January to June 2012
Email information to:
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(All sources are confidential)
Fiji's dictator Frank Bainimarama, holding Fiji hostage
WARNING to all Vodafone Fiji users
Vodafone CEO, Aslam Khan, gives Fiji military copies of all calls and text messages.
Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, via this website, reveals the truth about Bainimarama's, Fiji's dictator, true reasons for the 2006 Coup. It all goes back to Bainimarama's involvement in the 2000 Coup and how Bainimarama manipulated the Fiji Military to save himself. Bainimarama did not save Fiji in 2000.
Bainimarama was part of the 2000 Coup and good loyal Fiji soldiers and people suffered and some also died because of it!
People of Fiji, democracy groups, NGO's, Unionists, individuals, our Pacific neighbours and friends of Fiji. We all need to unite and work together to remove the evil Fiji Junta as soon as possible, and return Democracy, the rule of Law and Human Rights to Fiji. We are not alone! And together we will triumph and restore peace and prosperity to our beloved Fiji Islands.
Dictators
Col Gaddafi -beaten & shot/ Saddam Hussein -hanged/Mubarak -on trial/ Bainimarama -murderer & thief...
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." ~ Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States (1981–1989)
Fr.Akauola
A six part video series of Father Akauola SM talking about his experience and knowledge of the Fiji Coup of 2000.
Australia NZ USA
Torture Watch Fiji
Other Blog Sites
Coupfourpointfive
Discombobulated bubu
FijiCoup2006
Fiji Coup News
Fiji Democracy Now
Fiji Girl's Weblog
Fiji Labour Party website
Fiji Today
Intelligentsiya
Luvei ni Viti
Matavuvale
Michael Field
Na Dina Fiji Truth
Raw Fiji News
Solivakasama
Tears for Fiji
Thumbs Up to Democracy in Fiji
Torture Watch
Bainimarama's crocodile tears -- will the US Government fall for his lies again.....
The Council for a Democratic Fiji released a statement saying that the lying dictator bainimarama appeared on TV last night in another attempt to "con" the US Government by announcing that there would be an immediate review of his junta's draconian labour decrees that contravene 34 International Labour Organisation conventions that Fiji has ratified.
All this drama and spin, just 24 hours before the hearing commences in the United States against Fiji for breach of labour rights and standards arising out of the rogue decrees of Khaiyum - Bainimarama's insalubrious Attorney General. The decrees threaten Fiji with the most serious employment crisis ever, that involves 39 companies losing 15,000 – 36,000 jobs.
But what's the use of talking about a review especially when we all know that bainimarma is a born and bred liar. What is key is that there are appropriate changes implemented to meet the (34) international standards. Remember these are just Bainimarama's words and, like before it only implies carrying out a review of the decrees but it does not include making any changes to them.
Bainimarama has a record of broken promises and more of his "bullshit" that include:
vowing to preserve the 1997 constitution and then trashing the Constitution
breaking a personal commitment to the Pacific Forum leaders to hold Elections in March 2009
promising to be accountable and yet refuses to release the Auditor General's report
publicly stating that as interim Prime Minister he will only collect his Commander's salary, but secretly receives multiple salaries
reduce corruption but is privately paid through Nur Bano's Accounting firm in Suva and refuses to disclose the details to the taxpayers of Fiji
vowing to increase transparency but he is no way transparent.
So should the US government trust this latest "drama queen" performance by bainimarma. Hell No!
Bainimarama is a dictator and together with Khaiyum they have been doing everything they can to avoid scrutiny of on-going abuse of labor rights, human rights and the other fundamental rights of Fiji Citizens. Bainimarama is also a fugitive from the law!
Therefore, all decrees identified by the ILO and the ICFTU must immediately be rescinded.
Bainimarama admits supporting the 2000 Speight coup and stated that the 1997 constitution was very good that he and his officer corps could not imagine anything better.
Frank Khaiyum
From FijiToday blog. Why Bainimarama can't bear the 1997 Constitution, by navosavakadua
Bainimarama who has set himself up as the ultimate law giver has told us we cannot have the 1997 Constitution.
If he going to give himself the role of the ultimate judge of our constitution he needs to tell us exactly why the constitution is flawed and when he discovered this.
We can thank Yash Ghai for an account of Bainimarama's past view of the 1997 Constitution. In a paper written jointly with Jill Cotrell for the United States Institute for Peace, entitled Between Coups Constitution Making in Fiji, Yash Ghai says that he met with the Commander and senior officers in October 2000. They discussed the 1997 constitution, which Bainimarama and his officers told Prof Ghai, they had just started to read. To their surprise "they found it an excellent constitution and a better one could not be imagined. But they had not known this when they more or less supported the coup!"
So let's get this straight. In early 2000 Bainimarama thought the 1997 Constitution was was so bad he abgrogated it in a process which he and his officers described as "more or less supporting the Speight coup". That's right, he admitted that he had more or less supported the Speight coup. By October of that year, however, after reading the 1997 constitution, Bainimarama thought it was very good, so good that he and his officer corps said they could not imagine anything better.
Even after his coup in 2006 he was still swearing his loyalty to the constitution. The Charter of 2008 which Bainimarama gave us declared the 1997 Constitution was the basis of all things good. Then sometime after that he came to see it was "no good for Fiji".
Bainimarama says it is 'discriminatory' and 'no good for Fiji' but he hasn't told us is exactly what discriminatory bits he doesn't like and when he discovered them.
Does he think we don't understand what's going on here? The problem with the 1997 constitution is that, if it is regarded as valid, he is guilty of treason. If we return to the 1997 constitution it means all of the Decrees passed since the Court of Appeal decision in 2009 are not only illegal, they are treasonous. His dishonesty about this does no-one any good.
We need genuine reconciliation, with honesty, openness and a readiness to start anew. The two obstacles standing in the way are Bainimarama and Khaiyum. Given a choice between these two and the 1997 Constitution, who apart from the two criminals themselves would not choose the 1997 Constitution?
Bainimarama attempts to blame Union leaders for Khaiyum's Essential Services Decree, which is the reason for the proposed sanctions.
US Sanction on the Generalized System of Preferences Scheme - Bainimarama's Appeal to Trade Union leaders
While speaking in Lautoka on Saturday as reported in the Fiji Sun of (30/9), Dictator Bainimarama made his eleventh hour appeal on the union leaders against the looming US sanction that will end the duty free market access into the US. He repeated the ridiculous claim blaming the union leaders for the impending sanction when the problem lies within his defunct regime.
Simply put, the imminent US sanction cannot be attributed to any of the union leaders in any possible manner. The truth is that Khaiyum's [and David Phliger's] Essential Services Decree blatantly violates international labor principles and standards, which is the reason for the US sanctions. And Bainimarama refuses to remove the decree.
On Tuesday, 2nd October 2012, 15,000 to 36,000 jobs may disappear completely because of the Essential Services Decree but Bainimarama is blaming the union leaders when it is Khaiyum's reckless Essential Services Decree that will decimate the jobs and industries.
Read press release>>
CMAG's conclusion on Human Rights Abuse And the Rule of Law in Fiji
Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
CMAG	held	its	38th	Meeting	in	New	York	this	week	and	deliberated	once	again	on	Fiji. We	welcome	CMAG's	conclusion	about	the	need	for	the	military	regime	in	Fiji	to	desist	from further	Human	Rights	Abuse	and	Breaches	which	has	been	well	articulated	internationally. Further,	CMAG	has	accepted	the	apparent	erosion	of	the	rule	of	law	in	Fiji.	The	Marshall Petition	on	the	Corruption	within	the	Judiciary	is	therefore	vindicated. The	CMAG's	official	position	remains:
"...the	group	welcomed	the	broad-based	national	dialogue	on	Fiji's	future	taking place,	and	commended	the	Constitutional	Commission	on	its	work	to	date.	But Ministers	also	expressed	concern	about	remaining	restrictions	on	human	rights	and the	rule	of	law	in	Fiji.	They	urged	the	government	to	address	these	in	order	to	create the	environment	needed	for	credible	constitutional	consultations	and	elections".
The	CFDF	reiterates	that	the	present	process	lack	credibility	and	transparency	given	the
arbitrary	control	Bainimarama	asserts	over	the	constituent	assembly.	And,	in	particular,	the immunity	provision	for	coup	perpetrators,	beneficiaries	and	regime's	associates	which	all political	parties,	including	the	CCF,	has	rejected	outright.	Further,	the	tainted	Attorney
General's	control	over	the	office	of	the	elections	supervisor	is	indeed	unacceptable	negating
any	credibility,	the	Yash	Ghai	Commission	currently	enjoys.
In	joining	CCF	and	SDL/FLP/NFP/UGP	submission	to	the	Pacific	Forum,	we	support	the
appointment	of	a	caretaker	civilian	government	replacing	the	Military	led	regime.	In	order	to create	an	environment	conducive	for	free,	fair	and	credible	elections,	military	must
withdraw	from	the	executive	and	civil	service	to	allow	a	civilian	administration	to	manage
the	transition	to	constitutional	government	within	the	next	22	months	if	not	earlier.
Like	the	CMAG,	the	Pacific	Forum	has	reiterated	that	Elections	must	not	only	be	held	but	it
has	to	be	free and	fair and	be	internationally	acceptable.	The	present	process	is	not	even
remotely	close	to	the	specific	international	expectation.	No	amount	of	propaganda	can
change	the	fact	that	the	CMAG,	Pacific	Forum	and	the	EU	would	be	measuring	any	Elections
against	these	standards	and	not	on	the	basis	of	the	self- imposed	propulsions	of	one	Aiyaz
Khaiyum.
Ratu	Tevita	Uluilakeba	Mara
Council	for	a	Democratic	Fiji
30th September	2012
Cfdfiji.org
Nations support Fiji's return to Commonwealth
ABC-Radio Australia. Updated 29 September 2012, 18:19 AEST
Representatives from several Commonwealth nations have agreed to support Fiji's reinstatement to the Commonwealth.
At a meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, foreign ministers welcomed Fiji's progress in the areas of voter registration and constitutional consultation.
"CMAG reiterated its commitment to supporting and encouraging Fiji's reinstatement as a full member of the Commonwealth family, through the restoration of civilian constitutional democracy."
- CMAG Concluding Statement
But the group, which is made up of a revolving group foreign ministers of member states, also expressed concern about restrictions on human rights and the rule of law in Fiji.
"[Ministers] urged the Government of Fiji to address these, in order to create the environment necessary for credible constitutional consultations and elections," CMAG said in a statement.
The statement also said the ministers had reaffirmed the Commonwealth's readiness to provide assistance to Fiji and encourage "further high-level interactions between the Commonwealth and Fiji".
NGO is right to be concerned about military
pro PS MINFO Sharon SmithJohns
The NGO Coalition Chairperson, Shamima Ali is right to be concerned about why the military was involved in the operation to recapture the five prisoners and about the alleged brutality by the military during their recapture, including acts of sodomy.
The recapture of prisoners is usually the role of the police in a democratic country. Unfortunately, Fiji is not democratic. Instead, Fiji is ruled by the brutal and corrupt dictator Bainimarama who himself is running from the law — for murder, treason, sedition and disobeying orders from his Commander in Chief.
The promiscuous Permanent Secretary for Information, Sharon Smith-Johns is nothing more than a mouth piece [literally, if you get our drift] for the brutal military dictatorship. Smith-Johns claims that Ali is out of touch with the plight and welfare of women in the country. She also said everyone including the girls and women of the country were very concerned about their safety last week as these prisoners are hardened criminals and were carrying out daylight raids. The fact is the girls and women of Fiji are very concerned about their safety every day and not only in the last week.
Crime has increased since Bainimarama's 2006 coup and subsequent dictatorship, including the number of home invasions and rape cases some of which committed by the military. So the fear amongst women in Fiji is real and a part of every day life in Fiji, and not just because of the latest prison breakout.
Smith-Johns stated that the military's involvement was necessary to ensure that everyone is protected and that the soldiers were told to ensure that the women in the country also feel safe to move around. But it is this very same military who are the key perpetrators in intimidating, murdering, brutalising and sodomising anyone who does not agree with the dictator and his megalomaniac puppet master Khaiyum [cunningly robbing Fiji of its resources]. Bainimarama himself also jumped up and down on the back of a pregnant woman who had been forced to lay down, killing the unborn child.
Smith-Johns stated said Ali would not be speaking like this if she was one of the female bank tellers who were traumatized by the armed robbery last week. Smith-Johns is implying here that the brutality by the soldiers is acceptable, which shows that she is lying about the Bainimarama dictatorship saying that they do not condone brutality! This undue use of exaggeration and lies is called rhetoric [or "tamani lasulasu"].
Smith-Johns also said the break-ins and robberies were pre-planned in prison but Bainimarama himself also pre-planned to support the 2000 coup and staged the 2006 coup to save himself from arrest and prosecution. He also planned and attempted to blackmail senior military officers to help him overthrow the legally elected government of Fiji, so that he could keep his job. Fortunately, the senior officers had more integrity and opted to stand their moral ground. Bainimarama dismissed them all.
The promiscuous Permanent Secretary for Information, Sharon Smith-Johns also stated that the escapees were carrying cane knives, crowbars and bottles, which were used on the officers when the prisoners were arrested off Uduya Point last Friday. But Bainimarama's military goons carry guns [which they use to stick up the backsides of citizens], knives and beat-up and pour boiling hot water over the bare backs of Fiji citizens.
So yes, Shamima Ali is right to be concerned about why the military was involved in the operation to recapture the five prisoners and about the alleged brutality by the military during their recapture, including acts of sodomy. Smith-Johns is nothing more than a lying mouth piece for the military dictatorship [pun intended].
Fiji, a military and corrupt state under Bainimarama and Khaiyum
Fiji under seige - a militarised state
C4.5 states that police moles said Bainimarama sacked 9 senior police officers and told Naivalurua that "If the police can't do its job - the army will do it." The source also claimed that the arrest of the recent Naboro escapees were made by the army intel and navy, and that police were not involved. The source also stated that Bainimarama told senior army officers to be ready to take over control from police as he clearly stated that he has lost trust in the police and its commissioner to maintain national security.
The educated police officers know they must follow the law while the new uneducated colonels in the army are about instilling Bainimarma's brutality and dictatorship.
Therefore the people of Fiji can look forward to a total militarized state should Bainimarama's scam to run from the law and win the next election works. Bainimarama is doing everything he can, by hook or by crook, to stay in power.
The previous US Ambassador to Fiji, Steven McGaan, provides a picture of what we can expect from the Bainimarama junta heading towards elections. It is based on how the dictator Frank Bainimarama had earlier lied and intimidated the people to accept his Peoples Charter, led by John Samy.
Victor Lal wrote that John Samy had expressed his grave reservations on the charter to Ambassador McGaan in 2008, which McGaan reported to Washington in a leaked Wikileaks cable dated 22 December 2008. In the report McGaan explained that the National Council for Building a Better Fiji claimed to have consulted approximately 425,000 people, with more than 370,000 completing response forms, and 92 percent of which reportedly fully endorsed the Charter. However, McGaan stated that the consultation process involved a wide range of coercion and is perceived as having very little legitimacy.
Therefore, this likely is a tactic Fiji can expect at the next elections and some of it is already in play with the imprisonment of Fiji's PM Mr Qarase, restrictions on freedom of speech and gatherings, and intimidation and brutality, etc.
McGann also stated that opponents continue to question why, if the public truly supports the Charter, Bainimarama and Khaiyum remained unwilling to hold a public referendum on the document as originally promised. This is similar to Khaiyum claiming that Bainimarama has the support of the people but continues to delay the elections, create draconian decrees, including the immunity decree. Why is this all necessary if the people support Bainimarama. If Bainimarama truly has the support of the people that he claims then he could easily win the elections and then legally form a government, create laws including a law barring him from prosecution and blame.
A lot of reliable people also claim that Khaiyum told them that elections would not occur until 2020. Hence the delay tactics.
McGaan also explained in his report why the treasonist and illegal AG Khaiyum was holding Fiji back from going to the polls: "While ideology undoubtedly plays a role, Sayed-Khaiyum's personal ambition and political isolation likely fuel his opposition to near-term elections. The AG is not affiliated with any major political party, has limited contacts outside the interim government, and would face an uncertain future should he lose his position. Khaiyum was also in default on several property loans to one of Fiji's largest banks for almost two years; the bank unwilling to foreclose for fear that its expatriate managers would be deported should they do so. Khaiyum resolved the delinquencies by selling the properties to law firms he dishes out government work to, for prices well above fair market value.
Therefore, just like the People's Charter, we dont think Bainimarama can hold free and fair elections, so instead, he and Khaiyum plan to stay in power for as long as possible -- while making Fiji a more militarized and corrupt state.
More Bainimarama thuggery and brutality
Pic from C4.5
FijiSun [September 26, 2012]
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rusiate Tudravu said four of the five [pictured], who escaped from the Naboro Medium Facility, were armed with cane knives when they were confronted at Draunibota Island in Suva by police officers and military personnel.
However, as we already know, the Fiji military under Bainimarama has a history of torturing and beating up unarmed civilians and women. So one can only imagine what they would do with armed persons [if they were armed at all] ....this makes it hard to believe that the Bainimarama junta is being truthful in its statement that they do not condone the excessive use of force in the apprehension of recaptured prisoners. This is just more lies and "fancy words" from the ever promiscuous PS Information Smith-Johns.
ACP Tudravu also confirmed that two of the five escapees remain in the Colonial War Memorial Hospital and two are in the Corrections Hospital in Korovou.
Read more>>>
ABC Radio Australia [Updated 25 September 2012, 16:58 AEST]
The Coalition on Human Rights says the five men were unable to appear in court today because they are reportedly in hospital. The group says the military's involvement should also be investigated as it should have been a police matter.
Feedback: on our earlier article: Frank Bainimarama, a man escaping from the law, not doing his sworn duty to uphold it.
Thank you to readers for your hilarious and interesting feedback.
We're still trying to find the words to help console those struggling to disassociate images of Bainimarma running through the cassava patch whenever they use toilet paper. Will let you know a remedy as soon as we receive advice from St.Giles.
Remember that it may seem inappropriate to laugh during a national crisis, but in any tragedy, humor can play a key role in helping us keep our sanity. Dr. Patt Schwab suggests that humor helps us process painful events, while giving us back our sense of power and control. Please remember, it was not the toilet paper's fault.
Ratu Tevita Mara
JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE IN FIJI
Serious issues for investors and businesses
The long suspected decay of the Fiji Judiciary appointed by Aiaz Sayed-Khaiyum after the abrogation of the 1997 Constitution has been confirmed by former Appeals Court Judge QC William Marshall. This brings to an end the speculation within Fiji and internationally that the Judiciary had become completely subservient to Khaiyum. There have been statements in the
past from former FICAC prosecutor and other judicial officers taking office after the Appeals Court declared the Bainimarama government illegal in April 2009.
The Samoan Prime Minister and NZ Labour Party Foreign Affairs spokesman have expressed their opinion that the Fiji Courts are not independent and NZ Law Society President Jonathan Temp and Australian Law Council also lamented the lack of transparency in the justice system.
The revelations by QC Marshall are indeed very disturbing and once again raise the question of whether Fiji is serious about returning to democracy through free and fair elections. All the signs indicate they are not prepared to relinquish power through elections.
CFDFiji says that foreign investors should be very careful about investing in Fiji since the country clearly does not have a functioning, independent judicial system - a crucial prerequisite. Fiji has gone from bad to worse as far as the rule of law is concerned and investors cannot ignore the seriousness of this situation.
The courts of Fiji, and the magistrates and judges comprising such courts, are not independent. The oath which magistrates and judges are required to take by the regime itself is inconsistent with their independence and the so called independent bodies allegedly monitoring legal appointments are facades for the manipulation mechanisms of the regime.
A standard condition of due diligence in regard to international contracts, agreements, treaties etc., concerns the viability of the legal system under which the contracts will be administered. In the case of Fiji, such viability is lacking.
Another reason for caution in dealing with the regime concerns the desire of a future,
democratically elected government to honour such agreements, contracts, treaties etc. It is
evident that many of the regimes contracts, treaties and agreements are very self serving to the individuals and organisations involved in the current regime and a future elected government might well be most unwilling to honour such contracts.
For these reasons, all businesses currently conducting business with the current regime, or
planning to carry on business with the current regime, before continuing that business or
committing themselves to that business should have careful regard to the possible
consequences to themselves, their executives, shareholders and like parties, of so dealing.
Cfdfiji.org
Dirty politics - Reason why NZ and US wont provide any authentic help to return democracy to Fiji...they are scared of China!
US looks to New Zealand to help counter China
Updated 21 September 2012, 9:59 AEST
The United State's Defence Secretary, Leon Panetta has arrived in New Zealand. He's the first American defence secretary to visit the country since Caspar Weinberger back in 1982.
That was a time when New Zealand and America had a very friendly relationship and with the US's military pivot into the Pacific, Mr Panetta's trip is designed to win friends again.
Mr Panetta flew in from New Zealand from China, which the land of the long white cloud also wants to be good friends with.
Earlier this year New Zealand signed the Washington Declaration, which specifies priority areas of cooperation between the militaries of both countries
Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Paul Buchanan, Strategic Analyst
Fiji parties want inquiry into justice system
Updated 21 September 2012, 17:17 AEST
Fiji's main political parties have banded together to jointly call for an inquiry into the workings of the justice system. This follows claims by former Fiji Appeal Court judge, William Marshall, about interference in the system by the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. Read more here.
Freedom of Expression a National Threat
Fr.Kevin Barr
THE Fiji Police Force yesterday cancelled a march by the Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy (ECREA) citing it as a "national threat".
The march that was supposed to begin from Vanua Arcade to Civic Centre as part of ECREA's celebration for International Day of Peace was stopped at the eleventh hour.
Father Kevin Barr of ECREA said they had prepared themselves with placards, posters and banners but were told that they could not go ahead with their plans.
"We had been issued with a permit but I don't know why our march was cancelled," Father Barr said.
When contacted yesterday, Senior Superintendent of Police Rusiate Tudravu referred all questions to Fr Barr.
"When the permit is cancelled that means it's cancelled," SSP Tudravu said.
However, later on during the day, another march took place at Battery Rd where more than 200 people wore T-shirts with "Just Peace-Just Wages for All" printed on them.
They had carried their placards and banners, which were also part of their submissions to the Constitution Commission.
Frank Bainimarama: a man escaping from the law, not doing his sworn duty to uphold it
This week the Bainimarama junta expelled the ILO and Justice Marshall has provided the truth about Khaiyum's vile and corrupt system.
Time is running out for the regime in Fiji and it won't be long before we see Bainimarama and Khaiyum on the run.
We already know that Bainimarama:
To full fill his lust for power, backed the 2000 coup and removed Fiji's President
To appear innocent, transfered blame to CRW soldiers he had ordered into parliament
To lie about his innocence, CRW soldiers were arrested, beaten and imprisoned with the unit disbanded
To save himself from the CRW mutiny [Nov 2000] he abandoned his men and runs away through the casava patch, soiling himself in the process [see enclosed picture]
To seek revenge he murdered CRW soldiers
To achieve his own agenda he disobeyed his Commander in Chief's orders
To avoid losing his job he threatened the Prime Minister and removes all senior military officers who disagree
To implement his plan for power he accuses elected Government of corruption and portraits himself as a saver
To avoid arrest and prosecution by Police he staged the 2006 coup
To appear innocent he lied to the world about making Fiji less corrupt and transparent
To silence the truth behind his actions he bashes unarmed men and women, murders unborn baby, and ordered his goons to commit a list of crimes against citizens
To line his pockets and to avoid prosecution, he hires a vile puppeteer, Aiyaz Khaiyum, and together they depart on a journey of corruption, lies, brutality, nepotism and theft of Fiji's resources, while issuing draconian decrees.
But did you know that until Bainimarama is held to account for his evil deeds, sooner or later, we can take some joy in knowing that the humble toilet paper has become Bainimarama's mascot. It is also a reminder to the world, whenever it is used each day, that:
Bainimarama pooped in his pants running through the Cassava Patch
he automatically backfires when he hears a car back firing
his team of 50 security men can't stop his own shadow scaring the shit out of him
he is preparing for when Aiyarse removes his hand from his Commodore glove puppet
he is always prepared for the moment he has to flee from justice in Fiji
he is the only Fiji (and Pacific Is) commodore to abandon his men to save himself
he can't remember the time he got so drunk at the Fijian hotel, while dinning with foreign dignitaries, that he pooped in his pants again -- his security team remembers it only too well.
Fiji's dictator Bainimarama is more corrupt and worse than the legal Government he had removed ever was. Now Fiji is on a downward spiral to economic collapse while Bainimarma continues to run from the law to save himself.
Bainimarama blames incompetent Fijian Ministries for need to change ILO mission's TOR
This is typical behavior by liars and con-artists. Both Bainimarama and Khaiyum have been lying to the people of Fiji and to the world that they are doing wonderful things for Fiji. The reality of their corruption and lies are revealed when independent observers travel to Fiji to find out for themselves if there is any truth in what they are being told. The Australian and New Zealand Trade Union leaders were denied entry into Fiji when they attempted to find out the truth for themselves, and now this saga with the ILO. So do Bainimarama and Khaiyum already have an excuse prepared to justify not having elections in 2014?.........
The ILO mission has been visiting Fiji at the invitation of the Government in light of various complaints made by the trade unions. It began its programme on Monday, 17 September 2012, based on already-agreed terms of reference [TOR] with the Government and with an agreed list of senior public officials and representatives from the employers' organization and national trade union centres. In the midst of its first meeting, with the Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, the mission was asked to desist from its remaining meetings until further notice. [Another form of censorship]
That evening, the Office of the Prime Minister presented the mission with entirely new terms of reference arguing that unfortunately, as a result of miscommunication between the respective Fijian ministries, the terms of reference provided by the Ministry of Labour did not articulate the correct scope of such a visit. This indicates that the Fiji ministries are incompetent. But we can safely assume that the Fiji ministries are being blamed for Bainimarama and Khaiyums deceit.
The substantially revised terms were not acceptable by ILO. The ILO mission was mandated by the ILO Governing Body Committee on Freedom of Association and the unanimously adopted Resolution on Fiji of the Asia and Pacific Regional Meeting of December 2011. The proposed new terms of reference set out a point of view of the Government for which it seeks confirmation, and calls into question certain findings and principles of the tripartite Committee on Freedom of Association within which framework the mission was acting. As such, they were considered to represent an unacceptable, significant and serious deviation from the object and purpose of the mission. Efforts by the mission to reach a common understanding on a way forward were to no avail.
In light of the above, the bainimarama Government requested the mission to leave the country expeditiously so that a new visit, which could heed its proposed terms of reference, could be considered.
Juan Somavia, Director-General of the ILO, strongly condemned the "Government's unilateral decision which puts a greater spotlight on the critical situation of freedom of association in Fiji and only fuels international solidarity with the Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions (FICTU), and the Fiji Teachers' Association (FTA)".
Read ILO Press Release here
International Labour Organisation invited to Fiji and then expelled without reason...
Fiji's dictator Bainimarama
From Fiji Today blog, Updated 19 September 2012, 13:59 AEST
Fiji has expelled a delegation from the International Labour Organisation, but the Government is yet to say why.
An agency of the United Nations, the ILO is responsible for overseeing international labour standards.
The group arrived in Fiji on Sunday, at the invitation of the interim military government, to investigate claims by local trade unions that workers' rights were not being respected.
However, Felix Anthony, the General-Secretary of the Fiji Trades Union Congress, told Pacific Beat the delegation's meeting with the Labour Minister on Monday had been cut short.
On Wednesday, he confirmed news that the group was being expelled.
"I'm told that around 11am (local time) the Prime Minister's office wrote to the head of the mission and advised the mission that it ought to leave Fiji as soon as possible," said Mr Anthony.
He believes this could bring "further disrepute" to Fiji.
"There cannot be any valid reason for the expulsion, more particularly after they were invited to Fiji. And Fiji, being a member of the International Labour Organisation, ought to have respected the delegation's visit and participated."
Fiji's interim Government has so far not given a reason for the expulsion.
'Not the first time'"This is not the first time the regime has behaved in this manner," said Mr Anthony, from the Fiji Trades Union Congress.
He compared this to events of last December, when members of Australian and New Zealand trade unions were not allowed in to Fiji.
That group had also wanted to investigate alleged abuse of workers' rights in Fiji.
However, they were turned back from Nadi airport, after the government accused them of bias
Justice Marshall's petition for the dismissal of the Attorney General Sayed Khaiyum
PLEASE NOTE that the file, in PDF format, is in reverse order. So download the following file and begin reading from the last page.
justice_w_r_marshalls_petition_to_remove_ag.pdf
Justice W Marshall: judges no longer do their duty and do not serve the people of Fiji
Justice William Marshall
The fact is that the Attorney General completed the removal of judicial independence in Fiji in April 2012. The judges no longer do their duty and do not serve the people of Fiji. They do what they believe the Attorney General would wish them to do. In many cases this is specifically explained to them by or on behalf of the Attorney General.
Some judges have been doing this since 2010 since they are used to the executive telling the judges what to do. Others have started doing it in April 2012 because they know that if they do not do what the Attorney General desires they will be dismisssed. A key "tipping point" in this process was when it became known on or about 12th April 2012 that my contract would not be renewed.
So I petitioned the Prime Minister and the Military Council in a Petition dated 21st June 2012 for the dismissal of the Attorney General.
The Petition and the supporting documents disclose all the relevant facts. They can be accessed, perused or downloaded in whole and in part from this website. My duty is to appraise informed opinion in Fiji of these facts which prove that Fijians are being cheated and are being deprived of justice in their law suits both criminal and civil.
