6 March 2013

NZ Govt must put pressure on Fiji over torture

The New Zealand Government needs to put pressure on Fiji to launch a truly independent inquiry regarding the torture of civilians by Fijian officials, the Green Party said today.

A video released online shows two Fijian men being repeatedly beaten with poles. Amnesty International considers this beating video is just one of several cases of abuse involving Fijian officials it is aware of.

”The New Zealand Government needs to take a stand for human rights across the Pacific and call on the Fijian Government to ensure an independent investigation is carried out in this case, said Green Party human rights spokesperson Jan Logie.

“If necessary this investigation needs international input to make certain the inquiry is truly independent.

“Our Government also has a duty to use its influence in international forums such as the United Nations and the South Pacific Forum to put pressure on Fiji to clean up its act.

“It is shameful that the United Nations is still using Fijian peacekeepers while human rights abuses are carried out by the Fijian military and Police in Fiji,” Ms Logie said.

“The Government should condemn the brutality seen in this video and make a strong and clear statement that torture is completely unacceptable.

“It is our duty as a good neighbour to ask for an explanation and assurances that everyone is safe,” said Ms Logie.

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Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

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Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

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