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Fiji's military regime has extended public emergency regulations, including media censorship, for a third month after the abrogation of the constitution in April.

A spokesperson for the interim regime, Neumi Leweni, says the Defence Ministry decided to prolong the regulations after an assessment of the security situation.

Under the rules, the media cannot publish or broadcast anything negative about the regime.

Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, introduced the emergency regulations after his regime abolished the constitution in response to a court ruling that his government was illegal.

Jesus take the Wheel - Fijian version

It is evident that dirty politics has entered the Methodist Church ending up in the agenda of the Annual Church Conference says the Fiji Military Forces.

And for this reason the Conference, scheduled for this August has been called off.

A statement issued by the Military says the current political situation in the country has been included as part of the agenda of the Conference and they will not allow politics to be discussed at any time.

The statement adds there are some members of the Methodist Church that have tried to bring instability to the country and in doing so, are trying to prevent the country from moving forward.

The statement says while they respect the Church law and order must be maintained.

Earlier last month government spokesperson Lt. Col. Neumi Leweni had threatened to call off the Conference.

This is after Methodist Church Minister Rev. Manasa Lasaro was taken in for questioning about distributing information, police claim could cause instability.

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The day after clinching their first IRB Sevens World Series title at Murrayfield, South Africa were pipped to the Edinburgh title by Fiji in another superb Cup final, 20-19.

Fiji's victory at the Edinburgh Sevens takes them above England into second place in the final World Series standings, but a full 30 points behind South Africa. Paul Treu's side finish the season with 132 points, ahead of Fiji (102), England (98), New Zealand (88), Argentina (68) and Kenya (64).

The finals in the lesser trophies produced three 'local' derbies of huge intensity, and ensured that the four competitions went to different continents. The USA beat arch-rivals to the Shield, England edged past six-man France to take the Bowl and New Zealand came from behind to beat Australia in the Plate.

In a breathless final Emosi Vucago put the Fijians ahead but Ryno Benjamin's converted score edged the Boks ahead 7-5. Pio Tuwai and Osea Kolinisau, though, put the islanders well ahead at the break, 15-7.

In the second half Vereniki Goneva looked to have put the game beyond doubt as Fiji dominated for large periods but Gio Aplon scored and then, at 20-12 down, Renfred Dazel broke free in midfield and raced away to score another. Vuyo Zangqa slotted the conversion to cut the deficit to one point but Fiji held on at the death.

South Africa needed sudden death extra time and Gio Aplon's breakaway try to beat a superb Scottish performance 26-21 and reach the final. Mzwandile Stick held his nerve to convert Ryno Benjamin's try to fight back and level at the death after the Scots built a lead through Sean Lamont's brace and Greig Laidlaw's score. Vuyo Zangqa and Renfred Dazel initially brought the new World Series champions back into the game.

Earlier the Springbok Seven came through a closely contested tussle with Australia 17-7 with tries from Kyle Brown, Frankie Horne and Zangqa.

Hosts Scotland had won a heart-stopper against Samoa to reach their second ever semi final. The islanders led 12-0 at the break after tries by Alafoti Fa'osiliva and Uale Mai but the Scots stormed back through John Houston's brace and Colin Gregor landed a tough conversion to win.

In the other side of the draw Fiji beat World Cup-winners Wales 28-14 to reach the final against the Boks. Waqa Kotobolavu scored the first try for Fiji and although James Merriman pulled it level Nasoni Roko sprinted clear for a 14-7 half time lead. Kolinisau and Borotu notched two more to put the result beyond doubt, before Tal Selley scored his 60th try for Wales to become his country's leading point-scorer, overtaking Emyr Lewis' long-standing record.

The Welsh had earlier produced a stunning display to beat Kenya 19-7. Rhys Jones scored twice and Tom Isaacs once, while Kenya had their chances but could only manage one try through Biko Adema.

Fiji turned around their 33-14 loss against New Zealand in London to beat the same opposition 26-19 in the fourth quarter final in one of the matches of the tournament. Pio Tuwai struck first for Fiji but Save Tokula pulled the game level and Tomasi Cama's conversion edged the kiwis ahead, only for the Fijians to mount a length of the field assault with captain Vereniki Goneva scoring for a 10-7 half time lead. Tuwai scored again straight after the break and then Nasoni Roko put on a skills masterclass to create a superb fourth for Seremaia Burotu for a 26-7 lead. Kurt Baker pulled one back for New Zealand and with a minute remaining Solomon King scored another but the kiwi comeback ran out of time.

New Zealand finished their season on a positive note under coach Gordon Tietjens by beating trans-Tasman rivals 34-12 to take the Plate, and eight points towards the World Series.

Twice the Aussies led in the first half through Willie Bishop and Dominic Shipperley but on both occasions the kiwis hit back through Willie Rickards and Tim Nanai-Williams to trail just 10-12 at the break. The second half was all about New Zealand, though, Nanai-Williams notching his second and third either side of fine tries for Julian Savea and Chad Tuoro.

A tired looking England edged past six-man France 26-15 to claim the Bowl and two points for the season.

Paul Dabrin raced away to put the French into an early lead and Uche Oduoza hit back, only for Michel Joffrey to put France back into the lead in a fine contest.

Marc Andreu was red-carded for head-butting Micky Young on the stroke of half time, giving England a one-man advantage for seven minutes, which they struggled to capitalise on. James Rodwell's try put them ahead, only for France captain Julien Patey to pull his side back ahead before giant wing Uche Oduoza scored again for Ben Ryan's side, and then set up Ollie Phillips to seal the win.

USA avenged their Sheild final defeat at the hands of Canada in London last weekend by beating their staunch North American rivals 12-10 to take the Edinburgh Shield.

Justin Mensah-Coker and Colin Brown scored for the Canadians, but Tai Enosa's converted try in additon to Marco Barnard's score proved the difference.

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The New Zealand Law Society says the Fiji government's raid on the Fiji Law Society's offices is a "very serious development".

Society president John Marshall said an independent legal profession and judiciary were vital elements in the rule of law.

