Showing posts with label Fiji Soccer player banned entry into NZ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fiji Soccer player banned entry into NZ. Show all posts

Monday, August 05, 2013

X-Post- Dominion Post: NZ Must Take Balanced Approach To Fiji Govt.

 Source: Dominion Post

There has been a significant change of attitude in Australia to Fiji. Last Tuesday Julie Bishop, deputy leader of the Opposition and shadow minister of foreign affairs and trade, recommended re-engagement with Fiji and the restoration of diplomatic ties with the Bainimarama Government.

In a comment that would have done justice to New Zealand's seemingly forgotten traditional relationship with the Pacific, Ms Bishop said: "We will be guided by the Fijian Government on what they seek from Australia".
She pledged Coalition support "in whatever form Fiji requires" to assist them to get to grips with the challenges involved in establishing a workable parliamentary democracy.

Ms Bishop is, of course, the Opposition representative - though that may change after Australia's election in September. The Australian Labor Government is another matter. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been the poster boy for a hardline approach to Fiji since the coup in 2006. He and predecessor Julia Gillard have focused simplistically on the need for elections. But there is more to it than that.

Since coming to power, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has cracked down on the hitherto strong Fiji trade union movement. Inevitably Australian trade unions reacted strongly to the difficulties of their Fijian colleagues, and their position has had a powerful influence on Labor Party policy. The opposition parties in Australia recognise no such trade union influence. Ms Bishop's remarks, though sensitive and well-focused, are off the official agenda. But they must be seen as a signal and an important one.

Since the coup in 2006, New Zealand and Australia have offered little to Fiji in what could be seen as the collegiality expected as characterising relationships within the Pacific community. Both governments have continued to provide some aid but Fiji needed more than that. Post coup, it wanted the sort of support and relationship now outlined by Ms Bishop, especially when she says "there are very valuable lessons to be learned if we stand in each other's shoes and we try to see issues from each other's perspective".

As I noted in a comment piece three years ago, Fiji's internal tensions since before independence have to be dealt with by Fijians and the decisions reached have to be accepted by the Pacific and wider community.
Now there are further developments. Since 2006, Fiji has not stood still.
Gerald McGhie

" I am advocating is that New Zealand take a more balanced approach to Fiji. The Australian Opposition has taken an early lead. The key for New Zealand is to again speak in the Pacific with a New Zealand voice, re-establish positive contact with Fiji "


A range of countries have been welcomed in Suva and Fiji has become an active member of the Melanesian spearhead group - which contains the potentially rich Pacific island states. Fiji has also gained the prestigious position of chair of the non-aligned meeting where it has established a high- profile among delegates.
China-Fiji relations have developed strongly, and Fiji's much-sought-after soldiers are well represented in British and United Nations operations in many of the world's hot spots.

The Australian comments are in marked contrast to those coming from New Zealand. In a speech on New Zealand's place in the world late last year, Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Phil Goff made little reference to the Pacific and in later discussion emphasised his continuing view that human rights were the key to progress in Fiji.

Of course, human rights are important and coups cannot be condoned but, given Mr Goff's persistent concerns about human rights and illegal seizures of power, I might have expected a stiff comment on recent developments in Egypt where what looks very like a military coup has taken place. The New Zealand Government also appears to be remarkably quiet on Egypt.

What I am advocating is that New Zealand take a more balanced approach to Fiji. The Australian Opposition has taken an early lead. The key for New Zealand is to again speak in the Pacific with a New Zealand voice, re-establish positive contact with Fiji and, while not accepting the coup, come up with alternative policies in a context of co- operation.

Negotiations will not be easy. But if understandings can be agreed and adhered to, at least there will be some structure on which to build a better relationship.There may be a sense within the Wellington policy establishment that Suva is simply waiting for New Zealand to welcome them back to the Commonwealth, Pacific Forum and PACER trade negotiations. In fact it may not be quite that clear-cut.

