US State Dept condemns plans to burn Koran

 8 September 2010

Trend News Agency (Azerbaijan)

English

(c) 2010 Trend News Agency.  

Plans by a Florida pastor to burn copies of the Koran are "disrespectful," "abhorrent" and violate the values promoted by the United States and its history of religious tolerance, the US State Department said Tuesday, dpa reported. In some of the strongest language yet from a US official over the controversy, department spokesman PJ Crowley condemned the plans by the "fringe" pastor and his congregation to burn the Koran to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on Saturday. "These are provocative acts. They are disrespectful. They're intolerant. They're divisive," Crowley told reporters. He added that if the pastor follows through with the plans, it could put at risk the lives of American diplomats, soldiers and citizens living or travelling abroad. Crowley called on the rest of the world to not judge the United States based on the acts of a pastor and his small congregation, because it does not represent US society.

 "We are a nation of 300 million people and the vast majority of Americans are standing up this week and saying these contemplated actions are inappropriate, they're abhorrent, and they should not happen," he said. "We would hope that the rest of the world does not indict the United States for the actions of one fringe element in Florida," he said.   The pastor, Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Centre in Gainesville, Florida, has declared Saturday as "International Burn a Koran Day."    His plans have been sharply criticized by mainstream religious leaders of all faiths. The mayor of Gainesville has called the Dove World Research Centre an "embarrassment to our community." The top United States military commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus, early Tuesday warned against the plan, citing his concern about the safety of his soldiers.    Jones told CNN he understood the concerns raised by Petraeus and was "weighing the situation" in light of the general's remarks but said he plans to go forward with the burning to protest Islamic extremism.

FALEOMAVAEGA RESPONDS TO RUSSELL HUNTER’S COMMENTARY PUBLISHED IN SAMOA OBSERVER ON AUGUST 10, 2010

3 September 2010

States News Service

SNS

English

(c) 2010 States News Service  

The following information was released by the office of American Samoa Rep. Eni Faleomavaega:

I want to thank the editor-in-chief of the Samoa Observer, Sano Malifa, for allowing me the opportunity to share my views in the newspaper last week on matters critical to the Pacific region. I also want to thank Mata’afa Keni Lesa for his time and hard work in conducting the interview.

And while I appreciate Russell Hunter’s compliments in his commentary on August 10 regarding my position on U.S. policy toward the Pacific Islands generally, I must take issue with his characterization of my understanding of Fiji as “one dimensional.” I am currently on my fourth trip to Fiji since the constitutional crisis of last year. As on previous trips, I am holding discussions with representatives of all sides of the issues facing Fiji including the heads of the Catholic, Methodist and Mormon Churches; deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase; Pacific Island ambassadors based in Suva; the U.S. Embassy and the American Chamber of Commerce; the Pacific Islands Forum; and friends from all aspects of the Fijian community, in addition to interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

Given my work in Fiji, I fully recognize that the problems the country confronts are multidimensional, resulting from its unique colonial history, complex ethnic mix, and chiefly, provincial, religious and family rivalries.

Indeed, I have been trying to combat the one-dimensional approach taken by Australia and New Zealand, which for most of the past twenty years of political turmoil in Suva has consisted simply of economic sanctions and visa restrictions on Fiji and of prodding the rest of the world to embrace similar punitive measures. The two countries have worked to convince the Commonwealth to oust Fiji, to have the EU shelve its assistance to Fiji’s sugar industry, to move the Pacific Islands Forum to suspend Suva’s membership and to persuade the United Nations to limit Fiji’s participation in peacekeeping operations.

The Only Relevant Dimension appropriate for Fiji is Coercive Diplomacy to compel Respect for the Rule of Law, Basic Human Rights and Democratic Principles NOW! 

Yet, other countries’ views and policies on Fiji differ from those of Australia and New Zealand. As Sir Michael Somare, Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister said in an interview conducted in Fiji while he participated in the “Engaging with the Pacific” meeting hosted by Fiji’s interim government last month, “We [are] playing our cards differently because we believe that we belong to the region. We are Melanesians and it’s our tradition to help each other.” His views on engaging Fiji are shared by others in the region such as Dr. Feleti Sevele, the Prime Minister of Tonga, who last year questioned the purpose of Fiji's suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), saying that it was “pointless” to ostracize Fiji. Indeed, at the most recent meeting of the Forum in Vanuatu two weeks ago, there was open discussion of Fiji officially joining the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) Plus regional free trade negotiations inaugurated by PIF leaders last year.

