Good Men (And Women) Doing Something

A Way Out

2011-06-09T02:16:00.000-07:00

Bula All,

A very wise lady forwarded me this, which after a good read (and it is quite lengthy) is worth looking at, in the Fiji context.

http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/48861531

It details how to set-up a non-violent resistance to dictatorships that can, and have actually brought down regimes.

We won't get help from others, we MUST do this ourselves.

For Fiji.

And the Slide continues......

2010-11-13T17:02:00.000-08:00

If you cannot see it by now (or swallow the crap the junta is peddling) the country is fast going down the drain. The State is selling off Government assets (no wonder, they need cash to keep operating!!!!).

So what will Fiji use to gain those much needed dollars when we recover? I say when, because I am an optimist, I believe in the justness of our course, and conversely, the inate wrongness of the regime's aim. I know that in the end, justice will prevail, but when is the million dollar question.

If you have any assets left in Fiji, get them out. FNPF etc etc.....before these goons get their hands on your hard earned belongings.

I feel for our nation!!!

The Way Back

2010-09-23T23:55:00.000-07:00

Bula All,

The last few years have been an exercise in frustration, futile hopes and dashed dreams. I write this while pondering the effects of the rumour that Bainimarama and Khaiyum had been arrested by the Army.

We need to do something now. Fiji is going down the drain. Overseas debtors are foreclosing on loans that our Sugar Industry has taken out. These loans are guaranteed by our Government. I know that a lot of you don't see this regime as a true representation of our society, but that debt, like all the others, and all the mess that we've had to field collectively, is something that we will have to sort out as a nation.

So what are we to do? I think the time for talk is over. We need to do something. Most people want us to go to elections. Why? If the Army is still there, what is the point of having elections? If they don't like the government we vote in, we'll have another coup.

We need to get rid of the Army.
This is something we have been talking about within our own circles over the last few years. We whisper this amongst trusted friends. I'm asking for anyone who thinks this should be done, to comment on this post, and say so. Please, your comments means a lot to others who, think that they are in the minority with their views, but are actually many in number.

We waited for our leaders to do something...............................they failed.
We waited for our neighbours to do something........................they failed.
We waited for civil society to do somrthing...............................they failed.
We waited for family and friends overseas to do something...they failed.

Where else will we look?

I say the time for looking is over, the time for doing is upon us. We must be the ones to do this, for if we fail, our children, and their children will curse us, for not being strong enough to do something for this nation we all love.

God Bless Fiji
Fijianblack

The Rhetoric Shift

2010-08-23T17:54:00.001-07:00

Bula all,

I haven't posted in this forum in a while, as I considered my job done (basically) as people who were "on fire" for the junta regime and the coup, and the illegal government that followed the events of 2006 have now deafened us with their...silence.

Reminds me of a phrase that I once heard in school "thunderous silence"........

What happened? If there was really corruption in the previous governments, how come it hasn't been exposed? Four years on, even with this farce they call a justice system, THEY STILL CANNOT CONVICT ANYONE!!!! now the farce is being turned on they initiators of this coup.... Teleni's on the out and Chaudry's under investigation. The only reservations I have about this is that they'll probably bungle the Chaudry case.

That is all smoke and mirrors however. What you need to think about now is, how come, after 4 years, with all the judges, decrees, guns, with their kolinivakata FICAC to gather evidence, with their prosecutor Ana Rokomokoti, with all they have, how come there is not one case that they can point to to justify the claims they made when they launched the coup? Lasulasu the lot of them.

They cannot do this, because there was never any corruption, well not on the scale they alleged. There never was any corruption on the scale the Military claimed, just the normal type of corruption that was with us pre-2006, and is still with us here in 2010. If they were interested in cleaning up anything, they should have started with the Regimental Fund, which would have shown the nation whether they could practice what they preached.

I pray that this farce will end soon.

God Bless Fiji,
FijianBlack

Who needs another Coup?

2009-07-12T22:21:00.000-07:00

Rumours abound of a bloodless coup within the RFMF. That Ului and Driti have somehow ganged up and taken over the military.

Now I am not sure whether this is true or not, but one thing I am certain of at this stage.

THIS IS WRONG!!!!!

Is this what we want? Another coup? It's like swapping one form of cancer for another. Why would anyone, in their right mind, want to have this?

Fiji deserves a government of the people. When you read that, read "ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE!!!". No more of this military crap. We have people who are best suited to the parade ground, whose experience includes polishing boots, rolling in the mud and who come from an institute where the bar is set at the soon-to-be-abolished 4th form exam, leading our country. And worse of all, we don't even have a say in any of this.

How would Driti/Ului be our saviour now? If they have any decency, they would have done what Jone Baledrokadroka and other principled officers did. They would not have tagged along for the ride, and once it looked like their bacon would be cooked, tried to steal the whole leg-of-ham for themselves.

What's to say that if the rumours are true, and they have taken over the RFMF, that this would not happen to them down the line? That someone else within that asylum that shames St. Giles, would covertly gather support amongst his fellow officers, and overthrow this duo some time in the future? We'd have a coup cycle on steriods, a very Pacific "Night of the Long Knives"....

We need to excise this madness. To remove this disease. Only then, we can heal, and live and love again, without the fear, divisions and segregation that has infected Fiji.

We need to have a government, and a country where we know that things will be worked out civilly, that every man and woman has equal opportunity to be heard, that my rights will not impinge on another, that we will make decisions collectively, for the common good. We deserve a nation where the minority is considered, where we see differences as variety, the spice of life and not as markers that denominate our enemies. We need to be able to look at every person, every citizen of these islands and see our future, our hope, not someone who is out to get you.

Keep spreading the word. No more RFMF in Fiji.

God Bless Fiji...... God help us, if we head down this road.
FijianBlack

The Way back from the Brink

2009-07-09T15:11:00.000-07:00

Ni sa bula.

It's been a patchy few years for me as a blogger. From the few of us who started out in the beginning, only an handful are still plugging away, with Intelligentsyia and Disc. Bubu being at the forefront of this group. I take my hat off to these people, as they have not stopped in their efforts.

However, the reason behind my rather "inadequate" postings has been a search for a way out. I hit the "wall" about 2 years back, when I started to realize that we, as a country are stuck in a rut. This is what I mean.

Imagine if we actually have democratic elections. 2014, I believe, was the date last given by the "roadmap", not that those of us with our wits still intact take that with any seriousness. Why?

Because we have valid reasons to seriously doubt the sincerity of Bainimarama's latest decision.
Because he has done this in the past and changed set dates as and when it suited him.

Now, I don't know about you, but this is a major inconvience for me. I mean, come on, I'm trying to get on with my life here, plan for the future of the family, the tokatoka/mataqali/yavusa etc etc and this guy, on a monumental matter of this nature, cannot make up his mind. How can any turaga, marama, bhaiya, bhaini, man or woman plan their lives around this?

This brings something to the fore, something that should be front and centre, but has been allowed to slip into the background, as we "ooh" and "aah" and throuw our collective oileis into the air whilst pouring over the latest news, the lack of cement, the circus at FHL, the dwindling Governmental assets, the laying off of staff etc etc. While all of these things are important, they are mere symptoms of the cause.

If said elections are held, what guarantee does anyone (let alone the poor sods elected into Government) have that this regime will allow them to govern as they see fit, with the real mandate of the people (versus the "mandate of one" that this regime uses as justification of it's actions)? How do we know that they won't take over government again using our "interests" as a thin, sham of a lie excuse for doing so? After all, since 2000, Bainimarama and the military has always been in the background, hovering, exerting a disproportional amount of influence over the government and the country as a whole.

I have thought long and hard about this, and while I'd prefer another way, I think there is no other.

This regime, and the military that backs it has to go. It must be removed, and destroyed. It is a cancer in the affairs of our nation, a tumor that sucks up the "blood" of this country, and does nothing for us in return. We see career civil servants being laid off unceremoniously, after years of experience, and investments made in the way of training, further education etc etc. Trade opportunities are being denied to us. Doors for aid, assistance, travel are being closed. We are payiing a price that is way too heavy for us to bear, collectively and individually.

We must dismantle the RFMF. While it will leave us with 3000-odd unemployed people, it is far better than having a nation of beggars. Do not be deceived, that is exactly where we are heading right now, and this regime is steering us there, with the ineptitude and collective idiocy.

We do not need a strong army to protect us. We need strong citizens, people who will stand up and defend this nation. And this is where we start.

If you read this post, tell your trusted ones that this is the way to go, the path to our salvation as a nation. We need to convince the people of Fiji that this regime must be toppled at all costs.

In the Gospel of Luke, the Christ said: "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish." This is exactly what we must do. You need to sit and consider the cost to you, if you decide to take this path.

What will you do if it comes to bloodshed? Are you willing to lay your life down? What if it costs you your job? You livelihood? Your family? Your current way of life? These are things you, and I must consider if we want to have this freedom that we all yearn for, that we all cry for.

Consider also, the cost of doing nothing. Look around you and see what it has brought us. Lower GDP, lower tourist numbers, more inflation, shortage of goods (milk, butter, cement etc) brain drain, restrictions of speech, movement, on opinions itself, a very bad future for our children.......

Some of you will favor limiting their influence. That is akin to taking one step away from the edge of the cliff we are about to jump off as a nation. If we are to do this, we must remove this cancer altogether, so that we can heal and live free from this evil. If not, they will come back to haunt us again in the future.

Now if you decide that doing something is the lesser of two evils, compared to doing nothing, you must help me convince our fellow citizens that we must do something, and that we must remove this regime, by force if required. Tell your friends that the army must go. It needs to be dismantled. Their weapons have to be destroyed. Their influence on our lives must be nulified. Convince them that we need to rise up against these tyrants, and stop them. We need to do this collectively, if we are to be effective, because this is a collective problem, and only collectively, we can suceed. If this is attempted by individuals, we will fail, we will fall, and our doom, that that of our children and their children will be on our heads.

Spread the word.....no more military in Fiji.

The Shove... and the lack of paisa.

2009-05-29T04:52:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

I write this as I read posts and media articles of the march in Sydney of people opposed to the illegal junta in Fiji.

The shove has begun.

There were hints of this happening, and rumours that it was going to come. The push has been going on for a long time...lets see....

Illegal removal of a democratically elected government
Illegal imprisonment, torture, and killing of Fiji civilians
Increasing cost of living
Devaluation of the Fiji dollar
Lack of funds in the public coffers

Whilst on that 5th point...has anyone noticed that the FNPF is now making things so much harder to the contributors (you, me and anyone who has that "8%" deducted from their pay) to access their money? When you call their helpline and ask, you get all this crap about how they are trying to help us save for our retirement.

Now, if you are withdrawing for education, the limit is $2000 per term/semester. If your fees are over $2000 ( for USP students, this is a very likely scenario), then you need to fork out the balance from your pocket, or forgo some units/subjects. You cannot withdraw for anoyone outside your immediate family. I'd bet my FNPF savings ( whatever is left there now) that this regime is bleeding it dry as we speak/type etc etc.... looks like we could have the makings of a financial collapse that would dwarf the NBF saga.

Also, while on this, anyone tried going through the list of FNPF members with unclaimed monies in the Fiji Times? I tried, and it was a chore...with all the names jumbled up, and even some like "Viliame"... I mean come on !!!! Viliame????? I think there would be a couple of hundred of them in the FNPF member listings... then it struck me.....

What if this was merely to lay the groundwork for the FNPF to seize this money for reuse elsewhere? If our money really safe? Will we have something waiting there for our retirement? If not......

In case you think this is one lone opinion, here are two articles from the Fiji Times (pre-censorship of course, when the news was the truth, and Fiji TV ran 1 hr 6pm news bulletins as opposed to the 20 min/40min split with Mr. Bean).

Coup Wolves circling FNPF - by one Wadan Narsey (kudos to you man)
29 Questions to the FNPF - Sophie Foster

I've also downloaded the pages and will post them online, when (not if) the censors (Ms Tora I believe..) at FT get them removed.

While on the subject of money going missing, the Unit Trust of Fiji has been sluggish in it's response to unit sales. People who try to cash out cannot get their checks the same day, and in some cases, are even told that they cannot take the whole amount at once. You try to take money out, especially if it's a big amount, it gets split into multiple checks, with excuses like "the signatories weren't available to sign the check" but hang on... didn't they just sign the previous one????

All in all, while you can, save wherever you can, preferably overseas. Also, don't invest (well, not in the UTOF or Fijian Holdings UT for that matter), and try your damndest to withdraw whatever you can from the FNPF, before the thieves get their mitts on your paisa. After all, you might as well use of saqamoli's before they do.

God bless Fiji
FijianBlack

Once Again Into The Breech....

2009-04-24T05:09:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula Tale,

Tale, after a long long hiatus from yours truly. I have been away from the local, anti-propaganda, free to express my opinions blogging scene that is thriving locally, aided in no small measure by the censorship manure that this abrogation-spawned excuse of a government has dumped on the media, and it's vital freedom to report unbiased, untainted news that is crucial to democracy.

To my ardent fans, I apologise for not writing for so long, but as I was explaining to a fellow blogger, I have been stumped as to what else to write, what else to do, to express my opposition to this regime, that is like the kelekele of the MV Iloilovatu that the vessel's namesake has so merrily (some say senilely) tied around our collective necks.

I will not digress into the state of affairs within Fiji, the freefall we are now in as a nation. That is more than amply covered by the plethora of blogs, old and not so new, that are now the band-aid solution to a people looking for uncensored news.

What I wish to address is what we can do about the situation that we face.

We must show this regime, Bainimarama, Teleni, Nailatikau, Ganilau and all the "40 thieves" that "open seseme" is no longer acceptable to us. We need to show each other that we oppose this coup. People need to see that they are not alone in their opposition to this regime, that there are more of us, than there are of them....

How?

Leave a black X to show that you oppose this coup. Anywhere public. The bigger, the better. It will show people that there are others out there that are opposed to the farce that is now taking place in Fiji. It is safe to do, will not take a long time to execute, and will also be hard to deny.

It is also ironic, that the last foot-in-mouth comment (See right) is what it is, and that was said by Bainimarama over a year ago....

God Bless Fiji,
Mawdsomething

Time To Make A Stand

2007-11-06T19:49:00.000-08:00

Ni Sa Bula,

Watching the events unfolding in Fiji, I'm sure that most of you are feeling (as I am) a sense of despair, of disbelief, of disgust at the things that are now happening in this nation of ours.

The question that is really staring us in the face is "What are we going to do about this?" Yes..you and I, because there is no one else who is going to do anything about it. People will critique, praise, slander this regime, but it seems that none of this is getting through. So in light of this, we need to do something, instead of sitting on our hands while Fiji sinks.

These are a few things that you can do....to vent your frustrations, to have your say. Maybe nobody will listen. Maybe, nobody will care. I doubt that however. I think there are a multitude of us, who are fed up to the gullet with the crap we have to endure under idiots who have no mandate, who are destroying this paradise we call home.

Post A Letter

Write a letter to the Government of the day telling them how you don't agree with what is going on. Sign your name if you feel brave...this is not a suggested course of action.

Email Your Disgust

Email Bainimarama at telling him about your disgust at his handling of the affairs of our nation, his presumption at knowing what is best for us, and how he has screwed everything up. Copy the email to the media/NGOs/embassies etc, as Bainimarama will definitely deny receiving any email from you. For convience, I have included a list of email addresses you might want to use.

Please use a HOTMAIL, GMAIL, Yahoo address. Do not use your real name, as this will leave you open to retaliation from the junta. It's very easy to hide from this regime, I have been doing so for months, and despite their much vaunted intelligence, collectively, I think their IQ is still in the double digit range. Trust me on this one, if you take the effort to remain anonymous, you can spam this regime until it collapses under the weight of our virtual pressure.

The following is a list of email addresses that you can cut and past before you send.
INFO@FIJI.GOV.FJ

and copy the email to the following email addresses (so that the fact that you spoke out against this regime cannot be denied)
timesnews@fijitimes.com.fj
delegation-fiji@ec.europa.eu
delegation-fiji@ec.europa.eu;
margaret.eastgate@undp.org;
richard.dictus@undp.org;
usembsuva@connect.com.fj;
peterf@forumsec.org.fj;
gregu@forumsec.org.fj;
nzhc@connect.com.fj;
pacificjournalist@gmail.com;
alave@fijitimes.com.fj;
aliti@fm96.com.fj;
Dubravka.Voloder@radionz.co.nz;
amotufaga@fijitimes.com.fj;
Ben.Lowings@bbc.co.uk;
brganilau@connect.com.fj;
brganilau@govnet.gov.fj;
cheerieannw@sun.com.fj;
timocivula@gmail.com;
Dennis.Rounds@dfat.gov.au;
selai.fa@dfat.gov.au;
XLaCanna@aap.com.au;
editor@ibi.com.fj;
editor@sun.com.fj;
ebaselala@ibi.com.fj;
emilym@fbcl.com.fj;
kavai@fijilive.com;
ltaga@ibi.com.fj;
mjfield@clear.net.nz;
news@fijitv.com.fj;
nrika@fijitv.com.fj;
pacnews@connect.com.fj;
Rory_Callinan@timeinc.com.au;
mawdsomething@gmail.com;
samisoni_p@yahoo.com;
vijaynarayan@fm96.com.fj;
Walter.Zweifel@radionz.co.nz;
angie.heffern@gmail.com;
Christine.Gounder@niufm.com;

Again PLEASE DO NOT USE AN EMAIL ADDRESS THAT CAN BE TRACKED TO YOU!!!! think carefully about this if you choose to do it.

Tell your friends

Tell your friends, family,colleagues that this coup is wrong. One thing I have noticed is that the supporters of this coup are very vocal. Those of us who oppose it must be as vocal, if not more. We need to stand up and voice our concerns, because this time is was Ballu, Rt. Inoke, Mua etc. The next time, it could be your father, mother, son, daughter, friend. Don't kid yourself that by keeping quiet, you will be safe, Rabaka was someone who was minding his own business until that fateful day.

Tell them that you do not support the coup, that you oppose any government that builds itself up illegally on the bodies of it's people. Tell them that you are one person who does not agree with the course Fiji is being dragged down and will not suffer this foolishness any more.

Do something or this evil will continue to prosper.

God Bless Fiji,
FijianBlack

Why Do You Oppose the Coup?

2007-10-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

I spent a good part of yesterday reading Dr. Bril Lal's piece that has Mahendra Chaudry, amongst others, up in arms. It made me think of a lot of things, and is the genesis for today's post.

I oppose the coup.

Why do I oppose the coup?

Looking back at the previous coups, the first 2 in 1987 occured when I was too young to understand the real implications of such a course. Also the fact that it was a new occurance in Fiji meant that most of the Taukei community then did not really understand the repercursions of this course of action. The fact that they supported the actions en-masse is a truthful, yet sad depiction of this.

The 2000 crisis occured when I had developed an appreciation for democracy and the rule of law, and had formed my individual opinions as to what I believed to be the best for Fiji. Looking back at that dark period in our history, I think I started to realise that coups were never the anser and should never be considered as a solution of any sort to the problems faced in one's country.

This belief really came to fruition last year. I believe that a coup is wrong. You can never justify it. In our 3 odd decades of existance as an independant nation, we have had too many disruptions to our progress. How can we afford this? How much have we lost, how much have we sacrificed, how much have we given up in this unfulfilling pursuit of power? We have had coups in the name of racial supremacy, coups that are said to be for economical power, coups that are rumoured to be for personal protection....yet none of these things do the country any good. What has any of the previous coups brought us collectively as a nation?

So why do you oppose the coup?

Is it because you are an SDL supporter?
Is it because you are a Nationalist?
Is it because you lost your job?
Is it because you have had a decrease in your income?
Is it because you hate the FLP?
Is it because you hate the Military?
Is it because you have lost loved ones?
Is it because you have had loved ones injured?

While all these, and many other reasons that have been omitted, are very valid reasons for opposing the coup, this coup, and any coup for that matter, should be opposed for the simple reason that it is morally, ethically, legally, socially, economically and politically wrong.

IT IS WRONG!!!

A coup is never the answer. It will alway produce an aggrieved party, it will never heal wounds and it will always perpetuate itself. It never produces what it promises, it never brings progress, it never solves problems, it can only supress, transfer and delay the issues that should be faced. It is like a thorn that is not removed fromt he foot, but covered over and left to fester another day. As such it must be resisted, it should never be condoned and if it takes place, it should never be supported. It reminds me of the old Chinese saying that says "When riding a tiger, it is difficult to get off". It is simply not worth the effort.

Most you you would now be wondering..."What difference does this make? Why is FijianBlack going on about this?"

The motive behind your reason is very important. If you oppose this coup because you are an SDL supporter, you will support any coup that favours the SDL. (Note : This could apply to any political party, I'm only using the SDL as an example) If you oppose this coup out of nationalistic sentiments, you will support coups that are nationalistic in nature, as the 1987 coup was, and to a lesser extent the 200 crisis. If you oppose the coup because you lost your job, then you would support a coup if it brought you better job security.

All these reasons, will make the person who believes in them, akin to a leaf, blown and tossed by the wind. Numerous examples of this sort of behaviour abound in our nation. We can all easily name 10 people whom we know to have been coup supporters/opposers at one time and have now changed their stance. Instead of right and wrong being defined in our hearts, it is then defined by what is happening around us. It then becomes a subjective measure, instead of the objective standard that right and wrong should be, a plumbline that everything must be measured against.

If you oppose the coups because they are wrong, then you will never sing a different song. You will always call it wrong, you will always say it is wrong, and you will always oppose it.

A coup demonstrates a lack of civility, a disregard for the governing laws of our nation, for the will of the people, it displays an unwillingness to accept that maybe, just maybe your point of view is not the commonly accepted one. It is no more that a bully that tries to force his views on others, and will not accept the fact that everyone is entitled to their own personal views and that these views, while possibly different from ours, must be respected, even if we disagree with them.

A coup is never right.

Why do you oppose this coup? If you oppose this coup for the only reason that is right, then there is hope for this nation. If you oppose this coup for any other reason, then we are doomed to repeat this mistake again.

God Bless Fiji,
FijianBlack AKA Mawdsomething

Coups are wrong...Always

2007-10-25T20:06:00.001-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

Today, I have chosen to repost a letter found in today's Fiji Times. It's a reply by Dr. Brij. Lal, who condemns the 2006 coup, and is now, ironically, accused by Mahendra Chaudry and others as being anti-Indian. Actually, to correct that perception, he is anti-coup, the same as yours truly.

A coup is the worst thing that can happen to a nation. It reminds me of the proverb saying " Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give." (Proverbs 25:14). That is exactly what a coup is...it promises much and delivers absolutly nothing. And for that reason, it must be resisted to the utmost, because it is, in reality, the political version of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow at a national scale.

Anyway, this is what the learned Doctor had to say.

**************************************************************************************

I REFER to letters by Mahendra Chaudhry and Mosmi Bhim (FT 24/10).

It appears that these two respondents are reacting to an item in this paper referring to an article by me on the immediate aftermath of the Fiji coup which was published in the journal Fijian Studies.

I would urge both these correspondents to read that 12,000 word article in its entirety and not judge me on the basis of a brief newspaper report, which I did not authorise and have not actually seen.

They will then see how completely they have misread my piece and attributed to me views I do not share, did not express.

There can be no excuse for their ignorance in this instance, especially when they are casting aspersions on the motives and integrity of another person.

I wish to reassure Ms Bhim that I do not seek nor need publicity. I have no political or any other ambition. Nor do I need a lecture from a novice on my understanding of, and sensitivity to, the feelings and aspirations of the Indo-Fijian community.

My published record speaks for itself.

I am called many things these days but being accused of aiding and abetting the victimisation of my own people is new, and, well, actually laughable.

Coming from an aspiring scholar of sorts, this kind of knee-jerk, sophomoric response is regrettable, but in the broader context of things, not altogether surprising.

Mr Chaudhry is, of course, entitled to his views, however self-serving and indignantly self-righteous they might be, but my full article cannot by any stretch of the imagination be construed to be a personal attack on him or on anyone else.

Indeed, only one section of the article is devoted to the appointment of the interim administration.

I said that Mr Chaudhry was the dominant Indo-Fijian leader in Fiji, and easily the most experienced politician in the interim administration.

His presence there, as then head of four ministries (Finance, Sugar, National Planning and Public Enterprises), led many nationalist Fijians to see the interim administration as his handmaiden.

That is all.

I have never said that the December 2006 coup was an "Indian coup".

On the contrary, in an article published in this paper several months ago, "Whose coup was it anyway", I argued to the contrary. These two responses demonstrate the tenor of political discourse in today's Fiji.

Just because Mr Chaudhry and Ms Bhim do not approve of something I have said, I have all of a sudden become "anti-Indian", full of malice and blind prejudice, vindictive, a mouthpiece of the Qarase regime, downright dishonest, an academic of impaired credibility.

The list of pejorative epithets is impressive.

They have set themselves as the guardians of Indian interest and anyone who dares to disagree with them must, by definition, be all these nasty things.

Oh well. In 1987 and again in 2000, I was viciously attacked for being anti-Fijian because of my staunch opposition to those two coups.

Now, I am being called anti-Indian for criticising the latest coup.

One can never win.

I began my coup paper by quoting the words of Mahatma Gandhi, and I stand by them: "However much I may sympathise with and admire worthy motives, I am an uncompromising opponent of violent methods even to serve the noblest of causes".

Brij v. Lal
Canberra

Racism Or Not? THat is the Question...

2007-10-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

The issue of Racism has reared it's ugly head. Well, this is one arguement that is being used against the SDL by Bainimarama and his followers...the accusation that the policies that were being put forward by the SDL were racist. Namely the Qoliqoli Bill and the Affirmative Action are the two "victims" in the sights of the FMF, a place they have lived ever since they were mooted.

Now let's look at what racism is. Racism is defined as " The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.." The claim put forward is that the Bill and the Affirmative Action program were racist. Now how is that? The area in question was given by individual landowners 125 years ago to the Crown, and when the Crown returned it at Independence, it was returned to the State, which was not the original owner of the area in question. As such shouldn't the landowners be entitled to receive what they had given? If the claim for land by indigineous owners is racist, then the Aborigines in Australia, the Maori in New Zealand, the Native Americans in North America, in fact every indigineous race is racist to claim land that belonds to them, and was taken by means that are often illegal, immoral and just plain wrong. As the State returned Native Land to the Native Land owners, why was there a distinction made to the Qoliqoli areas?

This claim is often made that Fijians are racist when they stand up for what is rightfully theirs. This quote from Wikipedia by an Ashneel Singh states" We believe that God has given three things for free: the land the wind and the sea. I don't think Qarase should have taken the land and just given it to the Fijians. What would be left for the Indian community?" If that was true (and it is patently not, as I will now prove) it would be against the beliefs of the Indian Community to own land. The question asked here is important, because it brings to the fore, the core issue that is why we have this problem in our country - the issue of land ownership.

