Impunity Watch: Oceania

Concern Over Water Hygiene in Pacific Region

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

MELBOURNE, Australia - Oxfam in Papua New Guinea has told the Sanitation and Water Conference being held in Melbourne that they are having trouble meeting the challenge of delivering adequate sanitation and water programs to remote communities in the Pacific region.  The conference was organized as part of the International Year of Sanitation and includes representatives from various United Nations agencies, aid agencies, and the World Bank.

It is reported at the conference that one in three people living in rural and remote communities do not have access to water hygiene and sanitation facilities.  Pauline Komolong, a water engineer for Oxfam, said "Some of the challenges are such things as the terrain where it's impossible getting there; sometimes you walk across gushing rivers, climb mountains and when you are transporting materials sometimes it takes a long time because of all the logistics that are involved."

World Vision estimated in 2004 that in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, 100 million people were living without safe water and 185 million were living without adequate sanitation.

For more information, please see:
Radio Australia - UN highlights the cost of lack of sanitation - 29 October 2008
Fiji Times Online - Water hygiene an issue - 29 October 2008
Islands Business - Struggle in Pacific to deliver water services - 29 October 2008

Australia Sends More Troops to the Solomon Islands

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SYDNEY, Australia – An additional 140 Australian reserve soldiers will be deployed to the Solomon Islands to join Operation ANODE, the Australian Defense Force, which is part of the larger Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands (RAMSI).  The soldiers will help maintain peace and stability in the Solomon Islands along with help the local government improve law and order according to the Australian federal government.

The soldiers are from South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia and will have a four-month deployment. During their deployment they will carry out street patrols with the Australian Federal Police. The soldiers will also be involved in a number of community outreach initiatives that are a part of RAMSI.

Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said, “Their contribution in Solomon Islands is made all the more exceptional by the fact that their civilian employers have released them to provide military service to a neighbor in need.”

Since 2006, the Australian Defense Force has deployed 5 Army Reserve Company groups adding up to more than 700 part-time soldiers.

RAMSI started on 24 July 2003 with a mandate unanimously approved by the Solomon Islands National Parliament "to help the Solomon Islands Government restore law and order, strenghten government institutions, reduce corruption, and re-invigorate the economy."  Fifteen countries contribute personnel to the mission, including police officers, military, and civilians.

For more information, please see:

Solomon Star News – More Aussie troops heading for here – 27 October 2008

Islands Business – More troops deployed to Solomons – 27 October 2008

Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands

Fiji Interim PM Threatens to Remain in Power

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji - In anticipation of Monday’s meeting, Fiji’s Interim Prime Minister has announced that if political leaders do not embrace his vision of change, he will not step down from power.

Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, meets today for the first time with representatives from 14 of Fiji’s political parties to discuss Fiji’s future. Bainimarama has warned that he will only entertain proposals from political leaders but will not tolerate the politics of Fiji’s past.

“They should come with proposals on the way forward, not demands! If they show politics of the past in their demands then Monday is not for them and neither will I hand over leadership,” Bainimarama said. 

In 2006, the Interim Prime Minister led a military takeover of Fiji’s Federal Government. Earlier this month, the High Court in Fiji ruled that the 2006 coup was legitimate. Ousted Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, has challenged that decision, calling it a “miscarriage of justice.”

But the Interim Prime Minister insists that he knows what is best for Fiji. Bainimarama has announced that he will not abdicate power until he is certain that Fiji’s politicians have reformed from their old ways.

"I’m not going to give up leadership of the country until the political parties are ready to show good governance. Because that’s the gist of the PR I am receiving from some political parties. That is, they want to revert to the politics of the past after elections,” Bainimarama said today.

Meanwhile, Qarase’s Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party (SDL) is happy that Bainimarama wants to talk, but remains committed to pressing the issue of Democratic elections. Both SDL and Fiji’s Labor party have insisted that Bainimarama set a firm date for elections to replace the current military government.

But the Interim Prime Minister has clearly stated that now is not the time to discuss a date for the elections.

