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LoginMichael Field: Another blogger who gets it wrong?
New Zealand-based Pacific affairs reporter, Michael Field. Image: crosbiew.blogspot.com.
Justice Nazhat Shameem. Image: crosbiew.blogspot.com.
Pacific Scoop:
Opinion – By Crosbie Walsh
In a recent blog posting headed “Fiji Media Joins the Coup” well-known Pacific affairs journalist Michael Field called Nazhat Shameem a “coup perpetrators … a key player in the judicial coup that sacked a chief justice and … a close adviser of Bainimarama.” And then went on to write, “Without even the vaguest nod of consultation with the public, Shameem and Bainimarama have come up with some kind of decree defining crime.” The article has prompted Crosbie Walsh to challenge Michael Field over the facts…
Michael Field is a NZ journalist with many years Pacific reporting experience. He was fearless in his coverage of the pro-democracy movement in Tonga and in his condemnation of the 1987, 2000 and 2006 Fiji coups — between which he can see no difference.
Following a succession of negative reports on Fiji (and a rebuke from the NZ Broadcasting Standards Authority for his libellous comments on a former Fiji Attorney-General) Field was declared persona non grata and denied entry to Fiji. He continues to write short, essentially “copy and paste” articles on Fiji for the mainstream media, and he also has a blog where he so departs from normal journalistic standards that his mainstream colleagues must be embarrassed. He has been especially harsh in his treatment of former Fiji High Court judge Nazhat Shameem, the subject of this posting.
In a recent blog posting headed “Fiji Media Joins the Coup” he called Nazhat a “coup perpetrators … a key player in the judicial coup that sacked a chief justice and … a close adviser of Bainimarama.”
And then went on to write,”Without even the vaguest nod of consultation with the public, Shameem and Bainimarama have come up with some kind of decree defining crime.”
IN FACT, the Crimes Decree was essentially the Qarase government draft completed by the Law Reform Commission in 2006 before the coup. It is not a creature of this government in substance although it was passed by this government. All relevant bodies were consulted during the drafting process including the judiciary, the Law Society and all the women’s groups pre-2006. The 2006 draft also included the treason offences now in the Crimes Decree and none of this was drafted or changed by Nazhat Shameem.
Field then wrote that “subtle changes” were made in defining treason in order to protect ..those who purported to draft this decree from the very charge itself.” These changes, he said, were such that overthrowing the Constitution or the government of Fiji is no longer an offence.
IN FACT, the law on treason is a refection of the law as defined in the Silatolu and Nata cases by Justice Wilson and by the common law, and overthrowing the Constitution or the lawful authority of the Government of Fiji are certainly criminal offences under section 65. Treason is an enactment of the common law on treason about which Field seems to be unaware. It was set out in the Silatolu case and is summarised as an act of levying war against the State. This is still a type of treason.
Changes made to the Decree were not in relation to treason. Section 64, on treason, remained unchanged from the Qarase government draft. But the offence of inciting communal antagonism with violence (section 65 (2) of the Decree) that formerly existed as a type of sedition in the old Penal Code, was more clearly defined, and other offences of sedition retained.
However, the point is that the treason definition was drafted not by this government, or Shameem, but by the Qarase govefrnment. And it was drafted after a full consultation process.
Field then went on to attack The Fiji Times and the media for providing “its training facilities to the regime for an Education Camp on Military Decrees” before awarding the “prize for the idiot remark of the day” to Fiji Times managing director Anne Fussell for saying “the media workshop has been invaluable in helping our journalists have a better understanding of the intricacies of the judicial system.”
IN FACT, Field’s “camp” was a “workshop”, organized by Fussell and Fiji Broadcasting Corp’s news editor Stanley Simpson and conducted by Shameem, on court reporting by the media, although I have no doubt the Criminal Procedure Decree (note, Michael, not the Crimes Decree!) was discussed because it limits what the media may report before cases are transferred to the High Court without risking contempt of court charges.
Field’s remarks on the media are incorrect. They are also very unfair. One might have thought that as a fellow journalist he would have recognized just how difficult it is for Fiji journalists to write stories in the present circumstances – and just how important it is that they get things right.
If it did nothing else, the workshop would have provided an opportunity to discuss matters of concern and interest on the relationship between the media and the law, with Shameem, and with Justice Madigan who, I understand, was also present for one session.
Finally, he asked, “Why didn’t Fiji journalists simply choose not to go to Shemeem’s School of Indoctrination. They’ve done sweet all else.”
IN FACT, Michael, it’s Shameem (not Shemeem); it was a workshop, not a school of indoctrination, and the two journalists you named organized it, not Shameem. It’s important to get these little things right before you attempt bigger stories.
Dr Crosbie Walsh is emeritus professor of the University of the South Pacific and retired founding director of USP’s Development Studies programme. He publishes the independent blog Fiji: The Way it Was, Is and Can Be.
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Dr Walsh,
Does that mean that the puppet master could still be charged with treason and sentenced as such?