Why a website? I have no choice. The Attorney General runs censorship and untrue propaganda. At the end of my contract I wrote an uncontroversial letter to the Fiji Times on 15th July 2012. I said on behalf of myself and my wife, that we wished to thank the people of Fiji for their welcome and their support to us. It did not appear in the Fiji Times.
William Marshall
Australian Ginger growers worried by Fiji imports
From: AAP September 07, 2012 2:07PM
GINGER growers are the latest group of farmers upset about foreign imports and are demanding a parliamentary inquiry into the matter.
Nationals senator Ron Boswell will ask a senate committee next week to look at the risks and consequences of allowing fresh ginger imports from Fiji. Read more>>>
Fiji Constitution Commission head concerned people too intimidated to appear
Posted at 03:48 on 07 September, 2012 UTC
The head of Fiji's Constitution Commission says there are people too intimidated to appear, but it is hearing a range of views.
Women's organisations in the country have alleged plainclothed police officers are attending the hearings and taking notes and people are afraid to speak out.
The Commission's head, Professor Yash Ghai, says a lot of people have been speaking frankly, but it's entirely possible others don't come at all.
"It's hard to say how many people are being deterred by...the police. I have noticed in some meetings when the police are taking notes that people seem to be speaking freely. But I know that some people have told me that they are a bit uneasy when the police are sitting there, so it's a mixed reaction, I would say."
Professor Yash Ghai says while anyone can watch the hearings, when he has detected police taking notes, he has asked them to leave.
News Content © Radio New Zealand International
PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand
THE 43rd PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM – A good outcome
by Council for a Democratic Fiji, September 5, 2012
The Council had been anxious that the possible outcome of the latest Forum meeting, in light of the very recent apparent volte face conducted by Australia and New Zealand towards the Fiji regime and its current charade of Constitutional consultation.
The actual outcome in terms of the Communique now issued and recent forceful statements by NZ PM John Key and Samoa PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is however most encouraging.
Despite repeated promises, the Regime has continued to maintain it's policy of appointing Military Appointees to key civilian government positions.
The Communique is welcome in that it treats with great caution the steps already taken by the regime. It clearly defers regularisation of Fiji's status until much more far reaching steps towards democracy are taken. Fiji remains excluded from the Forum which is of course as it should be having regard to the persistence of its continuing militarisation. The Communique is unanimous and the continuing exclusion of Fiji is clearly acquiesced in even by states of the Melanesian Spearhead Group with which the current regime frequently boasts a special relationship.
Also most encouraging is the statement by John Key (hopefully on behalf of both Australia and New Zealand) that "We will obviously point out we really don't think Fiji should be allowed back into the forum in full until they actually have democratic elections and the military are back in the barracks."
It must be pointed out that currently Fiji is a long way from democratic elections and the Army is a long way out of the barracks- indeed its all pervading presence and total control is the major feature vitiating the future of Fiji.
The registration of voters is an empty and futile exercise without the democratic promulgation of a Constitution under which voting would take place. Such Promulgation is far off and may well never occur. The process for submissions vis a vis the Constitution has, as the Chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission stated, been marred by the all pervading fear which induces many not to make submissions, and by the (understandable) obsession of the regime with immunity for itself from prosecution.
The incarceration by the regime of the winner of most votes in the last democratic elections, via a non independent asserted Sri Lankan High Court Judge, on basis of charges of considerable antiquity paling against those with which the current regime leaders should be charged, is also hardly encouraging.
The Regime's Illegal-AG, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum continues to assert that the Media and Judiciary in Fiji are entirely free and independent.
As has already been said, the real key to the future is the genuine return of the army to barracks – not just a symbolic return but a true withdrawal from all aspects of public life, removing the shield of protection currently surrounding the cowards who run the present regime. That return should have occurred years ago. Instead increasing militarisation has occurred, of which the Australian Foreign Minister has rightly complained.
Demilitarisation must precede any further electoral preparations. Without it, these are futile and meaningless. Likewise, the conduct of elections. The international community ought not to accept the spectacle of army run elections and ought not to be deceived by the plethora of allegedly "independent" institutions created by the alleged Attorney General to pull the wool over its eyes in regard to preparations for elections.
The respect in which the Chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission is held is no remedy for the above stated problems. His recommendations will be made to another body a puppet of the regime and a fiction of the imagination of the alleged Attorney General, the Constituent Assembly.
There is no substitute for an immediate and genuine withdrawal of the army to barracks now, not later after the current charade has become even more of a charade. In default of such withdrawal no election preparations or actual election will have any credibility.
Bainimarama: Fools Gold
From a blogger: Original story in Fiji Democracy Now blog.
The international community doesn't know what to effectively do about Fiji. The USA is known for creating and/or supporting dictatorships. Australia and New Zealand, like sheep, are known for following the USA.
So now they follow USA's lead, but betray pro-democracy groups so that they can re-engage with Fiji's dictatorship and market banimarama's "fools gold" that Fiji is back on the road to free and fair elections. For NZ their interest is to protect their exports to Fiji totaling over $310 million. For Australia,...... to protect its investments in Fiji and status in the Pacific.... whatever the reasons, will any of this be sustainable if the people of Fiji continue to live in fear and oppression or do not get the employment they need to care for their families because local businesses are not investing? The Fiji judiciary, local media, industry and speech are all controlled by the regime.
But the dictator Bainimarama tells the world that the he is making Fiji a better place or is this just all "fools gold" and a lie. How can we believe any of this especially when Bainimarama's record is full of lies and fancy con-artist talk that are no way close to reality or to the truth. The promiscuous Sharon Simth-Johns, Minfo, in the face of all the evidence against the regime, continuous to promote the bainimarama dictatorship. So what do we believe? One way is to measure the reality on the ground in Fiji.
One such measure is the financial rating by Moody's, a financial rating agency, which uses a system of rating securities that was originated by John Moody in 1909. Its purpose is to provide investors with a simple system of gradation by which future relative credit worthiness of securities may be gauged.
Moody's marked the bainimarama regime down because of the crushing level of government debt. Moody's said: "The government's financial strength is assessed as low because of the high ratios of government debt and interest payments to government revenue."
The debt level of Fiji as a whole is not high because there is not a high level of private borrowing overseas. [This is a key point.] Our banks are awash with Fiji dollars because local businesses don't want to borrow and invest while Fiji has a military regime that makes up laws taking away property rights, and then denying businesses the right to bring their claims to a court. And, even if they do get to a court, they can't be sure that they will not get a judge bullied by the regime into doing its bidding. [This is the reality]
There are many other measures, including the various assessments done by local and international organisations. But if this is the reality, then what can we say about believing what is said about the upcoming 2014 elections in Fiji or any of the other "golden" promises made by Bainimarama and his dictatorship.
Naive about Fiji
From: The Australian, August 17, 2012
THE commentary by Elke Larsen ("Normalisation shows isolating Fiji has failed", 15/8) shows nothing of the kind. What it does show is the reality that the US blindly continues to ignore the policy lessons of its long and inglorious record of snuggling up to dictators where it perceives its interest to be served.
Larsen's misconceptions and naive assumptions are too numerous to list but the reliance on a poll that even those in the junta take with a bucket of salt and the notion that the military has played a positive developmental role are especially disappointing.
More worrying is the apparent effect this view from Washington has had on Australian policy towards a dictatorship declared illegal by its own appeals court and which has reneged on every promise it has made to its own people.
It took Foreign Minister Bob Carr all of 24 hours to complete a U-turn on Fiji after declaring he saw no reason to ease sanctions. This, of course, would have had nothing to do with a State Department that has forgotten its ambassador's assessment of Frank Bainimarama as a bully with whom a psychiatrist would have a field day.
So what has changed? The answer is China, whose growing influence in the Pacific has the US worried – and rightly so. It has become Bainima-rama's best friend – or so he thinks – and the US wants to counter that by buddying up. So Australia had damn well better do the same.
But the question doesn't seem to have been asked – far less answered – in Canberra: how is Australia's interest served by caving in to a dictatorship that controls the media, restricts church gatherings, assaults dissenters, fingerprints all telephone owners and insists any new constitution will give the military immunity for its admitted crimes? Perhaps Carr could let us know.
Russell Hunter, former publisher, Fiji Sun, Brisbane, Qld
Missing Pages from RFMF BoI Report
Fiji's dictator and woman basher
Frank Bainimarama is still trying to convince the world, and certainly the people of Fiji, to believe that his record is not blood stained, that his motives are noble and that he is nothing but a selfless servant of the higher cause of a pure Fiji. But the actual record of what he said and did (or did not do) tells another story.
His actual narrative is littered with lies, paranoia, betrayals and self aggrandizement, a man escaping from the law, not doing his sworn duty to uphold it.
In Frank Bainimarama's hands, Fiji is on the fast road to rack and ruin. And the members of the Constitutional Commission, Professor Yash Ghai (Chairman), and Professor Christina Murray are finding this out for themselves the hard way.
Bainimarama continues to lie to Fiji and to the world saying there are no restrictions on people making constitution submissions. But at the same time Professor Ghai is saying that certain laws should be reviewed if they are not conducive to a free environment. And that any restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of the assembly and media freedom should be removed. Professor Ghai also said that it is not fair for the government to criticize any submissions from anyone including political parties and NGOs. The people of Fiji already understand all too well this evil "lasu lasu" mentality that Bainimarama is displaying, and so they now wait for Professor Ghai to catch-up, or by a miracle, Australia and New Zealand can convince Bainimarama to do the right thing......io!
We also now know that the Constituent Assembly is going to be made up of the dictator's Cronies. He recently announced that, 'The Constituent Assembly will be made up of credible people who think positively about Fiji's future and he said and I quote "tell Shamima Ali from me she is not in that league" end quote.
So anyone who has the temerity to criticize anything of the regime will not be allowed to be part of the body that ratifies the new constitution. We know now it will comprise of "yes" men and no women because in the same statement he said they were not important.
An interesting point from the missing RFMF BoI pages is that Speight says that it was not his request to remove the President. So does this reinforce the view that it was Frank Bainimarama that wanted the President removed so that he [Bainimarama] could take over executive power for himself - Bainimarama's second coup......
Click on the next link to download the missing pages.
missing_boi_pages.pdf
Political imprisonment of Laisenia Qarase
7 August 2012.
Laisenia Qarase was the last democratically elected Prime Minister of Fiji. He was overthrown in 2006 in a military coup staged by the current Fiji regime. Subsequently, when the regime hinted at future elections, he was vocal in his pronouncements that he would both stand in and win those elections. The fact that he would indeed win any election held under the existing Constitution has already been publicly recognised by the regime..... click on title to read more
See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil...
The New Zealand Government's new stance towards the Fiji regime.... click on title to read more
Bainimarama and K-yum can run for now, but their destiny has already been written!
Hosni Mubarak dominated Egypt by intimidating opponents and infiltrating political movements. But now he is beginning a life sentence.
Mubarak the ailing former Egyptian dictator and President was recently found guilty of the murder of demonstrators during the peoples uprising that overthrew him last year. Mubarak, 84, is the only autocrat toppled in the Arab Spring to be put in the dock. His former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly also received a life sentence. Six of his former officials were cleared of the same charges, sparking fury in the streets.
Frank Bainimarama, Fiji's dictator and illegal PM and illegal Commander (because he had threatened the then PM to reinstate him as Commander of the RFMF), and his sly opportunistic and megalomaniac puppeteer Aiyas K-yum know all too well what is in store for themselves if and when any truly free and fair election is held in Fiji. They both will be arrested and prosecuted together with their evil and greedy supporters for their crimes against the people.
The truth is that the majority of people in Fiji live in fear and their non-action is sadly seen by the international community as benign. But there is a growing hatred for both Bainimarama and K-yum from the grass roots, and it grows stronger each day as the people become more informed of the pair's corruption, lies, treason, sedition and destruction of Fiji. The people are suffering and struggling to make ends meet while the pair indulge themselves in lavish lifestyles from the spoils of their corruption and lies. Their corruption and lies are then watered down and explained away by the ever promiscuous PS Information Sharon Smith-Johns, through the parasitic government public relations officers.
The arrest of both Bainimarama and K-yum is coming. It's just a matter of time and the pair are doing everything they can to avoid arrest. This includes hiring constitution experts to give some resemblance of credence to their scheme. But the people of Fiji already know its all a farce and so they quietly await the election to voice their objection to the evil and corrupt pair.
On 4 June 2009 U.S. President Barack Obama made the following comments on democracy in his address in Cairo, Egypt,
"...I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the Rule of Law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and do not steal from the people; the freedom to live as you desire. These are not just American ideas, they are human rights and that is why we will support them everywhere..."
"...Governments that protect the rights (of the people) are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never make them go away... And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments provided they govern with respect for all their people..."
"...There are some who also advocate for democracy only when they are out of power. Once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. So no matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who have power. You must maintain your power through consent, not coercion..."
"...Around the globe, we are standing with those who take responsibility - helping farmers grow more food, supporting doctors who care for the sick, and combating corruption that can rot a society and rob the people of opportunity..."
Mubarak the ailing former Egyptian dictator and President found this out the hard way. A few days ago he and his former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly received life imprisonment.
Other dictators who recently paid the piper are Col Gadhafi of Libya who was beaten and shot by his people, and Saddam Hussein of Iraq was hanged. But only a few months earlier the thought of this ever happening to these dictators was inconceivable....... And then the tide turned against them…
So Bainimarama and K-yum can run for now, but their destiny has already been written!
Business Investment in Fiji at all time low - thanks to the greed and stupidity of Khaiyum and Bainimarama
Duplicated from the Fiji Today blog.
Of all the damage that 5 years of being governed by our self-appointed PM, JV Bainimarama, none is more serious than the damage done to business.
Investment is at an all time low because business lacks the confidence to either borrow or invest their own money when they have never been sure that their investments are protected by the rule of law.
Laws are invented on a daily basis. In the name of reform, legally established rights are abolished by decree. News Limited's ownership of The Fiji Times was abolished at the stroke of the President's pen on a Sayed-Khaiyum decree. Air Pacific's joint venture with Qantas, which dragged Air Pacific back from the brink of bankruptcy was likewise dissolved by decree.
These and many other high-handed actions have destroyed the confidence of all but Chinese companies, who feel that the Bainimarama Government is beholden to their government for aid.
The result can be seen in what's called the excess liquidity of our banks. They all have money sitting in depositors accounts which cannot be lent because there are not enough businesses willing to take extra debt to invest in Frank's Fiji.
The Sayed-Khaiyum answer to this problem is to force Banks to lend, whether they want to or not. At another stroke of the pen, Banks in Fiji are going to be forced to lend 6 percent of their deposits to projects in agriculture and renewable energy, whether they have sound, secure projects or not. Bank of the South Pacific alone will be forced to lend $48 million this year. Next year, they'll have to find more projects.
It sounds just like the old National Bank of Fiji post 1987 coup. Friends with dodgy projects line up for their share of the easy money. They know it's a loan, and they'll pay it back if they can, but….
Forcing banks to lend money like this is not the answer to the lack of business confidence; it will only make things much worse.
The real answer is restoration of the rule of law.
David Pflieger using illegal decree to eliminate existing collective agreements and threaten staff
Con artists in front of the Fiji flag
Bloggers reveal that experienced and qualified Air Pacific staff are choosing to leave and join other regional and international airlines for better salaries rather than remain under David Phlieger's dictatorship.
They say that David Pflieger is dictating terms and using the illegal Essential National Industries (Employment) Decree 2011, which he was instrumental in drafting, to remove their employment conditions that they had negotiated with management over the years.
It's important to note that experienced and loyal staff choose to work at Air Pacific because of the life style and being able to live at home with their families. The employment conditions that they will be losing make up for the lower pay they get at Air Pacific compared to what they would get if they joined other airlines. Other airlines offer much better pay, but Fiji offers the lifestyle.
Some of the conditions being removed include overtime payments and other allowances for workers in 24-hour operations. These are employees who previously took pay cuts to help the airline when it was in need. They were loyal. They could have gone to join other better paying airlines, but they chose to stay and help Air Pacific.
David Pflieger, CEO Air Pacific, is using the illegal decree to eliminate existing collective agreements and threatening staff that he will bring in the army to deal with any problems because he has a direct line to the illegal AG K-yum.
David Pflieger and his direct line to the illegal AG K-yum got the Fijian Trades Union Congress leaders Daniel Urai and Felix Anthony arrested and held without charge.
Now David Pflieger has employed his out of work buddies from America who are less qualified then the local Air Pacific staff and he is looking to reinvent the airline (for which he has no experience) and use the illegal decree to dictate employment conditions. Meanwhile, David Pflieger and his American buddies live up the good life on Denarau island with all expenses paid plus high expatriate salaries while local staff struggle to hang on to their conditions.
David Pflieger and his over rated and over paid consultants were instrumental in removing the reliable BN2 Islander airplanes from service, because they were considered old aircraft. This shows Pflieger's lack of knowledge of aircraft. Parts are replaced in maintenance so you basically have a new aircraft. However, when the planes were put up for sale local business jumped at the chance to buy them. Then David Pflieger dictated that the planes could not be sold to locals.
None of what David Pflieger is doing can be done in America, however David Pflieger sees the local staff as incompetent and useless. And only he and his out of work, and less qualified, American and British buddies know best. This excludes the General Manager of Pacific Sun, Shaenaz Voss, who became Fiji's first woman general manager of an airline after sleeping with David Pflieger. The local term for this is "bajaru".
Bloggers also said that the Permanent Secretary for Civil Aviation Elizabeth Powell, the Eco-Bank reject, has no understanding of the business and industry and talks down to them like she knows what she is saying. She does not, and they claim this is easily identified in meetings with her. They also reveal that Elizabeth Powell's last job, after being forced out of Eco-bank for too much fancy talk while not producing results, was setting up an intranet site. Seriously!!! This explains the stupidity of "The Three Stooges" – AG K-yum has no idea about what he is doing, and neither do David Pflieger and Elizabeth Powell. [Pictured, from left (to avoid confusion...do you see it) Dave Pflieger, Elizabeth Powell and Shaenaz Voss].
Another Fiji institution under attack - DAVID PFLIEGER determined to change Air Pacific's name and colours!
A number of bloggers have revealed that David Pflieger, the CEO of Air Pacific, is determined to change the name and colours of Fiji's national airline, AIR PACIFIC.
Since David Pflieger's appointment by the illegal AG, K-yum, Air Pacific has had a drastic reduction in efficiency and levels of service and his poor management skills and ability led to repeated flight disruptions. Numerous foreign consultants had to be hired to advise David Pflieger on what to do. He had no airline management experience or any understanding of the industry.
Under David Pflieger Air Pacific and Pacific Sun lost a lot of their most experienced engineers to other airlines in the region and the Middle East and under Pflieger's direct orders, removed very capable and experienced local managers who were subsequently replaced by his buddies, mostly American with some English expatriates. His American buddies werent as qualified as the local Fiji staff that were removed.
David Pflieger was also instrumental in drafting the anti union decree that saw the arrest of union leaders.
Now David Pflieger is looking to change Air Pacific's name and colours.
So what will the new name and slogan be??.................. could it become Bainimarama Air - the quickest way to abandon your men and fly through a casava patch! The dictator did soil his pants while running away to save himself, so would the airline colour now be some mix of yellow and brown?
Professor Yash Ghais expectations for a free and fair discussion during the consultation period
From FijiToday blog site.
FijiTv has by far the best and most balanced report on Constitutional Commission chairman Professor Yash Ghais expectations for free and fair discussion during the consultation period. A must listen.
Click on each of the following links to download the file or watch the videos:
http://www.fijitv.info/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/1.128232324.wmv
Advisory Warning for the Senior Officers, Fiji Military Forces
George Speight
Col Gaddafi of Libya
Saddam‑Hussein's hanging
Dear Officers of the RFMF
Those of you who participated in the 2006 coup and those currently maintaining the illegal Bainimarama junta's power must, at some time or other, have given thought to what your position would be upon the collapse of the illegal Bainimarama junta.
You should also be aware of the law of treason and sedition, which is the same sentence received by George Speight for his part in the 2000 coup, and its impact upon yourselves, your careers and your families. In particular, is the punishment lying in store for the coup organisers and supporters of the illegal Bainimarama junta.
In carrying out the 2006 coup, the Commander RFMF, Frank Bainimarama, committed treason. The punishment for his treason remains death or commutation, as it was with Speight who received life imprisonment. All those who assisted the Commander to carry out the coup or to perpetuate his current grip on power are subject to the similar penalty, if not for treason then for sedition. Only the commutation of the death sentence passed upon Speight led to his current sentence of life imprisonment.
In addition, the current Bainimarama military junta is bankrupt and Fiji is on the brink of economic collapse. The efforts by the military junta to secure a relaxation of sanctions by promises of Constitutional review and holding of elections have failed, due the military junta's evil reputation in the international community.
The promises and assurances given by the Commander and Saiyed Khaiyum and their colleagues make no difference to this. The military junta has wasted and not accounted for billions of Fiji dollars, and is on the brink of collapse.
In this situation, you stand exposed to the most extreme penalties once the illegal Bainimarama junta collapses. The penalties potentially include death, but certainly embrace life imprisonment. The destruction of yourselves, your careers and your families are too heavy a price to pay for your continuing support of the Commander Frank Bainimarama (who committed treason) and his illegal military junta.
You are not however helpless to tamely await your fate once the regime falls. And you are not obliged forever to continue to support the Commander and Khaiyum while they destroy your beloved country, enrich themselves and continue their reign of lies, corruption and terror.
I now suggest the answer to this problem you face.
By now you should be aware that the Fiji Court of Appeal ruled in 2009 that the Commander's military junta is unlawful. The military junta did not appeal that decision. Therefore, everything done by the Commander's military junta is unlawful.
On the perverted advice of Khaiyum the Commander ignored that binding ruling and started issuing more and more illegal Decrees and began governing by force.
Because Bainimarama's junta is unlawful, therefore it is LAWFUL and LEGAL to remove them. Indeed, removing them is quite lawful and is required by law.
The Fiji Court of Appeal ruling outlining the steps to be taken leading to the restoration of democracy could then be followed. Those helping to remove the regime would certainly be given very favourable consideration for their involvement in the restoration of true civilian rule to Fiji, and they will have a greater chance of avoiding the penalties of death or life imprisonment currently hanging over them.
I call upon each and everyone of you officers to make the right decision, for yourselves, your families and for our beloved Fiji , and take the appropriate steps for the removal of the current illegal Bainimarama junta and their supporters and revert Fiji to the Court of Appeal ruling of 2009.
May God save our beloved Fiji.
Read Latest media releases:
Letter to Hon. Bob Carr regarding his visit to Fiji: 120427 Letter to Hon Bob Carr.pdf (29 April 2012)
Submission by the CFDF to the Ministerial Action Group of the Cth:120403_MAG_submission.pdf (29 April 2012)
K-yum ready to sell the junta's "lie" to the Forum Ministerial Contact Group
Fiji's illegal, corrupt & megalomaniac AG
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr and New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully will meet with the illegal AG and Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Khaiyum and Fiji's illegal Foreign Minister the opportunist Ratu Inoke Kubuabola in Suva early next week.
Foreign Ministers Bob Carr and Murray McCully are a part of the Forum Ministerial Contact Group [FMCG] that include Foreign ministers from other member countries.
Who better to sell the junta's "lie" than the master liar and corrupt thieving illegal megalomaniac AG, K-yum.
The Information ministry stated that the meeting is an opportunity for members of the Ministerial Contact group to see first hand the reforms undertaken by the illegal government as they prepare for a new constitution next year and elections in 2014.
But who will the FMCG be given access to verify what the megalomaniac AG tells them? Will it be the promiscuous PS Information, Sharon Smith-johns, or a trained parrot instructed on what to say and d0? It's highly unlikely that the FMCG members will be able to talk with ordinary citizens, union leaders, political parties and Chiefs to get a true picture of Fiji. Lets wait and see.........
Bainimarama and K-yum's incompetence and greed continues to run Fiji into more debt and poor economic performance - while milking as much as they can for themselves!
The 2010 sugar harvesting season the lowest production year since 2006 and worse expected next season,by fijitoday
Bad sugar season
Mereseini Marau, Fiji Times online, In New Delhi, India, Friday, April 27, 2012
FIJI produced an additional 30,000 tonnes of sugar last year making it a total of 166,000 tonnes.
This made the 2010 harvesting season the lowest production year since 2006.
Sugar Ministry permanent secretary Lieutenant Colonel Manasa Vaniqi said they were hoping to improve production this year but given the flooding in the west, the crop estimate this harvesting season would decrease slightly.
"Due to the damage caused by the floods, we expect this year's production to drop," he said.
However, Lt-Col Vaniqi is confident the lessons learnt from the 41st session of the International Sugar Council in New Delhi this week will help redirect the industry. "All those workshop presentations have challenged and motivates us," he said. This is the typical rehearsed fancy comments used by Fiji's dictator Bainimarama's illegal junta. The reality is that they have attended so many workshops and training sessions but still cant produce the required results for Fiji. Just lots more travelling, more hot-air and more wasted expenses, by idiots unable to understand what was discussed and too damn arrogant to admit their incompetence and too greedy to step aside for a more competent and skilled person to produce the required results for Fiji.
Illegal decrees, constitution and K-yum won't save Bainimarama
Charles Taylor - found guilty!
Why wasn't it Africa that found Charles Taylor (pictured) guilty?
Liberia's inability to judge its people has led to an international court convicting its former president of aiding war crimes.
For far too long, dictators and warlords who have inflicted extensive atrocities on the African people have gone unpunished. This is true when one looks at the scale of crimes against humanity committed across the continent in the recent past in places such as Sudan, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
But this record of impunity is changing, thanks to the long arm of international justice. Increasingly, Africans suspected of committing crimes against humanity are under investigation by the international criminal court and a few have already been charged and are awaiting trial. International intervention has far-reaching implications on the continent, especially regarding governance and reform of judicial systems. Click here to read the full story.
Read about Charles Taylor here.
COMPOL Naivalurua says brutality, murder and rape good for Fiji
Speaking to police officers in Labasa, Brig-Gen Naivalurua says that "All that has happened is good so don't be dismayed".
This is totally unacceptable coming from a graduate of the highest British military officers academy (Sandhurst) and winner of the golden baton.
Naivalurua has shown his true colours as an officer and an individual that he is incapable of doing the right thing and can only perform correctly under good leadership. So with the corrupt and clueless Bainimarama at the top Naivalurua is following his leader, unable to think and act independently.
The plethora of corrupt practices documented in pro democracy blog sites are testament to Naivalurua's character – gutless, corrupt and incapable of independent thought. Or is Naivalurua doing exactly what he thinks is right and good for Fiji, hence his statement?
With all the evidence pointing to Bainimarama being guilty of treason, sedition, corruption, murder and illegally reappointing himself as commander RFMF (by threatening the PM and lying to his Commander in Chief, the President) Naivalurua is still willing to hang on and support the brutal and corrupt illegal military junta that is ruling the people of Fiji by oppression, brutality and fear. And not performing his office as Commissioner of Police, and arrest Bainimarama for treason, murder, sedition and corruption to list a few charges!
This suggests that Naivalurua is in "way too deep" with his corrupt leader that he too must keep going until they are either forcibly removed or manage to con the world and the people of Fiji that they are the best thing for Fiji. Meanwhile, Naivalurua and his wife are definitely reaping the spoils for continuing to support the brutal and corrupt Bainimarama junta.
Sadly, this also suggests that the Sandhurst British Army Academy is incompetent and falling way far short from achieving its stated aim to be "the national centre of excellence for leadership. The Sandhurst Academy is the British Army equivalent of the Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth, Royal Air Force College Cranwell and the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.
Brig-Gen Ioane Naivalurua has diminished the value and integrity of the highest British military officers academy (Sandhurst) and their golden baton award. What a bloody shame.
Bainimarama ignores High Court ruling to save himself again!
The High Court in Suva will recall the case against Pita Driti on May 2 to check on disclosures.
Driti appeared before Justice Paul Madigan this morning represented by Filimoni Vosarogo.
The Director of Public Prosecutions was represented by Mosese Korovou.
The High Court this morning set the dates for mention next month, pre trial conference on November 2, with trial expected to begin from November 15 and end on November 23.
In an earlier court sitting in March this year, the High Court had ordered the state to provide Driti with military council meeting minutes. His lawyer said they had been waiting on the State to provide outstanding disclosures for more than a year.
Vosarogo said the disclosures included caution interviews and minutes of the military council meetings. The documents, he said, pertained to the fairness of the trial.
Driti has pleaded not guilty to a charge of seditious offence and a second charge of inciting to mutiny. His bail was extended.
By Keresi Nauwakarawa
Read more at: http://fijilive.com/news/2012/04/court-to-check-driti-disclosures-on-may-2/41859.Fijilive
Copyright 2012 © Fijilive.com
Robert Beam & Pacific NorthAM Hoodwinks Fijians For Naseyani Springs
The Inside Story On Naseyani Springs, Robert Beam and his associates caught on tape hoodwinking the people of Fiji in a Fiji government grab of Naseyani Springs.
The Video Proof:http://www.cityofhargrave.com/robertbeam.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay9Ml9fEcTw
"Blue Gold" in Fiji is the same as "Blood Diamonds" in Africa - Robert Beam & Pacific NorthAM Hoodwinks Fijians For Naseyani Springs - A legendary water source in Fiji is being exploited by the Fiji dictatorship through various government agencies resulting in the deaths of Fiji Natives. While pretending to bring solidarity the divide and conquer scenario is playing out in Fiji, pitting Fijian Native against Fijian Native, and Fijian Natives against others that are exploitative and disrespectful to the Native Fijian People.