Fiji government authorities raided the society's offices and removed files on Saturday night.

Society president Dorsami Naidu told Radio New Zealand the new chief registrar, Ana Rokomokoti, and men in plain clothes demanded entry to the society's Suva offices.

One staff member was threatened with arrest.

They then took confidential files relating to complaints against law society members, and the chief registrar told staff a decree had been issued effectively deregulating the society.

The decree removed independence for lawyers, Mr Naidu said.

The move follows the military regime's move to reappoint judges last Friday, six weeks after firing them all.

Those reinstated included two High Court justices who previously ruled that the military's 2006 coup was legal.

The society was told it would no longer be in charge of licensing lawyers and membership would no longer be compulsory.

All practising certificates would expire on June 30.

Mr Naidu said the government would be in charge of licensing from then on.

Auckland queen's counsel Peter Williams, who defended New Zealand businessman Ballu Kahn against the regime, said the raid showed the regime wanted complete control, which was "not unusual for dictatorships".

Mr Williams said the government "did not want the independence of a law".

"They don't want their activities to be reviewed, or to be in any way questioned," he said.

Fiji's interim attorney general Aiyaz Sayed-Khayum said reforms to the society would improve transparency.

Fiji's military ruler Commodore Frank Bainimarama ousted the government in a 2006 coup and installed himself as prime minister.

He has vowed to rewrite the constitution and electoral laws to remove what he called discrimination against the country's large ethnic Indian minority before holding elections.

Critics say he shows little sign of being willing to give up power.

Law societies in Fiji, Australia and New Zealand have urged lawyers in the three countries not to take up judicial postings to serve the regime.

England won a superb final in sudden-death extra time against New Zealand 31-26 to claim the Emirates Airline London Sevens at Twickenham.

The Cup title is England's first on home soil for five years and means that South Africa will have to wait another week before celebrating winning the IRB Sevens World Series.

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After England's fine win, their second this year, South Africa lead them by 20 points in the race for the overall title.

Playing without injured captain DJ Forbes, New Zealand were nonetheless quickly into their stride in the final and scored three unanswered tries through Julian Savea (2) and Kurt Baker, leaving England with it all to do, 19-0 down at the half.

Ben Ryan's side needed to score first after the break and did so through powerful wing Uche Oduoza. Gollings converted to make the score 19-7 and Micky Young's score brought it to 19-12.

England captitalised on a period of sustained pressure to pull level, James Rodwell breaking through the defence to score under the posts, but Zar Lawrence capped a superb personal performance to pull the kiwis ahead again, 26-19.

With the seconds counting down New Zealand seemed to have both hands on the Cup, but replacement wing Dan Norton streaked down the line and under the posts. Ben Gollings converted to pull England level again. The two points also took his own all-time Sevens tally to 2,000 points and, the match into sudden-death extra time.

With the 36,000 strong crowd on the edge of its seat, England pressed deep into kiwi territory and when the English forwards forced a scrum against the head half back Micky Young sprinted to the corner to clinch a famous victory.

Earlier, New Zealand beat South Africa 10-5 in the Cup semis to postpone any World Series celebrations for the Boks. Solomon King and Kurt Baker scored the kiwis' tries to Gio Aplon's effort.

England overcame auld enemy Scotland 26-12 to reach the final. Ollie Phillips and Tom Biggs put them 14-0 up but Colin Gregor and John Houston hit back with tries to make it 14-12 at half time. England responded to the home crowd after the break, Greg Barden crossing for their third try and Ben Gollings turning in a magical try-scoring performance to cap the win.

Fiji beat proud Portugal to Plate

Fiji beat France and then blitzed Portugal with a superb first half performance to claim the London Plate with a clinical 24-10 win.

Nasoni Roko, Emosi Vucago, Orisi Sareki and Waqa Kotobalavu all crossed for first half tries as the Fijians started in irresistible form to build a 24-0 lead. Portugal fought back well in the second half, and denied the Fijians another scoring opportunity, but could only manage two of their own by Sebastiao da Cunha and Goncalo Foro.

The Fijians were in superb form to beat rejuvenated France in their semi, Pio Tuwai and Orisi Sareki each grabbing a brace of tries in a 35-19 win. Portugal earlier recovered from the disappointment of losing against Scotland in the Cup quarters, Aderito Esteves, Goncalo Foro and Diogo Mateus scoring the tries in their 19-10 win against Australia.

Kenya win Bowl trophy

Kenya won the London Bowl after beating World Cup-winners Wales 12-7 in a tight final. The Kenyans built a 12-0 half time lead with tries by brothers Collins Injera and Humphrey Kayange, the captain, and had to defend in the second half as Will Harries' score brought the Welsh roaring back. Benjamin Ayimba's team takes two more points towards their World Series tally, while Injera stretches his season tally to 35.

Amazingly the Bowl semis also featured the same four teams that contested the two Cup semi finals at the Rugby World Cup Sevens just two months ago, Kenya beating Samoa and Wales beating Argentina.

Canada beat USA to Shield

Canada built on a 10-0 half time lead to beat USA 27-7 and claim the Shield. Justin Mensah-Coker and Neil Meechan both crossed for tries in the first half and Ian Shoults set them well on their way after the break. Bryn Keys then scored their fourth before Steve St Pierre registered for the USA. Meechan's second rounded off the scoring.

Earlier, two tries from Zach Pangelinan halped the USA to a 38-12 Shield semi final win against Georgia, and they now face staunch rivals Canada in the final. The Canadians used all of their fighting qualities to beat off the growing challenge of Germany 26-24, Ian Shoults crossing for two tries.

Emphatic pool play wins over Canada, Portugal and Argentina on Saturday set New Zealand up for a quarterfinal clash with Fiji at the London rugby sevens at Twickenham.

New Zealand dominated their pool, routing Portugal 43-7 and Argentina 38-0 after kicking off their London campaign with a superb six-try 40-0 victory against Canada.