Expulsion from the Pacific Islands Forum is not pointless, it is CRUCIAL and is the underlying basis of membership, that is what the founding principles of the PIF was established to achieve, that is, respect for democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law.

The methods of Canberra and Wellington, which have been in place for years, have proved not just ineffective, but counterproductive. The sanctions have punished average Fijians economically, and by making life in Fiji more difficult, Canberra and Wellington may well be sowing the seeds of civil unrest and violence. Moreover, neither Australia nor New Zealand has taken similar action against Indonesia, a country committing human rights atrocities in West Papua including torture and extrajudicial killings. In addition, as Australia and New Zealand attempt to strong-arm Fiji into complying with their dictates, China has moved in to fill the vacuum, offering grants, concessionary loans and enhanced trade opportunities.

Sanctions have not punished ordinary Fijians, sanctions apply ONLY to the illegal military junta, the poverty of the people of Fiji is directly attributable to the military junta's disrespect for the rule of law, human rights and democratic principles that caused our economy to collapse because of their misgovernance. Investors CANNOT operate in an unstable, uncertain, political and legal environment that does not have a competent independent impartial judiciary, that does not have a Constitution that guarantees commercial PROPERTY RIGHTS and in the event of dispute, to litigate and seek redress by way of judicial review or otherwise the arbitrary unilateral coercive oppressive inequitable executive decisions under the guise of decrees of the military junta.    

Interim Prime Minister Bainimarama has just returned from an extended trip to Shanghai where he said last week that China “is the only nation that can help assist Fiji in its reforms because of the way the Chinese think. They think outside the box… We need infrastructure, we need water, we need electricity. Australia and New Zealand and America, none of those nations are going to provide that. We know that now because of their policies towards us so let's forget about these nations.”

Of course, as a country with global economic reach, China’s efforts to provide economic and financial assistance to island nations are neither new nor unique. After all, China is also a part of the Pacific community, just as much as Japan, New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

Clearly, interim Prime Minister Bainimarama has taken a number of unfortunate steps and made some inopportune comments in recent months. But we should not forget that he has not altered his plans to draft a constitution reflecting the country’s unique culture and history, or his promises to enact electoral reforms that will establish equal suffrage and hold free, fair and democratic elections by 2014, all with the aim of ending Fiji’s coup culture once and for all.

I believe the United States should take into account the interim Prime Minister’s stated intent. Further, the United States should better appreciate that the interests of Australia and New Zealand may diverge – sometimes significantly – from those of Washington.

Stated Intent is irrelevant, Frank Bainimarama is a chronic liar and has reneged on all his promises including his promise that he would step down as Prime Minister when they LOST in the Qarase Court of Appeal ruling declaring their government illegal.

The only road-map and reforms are to achieve ONE PURPOSE, "REGIME SECURITY" and eventually take us to Potemkin Democratization.

Given those differences, and given the failure of the policies of Australia and New Zealand, I believe that the United States should engage rather than impose sanctions against Fiji. Washington should offer Suva the resources to facilitate and accelerate reform of its electoral process, redraft its constitution and better ensure successful elections. In addition, Washington should work with other nations from the region to assist all sides in Fiji in building strong institutions capable of sustaining democracy and peace.

Australian and New Zealand foreign policy on Fiji has NOT failed. It is working and it is a PAIN for the illegal regime. Fiji had STRONG INSTITUTIONS that's what our neighbours Australia and New-Zeland and Britain and France and Japan have been doing for a long long time building our human capacity and our institutions, that's the reason why our civil service is still able to operate for four years under a high school drop out!!!, because the institutions and systems and procedures developed to sustain our statehood remain intact, so that even a monkey can follow the procedures and tick the boxes despite the abuse by the regime of our exhausted financial resources from our Superfund.  

Washington should also offer to help strengthen the country’s economy – and hence Fiji’s long-term stability – through the promotion of bilateral trade and investment, particularly in its vital tourism industry, in a way that is environmentally sustainable and responsive to local needs.

That's why PACER PLUS needs to be signed first so that the USA TPP with ANZ can consolidate the PACIFIC!  