In the mix is the Fiji dictaorship, the Central Bank of Fiji, the Unit Trust of Fiji and the Native Land Trust Board, among other agents both domestic and foreign.
Robert Beam is the US citizen, along with Rajit Pathak and Sumar Prasad and Patel Cartel devotee Alpesh Patel. The Patel name is not unfamiliar to Fijians in the know. Robert Beam and his associates consider the Fijian Natives as too uneducated to catch on, but I am sure the Fijian Natives know fully well what is going on and this short video documentary proves it.
I have discovered and documented this activity over several months in researching investors for the so-called "Naseyani Water Project". Robert Beam is the rogue ramrod for the Fiji project and also the V3 Waters International, Inc. operation. Its all about exploitation of water resources for filthy lucre. This video is some of the most revealing evidence I've gotten. I have other written evidence documented as well.
Download this video while you can as it may not remain available. I acquired this footage and it has been delivered over to the authorities of the City of Hargave and the judge has ruled that it is evidence of subversive activities, and has authorized this video to be made public as a public service for all to see what is happening globally with the exploitation and confiscation of vital water resources of high quality.
http://www.thetorturewatch.com/1/post/2012/03/fishing-out-fijis-corrupt-water...
http://www.truthforfiji.com/
I am the owner and developer of Bionaid and Micarox and an expert in the field of specialty waters. I was intending to get these vital, liife-saving water products to the Fijian people and during my endeavor I came across the characters in this video, and also Alpesh Patel, all of which have proven to be involved in a conspiracy of crimes that have also had adverse affects upon me and my associates. During the time I was doing my due diligence regarding investors to accomplish my mission to help the Fiji I had the opportunity to get on the inside of of this operation and learn the truth. I will have no part of this kind of treachery, and I cannot stand by and do nothing, ergo the publication of this video.
Please help the People of Fiji that are being exploited and grossly mistreated by making this video go viral. It is no different than the "Blood Diamonds" of Africa, another group of nations also suffering from water exploitation by big corporations with their paid mercernaries.
Elder / Range Guide
Frank Bainimarama: A manipulated poem by a blogger.
If you can runaway in fear when those about you
Are being brave and fighting for you;
If you can believe your own lies when all men doubt you,:
If you can steal and not feel guilty by it,
Or, being arrested, and stage a coup,
Or being hated and give way to brutal behavior,
And yet look dumb, and talk unwise;
If you can betray---and make betrayal your master;
If you can run---and make fear cleanse your bowls,
If you can falsify Triumph and downplay Disaster
If you can accept the crap you've spoken
critiqued by facts to reveal your lies,
Or watch innocent people suffer,
And run from justice with cowardice and shame;
If you can make one heap of all your salaries
And hide it from every legal audit,
If you can force your officers and men
To serve you long after you are illegal,
And so hold on to power when no-one likes you
Except the corrupt "bluggers" that scream: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and lose your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---and shit your pants,
If all foes and previous friends want to hurt you,
If all thieves count with you, but some too much:
With a world record worth of distance run,
Yours is Hell and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you are a coward Dictator, my son!
Bainimarama, like Lucifer, is trying to convince the world that he is something other than the evil and corrupt coward he really is
Mosese Tikoitoga has stepped in to defend his boss, Bainimarama, who carried out the 2006 coup to save himself from prosecution and who earlier set the world record for the quickest time for any naval officer to abandon his post and men to runaway and save himself from a battle. Literally soiling himself in his white naval pants in the process.
In attempting to defend his cowardly and corrupt boss, Tikoitoga attacks women's groups that are calling for gender equity and he also rubbishes a letter from Ro Teimumu Kepa to his boss Bainimarama about the abolition of the Great Council of Chiefs. Tikoitoga also said that he and the RFMF would not be involved in the new constitution but they would continue to support the illegal Prime Minister Bainimarama's-led Government in its work in the formulation of the new constitution..........
Meanwhile, his boss, Frank Bainimarama, like Lucifer the father of lies, is hiding in the background trying to convince the world that he is something other than the evil and corrupt coward he really is.
Frank Bainimarama wants the world, and certainly the people of Fiji, to believe that his record is not blood stained, that his motives are noble and that he is nothing but a selfless servant of the higher cause of a pure Fiji. But the actual record of what he said and did (or did not do) tells another story.
Bainimarama's actual narrative is littered with lies, paranoia, betrayals and self aggrandizement, a man escaping from the law, not doing his sworn duty to uphold it.
In Frank Bainimarama's hands, Fiji is on the fast road to rack and ruin.
Fiji to remain suspended from Commonwealth Tuesday April 17, 2012 Source: ONE News
Fiji remains suspended from the Commonwealth following a meeting in London of ministerial officials.
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) met last night to discuss the interim Frank Bainimarama led-government that has ruled the island nation since 2006.
Fiji was fully suspended from the Commonwealth in 2009, three years after Bainimarama overthrew the then government in a military coup.
The CMAG concluded Fiji could not be reinstated into the Commonwealth until it had restored democracy by holding elections and addressed pressing human rights and legal issues.
However, the group welcomed the recent announcement by the interim-government of a constitutional consultation process that may lead to elections by September 2014.
The interim government has promised the process will be inclusive, transparent, and conducted with integrity and honesty.
The CMAG, representing nine Commonwealth countries, also congratulated Fiji for lifting the public emergency regulation as a necessary step in the improvement of human rights.
However, the group said it was still concerned that restrictions on human rights remain under the Public Order Amendment Decree.
The law allows police to interfere if a group of three or more meet without prior government approval.
The group also expressed concerned that Fijians do not have adequate access to justice and are restricting by freedom of speech.
Click on headline above or here to watch video.
No other way: FB and K-yum must go!
This article is taken from the FijiToday blog as it reflects the prevailing sentiments of our bloggers and the numerous emails we have received.
For Fiji there is "no other way" (to quote from Rambo himself)but to get rid of both, Voreqe and Kaiyum as soon as possible.
For Fiji there is "no other way" (to quote from Rambo himself)but to get rid of both, Voreqe and Kaiyum as soon as possible. by fijitoday
The Murky World of Bainimarama and Kaiyum
By Dalit
Without doubt the two most powerful and influential individuals in Fiji today are Voreqe and his sidekick Aiyarse Kaiyum. They sleep in the same bed so to speak and their destiny is now inseparable. They survive or go down together and it is worthwhile to peak into the murky world that their sorry souls inhabit.
Voreqe
This guy was a person of no consequence until he became head of the Naval division and later as Commander RFFM out of the blue.
His father Inoke Bainimarama served with Commander Stan Brown in the Navy during the wars before be became a senior officer in the Fiji Prison Service. His path to the top of the Navy was thus assured when Stan Brown was commanding officer.
Voreqe's strength was in his ability to mix with his men, drinking and cavorting around night clubs while he was commanding officer naval division. This he maintained when he became Commander RFMF and illegal PM thus his hold on foot soldiers without the support of his senior officers.
He was a close friend of Epeli Ganilau (former commander) thus his rise to Commander instead of more senior and qualified officers. In other words his way to the top was not through his own ability and he would not have made it if it was not for nepotism.
His arrogance and limited ability became evident once he made it to the top thus his dependence on the more educated people (like Kaiyum) in his inner circle.
Aiyum
A cocky and ambitious individual who failed to shine on his own steam. After much fanfare when he graduated from law school he proved to be a dismal failure in the National Bank of Fiji. He became embroiled in financial difficulties left the bank and became invisible.
His attempt to fight for democracy in the wake of the 87 coup illustrated his desire to rise out of obscurity to feed his bruised ego. When this did not materialise into something worthwhile he pursued further studies thus his infamous thesis which attracted Voreqe's attention.
Voreqe and Kaiyum are two of a kind in terms of arrogance and ego. As such it was not difficult for the wily Kaiyum to win the confidence of Voreqe. It was subtle with monetary gains Voreqe did not dream possible and before he knew it he was sucked in so deep he could not move. Voreqe is now at a stage where he has no choice but to support Kaiyum for his own survival. Kaiyum's hold on him is such that Voreqe is prepared to risk going against his own military council, the chiefly system, and the Methodist church which are all power bases for the Fijian people.
Those who predict a falling out between Voreqe and Kaiyum are indulging in wishful thinking. The survival of the two egomaniacs is inseparable and they will stop at nothing when threatened. Epeli Ganilau, Roko Ului, Driti and others found that out the hard way.
For Fiji there is "no other way" (to quote from Rambo himself) but to get rid of both, Voreqe and Kaiyum as soon as possible.
FDFM challenges Graham Davis' to disclose his interest regarding Fiji's military junta 15 April 2012
Graham Davis: Bainimarama Supporter
FDFM Press Release
Graham Davis' deliberate distortion of the Gone Marama Bale, the Roko Tui Dreketi's letter to Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama dated 11/04/2012 needs to be refuted because it's so biased and tantamount to professional recklessness.
[Editor's note: Graham Davis is a Bainimarama Supporter, including the use of oppression and brutal assault on any opposition to Fiji's military junta.]
First of all, the Gone Marama Bale's writing to 'Voreqe' is definitely within Fijian protocol showing their closeness, despite the differences of their personal situation and to expect her to address him in any other capacity is not only condescending, but outright hypocrisy, which is beyond Grahams' comprehension.
His escalating the Gone Marama Bale's letter to Commodore Voreqe as "a titanic struggle looms between the old and new orders in Fiji for the hearts and minds of the indigenous majority – the i'taukei" is nothing short of irresponsible media hype intended to arouse emotion, which was never intended by the writer.
The deliberate choice of title 'Paramount Chief deals the race card' is intended to deflect away from the substance of the Gone Marama Bale's letter to Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama implying a foreign meaning, more sinister in nature and calculated to attract negative reaction from knee jerk reactionaries.
The FDFM wholeheartedly agrees with the gist of the Gone Marama Bale's letter:
"the obsession to remove racial issues from the governance of this nation is short-sightedness and ill-conceived, for ethnicity is a fact of life. Internationally, ethnicity and culture are recognised and valued, for it is only through racial and ethnic diversity that we can realise civic strength. It is when our nation fully appreciates the different ethnic communities and their culture and learn to accept the different cultures and religion, then only, when we will have everlasting peace in Fiji."
In my Press Release earlier this month, I did warn the Military Junta after its abolition of the Great Council of Chiefs with the following concluding remarks:
"FDFM's concern is that Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum's contorted and short-sighted personal agenda of wanting to dismantle Fijian Institutions because of his Machiavellian pretence; it will free Fijians to a better qualitative life, apparently has fooled Commodore Bainimarama and some others.
It condescendingly and dangerously fails to grasp the possibility, it could instead unleash and spiral Fijians out of control fuelled by an avalanche of fear and anger directed against Commodore Bainimarama; Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and their supporters, triggering an implosion within Fiji's already fragmented Fiji Military Forces & civi l population; causing a massive wave of retribution & civil unrest affecting all peoples and the economy, but unfortunately Fijians and Indo-Fijians will bear the brunt, of the likes we've never witnessed in modern Fiji before."
These concerns were never meant to incite people or to arouse racial hatred as tactlessly insinuated by Graham, but rather a concerned warning of what could actually happen because of their current course of action in dismantling Fijian Institutions.
FDFM wishes to reiterate, it was the Great Council of Chiefs who negotiated the release of the Chaudary Government from George Speight's captivity through the Maunikau Accord, which unfortunately resulted in Speight's arrest following the subsequent attack on the Kalabu Settlement because of Voreqe's reneging on his promise and blaming everyone else accept himself.
Graham is ill-advised in using the 'race card' as his trump card because this was never the intention of the Gone Marama Bale, thus inviting ridicule and scorn upon himself after being caught out throwing down a trump card whilst having the same suit in his hand at the time, known in Fiji, as "yaraneke."
The Gone Marama Bale's insistence on the pivotal role the Great Council of Chiefs play in Fiji's political landscape cannot be undermined, which has been acknowledged by both former Indian NFP Leader Jay Ram Reddy and current Indian FLP Leader Mahendra Chaudary and fully endorsed by the FDFM.
It's foolish to think, race and ethnicity can be exorcised in Fiji and nor should it be because as the Gone Marama Bale rightfully alluded to, it's recognised in International Forums, such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which was adopted it at its 62nd Session at its New York Headquarters on 13/09/2007.
Graham's explicit biased support for Fiji's illegal Military Junta has deprived him of the ability to see things as they truly are and to discern what not to take at face value. His limited repertoire of tools because of his biasedness reminds me of Abraham Maslow's quote: "when the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem begins to resemble a nail."
He missed out on the opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the courageous stance the Gone Marama Bale is taking in the face of mounting pressure to remain silent not only for her own personal safety, but her Confederacy, Yasana, Tikina and Village, kow tow and be subservient to Fiji's illegal Military Junta.
Edmund Burke's quote of "all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" is a timely warning for Fiji at this time, but unfortunately enforced by people like Graham.
The Gone Marama Bale, knowing the cost to her own personal safety, chooses to speak on behalf of the countless Fijians and Fijian Chiefs who cannot freely speak their minds for fear of reprisal or the withholding of government development projects from their Provinces or Villagers.
She's already been previously arrested and taken into Police custody in the middle of the night, like a fugitive, but later withdrew her charges, due to insufficient evidence, so she's fully aware of the implications of her letter, but it's something she believes Commodore Vorege Bainimarama needed to hear.
Graham's referring to her as having "embraced the mantle of warrior chieftain – the Boadicea of the South Seas – taking it upon herself to confront Bainimarama head on" is a courageous stance any right minded person would be proud of, yet he fails to appreciate this fact.
The difference between Boadicea and the Gone Marama Bale is that Boadicea almost succeeded against the Romans, whereas the Gone Marama Bale with our assistance; other Freedom Fighters and other support will succeed against Fiji's illegal Military Junta.
Take Aung San Sui Kyi of Burma for example. She was under house arrest for almost 15 years in Burma under the dictate of its illegal Military Junta, but eventually the Junta caved into international pressure and held democratic elections earlier this month, resulting in her National League for Democracy Party winning 43 of the vacant 45 seats.
I challenge Graham to take a courageous stance like the Gone Marama Bale the Roko Tui Dreketi and the FDFM, which I serve as its President.
Our objection to Fiji's Military Junta is on record because it's illegal. I challenge Graham to take the courageous stance by fully disclosing his interest regarding Fiji's illegal Military Junta, rather than hiding behind the façade of an Independent Journalist, which he certainly isn't.
If Graham cannot take this courageous stance, then I suggest he divert his attention elsewhere because we're talking here about innocent people's lives and the deprivation of their rights and freedoms, which was usurped by Commodore Vorege Bainimarama in his December 2006 coup.
Suliasi Daunitutu
FDFM National President.
9 Florence Terrace, Rosewater, Adelaide SA 5013. PH: (04) 8804 6249 Email: info@fijidemocracymovement.org Website: www.fijidemocracymovement.org
Download original document here
Rewa leader tells Bainimarama he cannot ignore chiefs [Source: C4.5]
In a second letter to Fiji's self-appointed leader, the Rewa chief Ro Teimumu Kepa, says chiefs have always had a voice in the governance of Fiji and despite criticism have been the stabilizing factor, helping control ethnonationalism.
She says recent research in three provinces show indigenous people continue to make their decisions through the chiefs. Quote: ".... the obsession of government to remove racial issues from governance is shortsighted and ill-conceived for ethnicity is a fact of life."
She tells Bainimarama: "The revolutionary changes you are making cannot be made without the involvement of the GCC. Any calamity between the races or even between indigenous Fijians themselves can only be resolved with the involvement of the GCC."
The Letter from Ro Teimumu Kepa: THE ABOLISHMENT OF THE GREAT COUNCIL OF CHIEFS
[Click on full screen for a better view]
Regime allocation grossly inadequate
MEDIA RELEASE ON FLOOD RELIEF FUNDING
The Council for a Democratic Fiji has called on the Bainimarama regime to immediately increase funding to assist victims of the recent disastrous floods in Fiji. Council spokesperson Ratu Tevita Mara made the call following a successful fund raising appeal by Auckland's Hindi radio station Radio Apana 990. CFDFiji members assisted with this appeal which raised over $NZ200,000.
Ratu Mara thanked the New Zealand public for their donations. He added that the Fiji regime lacked the financial resources to adequately deal with the disaster. He said that there are currently over 13,000 refugees in 200 evacuation centres. The regime's allocation of $FJ65,000 a week to cater for the basic needs of the victims was grossly inadequate and an insult to the victims.
"This amounts to 23 cents (Fiji) per head person per meal - an impossibility" he said "This allocation clearly shows that the Fiji regime is essentially broke."
The Council estimated that about $FJ130,000 per day was required to feed the victims while they attempted to rebuild their lives. This is almost $FJ1Milliion a week - as against the $FJ65,000 budgeted by the regime.
"It is therefore vitally important for the regime to accept all offers of assistance and to approach Fiji's traditional friends for the support they would very willingly provide. This is no time for Frank Bainimarama's ego to stand in the way of potential help at this time of crisis. Australia and New Zealand in particular can always be relied upon in times of dire need."
The funds raised by the Radio Apana appeal have bought 2,500 essential food parcels which are being distributed by volunteers to those who have received no help from the regime in the past week.
www.cfdfiji.org
Bainimarama's Crocodile Tears for Fiji!
The illegal self appointed PM Bainimarama is trying to look concerned for the people by travelling through the disaster stricken areas of Fiji. This is all a sham and nothing more than crocodile tears!
The results of Bainimarama's lying and corrupt dictatorship is being revealed to the masses in rural areas.
Bainimarama's dictatorship has lied, stolen and misappropriated public funds that there is nothing left to give the people!
[Picture from C4.5]
The hospitals and emergency response agencies are still under funded while government continues to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars. Where has all the money gone? Bainimarama has refused to release all of the Auditor General's Reports since 2006, as well as all reports into the FNPF disasters. So where are those millions when the people need the financial assistance now?
As reported in C4.5, Australian league players gave a horrifying view of Fiji's hospital. Rhys Wesser was rushed to hospital in Fiji in the early hours of Saturday saying to himself , 'This could be it for me. I might not be walking out of here'.
Outside the room where Wesser lay, bashing victims - including many women - lay on yellow blood-stained mattresses. Nearby, a man with one leg moaned and hunched forward while suffering stomach pains himself. Four dead bodies came into the hospital in the five hours or so that Wesser's friends stayed on with him.
Foreign governments and donors, with good reason, are reluctant to give any aid money direct to Government because they all know of Bainimarama's lies and corruption. Would you give your money to a known thief and lasulasu expert? Dont think so.
Under Bainimarama's dictatorship he and Kaiyum have stolen and misappropriated public funds that there is nothing left to give the people.
So now Bainimarama is trying another option by removing VAT on any relief supplies sent from abroad. This is great, BUT, and here's the catch, to qualify, donors will need to channel the relief supplies through the PM's corrupt office. No doubt the illegal and corrupt fugitive from the law, Bainimarama, will milk it for all the publicity he can get when he distributes it to people in affected areas. The poor people of Fiji will be lied to again.
Previous container loads of donated goods from abroad didn't reach the affected people in need because of the added costs charged by Bainimarama and his junta. Bainimarama wasnt concerned for the people then. And in January, the corrupt fugitive from the law, Bainimarama, was again not concerned for the people, by being no where near the affected areas until after criticism from the public.
This latest visit to affected areas of Fiji is nothing more than Bainimarama's Crocodile Tears for Fiji!
State of natural disaster declared
Nearly 7000 evacuated in Fiji
The Fijian government has told airlines not to bring passengers into the flood-stricken Pacific nation where flooding has killed two people, damaged homes and forced nearly 7000 people into evacuation centres.
A severe flooding warning remained in place with heavy rain and squally thunderstorms forecast to hit the island group today, the Fiji Village website reported.
Air NZ was forced to cancel Fiji flights in and out of Fiji, leaving passengers stranded for another night.A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said there were 433 New Zealanders registered to be on the island, with 118 in Nadi. But it was not aware of any needing Government assistance.
''New Zealand is concerned about the severe and worsening flood situation in the west of Fiji and the impact on local communities.''
''We have made contact with a number of New Zealanders and at this stage, we are aware of no New Zealanders who have been injured or whose safety is seriously at risk.''
New Zealanders were advised against all tourist and non-essential travel to parts of the Western Division of Viti Levu, including Nadi and the Coral Coast, most severely affected by flooding.
Air New Zealand was forced to cancel flights in and out of Fiji today, forcing stranded passengers to wait another night on the battered island.
The airline had hoped to send an empty plane over tonight to pick up the passengers, but the flight had to be cancelled due to bad weather.
An Air NZ spokesman said they hoped to send a plane over tomorrow.
The only other Air New Zealand flight due to leave for Fiji today was delayed 24 hours, and was due to leave Auckland at 10.30am tomorrow - also without passengers unless the island's government changed its stance.
On Sunday morning there were 6800 evacuees in 56 evacuation centres in Fiji's Western Division.
The Rewa River was also rising to dangerous levels, though conditions had eased in Tavua.
A 20-year-old man died after he was washed away by strong currents in Ba on Saturday. His death followed that of a 29-year-old father of two who died when his family's van was swept away.
Heavy rains from Wednesday caused rivers to burst their banks in the west of the main island Viti Levu.
Water levels were higher than those experienced during a six-day deluge in January which claimed 11 lives, meteorologists said.
CFDF MEDIA RELEASE #7
Statement by Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, representing the Council for a Democratic Fiji on the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting in Suva, March 2012
Nukua'lofa, Tonga: Thursday 29th March 2012
Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama is bringing shame and dishonour to the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) by continuing to act as its chairman. He should be disqualified from the chair's role because he is in breach of all the MSG's founding principles. The leaders of Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are obliged to explain to the South Pacific and the world why they tolerate a brutal military dictator as their MSG leader. Can they not see that they have allowed themselves to be compromised by endorsing Commodore Bainimarama as the MSG chair?
The MSG and Melanesian solidarity are devalued if they become a vehicle for serving the interests of one desperate individual heading a regime that has been declared illegal.
The CFDFiji calls on the MSG leaders to actively encourage Commodore Bainimarama to immediately abandon his present mission of dictatorship which is having such a disastrous effect on Fiji. The CFDFiji invites the MSG to employ Melanesian methods of consensus and peace building in an effort to restore legitimate government to Fiji. If it does not do this it is betraying the people of an MSG member state.
Commodore Bainimarama has no legal legitimacy because he came to office through a military coup in 2006. He clings to power to escape the serious legal consequences of his actions including crimes of violence and abuse of human rights. All his talk about reforms and modernization and Melanesian solidarity is just a sham, a scam and a cover up. His so-called plan for elections in 2014 is already showing signs of becoming yet another act of deception.
The agreement establishing the MSG requires its member states to respect human rights and democracy based on the rule of law. It emphasises that democratic principles are universally recognized underpinning the organization of a state to ensure the legitimacy of its authority and the legality of its actions.
Commodore Bainimarama continues to rule Fiji in violation of democracy and instead has
suppressed our people with threats and acts of force and through the imposition of oppressive decrees. He has destroyed the independence of the judiciary.
Already Commodore Bainimarama's destructive influence is at work through his promotion of the idea that the MSG states are more important than smaller regional countries because they have bigger populations. This is against all the rules of equality that govern international and South Pacific affairs. It is an example of Commodore Bainimarama employing wedge politics to further his own ends.
He has made a mockery of the Melanesian culture, tradition and values that he is supposed to uphold. These values include the rights of indigenous peoples and communities. Commodore Bainimarama does not uphold these rights if they are in conflict with his own priorities.
When he was in Vanuatu recently he accepted a chiefly title conferred by an indigenous community. On his return to Fiji he abolished the Great Council of Chiefs that has played a key role in the country as a symbol of indigenous identity, traditions and customary law. He acted against the GCC because it had refused to recognise his regime. This is typical of the hypocrisy that marks so many of Commodore Bainimarama's actions.
For the Council for a Democratic Fiji
Chaudhry, Qarase to unite
08:11 Today, Report by: Dev Sachindra
The Fiji Labour Party has decided to join hands with the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Leweni Vanua Party and other parties to front and campaign against the government.FLP Leader Mahendra Chaudhry in an exclusive interview with FBC News says it's time political parties leave their differences and get together to oppose the supposed wrong doings of the present government.Chaudhry says despite deep differences in the past, there is nothing strange in uniting with rival political parties when it comes to salvaging the country from a government which suppresses the people through despotism. Read the whole article here...
Testing Yash Ghai's alternative to futile cynicism - Professor Wadan Narsey
Professor Yash Ghai is appealing to the Fiji public not to be cynical, to constructively engage in the Regime's constitution review, and "to test Bainimarama's genuineness".
These are good suggestions for cynics to take on board, especially when you understand what the two graphs at the bottom of this article mean (more at the end).
Of course, Fiji people are aware, as Yash Ghai would be, that Bainimarama has not kept many important promises:
"no military officer will benefit from the coup" (all have, including himself, considerably)
"I will hold elections in 2009" (he did not)
the 1997 Constitution will be obeyed and strengthened (in the Charter allegedly approved by more than 400 thousand people): but immediately trashed after the 2009 Court of Appeal judgment
all Fiji governments will be guided by the pillars of the Charter and the 1997 Constitution: but his own Regime's many military decrees have denied rights to property, freedom of speech, freedom of association and assembly, right to recourse to court for perceived grievances, etc. all even guaranteed in the Charter;
"my government will be transparent and accountable": yet refuses to release all Auditor General's Reports since 2006, as well as all the reports into the FNPF disasters.
The list of Bainimarama's broken promises is long indeed.
But, as Yash Ghai rightly asks the Fiji public: do those who wish to restore democracy have any real alternative to this Ghai Constitution Commission Review?
Yash Ghai suggests: "why not test Bainimarama"?
They should indeed.
But first, the Fiji public would like to "test Yash Ghai himself" - according to the principles laid down in his own recently published book on constitution review and processes: Constitution-making and reform: options for the process (co-authored by Brandt, Ghai, Cottrel and Regan).
Yash knows his Constitution Review Commission is illegal
The last legal judgment on the Bainimarama Regime was that of the 2009 Appeal Court, which clearly found that the Bainimarama Regime was illegal, as were all the decisions by President Iloilo.
Consequently, the 2009 purported abrogation of the 1997 Constitution and all of Bainimarama's consequent military decrees and all appointments (including that of the Ghai Constitution Review Commission, are also illegal.
Many still believe (and probably Yash Ghai himself would agree) that the 1997 Constitution cannot be abrogated by Commodore Bainimarama and any President (legal or illegal) as Justice Anthony Gates so brilliantly articulated in 2001. (Pity about his later judgements).
So for Professor Yash Ghai, a respected international expert in the area of constitutional law and reform, to agree to chair this Constitution Review Commission must seem puzzling to the legal and ethnical purists.
But, Professor Yash Ghai is offering some light at the end of the tunnel.
He just needs to pass some tests himself before asking the public to trust him.
Ghai's Principles and the Reeves Commission
First Professor Yash Ghai and his Commission must acknowledge that the Reeves Commission whose report led to the 1997 Constitution, whatever its faults, completely satisfied all the principles laid down in his book for ideal constitution review process: public participation, inclusiveness, transparency, and national ownership.
The members of the Reeves Commission (Paul Reeves, Tom Vakatora and Brij Lal) were all agreed upon by Fiji's major political parties and leaders, not appointed by any one person.
The Reeves Commission went the length and breadth of Fiji discussing relevant issues with all and sundry who wanted to talk to them. all their meetings were public, and submissions recorded for posterity.
They commissioned papers and got advice from an army of experts. They visited and examined constitutions in a number of pluralist societies around the world, facing similar problems to Fiji.
The comprehensive Reeves Commission Report was well received and largely formed the basis of the 1997 Constitution, accepted universally to be an excellent document, which was to be slowly improved upon.
Perhaps its only weakness (on which I had a serious falling out with one member of that Reeves Commission), was their recommendation for the Alternative Vote system (read here my views in 1996: http://narseyonfiji.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/the-reeves-report-sound-principles-but-weak-advice-on-the-electoral-system/
The 1997 Fiji Parliament and the 1997 Constitution also went one step further than the Reeves Report with a recommendation for an extremely valuable power-sharing requirement for a Multi-Party Government, which, sadly, our politicians failed to utilise until too late.
While some Fijian provincial councils may have had some misgivings, both Houses of the Fiji Parliament unanimously passed the 1997 Constitution.
The only aspect missing then, was a Referendum (which I suggested then- but the politicians were in a hurry) (to be kept in mind by the Ghai Commission).
http://narseyonfiji.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/why-we-need-a-referendum-for-our-constitution/
The public know that the 1997 Constitution also had some other weaknesses which were all too easily exploited by the Machiavellian people in power, causing enormous damage to Fiji. Read http://narseyonfiji.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/constitutional-traps-awaiting-after-elections-deal-with-them-now/
All these weaknesses could have, and should have been addressed by the elected Parliaments of 1999 and 2001, but they were not considered a priority by the political leaders then, to their great cost later.
This is now 2012, and an elected Parliament and the Upper House has been absent for five years. Legislation has been passed by Military decrees resulting in a total undermining of investor confidence and a disastrous economic performance (see below).
Why is Ghai not following his own book?
There are two key omissions indicating a lack of transparency by the Ghai Commission.
First, not only has the Military Regime nominated all three of the current members, but two more have yet to be appointed and the public are not allowed to have a say.
Given his experience and his professional integrity, Professor Yash Ghai himself should be acceptable to everyone.