Fiji now has a substantial - but not dominant - grouping that asks why they should bow to New Zealand. They point to Fiji's substantial gains since the coup in spite of Australia and New Zealand sponsored opposition and at times hostility. They consider that they should build on their new structures.

The reality is that New Zealand must undertake a similar repositioning to that of the Australian Opposition.
This means a rethink in terms of policy and, even more important, of attitude - leading to less exhortation and more patient discussion. It is now probably too late but if sufficient goodwill is generated, New Zealand might get Fiji's support in its bid for the 2014 Security Council seat. It depends on the quality of diplomacy.

Gerald McGhie is a former diplomat with many years of experience in the Pacific. He is a former director of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs.


Club Em Designs

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

A Sporting Kick In The Shins For New Zealand Soccer- Is Rugby Next?

The issue of travel visas for sports has come home to roost in Wellington as a New Zealand Herald article suggests, following the canceled soccer match in North Harbour by the game's ruling organization FIFA.
An opinion article in the Manawatu Standard describes the unintended consequences of such boisterous diplomatic posturing by the Foreign Minister, Winston Peters. If soccer world cup qualifiers where so cavalierly trivialized by the New Zealand Government, perhaps the economic impact report of the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia should be a stark reminder of the ripple effects of involving sports and petty politics; displayed recently by the New Zealand Government.

Fiji opposition an own goal
Manawatu Standard | Wednesday, 24 October 2007

Isn't it wonderful how our money can be spent on our behalf by politicians?



New Zealand Football is in line for compensation from taxpayers, possibly to the tune of half a million dollars, because Winston Peters decided he had an issue with Fiji's goalkeeper's father-in-law.

The goalkeeper's offence was being married, or possibly engaged, to a fairly lowly army officer in a country where there is a non-democratic government.

The same Mr Peters, and his Prime Minister, were recently in Europe watching the rugby World Cup, in which a team from Fiji was competing and doing rather well. The country's rugby side had had long links with the Fiji army, but that seems to have been ignored by our pious politicians.

And a cabinet minister is free to holiday in Cuba, which is as undemocratic as it is possible to be, without anyone batting an eye. And what about Tonga? Their move to democracy is half-hearted, yet there is no talk of banning sporting contact with that nation.

Then there is China. Our politicians are busy grovelling and greasing in a bid to establish a free-trade deal, but when did the residents of China last see a ballot box?

Now that the All Whites' home game against Fiji has been moved to Sydney, due to Mr Peters' meddling, what sanctions will our government propose to punish Australia for allowing the hated goalkeeper into their country? A ban on Kiwis holidaying on the Gold Coast, perhaps?

And if the game is going to be played anyway, what will have been achieved by the original ban apart from a big bill for New Zealand's taxpayers and the loss of home advantage for a sporting side fighting to win a place in the next Football World Cup?

Let us hope there is more astute thinking around these issues if Fiji hasn't returned to a form of democracy approved of by our politicians by the time the Rugby World Cup rolls around. If those in Wellington start banning players because it doesn't approve of their relatives' occupations, or their country's type of government, then the compensation bill in 2011 could make the Fiji football fiasco look like chicken feed.

The recent RWC grossed $NZ495m, with half of that going as profits to the IRB. That sort of money as compo would give taxpayers a serious headache if our meddling politicians choose to disrupt that tournament.




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Club Em Designs

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Sports -An Extension of Politics by Any Other Means?

A livid Fijian football chief plans to take New Zealand's refusal to allow his side's goalkeeper into the country to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport. Fiji will play the All Whites at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday in a vital World Cup qualification match.


read more | digg story




This particular story was also featured in The Australian newspaper and the following is an excerpt:


Court challenge to Fiji goalie ban

October 11, 2007

WELLINGTON: Fiji plans to take the New Zealand Government to court for refusing to grant its soccer team's goalkeeper a visa.
The gvernment has rushed through visas for the team so they can play the All Whites at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday - in a vital World Cup qualification match.