For more information, please see:
FijiLive - Change your politics or I stay: Fiji PM - 27 October 2008

Fiji Broadcasting Corp Ltd - Set a firm date for polls: Chaudhry - 27 October 2008

FijiVillage - Parties To Meet Interim PM Today - 27 October 2008

FijiVillage - NFP Confirms Participation in Political Dialogue - 27 October 2008

FijiLive - Fiji Leader’s Dialogue to determine future - 26 October 2008

Radio New Zealand International - Fiji interim regime urges cooperation now that coup has been declared legal - 09 October 2008

Fiji Law Society Joins Qarase in Appeal

By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – The Fiji Law Society (FLS) has announced they would like to be amicus curiae if ousted Prime Minister Lasenia Qarase appeals the recent High Court decision legalizing the 2006 coup that ousted him from office.

Dorsami Naidu, FLS president, thought the decision would “undermine the rule of law, weaken parliamentary democracy and parliamentary institutions rather than strengthen them.”nbsp; The decision was made in response to a panel held in Australia that expressed grave concern about the long-term ramifications of legalizing the coup.

Qarase has said his party hopes to file their appeal before the end of the month.  The party will also be looking for a new Queen’s Counsel because Nye Perram has been appointed judge to the Federal Courts of Australia.

Iliesa Duvuloco, Nationalist Tako Lavo party leader, claims the fight is not over yet and that he hopes justice will prevail.

For more information, please see:
The Fiji Times Online – FLS to join Qarase appeal – 26 October 2008

Survey Reports on Freedom of the Press

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

PARIS, France - The non-governmental, international organization Reporters Without Borders has released its annual report of World Press Freedom, in which it ranks 173 countries for the relative freedom of their press. Among the factors the organization uses to gauge the countries are violations that have a direct impact upon journalists including murders, imprisonment, physical attacks, threats of physical attack, censorship, confiscation and harassment. 

Of the 20 countries rated as having the most free press, eight are European, but the report finds that the seventh most free press belongs to New Zealand. 

While Australia is ranked 29 in the ranking (the same rank it held last year), the report makes specific mention of tensions between the Howard administration and the press.  The report noted "at least 1500 legal decrees and rulings" that made limited press and public accessibility to information.  Specifically mentioned was a provision that journalists "who might interview a person suspected of terrorism, is at risk of up to five years in jail."  The report referred to Australia's anti-terror laws "simply outrageous." 

Despite recent deportations of newspaper editors, Fiji ascended the list from last year.  The reports finds Fiji at 79, up from 107 last year.  Despite the marked improvement, Pramod Rae, General Secretary of the National Federation Party, called the ranking an "eye-opener" saying, "There are 79 more steps to climb and the press in Fiji should not throw in the towel now." 

Other countries in the region also moved up the list.  Tonga, which was listed last year at 119, is now listed at 84.  East Timor is ranked at 65, up from 94 last year. 

The full list can be found here.

For more information please see:
Fiji Daily Post - Moving Up - 25 October 2008

The Australian - Australia's press freedom criticised in Reporters Without Borders rankings - 24 October 2008

Fiji Times Online - Fiji ranked 79 for press freedom - 24 October 2008

Radio New Zealand International - Fiji and Tonga move up in World press freedom rankings - 24 October 2008

Matangi - Tonga ranked 8th in World Press Freedom index - 23 October 2008

Fiji Interim PM Will Refuse to Address Coup's Legality at Next Meeting

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji - Fiji’s interim prime minister has announced that his government will not be pushed around by leaders from Fiji’s political parties in Monday’s meeting.

Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says Monday’s meeting will not be about the legality of the interim government. Bainimarama added that leaders interested in merely expressing grievances with the interim government may as well not show.

On October 9, a three judge court ruled that the 2006 military coup of Fiji’s federal government was legal. Ousted Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, is among several advocates pushing for elections in 2009 to restore Fiji to democracy.

But at this year’s 63rd UN General Assembly, Bainimarama told leaders that those elections will not happen as previously planned.

Bainimarama has preemptively told leaders attending Monday’s meeting, that the interim government is in charge and will do whatever it believes is in Fiji’s best interest.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International - Fiji interim regime stakes out political talk framework - 22 October 2008

Bainimarama Wants Elections as Soon as Practicable

By Sarah E. Treptow

Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji - Fiji's Interim PM, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama wants to call for elections as soon as practicable.  It is reported that Bainimarama has written to political parties for a meeting next week to set the agenda and terms of reference for a forum for presidential political dialogue.  Political leaders were told the agenda would remain open and flexible but the overall objective would be to move toward constitutional and democratic governance.  Ousted PM, Laisenia Qarase, has welcomed this call for a meeting.