But it is clear that the leaders of the Indo-Fijian community (Mahendra Chaudhry of the FLP and Raman Singh of the NFP) were not consulted about Dr Satendra Nandan, who is a known Bainimarama fan (but there is no reason to suppose that he would not be ethical in his contributions).
But Fijian leaders (including Qarase) were not consulted about Taufa Vakatale who almost certainly would not have been approved given her unprofessional performance recently. (Ms Vakatale has been chairing the Regime's "Public Accounts Committee" which keeps examining little molehills of financial misdoings in the Qarase Government prior to 2007, while totally ignoring the mountains of financial misdoings in the last five years of the Bainimarama Regime, while not a single Auditor General's Report has been published.)
Test 1 for Professor Yash Ghai:
He needs to show his independence from the Military Regime and ensure that there is genuine "national ownership" of the process by getting the Regime to agree that he will ask Fiji's political leaders to nominate the remaining two members, by consensus.
I suspect that Fiji's political leaders (Qarase, Chaudhry, Raman Singh and Beddoes) would be quite amenable now (I am sure they can find two decent former High Court judges who would fit the bill).
But Professor Ghai also needs to get the Military Regime to stop all the current intimidating measures against all these political leaders, so that they can contribute freely to discussions.
Test 2 for Professor Yash Ghai
Cynics naturally ask: how can the public contribute if they don't what will happen to the final output?
What if Commodore Bainimarama does the same thing he did with the Charter: he obtained four hundred thousand signatures of support for the Charter on the clearly stated pillar that the 1997 Constitution would be the supreme guiding document, but when it suited him, he chucked the 1997 Constitution down the drain (and none of the NCBBF Members uttered a squawk).
So Professor Yash Ghai needs to first of all, clearly outline a transparent pathway, agreed to by the political leaders for the approval and implementation of the Yash Commission's Final Report.
Essential in that clarification would be the clear agreement of political leaders on who would be in that "Constituent Assembly" that would approve the Final Report. Ghai cannot leave it to the Military Regime to stack this Assembly.
Professor Ghai cannot end up saying "oh, I did not know what the Regime was going to do with our Report and Recommendations).
Yash Ghai has stated that his Commission would be open to the possibility that if the people want to retain the 1997 Constitution (suitably modified where needed) or the retention of the GCC then these could be part of the recommendations for the Ghai Commission to consider.
Of course, cynics know that Professor Ghai is in the business of "constitution review".
But he has now been appointed by the Regime, and he may now may be quite legitimately asked to abide by his own stated principles of ethical constitution review.
He needs to pass Test 1 and Test 2 above.
Ghai Commmission's task is not easy
We all know that there are several areas where the 1997 Constitution can be improved.
The relatively easy ones are the reform of the electoral system, complete clarification of the appointment of Prime Ministers, the dissolution of Parliament, the appointment of the President, the Upper House, the appointment and powers of the judiciary, etc. Many of these problems have already surfaced in the brief seven years between 1999 and 2006 and the informed public has a good idea where to go.
The far more difficult challenge will be to facilitate a smooth peaceful transition in government from Bainimarama's Regime to an elected government, with an acceptable exit strategy for Bainimarama, the RFMF and key Bainimarama appointees.
Undoubtedly, amnesty provisions will need to be negotiated, however much it may grate with the purists who think, with great legitimacy, that every amnesty Fiji gives simply encourages another coup.
But there can also be very specific constitutional provision for absolute zero tolerance of any further military interventions in politics (yes I know, how many other illegal activities can a Constitution explicitly ban?).
There must also be a provision for a full Truth and Reconciliation Commission covering the coups of 1987, 2000, 2006 and 2009. If we do not acknowledge the truth of what occurred, Fiji will keep trying to build a nation on the sandy foundations of lies and half-truths about the past.
Professor Yash Ghai's Constitution Review offers the possibility of a peaceful transition from the current impasse which is the best path for Fiji's development.
If Professor Yash Ghai himself passes the two tests outlined above, critics of the Bainimarama Regime should put their cynicism in cold storage, and test Bainimarama's genuineness in the proposed Constitution Review.
Professor Yash Ghai's Commission may offer some light at the end of the tunnel.
Post-script: Why the Bainimarama Regime needs to voluntarily leave
The two graphs in this article should convince the Military Regime that, if they hold the interests of Fiji at heart, they should peacefully and willingly relinquish authority and management of the Fiji economy back to an elected government.
Their "experiment at running government" has failed miserably, at our great cost.
In the five years since the Bainimarama Regime took over in 2006, the economies of other comparable countries like PNG, Solomon Islands, Mauritius, and Vanuatu have gone ahead by between 25% and 40% (all based on World Bank data)- see the graph at the top.
Fiji is just barely ahead by 1% after five years.
The IMF, World Bank and ADB (and economic experts) all have said that Fiji's growth prospects are weak and all support early elections.
It is therefore extremely doubtful if by 2014, Fiji will be even 10% ahead of where it was in 2006.
The next graph compares Fiji's economic growth performance per year under all the Prime Ministers Fiji has had.
Any government anywhere in the world with Bainimarama's record, would have been rejected at the next elections and would never even dream of standing for elections again.
Bainimarama's Regime has forcefully retained control for more than five years already and it will be eight years by 2014- which is two terms in many countries.
If elections are held, and investor confidence in an elected government returns, Fiji could see really high growth rates.
But we will have lost eight years of economic growth.
Press Release 2: FIJI FIRST PARTY -
The Neutralising Force, fijifirstparty@gmail.com
Independent Judiciary empowered by the 1997 Constitution
FIJI FIRST PARTY welcomes the High Court Decision of Justice Angela Wati's ruling that the Court has jurisdiction to hear the application for leave for judicial review in the case of the 63 sacked Public Works Department workers claiming that they were unfairly dismissed.
Fiji First Party gave a press release last week that was printed in C4.5 and in fijipensioners.com blog that explains in some detail that following uplifting of the 'state of emergency', the Judiciary has become independent since it is now empowered by the 1997 Constitution for the purposes of adjudicating and determining 'Constitutional' matters as well as hearing cases filed against the State and the AG.
FFP had given their opinion that the 'Supreme Law of Republic of Fiji' (the 1997 Constitution) simultaneously kicked into life the moment "when the 3 long years of state of emergency went. The life of the purported abrogation remained in force only until the day of uplifting the state of emergency."
There has been no popular revolution in Fiji (at all) and the purported abrogation of the 1997 Constitution was presumably at the discretion of the present AG. This misconception could only be enforced until the uplifting of the state of emergency.
The Court of Appeal on 1 March 2001 in the landmark Chandrika Prasad Case comprising a five-judge Bench held that "it (the Constitution) does not authorize permanent changes to a written Constitution let alone its complete abrogation."
Therefore the 1997 Constitution now relives from the date of uplifting of the state of emergency. The 1997 Constitution is a living document that the people of Fiji bestowed upon themselves with no powers vested in any individual for its partial amendment and/or its total abrogation.
Following the uplifting of the state of emergency, the Judiciary is truly independent as it is empowered under the 1997 Constitution. This is unless the present judicial appointees purposely ignore the letter of the law and/or choose to behave unconstitutionally and are legal mercenaries outside the tradition of the Westminster legal system.
The Fiji judiciary is now independent. It can hear all Constitutional matters given the courts have reverted to pre-2009 state of emergency and purported abrogation and therefore back to the 1997 Constitution.
Fiji First Party therefore welcomes and compliments the High Court Judge, Justice Angela Wati's ruling as a true reflection of an independent Judiciary. We believe the Acting Solicitor General Sharvada Sharma is wrong in his argument that the restrictive and limiting document 'Administration of Justice Amendment Decree' is a superior document to the "Supreme Law of Fiji" –the 1997 Constitution.
The restrictions and limitations of the said Decree are no longer valid and should not impede the proper functioning of an Independent Judiciary. An Independent Judiciary has unrestrained /unlimited jurisdiction to accept, hear, determine or in any other way entertain any challenges at law by any person in relation to the validity or legality of any action, decision or order of the government, any minister, the PSC or any statutory authority or government entity.
What this means is that Judges must demonstrate their independence with rulings that are a true reflection of the rule of law under the 1997 Constitution over any Decree(s) as Justice Wati has aptly demonstrated.
1997 Constitution Now Lives On
It appears that after the Court of Appeal decision in Qarase –v- Bainimarama [2009] case, Fiji's Head of State, the late President was placed in an extremely difficult, special and singular category or where he was wrongfully advised by the present AG to abrogate the 1997 Constitution.
The advice to the President, at that moment in time, did not constitute a situation under the 'doctrine of necessity' enabling His Excellency to use his emergency powers under section 187 (2); or 'ultimate reserve power' that the Executive considered the step necessary for purported national security to abrogate the 1997 Constitution.
If we compare the use of the President's prerogative powers to abrogate the 1997 Constitution in April 2009 to that of the purported abrogation in 2000, we find that the later President faced issues which were of a far lesser degree of severity than those placed before the former late President. The President in 2000 had to deal with the brutal gravity of releasing parliamentary hostages.
In April 2009 the late President purportedly abrogated the 1997 Constitution and simultaneously slapped a state of emergency which remained in force and was regularly and diligently renewed until recently. However, on the date that the state of emergency was finally lifted the purported abrogation of the 1997 Constitution also lapsed.
The purported abrogation remained in force only so long as the proclamation of the state of emergency remained in force. Therefore after uplifting the state of emergency, the 1997 Constitution is no longer dormant and is once again the SUPREME LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI.
FIJI FIRST PARTY
The Supreme Law of the Republic of Fiji
The 1997 Constitution 'Lives On'
When the long 3 years of state of emergency went, so did the abrogation of the 1997 Constitution go with it. The 'life of abrogation' remained in force only until the day of uplifting the state of emergency.
There has been no revolution and this abrogation in question only arose purely at the Presidents own discretion that could only run until the uplifting of the state of emergency.
The Court of Appeal on 1 March 2001 in Chandrika Prasad Case comprising five-judge Bench held it does not authorize permanent changes to a written Constitution let alone its complete abrogation.
The 1997 Constitution provided, inter alia, that: "The executive authority of the State is vested in the President" (s 85); "The President is the Head of State and symbolises the unity of the State" (s 86); "The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the military forces" (s 87); "The Constitution also prescribes the circumstances in which the President may act in his or her own judgment" (s 96(2).
Prerogative power by the President either under "state of emergency" or under "the doctrine of necessity" to completely abrogate the Constitution or part thereof, appears not within the President's jurisdiction but only concurrently running with state of emergency. In Chandrika Prasad case initiated by the victims of 2000 coup, the refugee camp at Lautoka Girmit Centre has most answers to this serious question the country is facing today which is explained separately further below, when that case law was about powers under doctrine of necessity.
The 1997 Constitution Law of the Republic of the Fiji Islands states:
Section 1. The Republic of the Fiji Islands is a sovereign, democratic state.
Section 2 (1) This Constitution is the supreme law of the State.
Section 2 (2) Any law inconsistent with this Constitution is invalid to the extent of the inconsistency.
Section 120 (2) "The High Court also has original jurisdiction in any matter arising under this Constitution or involving its interpretation."
Section 123, "The President may, in the public interest and on the advice of the Cabinet, refer to the Supreme Court for its opinion any question as to the effect of a provision of this Constitution that has arisen or appears likely to arise, and the Supreme Court must pronounce in open court its opinion on the question."
Therefore without High Court gives its opinion whether the 1997 constitution is indeed abrogated, how can Fiji First Party or anyone for that matter take part in consultation on developing a new constitution? Click here to read whole article
Bainimarama's coup and claim of desire for ethnic equality - Separating fact from fiction 23 March 2012
This presentation by Wadan Narsey was intended for Australians who do not know too much about Fiji's history, economy and society. It aims at bringing the facts all together for them. It also provides a baseline so that everyone has a clear understanding of what transpired.
PLEASE NOTE: Wadan Narsey's article is on "Separating facts from fiction" but he does go into conspiracy mode claiming there are strange omissions, that our TruthforFiji website left out 100 pages of the Evans' RFMF Board of Inquiry Report, including evidence by key witnesses like George Speight and Silatolu.... This is fiction and incorrect!
The RFMF Board of Inquiry Report that we have posted on this website is the exact same copy of the report that was smuggled out of Fiji and handed over to us. It does not include those pages referred to by Wadan Narsey and we did not omit any pages. However, Wadan Narsey's comments do add nasty fuel for conspiracy theorists and evil bitching, which Wadan Narsey does in his article on "Fiji's cancerous conspiracies of silence", which is available on his website.
Any evidence by George Speight and/or Ratu Silatolu would give more insight and credence to Ratu Tevita's claims and to the events surrounding the 2000 Coup. Their testimonials are definitively crucial and would have been included. Other people have said that they too have a copy of the RFMF BoI report. Maybe their copy has these missing pages that Wadan Narsey speaks of. If so, then please upload them to the web for everyone to see!
A loose cannon threatening Fiji
Council for a Democratic Fiji - MEDIA RELEASE #4
Nukua'lofa, Tonga: Saturday 24th March 2012
Landforce Commander, Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga, is the Fiji military's latest weapon of intimidation aimed directly at the people of Fiji. His recent torrent of statements, obviously authorized by Fiji's dictator, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, is poisoning the political atmosphere.
It is impossible for Fiji to embark on free and open consultations on constitutional change when the army is adopting a threatening public stance. Colonel Tikoitoga is reinforcing the warnings already given by the dictator through speeches, interviews and military parades and marches.
The signal Tikoitoga is sending from headquarters is that the army is in charge, it is watching, and ready to act if the Commodore gives the order.
Colonel Tikoitoga has demonstrated once more that, like his leader, he has great difficulties with the truth and has a crude and clueless appreciation of politics.
This is very evident in his recent lectures to Fiji's politicians about multi-racialism and claims they are clinging to the 1997 constitution because it permits them to appeal to their ethnic voters. He is also demonizing politics and threatening to wipe it from the face of Fiji society.
He is obviously staking out Bainimarama's claim for the army to have a permanent and aggressive role in the political life of Fiji, against all the principles of liberal democracy.
He is telling a massive lie when he claims that the 1997 constitution was abrogated as soon as the Bainimarama coup was executed in 2006. This, he says, was part of the army's "clean-up" of Fiji.
His statement underlines the dysfunctional and chaotic nature of the Bainimarama regime.
Colonel Tikoitoga plainly does not know that the number one priority of Bainimarama after 2006 was to uphold the 1997 constitution. He supposedly did that until 2009 when the Court of Appeal
ruled his government was illegal. It was only then that Bainimarama purported to abrogate the constitution. By that time it had become part of his so-called Peoples Charter and it is still a bulwark of that misconceived and illegitimate document. So even though the constitution has been allegedly thrown out, it remains central to his policies. That is what is meant by dysfunctional government.
Tikoitoga appears to believe that if racial voting systems are removed from the 1997 constitution the people of Fiji will immediately stop voting on racial lines. This is stupid thinking. It will take a long time for the populace to fully embrace multi-racialism, especially after the damage to interracial relationships caused by the Bainimarama coup. Dictatorship, laws and decrees will not change attitudes that are deeply entrenched among Fijians and Indians.
Tikoitoga himself is a key figure in one of the most racist institutions in Fiji. Membership of the Fiji military forces is nearly 100 per cent Fijian. Tikoitoga, the new apostle of togetherness, should tell the nation what his plans are for recruiting Fiji Indian soldiers. In all my years in the Fiji Armed Forces I never heard concerns raised internally about its overwhelming dominance by indigenous Fijians. Bainimarama wanted it to remain that way. Indians were to be largely excluded, just as they have been shut out from Cabinet and other parts of government.
In his obsessive dislike of politics, Tikoitoga is ignoring the very concept of political rights. He does not understand that politics extends through all levels of society. It is part of life.
Tikoitoga continues to justify the 2006 coup, repeating all the false and phony justifications for it. In doing this recently, he made the outlandish claim that Bainimarama was motivated by his understanding of the principles of democracy!
In another outrageous statement recently, Tikoitoga maintained that the Fiji army's role was no different from that of the New Zealand Army! He knows absolutely that this is a bold-faced lie. The New Zealand Army has never committed treason, established a dictatorship, and suppressed and brutalized New Zealanders.
The Landforce Commander is also telling lies when he says the Fiji military will not play a special part in the constitutional consultations. He is making it very clear in his public posturing that the army will act as an enforcer, to fulfill the will of its Commander. It is ready to support whatever action he takes, even if that is another coup.
The best option for Colonel Tikoitoga at this point is exile to Mali where he could offer to advise the coup leader there, Captain Sanogo, how to completely stuff up his country.
HM King George Tupou V dies
Our condolences and sympathy to the Royal Family, relatives and to the people of the Kingdom of Tonga for the sudden loss of His Majesty King George Tupou V.
"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, HM leaves a memory no one can steal"
Our prayers and thoughts are with you all.
Graffitists send a message
13:14 Today 18 March 2011
Taken from/By: FBC News
Report by: Roland Koroi
It seems that graffitists were hard at work again last night targeting areas around the capital city with messages aimed at the Prime Minister.
FBC News counted six locations ranging from bus stops to bean carts and even walls, all bearing the messages, 'no elections, we want peace', 'PM don't allow it please' and 'no elections, we are ok'.
It was close to mid-day when FBC News re-visited the sights to find that police officers were painting over the graffiti.
Targeted spots were a bean cart at the corner of Carnavan Street, a wall at the junction of Loftus street, bus stops at Marist Brothers High School and Yat Sen Secondary and a wall next to the Sun Insurance building along Laucala bay road.
Police have confirmed that investigations are now underway to find the culprits.
Fiji Military Admits Qarase and Chaudhry will be voted back by their support base
Report by: Dev Sachindra
Leaders of the Fiji Labour Party and the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party have always and still are playing the race card says government spokesperson, Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga.
Tikoitoga says Mahendra Chaudhry and Laisenia Qarase's recent comments against the government, is a clear indication that they don't want the country to get out of the racial structure.
"unfortunately the mandate Mr Chaudhry is talking about is a racial mandate which we are trying to get rid of – what we want to do now is actually move forward to a multiracial society and whether Qarase and Chaudhry have a multiracial voice remain to be seen – and that where Fiji needs to go as we prepare the constitution, political leaders that continue to promote racial discrimination are of course in opposition to the multi racial society that PM is trying to promote in Fiji"
Tikoitoga says these leaders are constantly asking for the 1997 constitution because that is what kept them in power with the racial voting lines.
"People like Chaudhry and Qarase should be talking about multiracialism and how we can move forward together as a nation and work accordingly – they continue to bring back the 1997 constitution because the only thing beneficial to them in the constitution is election on racial line and of course Chaudhry will be picked by the labour communal population and Qarase by the i-Taukei communal population"
Chaudhry earlier made comments that the government should not be shutting anyone out as people will decide through elections who they wish to be represented by.
Khaiyum's Uncle Accountant Zarin Khan Behind Magic Mountain Springs (Fiji) Ltd to Extract Bottled Water in Fiji [from www.thetorturewatch.com]
The late Ratu Ovini Bokini and Tavua businessman Rajendra Kant Patel are the other shareholders.
By VICTOR LAL
In January of this year I asked the question: who owns Magic Mountain Springs (Fiji) Ltd, and promised to reveal all soon. In the same investigation I disclosed how Fiji Water and its chief executive David Roth were hounded by the illegal regime to make way for Magic Mountain to open a bottled water facility in Rakiraki.
Well, whom else do you think owns Magic Mountain? Yes, the dictator's "oppressed and downtrodden" Indo-Fijians - the "poor" Khaiyum clan! Since the 2006 treasonous coup, the family have used Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum's status as illegal Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Anti-Corruption, Public Enterprises, Communications, Civil Aviation, Tourism, Industry and Trade to further their business empire, with aunty Noor Bano Ali acting as pay mistress to the illegal regime of dictator Frank Bainimarama and her nephew Khaiyum.
On the subject of payroll, let me make it absolutely clear that I am not on the payroll of Fiji Water. Many of the readers will recall that when the first instalment came out, the pro-regime detractors claimed that me and Ratu Epeli Ganilau, who as then acting Prime Minister and Defence Minister had refused to deport Roth out of Fiji, were on the Fiji Waters payroll, hence my investigative piece on Magic Mountain.
For example, see (http://www.coupfourandahalf.com/2012/01/sources-jostling-behind-scene-over.html: "Anonymous said: Victor Lal, how much have Fiji Water paid you so far? Can Firca/RBF go through Fiji Water books to determine and publicise this. The people of Fiji must know about these self serving "scoop" journalists who will compromise the national interest and fill their pockets."
However, one of these days I will be revealing how much Aliz Pacific - the mother and father company of Khaiyum's uncle and aunty - have stolen from the taxpayers of Fiji – for writing out those pay cheques to the illegal Ministers and having financial fingers in other post-coup ventures – details passed onto me from their very own accountancy office. They can criminally swindle thousands of dollars of taxpayers money but they will not be able to hide from the long arm of the law, if and when, Fiji returns to democratic rule.
One may also ask why, for example, the dictator is never seen smiling with his own pay cheque from Aunty Bano Ali, for he is quick to smile with cheques donated to him for other purposes.
Meanwhile, in November 2011 the people of Fiji were told that an American company was expected to open a bottled water facility in Rakiraki soon. According to the illegal Bainimarama-Khaiyum regime, Fiji 480 Holdings Limited along with Magic Mountain has been granted a lease to set up the facility at Vunitogoloa – just kilometres away from the Fiji Water bottling plant.
Magic Mountain, the illegal regime told us, is a locally owned company with various businesses having invested into the venture. The source of water is at Nananu village. It is anticipated that the new facility will be bigger than the Fiji Water plant and will provide competition. The new plant – to be established within the next 12 months – is expected to provide employment to surrounding villages. So the reports ran in Fiji.
Who owns Magic Mountain Springs (Fiji) Ltd?
Magic Mountain Springs (Fiji) Ltd (MMSFL) has the following persons as directors: Zarin Khan (chartered accountant), Rajen Kant Patel (company director), Ratu Ovini Bokini (company director; deceased 15 January 2009) and Syed Asad Ali Kazime (American). Is Kazime (also spelt Kajmie) behind the so-called American company which is expected to open the bottle water facility in Rakiraki. He states his address at 175 Moore Park Road, Thousand Oaks, California, 91360, USA.
On 4 September 1998 Zarin Khan (f/n Jaffar Khan) informed the Registrar of Companies that "Magic Mountain Springs (Fiji) Ltd has this day been incorporated under the Companies Act and that the Company is limited". Signing off as Director/Secretary (and presenting the details through his BDO Zarin Ali, Chartered Accountants & Consultants) , he informed the ROC that the registered office of the company was situated at Level 8, Dominion House, Thomson St, Suva.
The other director was the late Ratu Ovini Bokini, the Tui Tavua and former chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs during the 2006 treasonous coup. The object of the company was "to carry on in Fiji and elsewhere the business of extracting, bottling and marketing natural spring water and producing, bottling and marketing other beverages and all activities normally associated and ancillary thereto including at its sole discretion the manufacture of bottles and associated packaging for the business or for sale to third parties". The two, Khan and Bokini had taken out one share each.
Incidentally, on 4 September 1998, the day Khan had notified the ROC of Bokini's directorship, Justice Sadal had ordered that the Tavua chief's case be remitted to the Magistrate's Court for preliminary inquiry to be "held without delay". Bokini was facing 32 Counts of Official Corruption contrary to Section 106(a) of the Penal Code and 32 alternative Counts of Fraudulent Conversion of Property contrary to Section 279(1)(c)(ii) of the Penal Code Cap. 17, all these charges first came before the Resident Magistrate's Court at Suva on 22nd November 1996. Bokini faced charges of official corruption arising from investigations into the National Bank of Fiji scandal. He was represented by the recently disbarred Ba lawyer Dr Mohammed Samshu-din Sahu Khan.
Meanwhile, on 8 September 1998, Rajendra Kant Patel (f/n Hathi Bhai Patel) the Indo-Fijian Tavua businessman and a close family friend of Bokini became the third director of MMSFL. Patel reflected on their friendship when Bokini died in 2009: "It's unbelievable for me and my family," Patel said, adding he struck up a friendship with Ratu Ovini in 1976 because their parents were friends. "We were very close and this is indeed a great loss for Tavua and for Fiji. I will always remember my chief and would like to specially remember him as a humble and great leader, always ready to offer guidance on many things. I was never too busy to answer to Ratu's needs during those challenging times and they were opportunities I was happy to provide for him and his family. I went to pay my tributes to the family this week and the house is silent. There is something missing there…"
In the above eulogy, Patel had not mentioned the business water venture, and other business partnerships. On 3 May 1999 Zarin Khan informed the ROC that "At an extraordinary general meeting of the members of the company duly convened on the 3th day of May, 1999 held at the office of H.B. Patel Brothers Ltd (owned by Rajend Patel family), a special Resolution set below was duly passed – Authorization of Share Allotment – That the directors be and are hereby empowered to allot and to issue at their sole and absolute discretion 22,500,000 shares in the capital of the company to the seed funders, project promoters, project consultants, facilitators of debt and equity funder and the permanent financier of the company project".
Those holding ordinary shares besides individuals included Navakatidro Development Company Ltd (Tavua, 1,125,000 shares; Bila Development & Investment Ltd, 8th Floor Dominion House, Suva, 225,000 shares; Corporate Agents Ltd, Suva, 1,125,000 shares; Tavua Holdings Ltd, 300,000 shares; Ramapa Proprietary Ltd, Tavua, 1,125,000 and 225,000 shares respectively).
Corporate Agents Ltd, which was formed in 1993, was owned by Zarin Khan and Sunil Deo Sharma, a business accountant partner of Zarin Khan and Nur bano Ali. Tavua Holdings Ltd, formed in 1998, listed its directors as Bokini, Zarin Khan and Rajendra Kant Patel. Navakatidro Development, formed in 1996, had Eroni Kito, Lemeki Tareguci Rasiga, Ratu Inoke Baleisuva Bokini and Ratu Tavo Bale Bokini as directors.
By 1999, the Bokinis were directors: Ratu Ovini, Tavo Bale, Inoke, Totivi Dakaniviti, Kelera Vakawale, and Sereima Lalavanua. In 1998 Bila Development and Investment Company was owned by Sairusi Tagivetaua and Eroni Kitou, of Tavua, who listed their occupations as businessmen. On 15 June 1996 Kitou and Lemeki Tareguci had resigned their directorship from Navakatidro Development, and were replaced by the Bokini family. The company's financial affairs were managed by BDO Zarin Ali (the aunty and uncle accountant team) and Sahu Khan and Sahu Khan represented the company's legal interests.
By February 2004, MMSF had a fourth director in the person of Dr Shailesh Khatri (f/n Devidas Guludas, an interventional cardiologist, who gave his address as Suite 4, 4th Floor, Pacific Private Clinic, 123 Narang Street, Southport Qld, 4215, Australia. A year later, in 2005, the Return of Allotments showed those holding allotted shares as followers: Navakartidro (2,025,000), Ramapa (2,025,000), Corporate Agents (Fiji) Ltd (2,025,000) and Syed Asad Ali Kazmie of California (1,800,000). In August 2005 Khatri was removed from Magic Mountain and Kazmie was appointed in his place. Another company, Travelex (Fiji) Ltd (a client of BDO Zarin Ali) of Varoli St, Ba, was allocated 406,000 shares in 2005. The directors were listed as follows: Devidas Gulabdas (f/n Gulabdas Hargovind), Puspawati Nagindas Vallabh and Akeneta Koyanasau, who resigned on 18 February 2004.
Meanwhile, as I mentioned in the first instalment, the treasonist 2006 coup, gave the Khaiyum clan, the Bokinis' and the Patels a great chance to make a go for the control of Fiji's bottled water. But first the illegal Attorney-General and Minister of a million illegal portfolios had to vilify Fiji Water, with his uncle Zarin Khan hiding in the background.
The public statements had been cleverly left to Rajendra Kant Patel, who has been described as the boss of Magic Mountain, when we know from the records now that he is only of the directors. In 2008, according to a Fiji Times report, the landowners wanted the ownership of the site of the proposed water bottling plant returned to them before work started. Yavusa Nakorosago of Nananu, Ra, wanted discussions with the interim Government and the Native Land Commission to correct what they claimed was an earlier mistake by the NLC.
Nananu Development Company secretary Vasiti Ritova said yavusa Nakorosago felt it was wronged when the then Native Land Reserve Commissioner, Ilaitia Caginavanua, awarded the land overlooking their village to mataqali Matalevu of Vunitogoloa.
The land had been leased by Magic Mountains (Springs) Fiji Limited.
Ritova said the 240-hectare site included the location of their original village, burial grounds, fishing area and food gardens. She said the decision was made in 1996 after an NLC sitting in Vunitogoloa, where the members of Yavusa Nakorosago told Caginavanua that Matalevu could not have owned that land because they were part of Vunitogoloa and Raviravi District and not Nananu. Vunitogoloa is about 20 kilometres from the disputed land.
"How can some people who live three mountains, two rivers and four villages away from us can come and claim what is right there under our nose?" she asked. "We, the members of yavusa Nakorosago, are left to work on this oversight ourselves and we will now renew our call to the Government and the NLC to have another meeting so that we can undo this very key decision that was made without proper consultation with all members of three mataqali in Nananu (yavusa Nakorosago) as far as the new spring water project is concerned.
Magic Mountain Springs boss Rajendra Patel, according to the Fiji Times, had said he would not comment on that issue. And Ritova, despite repeated e-mails to her from me, has responded to my queries. In 2007 Caginavanua's contract was not renewed. The then Interim Fijian Affairs Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau said the Board of NLTB decided against the renewal because Caginavanua was under investigation for alleged corruption. "The Reserve Commissioner even though his contract has lapsed...the Board has also not renewed his contract, he is also being investigated by the committee of Colonel Kurusiga on some of the allegations leveled against him during his term as Reserve Commissioner," said Ganilau.