However, it declined their first choice goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau entry because because his father-in-law is a military policeman. Under sanctions imposed by New Zealand after last December's coup in Fiji, people with ties to the military cannot come to the country.

Fiji Football Association president Sahu Khan said he planned to take the situation to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport. He was sure the court would nullify the game because it was “grossly unfair”, he told the New Zealand Herald.

“He is a key goalkeeper, and it is a very vital position. For the New Zealand government to say that we give visas to all the others and not to him...means Fiji is not only playing New Zealand, but we are also playing the New Zealand Government.”

Fiji would play the game under protest, Dr Khan said. A letter had been sent to football's world governing body Fifa protesting the situation, he said.

He hoped they would take Fiji's side “No more Oceanian or Fifa games should be played in New Zealand until they give up on these sanctions.”

A spokesman for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said any Fijian sports team coming to New Zealand for an internationally sanctioned event would be held up to the sanctions.

“New Zealand has the right to deny entry to any member of a sports team as it sees fit.” No appeal from Fifa had been received yet, the spokesman said.

NZPA

This particular case, confirms that the demarcation between Sports and Politics have been conveniently blurred by the New Zealand Government and as a result of their heavy handed approach with respect to issuance of travel visas, has invariably relegated the New Zealand Government to the position of villain; while elevating Fiji's status as a victim, further undermining New Zealand's soft power into the Pacific region.

The issue of Sports and Politics was revisited in the wake of Fiji's performance in the 2007 Rugby World Cup; when local Economist, Dr. Wadan Narsey called for a Free-Trade in Rugby; as the Pacific Island Rugby playing nations have captured the imagination of the Rugby world with their recent performances during the Rugby World Cup with a passionate brand of hard-hitting and free-running rugby. Fiji, Samoa and Tonga have not been playing on a level playing field with Tier 1 nations like Australia and New Zealand; despite repeated calls to bring the Pacific islanders into their fold of an expanded Super 14 competition.

This is the excerpt of Dr. Wadan Narsey views as published in a Fiji Times article:


When our rugby was noticed

VERENAISI RAICOLA
Wednesday, October 03, 2007


Members of the Flying Fijians have won praises for the victory over Wales.

The performance by the Flying Fijians at the Rugby World Cup in France when they beat Wales 38-34 on Sunday has been commended by many people who believe such a victory attracts massive economic benefits for a country that badly needs it.



This is because four billion people would have watched the game on television while 1.8million rugby fans, 600 players and 3500 media people visited Europe to be part of the 2007 World Cup.

Such exposure for Fiji greatly benefits a struggling tourism sector and would get many people visiting websites to access information about our country which has been in the spotlight negatively since 5/12 for the military takeover of an elected government.

For many the win came as a surprise as even though the Fiji Rugby Union's target was for the team to reach the quarter finals, some fans thought otherwise, judging from past performances.

Ilivasi Tabua, the former Queensland rugby flanker who hails from Naivicula, Tailevu, since taking up the coaching post from Wayne Pivac has had a mammoth task molding a new combination of players to lead Fiji to the Rugby World Cup. He was restricted by time and money and deserves to be congratulated.

The former Australia-based player nicknamed the human skewer' replaced Pivac who stepped down citing personal reasons. Tabua is now admired for trusting his men despite criticism since the beginning of the year.

A former Fiji rep at the 1987 World Cup Sairusi Naituku said the country's political instability helped the team perform at another level just as they did 20 years ago in New Zealand.

"Twenty years ago this was the same feeling the team went through before qualifying for the quarter-finals against France where a gallant Fiji side was defeated 16-31 as it was also after a coup but as rugby players with the country at heart, we decided to be above politics," said Naituku.

The Natabua High School teacher said it took another Fijian coach to take Fiji up to "that level of rugby".