Furthermore, Washington should offer its premier universities and its leading nongovernmental organizations, which have the expertise, the experience and the ability to provide the sort of assistance Fiji may seek as it moves beyond the current difficulties in its political development toward democracy and political stability.

While you are still "contemplating" on offering access to premier universities the UK, EU, Australia and NZ have been been doing this since the beginning of modern time in FIJI that's why even with the sanctions, in 2010 Fijians are still on scholarships in these countries so that they can come back and strengthen the civil service.  

Beyond aiding a friend during a critical period – a worthy endeavor in and of itself – greater U.S. engagement with Fiji would provide an important demonstration of the Obama Administration’s declared interest in developing a proactive and sustained approach to the Pacific region.

Toward that end, after some 15 years of absence from the region, I am pleased that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will soon reopen offices in the Pacific, both in Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Assistant Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific, Kurt Campbell, have already made progress in enhancing U.S. relations with Pacific Island nations, and I commend them for their work. I believe they have demonstrated the sort of nuanced and multidimensional understanding of Fiji and of the Pacific Island region that has been sorely lacking from U.S. policy for far too long.

The ONLY reason the USAID office is back in Fiji Eni is to exercise the United States "Responsibility to Prevent" so that they can with ANZ exercise the "Responsibility to Protect" when the TIME IS RIGHT ENI. It's all about CHINA!!!!, it is NOT a "Multidimensional Understanding". It has and will always be ONE DIMENSION explained in 3D.

3 September 2010

The Guardian

English

© Copyright 2010.  The Guardian.  All rights reserved.  

He likened it to the landing of the Americans during the second world war when suddenly, as if the sea had changed colour, the island was swamped by white men in military uniforms. Some 67 years later, like hundreds of other residents of Funafuti, Fakasoa Eutelu dropped everything he was doing to watch as the New Zealand navy unloaded the amphibious support vessel Canterbury at the tiny port of Tuvalu's capital.

"This is the biggest ship to dock here since the war," he said. "But that time, people here thought they were being invaded."

The Canterbury's crew emerged from the bowels with timber, piping, cable, concrete, water tanks and dozens of vehicles. A sparkling French Puma helicopter picked up in Noumea was unveiled on the flight deck. Tuvalu, the world's third smallest nation and perhaps the most vocal about the threat to small island states from sea-level rise, was a hive of activity.

It was Tropic Twilight 2010, a joint operation by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and the country's foreign aid programme. The two-week exercise had two major aims: to practise a response to a natural disaster such as a cyclone or tsunami in low-lying islands, and to deliver a series of aid programmes to Tuvalu.

As well as NZAid staff, and more than 300 army, air force and navy personnel, there were police, Red Cross and Ministry of Health officials. Hercules-130 aircraft had been flying in medics, tradesmen, engineers and builders over the previous two days.

It soon became clear that this rapid workshop in humanitarian and disaster relief was going to address a few pressing needs. Army trucks began ferrying materials to sites around the island where work on education and health projects began immediately. As well as building new schools, fixing up old ones, repairing the hospital and providing a range of surgery, the army installed water tanks and irrigation systems and repaired failing infrastructure.

"We have been working increasingly closely with the NZDF over the last three or four years," says Richard Dirks, NZAid's Fiji and Tuvalu development programme manager.

The lead planner of Tropic

Twilight 2010, Major Mark Walters, says it was a chance for the army to refine its disaster response plans. "You can't overstate the challenges of moving all those people, the kit, the ship, 350-odd people, 10 Hercules flights, and all the cargo and equipment, 4,000 miles (6,400km) into a tropical climate completely different to ours."

"We are glad to see such a big ship can dock here," said Tuvalu's finance minister, Lotoala Metia. "It means the cruise ships could visit." He says tourism, if Tuvalu can get the infrastructure, could be one of the country's only prospects for future income beyond funds from bilateral partners like New Zealand and Australia.

Despite the trend of Pacific countries towards strengthening ties with China and other Asian powers, New Zealand remains a critical partner for Pacific island countries, particularly in Polynesia. A hands-on regional approach less forceful than Australia's has served New Zealand partnership programmes well for years. But the new focus in aid delivery of its National party-led government has drawn criticism for directing support away from Pacific-based NGO networks.