Solomon King set them on their way in their opening match of pool play. Lote Raikabula and captain DJ Forbes also scored in the first half, while Tim Nanai-Williams, Julian Savea and Save Tokula added tries after the break.

That was followed with another impressive win, 43-7 against Portugal, with King and Savea both scoring twice. Save Tokula, Kurt Baker and Lote Raikabula also added one apiece.

In the final pool match, Zar Lawrence inspired New Zealand to a fine 38-0 win against Argentina to ensure that they topped their group.

Forbes said his team was looking to perform more consistently in the last two sevens world series tournaments in London and Edinburgh next week.

"We've come here pretty much with nothing to lose - we've had a bit of a sad season. We've got a good team - it's just a matter of having a consistent performance," Forbes said.

New Zealand currently lie fifth, but the eight-time champions could improve to second if they perform well in the last two tournaments of a year that has seen them hit hard by injuries and a loss of experience.

Forbes was happy with his team's dominant win over Argentina, and with the talent coming through.

"If you look at the pools, we had quite a tough pool and we had to put on some convincing wins," he said.

"We've got a lot of young prospects coming up and it's exciting times and I guess for us the key thing is to finish the season on a bit of a high."

In other Pool D action, Ben Souness' final try saw Portugal draw with Argentina 21-21 then grab second place in the pool on points difference for their second quarter-finals of the season.

South Africa remained on course for their first sevens rugby world series crown when they completed the pool stage unbeaten.

Entering the penultimate tournament with a 28-point lead on England, South Africa swept aside sevens World Cup champions Wales 29-5, drubbed Germany 70-0 and edged Australia 17-14 with a late try by Gio Aplon.

England also advanced unbeaten, downing defending London champions Samoa 31-14 in the last pool match to eliminate the Samoans and advance France, who have a better points difference.

Earlier, France led Samoa 26-19 until Reupena Levasa scored a second try in the last seconds for Lolo Lui to convert for a draw.

In other quarterfinals, South will meet France, Scotland tackle Portugal and England come up against Australia.

Nadroga pivot Jiuta Lutumailagi has big shoes to fill when he mends the playmaker's berth in the London 7s this weekend.

While the Nadroga man is a natural first five in the full code of the game where he has won trophies for the Stallions in the recent past, he is a newcomer to the Sevens World Series stage.

After three legs in the 2008/09 IRB World 7s Series, Fiji 7s coach Iliesa Tanivula is not satisfied with the playmakers role and has called on Lutumailagi to work his magic.

“The last best playmaker had was in Waisale Serevi, ever since then we’ve been looking for someone to play that role,” Tanivula said.

“I think that’s the only area we lack in terms of slotting each player in but I have seen Jiuta play – I believe he has the capabilities that will work.”

Fiji Rugby Union coaching director Ilivasi Tabua echoed Tanivula’s sentiments about the playmakers role.

“It has been a constant worry for us, the inclusion on Jiuta is hopes that we can get a skilled playmaker for this leg and what we hope a player we can groom for next season as well,” he said.

“London and Scotland 7s is where he proves himself. We have been looking at other players but Jiuta’s turn is now.”

Lutumailagi is eager to prove himself and stamp his mark in the 7s team.

“I only have two tournaments to prove myself and I am really looking forward. The test ahead is not easy but I trust in God and I know that he is going to give me strength when I play.”

He added the people of Fiji should stand behind the team and throw their full support behind them.

“The team is looking forward to a great outing but we can’t do this without our family and friends and Fiji behind us.”

The London 7s kicks off tomorrow night where Fiji meets USA first.

If previous results are anything to go by, Pool C featuring Fiji, Kenya, USA and Scotland looks by far the most competitive at this weekend's Emirates Airline London Sevens.

Given their glorious history in the sport, Fiji enjoy a glowing record against all three of their opponents but recent history has been less one-sided. The Pacific islanders' form was much improved in Hong Kong - where they took the title - and Adelaide, but their form overall this season has been fairly erratic.

Fiji v USA: Against the USA the islanders have won eight times out of 10 encounters, but the Americans won their last match, in Wellington in February.

Fiji v Scotland: The Fijians beat Scotland in Adelaide 33-7, but the Scots do know how it feels to overcome the islanders, having beaten them in Murrayfield last year.

Fiji v Kenya: While Fiji have won all 14 of their World Series matches against Kenya over the last 10 years, the Africans did beat them convincingly in this year's Rugby World Cup Sevens quarter finals.

Ranked sixth in the World Series so far this year, the Kenyans are the best bet to push the Fijians on day one, but they will be taking nothing for granted against the other two sides.

Kenya v Scotland: The African number two side won its last battle with Scotland in Hong Kong, but Scotland have also beaten the African side this season, in Wellington.

Kenya v USA: Kenya and the USA also have a tight history of encounters. Of their 11 matches, Kenya have won six, the USA four and they have drawn once. Amazingly, over that time Kenya have scored 139 points and the USA 138, making the average score between the two 13-13.

The Kenyans won their last match 19-12 in Hong Kong but the Americans need look back only a few months for inspiration, their victory against them to reach the San Diego Cup semi finals.

Scotland v USA: Scotland and USA have an equally close historical record, having each won three of their seven matches. The two sides have played each other in the last two tournaments, Scotland winning 19-17 in their Hong Kong pool and the USA gaining revenge a week later, beating them 24-21 to claim the Shield in Adelaide.

Of the four coaches, USA mastermind Al Caravelli has had to plug the most holes since the last two tournaments. Six of his starting seven for much of this season - Matt Hawkins, Rikus Pretorius, Shalom Suniula, Jone Naciqa, Kevin Swiryn and Justin Boyd - do not make this trip.

Having replaced Chris Wyles as captain just two tournaments ago, and with only eight Sevens tournaments under his belt, Swiryn has been snapped up by national 15-a-side coach Eddie O'Sullivan along with Boyd, their match-winner against Fiji in Wellington, leaving veteran James Gillenwater to captain the side.

"What this does is give these other young men an opportunity to rise to the occasion and their expectations are now much higher," said Caravelli.

