http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/fiji/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-gorgeous-tropical-paradise-ruined-by-a-cruel-regime/ While the rest of the world is throwing off the shackles of authoritarian regimes and taking the first steps towards democracy, one country is slipping further into military rule. Fiji is not on the other side of the world, it’s in Australia’s neighbourhood. Many of us have visited as tourists and it’s a place where our Government has real influence. Behind the smiles of the tourist industry it’s a place where citizens have few human rights, where the media are oppressed and where trade unions are targeted. Its economy is stagnating and Fijians are leaving in droves. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-gorgeous-tropical-paradise-ruined-by-a-cruel-regime/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-gorgeous-tropical-paradise-ruined-by-a-cruel-regime/#item7355 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 When it’s this cold many of us think of escaping to a warm island paradise, but when it comes to Fiji the postcard images of warm water lapping pristine beaches mask an uglier picture. Many travellers have been able to ignore the fact that Fiji is under a military dictatorship, but when the government is using their absolute power to stifle free speech and attack the rights of the workers who are serving you, it’s time to ask some serious questions. The problem is what do we do?  Making calls on how we treat developing nations, especially our neighbours, is always tough. Tourism keeps the Fiji economy afloat and is vital to the living standards of all its people. Fiji is far from being North Korea with palm trees – there is still some civil society and freedom left. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/fiji-frankstas-paradise-hides-a-dark-side/ When it’s this cold many of us think of escaping to a warm island paradise, but when it comes to Fiji the postcard images of warm water lapping pristine beaches mask an uglier picture. Many travellers have been able to ignore the fact that Fiji is under a military dictatorship, but when the government is using their absolute power to stifle free speech and attack the rights of the workers who are serving you, it’s time to ask some serious questions. The problem is what do we do?  Making calls on how we treat developing nations, especially our neighbours, is always tough. Tourism keeps the Fiji economy afloat and is vital to the living standards of all its people. Fiji is far from being North Korea with palm trees – there is still some civil society and freedom left. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/fiji-frankstas-paradise-hides-a-dark-side/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/fiji-frankstas-paradise-hides-a-dark-side/#item6063 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 When it’s this cold many of us think of escaping to a warm island paradise, but when it comes to Fiji the postcard images of warm water lapping pristine beaches mask an uglier picture. Many travellers have been able to ignore the fact that Fiji is under a military dictatorship, but when the government is using their absolute power to stifle free speech and attack the rights of the workers who are serving you, it’s time to ask some serious questions. The problem is what do we do?  Making calls on how we treat developing nations, especially our neighbours, is always tough. Tourism keeps the Fiji economy afloat and is vital to the living standards of all its people. Fiji is far from being North Korea with palm trees – there is still some civil society and freedom left. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/my-island-in-the-sun/ The island was tiny, accessible only by boat, populated by just seven guests and rained in for the entire weekend. It was the sort of Agatha Christie setting in which someone almost certainly had to be murdered and by the end of the trip somebody almost was. But let’s get to that later. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/my-island-in-the-sun/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/my-island-in-the-sun/#item4494 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 When it’s this cold many of us think of escaping to a warm island paradise, but when it comes to Fiji the postcard images of warm water lapping pristine beaches mask an uglier picture. Many travellers have been able to ignore the fact that Fiji is under a military dictatorship, but when the government is using their absolute power to stifle free speech and attack the rights of the workers who are serving you, it’s time to ask some serious questions. The problem is what do we do?  Making calls on how we treat developing nations, especially our neighbours, is always tough. Tourism keeps the Fiji economy afloat and is vital to the living standards of all its people. Fiji is far from being North Korea with palm trees – there is still some civil society and freedom left. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/As-military-dictators-go-Bainimarama-aint-that-bad/ If there was an award for ‘most popular military dictator’ Commodore Frank Bainimarama would win hands down. Muammar al-Gaddafi came close by hugging the Lockerbie bomber this week, but his habit of farting like a horse – and murdering thousands of his own people – relegated him to second. Fiji’s coup leader, and Prime Minister, is viewed by the international community as a paranoid, unpredictable maverick. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/As-military-dictators-go-Bainimarama-aint-that-bad/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/As-military-dictators-go-Bainimarama-aint-that-bad/#item999 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 When it’s this cold many of us think of escaping to a warm island paradise, but when it comes to Fiji the postcard images of warm water lapping pristine beaches mask an uglier picture. Many travellers have been able to ignore the fact that Fiji is under a military dictatorship, but when the government is using their absolute power to stifle free speech and attack the rights of the workers who are serving you, it’s time to ask some serious questions. The problem is what do we do?  Making calls on how we treat developing nations, especially our neighbours, is always tough. Tourism keeps the Fiji economy afloat and is vital to the living standards of all its people. Fiji is far from being North Korea with palm trees – there is still some civil society and freedom left.