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John Liebhardt

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About John Liebhardt

59 posts · joined 2007-11-13

I am a freelance writer currently residing in the Pacific.

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May 16th, 2009

Blogger of the week: Mong Palatino

Meet Mong Palatino. To Global Voices readers, he is the Regional Editor for Southeast Asia and Oceania. In his native Philippines, however, he is known by his full name, Raymond Palatino, President of the Kabataan (Youth) Party and a new member of the House of Representatives in the Philippines. This fact ...

April 15th, 2009

Fiji: The calm after the storm?

Last week Fiji's President nullified the constitution, fired the entire judiciary and appointment himself head of state and the armed forces. He then re-appointed the military-backed government of Frank Bainimarama. Bloggers of all stripes are now sifting through the debris of a completely changed political landscape – one that will see the Bainimarama government remain in power until at least 2014.

April 13th, 2009

Fiji: ‘The Media has been Muzzled'

In relation to the press, Fiji's new government installed “information officers” at newspapers, television and radio stations to enforce regulations against publishing any story “negative in nature” regarding the extraordinary recent constitutional events. In a letter to media organizations, the government pointed out they should broadcast “news that is pro-Fiji.”

Fiji: President gives former PM new five-year mandate

One day after nullifying the constitution and appointing himself head of state, Fiji’s President swore in Commodore Voreqe Frank Bainimarama as the country’s Prime Minister. After being sworn in, Bainimarama re-appointed his former government, and he will now have executive authority with emergency power

April 11th, 2009

Fiji's President voids constitution, calls for elections in five years

Less than 24 hours after a Fiji court declared the country’s military backed government to be unconstitutional, Fiji’s president has voided the country’s constitution, made himself head of state and dismissed the country’s judiciary. The issue stems from a Thursday, April 9 court ruling stating the military leader Frank Bainimarama ...

April 9th, 2009

Fiji: Court rules military government illegal

Fiji’s bloggers are reacting to a recent court ruling that deems the country’s military-backed government illegally came to power in December 2006. The court asks Fiji’s President to appoint a caretaker government to rule in its place until elections can be held.