 In an effort to get more value from taxpayers' dollars, the government wants better co-ordination between development agencies in the Pacific. The type of aid approach emerging provides for expansion of the established regional role of New Zealand in peacekeeping missions such as those to the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste, to encompass humanitarian assistance and the challenges of disaster relief. "When there is starvation and privation, conflict can quite easily ramp up and we saw that in Haiti," says Walters.

 Natural disasters are the new frontline. Last September's tsunami in Polynesia, which left 189 people dead, was a reminder of the vulnerability of the Pacific islands. The Canterbury responded swiftly. "She was right in the middle of maintenance and we managed to extract her quite elegantly," says the ship's commander, Jim Gilmour. "We loaded up with relief materials and departed for Tonga and Samoa to deliver aid within four days."

 Tuvalu's home affairs minister, Willy Telavi, said: "We are very thankful to New Zealand for assistance in this exercise and in ongoing areas like fisheries protection because we are so isolated."

 Yet despite his gratitude, he echoes the disillusionment of many Tuvaluans with industrialised countries over the causes of climate change. One public servant who wished to remain nameless said the aid team wasn't staying long enough and that Tuvalu's outer islands could have been helped more. "But at least they cleaned up Funafuti," she said. "They took all those old abandoned vehicles lying around the island up to the rubbish dump and compacted all the trash."

 More than half of New Zealand's overall annual foreign aid distribution of $355m goes to the Pacific islands, but not everyone is satisfied with its contribution in a region still struggling against most development targets.

 "We should be giving our fair share," says Barry Coates of Oxfam, "but of the OECD countries who signed up to allocate 0.7% of their national income towards foreign aid, New Zealand is well off the pace, giving just under 0.3%."

 It was no surprise, given how small Tuvalu is, to bump into Fakasoa again later in the week. By that time he'd received free medical treatment for a stomach ulcer he'd had for years.

 "The surgery and things like that, fixing up the schools, that's going to help generations of Tuvaluans," says Dirks. "And the work we did with their national disaster co-ordinating committee means we'll be able to provide a much more seamless response in the case of disaster events in the Pacific."

Faleomavaega Participates in Pacific Islands Forum in Vanuatu

31 August 2010

Targeted News Service

English

Copyright 2010 Targeted News Service ALL Rights Reserved  

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 -- Del. Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, D-American Samoa, issued the following news release:

The Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment, Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, participated in the 22nd Pacific Islands Forum's post-forum dialogue on August 6, 2010. In an interview with the Samoa Observer, he described the results of the Forum as well as his views on U.S. policy towards the Pacific Islands.

"I want to thank the editor-in-chief of the Samoa Observer, Sano Malifa, for allowing me the opportunity to share my views on matters critical to the Pacific region. I also want to thank Mr. Mata'afa Keni Lesa for his time and hard work in conducting the interview," Faleomavaega said.

"As I have maintained for more than two decades, U.S. engagement with the Pacific Islands is critical not only for the region but also for U.S. interests. That's why I am pleased that the United States Agency for International Development will finally reopen offices in the Pacific in both Fiji and Papua New Guinea," Faleomavaega added.

"I want to thank Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Assistant Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific, Kurt Campbell, both for ensuring that USAID returns to the region and for enhancing U.S. engagement with Pacific Island nations," Faleomavaega said.

The full text of the interview is pasted below.

Eni speaks his mind

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 11:02

by Mata'afa Keni Lesa

The streets of Apia are deserted. It's nearly 4pm on Saturday afternoon and knowing that tomorrow is Father's Day, it's likely most town dwellers have either returned to the village or Savai'i for the long weekend.

Not this writer though. An appointment at Apia Central Hotel with a member of the United States of America's Congress was reason enough to enjoy the relatively traffic-less streets as we sped through to get there on time. "Faleomavaega?" asked the receptionist, who looked like he had been expecting me.

Yes please. He handed over the phone - which I found totally unnecessary - since Faleomavaega's voice was clearly audible from the reception area. His room was two steps away.

"How are you Keni, good to see you again," he beamed as we walked to a table in the middle of an empty bar and restaurant area. Sporting long pants and a University of Utah sweater, the Congressman opens a CD case.

"Is the stereo working?" he asked a hotel staff. "Can you play this for us?"

It turned out the music was one of his finest collections of Hawaiian songs.

