Wansolwara Online special report on Pacific crises

WANSOLWARA ONLINE SPECIAL REPORT ON PACIFIC CRISES

USP Pacific Journalism Online: http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/ USP Pasifik Nius: http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/nius/index.html USP Pasifik Nius stories on Scoop (NZ): http://www.scoop.co.nz/international.htm Have your say: http://www.TheGuestBook.com/vgbook/109497.gbook

Staff Reporters

Pacific Journalism Online

SUVA: In spite of being thrown out by the armed rebellion in the Fiji Islands, two senior deposed ministers - both former academics - are still adamant that the People's Coalition government was running the Pacific country well, reports Wansolwara Online.

In exclusive interviews with Dr Tupeni Baba, the ousted Deputy Prime Minister, and deposed National Planning Minister Dr Ganesh Chand, reporters Shital Ram and Nazreen Bibi give insights into the political careers of two former University of the South Pacific staff.

They tell of their concerns for the future of Fiji after their popularly elected Fiji Labour Party-led government was held hostage for 56 days at gunpoint.

Wansolwara Online, the Internet edition of USP's regional journalism training newspaper, also reports an exclusive account of the remarkable achievements of the coalition government in the year before it was deposed - achievements that were forgotten in the heat of the political crisis.

Reports on the plight of "internal refugees", fear and intimidation in the Dreketi area of Vanua Levu island and the aftermath of upheaval on Ovalau Island are also featured in the special report on the Fiji Crisis.

Alison Ofotalau reports on the "drift to federalism" in the Solomon Islands in the wake of the crisis there, and several reports tell the story of the impact of the troubles of Fiji and the Solomon Islands on regional tertiary education.

Wansolwara also reports on the controversy over USP's Professor Asesela Ravuvu to head the Constitutional Review Committee, widely condemned as a "facade" and as unnecessary in view of the safeguards in the abrogated 1997 constitution.

Editor Matelita Ragogo reports on the ongoing legal twists and turns of rebel leader George Speight and his henchmen and Rebecca Singh backgrounds the crime of treason in the Pacific.

The latest edition of Wansolwara - both stories and pictures - can now be read on Pacific Journalism Online at:

http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/docs/wansol.html

+++niuswire

This document is for educational and research use only. Recipients should seek permission from the copyright source before reprinting. PASIFIK NIUS service is provided by the niusedita via the Journalism Program, University of the South Pacific. Please acknowledge Pasifik Nius: niusedita@pactok.net.au http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/nius/index.html

© Scoop Media