USP Journalism Online: http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/
USP Journalism on the Fiji crisis (UTS host): http://www.journalism.uts.edu.au/
USP Pasifik Nius stories on Scoop (NZ):
http://www.scoop.co.nz/international.htm
Have your say: http://www.TheGuestBook.com/vgbook/109497.gbook
SUVA: Fiji's Citizens Constitutional Forum today welcomed the call by
President Ratu Josefa Iloilo for a board of inquiry to investigate the
May insurrection, but warned against any "cosmetic gesture".
The timing of the President's call coincided with a three-day
fact-finding mission to Fiji by the European Union which began
yesterday.
The forum had earlier called for an investigation into interim
Information Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola's alleged role in the
overthrow of the elected government.
Kubuabola described the claims of his involvement as a "baseless
personal attack" in a letter published today in the Fiji Times.
The Fiji Times reported that the President would appoint a board of
inquiry into the crisis which would investigate why the country's
security forces allowed the coup to happen.
According to the newspaper, the board "will establish the real motives
behind the coup and ensure that a strategy for better security and
intelligence is implemented to avoid any such occurrence in future".
In a statement today by the citizens forum's executive director, Rev
Akuila Yabaki said: "The inquiry will depend for its international
credibility on its independence and in-built measures of transparency.
"An independent inquiry cannot be achieved if the membership is made up
of institutions such as the military and the police, since senior
members of these institutions were themselves implicated in the events
leading up to the May 19 coup and its aftermath.
"You can't have the 'poacher turned game-keeper', carrying out
investigation and expect the outcome to pass the test of transparency."
Rev Yabaki suggested that the Ombudsman, Justice Sailosi Kepa, could be
a member - or even head the investigation.
Justice Kepa's statement was one of the first denouncing the coup.
One or two local and international lawyers should be invited to be
members, said Rev Yabaki.
A civil society representative should also be invited.
"The investigation must be independent and also transparent for all to
believe that it is an authentic attempt to deal with the national
tragedy," said Rev Yabaki.
In a submission to the fact-finding mission yesterday, the Fiji Council
of Social Services director Hasan Khan said the takeover of government
by armed rebels was an act on behalf of "defeated politicians, failed
business people and the corrupt rich".
He asked the delegation to recommend to the EU that assistance be
directed through civil society organisations and its umbrella group
FCSS.
"To date there has been no announcement by the government or anyone on
how victims of violence and terror would be helped or compensated," Khan
said.
He added that the 1997 constitution was the ideal framework for future
economic, social and general wellbeing of all Fiji citizens.
+++niuswire
Title -- 2899 FIJI: Citizens forum cautious over President's gesture
Date -- 15 August 2000
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pasifik Nius
Source -- PN, 15/8/00
Copyright -- PN
Status -- Unabridged
------------------
15 AUGUST 2000 SUVA (Pacnews) -- The Pacific Community (SPC) and the Fiji
School of Medicine (FSM) have embarked on a co-operation exercise aimed at
training a new breed of "doctors-managers" for the Pacific region.
FSM Dean, Dr Wame Baravilala and Dr Jimmie Rodgers, the Deputy Director
General of the SPC made the exercise a reality when they signed a memorandum
of understanding between the two regional organisations at the FSM's Campus
in the Suva suburb of Tamavua.
"This agreement between SPC and the FSM is about delivering a Pacific
health
leadership development programme," Dr Rodgers said.
"The main focus is to further train existing health managers in Pacific
island countries. The reason being that medical training is about patient
diagnosis, sickness, but it doesn't take into account resource management,
like funds, planning, budgeting.
"This is also important to ensure quality care," Dr Rodgers added.
He said over the last ten years, FSM has already been developing a
curriculum called problem-based learning.
"This is different to the strictly biomedical training, it now trains
people
to be more aware of the impact of their diagnosis on resources they need to
treat patients."
"In all Pacific island countries, at higher levels of administration,
we
have doctors running services, and there is a need for more specialised
training in management."
Initially, the training programme will start in three target countries;
Vanuatu, Samoa and Fiji. The skill level SPC and FSM hope to achieve is a
new breed of doctors-managers.
The project, called Pacific Health Leadership Development Programme (HLDP),
is funded for two years by New Zealand's Overseas Development Assistance for
FJ$250,000 (US$120,000). Apart from the HLDP, SPC and FSM are also working
together in three other areas of health promotion, oral and dental health.
... PNS (ENDS)
15 AUGUST 2000 SUVA (Pacnews) -- Most regional students who are studying at
the University of the South Pacific's (USP) main Laucala Bay campus in Suva
will be returning by the end of the week.
The only exception will be students from Samoa who have been directed by
their government not to return to Fiji for security reasons.
These students have been told to complete their studies through extensions
at the USP's Alafua campus in Apia.
But Pacnews has been told the government directive has not stopped a number
of Samoan students from returning to the university's Fiji campus. Majority
however will continue their studies at Alafua.
"The reason for this is because of the availability of facilities offered
at
the Samoan campus, which can easily facilitate a large number of students
taking studies through extension," Fiji campus manager of residence, Miti
Siamomu told Pacnews.
"Contrary to earlier reports, all other regional students from other member
countries that have not yet arrived will be here by the end of the week.
This includes most students from Solomon Islands and Kiribati," he said.
The Fiji campus' Media officer, Hamidan Bibi told Pacnews the five Samoan
students that have returned to Fiji are paying for their own studies and not
sponsored by their government. ... PNS (ENDS)
This site is best viewed using Netscape 4.0 or higher.
Any problems or kind suggestions, please email: webmaster@lookinglassdesign.com
last revision 08/15/2000