In March 2011, Patel was again in the news, with no sign of Zarin Khan. "This one man sorted out an 11-year issue and brought about unity among Ra villagers, paving the way for these water bottling projects. I am also thankful to the Native Land Trust Board for their assistance in these projects". Patel was praising the Commissioner Western Commander Joeli Cawaki. The Fiji Times had reported that to enable the new developments, the Bainimarama-Khaiyum Government had solved an 11-year impasse between feuding landowners at Yaqara, "a truce which will be set in stone when work on the two water bottling projects begin in August this year (2011).
One factory, located at the site of extraction in Nananu Village in Ra, is a joint venture between Tavua businessman Rajendra Patel, United States investors and the people of Nananu. The other plant, also located at the extraction site will be a joint venture between the yavusa Mali of Naseyani, Unit Trust of Fiji, a subsidiary of Fijian Holdings Limited and an, as yet undisclosed, United States investor. We wonder who that investor is – Syed Asad Ali Kasmie?
Rajendra Kant Patel told the press in 2011 that he was waiting for financiers to arrive in the country later "this month (March 2011) before elaborating further on the Magic Mountain project in Nananu. He did not inform the nation that the water company had yet to pay rent arrears – a year later, in January 2011, it was the Taukei Lands Trust Board reported that Magic Mountain has only recently paid "rent arrears" but has yet to commence development in accordance with the terms of its lease.
The Fiji Democracy Now blog noted: "Cheating landowners of rent – what else would we expect from the Khaiyum Klan?"
There is no mention of the name of Zarin Khan when it comes to the Magic Mountain Springs (Fiji) Ltd. But no matter how deep the Khaiyum clan decides to dive, they will be fished out of water.
A secret report prepared by BLM Consulting for Fiji 480 Holdings Limited can be seen on the following sites, with a plan to contribute $25,000 to a village church and a cross)
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=BLM_Fiji480_Project_Summary_12-10-2011&meta=
Media Release #3: CFDFiji denounces Fiji's military dictatorship of abolishing the Great Council of Chiefs
The Great Council of Chiefs
Nukua'lofa, Tonga: Wednesday 14th March 2012
The Council for a Democratic Fiji (CDFiji) denounces in the strongest possible terms the decision by Fiji's military dictatorship to virtually abolish the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC).
This is a direct assault on the culture and traditions of the indigenous people of Fiji. The GCC, and the traditional system of authority it represents, are an important part of the indigenous identity.
The sudden decision to get rid of the GCC is calculated to culturally disenfranchise the Fijians. It is further evidence of the appalling double standards of Fiji's military regime. While it preaches to others about the needs for respect and fairness, it has failed to apply these principles to its treatment of Fiji's indigenous community.
At a time when Fiji needs a calm environment for crucial constitutional discussions, the regime appears to have made a deliberate decision to raise tensions.
Although the announcement by the GCC was made by the head of the military government Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, he was clearly acting in accordance with the wishes of his Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum's negative attitude to Fijian culture is expressed in an academic thesis he prepared when he was at university. This was supervised by Professor Yash Ghai, who was recently appointed by Commodore Bainimarama as chair of a new Constitutional Commission.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum's position of power has enabled him over the last five years to implement as government policy the criticism of Fijian tradition contained in his thesis.
Commodore Bainimarama and Mr Khaiyum between them have contemptuously tossed aside the legacy of leadership and national achievement left by some of the great chiefly leaders.
Their actions are also a direct attack on the Constitution of Fiji which is still in existence. The Constitution provides a special role for the GCC. It is not for two coup-makers and illegal usurpers to try to take away the power given to the GCC in Fiji's supreme law. By attempting to do this they are committing treason. What they have done is also a slap in the face for the European Union. The EU had asked that the independence of the GCC should be substantially maintained as one of the conditions for the full resumption of aid. Commodore Bainimarama and Mr Sayed-Khaiyum have completely ignored this in their ill-timed and arrogant move to put the GCC onto the trash heap of history.
NCBBF Member Tabakaucoro and Regime Supporter calls for communal voting to protect minorities' interests:
March 14, 2012 01:39:19 PM
Fiji's new constitution should protect the rights and interests of minority groups, says the general secretary of the Soqosoqo Vakamarama Adi Finau Tabakaucoro.
Speaking to FijiLive, the former politician said minority groups were not well represented in the past and they need to be considered in the new constitution.
"I am calling on government to look into the interests of the minority groups and additional provisions should be made to some aspects of the 1997 Constitution,' she said.
"Minorities like the Chinese community and the Banaban community in Fiji are often ignored so its important to hear their say as well."
"i-Taukei will always vote for the i-Taukei and Indo Fijians will always vote for Indo fijians and through this process, the minorities are ignored."
"People with disabilities should also be encouraged to contest the elections as they can positively contribute towards nation building."
"These people play a very important role in consultation process and the government should take their views and opinions into consideration before drawing up the constitution."
Tabakaucoro will not contest the 2014 election.
She says it is time for young people to step up to the challenge.
Tabakaucoro served as Assistant Minister for Women, Culture, and Social Welfare in the interim Cabinet formed by Laisenia Qarase after the Mahendra Chaudhry government was deposed in the George Speight takeover in 2000.
Media Release #2: Bainimarama The Real fugitive from Justice
The leader of the current Fiji regime has frequently labelled Lieutenant Colonel Ratu Tevita Mara, formerly one of his right hand men, and who left Fiji last year upon being threatened by Bainimarama, as a fugitive from justice, on account of his not returning to Fiji to face Bainimarama's version of justice.
There is of course no question of Ratu Mara being a fugitive from justice because under Bainimarama there is no justice, and indeed no Rule of Law, as noted in the New Zealand Herald of Monday March 5th 2012 at page A6.
In accusing Ratu Mara of being a fugitive from justice, Bainimarama is the pot calling the kettle black.
It is Bainimarama who is the most conspicuous refugee from justice in the South Pacific. His taking of that refuge caused him to stage the Fiji coup of 2006. His preservation of that refuge is what has led him to impose a military dictatorship on Fiji. It is what will cause him to ensure that his refuge is not disturbed by any occurrence such as a free and fair election. His maintenance of that refuge continues to blight every aspect of life in Fiji.
The fact that Bainimarama is a refugee from justice also involves that all his stated pretexts for the coup mounted by him, and the continuation of military dictatorship, are false. His initial statement that he staged the coup to counter corruption is false. His later statement that he staged the coup to change the Constitution is false. All his public statements as to his motivations in taking and holding power are false.
Bainimarama is simply a criminal on the run. The sooner his run is brought to a halt, the better.
It is necessary to review the extent of Bainimarama's criminality in two stages:
Firstly, to show what charges Bainimarama faced immediately before his coup in 2006, which prompted him to mount the coup;
Secondly, to show what additional charges will have accrued against him since his staging the coup.
As to charges pending immediately before the 2006 coup, the following apply:
The offence of Treason, by reason of complicity in the 2000 coup with George Speight, as disclosed by the relevant Board of Inquiry Report now posted on truthforfiji.com. The penalty under section 50 of the Penal Code is death. Bainimarama as much as Speight was liable to this penalty; Bainimarama was also guilty of treason in plotting the overthrow of Government prior even to the 2006 coup;
Sedition in the making of certain public statements, punishable under section 65 of the Penal Code by two years imprisonment;
The offence of Murder, comprising the murder of five captive and defenceless Counter Revolutionary warfare soldiers at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks on 2 November 2000, each murder being punishable by life imprisonment, Bainimarama being fully aware of the fact of the murders by soldiers under his control but being quite content to let such murders proceed;
Sundry threats to public servants punishable under section 116 of the Penal Code by two years imprisonment including threats to the Commissioner of Police, the Prime Minister, the Minister for Home Affairs, and even to the President. The threat to the Commissioner of Police was immediately before the 2006 coup. Threats to the Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs related to planned non renewal of Bainimarama's contract, and to legislative intentions of Government. The threat to the President in 2000 which caused his removal was that the armed forces would not support him.
Disobedience to countless lawful orders issued to him, especially by the Minister for Home Affairs, the penalty for which under section 144 of the Penal Code is two years imprisonment.
The investigation into the bulk of the above offences was completed shortly before the 2006 coup and Bainimarama was very well aware of it, even being scheduled for interview on 22nd November 2006 very soon before the coup, but leaving for New Zealand before that time and therefore avoiding interview. His very next step was the coup itself.
Thus, even having regard only to charges pending against Bainimarama immediately before the 2006 coup, same would involve liability to a possible double death sentence, five life sentences and many other inconvenient penalties
Secondly it is necessary to turn to additional charges which will have accrued to Bainimarama since the coup.
The coup itself was of course an act of treason punishable by death.
The campaign of terror which has been waged on dissidents being taken to the barracks, and either assaulted, raped or killed is a direct concern. For all such crimes Bainimarama would be responsible, apart from crimes committed by himself physically such as his personal assault of helpless women.
Bainimarama will also be answerable for all acts of violence committed by his regime.
It is an irony that the regime has boasted of a reduction in crime rate since it took over. Its very presence is a crime and certainly its campaign of terror is a crime.
All oaths taken to the regime are of course false oaths punishable by imprisonment.
Expenditures by the regime are open to probe.
Of course Bainimarama does not hold any office. Yet his financial dealings and that of his cohorts will be probed once democracy is restored. Without doubt, on that occasion a host of other offences will require to be investigated.
To summarise, Bainimarama is and remains a refugee from justice and this explains all his actions to date. His avoidance of a possible three or even more death sentences, five life imprisonments and a host of other penalties depends on his remaining in control, or fabricating via his co conspirator Khaiyum a suitable (void) Constitution.
I call upon the international community to block Bainimarama's escape and not to continue to allow him to continue to indulge in the fantasies by which he continues to seek to escape justice. His criminality is indeed of an international nature. The blood of his victims cries out for his due punishment.
The pages which follow are the Fiji Police files from 2006 outlining the offences upon which it was intended to prosecute Bainimarama.
Download Press Release #2 here
20120309_2-rum_pr_re_bainimarama_charges1_opt.pdf
Appeal to US Congressman Eni Faleomavaega
Ratu Tevita appeals to US Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, who had supported the regime, to see the true motives behind Bainimarama's corrupt obsession with ruling Fiji.
Ratu Tevita said that as time passed following 2006 Coup, it became clear there was nothing laudable about the take-over by force of the elected government. From his vantage point, as one of Bainimarama's associates and a member of his Military Council, he could see that all the enlightened aspirations Bainimarama put forward belatedly as a justification for his actions were simply a cover for Bainimarama's real intent of self-preservation and seizure of power at any cost.
When looking back it is astonishing that Bainimarama was able to finally convince the Royal Fiji Military Forces to become a party to his insurrection and imposition of military rule. Read Ratu Tevita's:
Appeal letter to US Congressman Eni Faleomavaega
Paper to the US Congressman
Top five army officers had refused to commit treason in 2003 so that Bainimarama could keep his job as Fiji's military chief
By Victor Lal and Russell Hunter
In a recent interview with Grubsheet blogger Graham Davis Fiji's military commander and self-appointed Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama, responding to our articles in the New Zealand Herald, denied calling on his army colonels to carry out coups in 2003 and 2004, and went on to accuse us of having a vendetta against him for making those allegations.
His Grubsheet interview was reproduced in the Fiji Sun and on this site with Crosbie Walsh commenting that we had not any documents available for inspection.
Now, the renegade former army colonel Ratu Ului Mara has published the documents on his own website (http://www.truthforfiji.com/). We can confirm that the documents in our possession, obtained shortly after the 5 December 2006 coup, and long before Mara's escape to Tonga, is the same set of documents, except our sources are not the same persons or institutions.
In February 2004 the Fiji media reported that army commander Bainimarama wanted five top senior military officers recently sent on leave to resign because he was not happy with the lack of support for his leadership from the officers.
"Since we disagreed on a matter of principle, I think the honourable thing they should do is to resign from the military because the military does not want these kind of people in its midst. If we do not have any allegiance from these officers during peace time, then I wonder what kind of a military would this be?" asked Bainimarama.
"What kind of a person changes his stance on any issue within 24 hours? Their stance was really a matter of principle and since they stand by their principle, then I don't think there's a place in the military for them. They should look at themselves and if I were in their position I would be ashamed because we do not have a place for these kind of people in the military."
When contacted by the local media none of the officers availed themselves for comments and neither did the Laisenia Qarase government, which had come to power following the 2001 elections, and against the wishes of Bainimarama who had installed Qarase in 2000 as interim prime minister following the failed Speight coup.
The "matter of principle" was the commodore's plan to remove the elected government via a military takeover.
The five officers were Colonel Alfred Tuatoko, Colonel George Kadavulevu, Lt Colonel Samuela Raduva, Lt Colonel Akuila Buadromo, and naval commander Timoci Koroi.
What Bainimarama had not disclosed to the local media, and by extension to the outside world, was that the five officers had refused to stage a coup aimed at preserving Bainimarama's employment when the elected Qarase government was reluctant to renew his term as commander, due to expire in April the following year.
In December 2003 Bainimarama ordered his senior officers to commence the plan for a coup – not out of any sense of outrage over where the nation was heading. There was no mention of corruption or any other coup trigger. Bainimarama was determined to keep his job. He reckoned, however, without his officer corps, which counseled strongly against such action and finally flatly refused to implement his orders.
In order to avoid duplication of materials, we direct the readers to the following web links of Mara's to support our original claims in the New Zealand Herald recently, and an earlier claim of ours in Raw Fiji News of 25 May 2011:
http://rawfijinews.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/evidence-of-frank-bainimaramas-treasonous-call-to-execute-coup/
http://www.truthforfiji.com/uploads/8/4/2/3/8423704/col_tuatoko_statement-combined.pdf
http://www.truthforfiji.com/uploads/8/4/2/3/8423704/col_g_kadavulevus_advice-opt.pdf
http://www.truthforfiji.com/uploads/8/4/2/3/8423704/col_raduvas_report-offence_about_to_be_committed-opt.pdf
We stand by our New Zealand Herald claims and vouch that Ratu Ului Mara's documents are genuine copies.
NZ PM says hold genuine consultations
Prof Ghai's commission will not cut it for NZ PM John Key
New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key says the Fiji government must hold genuine consultations and hold democratic elections in order to reestablish its ties with their Kiwi counterparts.
"They must engage with all stakeholders, not just say they will," he said on New Zealand's TV One today.
"We want to see elections held, we've always said that, and we would like to see sanctions removed."
He said the sanctions aren't extensive.
"They're virtually non-existent, they are a travel ban on members of the government and their direct family, there are no real sporting sanctions and we let teams in," he said.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama's announcement about the constitution consultations process and says the move is heading Fiji in the right direction.
"The international community will take a close interest in this process and the New Zealand government intends to give the process every opportunity to demonstrate its value."
Bainimarama last Friday announced the constitutional consultations process and stated the consultations would be held between July and September this year.
Fiji's new constitution is expected to be adopted in March 2013 ahead of democratic elections in September 2014.
Illegal AG K-yum still hoping to con the People
Fiji's illegal Attorney-General Aiyaz K-yum said in an interview today with Fiji Times that some Fiji politicians were looking backward, caught in a time warp where nepotism, elitism and racism were the norm. BUT the illegal AG Kaiyum conveniently forgets to say that he and Bainimarama are criminals responsible for establishing a new norm and future of corruption, murder, rape, beatings of unarmed pregnant women and civilians, illegal arrests of civilians, removing Fijian traditions and Chiefs to steal their land, nepotism (aunty, family, friends and Muslims), adultery, reinstatement of arrogant inlaws convicted of murder, abuse of public office and theft of public funds, treason, sedition, abandoning post and men to save own arse, lying to the world and to innocent people of Fiji, disrespecting the Methodist Church Leaders, and causing the people of Fiji to live under fear and oppression. This is the new norm Bainimarama and K-yum are fast introducing to Fiji, under Bainimarama's dictatorship.
They are also creating new decrees to suit and protect themselves and their goons while illegally arresting 73 year old ladies who disagree with them.
The Fiji Times article is as follows:
Poll first: Qarase: 1997 Constitution still alive
Frederica Elbourne, Monday, March 12, 2012
Source: Fiji times
THE next general elections should be held this year under the 1997 Constitution so that constitutional changes can proceed under an elected government, former prime minister and leader of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party Laisenia Qarase said.
"This would be the best option for Fiji," he said in a statement to the media.
Mr Qarase maintained the status of the 1997 Constitution was still in place.
Mr Qarase said government had reversed the accepted order of things with the announcement of key principles and values to be embodied in the constitution along with the appointment of the Constitutional Commission.
"These important decisions should be the outcome of intensive consultations with key stakeholders and not unilateral decisions by the government," he said.
He said the formation of a constitutional forum should include key stakeholders, including political parties, church leaders and non-governmental organisations.
"This forum should discuss and decide on key issues relating to the constitutional consultations process and provide guidance to the process itself," he said.
But Attorney-General and acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said some politicians were looking backward, "caught in a time warp where nepotism, elitism and racism were the norm".
Responding to questions from The Fiji Times yesterday, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said there were voices that echoed from that past, for those who sought to regain power and take Fiji back to the dark ages.
"The Bainimarama government breaks away from the petty politics of the past in which personalities took precedence over building a modern and inclusive Fiji," Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
"The Bainimarama government is looking to the future of Fiji and all Fijians.
"During the process of formulating a genuine Fijian constitution, every Fijian will have the right to put their ideas before the constitutional commission and have the draft constitution debated and discussed by the Constituent Assembly," he said.
He said the new constitution would be created for all Fijians.
Constitutional Prime Minister Declares war on Rogue Regime!
I will win 2014 election: Qarase
March 11, 2012 02:44:48 PM, Source: Fijilive
Fiji's ousted Prime Minister and Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua leader Laisenia Qarase says he will contest and win the 2014 general election.
Qarase told FijiLive today he is very confident that the people of Fiji will support him.
"I'm very confident that I will get the support from the people and yes I'm confident that I will succeed," he said.
He said the SDL is also working on the names of candidates who will represent them in the 2014 election.
Qarase had earlier said the 2014 general election should be held under the "legal" 1997 Constitution.
'Open minds' on Fiji sanctions: McCully
Posted 10 March 2012, 9:07 AEST
New Zealand's foreign minister says he's keeping an open mind about sanctions on Fiji, after the Fiji prime minister announced plans to consult the public on a new constitution.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully says Wellington wants to help the process in Fiji along. [AFP] Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama says a new constitution will be ready by February next year.
Commodore Bainimarama, who seized power in a 2006 coup, says the new constitution will enshrine principles of one-person-one-vote, an independent judiciary and transparent governance.
New Zealand foreign minister, Murray McCully, says Wellington's sees the consultation as a step in the right direction for Fiji, and it's keeping an open mind about post-coup sanctions.
"We've never ruled out looking at the sanctions, I hope that we have to look at the sanctions because sufficient progress is being made to require that," Mr McCully said.
"I think there will be some things that we have to do to help this process along. We're very open-minded about what that might be and I've expressed that open-mindedness to the Fijian foreign minister and his government."
Australia's incoming foreign minister, Bob Carr, held informal talks with Mr McCully on Friday in Auckland, which included the political situation in Fiji.
He rejected media claims that he is planning to soften Australia's stance against Fiji, saying it was 'premature'.
Carr rejects talk of softening Fiji stance hours after Dictators announcement
By New Zealand correspondent Dominique Schwartz
Posted March 09, 2012 20:26:46
Foreign minister designate Bob Carr has rejected media reports that he is planning to soften Australia's hard stance against Fiji.
Mr Carr was speaking in Auckland after holding informal talks with his New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully.
Mr Carr said he had noted Friday's announcement by Fiji's military leader Frank Bainimarama about planned public consultation over a new constitution.
Both Mr Carr and Mr McCully greeted the announcement with caution and said time would tell if the Fiji's rulers were truly moving towards democratic elections.
The former New South Wales premier also says he will be seeking more information from the ACTU about the human rights situation for workers in Fiji.
Mr Carr says he wants to further investigate claims that any union official who speaks out against the interim government still risks life imprisonment.
"Certainly one of the tests we'd consider in the future is the right of organisation in the workplace," he said.
"That's a fundamental human right.
"I'd expect to have more conversations with unionists, in particular the ACTU."
Mr Carr said his hour-long discussion with Mr McCully about the region was wide-ranging and helpful.
He will meet prime minister John Key on Saturday morning.
It is his first overseas trip since being named the replacement for Kevin Rudd.
He is due to be sworn in as a senator and foreign minister on Tuesday.
Qarase concerned about constitutional consultations process announced – Elections should be held under 97 constitution source: Fijivillage.com
SDL Party leader Laisenia Qarase has welcomed Governments move towards parliamentary elections however has expressed concerns about the constitutional consultations process announced yesterday by the Prime Minister.
Qarase said that Government has gone ahead to announce the key principles and values to be embodied in the constitution and members of the constitutional commission have been appointed.
He said these important decisions should be the outcome of intensive consultations with key stakeholders and not unilateral decisions by the government.
Qarase suggested that the formation of a constitutional forum should include key stakeholders including political parties, church leaders and NGO's.
This forum should discuss and decide on key issues relating to the constitutional consultations process and provide guidance to the process itself.
Qarase also said that the general elections should be held under the 1997 constitution as early as possible preferably later this year.
He said Constitutional changes process can then proceed under an elected government as this would be the best option for Fiji
Ratu Tevita Mara's Response to Announcement by the Regime on Constitutional Process Canberra: 9th, March 2012
As expected, the constitution process announced today by Banimarama has all the hallmarks of control and bias associated with his regime. It will not pass any international test of credibility and independence.
"He is clearly embarking on a so-called consultation that will be stacked in his favour and propelled by a massive regime propaganda exercise which must be rejected " says Ratu Mara
Two of the three people appointed initially to his Constitutional Commission to engage in a "civic education process", should resign immediately. Professor Nandan is a prominent Bainimarama disciple who has publicly and lavishly praised his 2006 coup. Taufa Vakatale is widely-regarded as a Bainimarama supporter who has willingly accepted appointments by the regime. Their sympathies will obviously come into play during the consultations.
The Chairperson, Professor Yash Ghai, is certainly experienced in constitution-making and is familiar with Fiji. However, his role as academic supervisor to Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum,
Bainimarama's chief collaborator, when Sayed-Khaiyum prepared a controversial thesis on indigenous Fijian culture, raises questions about his appointment. The same applies to his earlier role as a constitutional consultant to certain Fiji political parties.
The evidence for the planned national brain-washing is contained in Bainimarama's reference to government collating and printing material for "civic education".
He is intent on forcing the People's Charter for Change down people's throats. This has been adopted by the government as its own manifesto. But it does not have a valid mandate from the people. If the Bainimarama manifesto is to be the ideological reference point for the constitution then the manifestos of political parties with proven support should also be put to the people.
The details about the planned constituent assembly are very vague and obviously have not yet been fully thought out. But one thing can be certain, it will be Bainimarama's creature - expected, ultimately, to do his bidding.
He should tell the people whether the army will be sitting in the constituent assembly. Which political parties will qualify? Who will decide on the assembly's membership?
There are real grounds for scepticism about the level of freedom Fiji citizens can exercise to make their views known. It appears that only those who Bainimarama thinks are "forward-looking" will make the grade. This is coded language indicating intolerance of dissenting views. Similarly his comments urging people not to be distracted by "petty politics and politicians" is another warning sign.
Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum are fixated on a new constitution when there are very strong legal grounds for believing that the 1997 constitution, which they purported to abrogate, is still in existence.
The Council for a Democratic Fiji which I speak for, takes the position that the constitutional deliberations should use the 1997 constitution as their framework. This would be more acceptable to the people of Fiji and the international community. Bainimarama should have no problem with the 1997 constitution because he championed it after the 2006 takeover of the elected government.
It is not surprising that Bainimarama has apparently turned his back on a referendum as a vehicle for establishing support for proposed constitutional changes. A free and fair referendum would be far too democratic for Bainimara's liking.
Bainimarama has already poisoned the atmosphere by his recent threatening and belligerent comments about the constitutional review and his public displays of military might. He gave a radio interview about the proposed review which exposed his true feelings. In that interview he urged the former prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry and "everybody else" to "shut up and listen to us". This was the authentic voice of a tyrant who hates and fears dissent.
Click here to download press release.
Constitutional process a sham
Constitutional process a sham says former regime member
Radio Australia: 9 March 2012, 18:54
Once a leading member of the Fiji military regime and now one of its harshest critics, Ratu Tevita Mara says he has no faith in the consultation process outline today by his former commanding officer.
Ratu Mara says he believes the process is a charade as the military regime has already drawn up a constitution that will be foisted on the people of Fiji so that Commodore Bainimarama can avoid prosecution.
Presenter: Brian Abbott
Speaker: Ratu Tevita Mara, former leading member of the Fiji military regime
Samoa's Prime Minister lashes out at Commodore Bainimarama
Updated 8 March 2012, 15:36 AEST
Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has lashed out at Fiji's illegal prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama for calling him a puppet of Australia and New Zealand. Hon.Tuilaepa says that he can never, never believe anything that Bainimarama promises, because Bainimarama is a liar.
FIJI: The Rule of Law Lost
Here is the report by Nigel Dodds, the chair of the Law Society Charity, who made a secret visit to Fiji and concluded it is without the rule of law. The Bainimarama junta has tried to dismiss the report.
The Charity was aware that the Fijian Government had denied access to the UN Rapporteur to investigate matters in 2009 and further had declined to admit a high powered delegation from the International Bar Association also in 2009. This delegation produced a report entitled Dire Straits: a Report on the Rule of Law in Fiji which had to be based on interviews conducted externally. There seemed to be little prospect of any change of position by the Fijian Government to allow independent scrutiny.
So the Charity decided to take advantage of a private visit to Fiji by its Chair in November 2011 to evaluate the position there by conducting interviews with lawyers and others within Fiji with a view to publishing a report [Fiji: The Rule of Law Lost]. The focus of the report was to be on what action could be taken by external law societies and bar associations to support the Rule of Law in Fiji.
Almost two weeks after Dodd's report hit regional and international headlines, the regime - clearly stung by the publicity - issued a statement denouncing Dodd.
The report made no bones about the fact the independence of the Fiji judiciary 'cannot be relied upon' and 'there is no freedom of expression' [Source: C4.5]
Illegal AG K-yum lies in face of Evidence
FIJIANS SPEAK OUT AGAINST EMERGENCY LAWS Updated March 7, 2012
Fiji's illegal attorney-general Kaiyum continues to say that no-one is being specifically targeted by the brutal military regime. Meanwhile, prominent Fijians disagree and are speaking out:
Reverend Tavita Banivanua says the interim government has continued to undermine the Methodist Church, which enjoys close ties with the island's indigenous population
Several of the church's other senior members are facing charges of attending unauthorised meetings during the country's emergency rule
The executive director of Fiji's Women's Rights Movement, Virisila Buadromo, says the new decree grants wider unfettered powers to the police and the military
Fiji's Trade Union Congress president Dan Urai, a former MP, who was arrested in November and was kept in a cell for 10 days without access to a lawyer says that people are afraid to speak out in Fiji. Decrees have insured that the fear continues with people and they are still scared
73 year old Mere Samisoni, one of Fiji's most successful businesswomen, said that she was arrested coming off the plane by a lady superintendent, who told her quietly that they were arresting her…
Ratu Tevita speaks out against Fiji leader, Commodore Bainimarama
Presenter: Geraldine Coutts, Radio Australia
Speakers: Ratu Tevita Mara and Commodore Frank Bainimarama, Fiji's interim prime minister.
Exiled former senior Fiji military officer, Ratu Tevita Mara has lashed out at interim prime minister Frank Bainimarama's handling of the situation in his home country.
00:00Exiled former senior Fiji military officer, Ratu Tevita Mara has lashed out at interim prime minister Frank Bainimarama (Credit: ABC) Ratu Tevita was also critical of Commodore Bainimarama's accusations that Australia and New Zealand have neglected the Pacific Islands.
The comment was initially directed at the former Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd.
But in a recent interview when he was pushed on the issue he claimed "We're not here to play ball with Australians in terms of our constitution and our election dates. This is for Fiji and for Fijians. Whatever they want is secondary to what we've got planned… "
Ratu Tevita spoke to Geraldine Coutts about what he sees as Commodore Bainimarama's true intentions for Fiji and the upcoming details to be announced for public consultations for formulating a new Fiji Constitution.
In May 2011 Ratu Tevita was forced to flee Fiji after being charged with mutiny and accused of attempting to overthrow Bainimarima's government.
IQ check by Jon Fraenkel on Frank Bainimarama "We've had lots of evidence to suggest this, that he doesn't seem to quite know where he's going with the whole thing."
Plans for Bainimarama's Fiji are vague, says academic
Posted at 04:50 on 06 March, 2012 UTC [Taken from Fiji Today Blog]
An Australia-based academic Jon Fraenkel says a recent interview with Fiji regime leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama is further evidence he has no clear plans for Fiji's promised constitutional review and elections.
The interim Prime Minister has given a rare interview to a foreign journalist, in which he agreed he might stand in elections, promised for 2014.
He also said he did not know what form the elections set for 2014 would take but he presumed Fiji would continue where it had left off.
He also said anyone could stand in the elections and there would be equal suffrage.
Dr Fraenkel says the Commodore appeared reticent and goaded into replies by his interviewee.
