In written submissions to the Constitution Commission, the military said these practices were aimed at undermining and destabilising the good work done by the government.

The Military proposes that if the NGOs are to operate, they have to be transparent in their practices and funding.

Their submission recommends that all NGOs present annual audited accounts to the government, disclosing all funding in any form and disclosing any additional assets of the organisation.

The chairperson of the NGO's Coalition on Human Rights in Fiji says if critics of the interim government are under police surveillance, it casts doubts about whether the regime is genuine about restoring democracy to the country.

Shamima Ali's name has appeared in a document posted to the blog site Coupfourpointfive, which lists about 70 people including leaders of political parties, and trade unionists.

The report which includes comments about where people have travelled and who they've met, is allegedly compiled by the Fiji police, but the assistant commissioner says he's not aware of its existence.

Shamima Ali says people like herself have been told by police sources in the past that they are under surveillance but she had hoped things had changed.

Source

• Radio New Zealand
• The Fiji Times
• Image: FijiLive

The report has been circulated for a meeting to get feed-back from local experts and public servants.

It says that as a result of this colonial policy Fiji is now "a nation in crisis with its two major ethnic groups in conflict, creating deep uncertainty amid a declining economy".

It says both Fijians and Indians were victims of forces beyond them; deprived of free choice and will; both communities suffered greatly in the colonial system.

Instead of dealing with the forces that subordinated and in many respects exploited them, they regarded the other community as the obstacle to the advancement of its members - and made little effort to understand the suffering of the other.

The Chairman of Fiji's Constitution Commission, Professor Yash Ghai, says people shouldn't regard preliminary proposals for the constitution as final.

He said it is inaccurate to claim that a document with the preliminary proposals is a "leak", as has been reported in Australian and New Zealand media.

Ghai clarified that the document was circulated for a meeting with leading local experts and public servants on some preliminary proposals for the constitution.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• FBC
• FijiLive
• Image: Zeetraveller.blogspot.nz

Vicar General, Fr Beni Kaloudau, said the Catholic Church in Fiji welcomes the principle of equal rights to worship.

Kaloudau said that citizens made up different faith groups in the country which needs to be respected based on the different ethnicities and faiths of citizens as well as visitors to the Fijian shores considering the country's dependence on tourism.

Source

• Sina
• Image: Fiji Guide

Church general secretary Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu said they were happy the permit was received early, giving them time to prepare for the conference.

In granting the approval for the conference, Commissioner Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua said that the Methodist Church must exclude activities that will financially burden its members at the three-day meet such as the bazaar and choir competition and laid down 8 more conditions to be observed for the conference

• meeting should not coincide with the Hibiscus Festival which will be held from August 17-25
• meeting is for three days only
• meeting to be conducted on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday respectively
• meeting to be held from 8am to 8pm
• meeting to be confined to the Centenary Church premises
• church matters only to be discussed
• no political issues be discussed
• no request of extension of time frame be made during the meeting proper

Source

• PacNews
• The Fiji Times
• Image: Screen Shot Fiji Today News

"We have an unprecedented opportunity for the two organisations to come together and speak with one voice and I feel that is something that both organisations should work towards," he said.

He was speaking at the Fiji Trades Unions Congress 44th Biennial Conference in Nadi on Friday 11 May.

Kevin Barr was also scheduled to address the National Federation Party's working committee on social Justice issues when it met on Saturday.

Source

• Fiji Times
• The Fiji Times
• Image: Fiji Times

Church acting general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra said the annual meeting which was disallowed in the past four years was crucial to the operations of the church.

"We're still awaiting the decision by the police on our permit application and, hopefully, the result will be favourable," he said.

Nawadra said the Church has submitted its conference agenda to the police as part of its permit application.

Church assistant general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra Banivanua said last year's agenda was submitted to the police.

He said the only changes would be the names and dates.

He confirmed that the names of church president Reverend Ame Tugaue and church secretary Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu would remain.

Director of Operations Police SSP Rusiate Tudravu said the sole authority on the matter was Police Commissioner Brigadier Ioane Naivalurua.

He said the commissioner had promised to consider the application and would make the final decision himself.

