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\title{}
\author{Paul Norman}
\date{2009-05-05T13:35:53.68}
\begin{document}

\bigskip


\bigskip

{\raggedleft
For Immediate Release
\par}

{\raggedleft
May 5th 2009, 14-00hrs N.Z.S.T. (GMT +12)
\par}

\section{Fiji - Mercy and Compassion}
Whatever the main players are doing in Fiji, for what ever reasons they

may or may not have, we still can not have the West pushing for

the upholding of an apartheid based constitutional set of electoral

laws, right on our own back doors here in the Pacific. \ 


\bigskip

Especially with the locals{\textquotesingle} perception is that of
clever and often subtle but

rampant corruption being overlooked during the last so-called
{\textquotedbl}free and fair{\textquotedbl}

election.


\bigskip

Australia and New Zealand need to realise that pushing for regime

change in another country is always a dodgy policy that can result in

unpredictable results, and dangerously causes almost as much real

suffering as other forms of outright warfare. Regime change by
{\textquotesingle}remote

control{\textquotesingle} through sanctions etc .. is a dubious
business, as many years

of failed international policy by others elsewhere should tell us.


\bigskip

What is needed among the West and Pacific Forum member countries is more

patience for Fiji and mercy for the common people. \ And lets come up

with a full on proposal for dealing with the complex problem in Fiji,

and stop just simplistically using cave man clubbing type old school

foreign policies and punitive sanctions.


\bigskip

Goodness me, our two countries even sign free trade treaties with very

big countries that have not had {\textquotedbl}free and
fair{\textquotedbl} elections in them since

early last century! \ And we don{\textquotesingle}t demand that they
hold full on

democratic elections before we will get involved constructively with

them.


\bigskip

\subsection{Insist on Apartheid Electoral laws being Followed in Fiji?}

\bigskip

Surely, with all the fresh creativity that is represented in both the

Australian Federal Parliament and the New Zealand Parliament and both

countries cabinets at the moment, we can do better than be seen to

support and insist on apartheid electoral laws being followed in Fiji?


\bigskip

And in the middle of it we must bear in mind that the whole thing should

be for the benefit of the average person living in Fiji. \ Have they

given the West, and specifically given us, their permission to run their

country down, destroy their economy, deprive them of advanced medical

support .. and so on, and so on? \ Do we have a mandate to do those

things while at the same time not be providing Fijians with a viable

alternative to their real problems - which is that Sir Paul Reeves and

team{\textquotesingle}s recommendations were not fully implemented, and
through the

process of time we ended up with an unbalanced constitution and

undemocratic set of laws in Fiji?


\bigskip

How are we going to answer many Fijian{\textquotesingle}s feelings that
their country was

taken off them when the British Empire brought other nationalities to

work and remain in the country? \ How do we answer those other

nationalities fears when they say that they do not want to be driven

into the sea, as certain forces in Fiji, which the current regime is

holding back at the moment, want to do to them?


\bigskip

If the constitutional provisions of either New Zealand or Australia fell

over or were corrupted and became unworkable - who would you sooner have

step up to bat, and sort the situation out? Your own people, or

foreigners?


\bigskip

Lets have more compassion and mercy for all the people living in Fiji

and \ constructively help them sort their circumstances out in a useful

and long term way.


\bigskip

Paul A Norman


\bigskip

Michael Fa{\textquotesingle}amoana Vala{\textquotesingle}auafea 


\bigskip

Christian Missionaries


\bigskip

P.O Box 1005

Nelson, NZ 


\bigskip

P.O Box 19 208

Avondale, Auckland, NZ


\bigskip

http://PaulANorman.com 

paul A T paulanorman dot com 


\bigskip

skype://PaulANorman 


\bigskip

Ph: \ 021 782 433

Fax 021 291 2433


\bigskip

Ph: +64 21 782 433

Fax: +64 21 291 2433
\end{document}
