Jai Ram Reddy: Former judge and leader of Fiji's opposition National Federation Party. Photo: PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Opinion – By Thakur Ranjit Singh

A missed opportunity – that was the theme during the Auckland during the launch of Canberra-based professor Dr Brij Lal’s In the Eye of the Storm by the former Chairman of Fiji’s Constitutional Review Commission and a former Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Paul Reeves.

During the launching, Sir Paul said Jai Ram Reddy was the connecting thread through which the book weaves the history of Fiji since his appointment to the Senate in 1972 until his retirement from the Fiji Court of Appeal in 2003.

Sir Paul highly rates the book as well-written as an expression of the author’s encyclopaedic knowledge, his analysis and his basic commitment and love of a country of which he is an inseparable part. Read more »

Regime leader Voreqe Bainimarama ... vindictive moves, or part of a wider strategy? Photo: Selwyn Manning, Scoop

Pacific Scoop:
Opinion – By Crosbie Walsh

Something’s going on. After months of easing tensions– no fresh reports of possible human rights abuse, supportive statements from many in Fiji, from blogs such as mine and many overseas commentators culminating in the McCully-Kubuabola statements this week, slighter better relations between Fiji government and the Fiji Times, and better than expected economic news despite the recent cyclone — we have a rash of “aggressive” actions by government, all within the span of a few days. Read more »

Pacific Press Release – Pacific Media Watch

FIJI DEPORTS EXPELLED ACADEMIC’S WIFE

By Bruce Hill

MELBOURNE (Radio Australia/Pacific Media Watch): Fiji has deported the wife of a prominent academic who was expelled from the country two months ago. Read more »

Pacific Press Release – Pacific Media Watch, 10 November 2009

COUP CULTURE ‘RISKS STARVING PEOPLE OF FIJI’

By Guy Healy

SYDNEY (The Australian/Pacific Media Watch):  Fiji’s coup culture is costing it billions of dollars and unless democracy is restored the country risks hunger and further impoverishment, a leading Fiji economist and former shadow finance minister warned yesterday.
Read more »

Logo: Clean up Fiji - Fiji Times

Pacific.Scoop
Opinion – By Crosbie Walsh

All acts have consequences. In Professor Brij Lal’s case, from one act (and a history of previous acts) there were three consequences in Fiji and more, in happier circumstances, in Australia.

The act? Giving interviews to foreign media when on a visitor’s visa to Fiji where emergency regulations are in place expressly forbidding such activities.
Read more »

Fiji's regime leader Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama ... "no fantasy story". Photo: CP

Pacific.Scoop
Opinion – By Patrick Craddock

“The question,” said Humpty Dumpty, “ which is to be master – that’s all.” Fiji’s Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama is the Master, and has been since he took over the country in his coup of December 2006.
Read more »

Pacific Press Release – Pacific Media Watch, 6 November 2009

AUSTRALIAN ACADEMIC RETURNS AFTER FIJI EXPULSION

By Linda Mottram

SYDNEY (Australian Network News/Pacific Media Watch): Fiji-born Australian academic Brij Lal says he was subjected to intense verbal abuse while in detention in Suva, prior to being sent back to
Australia.
Read more »

Pacific Press Release – Pacific Media Watch, 5 November 2009

PROFESSOR TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN FIJI AFTER INTERVIEW

SUVA (Radio New Zealand/Pacific Media Watch): A Fiji-born born Australian National University academic, Professor Brij Lal, has been taken into custody in Fiji, just hours after speaking to ABC Radio about the current diplomatic stoush.
Read more »