Land ownership is at the root of one's security. When leases expire, there is a lot of problems because the tenants often feel attachments that often go beyond what the contracts they signed. This, however is the way leases go....you sign a contract and when it's term ends, the decision to extend is solely the owners. Whether the lease is for land, accomodation, cars or any other thing, by signing on the dotted line, both parties agree to be bound by the agreement, which also implies that there is an end date.

We can all agree that there are disparities between Fijians and Indians, with Indians in general, being better off. I say in general, because there are cases of Indians being in even poorer conditions than Fijians. While I am not an SDL apologist, I think this is why the Affirmative Action program was put into place. Having said that, I believe that that is not the answer. A handout is not what Fijians need......Fijians need to adopt the work ethics of our Indian brothers if they are to succeed in this new Fiji. As the Bible says " Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men."

However, there is one point that needs to be driven home.

THERE IS NO ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE FOR A COUP.!!!!!!!

The IG are using this as one of the excuses they carried out the coup...corruption being the other. None of these are valid reasons for taking out any Government, that has won elections fair and square. There has been no evidence of corruption on the previous Government's part. Sure there are rumours and slander floating about, but no hard evidence apart from information obtained.

This coup is surely about other issues. Using racism is just a red herring thrown at us to divert us from the real issues. If we swallow the bait, this problem will not dissappear from our nation...and that wil be a real tragedy.

God Bless Fiji
FijianBlack aka Mawdsomething

2007-10-23T18:48:00.000-07:00

I can dialogue with Qarase: Bainimarama
Wednesday October 24, 2007

Fiji's interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama says he can dialogue with ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, but only through the People's Charter.

The Charter is being developed by the interim Government as an instrument to engage the Fiji public in plotting a way forward for the country.

Bainimarama told fijilive.com that set ground rules need to be established before their meeting starts.

"We need to set some ground rules like we use to have in the Talanoa sessions (involving Qarase and Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry)," he said.

"We will have to get something in writing first".

Bainimarama said he has written to Qarase, but has yet to receive a reply.

Upon his return to Suva from his island home, eight months after his overthrow last December, Qarase said he was willing to engage in talks with Bainimarama to assist in taking the country back to democratic rule.

Fijilive

WHAT IS THIS CRAP?????

Now Bainimarama wants to tie this hope we have of finally moving forwarding to that joke of a Charter? It's obvious that he is not genuine in his desire to help the nation (and that comes as no surprise) he only wants to use this opportunity to legitimise this illegal charter. If that is the case, then I think we do not need the dialogue between the 2 leaders....it comes at too high a cost.

God Bless Fiji
FijianBlack aka Mawdsomething

Promises and Lies....

2007-10-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

As the title of this post probably aluded to, today's focus is on the promises that this regime has made, and the lies that have been told.

In Tonga, Bainimarama made committments to take us to elections by March 2009, and actually signed agreements that this would be done under the current 1997 Constitution. The day after, though, we have this man stating that he would be making changes to the Constitution, and he would be doing so before the elections.

Now why doesn't that surprise me?

This regime has made it a norm to renege on their promises. It has promised so many things that it has not delivered on. It said that there was corruption rampant in the previous governments. It stated that it would deliver the evidence, yet the lack of evidence, is deafening in it's unavailability.

WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE?

Now surely that is one tamani big lasu this regime has told the people of Fiji.

Another is the often hyped "Moving Forward" claim. Sometimes, you wonder, how the idiots who call themselves the Government can see the world around them. The evidence of the deteorating state of our economy is all around, yet this regime, and it's frantic supporters still claim wildly that things are going to be better. Sorry....things were better. I could criticise Qarase. I could say my piece without fear of retribution, or retaliation. Fear was a small child then, now it's a big hulking brute that bestrides this island paradise and holds many in its grip, riddling them with the inability to speak out. How can that be moving forward?

We have another lie, the one Mahendra told the farmers, that the EU money was forthcoming. Not according to this. Guess now the farmers that have formed the middleground of the FLP must feel kinda bad, considering that their "champion" has now morphed into something they just can't understand.....you really have to feel for them.

Then there was the promise, the no member of this regime would benefit from the coup. Guess that one is so far gone now, that to resurrect the lie in the minds of the people of Fiji would be akin to Jesus calling Lazarus forth from the tomb. Countless numbers of supporters of this regime have benefitted immensly from the coup, of which Teleni, Leweni, Aiyaz, Shaista, the Bainimarama clan and the Chaudry horde are the principle receipients.

No matter where you look, the coup has changed the political, economical and socialogical face of our nation.

Never has it seemed so dark.
Never has it seemed so hopeless.
Never has it seemed useless.

But it isn't.....not if you refuse to accept it. If you believe that we can overcome this, that we are better than this, that we can, and will rise above this, you will hope. Hope that Fiji will restored to her place, that her sons and daughters will again live in peace, that our children will not bear the burdens that we bear.

So let us pray for our nation. Let us speak for her. Let us tell all who watch us that we, the people of Fiji, have had enough of this crap, that we want, we deserve a better leader, a better government that what has been visited upon us. We need to stand together, united and sepak in one voice....and the good times will come. That, my brothers and sisters, is a promise that is no lie.

God Bless Fiji,
FijianBlack aka Mawdsomething

Measures of Success....

2007-10-16T20:14:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

The Tongan Forum has started. And with it, the pushing and shoving, wheeling and dealing, cut-&-thrust that is Pacific politics has begun.

Bainimarama according to this report, was welcomed like a rockstar. The same news article goes on to say that he believed that it was a sign of the Tongan people's understanding of what was happening in Fiji. Firstly, as they are not in Fiji, how can they understand what is happening here? How can he attribute this to their understanding of our situation, when they have not suffered job losses, pay cuts, the death and injuring of loved ones, the increase in the cost of living? How can they say that when the progress that we all worked for collectively, is not what they lost?

This other report states the opposite. It tells of how pro-democracy supporters in Tonga are resorting to guerilla tactics to get their message accross. The Tongan government, in response has extended the state of emergency that pervades the "Friendly Isles" to ensure that there are no embarrassing outbreaks of demonstration. Now doesn't that sound like our Junta? And isn't that line of reactive action similiar to the PER reactivation a few weeks ago?

The fact that the Fiji media are only focusing on the praise and applause that Bainimarama is getting is indicative of 2 things:

They are in cahoots with the FMF.
They are being lied to by the FMF and cannot see the lies for the bullshit.

Either way, it does not augur well for the future of journalism in Fiji.

Moving on..... the condemnation from the international community continues to come in thick and fast. Japan joined the list of growing international critics and along with the UN's Commissioner of Human Rights, has had not so flattering things to say about this regime. The funny part is, this regime attracts critism like a pile of droppings attracts flies. From the beginnings of this regimes illegal reign, there has been a persistant stream of opposition, that is slowly becoming a chorus. Too many things have gone wrong, too many mistakes have been made, too many idiotic decisions have been made, too many lies have been told by this regime. Too many times Bainimarama and others from Delainabua have led us to the brink of the abyss, all the while demeaning us by thinking that the majority of us believe the stupid lies they spread.

And that is the measure of their success. That is why most people in Fiji are opposed, or at best apathetic towards the way Fiji is right now. A detractor of mine commented that I did not know what was going on in Fiji, and as I was in the USA, I shouldn't spread my views on the mishaps being visited on our country. Well Viti Truth Seeker....that is your view. However, I must point out that I was in Fiji during and after the coup, and as a direct result of this regime's rise to power, I am now forced to work overseas, for the betterment of my family and I. I know it is hard, that sometimes we would wonder whether this will last, or if there are better times for our nation around the corner. There are....and we must not despair. We must believe, and hope and wait, for the day that our collective sun will rise again, and we will again be "The Way The World Should Be".

Until then, we must oppose this regime at every opportunity we have. We must make things as difficult for those who support it, as we can. We must make our views clear, and let our voices be heard, that we do not, will not, cannot, accept this as an inheritance for those who will come after us. We must remember that while Bainimarama might be popular to others in other countries, it is us, the people of Fiji that he, and those of his ilk have wronged, and it is also us who will measure his success.

And what will be the reward for us? We will be remembered, as the generation who stood up for the rest, who dragged our nation back into the light.

That, my friends, will be the measure of our success.

God Bless Fiji
FijianBlack aka Mawdsomething

Lies, Lies and More Lies....

2007-10-14T21:13:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

Today, I want to debunk a few myths and lies that the spin doctors working for this regime have spawned, in their efforts to divert attention of the international community from the real and pressing issues that now confront us as a nation.

Principle amongst these is the claim of "moving Fiji forward." By all measures, Fiji was moving forward before this coup, in fact before all other coups. Each coup has set Fiji backwards, and this one is no different. Every time we have a coup, our standing, our reputation with the international community heads south. Deep south. The idea therefore of using a coup to move the country forward via a coup is absurd, to say the least. How can a course of action that leads to economic, financial, social and political hardship be moving us forward? How can killing innocent civilians be justified with this? How can toppling a democratically elected government move us forward?

All these coups have achieved is they have stunted our growth as a nation. It's a testiment to our resilience as a country that we still grew in this period - no thanks to the coup executers. Imagine where we would be now if there had never been coups? I'm sure those of you who are economically and statistically inclined can easily prove this from the GDP growth figures and the like that our Bureau of Stats produces faithfully each year.

Now Bainimarama claimed that "our doors are open and we have nothing to hide". Really?????? How about the murderers who are still at large and hiding as soldiers? How about the tax evaders masquerading as ministers in your Government? How about the rampant Human Rights violations condoned and carried out against those who speak out in opposition against this coup? A little bird told me that the FMF still search for me....and that the search for the "bloggers" has not died down at all. How about the fact that our taxes are now being used to fund trips overseas for unelected regime members, for rental cars used by this regime? How about the fact that there has not been a shred of evidence produced by this regime to justify it's actions? oh I forgot, they didn't hide that..BECAUSE HIDING IT WOULD IMPLY THAT THEY HAVE THE EVIDENCE WHICH THEY DON'T!!!!!!

Another claim Bainimarama made is that "we are on our way to improving governance and creating a more progressive nation". I thought the fact that the 2006 elections produced the first truly multiparty cabinet was a sign of a country making progress. I thought the fact that the number of seats awarded in said parliment reflected the wishes of the people was testimony to the progress we were making as a nation. Improving Governance???? How???? By appointing idiots like Teleni, Leweni, Aiyaz and Shaista to positions they have no experience, intelligence or plain old common sense for? By running the nation as an extension of a petty group of soldiers whose knowledge base doesn't go far beyond marching, watching and guarding? By listening to people like Raturala for advise on the media, Kurusiga for advise on the GCC, Aiyaz for advise on legal issues, Shaista for advise on human rights issues, Nailatikau for Foreign affiars????? How good is the country going to be, surely if you use these mentally challenged people to decide the fates of our people? What have they done to merit ( THE WORD IS MERIT!!!) their positions? What have you done Bainimarama, to prove that you have the nous, the capability to lead this nation? Your leadership is bringing us progress...in the wrong direction.

Now Japan has joined a lot of other nations in condemning this regime. USA, Australia, New Zealand, the EU, and Canada have all condemned this regime. The G8 have said " Bainimarama, your regime sucks..." and this is coming from people who know the real deal, and it is surely not this "Government".

We are not moving forward. Moving forward does not mean pay cuts, job losses, death, injury, aid suspension, assistance withdrawl. It means better living conditions for us, for all. Now investers who had their eye on Fiji are now spending their money elsewhere, and we are losing out to our neighbours, as they international community see us as a volatile nation, one in which it is not safe to invest. Moving forward means elections, an inclusive government, where the policies and legislations implemented are reflective of the will of the people, and not as we have now, where the will of the people is being subjugated to the will of the idiots... I mean the few.

Seriously, why can't we have elections? Why? No Money? I'm sure the international community will fall over themselves to donate expertise, money and resources to fund any election. No candidates? Possibly..with this regime threatening previous candidates who would like to stand in any upcoming elections if there are any. Any why shouldn't they? Isn't the decision as to who forms the next Government ours? Who gave this regime the right to decide that? The guns? How pathetic!!! What kind of moving forward is that?

To move forward, this is what we need to do.

Have elections.
Get a Democratically elected government in place
Dismantle the Army. It's an institute that got FJ$80 million in last year's budget (given by the SDL no less!!) and they brought all this crap down upon us. To really get rid of the coup culture, get rid of it's incubator in Delainabua.
Prosecute all coup executers, and put them away for a long, long time. Why should George Speight be the only one to pay his dues to society? Rabuka and Bainimarama should also join him. Or are there a different set of rules for soldiers who break the law?

To the liars in the FMF Media Cell, please stop peddling all this rubbish. It's makes you look really stupid. The people of Fiji are far more intelligent than you give them credit for,

God Bless Fiji,
FijianBlack aka Mawdsomething.

Rubbing Salt Into The Wound

2007-10-09T14:53:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

The events unfolding over the last few days have been very interesting.

Firstly, we have the rejection of the visa application made by one Voreqe Bainimarama to enter Italy. Now I wasn't sure whether this meant that ole Frankie is now in the outhouse as far as the Europeans are concerned....then came the news last night that the Sugar subsidies that Chaudry and Co were promising to the cane belt people in the West and the North would not be given until next year, and even that conditional to evidence that real and measurable progress had been made towards returning Fiji to democracy. For good measure, they have also made the prevention of any intimidating utterances by the security forces another condition. See...even the international community see the crap this junta has been spewing. Mahendra, being as idiotic as only he can be, came on the 6pm news to say that now that the PER has been lifted, the money should be coming through soon. Yeah right!!!! and pigs fly!!! How moronic is that??? and this is the type of person who now controls the Government coffers!!! The only consolation I have is that he is not there by the will of the people. How do you like them apples????

Now our neighbours Australia, have, revised their security assessment of our country, and have warned it's citizens intent on visiting our shores of the possibility of "sporadic outbreaks of violence" in and around Suva. The Military, taking their cue from Mr (No) Money Man Mahen, are now clamouring (led by a certain Officer whose shoe size can be seen by the width and depth of his mouth) that the Australian reaction is due to their defeat in the RWC 2007 quater finals. What a bunch of idiots!!!! It's not due to that...it's due to the fact that they perceive Fiji to be unstable and are warning their citizens accordingly!!! That is the duty of any responsible government....oh my mistake...you are neither responsible or a government!!!

Then we have this gem from the newly (sic) appointed Commissioner of Police who in a fit of lunacy, wrote to the Attorney General demanding the removal of Justice Winters and Jitoko from the trial of one Francis Kean....for those of you who haven't been following the plot, this Francis Kean is the brother-in-law of the gentleman whose Italian Visa Application was rejected. His excuse? The fact that the two gentlemen, as non-supporters of the coup, would be biased against Kean. How absurd is that? These are judges with years of experience, professionals who do their job well, and know that whatever decisions they make must stand up to the scrutiny they will inevitably invite. The punch line in all this is that the legal counsel for the accused, presented said letter to the court ....wait for it.....AS EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THEIR SUBMISSION THAT THE JUDGES REMOVE THEMSELVES!!!! ha ha ha ha ha

As if that wasn't enough....Mr. Chaudry again appears on the news telling all and sundry that there will be a tax amnesty for all defaulting taxpayers for a month. Surely, you're not thinking of taking advantage of that month now are you, Mahen?

let me gather my thoughts.....

So we have a "government" whose leader is persona non grata in quite a few countries (Italy, USA, New Zealand, Australia immediately spring to mind), a Money Man who has no money, a Commissioner of Police who is trying to pervert justice, an Army ,who, instead of defending the country is attacking it...sounds like a very bad joke doesn't it?

The sad thing is it's not. It's happening...and it's happening right here in Fiji!!! Here in the island paradise we call home, in the country we all live in and love and hope will again one day be the sort of place we would be proud to bequeath upon our children. We cannot continue like this, we need to stand up and do something.

Will you do something about it?

God Bless Fiji,
FijianBlack AKA Mawdsomething

How The Truth Can Never Be Hidden

2007-10-03T23:22:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

The events unfolding over the last few days are another confirmation of the inescapible fact of life - THE TRUTH CAN NEVER BE HIDDEN.

Our boys played out of their skins over the weekend, and together with the Pumas of Argentina, are the big movers in the hierachy of rugby. Their performance brought home a truth that was long buried under layers of doubt, and lack of self belief, the fact that if we put our mind to it, we can be world beaters at this game. Now with the belief within the team and the country, no wonder the 1/4s this weekend is surely one of the most anticipated games Fiji has to play in for a long time.

On the flip side of things, the rejection of Bainimarama's visa by the Italian Govenment surely underlines the fact that he is considered an "undesirable" by that country. As a key member of the EU, and also a party to the Schengen Agreement, this means that other signatories to this agreement would also stop Frankie at their borders. Guess that means watching the World Cup live is a non-option as well, since France is a founding signatory to this.

Another truth that was being buried was the fact that the Constitition of this "little pile of mud" was still in force. That said, it made the coup, the removal of Qarase's government, any changes made by decree to the laws of our nation effectively illegal.....all together now "I TOLD YOU SO!!!" This has come out in the Qarase lawsuit and will be a test case to the legal integrity of this regime. Kinda reduces the junta to the level of petty criminals and thieves. Guess the "great legal minds" in their fold must be practically frothing at the mouth over this development....put a report out on that one Shaista!!!!

Yet another truth that has yet to see the light of day are the identities of the murderers of Verebasaga and Rabaka. While we may never know, there is One who knows, One who sees, One who judges and in the end it will all be revealed.

Now the thing about the truth is that you cannot stop it. You cannot hide it. You cannot defeat it. As Winston Churchill once said “The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is.”

Rest assured in the truth that God does not pay at the end of every day.......
BUT IN THE END, HE PAYS!!!!

God Bless Fiji
Mawdsomething AKA Fijianblack

The Importance of Having the Correct Mindset

2007-09-29T23:46:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

By now, most of you must be wondering where I've been. Lets just say (for the sake of those snoops from Delainabua who come in here from time to time) that I am somewhere that makes getting online kinda difficult.

However, that has not deterred me from watching Fiji's games on TV!!!! and what a match they played this morning!!! That was one heck of a game, and even better...one HECK OF A RESULT. Of course, if you were a Welshman, you'd disagree with me. But hey...that victory put me is such a good mood that I'm inclinded to let it slide...

It brought home a truth though. The importance of having the correct mindset.

We see it all the time with our champion 7s teams that rule the worldwide scene. Teams actually respect them, they try to avoid them when they can, and when they can't...well we all know and love that situation!!!! I saw it this morning, when a group of valiant young men, halfway across the world, far from home, decided to believe in themselves and actually shook the world.

We saw it when Tonga took the fight to the Springboks. We saw it when Samoa played England. It's the stuff that inspires, the souls of legends. It's what makes people believe, achieve and strive to be better than they are.

And Fiji can be like that. We are better than this piddling, insignificant regime makes us out to be. We don't deserve the crap this junta brings down on us, just like our boys didn't deserve this sort of crap that the Welsh media served them. Guess that's one editor that has his foot in his mouth right about now.

That is what we need to do. We need to have the correct mindset, we need to play with our hearts, with our pride. We need to live in such a way that this regime will end up eating their "jungle boots". We owe this to our children, and their children, and their children's children. Above all, we need to do this together. Individually it cannot be done. Collectively, we cannot be stopped. We need to ,in the words of a cetain Tongan forward, "pring out A-Game to da Springpoks!!!"

Nicky Little summed it up when he succicently said "It just depends whether we are sleeping under the coconut tree or rowing the boat." The question is, are you willing to row this boat? If so...break out your oars and pull.

Congratulations to the boys..and all the best in the 1/4s. I think you will go all the way and take the cup, and this is why. It's a prophecy that's been around for a while now.

God Bless Fiji,
Mawdsomething AKA FijianBlack

Deserving the Best

2007-08-05T03:06:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

After watching this evening's Close up , where the regime's Education (sic) Minister was pitted against the President of the Fijian Teachers Association, one of the striking unions, the idea of this post was born.

The Interim Minister, kept on rattling on about his "contingency plan" except when he detoured to rant about how he was an ex-officer (yeah..like that is something to be boast about) and how he always did thing to ensure success. Mr. Koroi ( the FTA President) was, however, calm, collected and evidently more intelligent, a fact borne out by the intellectual answers that he had for questions put to him by the show's host, and the regimes "head teacher".

The interesting point of all this (at least for me) was when Mr. Koroi was "accused" by the Interim Minister of "sabotaging the nation's education system". Now, the answer Mr. Koroi gave was the reason this post is here.

Mr. Koroi stated that his actions are not unequivocal, that he is carrying out the mandate of his members, a mandate that (if memory serves correctly) 79% of his members gave him by secret ballot. This makes him answerable to his members, who have the luxury (yes..in Fiji it is now a luxury) of voting him out if they don't agree with his modus operandi.

Now you have a twit, who along with the other twits in power now, are, to my immense chagrin, running the show. WHO ARE THEY RESPONSIBLE TO? WHO ARE THEY ANSWERABLE TO? If one was to believe Taniela Tabu, and it doesn't require a stretch of the imagination to do so, this government is answerable to the shadowy "Military Council" that is purportedly running this country.

Now, folks.....is this the best Fiji has to offer? Is this the best we can get, to manage the affairs of this nation? Are these people the smartest, the ablest, the wisest we have?

Not by a long shot.

How does being an officer qualify one to become a diplomat? A Commissioner of Police? A Prime Minister? Why should we suffer this outrage....of having substandard personnel running the affairs of this nation?

The difference between Mr. Koroi and Mr. Sukanaivalu brought home a real truth to me...that despite all it's faults, under a democratic system, the cream really does rise to the top. Granted people sometimes get it wrong, but not always, and seldom more than one. The current regime is an glaring example of this. We see their ineptitude in dealing with the strikes, with the sliding economy, with the dwindling tourist numbers, with the flailing sugar industry...the list just goes on and on.....

The real insult in this is that someone, somewhere, had the gall to think that they know what is best for us. The people best suited to choose who our leaders are, are we, the voters of this nation. We know what's best for us...and we know what we deserve. We do not need failed politicians, wannabee ministers, and in-it-for-the-money con artists telling us what we need.

Somebody once said " You can fool all the people some of the time, and you can fool some people all of the time, but you can't fool all the people all of the time!"

The time for being fools is over. This time, we need a better government. We deserve a better government. We deserve a government where our choices is reflected in the composition of our MPs. We deserve a chance to really shine. We can. And we will.........it's just a matter of when.

The FTA leadership is doing what it is supposed to do. It is standing up, and fighting for it's members, and protecting their interetst.

This government was not elected by any of us. Whose interests are they protecting?

God Bless Fiji,
Mawdsomething AKA Fijianblack

How Low Can You Go?

2007-07-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

No..I'm not talking about that congo line..although I wish I was. Seriously!!!

I'm talking about the way this nation we all loave and live in is sinking into the depths of economic, civil and moral depravity. We are now seeing things that were unimaginable, foreign to us just a few short months ago. What a short period of time!!!!

Firstly, we have to put up with crap like this stinker from Jo Koroi, who has put the interests of her party before the welfare of her granddaughter. Shame on you! This is her take on the economy: "...exports were increasing and imports decreasing. Bank interest rates were falling and the sugar industry was on the rebound." How do you like them apples? Especially when the Interim PM is saying that the deteriorating economy is the reason why his government (yes his!!! because it is definitely nobody else's !!!) is the reason why they cannot meet the demands of the nurses. Talk about contradiction!!! CONTRADICTION!!!! The height of hypocrasy, I say.

Then there's the suspension of people like Inoke Devo and Misieli Naivalu. In case any of you forgot, Misieli Naivalu was the same person who put the funeral of his wife on hold to finish conducting the 2006 elections in the North. That is sacrifice, country before self. How someone of that calibre can be accused of being corrupt is beyond me. Imagine the sacrifice this man made, on behalf of the nation? I've said it once, and I'll say it again...the FLP is full of people who are all soured up because they couldn't win the last 2 elections fair and square.

Mr. Langman says ''Even if Naivalu and Devo are not directly involved in the allegations, they are the people at the top and ultimately the hammer will fall on them,'' Thus, by the same logic, wouldn't that make Bainimarama guilty of the deaths of Verebasaga, Rabaka and Malasebe? After all isn't he at the top? Shouldn't the hammer fall on him? After all, while he was not "directly involved" wasn't he at the top when these killings occured? hmmm.....this stinks more and more.

So the nurses are on strike....and it's been declared legal. So why the paycut? Doesn't the law state that if a strike is declared legal, then shouldn't the strikers get their pay? Talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place eh??? Go to Calanchini, he just might rule in favour of the strikers...don't go and the strike continues. I'm sooooooglad that decision is not mine to make.

This IG has set the bar impossibly low for the country, and is now trying to force the nation to "congo" under it. The nurses are saying it can't be done. The bloggers are saying it can't be done. The lawyers (well the ones worth their salt anyway) are saying it cannot be done. Anyone with any sense can tell that it can't be done.

The IG is asking "How low can you go?"

How low can you really go?

God Bless Fiji,
Mawdsomething aka Fijiblack

The Things We do for Love....

2007-07-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula...

Corny..I know..I know!!!

But hey..think about this for a moment.

Bainimarama,Chaudary, Shaista, Bernie, the whole lot of them, what do they love? Apart from themselves of course!!! They love power!!!They love the fact that now they can tell people to do what they want, when they want and how they want? You want to argue? Driti the enforcer will see that their will becomes your way.

Serevi loves this nation. He has given more than half his life to the services of our country, and has brought glory, fame and honour to our shores in a way that none of us could emulate...and he does this for free.

Some people love their grog. You know the type..the ones that are go wandering off at 2am, looking for another house that is still drinking grog to go and vakatinitini. The kind whose skin is a dead giveaway. The kind whose congregating call is the sound of that "obo", the clanging of the tabili.

Then there's people like me. People who blog. People who are willing to debate this farce that we are now stuck in, and are willing to do so in public. People who speak out. This includes those who write in the Letters to the Editor, those who express their sentiments on air. People like Graham Leung, Shameema Ali. People who, in their own way love this country and are willing to do something to protect her. People who can say what is true and right and must be said, even if there is a risk to one's personal safety.

Now this one is the humdinger...the big kahuna..the million-dollar question.

What do you love?

Do you love Fiji enough to stand up with the rest of us to stand up with us and say "Enough!!!"

Are you willing to speak up and tell this regime that we will tolerate this no longer, that this has gone on long enough, and that we must right the wrongs that are now tearing our nation apart?