"The only interesting thing in the interview really that he said himself was that he's not really sure what he's doing. On the issue of specific new institutional provisions proposed for this constitutional review, Bainimarama is quite clear. We've had lots of evidence to suggest this, that he doesn't seem to quite know where he's going with the whole thing."
Dr Jon Fraenkel of the Australian National University
News Content © Radio New Zealand International PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand
RFMF Board of Inquiry Report - Updated
For easier downloading, the electronic size of the RFMF Board of Inquiry (BOI) report has been reduced. The contents of the BOI report have not been changed in any way manner or form.
Please note that the RFMF BOI report should have all 1,027 pages and the article by Brig V Lal (pages 374 to 398) forms part of the BOI Report.
1,584 copies of the BOI report were downloaded from our site when it was first released. Since then downloads average 495 a day.
RFMF BOI Report:
The dictator of Fiji is a born liar, and in lying he exceeds in volume and ability any normal person. He has now hired (at very considerable cost to the hapless Fiji taxpayer) a discredited spin doctor, to cover up and embellish his lies.
Frank Bainimarama has told many lies:
He lied about the date on which he would hold an election
He lied about lifting restrictions which he has burdened the people of Fiji with for many years
He is now lying about holding democratic elections in 2014 when he cannot hold such elections without being arrested and charged.
Yet all these lies pall into insignificance compared to the biggest lie which he has spun and continues to spin, and which has been the basis for whatever reluctant international acceptance or forbearance has taken place in regard to his regime.
Adolf Hitler's propaganda Minister Goebbels once stated that the bigger the lie and the more often it is repeated the more likely it is to be accepted. So it is the same with Bainimarama.
The lie in question is that the coup in Fiji in 2000 was planned by persons other than Bainimarama; that he had no prior knowledge of the coup; that he saved Fiji from the coup; and for that his life was threatened by a mutiny, which he suppressed in order to stabilize Fiji. And that he had removed the Qarase Government, via the 2006 Coup, to rid Fiji of corruption.
These lies can now be laid to rest as they are exposed in statements from senior officers and a military Board of Enquiry Report (BOI commissioned by Bainimarama himself, in graphic detail. The BOI report and these other documents and statements reveal Bainimarama's lies and guilt.
As you will see, Bainimarama sought to suppress the BOI report, and anything and anyone who can disclose the truth about what he has done. These persons have either been murdered by him or incarcerated incommunicado in jails where they have now languished for ten years, or otherwise silenced.
The 2000 Coup
Bainimarama was unexpectedly appointed Commander RFMF in February 1999, over the heads of more qualified and senior officers.
The coup deposed the Labour Government of Mahendra Chaudhry on 19 May 2000 with the world being led to believe that it was being carried out by George Speight and his followers.
Extensive rioting and damage occurred. For 56 days Speight held hostages at the Parliament Buildings that included the Prime Minister. Subsequently Speight was deceived into surrendering himself and Bainimarama took full credit for ending the coup and freeing the hostages.
On May 29th Bainimarama carried out a second coup and announced to the nation that he was assuming executive authority from the President and declaring martial law. Then after the conclusion of the George Speight coup he reluctantly ceded civil authority to Laisenia Qarase.
Bainimarama has always represented himself to be the hero of 2000, the person who at that time saved Fiji. The truth is, however, just the opposite.
Bainimarama's Pre Knowledge of the Coup
In the months leading up to the coup Bainimarama received regular military briefings of an impending coup. He was fully aware of the threat to Government. He had also built up intelligence on the impending coup through a military intelligence unit. In addition, soldiers from a specialist unit called the Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit (CRW), which had been created by Government, and members of the Third Fiji Infantry Battalion (3FIR), were gathering information on the coup and informing Bainimarama.
The sad fate of the CRW soldiers, who were either murdered by or incarcerated or otherwise silenced by Bainimarama, is also outlined in this document.
Despite all the information that Bainimarama had received regarding an impending coup, Bainimarama arranged to attend a conference in Norway in May 2000. This was a United Nations conference on Peacekeeping (the irony of the subject matter of this conference will rapidly become apparent).
Before he was due to leave for the conference, Bainimarama was informed by the Commanding Officer 3FIR, Lt Colonel Viliame Seruvakula, that the coup would be held on 19th May 2000. This warning was given one week before the coup. Bainimarama's response to this warning clearly shows his guilt in the matter of the coup. He said: "OK set you know what to do I have to attend this meeting it is very important for the RFMF."
Bainimarama clearly planned to be out of the country when the coup occurred so that he could avoid blame for it.
Bainimarama's Guilt
Clearly, Bainimarama knew all about the impending coup but took no step to stop it. He was prepared to stand aside and let it happen. This failing was especially serious because as Commander he had the power to stop it. He was therefore a crucial participant in the coup. His guilt was as great, and in fact greater than that of any of those who carried out the destruction and violence that accompanied the coup.
Despite the Commander in Chief and President Ratu Sir KKT Mara questioning the wisdom of Bainimarama leaving the country at an unsettled time, Bainimarama insisted that it was alright for him to go. The President yielded to Bainimarama's view.
Bainimarama departed for Norway on May 12th with full knowledge that the coup would occur on May 19th 2000.
Events of 18th May 2000
The events of 18th May, the day before the coup, were described to the RFMF Board of Enquiry by Lt.Colonel Seruvakula. They were as follows.
Sergeant Filimoni Tikotani requested the CRW troop leader Lieutenant Charles Dakuliga to meet him at the Laucala Bay hangar in Suva to receive orders from the Officer Commanding CRW Units, Lieutenant Penaia Baleinamau. At that meeting Tikotani told Dakuliga that Bainimarama had issued orders through Lt Baleinamau, Major Ilisoni Ligairi and Lt.Colonel Philipo Tarakinikini that they were to take over Parliament the next day. Those Counter Revolutionary soldiers who queried the order were told that Bainimarama knew about the plan but had to be overseas.
Lt.Colonel Seruvakula stated that he and Lt Baleinamau were in direct daily contact with Bainimarama throughout his absence from Fiji. He also stated that Bainimarama told him not to tell other officers that they were talking to each other.
The coup occurred on 19th May as planned when CRW personnel entered Parliament and took Government members hostage. Live weapons were held and used by those CRW personnel at that time. Bainimarama was the only person who could have authorized the CRW personnel to act as they did and to employ live weapons.
Bainimarama had recalled Major Liqairi to head the takeover of Parliament.
At the takeover shots were fired. But the CRW soldiers had been tricked into thinking that it was only a training exercise. Once they had realized that it was a trick they still continued, on the understanding that they were following orders from Bainimarama.
Occupation of Parliament: Bainimarama's attempts to take Leadership of the coup
The CRW in Parliament were supplied directly by the Army with food, fuel and weapons. This would have been impossible without Bainimarama's support. In fact Bainimarama gave direct orders for such support. He stated: "RFMF supports the cause." He also repeatedly expressed support for Speight.
After the coup and during the 56 days in which hostages were held at Parliament, Bainimarama made repeated efforts to take over leadership of the coup. There came a time when he realized that he could not succeed in this aim.
Bainimarama had hoped that with Major Liqairi and the CRW soldiers holding hostages in Parliament the rest of the Army would follow in support. However, the Army stood firm and the President condemned the takeover and declared a state of emergency. The coup did not receive sufficient support.
Bainimarama therefore had to adjust his strategy and to appear to oppose Speight. He cunningly gave the impression that he was loyally besieging Speight at the Parliament buildings in order to free the hostages and to save the nation.
Bainimarama then tricked Speight into signing the Muanikau Accord, which ended the coup and provided for the return of CRW soldiers to barracks. Speight was convicted of treason and incarcerated. He is still held incommunicado to this day so that he cannot expose Bainimarama's role in the coup.
RFMF Board of Enquiry
The events of the coup were carefully examined by the Board of Enquiry. Bainimarama was given the opportunity to give evidence to the Inquiry but he refused to do so. The conclusions of the Board were so unfavorable to him that he ordered all copies of the BOI report destroyed except one to be held by his favorite and sycophant Major Aziz Mohammed. But, another copy has survived which tells the raw truth.
Major Aziz, the person who carried out, at Bainimarama's behest, the removal of the Chief Justice was later appointed as Acting Commander.
Bainimarama also deliberately withheld the report from the Police who had requested it to assist them with their investigations.
Bainimarama transfers blame to CRW
The CRW were now being blamed for the coup as Bainimarama intended. Many were now being beaten, charged with treason and sent to jail. Bainimarama was hunting them down and torturing them. This was part of his plan to transfer the blame.
Accordingly the CRW staged a mutiny on 2nd November 2000, which Bainimarama ruthlessly reacted to, but only after it had been suppressed by gallant officers and soldiers. Bainimarama abandoned his men at the start of the mutiny to save himself by running away down through the casava patch.
Five CRW were beaten to death on his orders after the mutiny. Others languish in prison until this day. All those CRW who could tell the truth as to Bainimarama's involvement in the coup have been silenced.
Post 2000 Coup
A new Commander was being appointed by Government to replace Bainimarama so in December 2003 Bainimarama sought to rally Army support to remove Government. However he failed at that time to gather enough support. But he did blackmail Government, with threats of force, to renew his contract.
By November 2006 the Government had decided that enough was enough and Bainimarama was facing the following charges:
Disobedience to a lawful order by the Minister of Home Affairs, the Prime Minister's office and the office of the president
Sedition in threatening to remove the Minister of Home Affairs and the Prime Minister
Treason in plotting to overthrow the Government
Unlawful aborting of a Commission of Inquiry (not the Board of Inquiry)
Illegal removal of the President in 2000
Murder of CRW soldiers in 2000
Abuse of office.
Bainimarama reacted by staging the 2006 coup to save himself.
Bainimarama's biggest lie has been and continues to be that he saved Fiji in 2000.
Bainimarama continues that lie even in his 6th January 2012 speech seeking to justify substituting new drastic measures for those previously in the Public Emergency Regulations. In that speech, written by his expensive and discredited cover up agency, he mourns the devastation of the 2000 coup and says that such must not recur. This he seeks to use as a justification for his new despotic measures.
Bainimarama's regret, however, represents crocodile tears. He more than anyone is responsible for the fires of 2000. Bainimarama knew of and supported the events which led to those fires and all the other pain and sufferings of 2000.
The lesson of 2000 is that to avoid a recurrence of 2000 and to end the fast deteriorating human rights situation in Fiji it is necessary that the current regime be replaced immediately by a fully democratic government and that the Army immediately return fully and permanently to barracks.
Bainimarama must go, in the name of humanity. The exposing of his biggest lie leaves no alternative.
This article reveals the truth about Frank Bainimarama and his lies and treasonous activities against the democratically elected Government of Fiji, its people and the Royal Fiji Military Forces (RFMF). Bainimarama did not save Fiji. He is the problem.
In February 1999, Bainimarama was promoted to Commander RFMF above other more highly qualified and experienced senior officers. Then in 2000 he chose to play a game that he didn't have the capability or the brains for. To save himself, Frank Bainimarama did the well known Fijian "liumuri" (betrayal) and then cunningly portrayed himself as the savior of Fiji. Indo-Fijians call this treasonous act "aage-peeche".
Government was appointing a new Commander RFMF so Bainimarama ordered his officers to plan for the removal of Government. The officers refused so he had them removed. Under duress the Government renewed Bainimarama's contract. There will be no escape from these crimes and Bainimarama knows it. So he is now doing everything and anything he possibly can, including brinkmanship, to stay in power to avoid being arrested and prosecuted.
The police were to arrest Bainimarama in November 2006 while he was in New Zealand. It was aborted and Bainimarama was made aware of it. He returned to Fiji, and on 6 December 2006 removed the lawfully and democratically elected Qarase SDL Government. The then Commissioner of Police was also removed.
Bainimarama told the world that he staged the coup, amongst other things, to rid Fiji of corruption. But the world now realizes that it was all a ploy and that Bainimarama is now even more corrupt than the Qarase Government he removed. He is also threatening and beating loyal Fiji soldiers, police officers, Church leaders, Fijian Chiefs, civil servants, citizens and defenseless unarmed women who disagree with his brutal and corrupt dictatorship. He is also telling many lies, including:
Lying about the date on which he would hold an election
Lying about lifting restrictions which he has burdened the people of Fiji with for many years
Lying about holding democratic elections in 2014 when he cannot hold such elections without being arrested and charged.
We contend that Bainimarama staged the 2006 coup to save himself from being arrested and charged by the Fiji police. The return of democracy to Fiji with free and fair elections will, no doubt, also return with the police charges against Bainimarama. Therefore, Bainimarama is doing everything and anything to ensure he remains in power and can prevent those charges from being laid against him in a truly democratic system with a free and independent court of law.
This article is far from perfect, but at least it will give the people of Fiji and the world a much clearer understanding of the true motives behind Frank Bainimarama's actions, specifically how he is manipulating the Fiji military forces and lying to Fiji and to the world to save himself from prosecution and achieve his desire of becoming leader of Fiji.
What was done
This article covers three key periods of time:
The 2000 Coup and Bainimarama's involvement
The Post 2000 lead up to 2006
The 2006 Coup.
Information was gleaned from copies of documents (attached) that were made available to us from people inside and outside of the RFMF and Police force, civil servants and civilians. The key information includes:
RFMF Board of Inquiry Report ― The Board of Inquiry led by Lt. Colonel Jackson Evans (from 21August 2000 to 24 October 2000) looked into the involvement of the First Meridian Squadron (CRW) in the illegal takeover of Parliament on 19 May 2000 and the subsequent holding of hostages until 13 July 2000. Frank Bainimarama refused to be interviewed and he ordered the findings destroyed with only one copy to remain with Brigadier Aziz. Please note, Brig.Aziz was a major at the time and later, like Bainimarama, was promoted over other senior and more qualified military officers.
Letter from Ratu Silatolu to Bainimarama
Article from Lt.Col Tarakinikini
Col Alfred Tuatoko's statement which clearly outlines Bainimarama's orders on 16 December 2003 for the Senior RFMF officers to plan for the removal of the Government
Col G Kadavulevu's (05 January 2004) formal advise to Bainimarama against removing the SDL Government
CEO Ministry of Home Affairs' statement on Bainimarama's conduct
Lt Col SV Raduva advise (19 January 2004) to the CEO, Ministry of Home Affairs about Bainimarama's threat to remove the SDL Government
Father Akauola's 2003 assessment of Commodore Bainimarama's performance as Commander RFMF ― It was requested by a senior Bainimarama military aid and done in consultation with RFMF soldiers and officers
Father Akauola's 2010 interviews with Ratu Tevita Mara
Col JB Baledrokadroka's interview with Lt.Col Seruvakula
Court martial records
TV interviews.
Bainimarama's Miraculous Promotion to Commander RFMF
Navy Captain Frank Bainimarama was recommended for the position of Commander RFMF by his predecessor Brigadier Ratu Epeli Ganilau.
Bainimarama's name was forwarded to the Minister of Home Affairs Paul Manueli and the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka before the Commander-in-Chief and President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara's endorsement. Announcing Capt. Bainimarama's appointment, Home Affairs Minister Paul Manueli said he was confident of his [Bainimarama] capabilities. However, Senior RFMF officers state that there was a clear lack of leadership and direction from Commander Frank Bainimarama, so they had to step-in and deal with the crisis of 2000 and restore law and order to Fiji.
A very Senior officer also quoted that Bainimarama, from day one on the job, had no idea how to lead and wondered around aimlessly in his white uniform leaving senior officers to do all the work. We can clearly see this same "skill" being applied today in Bainimarama's use of the lying, corrupt, including everything that is evil, illegal Fiji AG Khiayum.
Colonel Saubulinayau stated in his interview that a member of the Board of Inquiry knew that the majority of the boys in green [Fiji army] didn't like Bainimarama and that Bainimarama managed to be appointed due to a fault in the system.
Fiji's Daily Post newspaper of 26th February 1999 also claimed that tensions were high at Fiji Military Forces' headquarters, QEB, Nabua, when the Chief- of-Staff Navy Captain Bainimarama was named the new Army Commander.
Bainimarama, a relatively junior officer, had been appointed Commander RFMF over other more highly qualified and experienced senior Army officers.
Lt Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini, military spokesman during the 2000 coup, accused Bainimarama of bringing a style of leadership foreign to senior officers when he assumed command in February 1999. Tarakinikini said that Bainimarama's leadership was personalized, egocentric and capricious, and he had a tendency to be unpredictable and inconsistent[1].
How Frank Bainimarama, a junior officer, ever got to be promoted to Commander RFMF over more senior and highly qualified and experienced officers is something that seriously needs to be looked at.
The 19 May 2000 coup did not come as a surprise. In the months leading up to the coup Bainimarama received regular military briefings of an impending coup. The Fiji military had been aware of the threats to government, and had built up intelligence through the use of a military intelligence unit. In addition, soldiers from the CRW unit and the 3rd Fiji Battalion were doubling as intelligence operatives gathering information and advising Bainimarama.
Bainimarama also repeatedly told his officers after the 19 May 2000 takeover that a few months after the Fiji Labour Party (FLP) Coalition Government had won the May 1999 elections, the leading Nationalist Sakeasi Butadroka had requested a meeting with him to appeal for the Army to overthrow Chaudhry's government in a fully fledged military coup.
Bainimarama had also chased away the officer who had briefed him of the impending coup saying the brief was "bullshit". The same officer also advised Bainimarama of a possible coup within the RFMF, to which Bainimarama angrily responded that there will be no such thing!
The Commanding Officer 3rd Battalion, Lt.Colonel Viliame Seruvakula, tells Bainimarama, 24 hours before Bainimarama is to leave to attend a conference in Norway that a coup was going to take place in a week. Bainimarama simply says "…ok set you know what to do I have to attend this meeting it is very important for the RFMF". In spite of being given military briefings of an impending coup Bainimarama does nothing to prevent it and he lies to his Commander in Chief that all is under control.
One would rationally think that stopping a coup would be more important than attending a conference! Not for Bainimarama, unless there was another "plan" already in play that Bainimarama knew about. Either this or Bainimarama was too dumb and gutless to do anything about it.
The Commander in Chief and the President, Ratu Sir KKT Mara, questioned why he (Bainimarama) was leaving the country in the midst of a potential crisis. The President said that, "He [Bainimarama] came to let me know that he is going to Norway for a conference. I said do you believe that this is the right time to go and he assured me and said there was some marches in the West a week ago and everything was all right and the reports I get was ok. I said alright, if you think it's alright, you can go".[2]
We contend that Frank Bainimarama was well aware of the impending coup, before it happened and did nothing to protect the Government and instead he departs for Norway on 12th May 2000, which was all part of Bainimarama's plan.
Bainimarama wanted to run the show
Ratu Timoci Silatolu, in his letter to Bainimarama, reminds Bainimarama that he (Bainimarama) had told him that he (Bainimarama) wanted to run the show and denounced Ratu Silatolu as having no credibility. At that time Bainimarama was already running the country after he had illegally removed the President in a second coup. On 29 May 2000, Bainimarama televised to the nation that he had assumed executive authority of the country and declare martial law"[3].
That night, the President and his family were evacuated for their safety to a naval vessel. Bainimarama went on board with several senior officers and presented a tabua (whale's tooth) in a Fijian ceremony to the President requesting him to step aside. The President acquiesced in the Fijian language saying that since the very people who were to protect him had asked for him to step aside from office, he would never again return to the high office. Speight had captured parliament, and now Bainimarama captured the President's executive powers. There was no need for the President to step aside. Bainimarama, as Commander RFMF, just needed to do his job. But we contend that he had ulterior motives.
For 37 days until 4th July 2000, Bainimarama retained executive authority and tasted absolute power for the first time[4]. When advised by his Military Council, Bainimarama refused to give up power. Later, he reluctantly handed over power to a civilian interim government headed by co-opted member Laisenia Qarase. But this was only after the chiefs and people of Naitasiri had threatened to takeover QEB barracks if the military interim government did not hand back rule to the GCC. The GCC would have then elected a President to form a civilian interim government.
George Speight's group (GSG) didn't want Bainimarama to run the show. Colonel Draunidalo stated that the GSG did offer Bainimarama the role of head of state and that Bainimarama had arrogantly told them that he (Bainimarama) would present yaqona to his officers and they would accept the offer. The officers did not accept it. [5] Bainimarama then orders all soldiers back to barracks.
We contend that during the 56 days of negotiating with George Speight and his group Bainimarama finally realized his predicament that he (Bainimarama) was not going to "run the show". Ratu Silatolu writes that he knew that Bainimarama was not going to honor the accord with Speight because Speight had appeared at an opportunistic time and claimed all the credit for the removal of the Chaudhry Government.
Ratu Silatolu also states that Bainimarama then had to look at removing any evidence of his (Bainimarama) involvement in the 2000 coup. We also contend that to achieve this objective Bainimarama required scapegoats to take the blame for him.
Bainimarama's lack of direction and leadership had already put the RFMF officers and soldiers in a state of total confusion, which made his manipulation of their actions integral in firstly, deflecting blame from himself (Bainimarama) and secondly, fixing it upon the unwitting CRW soldiers and RFMF officers. Subsequently, he had to both silence anyone and everyone with either a suspicion or actual knowledge of his true agenda from enabling that truth from being revealed. Senior officers who could piece the information together were removed and civilians are still being beaten by soldiers.
Bainimarama's Scapegoats
Major Liqairi and the CRW soldiers were the unfortunate scapegoats. They had followed Bainimarama's orders and went into Parliament with Speight and his group on the understanding that they were only there to protect the hostages from the civilian members of Speight's group.
The CRW soldiers were lured into the trap only hours before when they were told that they were attending a training exercise in protecting VIP's in a hostage situation. Sadly, they realized too late that it was all a lie and that they were being used. But by this time the army and the world were of the opinion that the CRW were a key part of Speight's group in overthrowing Government.
Lt.Colonel Seruvakula stated that a group of CRW soldiers were undergoing survival training on Makuluva Island on 18 May 2000 (See map on right of Suva City Peninsula, slipway and Makuluva Island)
At around 10:30pm their troop leader Lieutenant Charles Dakuliga received a call from Sergeant Filimoni Tikotani to meet him at the Laucala Bay hangar to receive orders from the Officer Commanding CRW, Lieutenant Penaia Baleinamau.
Lt.Colonel Seruvakula states that at the hangar Lt.Dakuliga meets Sgt.Tikotani, George Speight and his brother Jim Speight, Ravutuqica and a public works employee Simione Drole[1]. Tikotani then tells Dakuliga that the Commander RFMF (Bainimarama) had issued orders through their OC Lt.Baleinamau, Major Ilisoni Ligairi and Lt.Col Philipo Tarakinikini that they are to take over parliament the next day. This meant that the OC Lt.Baleinamau, Major Ligairi and Lt.Col Tarakinikini were all following their Commander Bainimarama's orders.
Court martial records indicate that some of the CRW troopers on Makuluva did not agree with the orders but Dakuliga advised them that the "word" from their Officer Commanding was that the Commander Frank Bainimarama knows about it but had to be overseas.
Lt.Col Seruvakula stated that he and Lt.Baleinamau were in direct daily contact with Bainimarama, from when Bainimarama left for Norway and up until his return to Nadi. Lt.Col Seruvakula also stated that Bainimarama told him not to tell other officers that they were talking to each other.
We contend that Bainimarama was giving orders to Lt.Baleinamau (Officer Commanding CRW) in support of the coup and talking to Lt.Col Seruvakula (Commander 3rd Fiji Infantry Regiment) to check on the army's reaction so that he (Bainimarama) could maneuver himself accordingly. In talking to Seruvakula Bainimarama bypassed the acting Commander, Colonel Alfred Tuatoko.
In addition, all the CRW operatives who normally report in on the last Friday of each month were all gathered and present at camp on Thursday 18th May, the day before the coup. The operatives were part of the first group who entered parliament on 19 May 2000.
As a specialist unit the CRW reports directly and only to the Commander RFMF who is the only person in the RFMF with the authority to deploy the CRW and their weapons.
Major Liqairi (pictured, on right) had only been back in uniform for three weeks when the coup occurred. He was 60 years old and retired but had been recalled for six months duty by Bainimarama. Liqairi was only an advisor and had no authority to order the CRW soldiers into any situation or to deploy any weapons.
In his statement Liqairi recalls that he told Bainimarama that he was too old to return to duty, but Bainimarama told him that he (Liqairi) wasn't old. The Board of inquiry was unable to get a reason from Bainimarama as to why he had recalled Liqairi when there were other qualified and experienced serving officers available.
Bainimarama had refused to be interviewed.
But after only three weeks into the job Major Liqairi is in parliament overthrowing Government with George Speight, whom he had just met for the first time earlier on that same morning, 19 May 2000.
We contend that as an ex-British SAS and a highly disciplined soldier, Major Liqairi was following orders from his commander Bainimarama.
Bainimarama knew that the CRW soldiers respected Major Liqairi and with both Major Liqairi and the CRW soldiers in parliament he had hoped that the rest of the army would follow in support. But the army stood fast to resolve the crisis. In addition, the President also condemned the takeover and declared a 'state of emergency'. These actions changed the game plan and resulted in other high profile coup supporters from joining George Speight in parliament. George Speight and his group were left on their own and therefore had to improvise.
Phone records show that Lieutenant Colonel Tarakinikini (following orders from his Commander Bainimarama) called Staff Sergeant Bainimoli at 03:15am on the morning of the coup. He then called Colonel Alfred Tuatoko the acting Commander RFMF and Land Force Commander at around 4am [2]. A little later Tarakinikini called Lt Baleinamau the acting officer commanding CRW. There is no record of what was discussed but at 07:45am Lt Dakuliga and his team from Makuluva meet up with their OC Lt Baleinamau and Major Liqairi at the Laucala Bay slipway. According to Major Liqairi it is also the first time that he meets George Speight.
Lt.Colonel Seruvakula stated that the CRW OC Lt Baleinamau then tells Lt Dakuliga and his team from Makuluva that Major Ligairi would support a mission into the parliament complex and that it was only an exercise. It was only after they had entered parliament and shots were fired inside the building when the CRW troopers realized that it was not an exercise.
More CRW arrived at parliament after being told by Lt Baleinamau to turn up for security duty (See picture on right of CRW on security duty). Other CRW arrived in support of their team mates and were not fully aware of what was happening. However, once in parliament, the CRW troopers found it difficult to walk away because of the strong bond they shared as a unit. This bond had a major impact on their decision to stay on in parliament and help each other out. But they were also of the understanding that they were following orders from their Commander Frank Bainimarama.
Other CRW soldiers who had just returned to Suva from training exercises in the west were told by their officers to stay away from parliament. And they did stay away.
Adi Kikau, a hansard reporter and a hostage, stated that the CRW soldier guarding them had told her that they (CRW) were only told a few hours earlier to change into civilian clothes and get into a van. The van brought them to parliament and that they were there for an exercise. The CRW soldier also told Adi Kikau not to worry and that it would all be over by 4pm that same afternoon. The hostage situation continued for 56 days.
In his letter, Ratu Silatolu alludes to a dispute on the displacement of the Prime Minister of the Day, Mahendra Chaudhry, which resulted in the hostage situation extending 56 days. Ratu Silatolu says that he "just wanted to resolve the matter as Frank Bainimarama's proposal was alright". We do not have access to the content of this proposal.
The CRW who went into parliament were being resupplied by QEB camp with food, fuel and weapons and they were still receiving their normal pay. This reinforced the CRW soldiers' and the army's view that the RFMF was supporting George Speight and his group. It was the presence of Major Ilisoni Ligairi and other CRW soldiers inside parliament which sent a signal that officers close to the senior command were in support of the coup.
Lt.Baleinamau stated that Col. Ioane Naivalurua had entered parliament and had told the CRW soldiers that what they were doing was wrong. However, Col.Naivalurua did not tell the CRW soldiers to stop what they were doing and to return to barracks.
Lt.Dakai stated that he waited a week at camp until the 26th of May but there was still no clear direction from RFMF on how they would deal with the situation in parliament. This non-action and the fact that the army were still re-supplying parliament with food, men and weapons convinced Lt.Dakai that the RFMF was behind the coup, so he went over to join the boys in parliament and to help them organize themselves and to provide support to them.
Colonel S Draunidalo stated that he was part of a think-tank made up of Colonels and at their first meeting Bainimarama told them that "RFMF supports the cause". This meant that they (the Colonels) had to develop strategies to support their Commander Bainimarama's directive, which is to support the Indigenous Fijian cause led by George Speight and his group.
This principle also applied to other officers who had received instructions from their Commander Bainimarama. They then had to carry out their Commander's directive and that is what they did.
Bainimarama also instructed his officers to continue to resupply and support the CRW soldiers in parliament as they were directly responsible for the safety of the hostages. Bainimarama also tells them that an inquiry would be held after the crisis and charges laid. Therefore, QEB continued to resupply and support CRW in parliament.
Lt.Colonel Seruvakula stated that on Sunday, 21 May 2000, he attended a briefing in QEB where he was told that "the CRW were doing what they were tasked to do…to provide security of the hostages"….and "we (RFMF) should support them, and let them (CRW) do their job and not to interfere."
Lt.Col Seruvakula also states that he was told, "Bill you must not look at this as a western type hostage situation, this is about us the Fijians, what you saw on Friday (19) when people looted the city was the sign that our people are hungry and do not have the necessities of life, the only way to kick start that is start all over again….SLK (Sitiveni Rabuka) tried but he gave in to pressure and went back to the Indians to join hands leaving our people back to square one…".