"They're saying that these guys before them have got to four quarter finals and a semi, that's what we need to do, it's not acceptable to be happy with a Bowl or a Shield. They've set their goals and if they reach them I've very confident that they'll reach a Cup quarter final."

Pool C low-down

Fiji

IRB Sevens World Series 2008/09:
Dubai: Cup SF, lost v South A frica 7-10
George: Cup SF, lost v South Africa 7-21
Wellington: Plate SF, lost v Wales 12-14
San Diego: Cup QF, lost v England 10-12
Hong Kong: Cup Final, won v South Africa 26-24
Adelaide: Cup SF, lost v South Africa 10-21

Current Series Position:
3rd, 74 pts

London 2008:
Cup Final, lost v Samoa 14-19

Mercurial, brilliant but unpredictable this season, Fiji nevertheless lie third in the series overall and showed glimpses over the past two tournaments that the new young talent is there to reignite their challenge ongoing. A famous victory in Hong Kong will have bought coach Iliesa Tanivula priceless time back at home and here Emosi Vucago's inclusion is a major boost. Nasoni Roko's enduring qualities and try-scoring ability - he has scored 107 for his country - will again be on show, while in the forwards Pio Tuwai has been one of their outstanding players.

__________________________

Kenya

IRB Sevens World Series 2008/09:
Dubai: Plate Final, lost v Samoa 7-12
George: Bowl SF, lost v France 14-19
Wellington: Cup SF, lost v England 0-24
San Diego: Plate Final, lost v NZ 7-22
Hong Kong: Cup SF, lost v Fiji 7-24
Adelaide: Cup Final, lost v South Africa 7-26

Current Series Position:
6th, 58 pts

London 2008:
Shield Final, lost v Spain 7-10

In terms of star quality it's difficult to draw a line between the two brothers, outstanding forward and captain Humphrey Kayange and wing Collins Injera, who is now the top try scorer this season with 30. Came closer than ever to winning a first Cup title in Adelaide, losing to South Africa at the final hurdle. If the sun shines expect fireworks.

_____________________________

USA

IRB Sevens World Series 2008/09:
Dubai: Shield Final, won v Argentina 31-7
George: Plate SF, lost v Portugal 7-24
Wellington: Plate SF, lost v South Africa 0-22
San Diego: Cup SF, lost v Argentina 14-19
Hong Kong: Plate QF, lost 21-22 v Wales
Adelaide: Shield Final, won v Scotland 24-21

Current Series Position:
9th, 20 points

London 2008:
Did not compete

Of the new recruits it will be interesting to see how Tai Enosa adapts to the demands of Sevens. With team-mate Zach Test, the fly half was most recently in action for the Under 20s at the IRB Junior World Trophy in Kenya and has been touted as a future Eagles number 10. Of the rest, PJ Komongnan has come on enormously, Mike Palefau and Alex Ross offer pure speed and new captian James Gillenwater the class to knit things together.

_____________________________

Scotland

IRB Sevens World Series 2008/09:
Dubai: Shield SF, lost v USA 14-17
George: Shield Final, lost v Zimbabwe 0-26
Wellington: Shield Final, won v Niue 26-0
San Diego: Bowl SF, lost v France 12-17
Hong Kong: Plate QF, lost v Tonga 0-29
Adelaide: Shield Final, lost v USA 21-24

Current Series Position:
unranked, 0 points

Adelaide 2008:
Plate SF, lost v South Africa 12-19

The importance of Thom Evans' return to Stephen Gemmell's side cannot be overstated. Evans first broke onto the scene through the Sevens and his pace gives the Scots the kind of edge they have lacked all season. Hefin O'Hare is again involved, having impressed in his first two events, and Ally Hogg's inclusion as a 48-times-capped test veteran speaks volumes of the team's ambitions and willingness to finish the season on a high, especially with their home tournament coming up next weekend at Murrayfield.

Fijian authorities have detained three local lawyers who are accused of using internet blogs to campaign against the military government.

Because all local media outlets have been censored in Fiji, a group of anonymous bloggers have started to provide news and their personal opinion.

A pro-government website published the names of three high-profile lawyers they said were behind the blogs, prompting the government to detain them.

Grounded and indebted Fijian carrier Air Fiji is selling aircraft and other assets.

A statement on the carrier's website says it is selling a Britten-Norman Trislander.

An industry source, involved in marketing these type of aircraft, also tells ATI Air Fiji is selling two Britten-Norman Islanders.

Besides these, the carrier has Embraer EMB-110 and Harbin Y-12 aircraft.

Air Fiji is a domestic regional airline that closed in late April after experiencing financial difficulties.

A report in Fijian magazine Islands Business says the carrier owes the National Bank of Tuvulu F$700,000 ($324,000), the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority F$679,000. the Fiji Development Bank F$370,000, Fiji National Provident Fund F$350,000 and R Patel lawyers F$65,000.

The Tuvulu Government and China National Aero-Technology Import & Export (CATIC) are the airline's two major shareholders.

Air Fiji officials were unavailable for comment today and the company's main phone lines have been disconnected.

European nations have cancelled lucrative sugar subsidies for Fiji after the Pacific island's military government refused to hold post-coup elections this year and extended a crackdown on media and critics.

The European Commission said it had cancelled subsidies worth 24 million euros ($55.17 million) in the absence of any commitment to elections in 2009, as promised by military chief and interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.

"I encourage the government of Fiji to fulfil its commitments to the EU so that we are able to reinstate sugar reform payments in the future," European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel said in a statement on Monday.

Fiji's economy is largely reliant on sugar and tourism, and both have been battered by the hard line adopted by the government, with foreign tourists increasingly staying away.

Sugar is an important source of grassroots income and foreign exchange, with around 31% of the country's population reliant on the industry for their livelihoods.

High prices paid by the EC to counter the fall in the price of sugar sold to the EU amid industry reform has helped keep Fiji's industry competitive.

The Digicel Fiji Sevens team arrives in the UK today for participation in the London and Scotland sevens.