Can you?

Will you?

Why don't you?

What do you love? The potential that Fiji has? Or the present that you endure? It's a choice that we must make as individuals, but live out collectively.

Remember...alone you are a drop...but together we are the ocean.

God Bless Fiji,
Mawdsomething

Once Again Into the Breech....

2007-07-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

Dear friends....ni sa bula.

I apologise for being away from this forum for so long. I am no longer in Fiji, and I'm glad that my anonymity worked, or I might be another person stopped at our international airport like Graham , Laisa or Shamima. However, my family still resides there, I still carry the sky blue passport, and I am still proud to be a Fijian.

Now that I am not in Fiji anymore, one can see things more clearly. It's definitely a case of stepping back to look at the big picture...and it is not a pretty one. From outside, Fiji is now a definite member of the Melanesian "Arc of Instability" , the grouping of Melanesian nations that are in various stages of unrest. Mind you, our Polynesian next-door neighbour seems to have caught this virus..with a further extension to their current State of Emergency, the 8th since last year's crisis in Nuku'alofa.

But back to our backyard.

One could go on lamenting the problems that now besiege us. We could spend years around the tanoa talking about this problem, and how it is affecting our country. That is what we have been doing and what we are doing.

The reason we, the people of this nation are suffering is because we, the people allow it. Maybe we hate confrontation. Maybe, we like what this government is doing. Maybe, we fear the repurcussions if we stand up. Maybe, we want to do something, but we don't know how to do it.

We need solutions to our problem. We all know that there is a problem, and we need to solve it, and fast. If we don't, we will be stuck in this conumdrum for a lot longer than we need to be. So put your thinking hats on..and put in your ideas in the comments section. As we keep on harping about democracy, we might as well be democraticatic about the selection of the next course of action. So that means, people, that the most popular idea for resisting this regime wins.

So pound those keys....and let's make them remember.

God Bless Fiji
Mawdsomething AKA Fijianblack

Empowering Fiji’s future “crap detectors”

2007-05-21T22:04:00.000-07:00

courtesy of EnufDictatorship..... a suggestion for a long term solution.

____________________________________________________________________

“The solution of adult problems tomorrow depends in large measure upon the way our children grow up today. There is no greater insight into the future than recognizing that, when we save children, we save ourselves.”
Margaret Mead

In the past weeks and month, either in Fiji or around the world citizens have in some ways acknowledged and celebrated our children and our youth. In Fiji, celebrations have included clean-up campaigns (the garbage kind), games, mini lectures on community policing, training on developing an understanding of union rights, etc.

We all believe and support the idea that our youths of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Therefore, if we have to consider our current problems as a country, we also have to consider how we are preparing those we believe to be the future leaders of our country. We have to ask ourselves are we providing the best skills, knowledge, characteristics and attitudes that will develop these children and youth into wise, successful and responsible leaders. In short, are we really empowering our children, in order, for them to be able to lead our country to a prosperous future?

No one disputes that education starts from home. On the other hand, we also believe that “it takes a village to educate a child.” To this end, we believe and support the idea that schooling contributes to this education. Therefore, we have built schools where we hope that our children and youth will further develop the necessary lifelong skills, knowledge, characteristics and attitudes they need to prepare themselves for their future whether it be gracing the corridors of parliament, government offices, educational institutions, hospitals, financial institutions or toiling the land and sea. Most importantly to consider as well is that the decisions these youths will make in their future will affect those of us who are currently middle-aged or approaching old age.
Is our school system empowering children and youth?
Ernest Hemingway in one of his early interviews was asked to identify the characteristics required for a person to become a “great writer.” After Hemingway disparaged a few possibilities provided by the frustrated interviewer, the interviewer finally asked, “Isn’t there one essential ingredient that you can identify?” Hemingway replied, “Yes, there is. In order to be a great writer a person must have a built-in, shockproof crap detector.”

As I reflect on the current situation at home, I can honestly say that Fiji has suffered enough “crap” for so long. The “crap” I am referring to here includes all the wrong, inconvenient, intolerable financial, cultural and political mistakes, which have allowed our country to “run down”, to reduce to chaos and uselessness. These include amongst other things nepotism, corruption and coups. Norbert Wiener calls this “entropy.”

I then wonder is the schooling system, which is seen as the second most important institution assisting in the children/youth’s education dynamic, interesting and “new” enough to contribute in the promotion of empowering them to become experts at “crap detecting.” By “crap detecting”, it means “people who have been educated to recognize change, to be sensitive to problems by change, and who have the motivation and courage to sound alarms when entropy accelerates to a dangerous degree.”

How can we empower children then?
When children are empowered, not only are they aware of their freedom but also they develop a will to exercise it, and the intellectual power and perspective to do so effectively. Therefore, our children have to be encouraged to question, question, and question. That is, empower them to be active inquirers and problem solvers.

These questioning skills are developed through inquiry teaching and learning. A review of the methods of teaching currently used in schools and the content should be undertaken. The traditional didactic, textbook only, chalk and board, teacher-knows-all approach should be changed to transformative inquiry, all different sources, teachers-and-students-are-all-learners approach. The content of what to be taught should be relevant, significant and up-to-date.

Children bring into the classroom a wealth of knowledge from their own experiences. These have to be taken into account when teaching them. They are not empty vessels waiting to be filled-up. In addition, beginning from early childhood education (kindergartens), children have to be encouraged to take action. Modest things that are already in place in schools like picking up rubbish, cleaning classrooms, etc have to be extended to school/class/group/individual projects, whereby children research issues that affect them like poverty, illiteracy, truancy, children’s rights, animal rights, health, etc. Then they should make plans to take action in their community either to raise awareness of these issues or to combat them.

Moreover, the development of attitudes like respect, tolerance, empathy, etc and personal characteristics like caring, open-mindedness, etc have to be specifically targeted when teaching academic and non-academic lessons either inside or outside of the classroom boundaries.

Finally yet importantly, parent education have to be encouraged and promoted because after all parents are partners in education.

To conclude, I leave you youths of Fiji with a quote from the late US President Ronald Reagan,
“We (Fiji) need you; we (Fiji) need your youth, your strength and your idealism, to help us make right what is wrong.”

God bless our youths! God bless Fiji!

Keeping Our Eye On The Ball.

2007-05-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

I know... I know...I didn't post over the weekend. I apologise. I spent the weekend unwinding, and taking a step back to look at everything from another perspective. While doing this, something jumped out at me, something that I think needs to be brought to the nation's attention.

Lately, the news has been filled with items about the attempts to block the blogs, of blogs being hacked, of blogs being moved and of blogs being, well....blogs. The FHRC has also jumped on the IG anti-blog bandwagon, claiming that blog posts are in violation of the Constitution. Guess what Shameem...... your entire Government is in violation of the Constitution. Also what do you make of this sort of comment from one Mahendra Chaudry?

"We did not have a culture of rigged elections in Fiji before Qarase,"

Doesn't this "damage the reputation, dignity, privacy, or rights and freedoms of other individuals" and shouldn't you also prosecute Mahen for making this sort of allegation in the media? If you prosecute him, and hold him in a cell for saying the things he has said about the electoral process, then in our view, you would be qualified to make statements about the things we are saying. At the moment, you are nothing more that the IG's lapdog, barking from behind it's skirts. Please focus on your efforts to prosecute the murderers of Rabaka and Verebasaga, so that their families can find closure and peace.

Of course, I haven't said anything about the elephant in the room....your idol, the Interim Government, who is by far, the largest damager of human rights, reputation, dignity and freedom of the citizens of this nation. They have killed, tortured, detained, hurt, slandered and maimed innocent people, and they try to sell this to us in the name of a "clean-up"!!!! What lies!!! What an insult to our intelligence!!!! What a total load of crap!!!!

Please tell your masters, Shaista...to shut their mouths. We are tired of their lies.

Another favourite lie of the IG is the claim that the economy was going down under the leadership of the deposed Government.

Can anyone tell me, if the economy was really on the slide, why would there be high-rise buildings sprouting all over Suva? How ironic that the FHRC is housed in one of these? Would there be multi-million hotel developments in the west, and the north? The backlog of $2.6 billion worth of tourism-related projects is another indicator of the fact that investors had confidence in Fiji's economy, that they saw it as a worthwhile place to invest their money. We also saw sporting events for the region like the SPG 2003 being hosted in Fiji. Even sports like sailing, power-lifting and netball had selected Fiji as the venue of their respective world meets. All that came to a sudden and definite stop with the greedy, inconsiderate power grab of a small group of narrow-minded, unforgiving men and women, who in one fell swoop, took us back to a place we had turned our backs on 3 times in the past.

Bainimarama and his cultish followers still harp on about the events of 2000. I guess for all their fasting and praying, the FMF has not learnt the simple Christian truth, that unless you forgive, God will not forgive you. They are also trying their utmost to distort the truth. Thank God that we have blogs, where each of us can, with a little time and dedication, broadcast our views to the world. The worst part of it is that within their ranks are the children of the late Rt. Mara. The fact that his son and daughters are involved with the FMF makes me wonder if they are that guillible, that they cannot see that Bainimarama was the one who removed their Ratu from the Presidency. He could have backed the old man on the hill, and stood by him when the chips were down in 2000. That the children of one of Fiji's greatest statesman (I do not wish to dive into the allegations relating his ancestry, his modus operandi...I will stick to the verified facts of his life) are in arms with the architect of his demise, speaks volumes of their gullibility, and their greed. I prefer to think that they are just guilible, because the alternative is too horrifying to consider. To imagine that they are guilty of patricide is a path I do not wish to take because that is what they are guilty of, if they know exactly what Bainimarama did on the naval ship in the Suva harbour during the 2000 crisis. If my own father was in that position, I would move heaven and earth to get to his aid. If I commanded the largest regiment in the FMF, trust me, there would be blood spilt before I let anyone do those things to my Ratu, especially if he represented law and order. But that is just my opinion....

Now this one just got me all tied up on knots, I couldn't stop laughing at the irony of it. Read the following line, that has been replicated in countless media outlets all over the world.

"the anonymous blogger known as Fijian Black"

I am FijianBlack. I am not anonymous. I have a name, an online presence, and the world at large can read and see my views whenever they so desire. That is not anonymity. The fact that my online persona cannot be linked with my physical being is a result of the situation we face in Fiji. We are threatened with acts that anyone who retains his/her sanity would not want to be subjected to. They killed Sakiusa Rabaka on the suspicion of his involvement in marijuana smoking. Imagine what they will do to me, and my family!!!! While I have considered this, and now believe that it is more costly to me to stay silent, that I must speak out, believe me, I put myself, and my family on the line every time I post. I believe, however, that Fiji is worth the sacrifice, that the hope that we can rise out of this quagmire, and become great again, and take our place in the echelon of civilized nations will one day come true.

So I blog. We blog. We are doing what we are supposed to be doing. We are doing what the FHRC, the Judiciary, the Government should be doing. We are looking out for the rights, the dignity, the freedom, of the people of Fiji. We bring to the world's attention, the failures, the flaws, the mistakes of this regime that is illegally ruling over this nation, oppressing it's people, and riding roughshod over their will.

And that must be our focus. We must focus on the weaknesses, the shortcomings, the failures of this regime. The single, largest shortcoming of this regime is that it is illegal. Why do they need the guns, if they are certain of their legitimacy? Why have they taken over all arms of the Forces, of the various branches and agencies of Government, if they were sure that what they are doing is right? Why are they scared of having elections? WHY??????

We must ask these questions. We must probe, and dig, for unless we see things as they truly are, and not as this IG says it is, we will never heal our nation. And our children will be doomed to repeat our mistakes, because we were too lazy to learn from them.

God Bless Fiji,
mawdsomething.

On the run....

2007-05-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula.....

This is just a quick post, I want to focus on an issue that has vaunted to the fore of the country's current obsession with all things IT.

Security.

I recommend using this browser for surfing, especially when you don't what you-know-who peaking into your stuff. It's currently the best out there, in terms of security...it's what I use to stay ahead of the junta's hunters... while the access speed might be slower than you are used to, it's far more preferable than having to achieve high land speeds at the "high vielt" at Delainabua LOL.

Oh and welcome back Ms Vakaivosavosa....good to see that you've rejoined this fight.

I leave you now with this gem...to whet your appetites for the next post later today.....

Luke 3:14 (New International Version)

Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?"
He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay."

God Bless Fiji,
mawdsomething

Journalists, Bloggers, Supporters and Hackers.

2007-05-16T01:24:00.000-07:00

Ni sa Bula,

It's another day in paradise fallen. This started with the radio announcements that the military had information on 20 bloggers and that they were going to be rounded up. I have to admit that this news put dampers on posting yesterday today, as from monitoring the blogs, I noted that the posting activity was muted, when compared to other days. Of course, I made sure I didn't wear my qaraqara underwear, just in case the idiots actually grew half a brain, and yours truly was required to do the "swimsuit" at QEB...red herring:wouldn't gowing half a brain be a multiplying effect in total brain capacity?

In hindsight, I was wrong again. The army got it wrong, so wrong that one can end up with a false sense of security, so fellow bloggers...beware. As the army now considers an email as evidence, and have accused Mr. Taoi of being one of us...I feel the need to explain these matters to you, Leweni.

Emails:

Emails are the internet eqiuvalent of letters. You write, you send, the other person receives.

An email is not a blog.
An email is not a blog.
An email is not a blog.
An email is not a blog.

Blogs:

Blogs are the contraction of the term weblog, a term that is used to describe the plethora (that means excess, many ...tum jahno Leweni?) of personal sites that carry things like recipes, rants, opinions etc. Blogs are opinion Leweni. That means that in my opinion, I think you and the rest of your lot now posing as officers, and the IG to boot are idiots...in my opinion.

In my opinion, what you are doing is wrong. The IG is really damaging Fiji, and people like Chaudry, Khaiyum, and the rest of you are just greedy little-minded opportunists who are reallyin this for yourselves. In my opinion.

I also find it hilarious that you think that the blogs, and the internet in general needs to be governed. Doesn't it just rub you all the wrong way, to think that there is a channel whereby people in Fiji, ordinary civilians can have their say, and be heard by the masses, and you have absolutely no control over it. NONE WHATSOEVER!!!!! Guess you just met your match, and now because you can't handle the pressure, you want to pull the plug on us...it's getting boring Neumi (yawn) it's just like how you ended your interview with the ABC's Bruce Hill. (to anyone whose vocabulary that excludes "aahh"..listen to the interview, especially when Leweni "loses" it and slams the phone on Bruce for a really belly-aching, frame-shaking laugh)

You also claim, along with that lady Ms. Foster that we are not accountable. We are more accountable, because while we can write whatever we please (hey so can you Ms. Forster, and don't shovel that "holier than thou" crap this way)...you know that you can write whatever you want, which is what we are saying. The bottom line is that if you write crap, nobody would read it, but if your writing is relevant, it conveys a message, it says what people want to hear, then people will read it. Come to think about it, that's probably why none of you ever tried to start your own blog...if you did, the only visitor to the site would be the poster..LOL. Like in the mainstream media (which considering the effect the blogs are not having on Fiji, might just be the blogs), it's all about the message. In this world of nibbles, bits and bytes, the only thing that matters is the message. Your name, your reputation, your backing, all means jack...the only thing that carries any weight is what you have to say. As Fiji wants to hear what we have to say, guess that's why you are all up in a tiff, trying to find me....

Now we have the lady herself, Ro Teimumu saying that we are merely expressing our right to have our when we write. Personally, I'm really stoked that someone of her calibre reads and notices what we write....along with Mr. Taoi. Doesn't that sort of audience mean that we are doing something right?

Or does one need a green uniform, a crew-cut and a moustache to qualify for that perk? You can claim that this should be governed by the media code, that we should be held responsible, that we are not answerable for what we say...the bottom line is, and I'm going to make this so simple that even you can understand...is that we are saying what everyone is thinking. Except you of course...go on hug, that gun...I know the smooth gun-metal finish really makes you feel secure.

New blogs are now sprouting all over the web... check these new recruits out!!!

http://exfmf.blogspot.com/
http://aulomaniviti.blogspot.com/

And for those of you intending to start your own please read this post...on how to blog anonymously and safely.

ttp://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/page6042.cfm

Now for those of you who are chaffing at RFC's disappearance, word is that the IG hired hackers in Bangalore to lodge a complaint with Blogger, about the comments in the posts. According to the policy Blogger has, some comments have fallen foul of the law and have been removed. People...please keep you comments decent because if you don't, then the blogsite you comment on will be neutered like RFC has been. Go to their blog and try to comment...to see what I'm getting at. While most of you are silent supporters, this is how you can help us, and the cause.
(Note to self...must really keep my eyes on the comments now.)

Also to fellow blogs...mirror your sites. Tell everyone of your mirror...i.e. a site that reflects the original site's content. I will post the link to my mirror once I get everything reflected.

Good manners people..that is what we were known for...good manners. So don't stoop to the level of the goons, stay ahead of them, don't concede the moral high ground to them. Be polite, because a caustic wit wounds more that swearing sludging that manifests itself on "certain" blogs.

So stay safe, blog smart, and fight the good fight. Be good now...

God Bless Fiji,
mawdsomething

Tamani Kila Leca...Ooops....

2007-05-13T22:56:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

It's seems that I am, once again, popular with the eager-beavers at Nabua. So much so, that now innocent people are being interogated, tortured and detained, in their zeal to get me.

To Mr. Taoi and family, I apologise from the bottom of my heart. I hope you will accept this apology in the spirit that it is given, and that you will forgive me. I did not intend for anyone to get hurt, and I hope that you are the last. I admire your courage to come out in public, and hope that you will be the first and the last to go through this.

To the military, all I can say is that, you should get your facts right. Do any of you even read the posts I write, or do you work yourselves into a saliva-dribbling, mouth-frothing frenzy by gossiping about what you think you know about what I post? Do you even understand what I write? I'd really, really hate to think that my posts need to be toned down, so that you can comprehend (read understand) what I am saying about you, and your way of doing things.

I do not agree with how you do things. I think you have no respect for the sanctity of a human being, and that your minds are dulled and twisted and absolutely corrupted by the power you think you wield. If you would only, stop, and think and remember, the values I'm sure your own parents espoused, you would realise that the actions you have been taking ( some of you anyway) are wrong.

You accuse me of trying to make you look bad, of trying to "discredit" you. I do nothing of the sort!!!! Trust me, you are doing that all on your own, and you are doing it far, far better than any of us could. Flies congregate on whatever comes out of your mouth, and you should not be surprised that nobody in Fiji believes the lies that you spew daily. Even your most ardent supporters cannot defend your actions anymore, because what you have done, what you are doing, and what you are proposing to do, is not right, it is not fair, and it is only a matter of time before the nation itself rises up against you and deposes you. It will be "do unto others" for you, and God help you when that day dawns.

The power afforded to you via the Constitution, and the people of Fij has corrupted you. You are now the country's worst enemies, when you should be it's staunchest defenders.You act like you are the lords of this nation, when you are really the servants of the people. You take the lives of the nation's civilians, when you should be giving your own for the very lives you are prematurely terminating. You take people in, detain them and interogate them, because you cannot handle the criticism. If you can't take the complaints, you really should have left the governing of the nation to people chosen by the masses to govern us.

The blogs, the dissent, the complaints, the travel bans, the sanctions....these are all symptoms of the real problem. The reason these things are happening is because you think you know what is best for Fiji, and we don't. You are no respecter for the law, for due process, for the right and proper way of doing things. Because you have the guns, you think whatever you say is right.

If you return Fiji to it's people, and go back to what you were really called to do, and you stop meddling in places where you are not supposed to be, then maybe, just maybe, we can all move forward. Not the moving forward that you are fond of proclaiming, but a real moving forward, one where we all move forward hand in hand, for the betterment of this nation.

So think about it. Sleep on it. Pray about it. Because the ball is in your court, and has always been, and it is your decision, ultimately, what happens to Fiji in the future.

God Bless Fiji,
FijianBlack

The Crap We Put With...

2007-05-10T16:13:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,
After a brief halyconian period, which now, upon reflection seems like the lull before an impending storm, the illegal regime that has infected this nation has picked up the pace again, with a vengence....it now a case of "once more into the breach, dear friends" for those of us who detest this governing parasite.
Governing parasite.
That is the only way one can really view this regime. Unlike the symbiotic relationships that abound in nature, and are found to be mutually beneficial the world over, this regime is a parasite, sucking the life out of our beloved nation.The unfolding "happenings" over the last few days are, if they were not the reality that is now Fiji, a comical farce. It's almost as if these things were scripted as Hollywood does in it's blockbuster thrillers, a plot that is intended to keep you on the edge of your seats. Literally on the edge of your seats.
The head "wanna-be-bean-counter" opened things with the allegations that the 2006 elections were rigged. No suprise that the sacked Elections supervisor, Mr. Semesa Karavaki, was quick and vigirous to defend the elections, and deny all accusations made. Let's step back and take a good, long, hard look at that.
The elections was contested by quite a few parties, of which the SDL and the FLP were the two top contenders. Now the claim being made is that around 1.9 million ballot papers were printed, while only 800,000 odd votes were cast. The conclusion being drawn by Mr. Chaudry is that as there were so many ballot papers printed, and there are over 650,000 "unaccounted" ballot papers, the missing papers must have been stuffed into ballot boxes to rig the elections.
Firstly, any lawyer worth his/her salt would realise that missing ballot papers a rigged election it does not make. While Mr. Karavaki should come up with an explanation for the papers, no one should jump to the conclusion that the missing ballot papers were stuffed into the ballot boxes. Incidently, Mr. Karavaki has answered that question, saying that all papers were at the Elections Office in Suva, when he was unceremoniously kicked out. He also asserts that if there was any destruction of the papers, this would have happened AFTER he was removed from office. Serve and volleyed.
Secondly, Mr. Chaudry claims that there was collusion on parties on a massive scale. If this is the case, to my feeble way of thinking, there must be people out there, who have first hand knowledge of what happened. I'm sure that if there really was, by now, there would have been a witness. And BTW...Peter Forster does not make a credible witness. Doesn't his resume say "international conman"? Also collusions on that scale would mean that the police, the Civil Servants, the International and Local Observer Groups (Commonwealth, UN, Forum, USP) and definitely the media were all duped on a massive scale. Sorry, Mahen, this allegations puts you in the league of the Area 51/Agent Mulder conspiracy theory lovers, who, now come to think of it, might have more going for them than you do.
The claims are given verbally, with no evidence being produced to back the allegations. The Elections Observers produced a report each, stating that the elections in Fij were free and fair. While there were problems picked up in the report, the overall assessment of the elections was that the results reflected the will of the people. I think Mahen, you overlooked that little fact when you overthrew the elected Government. Who knows...maybe you stuffed the ballot boxes back in 1999, and got into power, because you seem to know so much about...well...stuff.
Now this idiot posing as a Finance Minister is claiming in a letter to today's Fiji Times, that the issue here is the 650,00 missing ballot papers, that are still missing now. Why is that an issue Mahen? You planning to stuff some ballot boxes now? The elections are over, and now the matter of missing ballot papers are a non-issue.
When you look at the elections results on wikipedia (I don't trust the results maintained by the Elections Office website anymore) it shows that had the FLP, NAP, NFP really ganged up on the SDL, they would have beaten them. Also, how come the SDL didn't win any Indian communal seats? You'd think that they would have won a few, if they stuffed the ballot boxes. The clincher in this is that the investigations were conducted by Chaudry's appointees, on Chaudry's watch, with Chaudry overseeing the whole thing. What a total load of crap!!!! There is no way in the world that investigation is independant, and fair. Game,set and match Karavaki!!!!
Moving on....
The last few days have seen people like ASP Josaia Rasiga being held at QEB. You read, UN/EU. Hold the dosh...this regime is as likely to buy guns as they are to stuff their pockets with your cash if you send it over. The poor cane farmers will never see a cent of that money...I guarantee you that.
The last few days have also seen the economic doom voices grow louder and louder. Hey... I TOLD YOU SO!!! Then we have the fanatical coup supporters who are claiming that this is part of a cycle, and that in 2-3 years time, the economy will be booming. WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP!!!! This is not part of any cycle, unless you refer to the coup cycle. Then there is the camp that is claiming that the FLP was the best Government because they were the only Government who produced a surplus.
Thing about that one. If a Government produces a surplus, then it spent less than it received. If that was the can, WHY DID WE PAY THE EXTRA TAX DOLLARS? I pay my taxes and I expect it to be spend by whatever Government is in power to build roads, wharves, airports, hospitals, schools, give sholarships, and generally build up the economy. If they save money, then I expect to see lower tax rates the next year, because the Government proved that they don't need the extra money.
Then there's the matter of the military trying to shut us down. Us being the bloggers. How rude!!!! Guess you are not all for freedom of speech, especially if it impinges on your "freedom" with the ladies. I guess "Dr." Suresh never did get around to giving you the meaning of that word UBIQUITOUS Leweni? Seeing as that none of you grasp the implications of this step you intend to implement.
Well, seeing as you still don't understand the nature of the web...let me simplify it for you so that you can grasp the concept of this modern marvel of telecommunications technology.
The web is like the coconut wireless (you do know what that is don't you? If you don't...) on steriods...think virtual William Ryder. It's all over the place. Once this thing gets hold of anything ANYONE IN THE WORLD WITH AN INTERNET CONNECTION can read it.
You might block one site. It will just move to another, or people will use free downloadable software to bypass your blocks that you force FINTEL to place. Yes, you can download such software FOC. If they move sites, you will have to keep track of this full time. It is an exercise in futility (go Leweni...work that dictionary!!!) because you don't have the resources to keep tracking these things full time. Also, people email these things to everyone they can. They are also printed and hard-copies are distrubuted and have been found in places like Lau, Kadavu and Rotuma. So if you think you can shut this down, by trying to attack this, you have just (again) increased the visibility of these blogs. Guess you still haven't figured it out, have you?
YOU CANNOT STOP THE TRUTH!!!!!
It always gets out. Your guns, your threats, your decrees are all useless. So stop. Go home. And give Fiji back to the real owners...it's people. We have had enough of you.
God Bless Fiji,mawdsomething

Noda Bula Vaka i Taukei

2007-05-08T13:37:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

Ni sa tiko na turaga kei na marama bale ni noda vanua, ni tiko talega na turaga kei na marama ni noda vanua ni dau wilika na bulago e dau volai tu e na tikina oqo. E na siga edaidai, au sa nanuma meu volavola yani kivei kemuni na noda e na vuku ni vica na ka bibi e dodonu me da vakasamataka, ka veivosakitaka, va vakauasivi cake, meda vakayacora na kawa i Taukei e da sa bula donua tiko na gauna oqo e Viti.