"I love music," he tells me. "This how I relax, I like to listen to a few songs and I love Samoan and island music. I take my music everywhere with me."

We could've kept talking about music. I knew Faleomavaega has one of the finest voices in both Samoas and was quite keen to hear from him.

But we had more serious things to discuss. The Congressman is in Apia for a night on his way to American Samoa. He attended the Pacific Islands Forum meeting held in Vanuatu, last week.

"I wanted to come [to the Forum] because of my continued interest on the situation in the region, the situation with Fiji and the latest development on the situation in West Papua," he tells me.

He is controversial about his view on Fiji.

"I've been very critical of New Zealand and Australia's approach to engaging Fiji," he says. "Of course we all don't agree with Fiji not having a democratic form of government but I also believe that we have to appreciate and understand the complexities facing Fiji.

"I've always said that. In the course of 20 years, Fiji has had four military coups, one civilian coup and three constitutions. I honestly felt that this is the time for the Pacific nations to pull together and to engage Fiji."

New Zealand and Australia's approach to punish Fiji has caused some 'bad developments,' the Congressman points out.

Faleomavaega and Governor Togiola Tulafono (right) are key people in the territory.

"I respect Prime Minister Tuilaepa's position. He is certainly entitled to his point of view but I still believe that we should continue to engage in Fiji. The man is down and I don't think kicking him in the head is going to help the situation in Fiji."

But is it anybody's fault that 'the man is down,' the Congressman is asked.

"I think it is the development that happened in Fiji's politics," responds Faleomavaega.

"I think we have to appreciate that Fiji is not like other countries in the islands, we have to understand that Fiji has had a very colonial legacy from the time of the British control.

"We have to understand that Fiji is not a homogenous society. Some 350,000 Indians now live with some 400,000 Fijians and unfortunately the British just took off in 1970 leaving the poor Fijians and the Indians to fend for themselves and try to figure out their future.

"In the time of Prime Minister Mara, he was able to work coalitions, work it together with the new system but after his leadership, things kind of became a little unstable and that's what happened."

Faleomavaega says what's reported in the mainstream media is not necessarily what's happening in Fiji.

"One of the things that is really amazing is the way the media played Fiji being under a military administration. You'd think that there are barriers on the roads/streets with police, military army and soldiers all over the place. You don't see one, not in Nadi not in Suva. And here's the one thing that is really surprising, the tourism industry in Fiji is going by leaps and bounds."

You have been very outspoken on your views to engage Fiji, but if you look at stuff coming from the American embassy in Suva, you seem to be contradicting them?

"Well I've been very public," he says. "Of course our ambassador is simply following whatever Washington is saying and Washington knows that I have been very public about my views. I was very critical of US foreign policy towards the Pacific region.

"We don't have a policy towards PI countries, our policy only includes Australia and New Zealand.

"And whatever New Zealand and Australia want done, we just simply follow it.

"I totally disagree with that."

When Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton visited the Pacific, Faleomavaega says she ignored most Pacific countries.

"When she announced visiting Australia and Papua New Guinea only, I said well I'm really glad she wanted to come to the Pacific but what about the rest of the island nations. Don't they count as well?

"I was very frank about the idea that we now a new foreign policy towards the Pacific called Fly by Diplomacy?"

China's growing influence in the region doesn't seem to bother the Congressman too much.

"Washington seems to have expressed some concerns about China's presence in the Pacific," he admits.

"I congratulate and commend China for its efforts in helping the Pacific islands nations because what is America doing about it? Nothing.

"One thing I will say is that I'm glad that finally with the Obama administration, secretary Clinton and Campbell have made this announcement at the Forum that USAID is going to be re-established and the office is going to be based in Fiji and also I think in Port Moresby. For seven years, I've been complaining about the fact that we don't even have USAID presence in the region."

The United States should not view China as an adversary, he warns.

"I look at China not as an adversary but as a partner to work together with the USA in solving some of the global issues that we're now confronted with," he says.

"There is no way that the United Nations and the USA can do anything without China being involved."

The Congressman has also been very outspoken about the issue of West Papua.

"We are very concerned about some of the developments that have come out of West Papua in terms of the Indonesian government and its treatment of the West Papua people.

"I met with Indonesian leaders who attended the forum on the post dialogue and I've been waiting very patiently for how many years now thinking that the implementation of the special autonomy law since 2001.