The only new inclusion to the team is Nadroga’s Jiuta Lutumailagi who us replacing injured Peni Rokodiva. Rokodiva has fractured his right hand and is ruled out for at least 6 weeks.

Fiji has been pooled with USA Scotland and Kenya in Pool C. Meanwhile, South Africa leads the points table with 104 points, second is England with 76 points and Fiji in third place with 74 points.

London 7s will be held on the 23rd and 24th of this month.

SUVA, Fiji — Fiji's military government warned the South Pacific country's Methodist Church not to call for a return of democracy, urging the powerful body on Saturday to refrain from destabilizing the country.

The warning, the first of its kind since military chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power at gunpoint in December 2006, came five days after the regime arrested Rev. Manasa Lasaro, a senior Methodist minister, and began investigations into a sermon he gave that called for peaceful protests to restore democracy.

"The proposal appears to be against the rule of law and against government," government spokesman Lt. Col. Leweni said, without elaborating.

The Methodist Church of Fiji, whose more than 200,000 members account for a quarter of the country's population, is strongly opposed to Bainimarama's regime. Its leaders have not been vocal amid the latest political turmoil, but they backed a nationalist coup in 2000 and could be a powerful force if they began to mobilize their members. Bainimarama quickly crushed that coup nine years ago.

Lasaro was released from custody on Saturday, police operations chief Waisea Tabakau told reporters, but he did not say whether police had imposed any restrictions on Lasaro's activities.

Leweni said the government was appealing to Methodists not to be "misled by the antics of a few people who are trying to cause instability" ahead of their August annual conference.

The regime would "not hesitate to defer the conference indefinitely if the security forces suspect any motive to cause instability," he warned in a statement. The church conference will need a government permit to go ahead.

Under Fiji's military rule, all protests and public meetings are banned, censors sit in newsrooms and only "positive" news can be published. Already more than a dozen journalists have been arrested and interrogated for breaching the rules and at least three foreign journalists expelled from the country.

The military regime has said democratic elections won't be held until September 2014 so it can change what it calls the "race-based" voting system and root out corruption.

A group of Fijian soldiers and policemen, found guilty of manslaughter following the 2006 coup, have been released from prison, two months after being sentenced.

The eight soldiers and one policeman were to spend fours years in prison after being implicated in the killing of teenager Sakiusa Rabaka, who was beaten to death in 2007.

The nine men were given a conditional release on the order of the minister and the commissioner of Prisons.

The President of Fiji's Law Society Dorsami Naidu says while his organisation supports the rehabilitation of prisoners, he doesn't think this release can be justified.

"One looks at the severity, and the nature of the offence, and sentence. I think in this case it is stretching it a bit thin," he said.

There's been no comment on the release from the interim government.

Concern about justice administration in Fiji

Australia's Foreign minister Stephen Smith says he's concerned about reports about the release from prison of the nine men.

Mr Smith says Australia's concerned about the administration of justice in Fiji.

"I'm not in a position to confirm the details of those reports that I have seen but we are very generally concerned about the administration of legal institutions and justice in Fiji," he said.

"Because the starting point of the abrogation of the constitution was Commodore Bainimarama refusing to accept the decision of the appeal court."

Radio Australia News

Amidst all the strife and turmoil it's good to see that the local kids in Tacirua can still have fun......

The Fijian military junta’s determination to defy the Australian government has exacerbated the dilemma confronting Canberra in the South Pacific. The rise of China as an alternative source of economic and political support is undermining the previous dominance of the US over the region and therefore Australia’s role as Washington’s proxy.

Developments in Fiji have triggered a broad discussion in the Australian foreign policy establishment over how to proceed.

In December 2006, Fiji’s Commodore Frank Bainimarama overthrew the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, while insisting that the coup was lawful and that the country’s constitution remained in place. Last month, three Australian judges on the Fijian Appeals Court ruled against the regime. Bainimarama responded by expelling the judges, shutting down the judiciary and overturning the constitution.

All this was carried out in the face of the Australian government’s opposition. Canberra had suspended non-humanitarian aid, imposed travel bans on military personnel and their families entering Australia, and threatened Fiji with expulsion from the Pacific Islands Forum unless elections were scheduled. None of these measures was driven by concern for the democratic rights of ordinary Fijians, but rather reflected the government’s fear that instability would spread and Beijing would increase its influence.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a government-funded think-tank, has now called on the Labor government of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to abandon its previous stance and come to a rapprochement with the Fijian junta. The reasons for this proposed shift were outlined in a policy analysis paper released on April 15 entitled, “Democracy postponed: Fiji and Australian policy choices”.

“Smart sanctions have pushed Fiji away from its traditional friends and suppliers to others, notably China,” the report stated. “And cutting our defence links has resulted in Fiji’s military replacing our training and other ties with China, India, and Malaysia... Expelling Fiji from the Forum would leave the body a much weakened regional organisation.”

ASPI called on the Rudd government to back Bainimarama’s so-called People’s Charter, which outlines a series of measures involving “free market” and pro-investor economic reforms, as well as changes to the electoral system aimed at preventing the return to power of the ethnic Fijian chauvinist layers that the Qarase government represented.

The report concluded: “We must be realistic about our ability to influence developments within Fiji: we learnt to live with a military dominated government in Indonesia for thirty years. Thailand, with its history of coups, is one of our closest regional partners. The road back to democracy will not be easy. The military in Fiji will remain highly influential even after it returns to barracks.”

Another think-tank, the Lowy Institute, in a report entitled, “Fiji: The Flailing State,” was not as explicit as ASPI in calling for the government to drop the pretence of concern for democracy, but stressed the importance of developing an effective response.

“Ongoing instability in Fiji has reputational consequences for Australia’s political leadership in the region. The United States and the European Union look to Australia to solve problems in the South Pacific... A failure to deal effectively with the serious domestic and regional effects of the crisis in Fiji, however complex the policy challenge it poses, will harm the Australian government’s regional standing”.