Lt.Baleinamau states that Frank Bainimarama advised him and the CRW soldiers at QEB camp that if they wanted to go and join the CRW soldiers already in parliament, because he knew of their strong bond as a unit, then they just needed to sign their leave application forms before going down to parliament. The CRW boys signed their leave forms, which further reinforced their understanding that they were following their Commander's orders. However, the leave application forms are never approved by the army. This was a trick by Bainimarama to get the CRW soldiers to join the soldiers already at parliament.
George Speight, Rakuita Vakalalabure and other members of their group went from Parliament to QEB and met with Bainimarama in his office. After this meeting, all military officers were called up to the officer's mess where Bainimarama briefed them on the meeting he had just had with George and his group. Bainimarma told the officers that he (Bainimarama) agreed with Speight and that the Army should support their course of action.
Bainimarama was interrupted by Colonel Waqanisau who advised Bainimarama that the Army can't agree with George Speight and his group. Colonel Waqanisau added that they [George and his group] had illegally removed an elected Government and are a group of terrorists. He also told Bainimarama that "with all due respect Sir, honour the institution, this uniform which others before us had died for. We simply cannot follow what the terrorist Speight and his group wants".
All the officers present started clapping and cheering in agreement with Col Waqanisau. On seeing this reaction Bainimarama changed his stance and agreed with Col Waqanisau. Bainimarama was clearly playing both sides and we contend it was to further his own ambitions.
Sunday 2nd July 2000, former coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka claims that there are other key players behind the illegal takeover of the Chaudhry Government.
Lt.Col Seruvakula also said that Ratu Silatolu and Tevita Bukarau had told him that the Commander Frank Bainimarama was misleading the army, implying that both the army and Bainimarama were holding two separate discussions with the George Speight Group. Ratu Silatolu and Tevita Bukarau suggested that Seruvakula overthrow Bainimarama and the hostages would be released. Seruvakula turns down the offer citing the army's oath of allegiance.
After the hostage crisis ended and the CRW soldiers returned to barracks, in accordance with the Muanikau Accord, Bainimarama tells the CRW soldiers that they are all forgiven and that they would be posted to other units. But this wasn't totally true. Bainimarama still needed his scapegoats so a number of CRW soldiers were arrested, beaten, charged for treason and imprisoned.
Ratu Silatolu, in his letter, refers to these soldiers as the "sacrificial lambs", so that Bainimarama could save himself and, instead, "was being credited for restoring law and order and no-one was the wiser".
RFMF Board of Inquiry
On Bainimarama's orders the Fiji Military Forces established a Board of Inquiry (from 21August 2000 to 24 October 2000) to look into the involvement of the First Meridian Squadron (CRW) in the illegal takeover of Parliament on 19 May 2000 and the subsequent holding of hostages until 13 July 2000. The inquiry was led by Lt. Colonel Jackson Evans.
The Board interviewed and recorded evidence from one hundred and twelve (112) military and civilian witnesses. Frank Bainimarama refused to be interviewed.
The Board of Inquiry report implicated Bainimarama so he ordered the report destroyed with only one copy to remain with Major Aziz Mohammed. Please note, Major Aziz Mohammed is now a Brigadier. Like Bainimarama, Aziz was promoted over other senior and more qualified military officers.
02 November 2000 Mutiny
It is important to understand that the CRW mutiny of 02 November 2000 was not against the RFMF or the people of Fiji. The mutiny was aimed at one person only, Frank Bainimarama, because he had used the CRW to do his bidding and then he (Bainimarama) betrayed (liumuri) them to save himself.
The Muanikau accord that helped end the hostage situation included an agreement that all CRW soldiers involved in parliament would return to RFMF. The murderer Frank Bainimarama also told CRW soldiers that they were all forgiven and that they would be posted to other units. Meanwhile, CRW members were being arrested and charged for treason.
So what were the CRW to do? They were being blamed for the 2000 coup, arrested at their homes, beaten and then charged for treason and either sent to jail or imprisoned on Nukulau Island, which was setup as a detention camp. Then Frank Bainimarama tells the CRW that their unit is going to be disbanded, further suggesting to the world that the CRW unit was guilty of staging the coup and could no longer be trusted and had to be dealt with.
The CRW soldiers saw their options as:
just accept what was happening to them and move on
kill Bainimarama for betraying them.
Frank Bainimarama was counting on option one, with the CRW soldiers just rolling over and accepting their predicament. But Frank Bainimarama was wrong!
The CRW were not going to take the blame for following orders from their Commander, Frank Bainimarama, who had betrayed his men to save himself. The CRW were all clear, in their understanding, that they had followed their Commander's orders to go into Parliament and to protect the hostages. And that is what they had done.
To accept what was happening to them and move on meant going to jail and their families would no longer receive their income and support. How were the families to survive? Who would pay the bills and put food on the table? And their children…
The CRW chose to kill Bainimarama for betraying them. However, this act to kill another Fijian went against their beliefs and inner being. It was hard for them to contemplate. So to help overcome this situation the CRW soldiers first consumed large quantities of alcohol before the operation got underway. This move proved fatal. Their operation didn't go according to plan and the rest is history, with Bainimarama setting a world record for the "casava-patch" dash. Bainimarama had abandoned his men at the start of the mutiny and ran away to save himself.
A Lt.Colonel commented that it was raining that day but there was dust in the air! The Lt.Colonel was dismissed from the army. It wasn't raining that sad day of the mutiny but the Lt.Colonel's comment aptly describes Bainimarama's character and lack of bravery in deserting his post and men. The Fijian word for this is lamusona!
Loyal Fiji CRW soldiers, who had followed their commander's orders, were now being hunted down, captured, tortured and some murdered. Even those CRW that were not involved in parliament were being hunted down and tortured.
There were over 60 tortured CRW soldiers held captive in Korovou prison, just across the road from the Suva yacht club. The number of CRW soldiers being arrested was increasing daily and they were taken to Korovou prison. Their families were not told of their whereabouts and they didn't know if they were dead or alive.
Frank Bainimarama had given strict instructions that none of the tortured CRW soldiers were to receive any medical attention. But through the grace of God, a Marist Priest, Father Seluini Akauola, a specialist Moral Theologian and Counselor, was there in Fiji and he went out of his way to seek help for the CRW soldiers. They finally received medical attention and most of them are still alive today.
Fr. Akauola, who often visited the CRW soldiers in Korovou, recalled with tears in his eyes, that the CRW boys were treated like animals. He said that they had been locked up in their dark cells for days, even weeks, with their injuries untreated. The injuries included multiple fractures to the arms and legs and ribs, severe bruises and swelling, and open wounds and distorted faces. Captain Steven, who had led the CRW operation against Frank Bainimarama, was near death. Fr. Akauola said that he "could not believe that one human being could do this type of injury to another human being". Here are a few photos of those tortured and murdered Loyal Fiji CRW soldiers.
But Frank Bainimarama was out to clear himself from any blame, so he continued to look for scapegoats and accused and implicated others as being a part of the 2000 coup. All the while refusing to be interviewed himself for his part in the 2000 coup.
To this end, Bainimarama issued instructions that Lt.Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini return to Fiji from New York to face allegation charges.
Lt.Col Tarakinikini responds in a statement (See The Daily Post article, dated April 18, 2002) saying that he had advised Bainimarama to relinquish Executive Authority to its proper place, but Bainimarama insisted on keeping it. Lt.Col Tarakinikini goes on to state that people need to properly understand military command, as in military law command is "total", meaning that soldiers follow orders. But now Bainimarama is trying to pass the buck to the soldiers and officers that were under his (Bainimarama) command. Another "liumuri" by Frank Bainimarama, Commander RFMF.
Colonel S Draunidalo's statement also supports Lt.Col Tarakinikini's statement that in military law Command is total. Col Draunidalo stated that they (the Colonels) had to develop strategies to support their Commander Bainimarama's directive, which was to support the Indigenous Fijian cause led by George Speight and his group.
Lt.Col Tarakinikini also states that the CRW were under the direct command of someone else and not him. We contend that the only person with the authority to deploy CRW was the commander RFMF, Frank Bainimarama. Lt.Col Seruvakula also stated that Bainimarama was in direct contact with the Officer Commanding the CRW soldiers.
In addition, Lt.Col Tarakinikini says that no amount of cover-up will absolve responsibility for that failure, from where it truly belongs, and that all professional officers and soldiers know this. And a public inquiry will bring out those that really failed Fiji in 2000.
Appointment of a New Commander RFMF
Government was in the process of appointing a new Commander RFMF to replace Bainimarama, so Bainimarama broke the law by threatening the Prime Minister to renew his contract as Commander RFMF.
Ratu Silatolu, while in prison for his role in the 2000 Coup, writes a letter to Bainimarama dated 02 March 2004, congratulating Bainimarama for getting his (Bainimarama) job back. Ratu Silatolu also says that Bainimarama didn't practice "doing to others what you would like done to you" because as soon as Bainimarama got his job back, he started to remove others from their jobs.
Bainimarama Orders Military to Plan Removal of Government
Colonel Tuatoko states that on 16 December 2003 Bainimarama instructed his senior officers to draw up plans for the removal of Government. This is the very Government that Bainimarama, as Commander RFMF, was duty bound to protect. Bainimarama also told the officers, "dou cakava vaka totolo na plan de dou qai kidacala au sa liu sobu i ra" [hurry up and do the plans or you will be surprised when I do it myself]. The senior officers decided that they would not draw up plans because it was a criminal and treasonable act.
Bainimarama reiterated his intentions to remove Government at a military conference on 18 December 2003 and tells the officers to continue to draw up the plans. Colonel Tuatoko states that Bainimarama told them that he (Bainimarama) did not want anybody sitting on the fence and if anyone did not agree with his (Bainimarama's) intentions to remove government then they were to leave. At the end of the conference Bainimarama personally interviews Colonel Kadavulevu, Colonel Tuatoko, Lt.Colonel Raduva, Navy Captain Teleni, Commander Koroi and Commander Natuva.
During Col.Tuatoko's interview Bainimarama says that he (Bainimarama) will forcefully remove government if his contract as Commander RFMF was not renewed. Col.Tuatoko advises Bainimarama that such an act is illegal and treasonous and that Bainimarama should seek legal options. Bainimarama states that the legal process will take too long and that he (Bainimarama) must remain as Commander RFMF because there is no other person who could pursue the May 2000 prosecutions as he was doing.
In a way Bainimarama is correct because other people would want to find out the truth. Bainimarama just wanted to remain as Commander so that he could guide the outcome of the prosecutions and not implicate himself. This is what Bainimarama has done. Anyone with information and knowledge about his (Bainimarama) involvement in the 2000 coup, that could incriminate him (Bainimarama), has either been arrested, beaten, prosecuted and locked away so that no-one hears their full story.
Colonel Tuatoko advised Bainimarama against using the RFMF institution to sort out his personal disagreements with Government. Bainimarama rejects the advice and questions Col Tuatoko's loyalty to him (Bainimarama). Col Tuatoko advises that he can't support an illegal and treasonable act. Other officers state that they, as officers, had pledged allegiance to RFMF, the institution.
On 05 January 2004 Colonel George Kadavulevu formally advises Bainimarama against removing the SDL Government.
On 12 January 2004 Colonel Kadavulevu and other senior officers are removed for advising Bainimarama against removing government. Bainimarama had initially replied that he was only testing them and then he questioned their individual loyalty to himself. The senior officers, except for Col. Naivalurua, said that, as officers, they had pledged their allegiance and loyalty to the RFMF institution. All these senior officers who had stood their professional and moral ground and questioned Bainimarama's illegal and treasonous intentions were all removed.
But why didn't these same senior officers who were removed not band together and stand by their Commander in Chief, the President, and the Prime minister and Government of the day. It was their duty to protect those in these high offices. Yes, why didn't they? This is where blind obedience to the military chain of command steps in, and what Lt. Col Tarakinikini refers to as "in military law command is total". This law goes beyond stupidity, as evident in the case of Fiji, but we will park this topic for now.
The CEO, Ministry of Home Affairs, also stated that on 12 January 2004 the Commander RFMF, Bainimarama had told him that had it not been for the Minister, he (the CEO) would have been dead already and the next time the military will come back to "finish what they started", and he (Bainimarama) would personally lead the military to town and would make sure that the CEO was the first to die.
At that point the CEO told Bainimarama that when he next comes to town he should come alone, without his weapon and without his armed body guards and then try to kill the CEO. Bainimarama became furious and challenged the CEO to a fist fight by taking off his web belt (with his weapon) and posing for a fight. This behavior portrays Bainimarama's uncouth character and juvenile intellect.
However, the Fiji military follows a strict chain of command and the military officers had also stated that there was a lot of confusion throughout the first few days of the 2000 coup. In particular, what was happening, who was in charge and which side was the military on, so it is safe to assume that Bainimarama was referring to himself when he told the CEO that the military will come back to finish what "they" started.
On 19 January 2004, Lieutenant Colonel SV Raduva advised the CEO, Ministry of Home Affairs, about Bainimarama's threat to remove Government, saying "it is the duty of every officer and solider of the RFMF, in accordance with RFMF Standing Orders Vol 1, Part XXI, para 21.4, to notice and report any negligence or impropriety of conduct on the part of officers and soldiers".
Bainimarama's planned coup 2003/2004 didn't have the support of the senior RFMF officers so he removed them to clear all opposition to his plan to remove government.
Then during the buildup to the 2006 elections, the SDL campaigned for Fijian votes, and came up with manifestos that Bainimarama used in his argument to demonize the Government and portray himself as the only person Fiji could trust.
In September 2005 military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Orisi Rabukawaqa started using the term ethno-nationalism to justify Bainimarama's opposition to the SDL government's Qoliqoli (customary seashore rights) and Reconciliation bills[1]. There are statements suggesting that certain hotel owners had paid Bainimarama to stop the Qoliqoli bill. But we will park this issue for now.
The military, under Bainimarama's orders, had also embarked on its 'Truth and Justice' campaign in the run up to the elections, which was targeted against the governing SDL party. Bainimarama's primary public justification was an alleged effort to 'cleanse' Fiji of trouble-making ethno-nationalists[2].
But this was all a ploy by Bainimarama to remove the lawfully elected Government and save himself from being arrested and charged by police.
Bainimarama Shuts Down Witnesses Who Could Incriminate Him
On 29 January 2006 George Speight and his associates indicated their willingness to face a government proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission. They were willing to tell everything they knew about the planning, financing, and execution of the 2000 coup. But Bainimarama objected to the establishment of the Commission. The proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission didn't eventuate and Bainimarama continues to vigorously object to any and all attempts for a public inquiry.
The closest Fiji has come to a public inquiry was the Fiji Military Forces Board of Inquiry led by
Lt. Colonel Jackson Evans.
Planned Arrest of Bainimarama and 2006 Coup
The police investigation into Frank Bainimarama goes back all the way to Bainimarama's involvement in the 2000 coup, where he betrayed his Commander in Chief, the Government of the day, the RFMF, the Counter Revolutionary Warfare unit (CRW), the people of Fiji and above all he betrayed his fellow coup conspirators. The key players in the 2000 Coup were safely locked away in Naboro prison unable to reveal what they know about Bainimarama. Others are dead.
Meanwhile, the police investigations were continuing in the background. In November 2006, the Fiji police, working with their New Zealand counterparts, organized to arrest Bainimarama while he was in New Zealand. However, this operation was cancelled. Bainimarama was made aware of this fact and that his arrest was imminent.
Bainimarama returned to Fiji and staged the coup on 6 December 2006.
Police Charges
In November 2006, the police charges against RFMF Commander Frank Bainimarama included:
Disobedience of a lawful order by the Minister of Home Affairs, the Prime Minister's office and the Office of the President
Sedition in threatening the Minister of Home Affairs and the Prime Minister's office
Unlawfully obtaining approval from his Excellency the President to abort the commission of inquiry against Bainimarama, Commander Fiji Military Forces
Illegal removal of the President of Fiji in 2000
It is clear that the dictator Bainimarama is a born liar, and in lying he exceeds in volume and ability any normal person. And he will continue to do so to ensure he remains in power to avoid being arrested and charged by police in a free and fair democratic system.
He has now hired (at very considerable cost to the hapless Fiji taxpayer) a discredited spin doctor, to cover up and embellish his lies.
Yet all these lies pall into insignificance compared to the biggest lie which he has spun and continues to spin, and which has been the basis for whatever reluctant international acceptance or forbearance has taken place in regard to his brutal junta.
Frank Bainimarama is lying to Fiji and to the world. He wants everyone and certainly the people of Fiji, to believe that his record is not blood stained, that his motives are noble and that he is nothing but a selfless servant of the higher cause of a pure Fiji. But the actual record of what he said and did (or did not do) tells another story.
International Response
U.S. Embassy cables from Suva confirmed to the world that Frank Bainimarama was using beatings and intimidation of innocent Fiji citizens to control Fiji.
The cables also confirmed that Bainimarama himself handed out some of the beatings. We also know that Frank Bainimarama beat unarmed and defenseless women, which goes some way to explaining why Bainimarama so easily abandoned his men to save himself and set a new world record in the process.
In fact Bainimarama himself told European diplomats that anyone who speaks out against his brutal rule, "we must have them taken to barracks and beaten up". Why does Bainimarama need to do this? Is he afraid of the truth getting out?
But more so, why does the international community not do anything about Bainimarama besides just talk. Bainimarama wasn't elected and he is now even more corrupt then the Government he deposed.
Frank Bainimarama is a dictator and a terrorist who is holding Fiji hostage but the international community has settled for talk and sanctions that do not hurt the members of Bainimarama's military junta and their key supporters!
It is clear from the events in Tunisia, Libya, Iraq and Egypt that diplomacy doesn't work and that hard decisions need to be made. It also showed that the people and citizens of these countries do not like living under an oppressive and brutal dictatorship. These were the very dictatorships that the international community was willing to accept for the past 40 years, all the while the citizens under these dictatorships were living in hardship, threatened, beaten and even killed.
In the end, the brave people of Tunisia, Libya, Iraq and Egypt decided that enough was enough. But this decision came at a huge cost. Many people lost their lives to fight for freedom. The help from the international community did make a vast difference to the outcome in Libya and without NATO's assistance Libyans may still be fighting against the heavily armed and well supplied Government forces of the dictator Col. Gaddafi. Or they would have all been arrested or killed.
Instead, this time, there is positive action from some of the international communities, with good results. Libya is now free to choose the future she wants though a democratic process.
Libya's dictator Col Gaddafi was beaten and shot
Iraq's dictator Saddam Hussein was hanged
Egypt's dictator Mubarak is on trial.
But why did the international community allow Gaddafi's brutal dictatorship to continue for 40 years. Thousands of people suffered.
We can see this similar approach being applied to the situation in Fiji. As if the problem in Fiji is neither morally necessary nor politically appropriate. Or are our regional leaders uncomfortable of the hard questions or not culturally capable of the type of leadership required to assist the oppressed people of Fiji.
Why did they sit back and allow a madman, Bainimarama, to openly threaten and illegally remove a lawfully elected Government and become Fiji's brutal dictator.
Now we play a game of diplomacy with soft sanctions against Bainimarama's junta who are living up the good life on public funds.
Certain countries are unnecessarily worried about, for example:
their trade with Fiji, as though Fiji businesses would stop ordering quality and more affordable products from its neighbors and start ordering products from further away that will end up being more expensive and most likely unaffordable to most of their customers in Fiji
the supply of Fiji troops as if it would end under a democratic Government. What will change under a democratic Government is how the Fiji military, its powers and involvement in politics are appropriately managed. The money the soldiers earn on UN missions is of great value to their families and to the country
the repayment of Fiji's loans. There is money within Fiji but no one is investing. Too afraid of extortion by Bainimarama and his illegal AG Khaiyum and their self-serving decrees.
Let's face it, with the return of a democratically elected Government in Fiji and the rule of law and an independent judiciary, investors will be free to decide on best business ventures. And they will also be safe in the knowledge that their disputes will be dealt with in accordance with law, by a free and independent judiciary. This will boost confidence and unleash investors. Soldiers will be available for UN missions and Fiji will be able to start repaying its debts.
Meanwhile the oppressed peoples of Fiji who are too afraid and unable to stand up to the brutal Bainimarama junta continue their lives in their habitual rhythms of work and leisure, habitual places of residence, habitual patterns of family and personal relations. Because the miseries of their traditional life have become so familiar that they have become bearable to ordinary people of Fiji who, growing up in such a society, learn to cope, as children born to untouchables in India acquire the skills and attitudes necessary for survival in the miserable roles they are destined to fill. But to the international community this is seen as the oppressive and brutal Bainimarama junta being nothing more than benign.
Where to Next
So is Fiji destined to wait 40years before any sort of authentic and meaningful help is received that will lead to the restoration of democracy to Fiji. Or will the people of Fiji need to start dying first by the hundreds before any authentic help is provided.
There is sufficient evidence to suggest that Frank Bainimarama is guilty of murder and treason. But only a free and independent Fiji judiciary can make that decision and Bainimarama knows it. So to keep himself from being arrested and imprisoned, Bainimarama will do anything and everything to stay in power and control the police and judiciary. This has included beating women and anyone who opposes his brutal and corrupt dictatorship.
A few individuals stood up to oppose Frank Bainimarama but they were arrested, tortured, raped and imprisoned. The Viti Revolutionary Force (VRF) group initiated an uprising of painting anti Bainimarama graffiti across Viti Levu. It was a start to a local uprising and it would have increased with more local support had the international community provided some visible support. But this did not happen. Some even condemned the actions of the VRF group. The VRF leaders have now been arrested and face imprisonment. So what will it take for Fiji to be free and return to democracy?
Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) said that "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." So what is all this international talk about leadership and upholding democracy, especially, when there does not appear to be much stomach or willingness to fight for or to defend democracy.
The people of Fiji live under fear and need a leader to show the way out. Prime Minister Qarase requested international assistance before his Government was overthrown, but it did not come. On 6 December 2006 his government was replaced by a tyrant and dictator Bainimarama who has since removed the Great Council of Chiefs, deregistered the Methodist Church of Fiji, implemented illegal decrees to censor the media, abused public funds, appointed unqualified military officers to positions outside their depth, and threatened, beat and raped opponents to his brutal dictatorship. These are only a few of the draconian changes Bainimarama has implemented.
From time to time a truly bestial ruler like Frank Bainimarama can come to power but with democracy and freedom in Fiji their accession to power could regularly be prevented.
Both the people of Fiji and the international community need to consider and decide on the role they want to play. Some have already made their deals. However, their action or non action now will be viewed by future generations as either being an authentic leader or not. The future peace and tranquility of the region will also depend on it.
So where to next? Do we:
continue down the diplomacy road of more talk that could take 40years and wait and see if the people of Fiji will revolt within that time and end up losing many lives
take decisive action now that includes the combined efforts of the international community and the people of Fiji to restore democracy to Fiji. And uphold the 2009 Fiji Court of Appeal Ruling, which includes taking Fiji to elections within a year. Then the people of Fiji will be able to decide who should lead them and in what direction they want to go.
We choose option 2. But which country is willing and ready to provide the oppressed people of Fiji with the authentic help that they need to achieve freedom and democracy. Will it be a leader nation or a follower. Time will tell....
Statements and articles:
Bainimarama Lies about His Coup Attempts
# 57 BAINIMARAMA DENIES COUP ATTEMPTS
BY GRAHAM DAVIS – FEBRUARY 25, 2012
The Fijian leader, Frank Bainimarama, has strongly denied claims made by two prominent former local journalists – writing in the New Zealand media – that he tried to mount three coups before his successful takeover in December 2006.
In two articles in the New Zealand Herald,the Oxford-based academic Victor Lal and Russell Hunter, the former publisher of the Fiji Sun, said Bainimarama had tried to take over the country after the Speight coup in 2000, and then again in 2004 and 2005. The latest article today details what the authors say is leaked correspondence from some of Bainimarama's fellow officers urging him not to proceed and warning that they would oppose him.
In his interview with Grubsheet in Suva, the Fijian leader said the allegations were "not true". In the case of 2000, Lal and Hunter report that Bainimarama demanded that the military should be given the authority to rule Fiji for 50 years but this was opposed by the then president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo. Denying the account, Commodore Bainimarama said he was already in control of Fiji in 2000. "For their information, I was in charge of the nation in 2000, so I took over in 2000. I gave the government to (Laisenia) Qarase". The Prime Minister said it was historical fact that he had handed the reins of power to Laisenia Qarase hoping that he would govern for all Fijians and not just the indigenous majority. "Everyone knows the story of 2000 when I came in, so why they change this and (have) people believing it, I don't know". Read More
Bainimarama is lying in this article. See Lt.Col Tarakinikini and Col Tuatoko's statements.
Bainimarama's history of lies and deceitful conduct
1. Under his Command, CRW soldiers took part in the 2000 Coup and hostage taking of the Mahendra Chaudhry led Peoples Coalition government. Arms and Ammunition were released under his Command to take the government hostage. Despite request from the President Ratu Mara to seal of the Parliament complex, Bainimarama was reluctant to defuse the hostage crisis early and allow the Chaudhry government to prevail.
2. Betrayed the Coup leader George Speight by breaching the Muanikau Accord which was signed by him and rebel leader Speight that enabled the safe release of hostages including Labour leader Chaudhry.
3. Despite objection from George Speight and his supporters over his choice of Qarase his interim PM he pushed ahead to appoint Qarase as interim PM in July 2000 and later ordered brutal assault of George Speight and his supporters in Kalabu who wanted Adi Samanunu Talakuli Cakabau to replace Qarase as Interim PM.
4. Failed to protect his Commander in Chief, The President and Tui Nayau, Ratu Sir Kamisese Tuimacilai Mara. He deceived His Excellency to the Navy Boat to depose him under threat of abrogating the Constitution in the presence of Police Commissioner, Sitiveni Rabuka and Epeli Ganilau
5. In 2000, during the Chandrika Prasad Case over the validity of the 1997 Constitution, Bainimarama sided with Qarase and provided an Affidavit in support to claim the Constitution was abrogated and that it was the cause of Fiji crisis in 2000.
6. After the 2001 Appeals Court declaration that the Qarase interim regime was illegal and that 1997 Constitution was the supreme law of the land, Bainimarama released a statement in the Fiji Sun threatening that Chaudhry will not be allowed to return as PM. This prompted the President Ratu Iloilo to dismiss Chaudhry as Constitutional PM and appoint Qarase as interim PM to call fresh Elections.
7. After 2006 Coup, gave a national undertaking to follow the President's mandate to respect and Uphold the 97 Constitution as the Supreme Law of Fiji but has purportedly abrogated the Constitution after the Appeals Court declared his regime as being unlawful and illegal in April 2009.
8. Following the 2006 Coup, Bainimarama appointed Labour leader Chaudhry as interim Finance Minister and called him Robin Hood on the National TV. Ironically in 2008 he sacked Chaudhry and later conspired to lay money laundering charges against his Robin Hood despite the Australian Tax Inquiry (which was paid by the regime) fully clearing Chaudhry of any breaches of the tax laws.
The world now knows the truth, so there will be no escape for Bainimarama and K-yum!
Covert trip reveals rule of law 'lost' in Fiji -- The Law Gazette
www.lawgazette.co.uk Thursday 23 February 2012 by Eduardo Reyes
A secret fact-finding mission to Fiji has concluded that the rule of law 'no longer operates' in the country. The independence of the judiciary 'cannot be relied upon' and 'there is no freedom of expression', council member and Law Society Charity chair Nigel Dodds reports in Fiji: The Rule of Law Lost.
2006 Coup was about Personal Greed and Lust for Power by a thug of little education and big Dreams!
Smuggled papers show Bainimarama's lust for power
By Russell Hunter and Victor Lal
5:30 AM Saturday Feb 25, 2012
Commodore Frank Bainimarama sacked senior officers who opposed his takeover plans.
[Picture: The thug Bainimarama lying to the world]
Commodore Frank Bainimarama tried and failed three times to seize power in Fiji before his 2006 coup. Victor Lal and Russell Hunter reveal how the warning signs went ignored
It was February 2007 - two months after Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power in Fiji - when Time magazine's Australian editor Steve Waterson arrived in Suva to assess the situation.
The coup leader, aware that his image abroad needed serious repair, immediately granted an interview and launched a charm offensive.
"Just call me Frank," he told Waterson, and later added, "I didn't want this job." He explained he was needed to clean up corruption and put the nation on a path to prosperity.
A series of documents smuggled out of Fiji tell a vastly different story. Bainimarama not only wanted the job but had tried three times previously to seize control of the nation.
His first attempt occurred during the negotiations to end the George Speight hostage crisis in August 2000.
Several of those present confirmed that the Commodore - who had tacitly supported the Speight coup - declared that the military should lead the nation "for the next five, 10 or 50 years".
A heated argument between Speight and Bainimarama ensued, ending only when President Ratu Josefa Iloilo said a democratic solution was the only way forward.
Bainimarama proposed that banker and businessman Laisenia Qarase should lead an interim government with elections after one year. But to his frustration he found his "advice" to the interim government was routinely shunned.
By December 2003 the Qarase government - tired of the Commodore's constant and often public interference - was reluctant to renew his term, due to expire in April the following year.
When Bainimarama got wind of this, he flew into a rage and ordered his senior officers to start planning a coup. But he reckoned without senior officers who counselled against such action and finally refused to implement his orders.
On January 5, 2004, secret advice to Bainimarama not to stage a coup warned of the chaos and damage that could follow.
The document, composed and signed by Lieutenant Colonel Jeremaia Waqanisau, Colonel Alfred Tuatoko, Colonel George Kadavulevu, Colonel Samuela Raduva and naval commander Timoci Koroi, reads in part:
"We feel that the interests of the RFMF (Republic of Fiji Military Forces) and the nation have been overridden by your personal wishes ...
