Monday, June 18, 2007
The NZ media embarrass me
I completely understand why Helen Clark (NZ Prime Minister), Winston Peters (NZ Foreign Minister) and the rest of the New Zealand government are trotting out the "We just can't comprehend the attitude and actions of the Interim Government of Fiji" lines... but why can't the New Zealand media ask the questions and write the editorials that deserve to be aired?
The almost universal profession of confusion and lack of comprehension of Fiji's actions in expelling New Zealand's High Commissioner and detaining and deporting a New Zealand journalist last week astounds me. I have not read or heard any reports from the New Zealand media that do anything other than echo the New Zealand government's view that it is bizarre and unwarranted.
To me the situation seems quite clear. Fiji had a coup, and understandably New Zealand (and other countries) reacted adversely to the illegal and unconstitutional usurping of power by the Fijian military. That's pretty easy to do from here in New Zealand. Fiji has a history of coups, so it's probably a little less unbelievable that a coup has occurred there than if it had happened here.
I think it's rather understandable - regardless of the legality of the coup, and regardless of New Zealand's (and other nations') lack of recognition of the interim government of Fiji's legitimacy - that the interim government of Fiji would attempt to ( a ) gain recognition and ( b ) work in some way towards a normalisation of relations with countries in the region, New Zealand included. To that end, Fiji's High Consul in Wellington has repeatedly attempted to engage the New Zealand government in discourse over various subjects, including but not restricted to, a normalisation of relations and a lifting of the visa ban and other sanctions imposed by the New Zealand government in the wake of the coup.
Also understandable is the New Zealand government's refusal to either acknowledge the legitimacy of the Fiji High Consul (given that he represents a regime New Zealand doesn't recognise) nor enter into such diplomatic discourse.
And it follows that it's hardly difficult to understand that this would frustrate the interim government of Fiji no end. And the New Zealand High Commissioner's refusal to budge on his government's position, and refusal to enter into discussions over normalisation of relations etc. is ( a ) understandable and ( b ) also clearly likely to frustrate the interim government of Fiji's leadership even more.
So the New Zealand media's bewilderment at the expulsion of Mr. Green, and total lack of reporting of the understandable (but not legally legitimate) position of the interim government of Fiji is an embarrassment if you ask me. OF COURSE they are going to attempt to engage the New Zealand government. OF COURSE the New Zealand government is going to refuse to engage. OF COURSE that is going to frustrate them... and it's hardly surprising in that situation that they have resorted to drastic action and expelled our High Commissioner. It's a desperate act, and I don't think it will help them. In diplomatic circles it is taken very seriously and will probably isolate the interim government of Fiji even further. OF COURSE the New Zealand government is going to dismiss it as ludicrous behaviour and completely unjustified and OF COURSE they are going to bang on about not having received an explanation... and OF COURSE the interim government of Fiji are not going to give one, as they are not required to under the Vienna Convention.
However the total lack of critical reporting - the lack of outlining of this very aspect of the issue is amazing to me. Why can't the New Zealand media do their job?
