Fiji
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.
Continue reading "A gorgeous tropical paradise ruined by a cruel regime" »
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.
Continue reading "Fiji: Franksta’s paradise hides a dark side" »
Latest 2 of 48 comments
View all comments-
Leisha says:
Since you Erik are more interested to see the so called ethinic and cultural purpose of this issue I have an article written by a Fiji Born Australian name Graham Davis that explains the real motif behind this 2006 so called coup as opposed to Ged article that merely critiques… Read more »
-
Leisha says:
Continue-I feel Frank Bainimarama is the only genuine PM and individual who for an indigenous guy who genuinely cares for people as a whole compared to corrupted leaders of the past who were doing things to self satisfy themselves and always used the divide and conquer rule or the race… Read more »
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.
Latest 2 of 14 comments
View all comments-
Sleepless says:
Joe, you mentioned Agatha Christie at the start of the article. Couldn’t sleep all night and had to come back and look at the photo again this morning. The kid in blue to the left of the photo looks a bit guilty. The kid to the left is looking at… Read more »
-
Prince says:
Joe - this is obviously a couples’ hideaway destination. You were perhaps bored because you went there with your mother and sister? Read more »
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.
Continue reading "As military dictators go Bainimarama ain’t that bad" »
Latest 2 of 10 comments
View all comments-
leisha gibbons says:
Oh please tehre were more people murdered under the previous coups then this one the only difference between this coup is that its working to aid the grassroots of the people. This lady has done a great job in highlighting alot of things. Read more »
-
Sam says:
Tracey, Re: Gaddafi “and murdering thousands of his own people – relegated him to second”... What are you refering to? The bloodless coup in 1969? care to provide a link or back up your “murder” claim with some evidence? I’m curious, because it sounds like libel to me, and having… Read more »
Facebook Recommendations
Read all about it
Punch live
Up to the minute Twitter chatter
That's it. Beautifully recreated.RT @lagcamion: @farrm51 @AndrewCatsaras Dr dr dr dr dndlundlundndndndn (with pinched nostrils) - that one?
Tip for young journos. Have a short CV. A page, two max.
Recent posts
The latest and greatest
New speaker’s slack clobber, old speaker clobbers slackers
Peter Slipper, draped in black in a manner most young voters will not see outside Hogwarts, has dramatically…
Snappy 60th birthday to our most fun newspaper
Life is far from dull in the Northern Territory. Or if it is, we’ll never know. And that’s…
There’s no evidence sex-for-cab-fares is a trend
Fifteen years ago when one of your girlfriends had a few too many Illusion shots standard practice was…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: City vs country: What would you change your life for?
Dieter Moeckel says:
We made the tree change from Darwin to Wonbah more than 15 years ago. After fencing, a road, and couple of dams our money was gone. Super is enough to live comfortably. We have geese growing old and stringy the only one that made it to the pot committed Kamakazi by flying into a tree; the chooks are… [read more]From: I’d rather have a piece of toast than listen to crap lyrics
Erick says:
Led Zeppelin are responsible for my all-time favourite mixed metaphor: "There you sit, sit and stare, like a book on a shelf rusting." (Misty Mountain Hop) I laugh every time I hear it. Hmmm, I believe I've decided what to play on the way to work today. [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
No wuckin forries. These nuckin futs are tuckin fops
Well, puck me with a fitchfork. The F-word is apparently an acceptable part of Australian speech. That’s… Read more
Latest 2 of 37 comments
View all commentsAdd your comment