Pacific Media Watch’s Daniel Drageset talks to Repúblika’s editor Ricardo Morris. PMC video

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Daniel Drageset of Pacific Media Watch

Fiji’s independent Repúblika magazine editor Ricardo Morris has given a blistering attack on the state of a “free press” in a wide-ranging interview with the regional monitoring Pacific Media Watch project.

He has also criticised the University of the South Pacific over failing to front up for an interview with his magazine after a controversial gag on a former USP professor over a speech planned for the  World Press Freedom Day event last month.

According to Repúblika magazine, economics scholar Professor Wadan Narsey was removed from speaking at the World Press Freedom Day event on May 3 under instructions from USP management. Read more »

Wooing the Bainimarama regime … the Chinese Embassy in Fiji. Image: Chinese govt.

Pacific Scoop:
Commentary – By Professor Wadan Narsey

When it comes to Fiji affairs, the international media usually focus on what Australia and New Zealand think.

Thus when the Fiji regime recently created a political crisis by rejected the Draft Constitution devised by its own Yash Ghai Commission, Jenny Hayward-Jones, in her article (The Interpreter, 11 January 2013) noted “despite this setback, international actors including Australia should continue to press for progress in re-establishing democracy in Fiji and engage where they can to maintain momentum in the process”.

But the dialogue needs to also include the two “elephants in the room”- China and India- whose critical support for Fiji’s military regime has arguably undermined the diplomatic stances and sanctions imposed by Australia, NZ and the EU. (See my analysis of the regime’s rejection of the Ghai Draft Constitution). Read more »

Professor Wadan Narsey argues that Fiji's military regime leader Voreqe Bainimarama (pictured above) must relax his grip on Fiji's media so critical performance political analysis can commence. Photo: Selwyn Manning, Scoop

Pacific Scoop:
Analysis – By Professor Wadan Narsey

Professor Wadan Narsey writes that Fiji’s prime minister and military regime leader Bainimarama must relax censorship of the Pacific state’s media so that the public interest can be served through robust and critical political reporting and analysis.

He asks: “It is distressing that we do not even have the freedom to speak amongst friends at public places, in case someone overhears and conveys some garbled version to the military intelligence who can then threaten you, for no reason at all. What does this powerful Military Government have to fear from elderly academics like me? 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 »

Voreqe Bainimarama (pictured). is accused by Professor Wadan Narsey of covering up the decline in the Fiji economy. Photo: Scoop/Selwyn Manning.

Pacific Scoop
Opinion – By Professor Wadan Narsey

This 2010 Budget would have been outrageously scandalous had it been delivered by an elected Minister of Finance, assisted by a Permanent Secretary of Finance appointed normally by the Public Service Commission, and a lawfully appointed Attorney General.

But none of the above persons are lawful appointees. Hence the 2010 Budget Cover-up is doubly scandalous. 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 »

Fiji elections ... the case for a fairer system. Photo: Fiji Minfo

Pacific.Scoop
Opinion – By Thakur Ranjit Singh

I have a great deal of respect for Professor Wadan Narsey. He is one of the few – if not the only – University of the South Pacific academics who was prepared to sacrifice his comfort zone at the secure Laucala campus and job with a very good remuneration to join the politicians to fight a general election – something he believed in and had conviction for.

But after seeing dirty politics and electioneering Fiji-style, he got sick of it and threw in the towel.
Read more »

Professor Narsey ... the facts about Fiji's electoral system. Photo: USP

Pacific.Scoop
Opinion – By Wadan Narsey in Suva

Fiji’s military government keeps stating there will  be no elections until a fair, non-racial, one person-one vote system is in place.

Their National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF) came up with a proportional system with a “list” element in it.
Read more »

Professor Narsey ... the facts about Fiji's electoral system. Photo: USP

Pacific.Scoop
Opinion – By Wadan Narsey in Suva

Month after month, Voreqe Bainimarama and coup apologists abroad keep repeating that there should  be no elections until a racially fair one person-one vote system is in place.

They keep claiming that they wish to “eliminate electoral racism” against the Indo-Fijians with their proposed proportional list system.
Read more »