Japan has relaxed its travel advisory for Fiji.
The decision means Japanese tourists may start visiting the country again and
has been welcomed by the local tourism plant.
The Japanese adisory says it is safe to travel to Western parts of Viti Levu,
Ba, Nadroga/Navosa, Serua, the Yasawa and Mamanuca Groups and Beqa.
Fiji Visitors Bureau marketing director Bill Whiting has wlecomed the move.
Japan joins the United States and the United Kingdom in relaxing travel advisories. Australia and New Zealand are expected to follow soon.
The military says the Buca Bay Resort in Vanua Levu which was illegally occupied
by villagers in the area is now cleared. Military spokesman Lt Col
Tarakinikini confirmed this today.
He said soldiers and police arrived and cleared the hotel. Resort owner Jack
Cobelens and his wife had yesterday claimed that authorities had ignored
their plight so as not to paint a negative picture of Fiji's tourism industry.
They also criticised the Fiji Visitors Bureau for "turning a blind eye
to their pleas for help". A questionnaire sent to the FVB by fijilive remained
answered.
An FVB spokesperson said chief executive Steve Yaqona was out of the country
and could not reply. The couple had complained that their resort was
forcefully overtaken and that nothing had been done to arrest or chase the people
who were still occupying his property in which he had invested $1.4
million.
Cobelens, an investor from the Netherlands and his wife were allegedly chased
from the resort by armed villagers who claimed the land on which the
resort was situated was not freehold.
The villagers wanted the land back and everything in it for compensation.
THE Fiji Development Bank will visit and assess individual Tailevu North farmers
to estimate the value of damage they have incurred.
The farmers are mainly those in the dairy industry who have accounts with the
bank and have lost their properties and livestock in fires and raids early
last month.
The bank's Nausori manager Pita Tamani said four of their clients in Waidalice
suffered losses when their houses were burnt and some of their cattle
stolen.
He said dairy farmers in the Wainivesi and Waimaro areas had their properties
damaged and also had some of their livestock stolen.
The assessments have been made possible through the provision and strengthening
of security in the once volatile area. Farmers have been reassured of
their safety through the deployment of soldiers a fortnight ago along with policemen
from the Mobile Unit in Nasinu.
In a joint exercise, the security forces and farmers are patrolling the vicinity
of Korovou town allowing the bank to carry out its assessment.
Mr Tamani said he has sent a progress report to Assistant Commissioner of Police
Romanu Tikotikoca whom he met during a meeting with farmers at
Korovou last week.
ACP Tikotikoca's visit opened the way for investigation into the burning and
looting in the area.
This also presented the bank an opportunity to meet the police and the farmers
in its effort to get a first hand account of what the farmers went through
but more importantly to gauge losses bank clients have incurred.
"The Bank is going to make arrangements on the repayment of loans on an
individual basis.
Some farmers are still operating under an agreement brokered by Rewa Dairy
Cooperative where Fijians are operating the farms in Wainivesi and
Waimaro on behalf of their Indian owners," said Mr Tamani.
ACP Tikotiko will meet the farmers again on Thursday.
Fiji's Daily Post
ELECTRICITY rates are expected to go up and not down as forecasted by the People's
Coalition Government last year said Energy Minister
Joketani Cokanasiga.
Deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry last August announced a 16 per cent
decrease in electricity charges.
A similar reduction was also the forecast for this month.
Mr Cokanasiga said the reduction is a matter to be discussed by the Fiji Electricity
Authority Board.
"Quite a substantial amount of money and reserve has been depleted with
the Monasavu crisis," he said.
Mr Cokanasiga said the FEA's priority is the maintenance of the machines that
are providing electricity to most parts of the country.
FEA Chief Executive Nizam-ud-Dean said they will not go ahead with the proposed
decreased rates as announced by the Coalition.
"We have to do this because we had to consider our financial position,"
he said.
Though refusing to discuss in detail the increase and in particular the amount
concerned, it is understood that a 20 percent increase is under
discussion.
So far it has cost the FEA $22m to provide electricity on an on/off basis.
