OnlineOnline Volume 2, Issue 4, November 2008 Website: www.ccf.org.fj ISSN: 1996-5281 Political forum agenda should consider Fiji’s long-term problems The Citizens’ Constitutional Forum at least one meeting per week or at least “It’s also vital for the forum to discuss a (CCF) commends the political forum held one meeting every fortnight so that the solution to ending the coup culture. We on 27 October 2008, and reminds that po- purpose can be achieved,” Rev Yabaki said. hope these important issues will be brought litical parties have an ethical responsibility “The political forum also needs to have a up by political party representatives them- to refrain from making negative comments wider agenda. The representatives from selves. We hope the process will not get that could destroy the process. major and long-serving parties especially, side-tracked by petty issues,” Rev Yabaki “CCF reaffirms that the 27 October meet- should take this forum seriously and take said. ing representing 14 political parties in Fiji this as an opportunity to discuss Fiji’s long- The next political forum is due to be held is a positive step forward. Initial reactions standing problems. Political leaders need in early December 2008. The interlocutors from all major political parties was posi- to remember that this is not a business-as- for the forum, Mr Robin Nair and Dr tive,” CCF chief executive Officer, Rev- usual meeting and they need to find a pro- Sitiveni Halapua, will prepare an agenda erend Akuila Yabaki said. gressive solution for Fiji,” Rev Yabaki said. for the December forum, based on the sub- “However, a week later, political parties “It is essential that the leaders refrain from missions received from political parties. and commentators had resumed making playing the race-card at this forum. CCF Meanwhile, three political parties have sent negative statements on dialogue. believes that it is imperative for the forum in their submissions to the President’s Po- “This is worrying as it could lead to a col- to discuss the adoption of an anti-racism litical Dialogue. They are the Soqosoqo lapse of the dialogue process. We also rec- legislation in Fiji, which is part of Fiji’s Vakavulewa ni Taukei (SVT) Party, the ommend that the meetings should be held obligations to the Convention on the Elimi- United Peoples’ Party (UPP), and the sooner to avoid loss of momentum – have nation of All Forms of Racial Discrimina- National Democratic Party. tion (CERD),” Rev Yabaki said. Judgement sets precedent for encouraging future coups The Citizens’ Constitutional Forum gency are still valid under (CCF) expressed serious concern at the Fiji’s 1997 Constitution. dismissal of the Qarase vs Interim Regime The ruling declared that the court case, in a ruling delivered on Octo- President acted in the best ber 9 2008 by the High Court, which de- interests of the nation. clared that the decision by the President His Excellency Ratu Josefa Iloilo to appoint CCF Chief Executive Of- an interim government after the military ficer, Rev Akuila Yabaki, takeover of 5 December 2006 was valid. provided an affidavit in sup- port of the case by deposed “CCF is concerned that the ruling sets a Prime Minister Laisenia precedent that could encourage further Qarase. coups in Fiji,” CCF Chair Ms Tessa Mac- kenzie said. Mr Qarase’s coalition gov- ernment was removed dur- CCF is seeking advice from constitutional ing the military takeover of lawyers on the judgement. 5 December 2006. The court ruling affirms that the reserve An appeal against the High Deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase outside the court powers - known as prerogative powers - Court ruling will be heard house at a break due to a bomb threat received during the vested in the President to act in an emer- in March 2009. delivery of the ruling on October 9 2008. Editor’s notes Five-year DFID funding for CCF Good news to our readers - CCF has suc- In September 2008, the UK De- cessfully acquired funding from DFID partment for International De- for five years of activities. velopment (DFID), under its The funding comes amidst uncertain ‘Governance and Transparency times in Fiji’s political situation - the Fund’, commenced funding for High Court delivered a ruling uphold- CCF’s core programme ing the President’s reserve powers; po- ‘Strengthening Fiji’s Democ- litical parties have managed to meet once racy’. for dialogue; the Charter process is be- This funding is part of a world- ing challenged in court; and the media wide Conciliation Resources has faced fresh rounds of intimidation (CR) project supporting part- for being in contempt of court. ners working for change in gov- An optimistic 2009 budget has been de- ernance towards sustainable livered by the interim government prom- peace. ising money for many developments - but CR is an international NGO, CR’s Andy Carl (left) is greeted by CCF Director Prof Vijay where will this money come