"Almost nine years now, it seems to be a very slow process on how the Indonesian government has done this

"I know a new President has just been elected and he's trying his best under the circumstances but at the same time, the situation in West Papua I believe is something the Obama administration should not neglect or dismiss."

Issues in American Samoa are very dear to the Congressman. His facial expression changes from being relaxed to a more serious look when he is asked about the tuna cannery issue - StarKist especially.

"We've had some very interesting developments," he says. "The last 40 or 60 years, the whole tuna industry, not only globally but even here in American Samoa has changed completely.

"Some 20 countries now compete for the same market. Right now Thailand is the number one tuna canning country in the world exporting some 360 million dollars worth of canned tuna to the USA, employing well over 20,000 workers.

He talks about three major canneries in the United States being Chicken of the Sea, Bumble Bee and Star Kist owned by the Don Wong Company out of Korea

"What I mean by the change of the way tuna has been processed is that for years, the basic operation out of Pago was to buy the whole fish and then the cleaning of the fish -which is very labour intensive business. Approximately 90 per cent of the value of the canned tuna, comes out of the process of cleaning.

"What's happened is this American company called Bumble Bee changed its tactic by buying their loins that are being produced out of, Thailand, Fiji where the workers are paid about 70 cents an hour.

They bring it over and they simply can it in California and sell it, literally almost duty free.

"So by doing that, it puts companies like Star Kist at a disadvantage. That's why I'm arguing to salvage the only tuna cannery that is willing to stay in Samoa.

"I'm having a battle with the Bumble bee and other companies like Chicken of the Sea because they are pressuring Star Kist to do the same.

"The latest development now - if the reports are correct - is that a company called Tri- Marine is in the process of negotiating with the ASG local government for a long term lease agreement on the facility that Chicken of the Sea left.

"That they are now negotiating with Chicken of the sea for the lease remaining (three years) on what they need to do because I think what the Governor wanted to do was buy the lease from the Chicken of the Sea for $5 million dollars.

"I said we should sue Chicken of the Sea for leaving us the way they did. As far as I'm concerned, we don't owe them a penny.

"The thing that really upset me was the fact that they just stood up and left without even a courtesy of letting us know of the concerns they had. And that really upset me."

The tuna industry is important to American Samoa, he says.

"That's why I proposed this bill called ASPIRE. The problem is that the other two canneries, Bumble Bee and Chicken of the Sea objected strongly against what I was trying to do on some sense of balance to help a company like StarKist [and keep 2000 jobs in American Samoa]."

There is potential for StarKist and other companies to set up shop in (Western) Samoa.

"I encouraged Star Kist to look to Western Samoa. There is also another canning company I encouraged to come to W. Samoa to set up shop because this company has the capacity. Not only can they can and process tuna, but they can also process vegetables And things where there is tremendous potential here.

Western Samoa has got more land capacity to grow crops, agricultural production things that can be canned not just tuna but canned vegetables and fruits."

Faleomavaega suspects StarKist plans to establish a loining plant here.

"It would provide jobs for our people here to process the tuna," he says. "Since so many of our people (working in American Samoa) are from W. Samoa - I would say 70 to 80 per cent of the workers - the plant will help them tremendously.

The cannery issue though is not the only one troubling the territory. The economic prospects for the future are not promising.

"From last year since Chicken of the Sea left, I don't know what long term economic development plans is in place," the Congressman says.

"All I'm trying to do is to salvage, to cut the bleeding of our economy in such a way by bringing in some more federal aid.

"But even if I do this, it may be good for the next 10 months."

The absence for forward plans worries Faleomavaega.

"What I did was 15 years ago, I said don't depend too much on tuna industry because the time is going to come when they are not going to be around and we better prepare for this. Have a plan B in place.

"D-Day did come and what happened was that there was no plan. So that's what really concerns me. I think we can really pull out of this and we just have to tighten our belt.

"Two things are most paramount in any government, transparency and accountability.

"I think these are the two fundamental issues that we have to work towards. And then also with a proposed long term economic development plan so that we could all pitch in and work."

The Constitutional Convention held recently brought to the fore some critical issues.

"I was selected to be a member of the convention through my village of Leone. There were proposed changes in the constitution there were some very controversial ones too," he says.

