For Immediate Release
See Also: Fiji Dangers of Oversimplifying the Situation (2009 May 01)
May 5th 2009, 14-00hrs N.Z.S.T. (GMT +12)
Whatever the main players are doing in Fiji, for what ever reasons they
may or may not have, we still can not have the West pushing for
the upholding of an apartheid based constitutional set of electoral
laws, right on our own back doors here in the Pacific.
Especially with the locals' perception is that of clever and often subtle but
rampant corruption being overlooked during the last so-called "free and fair"
election.
Australia and New Zealand need to realise that pushing for regime
change in another country is always a dodgy policy that can result in
unpredictable results, and dangerously causes almost as much real
suffering as other forms of outright warfare. Regime change by 'remote
control' through sanctions etc .. is a dubious business, as many years
of failed international policy by others elsewhere should tell us.
What is needed among the West and Pacific Forum member countries is more
patience for Fiji and mercy for the common people. And lets come up
with a full on proposal for dealing with the complex problem in Fiji,
and stop just simplistically using cave man clubbing type old school
foreign policies and punitive sanctions.
Goodness me, our two countries even sign free trade treaties with very
big countries that have not had "free and fair" elections in them since
early last century! And we don't demand that they hold full on
democratic elections before we will get involved constructively with
them.
Surely, with all the fresh creativity that is represented in both the
Australian Federal Parliament and the New Zealand Parliament and both
countries cabinets at the moment, we can do better than be seen to
support and insist on apartheid electoral laws being followed in Fiji?
And in the middle of it we must bear in mind that the whole thing should
be for the benefit of the average person living in Fiji. Have they
given the West, and specifically given us, their permission to run their
country down, destroy their economy, deprive them of advanced medical
support .. and so on, and so on? Do we have a mandate to do those
things while at the same time not be providing Fijians with a viable
alternative to their real problems - which is that Sir Paul Reeves and
team's recommendations were not fully implemented, and through the
process of time we ended up with an unbalanced constitution and
undemocratic set of laws in Fiji?
How are we going to answer many Fijian's feelings that their country was
taken off them when the British Empire brought other nationalities to
work and remain in the country? How do we answer those other
nationalities fears when they say that they do not want to be driven
into the sea, as certain forces in Fiji, which the current regime is
holding back at the moment, want to do to them?
If the constitutional provisions of either New Zealand or Australia fell
over or were corrupted and became unworkable - who would you sooner have
step up to bat, and sort the situation out? Your own people, or
foreigners?
Lets have more compassion and mercy for all the people living in Fiji
and constructively help them sort their circumstances out in a useful
and long term way.
Paul A Norman
Michael Fa'amoana Vala'auafea
Christian Missionaries
P.O Box 1005
Nelson, NZ
P.O Box 19 208
Avondale, Auckland, NZ
http://PaulANorman.com
paul A T paulanorman dot com
skype://PaulANorman
Ph: 021 782 433
Fax 021 291 2433
Ph: +64 21 782 433
Fax: +64 21 291 2433