Andrew's Nius Blog: MSG call on International Community to Understand

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The press today is an army with carefully organized weapons, the journalists its officers, the readers its soldiers. But, as in every army, the soldier obeys blindly, and the war aims and operating plans change without his knowledge. The reader neither knows nor is supposed to know the purposes for which he is used and the role he is to play. There is no more appalling caricature of freedom of thought. Formerly no one was allowed to think freely; now it is permitted, but no one is capable of it any more. Now people want to think only what they are supposed to want to think, and this they consider freedom.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

MSG call on International Community to Understand

Foreign Minister of Fiji, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola:Fiji now holds the chairmanship of the MSG.

By Andrew Fanasia Jr.

The outgoing Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Chairman, Vanuatu Prime Minister, Mr. Kilman Sato has called on the international community to understand the Melanesian way.

The call was made following the reconciliation ceremony between Vanuatu and Fiji Government and the MSG Special Summit in Honiara on Wednesday.

The ceremony was organised by the Solomon Islands government to break the impasse between Vanuatu and Fiji over the MSG chairmanship.

There was a small leaders summit held in which they officially endorsed the chiefs’ declaration that Fiji now holds the chairmanship of the MSG.

Mr. Sato stated that, the handing over of MSG Chairmanship to Fiji will cause criticism from the international community.

“But for us the people and Government of Vanuatu we believe in what we did today (Wednesday).”

“We believe in Fiji to take MSG into the next level for the good of the Melanesian people and the region,” Mr. Sato said when giving his final remarks during closing dinner hosted by the Government of Solomon Islands.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of Fiji, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola affirmed to the MSG members that Fiji will move MSG to the next level, “we are taking this chance very seriously.”

Mr. Kubuabola thanked the MSG members for accepting Fiji’s situation and their issues.

He also stressed that Fiji needs a change which they are working on it according to their timeline.

“We know the international community did not accept our road map for change but we believe they will understand our reform agendas,” Mr. Kubuabola said.

Mr. Kubuabola however said Fiji is encouraged by the reconciliation ceremony.

“This is a historic occasion, it should be a beacon of hope for the future, not only when dealing with MSG issues but for similar challenging issues in the wider Pacific Islands region,” Mr. Kubuabola said.