Concern has been growing in Washington over mounting instability in the South Pacific and Australia’s actions.

On April 22, Eni Faleomavae, a non-voting member of the US Congress, who represents the Pacific territory of American Samoa, sharply criticised Canberra’s stance on Fiji. Addressing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he declared: “For too often and for too long we’ve permitted Australia and New Zealand to take the lead even when Canberra and Auckland operate with such a heavy hand that they are counterproductive to our shared goals.”

Clinton’s brief reply was notable in that she chose not to defend the Australian and New Zealand governments. “I would welcome your advice about Fiji, because our coverage of what’s going on from Australia, New Zealand in particular, does paint a picture of turmoil and chaos,” she said.

One of the Lowy Institute’s main recommendations was that the Australian government press Beijing to cease its unilateral aid and assistance to Fiji. As a result of sanctions imposed after the 2006 coup, Australian aid for 2008-2009 is just $26.9 million, compared to the estimated $US161 million given to Fiji by China in 2007.

According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald on April 21: “Australian diplomats in both Canberra and Beijing are understood to have raised the situation in Fiji with Chinese officials in recent days [and] the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed it has raised concerns about Fiji with China”.

In an op-ed piece published in the Australian on April 23, the Lowy Institute’s Fergus Hanson and Jenny Hayward-Jones declared: “China wants rewards from Australia (such as approval for resources investments), which offers some room for compromise. For China’s policy in Fiji, these changes would have few costs and some important benefits.”

In other words, the Rudd government should use Australia’s supply of minerals and resources as a bargaining chip to ensure China does not continue to cut across Australia’s interests in the South Pacific. This extraordinary suggestion points to the seriousness of the strategic crisis confronting the Rudd government in Fiji.

Important economic interests are also at stake. The Lowy Institute noted that Australia is still the largest investor in Fiji, with an estimated $A2 billion of investment. The Institute raised the spectre of the junta seeking to “nationalise private investments, seize private land or deny foreign investors the right to repatriate profits”.

In New Zealand, the Pacific Business Council warned against expelling Fiji from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) because it is an export market worth $A395 million “which is being eyed by other countries”. Another concern in both New Zealand and Australia is that finalising the “PACER Plus” free trade deal will be impossible if Fiji is expelled from the PIF.

Despite the calls for a different approach, the Australian and New Zealand governments proceeded with suspending Fiji from the Forum on Saturday, the first step toward potential expulsion. Bainimarama responded by calling for talks, but reiterating that no elections would be held in Fiji before 2014.

The underlying tensions were highlighted by Bainimarama’s claim to Sky News that Australian defence chief, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, had in 2006 threatened Fiji with possible military intervention. “He woke me up early in the morning to tell me ‘don’t ever do anything that will pit my troops against yours’,” the Fijian leader said. While Houston denied the comment, three Australian warships were dispatched to waters near Fiji in the lead up to the coup.

On April 20, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key raised the possibility of military action against Fiji—not in 2006, but now. Key declared that he would contribute troops to such an operation if it were overseen by the UN as in East Timor in 1999. Within hours of making the statement, he attempted to backtrack, saying that he was merely speaking hypothetically and he did not think that any intervention was likely. Australia’s Foreign Minister Stephen Smith insisted: “We certainly don’t have in mind military action of any description.”

Despite these public denials, the military option is clearly being considered behind closed doors in Canberra and Wellington if sanctions and diplomatic pressure fail to force the Fijian regime to accede to Australian and New Zealand demands.

WSWS.org

Fijian carrier Air Fiji has stopped operating aircraft because it is in financial difficulty.

News reports in Fiji quote the carrier's chairman, Wu Shengyue, as saying Air Fiji stopped operating because it needs "to avoid the risk of violation of laws for carrying business for an insolvent company."

The news reports say Wu made the remarks in a letter to shareholders.

Air Fiji officials were unable to be reached when ATI called today because the airline's main telephone lines have been disconnected.

The airline also says on its website it is no longer taking bookings.

Air Fiji's owners are the Government of Tuvalu, a small island nation near Fiji, and China National Aero-Technology Import & Export (CATIC), a Chinese Government body responsible for marketing and selling Chinese-built aircraft overseas.

Some reports in Fiji say a delegation from Tuvalu is in Fiji today to look at whether to revive the airline.

Air Fiji is a domestic carrier that operates Embraer EMB-110 and Harbin Y-12 aircraft. Air Fiji is also a major shareholder in Tongan carrier Airlines Tonga.

Courtesy Flight Global

Fiji's military regime is extending emergency regulations, which include media censorship and a ban on political meetings, for another month, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said Monday. The extension of emergency powers announced on April 10 after the constitution was abolished and the Pacific island nation's judges were sacked was necessary because the media was "unprofessional and biased," he told Radio New Zealand in an interview from the capital, Suva.

The emergency regulations, due to expire Sunday, would now remain in place until June 10.

The decision followed the 16-member Pacific Islands Forum's suspension of Fiji's membership on Saturday for failing to name a date for a return to democracy and fresh elections this year.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key told reporters in Wellington that despite the suspension, the forum was likely to maintain its permanent secretariat in Suva.

"At this stage, it's likely that they'll stay, but that's always subject to change if circumstances warrant that," he said.

Key said it was unlikely that Fiji would expel the forum's civil servants because it was a large employer and forum Secretary General Tuiloma Neroni Slade had told him that "at this stage, it's still workable."

Military strongman Voreqe Bainimarama has governed Fiji since he ousted the elected government in a bloodless coup in December 2006.

He has said there would be no elections until September 2014 when changes to the electoral system giving the ethnic Indian minority equal voting rights with indigenous Fijians would be in place.

Fiji Law Society president Dorsami Naidu told Radio New Zealand that the regime was shutting down any dissent and there was no justification for the emergency regulations.

He described the situation in the country of about 840,000 people as unpredictable.

Earth Times

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Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia wants a team of prominent Maori to go to Fiji to try to sort out the troubled regime.

