Fiji TV shut down by self censorship - Rugby relationships at work

Fiji TV have started broadcasting the following message 6.pm local time

There will be no late news tonight

The Army has refused to allow any reports on or statements by Laisenia Qarase or his ministers

Fiji TV newsservice will return only when it can be independent and uncensored,

AFP pic shows Commander Frank Bainimarama and Fiji's Vice-President Joni Madraiwiwi watching a military vs police rugby match on Thursday Night. Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi (born 1957) was sworn in as VP on 10 January 2005, following his nomination by President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo (who is 84 and has ill health) and his subsequent approval by the Great Council of Chiefs on 15 December 2004. He was appointed to complete the unexpired term of , Ratu Jope Seniloli, his immediate predecessor and supporter of George Speight, who had resigned in disgrace on 29 November 2004 in the wake of his convictions for treason concerning his role in the Fiji coup of 2000 (He is now in prison). Widely respected lawyer and Judge, son of a Doctor and descended maternally from the first Fijian female MP and earlier chiefs , he trained in Australia and automatically assumes presidency if the President is incapacitated or dies. Supported by the opposition Fiji Labour Party and helped to broker a fitful truce truce on16th Jan 2005 bwteen Bainimarama and Qarase. He evidently enjoys cordial relations with Commander Frank Bainimarama. - Rugby really does matter.

Fiji had a National team in the Dubai 7's this weekend they got through to the Final against New Zealand and lost narrowly 17-12 after stuffing France 46 - 7 in the Semi Final. Madraiwiwi was a Board member of Greenpeace in the Pacific and will not have been sorry to see the bombers of Rainbow Warrior so humiliated.

An outspoken man, strongly Christian he will play a major part in whatever results from the current brouhaha. For example he has publicly endorsed freedom to choose a homosexual lifestyle of which Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase said that so long as he remained in office, homosexuality would remain illegal.

Madraiwiwi has spoken of the need to build personal relationships on the basis of trust, across ethnic lines and as recently as November 24th said , "We must begin to trust each other if this country is to progress the way we want it to. But before that we have to lay the preparatory work to engender that trust by building relationships every day." He is also a great promoter of the Fijian national language even though English is the language used on schools - also a great critic of the lack of political leadership from the Chruches, especially the Methodists and Roman Catholics.