Me vaka e da sa kila vinaka, e ratou mai taura vakailoa na ulu ni veiliutaki ni noda vanua na noda mataivalu e na i ka 5 ni Tiseba, 2006. E dina, sa yaco oti e na noda vanua na mataqali cakacaka dukadukali vakaoqo, io e sega ni vakataratutu ni sebera ni vakayacori vei keda na i Taukei na veika sa yaco tu mai na ka 5 ni Tiseba ka yacova mai na siga edaidai. Na kena mai kovei na veiliutaki, se e na kena yaca vaka Peritania na coup-de-tar, sa mai vakabasikata e vica sara na ka lelevu e na noda vanua lomani oqo.

E sa mai votu kina na kena sa sega ni rokovi, se dinati na noda veiliutaki na i Taukei e na noda vanua. Na matanitu nei Laisenia Qarase, e rawata na qaqa e na veidigidigi ni Me, 2006, ka rawata na qaqa oqo e na noda veitokoni na i Taukei ki na nona soqosoqo ni SDL. Na kena mai kovei na nodratou veiliutaki, sa mai muduka dole talega na kena sasaga taka tiko na matanitu vakasivoi (o ya na SDL) e vica na yavu ni vakavulewa lelevu kei na i tuvatuva, e ratou bulia me toroi keda cake na i Taukei. Oqori na Qoliqoli Bill, na Land Claims Tribunal, kei na kena suka na qele boro damudamu kivei keda na volai tu e na i Vola ni Kawa Bula ni noda vanua. E dodonu me wili talega kina na nodratou sasaga me vakavoui na tabana ni suka e na noda vanua. E dina ni ra wiliwili ni wase levu ni dauteidovu na Idia, ia era lisi taka tu e dua na i wase levu ni qele ni Taukei, ka sa mai oti tiko yani na lisi oqo, ni ra sega ni via vakavouia na nodra lisi. E na yavu ni vakavulewa e bula tiko edaidai ka lewa na veika vakaoqo (na ALTA) e sega ni rawarawa se vinaka na vei keda na vinakata me lisi taki na noda qele, na vei yavu e soli kina na noda qele. Oqo talega na ka e ratou a saga e na nodratou i gu me ratou vakavinakataka na SDL, ka sa mai tiniya koso o Bainimarama.

Na noda Bose Levu Vakaturaga talega e sa mai vakacegui tu vakawawa e na liga ni matanitu oqo. E da kila vinaka na i Taukei na tiki ni Vola Tabu e tukuna tiko vei keda, ni "...o ira na turaga e ra sai mai vua na Kalou." E na gauna oqo, baleta beka ni da sa mai vulica, ka bula taka na bula vaka Vavalagi, ka sa veiwaki kei na noda i tovo dina vakavanua, e sa basika talega kina vei keda e levu na kudru, kei na valagusugusu, kei na veisaqasaqa kei ira na noda Turaga. E votu mai vei au e na noqu vola tiko yani na i vola oqo, na nona vosataka na Gone Turaga na Tui Namosi e dua ga na gone ni Namosi e sa bau vakaitutu tu e na noda mataivalu. Ia e sega ni dodonu me da dusi koya ga kina na gone ni Namosi oqo, ni sa yaco tu e na veiyasai Viti na ka oqo. Na nodratou sa mai taura na nodratou i vola na noda turaga kei na marama bale e sa kena i cavacava ga.

E dodonu me vakaraitaki talega yani vakasavasava kivei kemuni na noda turaga/marama bale, ni vuqa talega vei kemuni sa rokataka tiko ni i tovo ni bula e sega ni sureta na veidokai ki na nomuni i tutu vakaturaga. Sa levu vei kemuni na lasu, kei na veibaleyaki, kei na butubuturua. Au sega ni tukuna tiko ni ko ni vaka kece tu ko ya. Na nomuni vakasuka na vakatutu ni IG me baleta na i tutu ni vukevuke ni Peresitedi, e dua na gauna ko ni tu kina vakadodonu, ka tukuna na dina. oqo e dua na gauna ko ni maroroi Viti kina, ka sa lewe vuqa vei keimami, na nomuni lewe ni vanua, e keimami sakitaka na ka ko ni cakava mai Draunibota e na siga ko ya. Kevaka e vaka tu o ya na i tovo ni nomuni veiliutaki na noda turaga/marama bale, au sega ni vakabekataka ni na levu vei keimami na nomuni dui lewenivanua, keimami na rokovi kemuni vakalevu, ka muri kemuni, ka via colata na nomuni kaci. Ni sa na vakila ni sa sega ni mana tiko mai na nomuni veiliutaki e vuqa vei kemuni. E vuna ga oqori ni ko ni sa sega ni dina. Na dina e vu mai vua na Kalou. E vakatokai na Yalo Tabu ni Kalou, me vu-ni-dina. Na tevoro e daulasulasu, ka tamadra talega na daulasu. kevaka e sega ni dina na nomuni veiliutaki, e na tu saqaki kemuni o Jiova, ni sega ni dau totaka na lasu o koya. Kevaka e na dina na nomuni lewa, kei na nomuni veiliutaki, o ni na qai raica ni sa totaki kemuni na noda Kalou. Kevaka e sa nomuni i to ko Jiova, o cei me na kemuni meca?

Sa tekivu me ra vosa cake talega mai na dau tokona tu na veivakaduiduitaki vakakawatamata, ka ra sa doudou me ra vakasikaweli ka dusi ira na duikaikai eda sa mai bula vata tu e Viti edaidai. Oqo e sega ni ka vou, ia au via dusia vei kemuni na kena cala, ka sega ni vinaka na cakacaka oqo, kei na vanua e na tinimaki keda kina, kevaka e da sa muria na gaunisala oqo. Na veivakaduiduitaki vakakawatamata, e yavu ni nodra vakamatei ni Jiu e na i karua ni valu levu. E yavu ni nodra butuki sobu o ira ka kai Sauca Aferika. E yavu ni kena tauri vakailoa na nodra qele na Aborigines, na Maori, na Kai Idia ni Mereke, na kai Hawaii, kei na vuqa tale na i Taukei ni veimatanitu e na veiyasaivuravura. E sega ni sala vata na i vakarau oqo kei na i vakavuvuli no noda Turaga, ni a kaya " Dou veilomai" ka kaya talega "Dou lomani ira na nomudou meca, vosavinaka vei ira sa rukaki kemudou, caka vinaka vei ira sa cati kemudou, ka masulaki ira sa vakalialiaikemudou, ka vakacacani kemudou." E sa sega ni rau sala vata na noda i tovo, kei na noda vakabauta, kei na veika e da dau tukuna me baleta na duikaikai era tu e Viti.

Oqo talega e kena i ubi ni noda malumalumi na i Taukei. E sa matau vei keda me da dau dusia na ndra malumalumu na tani, ka sega mada ni da bau kauta laivi na kau mai matada e liu. E dodonu talega vei keda na lewe ni veidelaniyavu vakaturaga e Viti, me da dikevi keda mada vakavinaka, ka raica na noda i tovo, na nanuma ni lomada, kei na i rai ni matada, ke rau salavata kei na i vakavuvuli ni noda Turaga se sega. Au kila ni sega, baleta ke rau dau salamuria tu na veika e tukuna na Turaga, na veika e ra dau rogo kina o ira na noda qase era sa bale yani, ke sega ni da mai sotava tu na leqa levu e da sa sotava tu e na noda vanua. Sa sega ga ni cala na Vosa ni Kalou, ni da na tamusuka dina ga na ka e da tea.

Io, na cava me da cakava? Se, na cava e rawa ni da cakava me da vorata kina na ca sa votu mamaca tu oqo e Viti?

Au kila ni sa levu vei keda e vakataroga tu, ka veitalanoataka, ka vakasamataka vakatitobu na veika oqo. E rawa ni da cakava e dua na ka me da veisau taka na noda i lakolako!!!! E rawa ni da vueti Viti tale!!! E rawa ni da vakavinakataka na vei ka sa ca!!!! E rawa ni da tara vou tale na bai ni noda vanua, me da kua ni rogo ca tiko!!!!

Oqo na veika e dodonu me da cakava.

1. Me da yavala.

E sa rui levu na vakasavuliga vei keda. Sa mai matau tu oqo vei keda me da waraka tale e dua me cakava vei keda na veika e da kila tu e na vu ni yaloda, ni dodonu me da cakava. O ira na noda turaga/marama bale e ra sa duri, ka yavala, ka tusaqata ni matanitu e sa cici tiko vakailoa oqo. E ra sa cakava o ira na nodra i tavi. Sa qai vo o keda.

Na cava me da cakava? Me da vosa cake, ka me da tukuga ni da sega ni duavata kei na i tosotoso e da sa lakova tiko oqo. Me da volavola e na pepa, ka vakaraitaka kina na noda kudru. Me da vosa vei ira na wekada, vei ira na noda veikilai, ka duavata e na kena saqati na i golegole ki na rusa e da sa muria tiko edaidai. Me da vosa e na na noda bose-ni-mataqali, na noda bose-ni-koro, na bose-ni-yavusa, na bose-ni-tikina, na bose-ni-yasana, na bose-ni-lotu. Me da vakaraitaka vakadodonu, e na loloma ni da sega ni duavata kei na veika sa caka tu e Viti edaidai.

Au kila ni na sega ni ka rawarawa oqo. E na vuqa vei kemuni, na via rere, ka vatatitiqa, va na levu sara na veiwaraki. E dua na turaga sa volavola tiko e na Fiji Times e na noa, ka sa tekivu me vakaraitaka na nona kudru. O ya e dua na turaga tagane!!! Kevaka e da na vaka ko ya, au sega ni vakabeka taka ni da na vakagolea na noda i lakolako oqo, ka lesu tale ki na tiko vinaka e da vinakata kece tu.

Mo ni yavala na lewei Viti. E ra sa duri tu na noda turaga, ia sa i vei o ira na nodra tamata? E liu, e ra dau sega ni dau liu ki nai valu na turaga, e ra dau taqomaki, ka ra dau liu ga na bati. Oqo, sa ra valataki keda tiko na turaga/marama bale, ia sa da qai sarasara tu ga o keda ni nodra tamata. Me da tokoni ira, ka tucake, ka saqata na veibuturaki sobu e sa caka tiko vei keda. Ni tukuga ma na nomuni kudru. Ni vola ki na vei pepa e ra dau tabaka na nodra i vola na lewenivanua (Letters to the Editor). Ni kakua ni vosa galugalu ga, ni vosa me matata, me rogo, baleta sa dodonu me da vakayacora na ka oqo me vinaka tale kina o Viti.

2. Me da lotu.

Sa dodonu me da lotu vakayalo, ka vakaidina. E sega ni lotu walega na masu, kei na wili Vola Tabu, kei na lakova na vei soqo ni lotu eso. E tiki talega ni lotu, na noda qarava e na yalo dina na noda i tavi, na i tavi sa lesia vei keda na Kalou. E dodonu me da vosa, ke sa soli vei keda me da vosa, ka vakarorogo, kevaka e noda i votavota na vakarorogo. E dodonu me da cakacaka vakagumatua, ka me da kakua ni rere. Na veika kece oqo e ra tiki ni lotu, ka sa sega ni yaga walega me da masu. Au sega ni kaya tiko ni ca na masu, ia sa dodonu me da masu, ka tara tiko na bai ni noda vanua, me vaka e ra cakava na Isireli e na gauna nei Nemaia.

E dodonu me da dulaka vua na Kalou na noda leqa. Me da kua ni wele, baleta na wele e nona i yaragi na vu-ni-ca, ka dau vakaleqai keda kina. O kemuni na i talatala i Karisito, e dodonu mo ni wasea vakadodonu na Vosa ni Kalou, ka vunauca na ca kecega. Ni kakua ni leqataka kevaka e sega ni ciqomi na nomuni i tukutuku, baleta o ira era sega ni rogoca na dina ni Kalou ko ni na tukuna, era sa sega ni besetaki kemuni, era sa besetaki Jiova tiko!!! E soli ga vei kemuni mo ni tukuna na dina ni Kalou e na loloma, e sega ni solia vei kemuni na Kalou mo ni ciqomi vei ira kecega era rogoca na nomuni i tukutuku. Na vakatulewa ko ya sa nodra yadudua ka na tamata.

3. Me da veilomani.

Na noda vanua sa yali sara kina vakatotolo na veilomani. E da sa veidusi, e da sa veikaseti, e da sa veikati. Oqo na i tovo era sa biuta na noda qase, e na gauna e ra sa ciqoma kina na lotu. E dodonu me da biuta talega vakakina o keda na luvei Viti edaidai. Na kena sa sega ni kune na veilomani, sa vakavuna e levu na leqa e na keda maliwa. Sa da raica na veilabati, na kucu, na veisei, na veileti, na butako, na veibeitakivakailasu...na ka kecega oqo sa vu ga mai ni da sega ni veilomani.

Sa dodonu me da veilomani. Lomani ira e ra tu wavoliti iko. Vosa vinaka vei ira, nanumi ira e na veika kece o dau vakayacora. Raici ira na malumalumu, na tauvimate, na vakaleqai. Kevaka e da sega ni dau nanumi ira, e da na leqa kecega, ka da na ka ni veiwali vei ira e ra vakanuinui tu ni na rusa ni kawa i Taukei. kevaka talega e da na veilomani, e da na vakamaduataki ira e ra dau dusi keda, ka beitaki keda e na veika e so, ni ra na raica na nodra lomaca vei keda, kei na noda lomavinaka vei ira, sa ra na qai madua, ka dro tani e matada.

4. Me da duavata.

Sa levu sara na noda tatawasewase. E da sa mai tawase e na yavu ni vakabauta, e na veiyasana e da dui cavutu mai kina, e na duidui ni noda rawa ka. E sega ni dodonu na noda mai wasewasei keda tu vakaoqo na i Taukei. E dodonu me da duavata. Na veika e dau wasei keda, e dodonu me da raica vakayalomatua, ka walia, e na rarama ni Vosa ni Kalou, kei na yalo e veilomani, me rawa kina ni da toso ki liu.

Kevaka e da tawase tiko, e sa na qai rawarawa sara na nodra vakayacora na nodra i le o ira e ra vinakata tu me ra rawai keda, ka taura na veika sa noda. Ni da duavata, se na sega ni da rawati rawa. Oqo ni vuna e ra sa dau saga tu kina o ira na via rawai keda me da veileti, ka veikati vaka i keda ga, baleta ni sa dau vakamalumalumutaki keda sara vakalevu.

Sa dodonu me da duavata, me cakacakavata, ka me biulaivi na ca e na keda maliwa. Ni da na duavata, ka tukuna na noda sega ni taleitaka na veika sa vakayacori tiko e Viti edaidai, eda na vakasuka na cala sa mai tavuloni keda tu, ka na lesu tale mai vei keda na veigauna vinaka e da dau raica e na veigauna sa oti yani.

5. Me da yadrayadravaki.

E sa levu mai na ka e tubu tiko me yavalati keda, me sagai keda, me vakarusai keda. Kevaka eda na sega ni yadrava na noda bula, na noda i tovo, na noda vanua, e na vakacava beka na i tuvaki kei Viti e da na biuta tu mai vei ira na luveda era na muri keda mai? Na noda dau wele, kei na noda sega ni yadrava tiko vakavinaka na veika e dau yaco e na noda vanua, sa vu ni leqa talega edaidai. Sa dodonu me da yadrava na noda vanua, ka vuli, me da kakua ni rawai tale vaka oqo. O Viti e na bula walega kevaka e da na yadravi koya, ka karoni koya. Oqo sa i tavi taucoko ni luvei Viti, ka sega ni nodra i colacola vakatabakidua ga e vica.

Sa dodonu me da veisau na kawa i Taukei, baleta ni sa veisau na vuravura e da sa bula tiko kina edaidai. Sa dodonu me da tu e na sala ka vakaraica na noda i lakolako makawa, ka taura matua na veika vinaka, ka vakavinakataka se veisautaka na veika ca. Kevaka e da sega ni vakayacora na veika oqo, e da na sega ni bula marau e na noda vanua, ka ra na sa vakaloloma o ira na noda kawa e ra sa muri keda tiko mai. Sa dodonu me da rai vakavuku, ka digia na sala e ra na vinaka kina o ira na noda i taba tamata e ra sa bera ni cadra mai. Me vaka na nodra dau digitaka o ira na noda qase me ra vakasaqara na vauna vovou me ra laki tiko vinaka kina, e sa dodonu vaka kina me da vakasaqara talega na veivanua, kei na veika e da na tiko vinaka kina.

Au nuitaka ni na ciqomi na i vola oqo, kei na veika e sa volai tiko kina. Au sa nuitaka ni da na saumaki na i Taukei, ka viria na bai kei Viti, ni sa kasura tu, ka sa da rogoca tiko.

Me vaka kalougatataki Viti o Jiova

Why We Blog...

2007-05-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

Today's post is dedicated to the critics who are now appearing out of the woodwork, and our supporters who have been after us to answer them.

After the May 1st protest, the IG has taken a new direction, and has sent it's apologists after us, in the media, to try and attack the public perception of us. Now our aim (mine anyway) was never to become popular, but to voice my concerns at the evil that is now gradually and insidiously worming it's way into the very heart of our nation.

Now these apologists, are saying that we bloggers are forces against democracy, that we (to use the "aahh" spokesperson's favourite turn of phrase) "don't want to give them credibility...", that we do not know what we are talking about, and generally that we are fighting a lost cause.

Let's take that one at a time....

Forces against democracy

The problem is that our soldiers are used to a target they can pin down with their superior firepower. The fact is that for all their superior firepower, their's is the inferior brain-power that is hindering them....this from a force that was stupid enough to threaten the official representative of the world's only superpower. I think toting their guns for too long must have really gotten to their heads.

The fact is that we are not under democracy of any sort. Stop peddalling that rubbish...we are now living in a military dictatorship, and an appallingly bad one at that. If anyone's the force against democracy, it's the same force that overthrew the democratically elected government, the very group you are now falling over yourself to make excuses for.

2. Don't want to give them credibility...

This is the favourite refrain of a certain Leweni..... The only thing worth pointing out to you sir, is that despite the lies that flow freely out of your mouth, your actions are saying something else....you have searched for us, which any IT literate person could have actually told you from the beginning was a herculean task, and one you just didn't have the marbles to do. You have threatened us, which ranks with your search for us as an endevour in idiocrisy, you have said you are ignoring us, which you uttered in the same breath as you are tracking us....oxymoron anyone? To top this all off, you are now saying you don't want to give us credibility when by your actions of search for us, threatening us, ignoring us and oh...let's not forgetting ...trying futilely to ban us from our readers and supporters in the Civil Service....all these actions are really an emphatic demonstration of the fact that you, and your masters, and their partners in crime see us as a very credible threat. If you're going to lie to us, which I now see is second nature to you, at least be honest to yourself. You can't stop us. We are leveraging the ubiquituos nature of the Web. Look that up in the dictionary, stop guessing and scratching your head...you know you never saw that word before....

3.Do not know what we are talking about

This is the gist of what a Dr. Suresh Prasad had to say about us in a Fiji Times opinion piece. I must seriously ask the editor of said paper: Where on earth do you find these people? And how do you screen them?

This is actually what he said:

"It is ironical that the very vociferous pro- democracy advocates in Fiji, including the 'purists' within the legal fraternity and those shouting over the fence from our neighbouring nations, have yet not spouted their views on which model of democracy are they contemplating imposing on Fiji."

In this rant of his, he goes on to insinuate that we are NGO-employed people who are manipulating the "gullible overseas media". For one thing, the overseas media are not gullible. They have seen right through your lies and know that you are, in the words of a New Zealand journalist "an idiot".

Also the claim that we are "well endowed" NGOs is so way off the mark it's hilarious. I have a mortgage that just increased because the interest rates were raised by the banks in response to the decline in the economy caused by your coup. I pay my taxes, and don't have anything to do with the NGO scene. I'm your worst nightmare, a person who is speaking out because I believe in what I am saying and will do so, even if there is no reward in it other than the fact that I sleep peacefully at night, knowing that what I am tell you is the truth. I don't do this for anything other than the hope that maybe....just maybe, this will eventuate and a better Fiji for all will be the result.

In case nobody informed you, we are supporters of the democracy model enshrined in the 1997 Constitution. Stop lying and alleging that we are trying to restore Qarase-Democracy. You know that if your chumcha Mahendra Chaudry and his Labour party had won the 2001 or the 2006 elections, they would have governed under the same laws that the SDL led Fiji under. The fact of the matter is that you people contested the elections twice under this constitution and lost both times....and you can't stomach the idea that maybe the majority of Fiji does not want your masters in power. I will repeat that again so that you understand that this is very significant....THE MAJORITY OF FIJI DOES NOT WANT YOUR MASTERS IN POWER!!!!

Oh...and when you have the time, please go and explain the meaning of "ubiquitous" to Leweni. Seeing that you claim to be a doctor in something....

4.Fighting a lost cause

I don't think so. We are fighting for our rights and as history has shown over and over again, in every age, every nation, under every tyrant(s), the truth always prevails. And the truth is Mr. Bainimarama, you have committed a wrong so vile that I hope the Lord can forgive you. You have killed, tortured, threatened, bullied the citizens of this nation in the misguided notion that you were doing the right thing. You might say that you did not do these things but as Commander, yours is the responsibility.

A wiser general than you, who lived centuries before you darkened this planet, said:
" If the soldiers make a mistake once, and it leads to defeat, kill the soldier who made the mistake.

If the soldiers make the same mistake twice, with the same results, kill the general."

So why do we blog?

We blog because this is now the only way we can speak out freely. We have no other avenue that we can safely use to express our mounting dissatisfaction with the way our nation is being raped. We speak for our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers, our sons and daughters, for all who are suffering under this regime, and have no way to voice their concerns.

We blog, because we cannot stand silently and watch our country descend into the abyss. We blog, because we must. We blog because we say the things the masses feel, and express the desires found in the hearts of the sons and daughters of Fiji, that we are heading in the wrong direction, and that if we don't turn around now, we might just be too late. God save your souls if that day dawns on this nation, because only He will be able to protect you from a populace that will be hunting for you. That day will come sooner if the deposed PM does decide to come back to the capital. While I didn't agree with his government, I must admit that I would welcome him in Government over these fools anyday!!!!

Sun Tzu wrote in his military treatise The Art of War 3000 years ago:

" Too frequent rewards signify that the enemy is
at the end of his resources; too many punishments betray
a condition of dire distress."

and

" To begin by bluster, but afterwards to take fright
at the enemy's numbers, shows a supreme lack of intelligence."

As heads are rolling left, right and centre, and all Bainimarama's cronies are now sharing and even fighting over the spoils, the condition our nation is in must be very dire....even worse than the "economic decline" this regime used as their excuse for taking over. If you doubt that....talk to the nearest Civil servant you can find. They will only be more than happy to tell you about the shelved projects, the lack of funding and the cut's this regime is implementing. The proposal to right-size the government is just the latest. Come on Chaudry, call it what it is - downsizing. Or are you afraid of giving the unions you were once a part of another excuse to go on strike and really light the fires under you? This is also another spoils-sharing, that of diplomatic mission heads overseas.

One final note...can somebody tell the media people like Ms. Foster and Inoke at Fiji TV that we are not blogspots? Please get your names right. These are blogs...short-form for weblogs. Blogspot is merely the name Google uses to host these sites. Google blog and see what I'm talking about...

God Bless Fiji,
mawdsomething

The Iceberg Just Got Bigger....

2007-05-03T20:56:00.000-07:00

Bula....

I just took a break from doing chores around the house to post these comments for you to read....

And stay glued to your monitors...the next protest is coming soon....very soon.

___________________________________________________________________
Anonymous said...

God bless the ones who stayed home and the ones who have to go because of the coward 'THREAT' made Taina to civil servants.

Fijilive also need to rewrite their headings..Civil Servants didn't 'defy' the protest called and went to work...they were 'THREATENED' by their superiors...a sign of human rights abuse in the verbal sense.

May 2, 2007 8:05 AM
Anonymous said...

AWESOME stand and God bless you for suggesting it. There were 6 of us who had a mokosiga day away - so please add us to your list. Keep up the fight - there are many people behind you !

May 2, 2007 3:09 PM
Anonymous said...

the mere fact that PSC went to great lengths to ensure that all civil servants were at work is victory indeed. The free mileage they gave to the protest was victory in itself.

Keep up the good work. the end is near. God Bless Fiji.

They can run but cant hide.

May 2, 2007 4:55 PM
Anonymous said...

Honestly, we went to work BUT didnt do much. We just spent most of the time reading magazines, newspapers, talking, etc... anything but work.
We didnt file reports as expected, we didnt finish tasks that was given...

May 2, 2007 4:56 PM
Captain Freedom said...

6 of my friends were at my place drinking grog that day. We all work at different places but all came up with the excuse of having 'running stomach'..

And we will do it again.

May 2, 2007 4:58 PM
Anonymous said...

Apart from May 1, my every day now is a protest against what is happening and not a day goes by without me talking to people , like-minded or not, about issues that we need to consider seriously and not accept lying down. I'm continualy surprised (though I really shouldn't be) by the number of people who just abhor the current situation, the army, the IG etc...and even more pleasantly surprised that this is not just blind, bigotted , xenophobic hatred but a stand based on quite a good grasp and analysis of information that is available to them. Given that we're not getting much from the mainstream media, you and the other freedom bloggers will have to take the credit for providing us with good and reliable information.

Don't, even for a second, think that what you and other freedom bloggers are doing, are not having an effect. You provide us with a lifeline to our sanity, our conscience, our principles. Your blogs provide fuel that we need to endure another day of oppression, repression and just plain aridity of the spirit. Don't worry, it will all translate into action...even if it does not seem that way now.

May 3, 2007 4:35 PM

And just to show that there are a lot of us, and more than those idiots who are trying their damndest to ruin this paradise...this is the latest result taken from the poll that I have had running on here for almost 2 months:

God Bless Fiji,
mawdsomething

The Tip of the Iceberg...

2007-05-03T00:51:00.000-07:00

This is the body of an email received from one of the many supporters in the Civil Service. While this regime is claiming that you all turned up to work, I bet you all know that that is a big fat lie. Why are they lying? Read this and decide for yourself....

Note to you Intern ational Observers:

HUMAN RIGHTS ARE BEING REPRESSED AND ABUSED IN FIJI DESPITE WHAT THIS IDIOT CLAIMS:

Note that Shamima Ali is contradicting the lie also...take a bow Ms. Ali...

Anyway, on with the letter....
____________________________________________________________
Hi, I'm a civil servant working in a central agency of Govt (please leave me nameless).