Under the self imposed leadership of Commodore Frank Bainimarama Fiji is becoming increasingly isolated and has now been suspended from the Pacific Island Forum.

But Turia told TVNZ's Q+A programme that New Zealand's harsh approach is wrong and isolation is not the answer.

"We've talked about this and we believe that there is a way forward and we should talking with Fiji rather than adopting the stance that we have," Turia says.

She believes the way forward is sending a high powered Maori delegation to Fiji.

"Dr Sharples is very keen to look at how we might be able to use New Zealand leadership and he thought of Tumu Te Heuheu, the king, that maybe a very small delegation could go and talk with Bainimarama," says Turia.

The regime has recently sacked judges, suspended the constitution, muzzled the media and refused to hold elections, prompting Foreign Minister Murray McCully to label Bainimarama a dictator. But Turia says he has been misunderstood.
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"He is saying he is attempting to combat racism and certain things that have been going on in Fiji for some time...we think we should find exactly what is happening there."

Turia says Sharples would potentially go with any delegation but it will be up to the Prime Minister to approve the trip.

But John Key told ONE News the delegation could only go in a private capacity.

"As long as they go in their capacity as leaders of the Maori Party and as New Zealanders but not representing the government," says Key.

"The government is going to continue to negotiate for democracy in Fiji through the Pacific Forum leaders and through the Commonwealth."

And Key says he would be surprised if a Maori negotiating team succeeded where others have failed.

TVNZ - One News

FIJI has been suspended from Pacific Islands Forum with immediate effect.

Forum chair and Niue Premier Toke Talagi said: "It is with considerable sorrow and disappointment that I confirm the suspension of the military regime in the Republic of the Fiji Islands from full participation in the Pacific Islands Forum, with immediate effect from May 2, 2009."

Acting Fiji Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the suspension was regrettable for a number of reasons.

At a press conference the media was told that the announcement was made via a press statement without any formal notification by the Forum.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the statement falsely referred to so-called breaches of basic human rights, democracy and freedom under a military regime.

"Such inaccuracies and holding on to dogma begs the question whether the Forum is holding on to particular ideas, ideas that are factually incorrect," the media was told at the press conference.

"They appear to be based on representations made by only a few with political agendas reflect the positions taken by the metropolitan powers in Wellington and Canberra."

He said the purported suspension of the Prime Minister, ministers and officials from all meetings and arrangements by the Forum and stopping Fiji from benefiting from any new financial and technical assistance is short sighted.

"What this in effect means is that Fiji and her people are being targeted.

"To claim that the suspension is only targeted to the officials and the ministers is a fallacy".

Mr Talagi said the decision was taken after interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama's failure to address constructively by May 1 the expectations of Forum leaders to return Fiji to democratic governance in an acceptable time-frame, in addition to responding to a range of other concerns.

However, Mr Talagi said the decision did not amount to the expulsion of Fiji, as a nation, from its membership of the Forum.

"That proposition has not been considered by leaders in their deliberations," he said.

"As such, the Pacific Islands Forum remains a 16-member body and the Republic of the Fiji Islands continues to be part of the Forum group of nations, albeit with participation of the current regime suspended until further notice.

"Nevertheless, we look forward with great hope to Fiji's earliest possible return to constitutional democracy, through free and fair elections, when we will be able to restore this country to its rightful place among our family of Pacific Islands Forum nations.

"The Forum, as always, stands ready to assist Fiji's return to democratic rule, concerned, in particular, by the increasingly negative and wide-ranging impacts of events over the past two-and-a-half-years on the people of Fiji," Mr Talagi said.

The Leaders' decision involves implementation of two specific targeted measures, taken in accordance with the 2000 Biketawa Declaration.

The first involves suspension of participation by the leader, ministers and officials of Fiji from all Forum meetings and events arranged by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, including the annual Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.

The second measure involves ensuring the government in Fiji does not benefit from Forum regional co-operation initiatives or any new financial or technical assistance, other than assistance toward the restoration of democracy.

Courtesy Fiji Times

4:00AM Friday May 01, 2009 - NZ Herald

Fiji will be automatically suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum at midnight tonight if it doesn't meet the conditions of the deadline set by the regional body, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said yesterday.

The forum set May 1 as the deadline for Fiji to announce an election timetable and name a date for elections this year.

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has said there won't be elections until 2014.

Mr McCully said he expected the forum's secretariat would announce the suspension.

SUVA, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Fiji on Wednesday moved to high alert against the swine flu virus, with the authorities admitting the Pacific island nation was not immune to the rapidly spreading global threat.

At a joint press conference in Suva on Wednesday, officials of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the national Disaster Management Committee (DISMAC) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) said divisional health officers had been stationed at ports of entries including the Nadi International Airport and border control sections at wharfs.

"We are not immune to this virus because of the trans-boundary movement of people and movement of other things," the Fijilive quoted DISMAC director Joeli Cawaki as saying.

"So we the taskforce have come today to put in place some measures for the country to be able to get an integrated whole-of-nation approach for us to prepare for the virus," Cawaki told the press conference.

The Health Ministry's national advisor communicable diseases, Eric Rafai, said the ministry's priority at this stage was to strengthen its disease surveillance.

He said if anyone falls sick within the seven days of returning from any of the affected countries, they need to contact our practitioners at major hospitals.

A Health Ministry steering committee has been set up and includes representatives from quarantine, immigration, customs, tourism and information.

"The steering committee will work on strengthening our border control, the way we are going to prepare and we are going to include ministries, departments and the private sectors into this to combat this virus," Cawaki said.

The National Pandemic Influenza Taskforce Committee also met in Suva on Wednesday and was briefed about the situation.

In a related development, tougher monitoring of all incoming flights into Fiji at the Nadi International Airport was implemented from Wednesday as the Immigration Department and Health officials tried to stop the threat of the swine flu entering the country.

All passengers are required to fill out forms and there will be questions like their last port of departure and their whereabouts in the last two to three months.

The Health Ministry has advised that travelers from other countries affected by the swine flu should visit a medical center if they are show any influenza symptoms which include coughing or sneezing.

