Croz Walsh's Blog -- New Zealand and Fiji: How Much Fairer They Could Be

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'Smoke Without Fire' has left this comment on your post "Pita, Tevita and the Cheshire Cat":

I can understand the speculation about Pita Driti, Croz, because there have been constant rumours of tension between him and Bainimarama, mainly over the PM's unwavering support for Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. Driti can't stand Aiyaz and doesn't care who knows it. But taking on Frank would be an entirely different matter and Driti simply doesn't have the numbers on the Military Council to mount a plausible challenge. He'll be only too aware that the last person who took on Frank, Jone Baledrokadroka, barely escaped with his life and has to be content nowadays with fueling the rumour mill from the safety of the ANU in Canberra.

But let's just look at Tevita Mara, aka Roko Lui, and what motive he might have for moving against Frank. Even if you buy these rumours — and that's all they are — I don&#…

PER UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW. Fiji’s permanent Secretary for Information Sharon Smith-Johns says  thePublic Emergency Regulations are under constant review and can be lifted at any time.

The regulations, or PER, include rules on public assembly and the media. They were first introduced when the consitution was made invalid in April last year and have just been extended for another month.

Ms Smith Johns says the rules on the media are under particular watch since the Media Decree was issued in June. “When the Media Decree came in the Attorney General commented that the PER would be lifted after three months. That is being reviewed but there’s no decision on it as yet.”

ONE STEP CLOSER TO TERRORISM. The call by the anti-Government Australia-based Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement for economic and trade union sanctions against Fiji is so demonstrably "nutty" that its unlikely to be heeded. Earlier calls, also by the FDFM, for such sanctions were rejected by the Australian governm…

PRESIDENT VISITS LAU GROUP. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, accompanied by the Commissioner Eastern, Colonel Ifereimi Vasu, and government officials, started the visit of Lau yesterday with a traditional welcoming ceremony at Vanuabalavu. He will visit Nayau and Lakeba today, Vanuavatu and Oneata on Thursday, Moce and Kabara on Friday, Fulaga and Vatoa on Saturday, Ono-i-Lau on Sunday and Matuku on Monday. It is his intention to visit all 14 provinces  and Rotuma over the next few months.

The next two items show Government is still pursuing the "clean up" campaign it announced prior to taking power in 2006. Widespread, endemic corruption  makes a poor bedmate for democracy.
HARDWARE SAGA. Recent news about the hardware industry should raise few eyebrows. One large company was implicated in the Agricultural Scam that had the ousted Qarase government buying agricultural equipment for village distribution in order to win votes. Two weeks back the Commerce Commission started enquiries in…

The President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, intends to reconcile all chiefs within Fiji. He said it wasthe will of the people that all chiefs unite. Ratu Epeli is optimistic that despite the differences, dialogue could be maintained among the chiefly.

"Reconciling the chiefs is an ongoing process," he said."We have our differences. I have differences even with my close friends who happen to be chiefs but it is not the end of the world because there is always a way out of a sticky situation."

"As the representative of the people I have to be open, listen to people and hear what they have to say.We might have our differences but it doesn't stop me from trying to work things out."

To carry out the reconciliation process, Ratu Epeli said he would need to visit the 14 provinces in the country."It's a matter of making the arrangements and planning them." He made the comment during his tour of Macuata, the first province he visited after he became Presi…

As diplomatic relations with Australia and New Zealand continue to deteriorate, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau was today inducted  President of Fiji for the next three years. No vice-president is to be appointed. If the President is absent, Chief Justice Anthony Gates will act on his behalf. Ratu Epeli has been Acting President since Ratu Iloilo retired in on 30 July.

Following his induction as President, Ratu Epeli read the 13th century prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi - Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

"Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy." (Fiji Times)

Earlier, Government spokesman Neumi Leweni said the appointment was discussed by cabinet "quite a while ago." Why a decision was delayed for three months is anyone's guess, but the much quoted Dr Jonathan Fraenkel…