Decided to do the right thing and not attend work on May 1st. Lately morale has been really low in the office. Other civil servants are working slowly and have contempt for the unqualified illegal ministers. Anyways the staff that did come to work on May 1st took the afternoon off and remarked to me that a lot of other staff didn't turn up for work as well.

Evidently this has prompted the PSC illegal head to block Govnet access to RFC and others. They're worried about the threat of collective action which they can't contain. In any case we are entitled to several days sick leave without sick sheet. If this were to happen again on larger scale it would cripple Govt.

A lot of us have tendered resignation or are actively seeking alternative employment rather than serving under these wretches.

Well, thanks for the good work you've been doind. Trust me you guys make a big difference!!

God Bless,

Maccabees

In Case of Victimisation....

2007-05-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

By now, some of you would start to be feeling the brunt of the decision you made to stay home on Tuesday, 1st May, in support of the call made for the rule of law, and democracy in our fair nation.

You might be thinking whether it was a good idea after all, especially if you have been hauled over the coals, about this, maybe penalised in some way, or asked to give an explanation why you stayed away from work. If you didn;t have a sick sheet, I really feel for you...the only thing worse I can think of is me getting caught by some eager-beaver aahhhh soldiers.....

In light of this sacrifice you have made, and the price you might be paying, we are looking for your stories....the things that happened to you because you stayed home. These stories will be highlighted in these blogs, and trust me, the readership we have, individually and collectively will ensure that tyrannical bosses like the PSC and others who think they can trample us underfoot with impunity, will think twice before taking action against you.

If you so wish, we will conceal your identity, your occupation and any other information that might place you in danger. Of course, there are those of you who are willing to come right out, and if you want to do so, we will be more than happy to oblige you. So start typing, and send in your stories, experiences, annecdotes etc. You can email them to mawdsomething@gmail.com or fijianblack@gmail.com .

By exposing them, you can stop them dead in their tracks. By staying quiet, you are only asking for more of this sort of treatment. Remember, they can only subdue you if you cower. So don't!!! Speak out, and we will carry your message to the world. Trust me, they are watching and listening.

Now that that's over...what next?

2007-05-02T02:56:00.000-07:00

This is the question.

What next?

We have had our protest. Amongst the rest of you, I also called in sick. Now the military is saying that all the civil servants turned up to work. The IG is claiming that the protest is a flop. In the current circumstances, the fact that there are those of us who dare protest, is already a sign of victory, a sign that we are not going to fade quietly into the dark.

How many of you believe that all the Government workers turned up for work? More importantly if that is true, what are the chances of a 100% turnout for the peons of the Government? And while you are considering this, think about this.....the very source of this so-called "fact" is the same source that told us that because of corruption, the democratically elected government deserved to be overthrown.

I know of at least 25 people, both civil servants and private sector employees who stayed at home, to protest the coup. Even my neighbours, stayed home. These are people I know personally. And that is the point I am trying to make...IF YOU LOOK HARD ENOUGH, YOU ALSO KNOW PEOPLE WHO MISSED WORK YESTERDAY!!!! We all do...and that is the fact of the matter. We might deny this, but deep down we all know that there are people, and a sizable number too, who are opposing this regime. Even the junta know this. Why do you think they get their knickers in a twist trying to "look unconcerned". Oh and Leweni, not only technically, but practically as well, you won't find us. Take that as the gospel truth.

We all know that this regime is lying. Who of us really, in he or her honest opinion, agrees that the events that have transpired are for the good of Fiji. Are deaths good? Maybe job losses. Or paycuts are good. The removal and replacing of the top echelon in the corridors must be for the better.

LIES!!!!

We all know that this is wrong. You can feel it in your bones. It sticks to your craw. And do you know what the saddest part of all of this is?

You are swallowing all of this...and you are asking for more. How? Because you have not said enough.

That is what yesterday was about..saying "Enough"....saying " I don't agree with this and I want as many people as possible to know that." The numbers are irrelevant...it's the message that is the focus.

That was the aim of yesterday, the first step, and it worked. A lot of you stood up and said "ENOUGH". I know there were a lot of you on the fence, your hearts with us but your fears holding you back. Rest assured...the protest was only the first of many that will be coming your way.

So, to those of you who are now looking over your shoulders, thinking that because you hold the guns, nobody will make you run for your lives...beware!!!! We are here....we are growing in number...and your day of reckoning is coming.

We will not kill you like you killed us, we will not torture you like you did us, but we will prevail. You cannot stop us. You cannot find us. You cannot see us. We are all around you, amongst you, with you, watching you. And now you fear us. Because we are coming....and we are no longer afraid, of you or your guns. That is why you are afraid. Because we now know that we have nothing to fear from you. You don't scare us anymore.

D-Day minus 1

2007-04-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

Tomorrow is the day we are heard.

Now this is something new to our nation...the idea that we the people can peacefully,
passively and yet cohesively state that we are the ones who decide what happens in our
lives, our country and our future.

We can decide what happens in these islands.

The junta is worried. That's why they are all over the news yelling that we are dissenting,
that we are a threat to national security.

How can expressing ones opinion be a threat to national security?

This could only be true if the threat was to the security of Bainimarama, Chaudry, Leweni,
Khaiyum and the rest of the people who are worried that we, the public might actually catch
on to what they are doing to this country.

This is a decision that each of you must make.....alone. The choice whether to stay home is
yours and yours alone to make.I cannot make it for you, the military cannot make it for you,
in fact nobody can force this upon you. At the end of it all, you are the one God has given
this choice to, and you are also the one who will reap the fruits of the decision you will
make.

There is not much else to say.

Decide what you will do, whether you will oppose this regime, by staying home, or accept the
fact that you are no longer in control of your destiny.

I have decided. I will oppose this regime. I will stay home.

God Bless Fiji,
mawdsomething.

The Reactions...positive and negative....AKA anecdotal evidence

2007-04-26T03:41:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

"There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world and that is an idea whose time has come."

Victor Hugo.

This post is dedicated to those of you who have heeded the call that is now ringing out around the nation and throughout the world, and have decided that you will protest this regime, by staying home on May 1st.

For reasons of security, both personal and for your families, the vast majority of you will be faceless, nameless and anonymous. While we wish that this was not the case, the situation in this nation dictates that we must employ methods that we would not normally use. Chief amongst these is anonmyity. The fact that they cannot identity us, makes it impossible for them to quash us. That there are those who will not bow to their tyranny is now evident, and your actions are giving hope, and instilling courage in the hearts of those who wish to act but are shackled by fear and doubt.

There are those who wish us ill. These are a few emails and comments that have been send to me since this idea was mooted:

you sound like a coward , if u want to stand up for democracy don't be such a sissy write your name. If people stay home like u say may we please have your name so that you will pay for day our pay gets dorked. imagine what will happen if we gather as a crowd you will know what to do, we will not have an escape plan.

You must think of us as willing pawns in this regime...... u know what we have shoved aside by people like you for so long that we are thankful for the military who are finally doing something for us.

If you think that maybe we should have said something earlier, WE HAVE, it is people like you who would not have listened.

HAVE SOME BACKBONE, STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE SAY IT WITH YOUR NAME!!!!!!!

and

You are about to be taught a lesson in how few people actually have access to the internet and pay attention to blogs in Fiji

and of course the military, whose actions in trying to track us down, are speaking louder than their feeble mutterings.

Now the point must be stressed that the decision to actually stay home on 01/05/07 is yours and yours alone. No one can force you, and make the choice for you. If you don't agree with this course of action, by all means, go to work. If you lack the courage of your convictions, then you must look deep within yourself and examine what you value. The decision is yours.

The disadvantage that the lack of internet access poses, is more than negated by the wide media coverage and the good old coconut wireless that is the fastest means of information dissemination in Fiji. So to those of you who are wishing we will fall flat on our faces, sorry....

For those who do decide to stand up against this dictatorship, I cannot thank you. Nobody will reward you. You will become the object of ridicule and scorn from those who do not, or cannot, grasp the gifts that democracy, true democracy brings us. You will become points of division, the"eye" of the political storm that is now tearing apart our nation. Your sacrifice, though silent, will ring out down the ages to our children that we did not run when Fiji needed us most.

Be brave. Be strong. Be calm. Those who condone this evil that now passes itself off as governance in Fiji, will accuse you of being cowards, of not having the spine to come out in the open.

Sun Tzu's The Art Of War states:

"You should not oblige your enemy by allowing him to choose the battleground."

It is not to our advantage to be known for now. We are like the wind that blows wherever it pleases, and nobody knows where it came from, or where it goes. All they can see is the evidence of its passing.

This is our battleground. This is where we hold the higher ground, the moral advantage, where the guns, the threats and the posturing of the oppressors mean nothing. This is where we are strong, and our enemy is weak. This is where we cannot be attacked, and we can, passively but convincingly can tell them unequivocally that we will not cower in the shadows any longer.

We can bring down this enemy. We can halt this regime, and make them realise that we are the ones who will stop them. So let us show them the real caliber of the sons and daughers of these islands. Let us make them see that Fiji will not suffer their delusions a moment longer.

I leave you with the following messages from those who will stand with you, if you stay home on May 1st.

ex Fiji Tourist said...: Great article! You have the nail right on the head!

You summarise what the NZ commissioner said yesterday; things have gone quickly backwards since these morons have held Fiji hostage.

The people of Fiji are the only ones who can really tell these fools that the entire world are sick of their bumbling antics.

Take the day off on 1st may. I hope that a cruise liner comes in and the passengers find that there are no tours or hotel lunches; you good people might be able to put some posters up around the wharf to explain why there are no services in Suva that day.

Fijians, YOU have to stand up and be counted; you can't sit back and complain and not do anything!
newsfiji said...: Don't let anyone fool you into thinking it's not going to work.

We will not go to work on May 1st because we believe it is the right thing to do.

Choosing what is right over everything else whether it be money, being famous, glory, whatever:

It is doing what is right always that will define who you are.

A man or woman of principle.

So, to all readers, tell everybody anybody, pull in a sicky on Tuesday May 1st!

God Bless You Greatly (to goodmenandwomendoingsomething)
and God Bless Fiji!

newsfiji said...: Good on you, at least you've come up with something to do, rather than all talk!

Let's do it!

Stay away from work on 1st of May!

Go Fiji Go!
Anonymous said...: good idea, Sick of IG day, 1st of May.
Anonymous said...: This is like the DAY WITHOUT IMMIGRANTS in California. It works and I know that it will work in Fiji.
Ke sa rawa ni ra cakava na illegal i Mereke, e sega ni dua na kena dredre e Viti.
Bai Ni Vore said...: Vinaka for your post.
1st Day of May it is.

I'll post it on my blog.

Good post, Good reminder to all on where things stand, and where we go from here.
ramatau said...: You can do it!!!
I'm calling in sick on that day... 1st May! I agree with ex fiji tourist, why don't we email each other and get the ball rolling... let's do something funny... just like in the movies aye... cool! we won't be obvious, coz they don't know us!

Anonymous said...
me nomuni na vakacegu kei na veivakalougatataki ni Kalou. may God Bless you and your works... TRUTH PREVAILS... vinaka vakalevu na nomuni tu taka tiko na dina kei na savasava e na
mororoi kemuni ka na taqomaki kemuni ko JIOVA na noda Kalou.

Your decision to join us brings this quote from Martin Luther King to mind:

"Here and there an individual or group dares to love, and rises to the majestic heights of moral maturity. So in a real sense this is a great time to be alive. Therefore, I am not yet discouraged about the future. Granted that the easygoing optimism of yesterday is impossible. Granted that those who pioneer in the struggle for peace and freedom will still face uncomfortable jail terms, painful threats of death; they will still be battered by the storms of persecution, leading them to the nagging feeling that they can no longer bear such a heavy burden, and the temptation of wanting to retreat to a more quiet and serene life. Granted that we face a world crisis which leaves us standing so often amid the surging murmur of life's restless sea. But every crisis has both its dangers and its opportunities. It can spell either salvation or doom. In a dark confused world the kingdom of God may yet reign in the hearts of men."

God Bless Fiji,
FijianBlack

Media Release.

2007-04-24T22:20:00.000-07:00

The following media release is in response to the RFMF's decision to track down one black native...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suva, Fiji Islands, April 25th, 2007.

FIJIAN BLACK is the blognym for the blogsite Good Men (and Women) Doing Something (goodmenandwomendoingsomething.blogspot.com) and is calling on the public of Fiji to passively resist the interim regime, by staying home on Tuesday, 1st of May, 2007.

FijianBlack is calling on all sons and daughters of Fiji, to stay home, as a sign of opposition to this regime and rejects the terror tactics being openly touted by Neumi Leweni's statement on Fiji Village .

"The coup culture is alive in Fiji, because we have not done anything about it" he says. "We need to be more pro-active in defending our democracy, our rights and the future of Fiji. If we don't, this is a forlorn legacy we are bequeathing to our children"

Intelligentsiya (intelligentsiya.blogspot.com) who is also a member of the Fiji Freedom Bloggers movement is also calling on the military, the Interim Government and the other arms of Government to focus on the more important issues, like the restoration of democracy, the investigation of the numerous Human Rights abuses, and the removal of the military from all levels of Government.

"The military, which was once a proud institution, loved in Fiji and respected around the world, has, in the past few months completely and utterly morphed into a dictatorial, ruthless regime, that is not motivated by a patriotic love of our country, but by greed, the self-serving interests of a few, fear and insecurity. It is a sad state of affairs when the army of a nation needs its guns to protect itself against it's own citizens. It is a sorry sight to see the once proud green uniforms that have brought glory to Fiji, causing fear, resentment and concern amongst the people of this nation" said Intelligentsiya.

The military has usurped power, it has assumed mantles of various institutions that it was and never will be, suited to exercise. It has taken a situation that was none of their concern, the state of our economy, and has made it infinitely worse."

Fijian Black calls on the Republic of Fiji Military Forces , and the Interim Regime, to respect Human Rights, the will of the people, and the opinions of the citizens of Fiji.

"If the military had not intervened, we would not have the $350 million in aid and our sugar reforms would have been under way. The Tourism industry would be booming, the job losses in the hotels would not have happened, the visitors would be flocking to our shores. We would not have a negative GDP, and an economy that seriously needs an infusion of aid. We would have new hotels opening this year, happier landowners, more exports, higher levels of foreign reserves and a nation on its way up in the world.

Mrs. Verebasaga would still have her husband, and the father of their children, and their breadwinner.

Sakiusa Rabaka would be studying, aiming for a job in the very industry that the travel advisories, based on the actions of this regime, have decimated.

We would still be abiding by the 1997 Constitution, in word and deed.

Now our nation is in shambles. At the time the investigative powers of our Forces should be pursuing the murderers of Messers Verebasaga and Rabaka, they are more concerned about stemming any opposition to their cause."

The Fiji Freedom bloggers movement is in itself tangible evidence that the right to freedom of expression has been unjustly curbed under the insidious guise of the Emergency Regulations."

Fijian Black said "Fiji Live has also reported our call wrongly. We are not calling on people to wear black as that would only cause them to be singled out by this junta but just to protest peacefully by staying at home".

ENDS

Contact: fijianblack@gmail.com; mawdsomething@gmail.com; intelligentsiya@gmail.com

The Numbers Game

2007-04-23T23:22:00.001-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

The days to the May Day, May "Inaction" Day or the May "Stay-At-Home" Day are passing by.

As they do, the camps for and against this coup, it's "alleged" reasons and whether is was a good or bad thing, are coalesce. People who are now aware of this protest are wieghing out the pros and cons of such an action, and whether it is worth doing so or not.

As such, the swords are drawn, and people are starting to state their support or their opposition to such a move. There is one arguement that is surfacing, that this post is intended to refute.

This arguement is the one that a commenter to a previous post, the very first post that proposed this method of resistance, put on this very blog. The commenter, who chose to remain anonymous said:

"You are about to be taught a lesson in how few people actually have access to the internet and pay attention to blogs in Fiji"

This is the hope of those who support the coup and it's intentions and the fear of those of us who oppose this regime. The fear, whether we have the numbers on our side or not.

Let's take this "bull" by the horns. Is this really an issue that will be decided by the numbers? Is this something that should be decided by the majority? Should the fact that we might be few in number deter us from making this stand?

NO!!!!!

This is not an issue that is determined by the numbers that support one side or the other of the arguement. Whether we are few or many does not matter. Our numerical superiority is moot on this issue.

The only thing, the only question that you should ask yourself is this:

IS THIS THE RIGHT THING TO DO?

The numbers do not matter. All that matters is that we are doing the right thing. In fact, at the end of all things, doing the right thing is the only thing that will ever matter.

We might be few in number. We might not even make a ripple. We might not stop this tyranny. We might become the laughstock of those who oppose us.

IT DOES NOT MATTER!!!

All that matters is that we know what is right and we have done it. We have heard the voice of reason, of conscience, of the truth that speaks to everyone's heart in our quietest moments. And we have listened, and not ignored that quiet voice that is telling us that this is all wrong, that the way to a better nation is not in the deaths of our sons, in the killings of our fathers, in the raping and harrasement of our sisters, daughters and mothers, in the torture of our loved ones, friends and relatives. It is not in unilateral, dictatorial leadership, nor in the decrees issued unthinkingly on a vunerable nation. It is not in the guns, the checkpoints or even the bluster, the war of words.

The way to a better nation is in the hearts of its people. In the hearts of it's sons and daughters. It's when we say no to cruelty, when we shun the evil that is now hainging over these islands we call home.

Even if only one person says " I will not agree to this"...that is enough to keep the hope alive that one day, this Fiji will be the way the world should be.

So don't listen to the jibes of the dissenters who try to dissenchant you, to make you waver, to instill in you doubt. We can make a difference. We will make a difference. We must, because this task has fallen to us to shoulder.

And this can either be our darkest hour, or our turning point. We can either fade into the darkness, or we can rise with the light.

The choice is yours. It's mine. It's ours.

I will protest this illegal regime that has raped my country, by staying home on May Day.

Even if I am the only one who does so.

Na Yadra Ni Tuwawa....

2007-04-23T20:04:00.002-07:00

E sega ni kena i balebale me laki vakayadrati mai na Tuwawa mai Sabeto.

Ni sa bula!

E laurai mai na vei volavolai ko ni sa cakava tiko ni sa lewe levu sara vei keimuni na lewe ni vanua o ni sa duavata e na noda veitauriligataka na noda na sega ni lako i cakacaka e na matai ni siga ni vula ko Me.

Me vaka ni lewe vuqa vei kemuni na noda e na vakaitavi taki kemuni tiko e na noda duavata taka na kudru ni veiliutaki sa tara tu oqo na noda matanitu, e sa tu vata tale tu ga kei na loma vakatitiqa kei na loma tarotaro. Na vei taro e so e da na dui taroga lo tu o ya se na vakayaco ka na ka e da na sasagataka e na tiki ni siga oqo, se na cava au na rawa ni la'ki vakaraitaka vei koya na noqu i liuliu mai vale ni cakacaka ke'u mani sega ni lako, e rawa beka ni'u na la'ki kau kina i Delainabua, kei na cava na kena yaga vei au ke'u mani kudruvaka tale ga na tiki ni siga oqo?

Au vakabauta ni tovo oqo e vou ki na noda vanua ia, kevaka e da via maroroa, taqomaka ka vueta cake tale na noda vanua mai na veiliutaki sa da sotava tu oqo, e sa yaga me da na vakayacora kina e dua na ka. Kevaka sa mani taro o nomu i liuliu mai vale ni cakacaka me baleta na nomu vaka-lutu cakacaka e rawa ni da kaya ni da tauvimate.

E sega ni vakataratutu taki ni na dredre vei ira na lewe ni noda mataivalu me ra na veiusa ki na keba cava ga e na noda vanua ke da lewe levu taka na lewe ni vanua na veitokoni-taki ni vaka lutu cakacaka, e na sega ni vakaduidui-taki se o cei a tauvimate dina e na tiki ni siga oqo kei na nodratou na qarauna sara vaka vinaka na lewe ni matanitu oqo na kedratou i rogorogo kei na ka e na rawa ni vakayacori kina me baleta ni ra sa wanonovi iratou tiko vakamalua na vei soqosoqo lelevu e vuravura me vaka taka na EU kei na UN.

Na taro e da na dui taroga tu se na cava na vuna mo ni cakava kina se me'u na cakava na vakalutu cakacaka e na tiki ni siga oqo? Se, o cei tale e na cakava na vakalutu cakacaka oqo? Oqo e sega ni dua na ka me da na rawa ni veisolisoli taka ka ni ka e da na vakayacora e na tiki ni siga oqo e na rawa ni na vakayacora na veisau ki na noda vanua lomani oqo ko Viti ka me ra na bula vinaka kina o ira na luveda kei ira na noda kawa mai muri.

Na vakatakekere raraba vei kemuni na noda me da na veitokoni taka na i tavi oqo ka me da na vakalutu cakacaka e na tiki ni siga sa vakaraitaki taumada tiko yani ka o ni sa kerei raraba tale tiko ga yani mo ni veitukutukuni taka yani vei ira na nomuni caba, vei ira na veiwekani kei ira na nomuni daulomani me na rawa ni da kaya vakadomo i levu vei ira na veiliutaki ni da sa sega ni taleitaka ka duavata kei na veika e ra sa vakayacora tiko ki na noda vanua lomani oqo ko Viti.

Me maroroi Viti tiko ga na Tamada mai Lomalagi!

May Day Posters

2007-04-23T04:03:00.000-07:00

Bula again,

For those of you who are looking for assistance in convincing your friends/family/colleagues to stay home on the 1st of May...these posters might help you in doing so.

ENJOY!!!!

Na Luluqa Ni Veika Sa Yaco Tiko

2007-04-22T22:48:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

Oqo na i tukutuku e vaka-tabakiduataki vei kemuni na noda liga ni wau ni mataivalu ka ko ni dau wilika na vei volavolai vaka oqo.E sega ni vakataratututaki ni vuqa vei kemuni sa dau wilika tiko, wasea ka dau veitalanoataka na veika e dau tabaki mai e na vei sala ni taba ni tukutuku vaka oqo vei ira na nomuni daulomani kei ira o ni dau veivakabauti kaya.Na veika o ni na dau wasea, e vu tiko ga mai na kena sa laurai ni sa dua tani na mua ni lakolako sa goleva tiko na veilutaki ni noda mataivalu kei ira e ra sa mai liutaki keda e na matanitu sa mai duri tu oqo.Sa vakatataro tu na yalo yadua vei kemuni se sa mua e vei na i lakolako oqo kei na veika e dodonu o ni sa cakava tiko se segai me baleta ga na kena sa mai vakasivoi na matanitu a digitaki mai vei ira na lewe i Viti.

Sa basika vakamalua ni sa luluqa na veimaliwai e na vanua ni cakacaka ka i dusidusi vei kemuni na lomana na noda vanua ni sa tiko na leqa ka sa tu vei kemuni na kena madigi se sa sala cava o ni sa na digia.

Na i matai ni vakatakilakila ni sa tiko na leqa e na veikeba ni mataivalu ni noda vanua, o ya na nodratou sa vesu tiko na lewe tolu vei kemuni na lewe ni noda mataivalu mai na keba mai Labasa ka sa tau tiko vei iratou na veibeitaki ni ratou saqata ka via vuaviritaka na lewa mai Sukanaivalu. Oqo na i vakadinadina ni o ni sa sega ni duavata kece tiko ki na veilutaki e sa vakaroti tiko yani e na keba e Delainabua. Keimami sa vakavinavinakataki kemudou na lewe tolu oqo e na nomudou tu vakatagane ka raica rawa na dina ni veika sa vakayacori tiko e na noda vanua. Keimami vakabauta na lewe ni noda vanua ka sa tabonaki na veika keimami nanuma ni vuqa vei keimuni na noda liga ni wau ni noda mataivalu e sa cilavi kemuni rawa na rarama ni sa cala tu na ka e sa mai tara tu oqo na noda vanua ka keimami sa vakamamasu tale ga kina vei keimuni mo ni tutaka na dina ka tokoni keimami e na kena sasagataki me lesu na veiliutaki e na noda digidigi na lewe ni vanua de o ni qai oka vata tu kei ira e ra sa cala tu.

Sa rogo tale ga mai ni sa vakacegui tu vakawawa e dua na turaga-ni-valu baleta ga ni a tu saqata na lewa nei koya e sa mai taura tu vakaloa na i tutu ni daunivakasala vaka-lawa e na matanitu sa mai duri tu ni kua. Oqo na i vakaraitaki ni sega ni tu raviti kemuni o Bainimarama e na gauna o ni sotava kina e dua na veileti se leqa ka ni sa saga vakaukauwa o koya me maroroi koya mada ga vakataki koya. Na veitaro e tu e yaga mo ni na taroga na lewe ni noda mataivalu o ya se cava na vuna a sega ni tu kina vakatagane e na loma ni keba e na yabaki 2000 e na gauna a vakayacori kina na veivanavanai mai Delainabua? Na i karua ni taro o ya, se cava na vuna e sa sasagataka kina vakaukauwa o Bainimarama me kakua ni tini botoilevu tu na vuaviri e sa mai vakayacora tu oqo ki na noda vanua? E na duidui na noda rai e na tikina oqo ia vei au, na ka sa mai vakayacora oqo o Bainimarama e vakaraitaka ga na nona via maroroa na kena i rogorogo e na duka e sa binia tu.

E so vei kemuni na lewe ni noda mataivalu momo qaqa e ra a sa kere vakacegu se sa vakacegui vakatawa dodonu e na vuku ga ni nodra sega ni duavata kei na nona veiliutaki o Voreqe. Oqo o ira na noda lewe ni mataivalu e ra tu taka na dina mai na veika vaka tawa dodonu, na dina mai na nodra rawa ka vakailoa na so kei na veika e da vakabauta ni dodonu mai na ka e da na qai rawata mai muri ni da sa vakayacora oti e dua na ka e tawa dodonu. Na vua ni nona veiliutaki na i liuliu ni noda mataivalu sa vakaraitaki koya tiko ga mai ko gauna ka'u vakabauta ni nodratou sa vakasivoi na lewe tolu mai Labasa, e sa qai tekitekivu ni veika e bera mai ka ni sa tekivu rogo na kudru kei yamasamasa e na loma ni vei keba e na noda vanua.

Cakava na ka dodonu ka kerea na nomu galala mai na veika dukadukali e sa vakayacori tiko ka oqo e na dua na ka o na sega ni dusi kina ia na vakacaucautaki ga kina ni o sa vakayacora e dua na ka e dodonu e na kena gauna dodonu. Oqo tale ga e dua na i tovo o na rawa ni dokadokai iko kina ka o na tu doudou e na matadra na wekamu, o ira na nomu i tokani kei ira na nomuni daulomani ni o sa kila na dina o a tu taka kei na vakacegu ni yalomu.

