity or mechanism that everyone can agree with, beyond just New Zealand and its dependencies in the Pacific." 

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International -- Academic backs call for Pacific Court -- 21 July 2008

Fiji Times -- Legal plan 'now new' -- 20 July 2008

Fijilive -- Pacific Court notion revisited -- 19 July 2008
------------------------------------
SUVA, Fiji -- Fiji's interim Prime Minister has said in recent weeks that the electoral and social reforms needed in Fiji are unlikely to be realized before next March's election deadline and as such democratic elections will probably not be held as promised.  These comments have sparked controversy from multiple corners, among them the president of the Fiji Law Society, Isireli Fa.  Fa told the Fiji Times that it was "misguided" that electoral reforms were needed before elections could take place.  He went on to stress that any proposed reforms must be imposed by Parliament, not the ruling party, or else any reform would be "illegitimate and [would] bring more problems than it solves." 

Fa also expressed his belief that the Fiji Law Society needs to ensure that the country is governed by the rule of law.  To this end, he wants to see a new cadre of leaders emerge from the next election.  Radio New Zealand International reports that according to Fa the current government is weighed down by the baggage of the colonial period.  He believes that the way forward is for both current groups to refrain from contesting the results of the next election.  "What we should see is new leaders from within the party who could carry the party forward into policies and thinking that’s in line with a multi-racial government and a multi-racial constitution, as opposed to leaders who still hang on to nationalistic principles."

Fa's comments have not been well received by the sitting political leaders.  The national leader of the deposed SDL party, Peceli Kinivuwai, said that the rules of citizenship are very clear in the Constitution and that anyone of voting age should be allowed to stand for elections.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International -- Fiji Law Society calls for new leaders to emerge -- 21 July 2008

Fijilive -- Anyone can stand for elections: SDL -- 20 July 2008

Fiji Times -- Law society pushes for rule of law -- 17 July 2008

French Minister Blames Political Process for French Polanisia Instability; Tonga Passes Legislation to Encourage Reforms; Outgoing Vanuatu MP Challenges Constitutionality of Electoral Law

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

PAPEETE, Tahiti --  Despite political elections in March, a junior French oversea territories minister is attributing political instability in French Polynesia to the “quarrels and personal ambitions among local leaders” reports Radio New Zealand International.

Jego Yves, the junior French oversea territories minister, says that for the political system to change reforms must start with politicians in Papeete. According to Yves, the key politicians in the capital city are responsible for destabilizing the political system largely because they force local mayors into making deals.

In addition, Yves criticizes the electoral process because he feels the system is corrupt from within. If the two past two elections have not produced better results, says Yves, then new elections are not the answer.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International -- French minister blames Tahiti politics for instability -- 24 July 2008

----------------------------------

NUKU’ALOFA, TONGA -- Tonga’s Parliament has passed new legislation which seeks to promote greater reforms within the executive and legislature.

The new bill sets up a nine member Commission. Five of those members will be appointed by cabinet including one from the Nobles and People’s Representatives, and the remaining two from the Judicial Services Commission.

The Commission’s job will be to recommend reforms and changes to help facilitate the relationship between the executive and legislature. The Commission will have ten months in order to submit their recommendations to the Privy Council and Legislative Assembly. Among its appointed powers, the Commission can call a national Constitution Convention within seven months of appointment.

As a separation of powers measure, the bill has stipulated that a member of the Commission will not be allowed to serve in the Legislative Assembly or cabinet.

For more information, please see:
Pacific News - New Constitution bill in Tonga paves the way for political reforms - 24 July 2008

----------------------------------
PORT VILA, Vanuatu -- Outgoing Vanuatu member of Parliament and Chairman to the Melanesian Progressive Party, Barak Sope, is claiming that an electoral law gives certain politicians an unfair advantage.

Sobe is challenging the constitutionality of Peoples Representation Act No. 33 or 2007. The Act, Sobe says, allows people not within the constituencies of Port Vila and Luganville to vote in two municipal constituencies. 

In addition, Sobe claims the legislation allows chiefs and landowners to decide where people residing on their property can vote. Sobe has secured legal representation, and maintains that if his constitutional challenge is successful, a restraining order against the electoral office will ensue, effectively delaying elections until the matter is resolved.