• Fiji Times
• Fiji Times
• Image: FijiVillage.com

The Pope received Mara in an official audience for the presentation of his Letters of Credence on Friday 5 May at the Clementine Hall in Vatican City. He was received with four other new non resident ambassadors fro Ethiopia, Ireland, Armenia, and Malaysia.

As has become tradition the Holy Father, speaking in French, delivered one general address to the group which focused on how openness to God in society can help overcome the 'spiritual and material' poverty that the current economic crisis has produced.

The Fiji Sun reports that "in receiving Mara, Pope Benedict wished Fiji well for its development agenda in the social, economical and political arenas."

The Sun also reported that before meeting the Pope Mara briefed senior Vatican officials and had separate meetings with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and the Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.

Mara briefed the Vatican officials on the implementation of the Bainimarama government's roadmap to democracy and sustainable socio-economic development, the recently announced constitutional consultation proces.

Mara said the objective of the process is to formulate an all-inclusive and truly representative constitution by 2013 and democratic election by 2014.

He said Cardinal Bertone welcomed his written and oral presentation and conveyed the Vatican's support towards the realisation of the objectives of the People's Charter.

Cardinal Bertone and Archbishop Mamberti in wishing Fiji well both assured Mr Mara that the country will be remembered in their prayers as it progresses towards its political objective in the months ahead.

Cinq nouveaux ambassadeurs non-résidents reçus par le pape

Source

• The Fiji Sun
• TheCatholicSpirit.com
• Image: www.daylife.com

Ro Teimumu heads one of the three indigenous confederacies, Burebasaqa, and carries the title Roko Tui Dreketi, which she inherited on the death of Ro Lady Lala Mara,the wife of the founder of modern Fiji, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.

The Great Council of Chiefs was disbanded by Bainimarama in March. At the time he said "The Great Council of the Chiefs is a product of our colonial past and Fiji must now focus on a future in which all Fijians are represented on the same basis."

According to commentator, Graham Davis, a titanic struggle is now looming "between the old and new orders in Fiji for the hearts and minds of the indigenous majority - the i'taukei. It's a struggle that will determine the future for all Fiji citizens and on present indications, the portents don't look good. Because the old order - the i'taukei chiefs - seem determined to make race the centerpiece of their campaign, to mine all the old prejudices that have retarded independent Fiji's development right from the start."

Source

• Grubsheet
• Scoop
• Image: Pacific Scoop

Davis asked, "In reporting in Fiji which version gets told the most? Which is the prevailing orthodoxy on events in Fiji? Bainimarama the torturer or Bainimarama the reformer?"

"On the evidence," he said, "demonising the dictator is the dominant narrative of much of the regional media, and especially a clique of so-called Pacific specialists in Australia and New Zealand."

Davis said that he thought much of what is said about Fiji in the international media is woefully short of integrity or judgment. "Indeed, we live in a truly parallel universe when it comes to media coverage … alleged versions of the truth so polarised that your ordinary reader, viewer or listener can be excused for having no idea what to believe."

"What disturbs me," he said "is that so many of my fellow journalists seem willing to embrace those agendas and portray the country in a way vastly at odds with reality."

Smith-Johns called on the media to act responsibly and to understand "that as a developing nation, we need to take in cultural and socio economic factors against the size of our population. The media must realize that for a developing country like ours, information given needs to take into consideration the socio-economic situation of the country. The media must also realize how influential they can be when citizens speak a variety of languages and messages can be interpreted through poor reporting and a race to get a front page story."

Source

• Croz Walsh's Blog - Graham Davis
• Croz Walsh's Blog - Sharon Smith-Johns
• Image: Matatauvavale

He said Australia took issue with is with the interim regime in Fiji and with what it is doing both to the country of Fiji and its people.

Source

• Radio Australia
• Image: Promex

A letter from the Military Council to the Church bans all nine meetings under the Church constitution - including the monthly, quarterly, Standing Committee, financial and divisional meetings - all be banned.

The Military Council states the ban is being enforced as the Church failed to adhere to directives for the President and General Secretary to step aside - as they have a case to answer in Court.

The Council concludes that the only way forward for the Church is to look within itself and make changes that puts it on the right path.

Source

PINA
Image: Radio Australia Network News