Na i dusidusi ni sa sega ni dodonu na veika e sa vakayacori tiko ka o sa rogoca tiko na domo ni Kalou ki na nomu bula e sa dodonu me i vakadei ni nomu bula mo na vakayacora kina na ka dodonu ka riba tani mai na veileqa sa tu.

Tu vaka-tagane ka tutaka na dina ka na sega ni na vakatitiqa kina na yalomu!

E da nanumi ira na vei yaca e so me vakataki Bainimarama, Leweni kei Driti ka ra a vakacacana na noda bula ni veimaliwai kei na bula vakaveiwekani e na veigauna mai muri.

Oqo na i rairai ni noda mataivalu e na gauna oqo e na kena sa mai vakarusai vakadua na i yaloyalo e ra a boroa tu mai o ira na tamada kei ira na tukada e na nodra gauna mai na veibuca ni valu e ra a la'ki vakaitavi taki ira kina me baleta wale ga na nodra lomana ka tu taka na noda vanua lomani oqo.

Ia, ni sa vaka-gauna na veika kece ga, au vakabauta ni se sega ni bera kevaka mo ni na tutaka tale na veika e dau kilai tani kina na noda i mataivalu e na veigauna sa oti ka ra a solia kina na nodra bula na tamada kei ira na tukada.

Kukumatua ki na veika-vinaka e ra a sa viri kotora oti tu na noda qase ka kalawa yani ki na vei-vakagalalataki mai na ca sa bini koto.

Keimami na dokai iko kina e na nomu tu dei ki na noda yavu ni vakabauta e kilai tani kina na lewe i Viti.

Me maroroi Viti tiko ga na noda Turaga mai Lomalagi!

A Sleeping Giant Awakens.....

2007-04-22T22:36:00.000-07:00

No..no..it's not that giant in Sabeto LOL.

Ni sa bula.

The response to the idea of calling in sick on the 1st of May is now a topic of conversation, and a hot one too!!!!!

While the majority of people who want to support this are willing to, there are a few things that they ask. Things like :

"Will this really work?"
"What will I tell my boss?"
"Can I be taken up to QEB for this?"
"Why should I do this?"

I know that this sort of activity is new to Fiji. However, if we want to preserve, restore and resurrect this nation, we must do something. This will work. If your boss askes where you were next Tuesday, tell him/her that you were sick. (tongue-in-cheek "of the regime that is running Fiji").

The military cannot take us up to QEB or any of their camps....for the following reasons:

They cannot round everyone up. They don't have the resources to do this on a large.
They won't be able to separate the really sick from the sick-of-them.
They will be scared of the negative publicity, especially since the EU, the UN and other international bodies are now watching them.
They are already aware that public support is not with them, and will not want to agitate the masses any further.

Why should you do this?

Who do you think will do this, if not you? Who else will do this? Nobody else will do this. This is ours to do, and we are the ones who must do it, for ourselves and our future generations.

So call in sick. Tell your friends, your family, your aquiantences to call in sick. We can send out a message, loud and clear that we do not support this coup, it's aims and it's objectives.

God Bless Fiji,
mawdsomething

Time To Put Our Money Where Our Mouth Is

2007-04-18T21:27:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

To those of you that regularly visit my blog, I apologise that I haven't posted anything for the last few days. This is because the plethora of blogs on the situation in the country, one can see that almost all aspects of the "comedy of errors" that is now unfolding, is pretty well covered...except one.

This particular issue is why I had decided to take a couple days hiatus to sit, think and let these thoughts form a coherent, practical post. It's something that I feel needs to be done.The genesis of this, I owe to a very wise lady who told me that this is what is lacking in our fight for our freedom. For reasons of safety, I will not say more on this lady, except Vinaka Vakalevu.

The blogging phenomenon is now well and truly alive in Fiji. The number of blogs that have captured the attention of the nation, and those who follow Fiji's progress from afar. It has provided an outlet for the frustrations we now feel individually and collectively, when we think, read, hear or see the way our beloved country is being fleeced.

So we are all shouting. But let's take a step back and look at this again.

What have we really achieved?

Nothing of substance.

Sure..we rant and rave, but we have not, halted the progress this regime is making. The only body that actually did something is the Great Council of Chiefs. Now most of us may either agree or disagree with the course of action they took, but I think no one will dispute the fact that they have thrown a spanner in the works and halted the ambitions of the IG, and most certainly, elements within it, who were salivating at the thought of becoming a rent-free resident in the White House with a view.

What now?

We need to stand up. We are already speaking up. However, we, for various reasons are not the sort of citizens that will cause mayhem. That is not our style. However, something more substantive needs to be done, if we want to break this regime, and restore our collective, the will of the people to the leadership of this nation.

The last few days, I struggled with this, and I have come up with an idea. Something that can potentially paralyze the nation, for whatever period we decide. Something that is safe for us to undertake...it will not result in our going for the now infamous "traing runs" at QEB and the other RFMF gyms.Something that we can do, but the IG and their enforcers cannot prevent.

Let's all call in sick. All workers who do not support this regime, who think we deserve better governance, should call in sick on the first working day of next month. THat would be Tuesday, the 1st of May. If we do so,and enough of us do so, we can stop this nation, just like how everything shut's down when we have a public holiday.If you are hassled by your "overeager" boss, your friends, colleagues, even the junta, you can always claim that you were sick for the day. After all, how can they prove otherwise.

So call in sick on Tuesday, 1st of May. Let's flex our muscles, and show these idiots where the real interests, beliefs and desires of the people of Fiji are.

I know that this idea will generate a lot of discussions, debates etc. Any of you who wish to do so,please drop me an email.

Mark this day on your calenders. Tell your friends. Fellow bloggers, please spread the word. We can stop the rot, the lies and the destruction. Only we can.

God Bless Fiji
mawdsomething.

The Hairline Cracks....

2007-04-15T22:07:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

This post is directed at you soldiers who read the blogs. Don't deny it, the majority of you do, and you print it out and disseminate the material to others. You talk in private to your loved ones, your trusted ones that you are apprehensive about the way the RFMF is taking Fiji, and that you are starting to have misgivings about the decision you have taken, either actively or passively, to overthrow the democratically elected Government of Fiji.

It's starting to appear. The cracks. The signs that all is not well in the state of Bainimaramadom. It's a sign to those of you military personnel who really love this country, and are now doubting the path your institution is taking.

Firstly, the 3 officers from the RFMF Sukanaivalu Barracks in Labasa, who are now under military investigation for allegations of mutiny. That's right, it is now considered a mutinious act to tell fellow soldiers that the "Commander" is leading the flock to the slaughter. I applaud these brave men. I know that there are more of you in there. Come out, and stand with us, because if you don't, you will surely be destroyed along with the RFMF.

Now news that another officer has been sent on leave for opposing the Interim bushlawyer. You see, you think that Bainimarama has your back. He doesn't. He's too busy trying to protect his own. Why do you think he ran in 2000, and left you to fight while he got away? Why do you think he is fighting tooth-and-nail to see that this coup succeeds? Call it what you want. I call it self preservation.

How about this list of men, real men ( not the bullies who lead you now) who chose the higher road, and left or were forced out because they would not bow to Frank? Men who chose integrity over corruption, honesty over collusion, and principles over gain? Now we see the fruit your Commander is "bearing". The way he is leading you, I am sure the 3 officers in Labasa are just the tip of the iceberg, a whiff of the rumblings that is now stirring in the forces.

Do the right thing. Step down. We will not think less of you. In fact, we will hold you in higher esteem. They might ridicule you, but we will respect you. You will have the gratitude of a struggling nation. You will be able to hold your head high, to look your relatives, friends and family in the eye, with the knowledge that you chose the right thing warming your heart.

The feeling of unease, that all is not well, that something is amiss, that is God speaking to your conscience. In the depths of your heart, you know that this is wrong, and that you must not continue in this course of action any longer.

Be strong!!!!

Stand up for the truth!!!!

You will never regret it.

Fiji, and indeed history will remember the names of those who dragged us down this road with the kind of revulsion that we reserve for the dregs of humanity. Already we think of Bainimarama in this vein. We see Leweni through through these eyes. We think of Driti in this light.

This is the taint that clings to the once proud green of our soldiers. The proud reputation that our fathers fought for, that we respected, that the country boasted about, this has been brought low by a chain of morally deficit decisions, of a few morally defunct leaders amongst you.

You can restore all this, and re-elevate the RFMF to the pedestal it once held in Fiji. You can reclaim the lost honour that those who came before you shed their blood and gave their lives for.

Take the first step down this road.

Resign.

We, the people of Fiji wil love you for it.

God Bless Fiji
mawdsomething

The Myth of Moving Forward.

2007-04-15T03:34:00.000-07:00

Moving Forward.......

That is the catchphrase that is now being bandied around by people who are currently leading this nation. A phrase that is invoked to implore you, and I, to join with them in their efforts to get things back on track.

RIGHT!!!!

There are a few things that need to be pointed out at this junction, things that will reveal that the idea of moving forward is a ploy used by Bainimarama, Leweni, Chaudry, Bune, Khaiyum and others in this illegal junta to make us, the resisting populace march to the tune they are playing.

The Passing of the Blame

Bainimarama is fond of blaming others for the wrongs that are his doing. According to this idiot, the USA is responsible for stopping Fiji from moving forward. The US Senior Envoy Mr. Glyn Davis, however, refuted this notion, by stating that their refusal of a visa application is in no way holding Fiji back. Things like the roadblocks, the RFMF on the streets, the State of Emergency, these things are what, according to Mr. Davis, are holding Fiji back. I agree with Mr. Davis. It's this regime that is preventing Fiji from moving forward. After all, we have an illegal interim PM who hankers back to the events of 2000.

The other party that gets a lot of tarring from the IG is the SDL. Now I am not an SDL supporter per se, but even I can see that the lack of tourists, the stop in aid, the stop in investment, the reversal in the economic growth from a growth of around 2% last year and a forecast of 2.4% for this year, to a drop in 2.5% now forecasted for this year, the blame should be fairly laid at the feet of this junta. The drop however, must be invisible to this other idiot, who says that there is confidence in economic growth of Fiji.....ha ha ha. Check this out for more on this idiot.

The "Threat to National Security".

Everytime there is opposition to this regime, they like to justify their response in terms of the opposition being a "threat to national security". Things like dissenting workers, unfavourable media reports, even people who oppose this regime's actions like the 3 brave soldiers in the Sukanaivalu Barracks in Labasa, are terms security threats. Rt. Timoci Vesikula is the latest so-called threat, for daring to speak out against the actions of this regime. The Fiji Times editoral today carries a real list of threats to our national security, indeed, our national wellbeing. The only mistake the editor made, in my view is that he stated that we are taking "one step forward, two steps back." We are not. We have been dragged backed so many steps by this junta, that it's not funny anymore. And we have not made any progress since December 5th.

Leweni, just a friendly warning...the number of "threats" to your "national security" is growing daily, and you will find out one day what this means. I pray that day comes tomorrow every night.

Changing the Rules to Suit your Game

This is another favourite MO of this regime. Whenever things don't go to plan, they change the rules to suit them. Don't like the GCC reaction? Change the rules. Workers threatening to go on strike? Change the rules. Can't take criticism of the way you govern? Change the rules!

Incidently I thought that to change the rules, one needed to have the parlimentary mechanism in place. Silly me....guess a gun will do just fine.

So where is the moving forward in all of this?

There isn't any. We are moving backwards. Our economy is dying, our trade links are shutting down, our aid is drying up, our options are disappearing and all that remains is us. You and I. That we can stick it to this regime and tell them that we are tired of being lied to, that we are not going forward, but we are only going backwards.

The thing about this coup, is that the "shadowy figures" from the previous coups are now in the open. We know who they are. We can see who they are. Even more "exciting" ( from a " I'm gonna buturaki you" perspective) they cannot run away overseas if this thing falls apart. The enemy is now in the open, and known. We know who to strike at.

There is no moving forward. Not when this IG and it's idiot leaders are dragging us down. It's the current urban myth of this regime. Why don't we cast them off so that we can really move forward? Email me if you want to cast off their shackles.

Born Fijian, and Proud.

2007-04-11T03:33:00.000-07:00

Bula kece,

Today is a day I'm bursting with pride at my heritage.

Things like the win in Adelaide makes me proud. Or stories of the bravery of Labalaba, or the friendliness of those of us that impress the tourist visitors so much!!!! It's when you hear stories of things like that, that you remember why we hold this land, it's people and it's culture and traditions so dear.

The latest thing to warm this heart, however is completely out of left field. So far out that it fell like a thunderbolt out of the stratosphere.

The Great Council of Chiefs rejected the Presidential nominee of Rt. Epeli Nailatikau for Vice President.

Say ahhh???

The Great Council of Chiefs rejected the Presidential nominee of Rt. Epeli Nailatikau for Vice President.

That came as a complete suprise to almost everyone. Even the IG Fijian Affairs Minister was dumbfound, and lost for words. And who wouldn't? It's like finding out that the old dog does bite!!! With a vengence!!!

In revenge, the other Epeli threatened to remove "selected" GCC members. Hey Rt. Epeli, why don't you try to make them run at QEB? That's right, you can't!!! As you are too scared of the repecussions that course of action would bring.

The Chiefs have spoken.

This was after the entry of Adi Samanunu Cakobau, Ro Teimumu Kepa and Rt. Naiqama Lalabalavu were denied entry into the meeting. Well, an attempt was made to deny them entry. In the case of Ro Teimumu, it failed as the Burebasaga member Ro Elenoa Gonelevu stepped aside to allow the Marama Roko Tui Dreketi to attend in her place.

The three highest ranking chiefs in Fiji, being shut out on a technicality. Bainimarama/Chaudry/Khaiyum etc...we Fijians will not forget this. And remember, where will you run to when this is all over? The end is coming very fast.

Two confederacies, Kubuna and Burebasaga rejected the nominee. With Rt. Joni Madraiwiwi as a High Chief of Kubuna, Adi Samanunu as the eldest of the Cakobau siblings ( the paramount chief's position is still up for grabs) and Ro Teimumu Kepa leading Burebasaga, all being part of the "clean-up" campaign, and the "wrong" part at that, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the nominee the IG/RFMF were trying to pass through would be met with resistance.

Tovata is a different story. While the media reports that they accepted the nominee, it must be remembered that their paramount chief the Tui Cakau was not allowed to attend the meeting, nor was he present. While the Mara family would wield some power in that matanitu, readers of this post would need to be reminded that in the traditional scheme of things, the Tui Nayau was the least of the 4 High Chiefs of Tovata. Rt. Mara was repected, not so much for his position as for his personal achievements and accomplishments, something his offspring seem to forget. This lesson will be learnt, with much shedding of tears in days to come. Already the respect once accorded to Rt. Mara is now slowly dissolving.

Looking at it from another angle, when the junta revoked the nominees of the GCC, the GCC stated that it recognised the deposed government as the legal government of Fiji. Bainimarama thought he could dictate terms to this group. Vosota Voreqe!!!! What were you thinking? Be glad that they have only rejected your nominee. They could have...oh....chosen Rt. Naiqama as the VP. How would you like them apples then????

One other point I must make here. The president Rt. Iloilo is no longer the GCC nominee. He was removed by Frank, who "became" President for just under a month. He then handed the presidency back to Rt. Iloilo. That makes, in my view Rt. Iloilo the IG nominee. I feel sad for him as I am certain that he is not in charge anymore, and is just being used by the IG to further their evil plans.

To the members of the GCC, you have made us proud. You have stood up, and defended those God gave you sway over. We will not forget this. We will not. I will not.

God Bless Fiji
Proud to be Fijian,
mawdsomething

The Silver Lining on our Dark Cloud.

2007-04-10T04:22:00.000-07:00

Blessing grant, oh God of nations, on the isles of Fiji,
As we stand united under noble banner blue.
And we honour and defend the cause of freedom ever,
Onward march together,
God bless Fiji!

CHORUS

For Fiji, ever Fiji, let our voices ring with pride,
For Fiji, ever Fiji, her name hail far and wide,
A land of freedom, hope and glory to endure whate'er befall
May God bless Fiji, forevermore!

As you can probably guess, nationalistic spirit is high, especially after the way our "boys" won the Adelaide 7s.

While the TV coverage of the final was not to expectation, the way Serevi and his men won was sooo inspiring, especially after a defeat in the pool stages. The dissappointment in Fiji and around the world for supporters of the national team was so tangible, that it ended in the sad demise of a young gentleman in Caubati. I'm sure the grog/beer/ (_INSERT_FAVOURITE_DRINK) tasted so bad after England beat Fiji.

But Fiji came back. Or as the headlines on the back page of today's Fiji Times shouted "Resurrection!!!!" It was the fact that the team prevailed against the odds, against the expections of so many that made the win more inspiring. And that is why this post is dedicated to lessons that we, as a nation, must learn from these young men we now idolise, and especially from their coach, mentor and sensei, Waisale Serevi.

Our national anthem is, in my opinion, a prayer of beauty, that implores the God of Nations to bless us when we stand united. The way the team stood united is a shining example of how we must stand together now, as a nation.

Today we are not united. There are numerous issues that separate us. Religion. Race. Economic status. Gender. you name it, there are countless ways to differentiate between each of us.

The economists are forecating doom. The Interim Government is saying that is is a crime to speak out against them. Why? And when was voicing your opinions a crime? If no one else believes in us, we only need to believe that we can, individually and collectively, make this nation of ours great again. Despite the defeats we have faced, we can rise above them and still be the way the world should be.

The real measure of a leader is how, the leader can unite everyone. This regime is not uniting anyone. For one the Civil Service are not in unity with their employers. The soldiers are not united. A few officers have resigned since the coup, and others before it, most stating that they are not happy with the events unfolding at Delainabua. The Police are also divided, and even this division has spread into the judiciary, the media, the church, the vanua, the workplace and the populace at large.

Why is this important, you ask?

Because since the 5th of December, things like flooding for instance have become a common occurance in Fiji. How about human rights abuses? How about deaths at the hands of the "arms of governance"?

Does that sound like blessings to you? Surely not!!!!

We must unite. We need to unite so that the God of Nations mentioned in our national anthem can bless us. In order to unite we must remove the causes of disunity amongst us. The main cause is the regime that is leading us now. They must go. If you agree, please send me a mail saying so.

Once we unite, God will surely bless Fiji, and we can return to being the way the world should be.

God Bless Fiji
mawdsomething.

For a Woman of Courage.

2007-04-08T06:58:00.000-07:00

This one goes out to a very brave woman.

Shamima Ali.

I used to think that she was a feminist, and that was the box I allocated to her, until the events of December 5th took place. Then I discovered, much to my surprise, that this is one mean momma!!!! and a very courageous one at that.

Since the coup, she has been consistent in her calls for the resignation of the IG, the restoration of the law, the stop of human rights abuses. So much so that the Interim AG felt the need to make a public statement, a "line in the sand" moment to make her decide whether she was a Fiji Human Rights Commissioner or not. This is his reasoning:

"If Shamima has an issue then she should either raise it or resign from being a commissioner."

DUH!!!

The lady has an issue with you, Khaiyum, and the Interim regime and she is raising it. The fact that you do not acknowledge it raises a few more issues such as:

You are avoiding the issue.
You suffer from selective amnesia, and cannot remember that the regime you have now become a part of is the cause of all the human rights violations in Fiji.
It is her job to protect the rights of Fiji citizens, rights that you are an accomplice in trying to trample underfoot.
She is tasked to look after the welfare of the FHRC. You are not.
Her appointment is legal.
Your appointment is not legal...you probably got it because you were desperate for a job and Frank was equally desperate for a bushlawyer. Politics does make strange bedfellows.
You cannot take the pressure.
You can't handle criticism.

In the Fijian language, there is a term that describes you, Bainimarama, Chaudry, and the other members of the IG. It's a word used primarily to describe young boys who have not become men, who have not achieved anything in life. It's also the term used on bullies, on those who pick on the weak, and the helpless.

The transistion from being a boy to being a man is known formally as curuibure and the term that describes the lot of you is

BOCI.

ps..Shamima, if you read this, it doesn't mean I agree with everything you stand for...LOL. However, you have my respect for standing up for the truth.

CHRISTMAS FEAR The story of the Democracy 6 - accounts of eyewitness

2007-04-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

Bula,

Sorry, Fiji's about to play the 1/4 finals in Adelaide so I only have time for this quick post. I leave you with this gem from Resist Franks Coup. Good Stuff. We also support the call for justice, and for the recommencement of the democracy shrine, in Lami and elsewhere.

************************************************************************
On December 5 2006, the nation woke up to what many would say, another day in paradise. Paradise today consisted of the earlier news from the Monday just past, this morning, commuters coming into the city from up the tacirua heights, will have noticed an array of government vehicles parked at a police post just before Tamavua village. On a particular bus, travelers notice two SDL government ministers, standing waiting on the side of the road, for a taxi. Earlier some commuters would have seen soldiers of the Royal Fiji Military Forces stopping these cars and forcing the ministers outside. Mind you, these men are still ministers of the ruling oversized multiparty cabinet.

Through the half hourly updates on the various radio stations, government vehicles are seized from houses and one house in particular, that of the Prime Minister is surrounded by military personal. Apparently also during the course of the day, an invitation has been sent to the prime minister to present himself at the Presidents residence. For constitutional lawyers, what should have happened on that day, was that the president Ratu Iliolo was meant to verbally convey a plea to the prime minister to resign. But after a visit from the Government house by the commander of the military forces, Voreqe Bainimarama, soldiers outside the home of the prime minister were ordered not to allow Mr. Qarase from leaving his home. Why, would that order come at such a time when a crisis could have been solved constitutionally? The answer lies in within the four walls of a private meeting between the commander and his elite circle of friends and the Presidents, Ratu’s Iliolo and Madraiwiwi. Where the Vice, Madraiwiwi laid out the constitutional requirements and eloquently explained the illegality of what was happening, later on at the end of the day, the commander would call this move as ‘blocking the president’ from exercising his constitutional role.

So the story is old after that, through the media Bainimarama decides that he can “step into the shoes of the president” and publicly removes the president from the office. A state of Emergency is declared.

Now this article will not explore the law surrounding the takeover, but focus on the abuses of human rights that occurred after the state of emergency was declared. Human right violations were rampant during the early days of the coup; executives of the public service and government ministers were the early victims. Later on ordinary citizens,[ a small percent were activists and SDL supporters], were physically mishandled and emotionally displaced after detainments at military installations.

I know that investigative journalism is rare in Fiji, this is an attempt to gauge not the whole context of what has happened in Fiji in terms of Human Rights Violations but actually touch on ‘one night of terror’ that many people in Fiji would agree was the pinnacle of all Human Rights abuses since December 5; and that is when 5 vocal campaigners for the restoration of democracy (media termed as pro-democracy supporters) and one flat mate of the other, were taken from their homes, and made to feel ‘pure fear’. There is a problem at the moment in ascertaining who was a true democracy activist and who was not. But we must all agree that after that night all 6 persons would become the much-talked advocates for democracy and will in time become the image of the silent majority during this time of tribulation.

I have been very interested in what happened that night, a Christmas Eve, but obviously because of security reasons, understand why not much is known about that night. The fact that not much is known about that night, has lead to a array of misleading lies and made up connotations ranging from rape, sodomy and just a simple meeting. So therefore this article will focus on interviews and experiences of people who were there that tragic night.

At this juncture I must introduce the three willing witnesses. Before that, to correct a mistake all people in Fiji might have, on December the 24th, Christmas Eve, these 6 persons are thought to have been the only non-military personal at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks that night. That impression is wrong; there were other persons, picked during that Sunday night and detained at the military barracks.

The three witnesses were not the activists, but were persons at the camp on that night, all before the arrival of the 6 pro-democracy activists. Obviously their names have been changed, but their stories and recollections are presented.

Pravin is a IT consultant based in Nadi, every week end he would brave the tiring drive from the west to travel to Suva, and visit his longtime sweet heart, Priscilla. Pravin usually stays with his relatives and Priscilla is a Suva girl and stays with her family in one of the leeway streets of Raiwaqa. This time around Pravin is anxious about this visit. Priscilla has invited him to a family lunch on Christmas Day. This for Pravin is the first time for him to meet his family and was weighting heavy on his mind. He is also suppose to Priscilla tonight and they will go over the formalities of tomorrow’s stressful event.

Meanwhile in a totally different context, Filipo, a Lauan youth, is in Cunningham. Soaking up the sounds of reggae music and fumes of marijuana smoke. He has decided to gather at a home of a neighborhood friend and drink till the early hours of Christmas. This is accepted by youths in Fiji as the best means to welcoming the birth of the Lord Jesus. And the fact that today is Sunday has no bearing on the jovial mood inside the sitting room. Music blaring and drinks flowing, the seven men inside the room that afternoon would never guess what awaited them in a few hours time.

The third interviewee is Sumu Subaka, well as he wants to be known. Who is a soldier and was very much involved in everything that happened that Christmas eve. he has agreed to speak to me if I changed is name and got the truth out. He like many other soldiers are classic school leavers with no employment but this coup has helped solve that problem. Anyway, he wakes up in the afternoon to a message from the Corporal Tevita, that he has a phone call waiting. It was his mother, wishing him the very merriest Christmas; Private Subaka would do anything to be home with his mother and family and celebrating Christmas. But he is led to believe that he is doing an honorable service to the people of Fiji, he is directly part of this clean up campaign. After talking to his mother, he hangs up and is told by a passer-by that names duty rooster is with Corporal Tevita. Subaka pays Tevita a visit and cites the list, the usual names, people he knew, stationed in and around the camp. No checkpoint duty tonight. The thought of spending Christmas at the gates of the QEB crossed his mind, and he giggled to himself. But he noticed that some names on duty tonight were new and that some of these men were used for specific reasons pertaining to the clean up campaign. He thought for a while why were so many soldiers listed on the rooster for Christmas Eve. Then he went for Lunch.

Now at an opening prep session, Subaka takes his place in an enlarged line order on the QEB grounds. He is told where he is stationed, at the front gate of the QEB. Notices friends from another unit arriving in a truck, and they are waiting their own messing. Anyway, Subaka and his unit are told that they will have “some very famous visitors tonight”.

Meanwhile the time is now way after the 6oclock news, and we are in Suva now. Virisila Buadromo’s home, where she is watching the news with her flat mate, Arshad. They should have had a cordial conversation by now about what was happening in Fiji. Then Arshad looks outside and notices two men in Bula Shirts standing outside their gate. Interesting, Arshad may have discredited them for Jehovah’s Witness. So Arshad goes and talks to them; he find however that they want to see Virisila and take her for a meeting. These men were than led to believe that Virisila was not in the house. So they decide to wait, their orders were specifically to make sure they bring Virisila. They later break open the gate (after about an hour) and take Virisila and Arshad.