The elections are scheduled for September 2, but may be delayed if Sobe’s constitutional challenge is successful.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International -- Vanuatu elections could be delayed by constitutional challenge -- 24 July 2008

Smith Says Way is Clear for Fiji Elections; Media Shocked at Creation of Media Tribunal; People's Charter Draft Ready End of July, Samy Says

By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

SYDNEY, Australia -- Fiji's Interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has been consistent in the past months in his view that social and political reforms were needed before any democratic elections can take place.  This view was directly challenged this week as the Pacific Island Forum concluded talks with Fiji's leaders and Stephen Smith, Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister, said that there is no justification for any delay in Fiji's people going to the polls next March. 

According to Smith, Bainimarama has gone back on the promise election promise that he made to the Pacific Island Forum last year.  With ample time and a stable environment, there is no reason to postpone elections, Smith said.  "There is nothing that we have seen or heard which would stand in the way of that occurring, provided that there is the political will. The political will in the first instance, primarily if not exclusively from the interim government, but also the political dialogue which ensues between the political players in Fiji which we both encourage and welcome."

For more information, please see:
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited -- Smith criticized delay in Fiji elections -- 20 July 2008

Fiji Times -- No justification for poll postponement: Smith -- 20 July 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Forum ministers see no impediment to March elections in Fiji -- 16 July 2008

--------------------------------------

SUVA, Fiji -- The interim government of Fiji's stance towards the media has sparked the ire of the country's Media Council and particularly its chairman, Daryl Tarte.  Tarte is concerned about the perceived differences between what the Council was told by interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and what the interim government has actually done.  Addressing the Council, the interim AG said that existing media lalws would be consolidated into one piece of overarching legislation, but a day later the interim government announced that it would create a tribunal to hear appeals on grievances lodged with the Media Council. 

The interim government defends its action, saying that there is nothing new in the consolidation of laws.  He also reiterated the government's previously stated stance that, "We do not want to control the media or the content of the media by licensing it."

Tarte, however, sees things differently.  He is upset by the fact that there are discrepencies between interim government's words and their actions.  "At the media council meeting on Wednesday, the interim attorney general was invited to talk to council members about the Government’s-media relationship, and he cateorically stated the government did not intend introducing any form of legislation. The very next day it is announced that government are going to impose legislation."  Fiji Times also reports that he has expressed his fear that, along with the hearing appeals, the tribunal would set codes of conduct and exact fines. 

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand News -- Fears Fiji tribunal will undermine media -- 19 July 2008

Fiji Daily Post News -- Media council wants their views heard -- 19 July 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Fiji media council stunned by interim regime's regulation -- 18 July 2008

Fiji Times -- State move on media shocks council head -- 18 July 2008

--------------------------------------
SUVA, Fiji -- The a draft of the interim government's much touted People's Charter should be finished by the end of the month, says the National Council for Building a Better Fiji.  The chairman of the Council, John Samy, said that the time line for getting the the Charter out was accelerated so as not to interfere with  possible elections next year.

Along with the Charter Samy announced that a State of the Nation report would also be released as well as an economic report. During the announcement, which was delivered to an applauding crowd of the NCBBF, he said, "Not all provincial councils are against the idea of the Charter, in fact below the provincial council, at village and grassroot level, the response we are getting is broad based support."

For more information, please see:
Fijilive -- Draft People's Charter to be out soon -- 15 July 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Draft Fiji People's Charter expected to be complete by end of this month -- 14 July 2008

UPDATE: Tonga’s People’s Rep is Cleared of Riot-Related Crimes; PNG Accused of Ignoring Government Minister’s Corruption Charges; UPDATE: Minister Urges PNG to Develop Plan for Refugees

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga -- The number two people’s representative in Tonga, who was charged with crimes relating to the November 2006 riots, has been cleared of those charges.

Tonga’s April elections had been the first since 2006, when the pro-democracy movement turned violent, causing the death of eight and destroying Tonga’s capital city, Nuku’alofa. The riots erupted after the Legislative Assembly of Tonga adjourned for the year without employing promised reforms. Five of the six newly elected candidates faced criminal charges for their alleged involvement in the riots.

Isi Pulu was the first of the people’s representatives to stand trial for his alleged involvement in the riots.   

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International -- Tonga’s number two People’s Rep cleared on riot-related charges -- 14 July 2008

----------------------------

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea -- The PNG government is under pressure for allegedly ignoring reports that a government minister took 40 million US dollars from logging deals.

