Issue No: 857; 16 June 2001

In a letter written to the USP on 31 May, the Office of the Prime Minister submitted comments from the regime which stated that University academics were critical of the regime. The letter followed public lectures by two economists, Dr. Mahendra Reddy and Dr. Umesh Chand on the Fijian economy. The academics argued that Fiji's economy did not have much chance of improving unless lawlessness, insecurity and good governance was brought back to the country.

The People's Coalition Government has condemned the attempt by the regime. The elected Minister for National Planning Dr. Ganesh Chand stated that the gag order was a "desperate move by a very desperate regime". Dr. Chand further stated:

"Since 1987, successive unpopular regimes have attempted to gag university academics. This is deplorable."

"This time around, it is the Office of the Prime Minister, and the person of Joji Kotobalavu who has written to the USP strongly attacking two academics for saying that the Fijian economy is headed towards doom if the present trend continues."

"That this conclusion is arrived at by all respected economists, including economists from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Asian Development Bank, as well as local economists like Savenaca Siwatibau, is a message which the Qarase regime wants to ignore."

"The economy, and indeed the nation, is in serious problems. And a major reason is bad governance. Rampant lawlessness, corruption, insecurity, discrimination, nepotism, and abuse of public funds by Qarase and members of his regime, is taking Fiji to levels lower than what even Rabuka had sunk the nation to."

"But instead of standing back and taking cues from people who are knowledgeable, the regime is trying to hit the bearers of this message."

"Academics are nothing but messengers. But what makes them different from other messengers is that they are supposed to base their message on concrete data and thorough analysis. This is the very reason why society must take heed of the analysis of academics, however unpalatable these may be."

"A society which does not take notice of academic analysis does so at its own peril. We have the experiences of the past 15 years to guide us on this."

"The Fiji Labour Party condemns in the strongest possible words the action of the Prime Minister's office to write to the USP condemning academics."

"If the regime does not agree with the findings of the academics, then it must take out its own analysis and table it before the people of Fiji. Let the people decide. Curbing academic freedom with threats is no answer to Fiji's problems."

"The Fiji Labour Party urges the University of the South Pacific to stand firm in its resolve to allow its academics the freedom, the absolute freedom, to carry out quality research and analysis. It also urges the academics to not to be intimidated by the authoritative regime. The academic community must pursue with vigour thorough research and analysis. It must ensure that it stands above the rhetoric and conducts and disseminates its research without fear or favour or partisanship."

"We accept that such research and analysis will not always please everyone. But the society can not, and must not be taken by this regime, to levels where we cease to tolerate divergent analysis and conclusions."