Imraz Iqbal on the other hand is visted by other group pf men and walks leisurely into the trap, after believing that he was to attend a meeting. By the way, Imraz is also just recovering from the loss of his business office to a fire that morning. People around the vicinity at the time see Imaraz getting into the military pick up truck.

Meanwhile, Jackie Koroi and Peter Waqavonovono are in their homes with their families. Jackie has decided to take an early night and Peter is getting ready to attend Church with his mother, meanwhile Imaraz is already been taken in and Virisila is still in her home with a growing military escort outside her gate.

Witnesses say Peter attending church that morning in Lami, with Jackie. And than Peter attends a night service again with his mother at the St Joseph the Worker Parish in Tamavua. After the service an eyewitness claims that soldiers were outside but could not spot Peter. Anyway apparently the Zincks attend this church also, and Kenneth Zinch, a former minister who has been up to the barracks already, loudly greets Peter after the service and jokingly ask’s if Peter has ‘done his rounds at the barracks’. Peter is said to have laughed at that comment, if only he knew that he was actually going to literally do his rounds also that night. Anyway, the story goes that Peter goes home and may have had a time to see the late news on Fiji TV. But he could have very well been picked up that night at the Church service.

Laisa Digitaki puts her kids to bed, and according to her statement is asleep by the time soldiers congregate at her residence.

Back to our three witnesses, Pravin is now with Priscilla, and they are at the Nasese sea wall, he has just gone over the formalities who to talk too and what to say. Anyway, Pravin looks at his watch, it is 10.45pm, it is late. Just than a knock comes on their door, Pravin opens the door and outside is a soldier, asking them to get out of the car. Pravin comes out and sees that there is in fact a pick up truck just a meter from his car. They are told to get into the pick up truck. Prisilla starts to cry, she stops when they arrive at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks. They are told to go stand at the grounds and and sit on the cricket pitch. They walk to the grounds and find that there are a few other people on the grounds already, all sitting on the cricket pitch.

Meanwhile he turns around a sees a boy with a red Tongan jersey. Anyway the Tongan jersey guy is Filipo. Filipo is still in a drunken haze, but understands why he is on the grounds tonight. It was to do with drinking alcohol and its adverse negative effects. Filipo earlier in the night, was shocked to find military men storm into the home he was drinking in and force him and his friends into Truck. When he realized that he was at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks he was fast becoming scared.

Meanwhile Subaka is standing at the QEB gates and has allowed these trucks into the camp. He presumed that the ‘famous visitors’ were on the ground. Just than he noticed that a pick up truck had arrived and allowed it access. Inside was Imraz, he was taken into the guard house. Just than Subaka started to realize that these famous people where going to be people like Imraz, critics of the military.

Meanwhile, a soldier walks on to the field and orders that all persons now remove their clothing. All of a sudden there is a long line to naked people, they are than asked to run and make laps around the ground. Later on a group in told to crawl. And Pravin and Priscilla are told to run up and down the road leading to the officer’s mass.

Filipo is instead made to crawl and run and crawl. He is fast becoming tired, and the beating he is getting while he runs is rather unwarranted and slowing him down.

Pravin and Priscilla are told sit in the rose bushes and pull the weeds. This is when Pravin notices that there is no light and pulls whatever he can find. He hears Priscilla crying from the other side of the garden. He looks into the ground and sees people running and crawling and persons getting beaten.

As Filipo runs he looks to the main road and sees a well known school mate of his father. A high-ranking soldier walking on the road. Filipo decides to run towards this man and maybe if he could call his name the man would help him out of this situation. Filipo is hit on the head and falls flat on the ground. Wrong move trying to cut across the ground like that.

Filipo calls out anyway, “Pita Driti”. But no response. Meanwhile at the gate, Subaka notices the silhouette of Mr. Driti, coming down from the main offices. He walks into the guard house.

As he looks towards the ground he see that people are now running back to the road, “ah, exercise finished” Subaka thought to himself.
A few minutes later Imraz walks out of the guardhouse, in his bright red underwear. He is given a paper and he proceeds to read. Just than high-ranking officials stand around him and insultingly spit and slat his face. Subaka realizes that Imraz is reading comments that he is accredited to have said about the military. “He deserves it” was Subaka’s response; he consoled his guilt with that notion for a while. Just than a truck drove out, Filipo was inside he was so happy that it was all over, as he looked outside he noticed Imraz reading and in underwear. He immediately thought that Imraz would face the same treatment.

Imraz is taken into the cell, Priscilla is allowed to leave with some others and Pravin is put in the cell. Pravin is still in his underwear and he forcefully closes his eyes and hopes to wake from this nightmare. As Pravin wakes up notices soldier bringing in another women, she looked familiar. He later came to know that this was Laisa Digitaki. She is than moved into another cell, when she starts to strike a conversation with whomever she was with in the first cell.

A soldier than comes in and starts shouting at her, a commotion takes place but is defused when he is called outside.

Oblivious to the fact that he was in the same cell with Arshad, Pravin got scared, why was he still here and what had he done. He needed help.

Subaka, did not notice that he had allowed Virisila and Arshad into the camp. He was too busy watching the activities on the ground. Just than a fellow soldier called out. Apparently Virisila was told to run up to the office mess.

Subaka saw Virisila, the full weight of what would happen tonight finally dawned on him. These were the famous people they were expecting, he started to feel excited.

Meanwhile Subaka opened the gate again to another car, this time with Laisa inside. He noticed Laisa straightaway. She was taken into the guardhouse. Subaka started to expect more people. Who else was coming?

Soon after that Laisa comes back out of the guardhouse and is taken out of the camp in another car.

After some time Subaka claims that the four wheel drive comes back with Peter Waqavonovono. Peter strikes up a conversation with some soldiers and gets in another car. Peter’s neighbors in Namadi Heights, claim that when soldiers arrived, a heated discussion occurred outside his home. A neighbor whose name I can’t reveal, claims that the presence of soldiers, dogs barking and the heated discussion woke some people up when he came out he noticed people talking and than Peter walked out of the house.

A neighbor living opposite the family, who is senior pastor, came out of his home and started to a ask questions also. The pastor came out publicly the next day and viciously criticized the military.

Back at the front gate, Peter is taken in another car and drives out of the camp. Laisa is told to run up to the officers mass. After a while Laisa and Virisila come running down the road in to the ground where soldiers are waiting. Imraz is escorted out of the guard house and made to run into the ground also. Just than Subaka noticed that soldiers started to congregate at the entrance to the steps that led to the grounds and even he had to go and watch.

Imraz, Laisa and Virisila were told to crawl and they were kicked and dragged around the ground. They were told lie down in a line and it seemed that the unit on the ground kicked them and a senior officer spoke to them. Some soldiers started to sing “I wish you a merry christmas”.

“Just than another senior officer, a chief, came down from the officers mess and walked into the grounds” Subaka recalls. Than as he looked to the gate, a rental car had arrived. Peter and Jackie Koroi got off. They told to go into the grounds.

“I heard the officer ask them to crawl, we saw one get down and crawl and the other just stood there. The seemed to be saying something but was kicked and soldiers ran to him, and kicked him and dragged him to the cricket pitch. They than all stood up and ran towards the gate.

Subaka later came to know that the 5 activists were told to run to Lami and dismantle a democracy shrine they had set. When they reached the gate Imraz stopped and asked Subaka for his stuff, Subaka responded with a swear, “F**K off”.

As they ran out of the camp, it started to rain, and a truck went out of the camp after the 5 activists. Just than a high ranking officer came and told Subaka and some others to get into one of the trucks and get Waqavonovono.

Meanwhile, in the cell, Pravin heard some singing, “Merry Christmas” he thought to himself. Just after about an hour, he heard some commotion, they seemed to bringing a table into the guardhouse. He noticed than that there was another Indian in the cell with him, Arshad.

Subaka and some others stopped Peter Waqavonovono at mead road and told him to get into the car. They brought him into the camp and he was told to go into the guardhouse.

After a minute, senior military personal walked into the guardhouse. And we later heard shouting and than peter started shouting in pain. Now the question of what actually happened in that room that night will be answered by Pravin, who is still in the cell.

“I heard that someone was told to sit down. And than I heard someone asking questions like ‘why are you making a army’ and than I heard some shouting. They started to beat the person up. And than I heard them ask ‘who is the president of Fiji’ and than I heard some more shouting. I have never heard a person shout like that, I think they were beating him up, because he kept screaming.”
Subaka than saw Peter been dragged outside. Peter was asked to kneel, he got on his knees.

Than a senior officer asked if Peter could bark like a dog. Peter did not do anything so they hit him on the head. Soldiers started to gather around the guardhouse. Peter than started barking, like a dog. “But he sounded like he was making fun of us, the way he was barking”.

Subaka than thought to him self “what a nut” and Peter’s barking started insult the soldiers; he was told to stop and make the sounds of the chicken. Peter did not make any sounds. Subaka said everyoine started swear at peter and spit on him, “they kicked him but he did not make any sound”.

Than one of the senior officers came with a rifle (Gun), pointed to Peter’s head. Subaka felt a sudden rush up his body, was he going to see a person die.

The senior officer asked, whether Peter wanted to die. Than he said, “say your prayers, any last words before I kill you”. Peter looked up and said something that has stayed in the minds of many soldiers that night. In fact it may have been the most impacting statement some of them would have to bear.

Peter looked up into the barrel of the rifle and shouted, “My God’s wrath will rain down on this place and no one can hide”. There was silence and than two soldiers carried him into the ground and than after two minutes he was taken away by one other soldier.

Subaka, say’s with tears in his eyes that that night turned soar very fast. Peter was escotted out and dropped at home, he was allowed to run to Lami.

Meanwhile, Laisa, Virisila and Jackie were past mead road by now. Eyewitnesses say, that as they ran on the main road, soldiers hit them. A resident on princess road said that she was shocked when she saw Virisila run past her house, “First I saw Imraz, and than I saw the three girls, I was so sad when I saw Virisila, it was so humiliating” apparently some things people do not know is that these three women were also harassed and beaten as they were made to run on the road. “One soldier came and slapped the Koroi girl and told her to keep moving.”

In Lami at around 12am in the morning, Tomasi awoke from his sleep. He heard a crash of glass. He stood up to see what was happening, the sounds seemed to come from next door. Next Door, Tomasi knew was the famous Democracy Shrine, but why was there some much commotion. As he looked outside he saw soldiers all over the place, breaking windows and could see some of them inside the house.

He sat down on his bed and though about what could he do, I hoped that no one was in the shrine. He started to fear that maybe they might come to his house, so he sat down in bed, and just did not want to move.

He only walked outside when it seemed that the soldiers had left. The democracy shrine in Lami was destroyed. He went back inside, and noticed that Imraz was outside. “I watched Imraz and Laisa walk around the property and Laisa started spraying something. I did not want to go outside, I thought that maybe the soldiers might see me talking to them, I just got so scarred.”

Pravin was released in the morning. And told not to pick up prostitutes again. Pravin for the sake of clarity accepted the comment and went on his way. But for people like Subaka, they could not understand fully what had happened. They would later start to talk about what happened and sorrow for the 5 activists settled in – they also realized that in the course of events that night, a curse was spoken over them and they spoke about thoroughly, some discrediting it and some saying that they were worried.

My daughter ran to me in the room and kissed me and wished me a merry Christmas. I got out of bed and hugged her. We walked into the sitting room, the Christmas tree lights were still on from last night, I turned them off.

As I walked into the kitchen my daughter was sitting by the radio and listening attentively. “What’s happening” I asked, I looked into her eyes, for the first time in my life I saw the sight of fear, she pointed at the radio and explained that a senior in Saint Joseph, was taken last night into the camp and beaten. I heard some familiar names Digitaki, Waqavonovono, Buadromo and Iqbal. “My God” I exclaimed, “its Christmas for heavens sake”

Mr. Frederick
Stories of Fiji’s crying children

The Declining Economy.

2007-04-06T03:57:00.001-07:00

Fiji is in trouble.

Big trouble.

The latest forecast by the Reserve Bank of Fiji predicted a 2% drop in the economy, with a 0.5% drop in 2008. Now normally, I would not batter a eye at such statements, but now, I think we need to stand up and do something about all this.

The latest prediction by the head bank is just the latest in a long line of warnings about the state of our economy. That's the measure of the financial wellbeing of Fiji as a whole. The fact of the matter, however, is that Fiji is not very healthy at the moment. This warning is also echoed by other independent parties, and is very worrying.

To rub salt into the wound, the soldiers are getting an increase in allowances, including a sevusevu allowance. Sevusevu allowance???? This from a regime that commented on the need to decrease yaqona drinking within government departments. The ironic thing about this is that this issue is the only one since the coup that has Felix Anthony sounding like a unionist. Guess the saying that everyone has his price runs true for Felix and his bald-headed friend.

And what in the world is a leave allowance? That one defies definition, especially for yours truly. If one went on leave, why an allowance?

Buy sugar, flour, rice and stock up on the essentials. The way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised if food shortages start to happen soon.

The Sugar Loan That Kinda Stinks...

2007-04-03T18:42:00.000-07:00

The newly installed Fiji Sugar Cane Growers Council wasted no time making their presence felt.

In a blitzkrieg, the new chairman Jain Kumar took out a $6.4 million loan for the farmers... remember that...for the farmers. The loan, was to be paid back in 2 months, at an interest rate of 6%. I'm assuming that the interest rate is a per-annum one.

Now the Fiji Cane Growers Association is yelling about the fact that the decision to take out the loan was made arbitrarily by the Council Chairman. Of course, with one of his lackeys under fire, "Uncle Mahen" had to come to the rescue. See Fiji TV's 6pm news on Tuesday 03/04/07 clip titled "Farmers loan" to hear the serpent hissing.

Now in all the hoopla, I started thinking about one thing that struck me as odd. If an interest rate of 6% is applied to a loan of $6.4 million, wouldn't the interest over 2 months come to around $65,000 ? That is my own calculation, for those of you who are more financially learned than yours truly, please calculate the actual amount and enlighten us in the comments section after this post or by emailing me.

If my calculations are correct, then as the media quotes the SCGC Chairman as saying that the interest will amount to approximately $96,000, my question is:

WHERE WILL THE BALANCE OF THE INTEREST PAYMENT GO?

There is a difference of around $35,000 in question. For those of you readers overseas, in Fiji, that is the yearly salary of most middle management positions. It's a sizable amount of money, and I hope sincerely that I am wrong in my calculations.

Because if I'm correct, the corruption is still spreading, and the carrier is the same group claiming to be the cure.

God, Please help Fiji.

Bainimocracy

2007-04-02T15:56:00.000-07:00

"A term coined by blogger mawdsomething to refer to the inept, incompetent, imbecilic travesty that is referred to as the Interim Government in Fiji. Headed by Frank Bainimarama."

How To Recognise:

This system of governance is recognizable by the following characteristics:
• Lack of mandate from the masses.
• Lack of clearly defined pathway back to normalcy.
• Lack of governing authority to which governments which adhere, either openly or covertly to this philosophy feel answerable to.
• Lack of intelligence.
• Lack of transparency.
• Lack of honesty.
• Lack of integrity.
• Lack of humanity.
• Lack of consistency.
• Lack of originality.
• Illegal destruction of Private property.
• Killing of civilians
• Intimidation of dissenters.
• Conflicting decisions from various arms of governance.
• Serial Human Rights Abuse.
• Media censorship.
• Nepotism.
• Widespread international condemnation.
• Internal Strife.
• Withdrawal of International recognition.
• Senior members of Government unable to travel freely internationally.

Currently known system of Governance of Fiji. Widely unpopular with the Fiji public. Must be avoided at all costs. Must be resisted by all freedom-loving people.

If this type of governance appears in your country, for the sake of your future generations, it must be overthrown ASAP. We are working towards this. Find out how to join this effort by clicking here, and advising us of your intention to join the cause.

The Long Arm of the Law Goes Where Angels Fear To Tread.

2007-03-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

The Fiji Police is now officially on the dark side. In an extreme reaction to the impending union strikes, the Fiji police shut down the AGM of the National Union of Public workers. Now that is going to pacify the union members..NOT!!! It will only harden their resolve.

This junta regime is really clueless in the ways of winning the hearts and minds of the Fiji public. It makes our opposition so much the more easier...and that speaks volumes about this regime's leadership abilities. That is the type of leadership that is now imposed on us. IMPOSED ON US. IMPOSED ON US!!!! How do you like that???

Now we have idiots like Neumi Leweni saying on national TV that they will not be rushed into investigating things like the deaths of Messers Rabaka and Verebasaga. I feel for their families...to have a regime that is espousing the delay of justice to cases like this, that alter the moral fabric of our nation, that is just another indignity nobody should have to bear. Mrs Rabaka and Mrs. Verebasaga...you have our support, and we would like to assist you any way we can. There is a whole group of dedicated people waiting to help you and your families get the justice you so rightly deserve. If you, or anyone who knows either of these grieving ladies personally, please pass on this message to them. Our assistance is just an email away.

Ask not for whom the bell tolls Bainimarama......

Justice delayed is justice denied.

The Closing Doors....

2007-03-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Ni sa bula,

The doors to this Interim Government is closing...closing all over the place. The Asian Development has just shut theirs. The EU is considering closing theirs. Australia, New Zealand the the Pacific neighbours have theirs shut, with opening subject to conditions being met. Even the USA is in on this.

Even the international bodies are shunning us like we're the proverbial leper. The ICC is one. The UN is another. Fiji is soon going to be the child told to go and stand in the corner. Facing the wall.

What does that mean for us as a nation?

It's means transiting via Korea because your Father/Mother/Sister/Brother is in the RFMF/IG and you, by association, are persona non-grata in Australia and New Zealand and Japan. It means being unable to go for your check-up because the doctor is in New Zealand and you are in Fiji. Bainimarama, with the nurses up in arms over your pay-cuts, this would be one tamani slack time for you to have one of your heart attacks and to require their attention....and that also goes for you Senilagakali.

It means less trade opportunities, less export opportunities, a longer return to normalcy in the economy, and a struggle as a nation. It means more job losses, less vacancies, more migration and basically a kick in the national gut when the nation is down.

What is a kick in the national gut, some of you may ask?

This is one such kick...the removal of income tax from unit trusts such as Colonial's and Fijian Holdings. My advise (with my limited financial knowledge).....get your saqamoli's out of there ASAP!!!! Another is the "priority" placed on Mineral Water and not on tap water....I pity you Cunningham/Tacirua/na-veivanua-e-maca-tu-kina-na-wai residents...good thing we are flooding..how ironic is that!!!!

Who is kicking the country? It's Bainimarama and his stooges. It's about time we give them a Severo-style kick up the backside. Either that or we take this and keep quiet.

All those in favour of kicking the Bainimocracy, get in line..... Here. The more of us that kick, the faster we can kick them out. Try it, it's very satisfying. I'm speaking here from personal experience....it'l cure that ulcer that's been agonising you since Dec 5th.

Propaganda....aka Vesu Mona

2007-03-26T22:48:00.000-07:00

Today, it's the "P" word that is being bandied about so much that is the focus of this post.

Propaganda.

The illegal junta engages in it. We bloggers engage in it...that is the honest truth about it. We all do this to further some cause we support, or to hinder causes we oppose.

Propanganda is defined as the spreading of "information" in order to further some cause. The Military/IG is spreading information that will help it in securing the hearts and minds of the citizens of this nation. They have a spokesperson who speaks out for it, and an ex-radio announcer who actively promotes it on a Fijian Radio station.

However, as nations go, there are bound to be people who always say.."Hang on..that sounds like a load of crap..." just like this headline from our reigning daily:

400 corruption cases alleged

It's strikes me as odd, that out of 400 cases, there is no conviction. I had a long discussion with a friend about this. The first thing we agreed on is that there is no way to verify the figure 400. Secondly, how do you know that it is an actual case of corruption, and not someone's sour grapes you are dealing with? Thirdly, is the "Anti-Corruption Unit" even legal? If they are illegal, doesn't that make the evidence they gather evidence obtained illegally? Can that be presented in court to effectively prosecute those blamed of corruption? Or is all this another exercise in wasting tax payers dollars, saqamoli's that just became much more valuable since the ADB freezed aid because our governance is not up to par?

The whole propaganda exercise is based on one premise that every propagandist makes. The assumption is that your mind, your will can be influenced in favour of the cause the propaganda espouses.

Doesn't that just insult your intelligence??!!!!!

That sort of thinking is, however in line with this regime, a regime that espouses views that only they know what's best for rest of us idiots...that we are too simple to be left to govern ourselves. I don't know about you, but that gets me mad...it's what got me to start this blog in the first place!!!

In case you start thinking that you are the only one in Fiji with those thoughts, relax. There are a lot of us who think that the IG should be opposed. Take a look at the poll results on the left if you want to see what I'm talking about.

There are a lot more of us, then there are of them, and we should do something for this nation, because the way things are going, if we don't do anything, no one else will. That is not my attempt to vesumona you. That is the honest truth laid out for you, as I trust that your intellect, intellegence and humanity will see the truth in what I'm raving on about.

God Bless Fiji
mawdsomething

More Ways to spend Money That is Not Yours....

2007-03-26T03:41:00.000-07:00

AKA STEALING/BUTAKO/CHORO...

We have now lived under this junta for almost three months..which reminds me...kudos to Dr. Wadan Narsey for referring to this illegal regime as a junta on National TV last night. You rock Dr. Narsey!!!!!!

What was rather depressing however, was the fact that despite the media coverage that the unions are getting over their strike action threats (I'd link to the pages but they are legion..too many for one link to do justice to) is the little known and very sad fact that this Interim Junta has suspended the Wages Council.

This is a council that oversees the wages of workers like drivers, building/civil/electrical trades, hotel & catering and the like. They represent the poorest of Fiji's workforce, with most of them subsisting at or below the poverty line. The Wages Council was the legislated mechanism for these workers to have guaranteed wage levels that would ensure a decent living standard. Now the illegal junta has gone and kicked them all in the teeth...make that in the pocket.

So the Bainimocracy (my contribution to the English Language) prevailing in Fiji now has not only cut the pay of the Civil Service, it has effectively neutered the ability of the poorest, non-unionised workers to have the peace of mind of a fair days pay.

That should signal to the most, if not all of us, the hypocrisy of this regime. The claim that the Head Junta made that this coup was for the people is blatantly false. It's for him, his relatives ( 4 of whom now have Senior Civil Service positions, if I remember correctly), his friends, and his lackeys....nepotism or what!!!!

And now this....a 4-page ad in today's Fiji Times with the junta roadmap....it's too much!!!!!! Using our own tax dollars ( stealing our tax dollars is more like it) to shovel this rubbish at us. I will be posting a reply to this soon...for now, I'm just trying to wrap my mind around this.

To the Fiji Times editor...would you allow us, or those who think that this crap they are referring to as policy is going too far, the right to reply to it? If so, then I think the funds to pay you can be sourced. Please consider this request favourably. I will be in touch via email to reconfirm this request.

I have to go get some fresh air....the bullshit spewing from this regime is clogging up the country!!!!

Bloggers are now on the air (and also in the black)

2007-03-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

Ni sa Bula,

Just a short post to alert you to the interviews done by the ABC Pacific Beat's On the Mat program. The interview was aired on Friday (23/03/07) at 5pm and 7pm on Radio Fiji. If you missed it, and want to hear it, the following links are to the ABC, where you can download the interviews.

3-minute segment.

Full interview (contributers : Intelligentsiya's the Chief & White Rose, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum and yours truly)

And for print articles : check out this link: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10429847

Na i Sau ni Bula Galala / The Cost of Freedom

2007-03-23T03:22:00.000-07:00

Ni sa bula,

Au volavola tiko oqo kivei kemuni na noda ko ni dau lomana na noda vanua oqo ko Viti.

E da sa kila tu vakasigalevu na veika e sa mai yaco ena noda vanua, ka tekivu mai na i ka 5 ni Tiseba, 2006. E sa mai vakasivoi vakailoa na matanitu e da digitaka, ka ra sa mai kovea vakakaukauwa na veiliutaki ko ira na lewe ni noda mataivalu, ka liutaki ira kina ko Voreqe Bainimarama.

Mai na gauna ko ya me yacova na gauna oqo, e se toso tikoga na kena tete na veikovei oqo. Era sa mai vakacegui ko ira na vakaitutu tu e na taba ni veiqaravi na Civil Service, me rawa kina ni ra biu yani kina ko ira era na tokona na nodra i le na vakayacora na vuaviri oqo. Sa ra vakacegui talega e na sala e sega ni dodonu, ko ira na cakacaka tu e na vei tabana tale eso, me rawa ni vakadeitaki kina na veiliutaki butobuto e sa mai lewa tu na noda vanua, ka sa butuki keda sobu tikoga e na veisiga.

E na veidigidigi sa oti, e ya mai digitaki kina na lawalawa ni Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) me ra liutaka na noda vanua. Me vaka na yavu ni vakavulewa, e ratou a sureta kina na i lawalawa ni Fiji Labour Party (FLP) me ratou vakaduria vata na matanitu ka cici tiko mai e na yabaki sa oti, me yacova na Tiseba. Na veika e ya caka oqo e savasava, ka dodonu, ka muri kina vakavinaka na yavu ni vakavulewa ni noda vanua. Ia e mai seva kece ko ya, ni sa taura na mataivalu na veiliutaki, ka biuta vakatikitiki na noda dodonu na lewe i Viti, ka veisautaka na veika e sega ni dua na dodonu e tiko vei iratou me ratou veisautaka kina.

Kemuni na noda, e sa na vaka tu ga oqo na noda vanua? Kevaka e ra sega ni duavata ko ira e dua na i wase lailai ni lewe ni vanua i Viti kei na ka eda vinakata na i wase levu ni lewe ni vanua, e da duavata me na tauri vakakaukauwa na veiliutaki ni noda vanua? E da na biuta tu vei ira na luveda, vei ira e ra na muri keda mai, na i vakarau ni bula oqo me ra na bula kina, ka me na i vakarau ni bula tudei e na veisiga ni mataka e na noda Viti lomani?

E sega ni i tovo ni noda bula oqo!!!

Na noda i tovo na veivakarokorokotaki, va veisorosorovi, na solesolevaki, na veilomani, na veikawaitaki. Na vei ka oqo e dau rogo tu kina na noda vanua i na gauna sa oti, ka dau voqa tu yani ki na veiyasai vuravura na i tovo e ra dau rokataka o ira na noda qase.