Since 2002, a Senior Minister in the PNG government, who remains unnamed, allegedly took 2.1 per cent of each log exported out of the country. The Post Courier, a PNG newspaper, reported that the money was kept in two Singapore accounts and managed by a consortium.

Bart Philemon, PNG’s deputy opposition leader, believes the government has chosen to ignore the issue:

“The government has been reluctant to deal directly with a lot of these issues. Like any other issues that have come up, it would appear that the government takes a non-active involvement in trying to find out whether there’s substance to some of these allegations or not.”

A public petition is currently circulating which calls on the Prime Minister to make inquiries into the corruption allegations. 

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand -- PNG govt under pressure to investigate corruption allegations -- 14 July 2008

----------------------------

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea -- A senior minister in Papua New Guinea (PNG) told Parliament last week that the country has no clear plan to deal with refugees currently squatting in the country.

Foreign affairs, Immigrations, and Trade minister, Sam Abal, has announced the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) is responsible for deciding whether refugees in PNG should be resettled. The question is whether the refugees prefer to remain in PNG or move to a third country.

Some refugees are uncertain as to whether, after 30 years of living in PNG, they have the same rights as Papua New Guineans, or whether they will only become permissive residents. Mr. Abel says that residents are subsequently confused about their status because of the government’s lack of a clear policy. 

Mr. Abel maintains that all refugees currently squatting in Port Moresby have the right to apply for citizenship.

For more information, please see:
The National/ PacNews -- No clear policy on West Papuans --Abal -- 14 July 2008

NZ Makes Exception to Fiji Travel Ban for Medical Emergency; Fiji Women Request Place at Political Forum; Organization UPDATE: Fiji Police Maintains They Do Not Need Help

By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- After declaring that it would maintain its travel ban against all members of Fiji's interim government and their families, the government of New Zealand has granted an exception for the daughters of a Fiji naval officer so that they can visit their seriously ill brother.  Osea Namatalevu, son of Keveli Namatalevu of the Fiji Navy, is a New Zealand based rugby player who is studying in New Zealand and how is in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant to treat his Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Originally the government of New Zealand intended to hold firm to its commitment to its travel ban, despite the pleas of interim government to grant an exception.  Osea's mother, Makarita Namatalevu, was dismayed at the New Zealand government's position and worried that the delay in granting the visas could have an adverse effect on her son's health.   

The cost of Osea's treatment is expected to reach upwards of $50,000, but Fiji's interim government has announced that it will hold a fund raiser to assist the Namatalevu family with the costs. 

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International -- New Zealand Government makes exception to Fiji travel ban -- 11 July 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- NZ upholds travel an despite Fiji plea for for help in medical case -- 11 July 2008

Fiji Village -- Grant Visas Please -- 11 July 2008

 

----------------------------------------
SUVA, Fiji -- The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre and the Fiji Women's Rights Movement have written letters to the Commonwealth Secretariat Special Envoy to Fiji calling for the final terms of reference for women to have a seat at the proposed political forum.  The letter was delivered to Sir Paul Reeves while he was in Fiji last week. 

Virisila Buadromo, executive director of FWRM, has said that it is essential for women to play a role in peace negotiations and post conflict reconstruction in this time when Fiji is transitioning back to Parliamentary democracy.  She also said that, to date, she has been disappointed that she has not yet received a response to the letter.  "We were quite disappointed that despite us sending a letter last week while he was here, asking if he could include us in his meetings, while he was hear trying to formulate the terms of reference, we didn’t get any response from it at all. We think we should be part of the designing of that terms of reference as well as being part of that political forum."

The forum is expected to convene next month.

For more information, please see:
Fiji Times -- Include us, women say -- 10 July 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Fiji women's organization wants a voice in forum -- 09 July 2008

Fiji Times -- Women's organization writes to Sir Paul -- 09 July 2008

-----------------------------------------
SUVA, Fiji --  As the investigation into the death threats made against Australian High Commissioner to Fiji James Batley continue, a spokesman for the Fiji Police has said that assistance from other countries may be necessary.  While this marks a change in course from previous statements that have come from his office, Mua has maintained that they "have enough manpower to continue with our investigation and providing security at the High Commission."  Specifically Mua said that the police department did not the aid that Australia and New Zealand had offered.  "There are other countries where we can get the help from apart from these two countries, the ministry will look into these areas." 