Fijians have found a new way to keep up with political developments since the media clampdown by the military regime.

Some are turning to a growing number of internet blogs.

With regime censors preventing sensitive political stories from being published or broadcast, most media have responded by refusing to run any political news.

The vacuum created is now being filled by the blogs, many contributed to by journalists who have lost their conventional outlets.

Authorities are unable to restrict them in the same way as the traditional media.

Blogs played a part in the 2000 coup and again in late 2006, when Commodore Banimararma toppled the elected government.

ABC News

Former Fiji prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry is calling for an end to military rule in Fiji as the country faces further isolation.

Fiji has been given until Friday to return to democracy or face suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum and other penalties.

Mahendra Chaudhry is urging military leader Frank Bainimarama to return the country to democracy.

He told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat Program that further isolation will be harmful for Fiji's population and wants to work with Fiji's interim administration to end military rule in the country.

"Well I'm asking for the process, which was in place before the abrogation of the constitution to be resumed,"he said.

"We had political parties which were working with the interim administration to workout a roadmap back to democracy and the issues, which needed to be discussed and agreed upon have to be referred for mediation by a joint team from the United Nations and the Commonwealth Secretariat."

Courtesy Radio Australia News

CANBERRA: The U.N. has barred Fijian soldiers from future peacekeeping missions in the latest sanction against the South Pacific nation's military rulers for suppressing democracy, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Tuesday.
The U.N. decision was announced as Fiji authorities detained a nationalist political party leader and five others for distributing pamphlets.
Australia successfully lobbied the United Nations to ban future deployments of the well-trained and well-regarded troops as a means of denying Fiji's flagging economy precious income from lucrative U.N. paychecks, Rudd said.
The U.N. Information Center in Australia could not immediately confirm the policy change Tuesday.
"The revenue remittances to Fiji from Fijian forces working with U.N. operations around the world are important sources of revenue back into the military families, in particular within Fiji," Rudd told reporters.
"Through our own interventions with the United Nations and supported by New Zealand and other countries, the United Nations now is not going to engage future or new Fijian troops for new operations," he added.
Rudd condemned Fiji for suspending the national constitution and press freedom as well as for undermining the independence of the judiciary. The island nation has been ruled by military leader Frank Bainimarama since a 2006 coup.
The U.N. decision apparently would not affect current Fijian peacekeeping missions.
Fiji has up to 2,000 troops on U.N. peacekeeping duties in hotspots that include the Sinai, Iraq and the Sudan, with battalion-sized groups in both Iraq and the Sinai desert.
In Iraq, hundreds of Fiji soldiers provide security for U.N.
operations in the capital, Baghdad, as well as in Basra in the south and Irbil.
Foreign exchange earnings the troops send home to their families are worth millions of dollars a year to the Fiji economy.
The cash remittances rank with tourism and sugar exports as the nation's top three foreign exchange earners in a crashing economy that recently devalued its local dollar 20 percent and imposed strict controls on cash transfers offshore in a bid to slow its dwindling foreign exchange reserve levels.
Fijian authorities also said Tuesday they had detained a nationalist political leader and five other men for distributing political pamphlets that could cause instability.
Police Operations Director Waisea Tabakau said officers had arrested the general secretary of the nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party, Iliesa Duvuloco, and five others on Monday for allegedly violating the nation's emergency regulations by distributing propaganda.
Bainimarama launched his 2006 coup to oust what he called a nationalist government that he accused of imposing "racist" policies against Fiji's large ethnic Indian minority. Bainimarama himself is from the indigenous Fijian majority.
The Vanua Tako Lavo Party seeks control by indigenous Fijians, and it opposes political or economic power being wielded by ethnic Indian Fijians, who make up about 37 percent of the population.
Police did not release details of the pamphlets they accused the men of distributing.
The detentions were the first for alleged violation of the nation's public emergency regulations since they came into force April 10 when President Ratu Josefa Iloilo overthrew the constitution, sacked all judges and imposed a monthlong emergency.
Iloilo took the steps in response to an Appeal Court ruling that Bainimarama's 2006 coup was illegal.
Under the emergency regulations, a person can be detained for seven days without charges if he or she is deemed to be a threat to the community and the country.
The emergency regulations are due to expire in 12 days, unless the regime decides they should be extended.

Courtesy The Himalayan Times

Authorities in military-ruled Fiji detained a nationalist political leader and five other men for distributing political pamphlets they said Tuesday could cause instability.

Police Operations Director Waisea Tabakau said officers had arrested the general secretary of the nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party, Iliesa Duvuloco, and five other men Monday for allegedly violating the nation's emergency regulations by distributing propaganda.

Military ruler Frank Bainimarama took power in a 2006 coup to oust what he called a nationalist government that he accused of imposing "racist" policies against Fiji's large ethnic Indian minority.

The Vanua Tako Lavo Party seeks control of Fiji by and for indigenous Fijians, and opposes political or economic power being wielded by ethnic Indian Fijians, who make up about 37 per cent of the population.

Police did not release details of the pamphlets they accused the men of distributing.

The detentions were the first for alleged violation of the nation's public emergency regulations since they came into force April 10 when the volatile South Pacific nation's president overthrew the constitution, sacked all judges and imposed a monthlong emergency.

President Ratu Josefa Iloilo took the steps in response to an Appeal Court ruling that Bainimarama's 2006 coup was illegal.

Iloila later reaffirmed Bainimarama's rule and the government launched a crackdown, sacking uncooperative officials, imposing stiff controls on news outlets and throwing up police roadblocks to deter dissent.

"Anyone plotting against the government and planning to cause instability will be taken to task and we will decide soon on whether charges should be laid against the six men," Tabakau told reporters.

Under the emergency regulations, a person can be detained for seven days without charges if he or she is deemed to be a threat to the community and the country.

The emergency regulations are due to expire in 12 days, unless the regime decides they should be extended.

courtesy of www.stuff.co.nz/world and Manawatu Evening Standard

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