"I think one of the serious issues or questions that was never really resolved in the Constitutional Convention was the apportionment of the members to the senator as well as the house.

"The other controversial issue was the Governor offering a proposal to the extent that Am Samoa will have the right to refuse to apply any US law (federal law) that the US passes to the territory.

"The question of political status was never clear. I thought we were going to debate the issue but we never did. The other problem too was that we had this political status report that was issued four years ago cost $1.4 million and we hardly used it from the constitutional convention the organising committee prepared the documents, I think they only used four provisions of the recommendations of this political status."

The recent shooting in American Samoa where a police officer was killed outside the Court house should be a wake up call.

"It came about as a surprise but I say why should we be surprised?" asks Faleomavaega.

"There seems to be a lot of connection with the drug trafficking and I think this is something our leaders have to take some stronger action.

"What happened here was that the lady that was indicted is the mother so when you look at things like this, it hits right at the heart of our Samoan culture

"Our police officers don't carry handguns simply because it only encourages criminal elements."

The drug trade is deadly business, he points out. In Mexico for example, at least 20,000 killed are killed every year as a result of drug trafficking.

"There are serious implications about the presence of drugs," says Faleomavaega.

"My question is; are our local law enforcement capable, do we have the sufficient resources to counter this?

"People say they are shocked [by the shooting] and I say this tells you something about the drug trafficking that's going on in Samoa.

"What this man did was to preserve the honour of his mother in a very difficult situation so now we have to make some very serious decisions.

"Are we going to arm our officers and do we have enough resources to put down the trouble with drug trafficking."

Asked if he supports the death penalty against the alleged offender, the Congressman says it's difficult to say when the hearing is pending.

Two years after the Obama administration, Faleomavaega is pleased with the progress being made by the new President.

"He has brought a lot of credibility, a sense of willingness to engage, both countries that are adversaries and all those countries that allies," he says.

"I think he has also tried to appeal to Muslim countries and to those who are believers of the Muslim religion that they should not look at America as an enemy. The speech he gave in Cairo, I believe was very telling in terms of how he felt about Muslim issues.

"When he took office, our economic situation was really going down the tubes, very difficult times where he has had to make some very difficult decisions.

"Today, while our economy is levelling, the jobs have been very difficult to come through in this situation.

"The American people, I think what our president and even the democrats are saying is that we must remember what condition this country was in before president Obama came in."

As the first coloured President, Faleomavaega says there is still that stigma in America.

"A report I read somewhere says that that it's 400 times the efforts made to assassinate this president than any other president.

"Obama is 49 years old, he's holding up very well, personality wise. He is not like the others, very different, very methodical and very thorough in his doing."

Obama's election typifies the freedom available in the United States.

"Only in America can you have someone whose father is from Kenya and whose mother is a white woman from Kansas to marry then his father leaves him when he is only two years old and he was raised by his white mother and white grandparents. He was raised in Hawaii in which he was never exposed to the race issues.

"I say it with a sense of pride about the uniqueness of the American democracy."

'Local issues, local solutions, regional cooperation'

30 August 2010

English

(c) 2010 New Zealand Press Association  

The annual meeting of the 39th Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) was held in Brisbane, Australia on 24 - 26 August 2010. The theme for the conference was "Local issues, local solutions, regional cooperation" and was hosted and chaired by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The Chiefs were officially welcomed to the country by song woman 'Maroochy' and were provided with a cultural performance by the Nunukul Yuggera group.

The conference was officially opened by AFP Commissioner Tony Negus who stated in his opening address that it was important for jurisdictions in the Pacific to take a whole of Government approach at a national level and he encouraged cooperation between jurisdictions in their fight against transnational crime.

Policing the Pacific often presents unique challenges and forums such as the PICP promotes regional cooperation in addressing the criminal environment, managing emergencies and disasters and policing in general. During the conference a range of issues were discussed including criminal deportees and their impact on Pacific nations, sharing of information and data regionally, police forensic support, and youth issues.

The conference had presentations from the Tongan Police Force, Commander Chris Kelley, relating to the sinking of the Princess Ashika Ferry in 2009 and from the Samoan Police Force, Commissioner Lilomaiava Fou Taioalo relating to the tsunami tragedy in September 2009. These presentations highlighted the importance of agency and international coordination in disaster response. It provided the opportunity for Pacific nations to share lessons learnt in responding to these types of incidents.