The assistance that Mua has indicated his office may need is more technical.  He revealed this week that officers could not lift finger prints from two of the death threats that had been received (the other death threat was received via email). 

While Mua has not wavered on his refusal to allow foreign officers into the investigation, his tone has changed in that last week with regard to the progress of the investigation.  Earlier the Fiji Police had announced that they had strong leads about who was responsible for the death threats, but now that optimism has dwindled. 

For more information, please see:

Fiji Daily Post -- 'No Need' -- 10 July 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Fiji Police say they may need overseas help to solve threats against diplomat -- 08 July 2008

 

Radio New Zealand International -- Australia prepared to offer assistance to Fiji police -- 07 July 2008

Fiji Times -- Overseas help for threat case: Police --  07 July 2008

UN Denies PNG Refugee Requests for Resettlement; Nauru’s Influential Former President Dies; Two Plead Guilty to Human Trafficking in Mariana Islands

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea -- Despite requests for resettlement, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has announced that there is no rush to remove the roughly 100 Papuan refugees currently squatting in Papua New Guinea’s capital. 

The refugees have accused the UNHCR of neglecting the group’s needs. The UNHCR, meanwhile, has explained that Papua New Guinea has a plan for the refugees to remain in the country.

Within the last 9 months, the group has moved from different locations throughout Port Moresby. Currently the 100 are squatting in a Boroko public park. Richard Towle, a regional representative for UNHCR, explains that, similar to the 10,000 Papuan refugees currently residing in PNG, this relatively small group has little to complain about:

    “But they have refugee status, they are safe. there’s absolutely no suggestion of forced return to Indonesia. We’re satisfied that the basic principles of international protection are being fully met here. Certainly there’s a sympathy that we have for a small group of people that can’t find a place to live. I think there are some solutions that need to be explored. We’re happy to work with government and with this group to try and find them in PNG.”

Meanwhile, local NGO activist,  Richard Brunton, has painted a different picture. According to Brunton, the elderly and children refugees are suffering the most due to poor living conditions among the camps: 

    “[F]or the past three or four days, real problems with sanitation and water. I’ve not seen one visit by UNHCR, Provincial Affairs, Foreign Affairs, even the Governor of the city, nobody’s been down here to check out their conditions or hear the concerns about their safety and not having a place to stay.”

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International -- Papuan refugees in PNG don’t need resettlement, says UNHCR -- 06 July 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Concern voiced for welfare of Papuan refugees in Port Moresby -- 04 July 2008

------------------------------------

YAREN, Nauru -- Controversial former President of Nauru, Rene Harris, has passed away at the age of 61. A state funeral was held shortly after his death.

President Harris had been an influential member of Nauru’s Parliament, having served for 31 years. He had also served as president for a total of 4 years between 1999 and 2004.

In particular, Mr. Harris was known for supporting the controversial “Pacific Solution.” As part of this “solution,” the Australian government had introduced a detainment center which soon employed roughly ten per cent of Nauru’s population. The program was aimed at keeping asylum seekers off Australian turf by detaining 1,637 refugees on nearby Nauru and Manus islands. The policy garnered global attention in 2001 when Aghan refugees were offloaded on Nauru, and in 2004, when several detainees went on a hunger strike and sewed their mouths shut to protest their incarceration.

Despite the Pacific Solution’s widespread criticism, Foreign Minister and member of Mr. Harris’s opposing party, Kieren Keke, remembered the former President as an influential and tough politician.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International -- Former President of Nauru Rene Harris dies -- 06 July 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Nauru’s former President remembered as strong willed but amicable person -- 07 July 2008

Sydney Morning Herald -- Nauru 'Pacific Solution' president dead -- 06 July 2008

------------------------------------

SAIPAN, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands -- A Guam man pled guilty to allegations that he was involved in the trafficking of women from Chuuk, Micronesia from April 2006 to January 14, 2008. The man is one of two men recently charged with criminal conspiracy related to human trafficking.

In total, nine women from Chuuk were brought to Guam to work at a place called the Blue House bar. In their pleas, Saknin Weira and Freuda Eseun admitted to recruiting, enticing, transporting, and getting women to perform sex acts for money, the Marianas Variety reported. In addition, the owner’s of Blue House bar, Song Ja Cha and Han Cha, will be charged with conspiracy, sex trafficking, coercion, and enticement to travel for the purpose of prostitution. 

