Fiji regime's Attorney-General Aiyaz-Sayed-Khaiyum ... warned trade unionists. Photo: Jet

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Shireen Lata in Suva and PMC news desk

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has been warned to stay away from Fiji – and then a delegation of unionists was today sent packing when it arrived.

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had earlier said the unionists would be deported if they tried to defy the government’s stand and enter Fiji.

ACTU president Helen Kelly and the delegation were barred entry because the regime claimed their fact-finding mission into allegations of repression against unionists would be “biased”. Read more »

Fiji regime's Attorney-General Aiyaz-Sayed-Khaiyum ... Photo: Jet

Pacific Scoop:
Analysis – By Professor Crosbie Walsh

One day, 10 or more years hence, someone will attempt to write a accurate history of Fiji during the first two decades of the 21st century, and blogs will be one source of their information.

It would be a formidable task in any event but with the vast number of sources available in the electronic age, and with every Tomasi, Rajieli and Hari expressing opinions with no evidence, or citing anonymous information relayed from so many “usually reliable sources”, it will be near impossible to know what weight to give to give to each source.

What will make it even more difficult is that some histories are already being written, and rewritten with deliberately distorted material posing as facts. Read more »

Fiji's military renegade Ratu Tevita Mara meets Coup 4.5. Photo: Coup 4.5

Pacific Scoop:
Opinion – By Professor Crosbie Walsh

The anonymous but popular blog Coup 4.5 has again peddled a Muslim scare-mongering item about Fiji.

The blog writes: “Intelligence sources say the CEO of Vodafone, Aslam Khan, was frisked and detained in a US airport on the suspicion he may be financing terrorist cells.”

From their first two words, they spin deceit. The “intelligence sources” are their informants, not some state intelligence source as many readers would suppose. Read more »

Fiji expatriates in Australia listen to fugitive colonel Ratu Tevita Mara condemn the regime at the weekend. Photo: Drum Pasifika

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By the PMC news desk

The Fiji Attorney-General’s Office has confirmed it has sent extradition papers to Australia to extradite Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara who has been declared a fugitive, reports national radio.

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told FBC News today the documents were delivered to and signed for at the Australian Attorney-General’s Office at 8am.

He added the ball was “now in Australia’s court” to follow due legal process in having Ratu Mara brought back to Fiji, FBC reported. Read more »

Lieutenant-Colonel Tevita Uluilakeba Mara ... calls for regime change in Fiji. Video: YouTube

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By the PMC news desk

One of the key military officers who helped  stage Fiji’s 2006 coup and was earlier this month charged with sedition in an alleged attempted mutiny case has made a passionate video plea calling for an end to the military dictatorship.

Lieutenant-Colonel Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, a former Army Chief-of-Staff who commanded the Third Infantry Regiment of the Republic of Fiji Forces at the time of the coup in December 2006 until recently, had his statement posted on the Truthforfiji channel on YouTube.

He has reportedly “escaped” from Fiji to Tonga where he vowed to “tell the truth without fear of retribution”. Read more »

Graphic: Staying Alive Campaign

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Shailendra Singh in Suva

Two months after a new anti-prostitution law took effect in Fiji, taxi driver Shiu Kumar says he sees fewer sex workers along Victoria Parade, the centre of Suva’s nightlife. But while this has had a negative effect on his nighttime fares, he is nevertheless happy about the law.

“This is a good law,” he says, adding that he has been bothered by the sight of more and more young women taking to the streets. Read more »

Pacific Press Release – Pacific Media Watch

FIJI ATTORNEY-GENERAL CAUTIONS LAWYER

SUVA (Fiji Broadcasting Corporation/Pacific Media Watch): Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has warned lawyer Imrana Jalal against making comments in the media about cases that are before the courts.

Jalal had told overseas media that charges filed against her by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) were vindictive, and only brought against her due to her opposition against the current government. Read more »

The Fiji Sun splashes the Attorney-General's statement "balancing" the Australia/NZ media coverage.

Pacific.Scoop
Opinion – By Crosbie Walsh

It all started a month or so ago when Streamcom NZ was hired to review the use of Fiji’s airwaves.

The Fiji government was concerned about airwave efficiency and suspected earlier underhand dealings in their allocation.

They must also have been aware — but not necessarily influenced by knowing — that the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBCL)  wanted an entry to TV and that Mai TV, recently awarded the 2010 Soccer World Cup television rights, could only reach some urban areas using UHF.
Read more »

Pacific Press Release – Pacific Media Watch, 23 November 2009

CHANGES TO BROADCASTING RULES IN FIJI DRAW MIXED RESPONSE

SUVA (Radio New Zealand/Pacific Media Watch): One of Fiji’s main commercial broadcasters says changes made by the interim government to broadcasting rules don’t present a threat to freedom of expression in Fiji.
Read more »

Pacific Press Release – Pacific Media Watch, 22 November 2009

FIJI DENIES FURTHER CLAMPDOWN ON MEDIA

SUVA (Radio New Zealand/Pacific Media Watch): The military-led regime in Fiji is rejecting claims it has revoked broadcasting licences to clamp down further on the media.
Read more »