The cost to FEA arises from the increased cost of generation ($1 million per
week) and the reduction in revenue ($1 million per week). Power
rationing will continue until the Authority regains control of Monasavu.
Consumers in some parts of the country have been forced to accept FEA's power
rationing programme after the tunnel to the Wailoa Power Station
was closed by landowners.
The takeover at the Monasavu hydro dam is about landowners' long-standing grievances
concerning monetary compensation.
Meanwhile, the Interim Government has established a Lands Claims Tribunal as
part of the Blueprint that has been unanimously accepted by the Great Council
of Chiefs.
The Tribunal will specifically deal with land compensation claims for lands
acquired for public purposes.
Interim Prime Minister Mr Qarase said this is the best way to deal with long-standing
historical land claims, away from the political arena.
The Tribunal will compromise eminent, well qualified people to consider the
merits of landowners' claims.
Fiji's Daily Post
6.00 pm -- Power cuts are likely to continue for a while after the Fiji Electricity
Authority said late today that the $52.8 million settlement agreed to with Monasavu
landowners has to be ratified by government first.
The FEA said the settlement has to be approved by the FEA board, then Cabinet,
before it becomes effective.
Under the agreement, the landowners will be paid $5 million goodwill money,
followed by $1m every year for five years and then $46,000 over the next
93 years.
MURDERED policeman Corporal Raj Kumar did not die in vain but paid the ultimate
price for the cause of maintaining law and order in the country,
Interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase said.
Mr Qarase was among government officials, relatives, friends and work colleagues
who paid their last respects to Corporal Kumar at his residence at
Muanikoso outside Suva, yesterday.
"He did not die in vain. Corporal Kumar paid the ultimate sacrifice, one
that a few of us would have the courage to pay in giving one's life to maintain
law and order in the country.
"Young people should emulate the tremendous contribution made by Corporal
Kumar to his family and our beloved country," Mr Qarase said in his
speech at the ceremony.
Fiji Military Forces commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama and Commissioner
of Prison Aisea Taoka were present at the gathering.
Conspicuous by his absence was the Commissioner of Police, Isikia Savua, who
is currently touring the North. Corporal Kumar was accorded a full
police burial ceremony at Vatuwaqa Cemetery where his body was cremated.
Corporal Kumar, 49, married with two children was shot dead last week Tuesday
while tracking down a group of rebel gunmen in Sawani, Naitasiri.
The rebels opened fire on the search party travelling in a police vehicle.
Corporal Kumar is the second police officer to have been killed in the line
of duty in the aftermath of the May 19 coup.
A soldier who also killed during Tuesday's shooting will be buried tomorrow,
while three others are still admitted at the Colonial War Memorial
Hospital in Suva.
Corporal Raj Kumar made an outstanding contribution in maintaining law and
order in his 29-years with the Fiji Police Force, said Assistant
Commissioner of Police Moses Driver.
In fact, so good was his work that the former President Ratu Kamisese Mara
awarded him a Republic of Fiji Medal two years ago in recognition of his
service "Corporal Kumar life was full of life and promise but this ended
suddenly in a brutal and cowardly manner by criminal elements.
"He was a true son of Fiji, a loyal public servant, an excellent policeman
and a devoted family man," Mr Driver said.
Like most of us, Mr Driver said, this motivated him to work hard and achieve.
"His passing we have promised ourselves will not be for naught. We shall
do our bit as required of us under the law to ensure that justice must be done.
"For without it the confidence of the people will be destroyed, the law
will disrepute and as we have seen the stability of the country will be shaken
to its foundation," he said.
Corporal Kumar is survived by his wife Muni Lata and his two children, Rajesh
and Shalini.
Fiji's Daily Post
Speight faces exchange charge
Tuesday, August 15, 2000
6.00 pm
The treason charge against him might be a major worry for attempted coup leader
George Speight but he also faces charges related to sending money out of
the
country without Reserve Bank approval.
Speight was due to appear in court yesterday on the charge but his case was
adjourned as he is on Nukulau island.
The coup leader appears in court in Suva with a group of his supporters this
Friday for a review of his bail conditions.
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