I wonder if the current crop of judges will be readily available to sentence their puppet master when the time comes?
Unfortunately Dr Walsh is guilty of many of the very same sins he accuses Mr Field of. From the school that thinks by virtue of a cushy little number at USP; completely out of touch from the day to day reality of those struggling in Fiji – except from an elevated position that allows him to look down and ponder and postulate; with old- fart paternalistic attitude bording on the “neo-colonial” attitudes his little protoge’s are qucik to try and accuse others of; he (and those he’s fooled) is accorded “expert status”.
I note even in this article that he picks Field up on an incorrect spelling of Shaista’s name – when he’s WELL aware that Field is capable of spelling same correctly. Unfortunately Mr Field may not be an expert in proof reading, but he certainly has a better handle on Fiji and Pacific affairs generally than Walsh will ever have.
When one systematically goes through Walsh’s scribe and comments, one is increasingly reminded of a Fox News approach to commentary (Fair and Balanced!). He may think he’s an expert on Fiji and Fijians and be able to convince others that he is – except for most people that are the subject of his waffle.
And.as for the BSA complaint – he should know that a precedent has been set by that wonderful organisation that has become a joke and that few now take seriously. I wonder whether he would now be comfortable with BSA sanctioning New Zealand journalists expressing opinion on Zimbabwe/Burma or elsewhere based on complaints from members of their respective juntas.
The last update to my previous was lost – due to the inherent characteristics of intermittent internet connectivity (timeouts and no guarantee of IP delivery). However, the more I think of Walsh, the more inclined I am towards the view that he is academia and media’s answer to Owen Glenn, and of similar ilk.
Thankfully Michael Field has now challenged – in the very same bitchy vein that is characteristic of an “expert” whose credentials are finally in question. I’m confident that others who actually have to experience the day-to-day regime that Walsh offers his “expertise” on will soon comment – if they havn’t already done so.
Please people…start thinking a little more critically. A career in bullshit will always be a career in bullshit. I guess it has the same imperative of anything else – having to try to reproduce itself, but meantime how about actually trying to find how it is that those actually affected feel?
I am moved to express my joy at finding real debate on the true state of our Pacific paradise/lost? Having read Swimming with Sharks I was warmed and shocked at the brutal truths which Field grapples with- details are important but the voices of the people of all those nations can be heard and feelings felt- which is imperative
I grew up in W Samoa a child of the first VSA volunteer – Roger Tristram- Kiwi Accountant / Teacher and a Village girl Mabel Chong-nee from Aleisa and my father had a deep love and respect for the culture and tradition and yet was infuriated by the difficulty with the manufactured relationships of our governments-
My father worked hard payrolling and accounting those hugeconstruction projects like Faleolo and Motootua and the roads – then the Dams etc in Fiji-long before the great coups and i recall his anger at the later fallouts there- He was a personal friend of the Samoan PM and adviser to treasury at a time which seemed alot more transparent then now- Gotta laugh at our current PMs dismissal of John Campbells questions on aid spending- Dad would be spinning in his grave at that!
I wonder if you crossed paths with my father in the late 60s early 70s Michael as he worked also in Fiji at Monosavu – SPDC was the special projects div cobbled together from many expats set on improving the lot of these third world communities only to discover progress is so fraught with corruption and ultimately it is the indigenous trust and respect which paves the way. I laughed at your typically humbling and quirky anecdotes and shuddered at the great tradgedies some of which have been reinforced by ‘experts’ within my own dual family lines.
I am now 37 and an Anthropology and Media studies graduate, a Librarian and a Registered teacher with a 6 year old son. I see the strength of being a half caste on the threshold of some tumultuos times- i have always longed for my first home and returned to Sa after so long to see a visibly changed yet familiar love and warmth-and way of life- yet so much more than Lonely planets offerings! My Son and I swam on Lalomanu exactly 1yr before the Tsunami and ifound a engagement ring while snorkeling there and gave it to my Wife-
Im still pained by the fact that I did not go to aid there a yr later
I now wish to show my son that the gifts of this great land of ours ( Welcome to my world – John Horne) must be used to help those who dont receive- And that in the process the gifts of his Samoan life can return so much to forming his character.
My mother and I have some great plans for developing our family plantation back in SA and
i have some great projects for literacy and education in my homeland- projects i am fleshing out now! You have inspired me again Mike and reminded me of an old coots saying- “If you wish to change the world- start in your own backyard”
I would have loved to discuss the book with my Father who unfortunately died back in 94-He would have critiqued and corroborated everything you wrote in turn of course – yet shared in that humour and search for the ultimate harmony of worlds
I dont just want to sit in one of those ivory towers and be another wealthy teacher on a cushy run- We all need to be challenged and of course time is marching.
Thanks again and keep pushing everyones awareness buttons- Make us all question the realities we are portrayed- healthy minds and Societies rare at stake.
Douglas Tristram
Levin NZ
i welcome the chance to correspond with you Michael or anyone who may impart their knowledge of Which key areas must be addressed in samoa in particular and help me in