Weria and Eseun plead guilty to Chief Judge Francis Tydingco-Gatewood, from a U.S. District Court of Guam. The Marianas Variety had reported that one of the men who pled guilty is mentally challenged.

For more information, please see:
Marianas Variety -- Second Bar Worker Pleads Guilty In Human Trafficking Case -- 07 July 2008

Australian Diplomat Receives Third Death Threat; High Court Approves Investigative Power of FICAC; Australian Journalists Should Be Allowed Visas

By Ryan L. Maness
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji -- Australia’s foreign Minister Stephen Smith received a death threat on June 27, the third such threat that the diplomat has received in the last few months.  Describing the death threat, Smith said it was serious credible and offensive. 

Tension has mounted between the Australian government and the Fiji's interim government about the appropriate response to the threats.  Australia has requested that federal police personnel be allowed to enter Fiji to beef up Smith's security detail, but Fiji said that no Australian police officers will be allowed into the country.  Fiji police spokesman Ema Mua said that local Fiji police were available upon request, insisting that local authorities were sufficient to deal with the death threats. 

Minister Smith is now on leave in Australia and has been since receipt of the last death threat in May.

For more information, please see:

Fiji Times -- No requests received by police -- 03 July 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Fiji refuses to allow Australian police to protect High Commissioner -- 30 June 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Australia's Fiji High Commissioner receives third death threat -- 30 June 2008

 

---------------------------------
SUVA, Fiji -- The interim government came to power in December 2005 under a promise, among other things, to weed out corruption from Fiji's government.  A central instrument to this policy is the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, which was designed to investigate and prosecute public bodies.  While promulgated by the interim government, it was an open question until this week about what the future of FICAC and whether it was legal.  This week, however, a Fiji High Court has confirmed that FICAC has the power to carry out investigations and prosecute those that it finds evidence against. 

The Commission’s deputy commissioner, George Langman, said, "I’m glad that the court has finally come out with that. It hasn't stopped our investigations we have continued to investigate and charge public officials. We are at the moment investigating a number of public bodies."  Langman also said that twenty-two public officials and two business men have faced charges of corruption.  More indictments are expected to be handed down soon.

The future is still somewhat uncertain though because the full powers of FICAC are dependent on the legality of the interim government.  As such, if ousted Prime Minister Lasenia Qarase is successful in his suit challenging the legality of the interim government then FICAC will not be allowed to operate.

For more information, please see:
Fiji Daily Post -- FICAC to charge more -- 30 June 2008

FijiVillage -- Lawyers to Appeal Judge's Decision -- 30 June 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Fiji court confirms power of Commission against Corruption -- 29 June 2008

---------------------------------
SUVA, Fiji -- Over the past several weeks the Fiji Media Council and the interim government have been trading comments, with the government hinting that governmental regulation of the media might be necessary and with the Media Council denouncing any such regulation.  It is in this atmosphere that many international observers have begun to worry about the media's independence in Fiji.  This is why it has come as a welcome relief to the Fiji Media Council and others that Fiji has decided to consider giving visas to a group of Australian journalists. 

The journalists, from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, had originally been denied visas by the interim government when they had requested to enter Fiji after reporting on the Festival of Pacific Arts in American Somoa.  Explaining the reason for the refusal, acting Deputy Secretary of the Department of Information Major Neumi Leweni, said, ""Some reporters from abroad and, the decision has been made and I don’t think I should really been explaining it, because the decision halews been made and Fiji is a sovereign country and decides on who comes in, and that’s it."

This position has now shifted, however, as reports from the interim government suggest that the journalists will be allowed in after all.  According to Leweni, he had spoken to ABC's director of international relations and has gotten a better idea of ABC's mission in Fiji.  This lack of clarity, the Fiji Times reports, was the reason why the visas were to be denied in the first place.  Now Leweni has said that, "We are in the process of advising proper authorities regarding the granting of their visa."  While not definite, this indicates that it is likely that the reporters will be allowed in.

For more information, please see:
Fiji Times -- Visa for journos -- 01 July 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Fiji rejection of Australian journalists described as unacceptable -- 29 June 2008

FBCL -- Reporters likely to get green light to enter Fiji -- 29 June 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Reporters likely to get green light to enter Fiji -- 27 June 2008

Fiji Times -- Foreign journalists may face ban -- 27 June 2008

Radio New Zealand International -- Fiji suggests more journalists' ban over unspecified negative reporting -- 26 June 2008