10:23 AM |
The colours of Holi showers a new Key of hope for Fiji http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2010/03/the-colours-of-holi-showers-a-new-key-of-hope-for-fiji/#more-7929 Pacific Scoop: At the stroke of 6 am on Thursday March 17 2010, the silence of the, crisp and cool autumn Waitakere dawn at the Whenuapai Air force base was dethroned by the drone of an aircraft – a carrier of hope. As the C-130 Hercules aircraft from NO 40 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force taxied out of its hangar, loaded with emergency relief supplies for the cyclone ravaged Fiji, it was a moving epitome of humanity and statesmanship in action. It also strengthened our belief that every country, once in a while, needs a change in leadership where a relatively younger leader with a propensity to heal wounds, build bridges, and promote goodwill takes over the helm of the nation. Such a leader, with a fresh, liberal, and more pragmatic outlook, bereft of the shackles of old rivalries and unbridled ego, brings new hope to the nation. Prime Minister John Key happens to be one such person. I had seen him last Sunday at Waitakere Indian Association's Rang Barse Holi Festival (the showering of colours) at Waitakere Trusts Stadium. He was seen as a peoples PM, coloured in the Holi rainbow colours, mingling freely with the old and the young, the Maori, the Pakeha and the Indians, after delivering a bonding powerful Holi message for us all. He has little hesitation in walking his talk on building bridges and improving international relations, especially with countries supplying a large chunk of its migrants. As a new boy on the block, President Obama brought renewed hopes to the United States of America. Similarly, when John Key replaced the previous leaders both in the National Party and as the country's Prime Minister, people had expected New Zealand to reach a higher echelon of statesmanship. Somebody who could bring the diametrically opposed parties of Act's Rodney Hide and the Maori Party's Dr Pita Sharples under one umbrella, was destined to make a difference in promoting regional goodwill and peace. During last year's Waitangi Day celebrations at Hoani Waititi Marae in Waitakere City, I had reflected on New Zealand's stance on Fiji. I had complained that the experience curve of the lessons of conflict resolution from the Treaty settlement had gone begging when it came to bridging the political chasm with Fiji. As the aircraft of hope dipped its nose towards the runway at Nausori Airport near Suva – a struggling neighbourhood in Fiji – it was perhaps the first time a New Zealand defence force plane had been in Fiji since the 2006 coup. Foreign Affairs Minister Mr McCully was echoing perhaps what the Prime Minister desired. The situation in Fiji was a humanitarian situation and New Zealand was reacting to that situation. It was extremely commendable of New Zealand Government to have seen it that way, ignoring complications in relation to an estranged diplomatic situation. They say adversity brings the best in people. That has been entirely true of the New Zealand Government's leadership. With a pledge of a sizable amount of aid and, cooperation shown by NZ High Commission and NZAID in working together with Fiji authorities, this shows there are visible signs of a thaw in relations that hitherto had been strained. The pledge of further help and another aircraft and other resources, that will be at the disposal of Fiji, has shown that the New Zealand Government can, if it wishes, behave like a first world nation to a third world country. The most hopeful news has been that even Frank Bainimarama (Fiji's military leader) has been thankful to New Zealand for its gesture. As a media student, the only problem I see is that New Zealand's mainstream media is obsessed and possessed with its own brand of democracy and solution for Fiji. It refuses to behave like a first world media and exhibits a lack of real knowledge about the situation on the ground. I was saddened to hear an interview on Radio Live with Murray Mc Cully where the reporter lobbed a leading and suggestive question to the Minister as to what he would do in a situation where Bainimarama was hindering improvements to health in Fiji and distribution of relief supplies. Such blinkered, ill-thought and jaundiced views brought shame and demonstrated a low standard of New Zealand's mainstream media. This shows why there is need for greater diversity in the media in New Zealand and a commitment to better sensitivity and understanding of other cultures when reporting international issue, especially relating to troubled neighbours, Fiji in particular. At least in this situation in Fiji, the C -130 Hercules with its capability and adequate supply of parachutes appears not to have taken aboard any parachute journalists. This is because news coming out of Fiji so far is well-informed and of good quality, fitting in the model of development journalism that has generally been missing from the New Zealand mainstream media's reporting on Fiji. I am hopeful that relations between New Zealand and Fiji should improve because John Key is an independent thinker and his foreign policy on Fiji is less likely to be based on the editorial opinions of its mainstream press here, as was perhaps evident during the tenor of the past government. Thakur Ranjit Singh is a post graduate student in Communication Studies at AUT University. URL to article: http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2010/03/the-colours-of-holi-showers-a-new-key-of-hope-for-fiji/ What a total load of crap from an indian coup apologist!! Every once in a while, democracy needs saviours like Bainimarama when racists politicians and supporters of Western style of democracy, like Ron, rape and manipulate the principles and purpose of democracy by indulging in sheere racism and divisive politics of race. Then you need somebody like Bainimarama to kick home the meaning of democracy in a multi-racial country- it was never meant to be a manipulative tool to be abused by the rich and the mighty, the Chiefs and the Churches, cheered on by the gullible people whose definition of democracy is confined to elections only. One cannot but help notice the accuracy of this article which begins with Thursday March 17 … It was a Wednesday. But hey, what do facts matter when you are attacking journalists for inaccuracies? Ron, you seem to have nailed it there and totally agree with with you that this article is a 'load of cr**p"!! Both Liu Muri & the author TS needs to clear their heads of cobwebs. How long has the Fiji people been under PER? In case they have forgotten, since Dec 2006 when Bainimarama & his coup supporters i.e Khyaiyum A.S et lal tried to reconstruct Fiji & 4 yrs down the track they have lost their way and now wants to continue PER until they find their track at the expense of the people. C'mon Thakur & liu muri, do wake up – Fiji's economy has nose dived, poverty is at its peak, human rights abuse is on every one lips, fusing or diffusion of Fijians is at the core of your favourite coup-maniacs. What else do you wish for? Fijian History has been written by most Western & Indian authors, very few Fijians and this has formed the basis of what people like you are trying to achieve, to further de-construct Fijians at their roots. Unfortunately, Fijians are now educated and can very well challenge you every step of the way as seen in the strong 800,000 petition sent in to your favourite coup man. This for sure rattled FB & his merry men to the core hence their running to Sri Lanka for more lawyers & signing up with Emirates Arab world for funding. The truth of it all will surface and no amount of reconstructing or reforms will make your wrongs right. The people need to choose who they wish to lead them and certainly not at points of guns as is the current plan in Fiji. Your soft sell 'borogaga' approach in trying to ease your way into the Kiwi PM's purse string or 'yameyame' will not help. In fact, Aotearoa had just demonstrated that they will take the 'high moral road to extend a helping hand to the people of Fiji at its time of natural disaster. Click here to print. Copyright © 2009 pacific. All rights reserved.
Opinion – By Thakur Ranjit Singh. 4 comments:
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pacific islands media association
pima.nius@gmail.com
aotearoa, new zealand
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