The independent interlocuters named are Dr. Sitiveni Halapua of the Pacific Islands Development program of the East West Centre and Robin Nair who is a member of the President's Independent Monitoring Group.

As SDL party leader, Qarase has said they will participate though they have reservations over the interlocuters.  Political parties have until Wednesday to respond to the invitation.

For more information, please see:

Fiji Times Online - It's on - 21 October 2008

Pacific Magazine - Fiji's Interim PM Wants To Call For Elections - 21 October 2008

High Court Ruling May Effect Police Brutality Cases

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji - The Fiji Women’s Crisis Center is questioning how this month’s judicial ruling legitimizing the 2006 military takeover in Fiji will effect cases involving police brutality.

On October 9, a three judge court dismissed former prime minister, Laisenia Qarase’s request to have the 2006 military coup declared illegal.

"Of course, the ruling is going to affect the cases that have already been filed against the military and police. The judgment by the High court was political," said Shamima Ali, the Center’s coordinator.

The Fiji Women’s Crisis Center has raised concerns over whether the interim military government will treat cases involving police and military officers differently. 

In particular, the Center identified two cases of alleged brutality which remain pending in court. The first involves a man named Tevita Malasebe, 31, who was a rugby player from Nabua, Suva. Malasebe was beaten to death by police in June of last year. Another man, Nimilote Verebasaga, was taken by soldiers in the middle of the night. He was pronounced dead the next day at the military hospital.

Ali added, "It means those officers implicated in the alleged murder cases and brutality cases before the courts won't be prosecuted because of the immunity clause." 

For more information, please see:
Fiji Times - Fiji Court Ruling Could Impact Brutality Cases - 20 October 2008

Comments by Fiji's Ousted PM Frustrate Bainimarama

By Sarah E. Treptow

Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – After comments were made this week from Fiji’s ousted PM, Laisenia Qarase, Fiji’s interim PM, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, is frustrated.  Bainimarama said Qarase should stop wasting his time commenting on the interim government.

Bainimarama’s frustration comes after Qarase told reporters this week that the interim Government’s reign has been too long.  Qarase claimed that interim government was meant to be temporary and that the two years interim PM Bainimarama has been in power is a long time.

Bainimarama said, “He should be more careful making such comments because he doesn’t know what he is talking about.”  The interim PM also urged Qarase to prove that his government is not doing enough to take Fiji forward.

Qarase has a specific problem with the interim government not holding general elections early in 2009. Bainimarama has already said that he wants electoral reforms in place before the election happensQarase claims there is no excuse.

For more information, please see:

Fijilive – Qarase’s coments rile Fiji interim PM – 17 October 2008

Radio New Zealand International – Fiji interim PM unhappy about Qarase comments – 17 October 2008

Interim Government Praised by Forum Head for Resuming Talks

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

SUVA, Fiji - The new secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, has hailed Fiji's interim government's decision to resume working with the ministerial group examining Fiji's electoral system as a positive step.  The interim government had stopped talks with the Forum in June following what it described as a lack of support from Australia and New Zealand.

While there is no firm plan for when, specifically, the talks will resume, Slade confirmed that meetings are being scheduled.  Slade went onto say, "It is in line with the conclusion of the Forum leaders and their desire as expressed in the Niue communique that this re-engagement should resume. We are now in the secretariat working closely with the authorities of the interim government to try to determine dates and the timing of these meetings."

While the Forum is satisfied with this new move, it has publicly stated that it's position regarding Fiji's return to public elections has not changed in the wake of the recent Fiji High Court decision validating the 2006 coup.  The Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and the Premier of Niue, Toke Talagi, has also echoed deposed Fiji PM Lasenia Qarase's position that the decision will encourage the coup culture in Fiji. 

For more information, please see:
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited - Slade welcomes initiative - 18 October 2008

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited - Forum stance unchanged - 18 October 2008

Radio New Zealand International - Forum head welcomes resumption of dialogue with Fiji interim regime - 17 October 2008

Radio New Zealand International - New Pacific Forum leader says court judgment in Fiji is not a reflection of expectations - 17 October 2008