Sa dodonu me da tokona na dina, me da cakacaka vakadodonu. Sa dodonu me da vakasama taka na veika sa yaco tiko e na noda vanua. Sa dodonu me da vunauca na ca, me da vakadodonutaka na noda i lakolako e sa kauti keda tiko yani kina na veiliutaki nei Bainimarama. Sa dodonu me da tukuna vei ira e ra vinakata me da bobula ki na dua na i vakarau ni bula e vulagi vei keda, ni da sega ni vinakata na bula oqo, ni da sega ni na tokona na toso oqo, ni dodonu me ra solia lesu tale na ulu ni veiliutaki ni noda vanua kivei ira e ra digitaki ki na i tavi cecere oqo.

Kevaka ko ni na sega ni vosa cake, e na takali tiko ga yani vakamalua na bula galala e da bula tiko kina e na dua na gauna sa oti, ka sa tekivu me kau tani tiko vakamalua vei keda. Na i sau ni bula galala o ya me da dau yadrava, ka taqomaka, ka karona, ka dau tokona ko keda kece. Oqo e sega ni i tavi e rawa ni ra colata ga e lewe vica. Na i colacola oqo e noda kece, baleta ni da na bula galala kecega o keda, kevaka e rawa ni da masuta na veiliutaki oqo, ni sa cala tiko na ka e ratou cakava tiko.

Na sala ni kena vakaraitaki na nomuni kudru e levu. E rawa ni vakaraitaki e na noda vei bose ni koro, na vei bose ni tikina, na vei bose ni yasana. e rawa ni da vakarogoya na noda sega ni duavata kei na matanitu tuvakawawa oqo e na noda dau sota vata, e na noda talanoataka ka tukuna vei ira e ra tu vakavoliti keda ni da sega ni tokona, ka sega ni duavata kei na kena dau vakayacori na i tovo kaukauwa me tauri kina na veiliutaki.

Na dina e dau tokona na Kalou. Na ka e cala e dau saqata na Kalou. Kevaka e da kila tiko na ka e dodonu me da cakava, ka da sega ni cakava, sa wili me noda cala o ya.

Au sa vakamasuti kemuni, mo ni tu dei, ka tu cake, ka saqata na veika butobuto e sa vakayacori tiko e na noda vanua. Au kila ni sa kilai tu vakamatata na veika au wasea tiko yani vei kemuni, ni sa kilai tu na kena cala na veika e caka tiko e na noda vanua. Sa dodonu me da vosa kina.

Me vaka e a kaya o Moatekai vei Esiteri e na i Volatabu:
"ia kevaka ko sa galu sara e na gauna oqo, e na qai yaco na veisereki kei na bula vei ira na Jiu, mai na dua na yasana tani, ia ena vakarusai ga ko iko kei na mataqali nei tamamu."

Au sa nuitaka ni da na tu vata ka saqata na cala sa caka tiko e na noda Viti Lomani.

Me vakalougatataki Viti ko Jiova.

(Translation in English)

I am writing this to those of you who love this nation of ours, Fiji.

We all know well, the events that have transpired within this nation of ours, beginning from the 5th of December, 2006. The elected Government was deposed by a group who took power forcefully and illegally, a group led by Frank Bainimarama.

From that moment until now, the influence of this usurper has spread throughout our nation. It has resulted in the suspension and sacking of senior members of our Civil Service, to make way for the placement of those who support the coup executers. Other bodies have not been exempt from this as well, with the illegal removal of persons from various boards and statutory bodies, as part of this regime's efforts to ensure their absolute control over our country, a process that continues to subjugate us.

In the last elections, the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party was given the mandate to lead our nation. In line with the Constitution, they invited the Fiji Labour Party (FLP) to join with them in Government. All this was done in accordance with the Constitution, an adherance that lasted until the RFMF took over power, and removed the elected Government, and is now changing the very things that they do not have the mandate to change.

My fellow citizens, will our nation continue like this? If a minority within our country are not happy with the will of the majority, does it give them the right to overthrow the Government of the day? Is this the legacy that we will leave our children, and those that come after us, as the way we in Fiji live?

This is not the way we live our lives!!!!!

Our way is that of mutual respect, of give-and-take, of working together, of comradeship and of doing our best for others. These things have defined us, as a nation in times past, and is what our fathers were reknown for around the world.

We must support the truth, and do the right thing. Rightfully, we need to consider the events that have happened in our land. We must speak out against this evil, and choose the path better than this one Bainimarama is leading us along. We need to tell those who would subdue us, and subject us to a way of life foreign to us, that we do not want this way of living, and we do not support this direction, that the reins of our nations should be returned to those we have collectively chosen to lead us.

If you do not speak out, then this freedom that we enjoy will fade away. The cost of such a freedom is our eternal vigilance, and our care, and our communal support for it. This is not a task for the few. This is a task each of us must commit ourselves to, because the benefits of this freedom will be enjoyed by all, if we are able to convince this regime that the choices they made were not in our best interests.

The ways to voice your dissapproval of this are many. you can speak out in your village meetings, in your district meetings, in your provincial meetings. You can tell others of your oppostion to this interim Government when you meet others, and speak of your opposition, and your disapproval of the illegal way the governance of our nation is taken by force.

God always stands for the truth and against lies. If we know the right thing to do, and do not do it, that is our sin, our weakness.

I plead with you all, to stand firm, and stand up, and oppose this immoral act, that is now happening in our country. I know that all the things I have said are well known to you, that you are well aware of how wrong the activities of this regime is. it is only right that we speak out against it.

In the Bible, Mordecai said to Ester (in the book of Ester):
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish."

I remain hopeful that we will stand together in opposition to the things that are taking place in our beloved Fiji.

God Bless Fiji.
mawdsomething

2007-03-21T22:17:00.000-07:00

Ni sa Bula,

The latest foot-in-mouth quote is the inspiration for this post. Make that a leg-in-mouth ( up to the vunisagana!!!)....from no other than our own Bai-cronium.

He warned the unions that if they do go on strike, the military will step in to protect the public. Firstly, the unions are not hellbent to assault the public. The soldiers are. And to make things worse, they do not take responsibility for what they do. Mrs. Rabaka is still waiting for the result of investigations of the murder of her son, and has now stated that if she does not hear anything about this soon, she will be taking the both the Army and the Police to court. This is one mother this blog is supporting wholeheartedly. If we can help in any way, Mrs. Rabaka, please let us know. The email address to contact us on is on the left had side.

So what are we going to do about this? We are already speaking out, and we are starting to be heard....tomorrow, more people will hear about us....but we need more of you to say with us "ENOUGH".

So I appeal to you, join us. The more of us, the louder we shout, and the harder it is for our voices to be ignored. We are doing this out of our love for our country, and we need your support to make it stick. If we want a better Fiji for us and those who will come after us, then we must be brave, and courageous, and stand against this illegal regime, that has broken homes, destroyed families, caused unemployment, and dragged our beloved island nation into the pit of despondancy.

On a lighter note, our sevens warriors are going to the Happy Valley hunting ground that has been the site of so many memorable victories. Our prayers and well wishes go with you. you always make us proud, and we hope to the best, that God gives us the victory.

Stay safe and well.

God Bless Fiji,
mawdsomething

Where Did 6 Years of Economic Decline Go?

2007-03-21T02:56:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

This post is to address a claim that the junta that illegally runs our country keeps making, and repeating, in the faint hope that maybe it will make us believe it.

The matter that sticks in my craw is the claim that over the last 6 years, the economy has been in decline. I attribute this current decline to the events eminating, and perpentrated since December 5th. Bainimarama claims that "it is totally wrong to associate it in any way to the political transition" or clean-up campaign. Am I the only one who senses a warped view of reality here or do you as well?

Since the coup in 2000, there have been numerous developments in the tourism industry, the real estate industry and accross the economy in general. Hotels like the Novotel, Sofitel and others have sprung up. Buildings like the new Vodafone house, Manohan House, the new FIRCA building, the developments in Savusavu, the new Rewa bridge, and a whole host of others, all these are not signs of a declining economy.

The tourism industry is no different. Tourists stayed away during the events of 2000 but very quickly flocked back to our beaches, drawn irresistably by the sun, sea and surf, and the friendly warmth of the Fijian hosts. The numbers steadlily grew in the past six years until the coup last year, which caused a drastic downturn in the industry, so much so that workers in hotels across the country faced layoffs, reduced working hours and a very bleak Christmas.

The mine in Vatukoula, once a source of employment in Tavua and the surrounding areas, was closed in the days after the coup. While there are suspicions that the coup provided a convenient excuse, the quick sale and purchase of the mine makes one wonder if the mine was really running into the end of it's life.

The salaries and wages of the Fiji workforce was on the rise, and none enjoyed this more than the RFMF. While Bainimarama claims to have been the reason for this increase in salaries, wages and allowances for his soldiers, we must not forget that the ultimate decision was the SDL Governments. Ironicly, then, that the very institution that gained the most during it's time in Government was also the instrument of it's demise.

So, where, I ask is the evidence to verify the claim that the previous Government, in it's six years in power, squandered the wealth of our island nation? I know that others see things the same way, because the 2006 elections saw the same Government back in power, re-elected and given a new vote of confidence by the people of Fiji. A vote the RFMF trampled and ignored in the actions they undertook.

Perhaps the most telling fact is that the PSC has now suffered paycuts, including the Army's own Acting Chief Justice, who was understandbly unhappy with the whole shebang. Late breaking news on one of the media sites had the Interim AG saying that the judges would not be subject to the paycuts. Funny when one considers that the head Juntaman himself made the statement on national TV....could this be the beginning of the unravelling of this "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves". The hilarious part in all this is that the deposed Government did not have to resot to such drastic measures.

So I say : Stop the lies Bainimarama. The real reason for the slump in the economy is you, you moron. Your actions are the real reason of destability, and until you are gone, removed, or toppled, this negative growth will continue. So, please take this to heart.

GET LOST!!!!

You are ruining our lives, our economy, our Government, and our country. We did not ask for your assistance, we do not need your assistance and we can do without your sticky little paws in the pie.

Thanks for nothing, Baicronium...just a tip, you might want to check your head Moron Mahen, he's the one who lit the paycut fire, and you're the one doing the firefighting. Actually, it just makes you look like a moron.

Seriously.

God Bless Fiji,
mawdsomething

PS Check this out...seems like we are making enough noise to be heard!!!!

Court Ruling Against Pay-Cut.

2007-03-19T18:53:00.000-07:00

Quick post.....The High Court ruled in favour on the FIRCA Staff Association, and ordered FIRCA to reinstate the 5% pay cut that had commenced lst pay. I will be back later with a more detailed post....

Moce toka vakalekaleka,
mawdsomething

It's Spreading......

2007-03-19T03:24:00.000-07:00

Ni sa Bula,

Today saw the second lightning strike in two weeks. After the Post Fiji workers went on strike, and managed to get the Chairman of the Post Fiji Board Mahendra Patel to resign (whether he went willing or was forced to capitulate is a hot topic of debate around the country), the students of the Fiji Advanced College of Education went on strike today, pushing for the removal of 4 members of the staff, including both the Principal and the Vice-Principal. The greviences presented were the budget cuts which had our future teachers subsisting on fried rice, tamarind and dhal. The President of the Student actually lamented the removal of meat, and Sunday lovo from the menu. The student teachers returned to class after Ministry of Education officials promised to investigate the allegations made by the students.

The unions are still on the warpath...so much so that the Head junta-man made a rare appearance on television today. He spouted propaganda and "appealed to the unions not to destablise the progress of the last few months." Like this is not destablising.....

The unions are not budging. So we are in for another showdown. The fact that Bainimarama has to appeal to the dissenters is a change in tone for this regime. It seems even they are aware of the power of the people, and that united, they can overwhelm even the the goons in green. The way they act around the islands, you'd think they weren't afraid of anything without a gun.

This is the power I am asking all of you to tap into. Sign up, stand up and speak up. If we are silent, who will be to blame for the hardships that we will face in the future? We will. The Civil Service is now asked to take a 5% paycut. The tourism industry is still haemorraging workers, dollars and tourists bookings and there is still no bottoming out in sight yet. The aid dollars are on hold, like the investigations into the deaths of Verebasaga, and Rabaka. Talking of things on hold, the investigations into Bainimarama, his brother-in-law Francis Kean, Nasir Ali ( on allegations of embezzling funds from the Fiji Police Credit Union) and a whole host of junta-sympathysiers are now subject to the infamous malua fever that also infects us after that Sunday lunch of fish in lolo ( sa jiji nomu weli).....

It's heartening to see more of you speaking out against this regime.

There is no justifaction for a coup.... Repeat after me....
There is no justifaction for a coup.... Repeat after me....
There is no justifaction for a coup.... Repeat after me....
There is no justifaction for a coup.... Repeat after me....

God Bless Fiji
mawdsomething

The Mounting Resistance...

2007-03-17T22:13:00.000-07:00

Dou bula,

It's heartening to know that even in Fiji, while things move at "Fiji Time" things do move. That they are moving at such a mundane pace is no reason to panic, things are bubbling along and slowly, the opposition to this illegal regime is gathering.

The Civil Servants are currently organising themselves to go on strike. When this group does go on strike, it will basically bring the whole Government mechanism to a grinding halt, and the response of the military to this will be interesting to see. Already speculations are rife within the country, with almost everyone second-guessing the reaction of the military and the junta that grips Fiji. The outcome of the secret ballots are almost a given for most of us...a mandate for a strike against the IG and the impositions that they have unilaterally put on the shoulders of the people.

The Pacific Forum Ministers have met in Port Vila, and according to a fellow blog, they have basically confirmed the stance presented in the leaked EPG Report, that the curent Government is illegal, that the actions of the military on and after December 5th is illegal and that the army should return to Barracks, that Frankie should step down and that a democratically elected Government must be brought in ASAP. Look for more stupid comments from the Military (Leweni & Co), the IG ( Aiyaz & Co), and a slew of foot-in-mouth utterances in the future....hint hint...click on the names to get a taste of what you can expect. BTW....is it just me or has the Head Junta man toned down his public utterances lately. He probably got some excellent PR advice...every time he opens his mouth, its a disaster waiting to happen...just like this little gem...a tamani big vinaka vakalevu to "ole Frankie". Sometimes you do say the darndest things...well, make that most of the time. If you want Helen to stop "interfering, then tell her to keep her aid dollars...that's right, you can't do that can you? Proof that the old adage that "beggars can't be choosers" is still true.

Which brings me to the latest thing on this blog. I am now holding a little competition, that will run daily, and the objective is to find the Foot-In-The-Mouth quote of the day regarding the events of this coup. I will post the quote daily, and the person(s) alerting me to the quote will get a special mention...so please email away and remember to include your nickname, unless you are some sort of sadist, love-a-visit-from-the-twin-cab-crews, fitness freak. LOL.

Oh, and please keep on signing up to oppose this coup. Things are in the pipeline, and soon I will start emailing suggestions out to those of you who have signed up so that collectively, we can do our bit for Fiji.

And just to set the record straight...Ricardo Morris is not the person behind Intelligentsiya...trust me on this one.

Ni sa moce.

God Bless Fiji,
mawdsomething

The "Game" Just Got Interesting...

2007-03-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

Ni Sa Bula,

The political situation in Fiji just got interesting, and it seems that we are reaching a fork in the democracy road that we have been walking down since 1970. Now, we as a nation must decide whether we will continue to walk the democratic, will-of-the-people, your-say-matters road that we were progressing along nicely, or if we will take the dictatorial, will-of-the-dictator, your-say-is-worth-jack turnoff.

This decision has faced us as a nation twice in the past. And each time, I'm proud to say that we took the road back to democracy each time.

Now, however, we have never faced such a determined foe, who has adamantly stated his desire to keep us all under his thumb, and together with his hench(men/women) will go to lengths unseen in this island nation to ensure that things go according to his plan.

However, there are quite a few people who are trying to throw the proverbial "spanner in the works". By the end of Friday, battle lines will be drawn, and positions will be taken. The Civil Service, and other groups that are likely to be affected in this latest move, are as ardent as the "junta men" but even I have to admit that the junta men have the guns. Of course, that could be an advantage or a disadvantage...that sword cuts both ways.

Already there have been a few casualties in this saga. A prominent blogger Ms. Vakaivosavosa has already shut down her blog because of pressure from the new "powers that be". Fiji Village have already closed off their forum for free discussion, after Tata William Parkinson and Papa Vijay Nayaran were "requested" to pay a "courtesy visit" to the junta men's stronghold at QEB. It seems that the popular Yellow Bucket is also a victim caught in the fallout of this latest move by the Military. No offense FijiVillage, but this is one person who is now wondering if you have succumbed to the Dark Side.

More people are now speaking out however, through the letters to the editor in the dailies, online and also amongst the various communities that make up our country. Whether this will boil over, is something we have yet to see..... but then again you never can tell....

So again, sign up to stand up for our freedom and that of our future generations. Speak out. Voice your concern.Let us not be the generation that stood by and did nothing. There are a lot of you out there who are against this coup, and the event's that have followed it. This is not the time to be afraid. We must speak out, clearly and convincingly, and state unequivocally, that we have had enough of the tyranny.

God Bless Fiji,
mawdsomething

A Call To Arms....

2007-03-13T22:13:00.001-07:00

Ni sa bula.

A big thank you to all who are willing to speak out against this illegal
regime ( aka junta...vinaka Disc. Bubu).

To those of you who are still sitting on the fence, remember Nero fiddled while Rome burned. We cannot afford to be complacent, we need to get the malua fever out of our systems and do something about the situation we are faced with.

I thank those of you who have emailed in your support and who have indicated that you are willing to tell this illegal regime, the rest of Fiji and the world at large that you do not support the current Government in it's current shape and form. Now we need to get more
people together, so that we have enough numbers to be heard and to do
the following:

1. Bombard the IG with emails regarding our concern over the way they
are ruining the country. If there is enough of us, we can swamp the
inboxes of the IG Ministers, PS, the top brass at QEB etc, and force
them to notice us and respond.

2. Provide a valid alternative to the propaganda that is being shoved
down our throats by the RFMF media cell and their cronies. We need to
tell, not only the people of Fiji but the world at large that the
views of this illegal regime is not the views of the majority of us
who really love this country and don't want to live under a regime
that will supress us, that will penalise us for no fault of our own,
and for taking us backwards in all facets of our lives when we are
straining to move forward.

3. Provide a way for people who do not agree with this illegal regime
to voice their concerns without having to fear going for a "training
session" at one of the Military installations.

4. Provide a mechanism to the people to enable us to bend this
illegal regime to the will of the people of Fiji. After all that is
what democracy is all about, the will of the people.

Now to repeat myself, we need people, numbers of people to do this. So
I am appealing to you, to please help me gather more people to support
this effort, and to ensure that at this critical time, we are not
silent, we are not passive, and we are not compliant with the
unreasonable, inhumane and illegal demands that this "junta" is
imposing upon the people of Fiji.

So please, tell your friends, relatives, workmates, loved ones,
colleagues , neighbours of this initiative. If we are silent now, then
we are saying in our silence to Fiji, and the world that we support
the events of Dec 05. Or even worse that we do not care.

And if you still have doubts about the coup and whether it is good for Fiji, consider this: This coup has led to job losses, economic hardship, and a general decline in the quality of life for those of us (who were once blessed but are now) unfortunate to live in Fiji.
God Bless Fiji
mawdsomething

Anti-Coup Manuals...

2007-03-13T02:00:00.000-07:00

These 5 sites are worth checking out out. They contain good reading material for those of us who want to oppose this illegal regime that has seized control of our country, and maintain our dignity while doing it.

1. The Anti Coup.
2. Ghandi's Answer.
3. THe Role of Power in Non-Violent Struggle.
4. 198 Methods of Non-Violent Action
5. Correcting Common Misconceptions about Nonviolent Action

This is what this blog is advocating. Non-violent action, action that can paralyse and incapacitate this regime, and make a difference in this runaway charge into the darkness that our country is speeding towards.

We are the ones that must make this stand, and we need to do this now. Tell your family, friends, colleagues...anyone you know that we need everyone to do this together, and that if we all work together, we can stop this coup cycle and make our Fiji a much better place for our children than it was for us.

God Bless Fiji.

Some People who have stood ( and are still standing...)

2007-03-12T20:47:00.000-07:00

A cut&paste from an inspiring email from one of those who are willing to stand up........ vinaka Enuf Dictatorship....

Source: Mariane Pearl the widow of Danny Pearl, journalist who was
murdered in Paki...read her writings on women around the world and
their work to help fellow citizens..such inspiring work

http://www.glamour.com/news/globaldiary

Global diary: Cuba

The women who dare defy a dictator
In Cuba, people have gone to prison for speaking out. Mariane Pearl
travels there and finds that the country's boldest activists are
women—and they make their point without saying a word. Watch the video
or see more Global Diary.

By Mariane Pearl

The silent march of the Ladies in White

On a bright Sunday morning in Havana, I watched as more than a dozen
women dressed in white, each carrying a pink gladiolus, marched along
Fifth Avenue, an elegant street lined with neatly trimmed shrubbery
and mansions painted in faded pastels. It was a highly unusual
occurrence in communist Cuba: a political protest, albeit a quiet one.
There were no slogans to be heard, no signs to be read. The women said
nothing, but their silence contained a significant cry for freedom.
They are known as the Ladies in White—the wives, mothers, sisters and
daughters of 75 political prisoners jailed in 2003 by Fidel Castro.
The women were demanding the release of these men from prison. You
could say they were staring down a dictator.

I visited Cuba in June—on the second stop in my journey around the
world for Glamour—just weeks before Castro fell ill and threw the
future of his regime into doubt. The protest I witnessed offered a
poignant snapshot of a Cuba closing in on a half-century of life under
communist rule. Ever since Castro came to power in the fifties, Cubans
had grown used to waiting for things—waiting in line to collect
rationed food, waiting to be reunited with loved ones who fled an
oppressive regime, waiting for the embargo imposed by the United
States to end. Waiting for history to turn this seemingly endless page
and move on. In that atmosphere, the Ladies in White represent the
rarest of breeds—Cubans who found a way to say, publicly: enough
waiting.

The men they hoped to free were arrested for being peaceful activists
for democracy and human rights, according to their relatives. Some
were sentenced to up to 28 years. The government claimed the men were
dissidents whose actions undermined the Cuban regime. For three years,
the Ladies in White have marched on their behalf, almost every Sunday
after mass at the church of Saint Rita, the Roman Catholic patron
saint of lost causes. And they were still marching as of press time,
despite the political uncertainty in the country. Their gatherings
have come to embody the frustration of a people longing for freedom.

It felt odd yet reassuring to be back in Cuba on this trip. I have
family in Havana, and I have been visiting this island since I was a
child. My mother was born in Cuba, and she left in 1965. It seemed
that little had changed since then. People were warm and friendly,
quick to have a drink, dance and share jokes as if there were no
tomorrows to worry about, or simply no change in sight under Castro's
rule.

After watching the women march, I went to meet Laura Pollan, 54, a
Lady in White who is a teacher of Spanish literature, at her home. On
my way, I saw Dodges and Chryslers from the sixties, their paint
sun-bleached to pale blue and dusty red, and passed billboards bearing
slogans like "The Nation or Death" and "Capitalists, You Don't Scare
Us."

God bless Fiji!!

Looks like there's more of you out there like me...

2007-03-12T01:52:00.000-07:00

After making my initial post yesterday, I was kinda in two minds..whether there were others out there who really thought that this Interim Regime was the wrong way to go like I did...

I'm overwhelmed to find out that there are those of you who aren't happy with the events that have transpired in Fiji over the last 3-4 months, and are just as frustrated as I am that there appears to be nothing that we can do.

BUT THERE IS!!!!!!!

If enough of us start saying the same thing...that the coup is wrong and that we want and need to have the rule of law in place, and if we all stand together and make this statement, Bainimarama and his illegal Government will have to listen...just like they listened here and here to the will of the majority.

Individually, we cannot do anything. Collectively, we can do anything. We must unite and stand together, and say to those who would drag us down that we will not tolerate this any longer, and that we want the best for Fiji, for our future generations and for us. For that, this stand is worth it, and must be made.

Gandhi used this tactic...of peaceful nonviolent resistance and non-cooperation. So did Nelson Mandela, although there were times when he thought violence needed to be met with violence. I am not advocating violence. I am saying, if we all say "ENOUGH!!!" they will listen. They will not be able to afford not to.

Thanks to those of you who have emailed your support. I have already started including your names on the blog ( see the list on the top right). If you are worried about the Military tracking you down, send me a nickname, and I will put that on the list. Your email address will be kept safely and anything that is organised to show that we are not happy with this Government will be emailed to each of you.

Stay safe, don't believe the lies that they are propagating, and above all pray for our nation.

God Bless Fiji.
Vinaka

It's Time to stand up.....together

2007-03-10T15:55:00.000-08:00

I am a proud Fijian. That is until this coup by the Fiji Military Forces threw everything out of wack...now we have to try to pick up the pieces and get things back on track.

Why? That is my question.

Is there any justification for a coup? Was there a total breakdown in law and order in our country? How come there has been a coup, the removal of a democratically elected government, the installing of a new President, an Interim Government, the total remodling of our Civil Service, the trunicating of our economy, the lack of any evidence to collaborate the claims of corruption, the bypassing of our judicial system, the corrupting of our judges, our Human Rights watchdog...the list goes on and on and on and on.....

And it's growing daily......

WHY????

Edmund Burke said it best:

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

It's time for us, the good men and women of Fiji to do something...like these people did. They stood against something they did not agree with, in solidarity, and their stand made the IG pause, and it negotiated with them. The end result is that they managed to achieve something the deposed government, our neighbours Australia and New Zealand, the Commonwealth, the NGO's and a whole host of others have tried to and failed to get....a concession out of the Interim Government.

If we all did that, if we all stood together, and told Bainimarama and his cronies "ENOUGH!!! We will not tolerate this anymore!!!" and if there are enough of us, we can bend this regime and force it to do the will of the people of Fiji. We can get it to stop the lies, the allegations, the abuse, the uncalled-for hardship..... and if we can achieve that, then democracy is alive in our country.

The only reason this coup is succeeding is that we are not doing anything to oppose it. It is time to do something. The only thing that will be effective will be something that is done in solidarity. And we should not look to others to do this, for the task has fallen to us....this is our burden to shoulder, for the future generations and the wellbeing of our nation. If we fail, then Fiji as we know and love it, the way the world should be will be no more. That would be a shame, to say the least.

If you agree to this, please email me a contact. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, snail mail etc....let's see if the claim by Bainimarama that the majority of the people support his "clean-up" campaign really holds water.

Please be assured that your contacts will never be handed over to the Fiji Military Forces. Your interaction with this website cannot be traced. The FMF has tried this already and failed.

This blog will also carry a listing of people who have indicated that they are willing to do something to get us out of the hole that is being dug under us.

God Bless Fiji.
Vinaka