Just a short one, because this is really a simple point, but one that I think is SOOOO important, that we MUST, MUST, MUST get this if we are to have any chance of moving forward as a nations and take our place amongst other nations in the world.
2014 - elections. Right? ....Archa right!!!
Bainimarama wants to form a party to contest the elections, even after he claimed that neither he nor his followers were going to benefit from the 2006 coup (WHAT A LOAD OF BOLLOCKS!!!)
Rabuka did this, Speight attempted this (Joe Nata as DPM and Seniloli as President etc etc), and now Franks wants to go down this path...
The point?????
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. George Santayana.
We have not solved our problems....and learnt from it.
By now most of you would have noticed that my posts have been few and far between over the last few years. Believe me, I wish I could still crank it out like I used to, but it's kinda hard now, because I'm just overwhelmed by what I see happening here, in Fiji.
Forget the floods. Ok, bad choice of words. We all know about the floods, and the damage that has been done repeatedly by these natural disasters. What I would like to bring to your attention are the other things, things that don't get reported in the media, things that, however, point to the steady demise of our nation, as a growing, viable country.
The Justice System
The courts in Fiji are a farce. Cases are not being heard in a system that is independent, a whole raft of our brightest legal minds have been "blacklisted" and cannot practice in Fiji, merely for not being on good terms with the current regime (since when was a lawyer required to pander to the feelings of the government, or anyone other than their client), one cannot take the Government to court (I thought this was why King John signed the Magna Carta), and if your case has anything to do with what the regime has done, forget it. What this results in is crap like this that obviously can't be true...must be that thing about stats being able to say whatever you want it to say. Boo Hoo!!!
Downtown Suva at COB
Downtown Suva at close of business on a weekday is dead. Now if you remember Suva's hustle and bustle from when school finished until when the working crowd got home, that is no longer the case. Think Sunday afternoon, and you'd be closer.
Now don't get me wrong, this is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is a symptom of what is happening in Fiji. Disposable income is much harder to come by these days, meaning that there's no more money to give the kids to buy bean and the bean carts, to pay for fares, food, school fees etc. The fact that a lot of funding that used to come in as aid before has been stopped too doesn't help.
Life Being a Grind
Life, in general in Fiji, is just such a grind now. A struggle for survival. Pay is not increasing, cost of living is just going up, water, electricity everything just costs way more (and if you're going to say that that is just normal inflation, tell me how the installation costs for 1 water meter can go from FJD$32 to FJD$500 in just one adjustment), school books are way more expensive (especially now the Government doesn't print them cheaper anymore) and school sandals ($110 for a pair of Cebos) don't even get me started!!!
On top of the floods and the rest of it, we, the people of Fiji are just being ground underfoot. We are not living, we are surviving. We are sending ore, ore from Bua no less!!! to China to process. Why couldn't we do that here? When the floods hit in the last 2 weeks, Australia and NZ, the countries the regime loves to hate gave over a million each in assistance, not to the regime but to the Red Cross, to assist with the efforts to get things back to a better state in the flood-hit areas. What has China given? As a fellow grog swiper quipped in a yaqona-inspired moment of lucidity, "China can only give us loans".
Brain Drain
This is happening at an alarming pace. And it's the cream of your people that are leaving. PNG now has a sizable Fijian expat community. A former senior Government official in Fiji choose to head Solomons Islands Civil Service reforms rather than take up a senior diplomatic posting for Fiji. NZ is taking a lot of our professionals expecially in the ICT and finance sectors.
This is not a good sign. The people who we have invested in as a country, as a community, are now spending the most productive years of their lives building some other country, when we sorely need their efforts to rebuild our own. If anything is an indictment on how our trained professionals view their individual futures in Fiji, none is more emphatic than that.
I hope that by this you'll realise that we cannot continue in this vein, not if we want a Fiji worth leaving to our children. We need to stop this. And a lot of foreign Fijians will return home if they see the chance to get a fair go, where rise is on merit, and not because you are an officer or are related to someone in the regime.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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).
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.
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 Xto 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....
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.
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.
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 withoutrain 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 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".
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?
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
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.
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.
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.
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,
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.
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!!!!