from? based in London, focused on Naidu at the CCF Retreat held from 10-12 September 2008 at the Lagoon Resort in Deuba, Fiji. In the absence of a parliament, how can worldwide peace building initia- we hold the government accountable for tives. The wider global CR project, of agenda. expenditure and actions? CCF will ad- which the CCF forms a component, pro- • Advocating for the elimination of the vocate on these issues in coming months. motes accountability and responsiveness of race-based electoral system through a legal decision-makers to address the unmet process of constitutional reform. needs and contested issues that give rise to Tutaka - Published by: CCF, 25 Berry Rd, • Promoting non-discrimination in key PO Box 12584, Suva, Fiji. conflict. Masthead design: Jo Uluinaceva social justice legislation, policies, and regu- The global CR project funds peace build- lations, while ensuring that these pro- Template design: Mosmi Bhim ing activities in countries such as Georgia, Editor: Mosmi Bhim grammes redress genuine exclusion rather Contact: [email protected] Sierra Leone, Uganda and South Sudan. than promoting narrow ethnic interests. Ph: (679) 3308379, Fax: (679) 3308380 In Fiji, this funding will enable CCF in: Under this funding, CCF will receive over Printer: Bluebird Printery Ltd • Promoting a cross-party social justice FJ$280,000 per year for five years. Lautoka workshop to build small NGOs capacity A two-day NGOs Capacity - “I am capable to plan a devel- Building workshop was held in opment project using the rights Lautoka from 11-12 November based approach”. 2008. - “I can organize and plan a A total of 33 participants from project now”. different ethnic backgrounds - “I now can see the importance attended the workshop, com- of group organizing for deci- prising 30 female and three sion making, rather than taking male participants. for granted that members On the first day, modules on agree”. Human Rights, Good Govern- - “I can improve the organiza- ance and Citizenship were con- tion and mobilization of my or- ducted. On the second day, ses- ganization”. sions were held on a Rights- Based Approach to Develop- - “I can now see that my organi- ment, and Citizens Organising zation was not well organised, though we have our monthly for Governance. Youth participants from Ba make a presentation after group work. meetings but there was not The session on a Rights-Based tify the stakeholders, duty bearers and ob- much action – there is need to mobilize”. Approach to Development exposed partici- ligations that need to be met in develop- - “I have the confidence to better organize pants to information and key principles of ment projects and the need for the inclu- taking a rights based approach in develop- my organization and do a development sion of vulnerable groups in development project plan considering human rights”. ment activities. Participants discussed the activities. principles of good governance as good de- Attending the workshop were representa- velopment practices and were able to ap- Below are some interesting responses elic- tives from 18 groups, including: ply the concepts of human rights to devel- ited from participants in the session on Tauvegavega Youth & Sports Club, Ba; opment, showing a good grasp of human Citizens’ Organising for Governance: Senivesi WORSED, Lautoka; Upkaar rights concepts. - “To be an effective and successful organi- Mothers Club, Tavua; Soroptimist Inter- Through case studies, they learnt to iden- zation, it needs to be organised and mobi- national, Ba; Veilomani Club, Ba; lized – needs action”. (continued on page 4) 2 Tutaka Volume 2, Issue 4, November 2008 Education team travels to Ba, Tavua, Ra The Education team travelled to the West Tavualevu Community and conducted its first three workshops in Hall, attracted 41 male Ba, Tavua, and Rakiraki for 2008. and female participants. The one-day Human Rights and Good This included two Indo- Governance workshop was conducted in Fijian female partici- Ba Town at Koronubu House, to a mixed pants. The session on group of 31 participants, including 22 youth. Citizenship generated new learning in Tavua. The session on Good Governance gener- ated self-reflections in Ba. “This was a new concept to majority of the partici- “When asked what they would do differ- pants whereby many ently, majority of the participants in Ba said thought that Fijians were that they would become accountable and the only citizens of Fiji, transparent leaders, they will always try to through a misconceived do the right things all the time, provide understanding of the good service to the community, be a more concept based on race. A responsible employee, and be good and ac- citation of the definition tive community members,” CCF Commu- in the 1997 Constitution nity and Field Officer Ms Sereima Participants at the Tavualevu Community Hall, Tavua, enact a clarified the legal mean- role play on leadership issues.