The Chiefs took part in a workshop and began work on developing a set of broad principles that would guide them and their organisations when dealing with disasters and emergencies.

The Chiefs further endorsed the work of the Pacific Police Domestic Violence Programme and the work it has completed over the last four years. The Chiefs desire to have this work continue was reinforced during discussions at the conference.

The conference reconsidered the suspension of Fiji Police from the PICP and resolved that this should continue. The effect of the suspension has been that PICP continues to interact with Fiji Police on humanitarian and operational issues such as HIV/Aids and Human Rights as well as disaster response development. The PICP has not engaged with Fiji Police on any new projects or initiatives.

The outgoing Chair, Commissioner Gari Baki of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary awarded the chairman's award for outstanding service to Police Officer 1 Virginia Gay Umayan from the Bureau of Public Safety in Palau. The award recognised her commitment and outstanding service in the area of public safety and transport reform. It also acknowledged her exceptional performance and dedication to the United Nations Mission in Darfur whilst deployed in 2008 and 2010.

Regional organisations including the Oceanic Customs Organisation, Pacific Immigration Directors Conference, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Pacific Islands Law Officers Network also attended the conference and provided updates on their activities over the past twelve months. They also identified opportunities for these regional bodies to work together on regional issues such as deportees and border security and common training needs. Representatives of the International Association Chiefs of Police from the United States also attended the conference to further develop their relationship with law enforcement organisations in the region.

The Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police will meet again in the Federated States of Micronesia in 2011.

17 August 2010

Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments

LEADER

English

Copyright © 2010 Federal Information & News Dispatch, Inc.  

Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Fiji

Listing prepared on August 17, 2010

Current as of 7/27/2010

The US has not recognized the interim government formed after the illegal coup of 5 December 2006.

President --- Epeli NAILATIKAU

Prime Min. --- Josaia Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, Commodore

Min. for Defense, National Security, & Immigration --- Epeli GANILAU

Min. for Education, National Heritage, Culture & Arts, Youth & Sports, Labor, Industrial Relations, & Employment --- Filipe BOLE

Minister for Finance & National Planning & Sugar, Public Service, People's Charter for Change, Information, Provincial Development, I Taukei & Multiethnic Affairs --- Josaia Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, Commodore

Min. for Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation, & International Cooperation --- Inoke KUBUABOLA

Min. for Health --- Neil SHARMA, Dr.

Min. for Justice, Electoral Reform, Public Enterprises & Anticorruption, Industry, Tourism, Trade, & Communication --- Aiyaz SAYED-KHAIYUM

Min. for Lands & Mineral Resources --- Netani SUKANAIVALU

Min. for Local Govt., Urban Development, Housing, & Environment --- Samuela SAUMATUA, Col.

Min. for Primary Industries --- Joketani COKANASIGA

Min. for Public Utilities, Works, & Transport --- Timoci Lesi NATUVA, Cdr.

Min. for Women, Social Welfare, & Poverty Alleviation --- Jiko LUVENI

Attorney Gen. --- Aiyaz SAYED-KHAIYUM

Governor, Reserve Bank --- Sada REDDY

Ambassador to the US --- Winston THOMPSON

Permanent Representative to the UN, New York --- Peter THOMSON

In March 2010 we asked whether Frank Bainimarama, Fiji's most corrupt coup leader would disclose an audit of the Cyclone Tomas Prime Ministers Relief and Rehabilitation Fund.

He made a grand speech seeking donations to a Colonial Bank account number 4706578.

It has been five months now and we demand to know whether those funds were used to purchase Channel No 5 in China and the proceeds transfered to clear a credit card?

If they were not applied for the proper purpose of relief and rehabilitation of the victims of cyclone Tomas, we will just have to add this to the long list of charges to be laid against Frank Bainimarama when we prosecute his scrawny chicken a** from office.

Mataitoga, Wilkinson and Shameem may have screwed the NBF prosecutions that Victor is harping about, but the new generators of iTaukei will surely have a field day when democracy is restored.

Start saving Frank you will get a taste of your own medicine and it will ruin you and everyone and everything associated with your filth, in fact you will beg us to shoot you and we will give you a nice flower and say no my son you deserve to live a long long happy life in Naboro.