"In 1987 it was Jo Sovau and this year it is Tabua, so we can confidently say that we do not need expatriates paid hefty salaries and perks to boost the performance of the team," he said. "The political crisis is a blessing in disguise because it is a challenge as through rugby, life friendships are built," said the former tighthead prop.

Naituku said rugby was something that made Fiji significant on the map even though many people struggled to find where it was naturally because it was just a "dot" on the globe. Acting Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau chief executive Patrick Wong agrees with Naituku as the performance by the team was historical and attracted a lot of talk about Fiji. "Potential visitors to our shores will certainly start asking where this paradise Fiji is and it is a plus for tourism," Wong said. "It brands our country." [Wong]said people would be logging on to the internet to find out more about Fiji and this was an advantage of performing in rugby whether it be in sevens or 15s. "It may be late to notice a surge in tourists as a result of the game in the next couple of months but it would surely show next year," Wong said.

Former FVB CEO Bill Gavoka who offered similar sentiments said the exposure because of media coverage made a great difference and was a boost for tourism. "We were on the screen in countries like Europe, the British Isles and the USA which are key markets here so it will bring in positive benefits for tourism," said Gavoka.

Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party spokesperson Peceli Kinivuwai said the team's performance was excellent and brought a ray of sunshine to rainy Fiji. He said despite the political and social uncertainty, the performance by the Flying Fijians made Fiji an attractive destination.

"The team reflected the true spirit of the indigenous Fijian spirit in Nicky Little's insistence to witness the end of the game despite the pain from a medial knee ligament injury he sustained during the match," he said.

"The boys were definitely loyal to the call of duty for the country and we managed to shine as a nation."

Like the SDL, the National Federation Party's Pramod Rae said he was over the moon and speechless about the victory and that the spin off effect of reaching the quarter finals in the World Cup would be more investment, tourists and unity among the people.

Economist Dr Wadan Narsey said the win against Wales showed that Fiji could compete with the "big boys" and what was needed was a level playing field. He said Sunday's game was a mighty achievement as the fields where local players were based was no comparison to what overseas players were used to.

Dr Narsey said such performance showed countries in the Pacific could take part in the Super 14 that could even be hosted in Fiji. He said if that was allowed there would be a massive flow on financial benefits as teams could be billeted in hotels and the game could attract hundreds of media people to broadcast games worldwide. Dr Narsey said the sad part was that many local fans did not expect the Flying Fijians to win against Wales and that some people made a few bucks from bets.

"It's sad that many Fijians did not trust the team. We verbally bashed our Flying Fijians even though the boys showed they had great potential in their fantastic performance," he said.

Dr Narsey said the team had a great chance in their next game at 1am on Monday and that even if they did not win they would still not be disgraced. Without ignoring the coach's hard work Dr Narsey said Tabua made a difference and took the team to a level only experienced 20 years ago. He said overseas based players performed exceptionally and brought guts that blended well into the spirit of the team.

FRU chief executive Ratu Timoci Tavanavanua said their goal had been achieved and that the $2 million spent on the team's preparation and bonus was worth every cent. [Tavanavanua] said although the FRU would want a Pacific team in the Super 14, logistical arrangements needed to be scrutinised.

"Only time would tell and we hope there is something for us in the near future to compete at that level," he said.

Outside half Nicky Little described the win well when he said it made a mockery of money in the sport and modern day rugby considering that players in the Fijian side were just paid $50 a day. [Little] does not know where he'll be this weekend as money would determine that but says "I'll be right behind the boys wherever I am". The thoroughly deserved victory over Wales in Nantes earned the islanders a quarter-final against the Springboks in Marseille that all fans look forward to watching this weekend.


Both Trans-Tasman nations have benefited with the status-quo in Rugby's socio-economic capacity , with their national sides actively featuring Rugby players poached from Pacific islands. While enjoying the fruits of imported players, it is difficult to fathom why the Pacific Island teams of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga are yet to recognized as peers, by their colonial cousins.