"Under the circumstances there is no way you can justify your intent and impending action. On the other hand the consequences of such action would be catastrophic for Fiji. The despair and suffering will be unbearable and longer lasting than that experienced after 1987 and 2000."
None of the officers agreed to be interviewed.
However, the later "redress of wrong petition" also contains a statement by Tuatoko, who wrote: "In my interview with [Bainimarama] he stated that he would forcefully remove the present government if his term as Comd RFMF was not renewed.
"I advised him that such an act was illegal and amounted to treason. I advised him that there are legal ways to settle his disagreement with government and that he must follow that legal path. Comd said that doing so would take too much time. He said that removing the government would be legally wrong but was morally correct."
This document was sent to the Minister for Home Affairs, Joketani Cokanasiga, and is likely to have been seen by Qarase. Incredibly, nothing was done. A senior minister told Hunter at the time: "We're not too worried about him [Bainimarama]. He doesn't have the support at the camp that he thinks he has."
The aborted coup of January 2004 persuaded the Government that the soldiers would not obey their commander if he ordered them to commit treason by removing it.
In December 2005, Bainimarama decided to try for a third time. He had been reappointed, so his job was no longer an issue, but he knew Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes had no intention of backing off a murder inquiry into the deaths of five members of the elite Counter Revolutionary Warfare unit, kicked to death by loyalist soldiers after the November 2000 mutiny.
There was also anger in sections of the officer corps (by now mostly hand-picked Bainimarama men) that the Qarase Government was "soft" on those involved in the 2000 coup.
Bainimarama had sacked the five officers who refused to carry out his first attempted coup and appointed Lieutenant Colonel Jone Baledrokadroka as Land Force Commander - effectively his deputy. He told Baledrokadroka to prepare plans for a military takeover.
Like his brother officers before him, JB (as he was known) refused to be involved in treason. He was told to take leave and not come back but again the coup had to be postponed.
JB told Hunter on the day of his dismissal: "I saw an order that I deciphered as treasonous and I could not accept it."
By May 2006, in the full realisation that Bainimarama's reappointment had not bought off its troublesome military commander and with a fresh election victory under its belt, the Cabinet wanted him gone.
There was talk of surcharging him for the blatant abuse of military funding in the army's "Truth and Justice" campaign that sought to influence voters during the 2006 election. It came to nothing - but Bainimarama was to hear of it and it fanned the flames of his fury.
With the dismissal of JB he was able to surround himself with an officer corps that owed their positions to him alone. His coup would take place within a year.
Claim strongman threatened to kill officer
Fiji leader Frank Bainimarama threatened to kill a former top army officer who challenged his 2003 coup plan, according to the officer's written testimony.
The late Lieutenant-Colonel Jeremaia Waqanisau refused to carry out the Commodore's coup order and took a new job as CEO at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In a file note at the time he recalled in January 2004 the Commodore barged into Home Affairs Minister Joketani Cokanasiga's office with several bodyguards, accusing Waqanisau of raising an army against him.
"Bainimarama further said had it not been for the minister I would have been dead already, and next time the military came back to finish what they started he would personally lead [them] to town and make sure I would be the first to die.
"I told Bainimarama when he came down next time he should come alone, without his weapon and his armed body guards and then try to kill me. He became furious challenging me to a fight taking off his [weapon] and posing for a fight... I said I didn't want to fight him and he should go away. The minister was holding him back and eventually pushed him out the door."
* Russell Hunter is former editor-in-chief of the Fiji Sun and was deported from Fiji in 2008. Victor Lal is an Oxford-based academic researcher and a former Fiji journalist and human rights activist. Last week they revealed how former Fijian police chief Andrew Hughes tried unsuccessfully to persuade his New Zealand counterpart Howard Broad to arrest Bainimarama on his visit to New Zealand a few weeks before the 2006 coup.
Ironic concession from CCF that the Validity of the 1997 Constitution must be explored during political consultation towards democracy!
Where does this leave the insistence of a New Legal Order is a $2 million dollar question
The Citizens' Constitutional Forum urges the Bainimarama government to take heed of the advice from the recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) country report on Fiji to relax certain emergency measures in preparation for the Constitution consultations and the 2014 elections.
CCF CEO Reverend Akuila Yabaki stresses that such comments from the IMF are rare and can be utilized to gain further support from the international community and institutions in the form of enhanced technical and financial assistance which is needed in the constitutional and electoral reform agenda of the Bainimarama government.
CCF believes these emergency measures which have been put in place are the Public Order (Amendment) Decree 2012 and the State Proceedings (Amendment) Decree 2012 which fail to create a cohesive atmosphere for free and open dialogue on the pathway towards restoring constitutional democracy.
Relaxing control on the Media coupled by freedom of assembly will allow citizens to truly make meaningful contribution to change and to freely explore the contentious, sensitive and key issues such as:
· The validity of the 1997 Constitution,
· Role of the military,
· Choice on the preferred type of government,
· Role of the Great Council of Chiefs in future governments.
"Serious consideration should be given to review the various decrees that create apprehension amongst stakeholders and citizens alike, as people should now be encouraged to engage in constructive dialogue, whether in public or private, without fear," says Reverend Yabaki.
"It is also timely to reaffirm the current government's earlier assurances that there will be no impediment in the processes by invoking certain provisions in the two decrees, which could stop individuals or organizations, whether political or not from raising their views."
"At this critical juncture, all Fijians should be encouraged to participate without fear and we reiterate that there will always be potential spoilers, however, in such a critical process, every citizen should have a say. They must be allowed to express their views so the debate and discussion on key national issues and the way forward reflect the views of all citizens of Fiji," stresses Reverend Yabaki.
Fiji's State of Hopelessness under Frank and Khaiyum Drives People to complete desperation 24 Feb 2012
Scavenger dead after eating dumped food
Fiji's Ministry of Health has warned people in the West to refrain from eating food from the rubbish dump. This followed after a food scavenger from the Western Division died from food poisoning.
Speaking at a press conference today, Deputy Secretary Public Health Dr Josefa Koroivueta said two communities from the West were reported to have scavenged for food in the rubbish dump.
Meanwhile two other scavengers had suffered fish poisoning.
Dr Koroivueta said this is a serious issue and the ministry and the police are looking closely on the matter.
Bainimarama's junta bites the Dust -- Health Emergency Declared in Ba and Tavua 24 Feb 2012
Public Health Emergency declared in Naitasiri.
A Public Health Emergency has been declared in the Naitasiri settlement in Ba and Koroboya village in Tavua.
This step has been taken based on the typhoid cases in these areas.
There are now 14 confirmed cases of typhoid in the Western Division. Eight people are from Naitasiri settlement while the other six are from Koroboya village.
Acting Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr Joe Koroivueta confirmed six of the affected people are admitted at Ba hospital.
He said the Public Health Emergency in these two areas is for the next 30 days.
There is an audio file attached to this story. Please login to listen.
Meanwhile two people have died from dengue fever. The Health Ministry said there are four confirmed cases of dengue so far from the Western Division.
3,000 West workers' remain jobless as Bainimarama's lies lead to more excruciating Labour Pains! 24 Feb 2012
Story by: Khusboo Singh
Almost 3000 individuals who were employees of small businesses in the Western Division are currently without jobs after the recent floods. [Picture: boy sleeping on street]
Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation Executive Ambalika Kutty said their team and charity partners who have been assisting those affected by the flood made a assessment of people who have lost their jobs.
She said many small businesses were affected in Ba, Rakiraki and Tavua and are currently closed. Kutty said they are planning on setting up some income generation projects to help support these people and their families.
Bainimarama and K-yum's corruption, lies and theft of Fiji's public funds and resources are driving Fiji broke. The recent floods highlights this because there is no money left to assist the poor people. Unemployment is rising and no investors are coming to Fiji because of Bainimarama and K-yum's lies and corruption!
Remember these articles on Unemployment from 2009 and 2010:
Thursday, March 12, 2009.
THE unemployment rate in Fiji has jumped from 3.7 per cent in 1996 to 8.6 per cent in 2007 under Bainimarama's Junta and his two coups.
The highest unemployed group in rural and urban settings are Fijian women. Figures revealed the rate of rural Fijian females increased from 1.9 per cent in 1996 to 9.9 per cent in 2007. The overall urban unemployment rate is at 10.5 per cent, "the highest unemployment rate for all subgroups of the population is now 16.7 per cent for Fijian females in the urban sector.
[Picture: K-yum parties on while Fiji suffers even more from his greed and stupidity!]
On the other hand, the only sub group that managed to keep its unemployment rate below 5 per cent were the Indian males. In 2007, rural Indian males had an unemployment rate of 4 per cent and urban Indian males at 5 per cent.
Friday, May 7, 2010,
Concern over increasing unemployment in FijiMay 07, 2010 12:00:41 PM FijiLive. Speaking at the launch of the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2010 in Suva, Professor Biman Prasad said the unemployment problem is a serious one and 'is both the result of global economic crisis and political crisis'. The University of the South Pacific's Professor of Economics and Dean said records held by the Ministry of National Planning revealed that almost a half (47 per cent) of all the unemployed had attained Senior Secondary or higher education. This percentage was even higher for females (67 per cent) than for males (35 per cent). Some 14 per cent of the unemployed had Certificates, Diplomas or Degrees, he said.
Fiji Economy may now be at breaking point for IMF to comment on Elections...
Prof. Narsey confirms Bainimarama Regime achieved NO Growth at all in the past five years
2011 GDP is lower than 2006 under Qarase
An expert on Pacific economies says the International Monetary Fund report which criticised the Fiji military regime's handling of the Fiji economy makes for interesting reading.
Professor Wadan Narsey, Adjunct Professor at the Cairns Institute at Australia's James Cook University, says it's not usual for the IMF to be calling on a government to hold elections.
He also says that a close look at the report shows that there's been no real positive signs for growth in Fiji's economy.
Heather Jarvis spoke to Professor Wadan Narsey and asked him for his analysis of the IMF annual report on Fiji. Listen: Windows Media
NARSEY: First of all, we have to keep in mind that the IMF focus on policies in developing countries is a very limited focus. They're usually worried about financial conditions, about exchange rates, prices, monetary conditions, the Reserve Bank restrictions and all that. They don't venture usually into areas of poverty and governance. And what is unusual in this report is that it has been produced together with the World Bank, which is far more interested in poverty issues than development issues and also in consultation with other organisations.
It is throughout the developing countries, and including Fiji, you've got a lot of international organisations whose brief on development is much broader because the ILO talks about interested in labour conditions, UNDP interested in development in general. So this is indeed a bit of a new thing for the IMF to be suggesting that they need to have concrete plans to hold elections in 2014.
And what they're not saying bluntly I think, the IMF is always very diplomatic, they can't go out and be to rough on developing countries and governments. What they are not saying clearly, but it's there in their report is that investment has absolutely sunk right down and it's not just a question of foreign investment, which has declined since 2006, but also local investment, and there are no real positive signs for positive growth in the economy. What the IMF does say is that the military government's expectations are much, much higher than what their own staff estimates are.
So I think there's a lot of reading between the lines we need to do. The facts are very clear, what the IMF have produced and the World Bank have produced, one is that the GDP of the country, the real GDP is lower in last year than it was in 2006. So you've had negative growth which has just barely been counteracted by the two per cent growth for last year for 2011, so you're still worse off compared to where you were in 2006. And one area where they have relied on World Bank analysis which I think is wrong is that, World Bank analysis of poverty in Fiji is that rural poverty hasn't worsened, whereas if you use the correct, in my opinion, methodology of accessing poverty which is by income measures and not expenditure, rural poverty have gone worse by every indicator. So the poverty measures that people are looking at are comparing figures with 2002 with 2008 and 2009 which is three years ago.
If you talk about urban poverty going down, well that was true may be up to 2008, but if you talk to Father Kevin ... who works with the Wages Council in Fiji. He will tell you that urban poverty has gone much, much worse and his efforts have been pretty well not fruitful at all.
JARVIS: So in this report, I mean is the IMF really making a comment on Fiji's affairs? I mean you're saying that they're not you have to read between the lines, but it does seem to be out of character as you say for them?
NARSEY: Yes, but I think that they basically have come to agreement with the World Bank and others that really you need to restore investor confidence in Fiji, you need to have good governance. I mean, they don't mention, for instance, that for the last five years they've been no auditor-generals reports on government spending in Fiji, so people have no idea whether these numbers that we've been given about government revenues and expenditure are correct or not. One thing is for sure, the IMF is saying the government revenue forecast are going to be very difficult to achieve, especially when they've reduced corporate taxes by 30%, 30% or 40% and also income tax is at the high end. So their spending has kept on rising and the IMF doesn't say that the fiscal stimulant was due to an increase in salaries expenditure in the security forces, in the police and the military, because it's hardly the kind of fiscal stimulus that you want to see happening.
They do talk about the slow pace of structural reforms and especially they refer to the sugar industry, where the reality there is that a very large sum of money has been spent and the mills productivity has remained low, or has reduced. So I think the IMF is giving some very, very good advice in some areas, but the advice may get lost because they're, the IMF usual method of being very, very polite and diplomatic.
JARVIS: Mmm. So it sounds to me like there are some pretty fuzzy figures being bandied about and also you talked about structural reforms and the report says that Fiji needs concrete plans, it needs structural reforms. What's meant by structural reforms, what sort of things?
NARSEY: Well, I think the IMF usually try to encourage privatisation of government-owned enterprises. In the SSC, for instance, which is probably one of the largest public enterprises, the government has gone the other way.
JARVIS: That's The State Sugar Corporation?
NARSEY: Yeah, that's right, yeah. They've completely taken it over. And the thing about public enterprises is the reason why we are in trouble is because the heavy hand of government control and government bureaucrats and ministers and civil servants. They're not entrepreneurs, so they are not going to be in a situation to bring around any reversal of inefficiencies in public enterprises.
So the IMF really would rather that they let go of all of these controls of public enterprises, but they find it difficult to say so. They do say, for instance, that there are far to many price controls in the place and you've got to admit that this Commerce Commission doesn't have the capacity to go and check on the prices of a thousand items every week and regulate it.
The IMF says that the government is wrong and the Reserve Bank is wrong in trying to lay down credit growth targets for banks, because it can't force banks to lend, when there is a lack of bankable projects in place. And the reason why you have a lack of bankable projects is because the private sector doesn't have the confidence, that the military regime is not going to pass a military decree which says that you can't take your legitimate grievances to court and they have done that in a number of cases, including the well known case of the Pension Fund, with pensioners who signed contracts with the Pension Fund which have now allegedly by military decree been virtually halved and the military decree also says you're not allowed to go to court to challenge these measures.
So there are other places where military decrees have sort of appropriated property. I think there was a case of the foreign investment in the Momi Bay and the company that went belly up in New Zealand and basically the decree said those efforts are going to be taken over by the FNPF.
So the IMF it does say lots and lots of good things. You have to read between the lines to see where the good things are and it also says a lot of very, very worrying things, which are not given prominence in the summaries and the worrying things are all there. If you read the report with a good microscope.
Fiji facing Negative Economic Risks and Regime Must lift restrictions to allow
Transparent and Free Elections - IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called for the military government of Fiji to relax emergency measures in preparation for a promised 2014 election, a rare Fund foray into domestic politics
In its annual report on Fiji's economy, the IMF said its mission team in the country had found the economy needed structural reforms and a "concrete plan" ahead of the first elections since a 2006 military coup.
"Removing structural impediments to growth is critically important. Many of the mission's interlocutors suggested that relaxing the emergency regulation and establishing a clear path toward a 2014 election would be the key measures to boost investor confidence," the report said.
"The current government took power in a 2006 coup, relations with traditional donors are strained, and FDI (foreign direct investment) has dropped sharply, though emerging donors remain engaged and have provided assistance," the IMF added.
"Elections expected for 2009 did not occur, but the government has subsequently announced plans for an election in 2014 and provided an allocation in the 2012 budget for electoral preparations."
IMF comments on domestic politics are rare; the report was approved by the Fund's executive board at the conclusion of the review on January 20.
Fiji's military strongman Voreqe Bainimarama announced on January 2 he would end emergency laws in place since 2009, when a Fiji court ruled his 2006 coup was illegal.
The IMF executive board said in an accompanying statement to the report that Fiji faces a preponderance of negative risks "given political uncertainties, structural weaknesses, and the fragile global economy."
Bainimarama admits the NZ Herald story of his arrest in NZ is at least half true but fails to say which part was true -- his arrest or his sedition charges?
NZ Herald article 'not true'?
February 21, 2012 | Filed under: Fiji News
Fiji's illegal Prime Minister, and self-reinstated Commander RFMF, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama [Pictured] told officers at the week-long police symposium that reports in the New Zealand Herald about moves to arrest him in New Zealand in 2006 were not true.
The NZ Herald published an article written by a former Fiji Sun publisher, Australian Russell Hunter and Oxford-based academic researcher Victor Lal, that former Police Commissioner of Fiji, Andrew Hughes, had called for Commodore Bainimarama's arrest in November 2006.
The article stated that when the Commodore Bainimarama had visited New Zealand for his granddaughter's Christening, Mr Hughes, an Australian, had asked his New Zealand counterpart, Howard Broad, if Commodore Bainimarama had committed any offence under the NZ law, for which he could be arrested.
"Those of you who have read the article (the New Zealand Herald article), half of it is not true," the Prime Minister told the police officers.
According to the article, teams of New Zealand police officers worked over the weekend, and decided that they could charge Commodore Bainimarama with perverting the course of justice in a foreign jurisdiction.
For this, Mr Hughes sent two senior officers, an assistant commissioner and a senior detective, to New Zealand to liaise in the planned arrest.
However, Mr Broad did not go ahead with the planned arrest.
Mr Broad, now retired, told the Weekend Herald in a written statement that he remembered the call from Mr Hughes as well.
"I remember it as a highly unusual request to consider an allegation against the Chief of Defence Force of a neighbouring country's properly constituted Government.
"I remember giving this decision a lot of consideration because it contained complex operational, legal and policy issues. I made the decision but I took a lot of advice. I remain comfortable with it."
He said some aspects of Mr Hughes' explanation did not accord with his recollection but he did not specify what they were.
EU to monitor Fiji and its path to Democracy Story by: William Waqavakatoga
Aid suspension continues as EU to monitor Fiji and its path to Democracy ......
Regime under close watch on Constitutional Process International acceptance of the planned Parliamentary Election's outcome hangs in balance as Bainimarama struggles to win international support six years on.....
With European Union cooperation with Fiji suspended since the 2006 Coup, the EU continues to monitor the country's progress.
European Union Ambassador Head of Delegation Dr Abdoul-Aziz Mbaye said that as Fiji's partner they want to assist the country's plan in returning to democracy.
Dr. Mbaye added that it is an interesting time for Fiji.
Dr Mbaye said that with the constitution process they hope and encourage that all Fijians will participate whereby the EU is a partner that will be there in support and will not interfere as it is up to the people of Fiji to build their own national consensus.
NZ First Leader, Hon Winston Peters, confirms on Radio Australia that Bainimarama was involved in the 2000 Speight Coup
Winston Peters [Pictured] and Russell Hunters interview - 20 Feb 2012
An article in the New Zealand Herald over the weekend suggests that New Zealand had the opportunity to prevent the 2006 coup in Fiji but let it pass.
The lead up to the coup in 2006 was a long and very public one.
Commodore Bainimarama made no secret of the fact that he was unhappy with the then Prime Minister, Laiesenia Qarase and the SDL party and unless he stepped down the military would take over.
The article "New Zealand foiled Fiji police commissioner's request to arrest Bainimarama in Wellington resulting in 2006 coup" is the prelude to a book expected to be released in two months time.
Speaker:Russell Hunter, former CEO of Fiji Sun and first publisher to be deported from Fiji, and Leader of New Zealand First Party Winston Peters
· Listen: Windows Media
HUNTER: What you're suggesting that there was more to this. Commodore Bainimarama was aware that the Fiji police wanted to arrest him on a charge of sedition, but couldn't get close enough, because he was permanently surrounded by heavily-armed bodyguards. At the same time, the Fiji police were also closing in on the murders of the CRW, Counter Revolutionary Warfare soldiers that followed the mutiny of 2000. To say that the Commodore was a suspect is quite wrong, but he was very high on the list of persons of interest and we do know that he had evaded at least two invitations from Police Commissioner, Andrew Hughes, for a non-caution interview, just a chat as Andrew Hughes put it. So there was also pressure on the Commodore and if any further incentive were needed for this coup, then there it was. If he had not acted when he did, he would very likely have gone to jail, so there were all these factors in play at the time.
COUTTS: OK, none of this has been born out.
Mr. Peters to you now, a direct quote from the article says that had Bainimarama been arrested in New Zealand, the Fiji military would have been unable and unwilling to proceed with the removal of the Qarase government. You were the then foreign minister. What's your account of it, is that correct?
PETERS: Well, the fact is that these are statements being made now, but if you look at the substance of it, there was never going to be any action of that type out of New Zealand, because there was no law to bring such an action about in New Zealand. The very idea of arresting somebody in New Zealand because of events in Fiji without any international protocol would have been an extraordinary irresponsible act for a country like New Zealand or Australia, for that matter to endure and I'm aware of the comments and suggestions and the planning of ideas, but it was never going to be a goer.
COUTTS: Russell Hunter back to you now. You suggest that there's Wikileaks information to support your claim?
HUNTER: Yes, there was. Well, I don't know that it supports any claim, but certainly there was at least one leaked cable that indicated that New Zealand Foreign Affairs. I suggest this was the Civil Service not the body politic.
The foreign affairs view was that there was next to no hope of a political or diplomatic settlement in Fiji.
COUTTS: And is that your account of it to Mr. Peters?
PETERS: Oh look, this is a bit more complex than it seems from the comments or views that appear in various, well diplomatic or international papers.
Remember, Bainimarama was involved way back at the time of Speight, not in a way that he seems he is painted as an angel for democracy. I think there's far more information to suggest that he was himself partly involved in it and there may have been a switch later. And then you come forward to Australian head of police, Hughes, making suggestion to our head of police, a man called Howard Broad, that such an arrest should be taking place. At the diplomatic level, they were told very clearly from the foreign affairs, New Zealand's point of view or foreign affairs was told we are not getting involved in such a serious issue without any international merit, without any international precedent to that. The fact is, of course, there had already been three coups before that, and it was very clear then and with retrospect from my meetings that Bainimarama was hell bent on doing this regardless.
COUTTS: And Mr. Peters, just sticking with you for the moment. Wouldn't an international incident being one of the allegations that Mr. Hughes and his family were threatened and had to do a midnight flit. They left the country in a hurry. Wouldn't that have been a trigger for the arrests?
PETERS: No, of course not. I mean the fact is this is an internal Fiji circumstance. We're very much aware of the fact that Hughes had to flee the country and his family, we could see why. If you are facing up to a coup at any moment, then the likely consequences of what would happen to the Commissioner were very, very clear, given that when he says bring Bainimarama in for a chat, that wasn't the intention. Bring Bainimarama into arrest him was what the intention would have been. Now that's all within the per view of Fijian politics, but it's not within the per view of New Zealand or international politics in the way that say these Wikileaks or these other documents might be painting them.
COUTTS: Russell Hunter, you also say in this article quoting again directly "Mr. Hughes, with permission from New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, the then prime minister Helen Clark accompanied Mr Qarase on a flight". He had already sent two senior officers, an assistant commissioner and a prominent detective to Wellington to liaise in the planned arrest. So it did get that far?
HUNTER: Oh yeah, according to Andrew Hughes it did and it's important to, to remember that again according to Mr. Hughes there was an offence in New Zealand for Commodore Bainimarama to answer. This is what the whole thing was based on that he had committed an offence in New Zealand and could be arrested. Again, according to Mr. Hughes there was at first agreement that this would happen and two teams from each force worked over a weekend to establish the fact that there was a case to answer and the exact chain of events after that is less than clear. But what we do know is that Mr. Broad eventually said no, we're not going ahead with this.
COUTTS: And on that point, he did have a change of heart. Can you shed any light on that Mr. Peters as to why Mr. Broad did change his mind?
PETERS: In regards to this issue, he might have been head of the police, but this is an international matter at that point in time and I did not believe for a moment that either Helen Clark or anybody else in New Zealand would have thought this was New Zealand politics that were in the government would have thought that this was a course of action that could have been taken. But they may have been talking about it from the view of these are options we might like to present for the government, but they had and would have got I believe no authority to even to put them into place. Because if you look at and the Pacific context, this was a serious, serious departure from sound international relations and the sort of relations are very important to New Zealand.
COUTTS: It was agreed according to your article Russell Hunter that there was a case to answer on a sedition charge. What do you really know about it though, because Mr. Broad has now retired, refusing to comment citing secrecy laws and Andrew Hughes himself has also remained silent?
HUNTER: Mmm. No, it wasn't a sedition charge. The charge they were contemplating was perverting the course of justice in a foreign jurisdiction. This was in relation to remarks that Commodore Bainimarama had made in New Zealand referring to his investigation for sedition. Andrew Hughes has told us that he at first was satisfied that there was a case to answer and that again, according to him, both forces were convinced that an arrest could, at least theoretically be made. When Mr. Broad who did actually comment to the New Zealand Herald in the end, saying that he was quite comfortable with his decision, but when he got back to Andrew Hughes to say well, this is not going to happen. Foreign affairs prefers a political solution, Andrew Hughes said he argues as hard as he could that this was purely a police matter. It was not a decision for foreign affairs to make.
Now there the trail goes cold. We don't really know what happened after that.
COUTTS: And Mr. Peters, is that your account of it as well, not much is known following that?
PETERS: Well, I think more was known than we're hearing now. But the fact is that the law upon which you would base any such interventions, that is the arrest of Bainimarama in New Zealand simply does not in the context that you've just heard exist. So on what basis would we be acting, that somebody wasn't potentially wasn't involved in sedition in a foreign land. Fiji is an independent country and this is extraordinary that the Australian policeman and I thought so at the time that the head of the Australian head of the Fijian police seemed to have a pretty raw understanding of where the boundaries were and this is a very clear example of it,
COUTTS: And Russell Hunter, do you agree?
HUNTER: Not entirely. I can see where Mr. Peters is coming from. It would have been in my personal view a very dramatic step for New Zealand to take. But both sets of police seem to have been convinced at least at one stage, that there was a case to answer in New Zealand and not in Fiji, in New Zealand.
COUTTS: OK. Just finally then Russell Hunter, you're sticking with your article and the coup of 2006 could have been prevented?
HUNTER: Oh yes, it could have been, yes.
COUTTS: And Mr. Peters, do you agree it could have been prevented?
PETERS: Well look, if you were to look at other options, for example, a more responsible military in Fiji, a range of leadership issues, but with hindsight one may not be able to use that defence of the chieftainship system in Fiji itself. There are a lot of things you could say, but basing it on the so-called intervention of New Zealand police, with respect to potential sedition offences in Fiji seems to me to have been an extraordinary based on which you make up this claim.
7 dead in Fiji Flood Health Crisis but Government refuses to declare health emergency to save face!
Cawaki warns Ministry of Health 08:41 Today
Commissioner Western Commander Joeli Cawaki [pictured] has issued a warning to the Ministry of Health that he will place a Public Health Emergency in the Western Division, if the ministry continues to ignore his recommendation.
Cawaki wants the ban to be placed on flood affected areas with the increasing number of deaths related to communicable diseases.
I -Taukei Desk Editor Apisalome Coka reports.
_"The Commissioner Western has raised concerns on the Ministry of Health in delaying the implementation of bans in the western division that have been affected by the three deadly diseases – leptospirosis, dengue and typhoid fever.
Commander Cawaki says the Ministry of Health spokesperson Peni Namotu had stated they have not reached the numbers in which they will implement the ban.
Cawaki says the number of deaths has increased to seven and this is a concern to them.
He says the three killer diseases will spread if bans are not implemented. Cawaki told FBC News last night if the Ministry will not take their recommendation seriously they will implement the ban themselves"._
Dictator Bainimarama was facing a sedition charge in 2006 and Police Commissioner Hughes attempted to get him arrested in NZ – Howard Broad former NZ police commissioner confirms the missed opportunity
Fiji police chief tried to get Bainimarama [pictured] arrested in NZ By Russell Hunter and Victor Lal
Fiji's chief of police made a private call to his New Zealand counterpart urging him to arrest Commodore Frank Bainimarama a few weeks before the military leader seized power in a coup in December 2006.
It was reported at the time that a request had been made through Interpol and rejected by the New Zealand Government but only now can details from behind the scenes be revealed.
In November 2006 then Police Commissioner Howard Broad took the call from his Fiji counterpart Andrew Hughes, an Australian, who wanted to know if Commodore Bainimarama had committed any offence under New Zealand law for which he could be arrested.
Teams of police officers from both forces worked over a weekend and agreed the future dictator could be charged in New Zealand with perverting the course of justice in a foreign jurisdiction.
The planned charge related to remarks made by Commodore Bainimarama in New Zealand regarding an investigation into his alleged sedition in Fiji.
Mr Hughes sent two senior officers – an assistant commissioner and a senior detective – to New Zealand to liaise in the planned arrest.
"Then Howard Broad had a change of heart," said Mr Hughes. "He said New Zealand Foreign Affairs preferred a political solution.
"I argued it was his decision as Police Commissioner as to who should be charged in New Zealand."
At the time Commodore Bainimarama was in New Zealand for his granddaughter's christening and the Foreign Minister at the time, Winston Peters, had taken the opportunity to broker talks between him and elected Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase aimed at diverting Fiji's lurch towards a military takeover.
A day later, Mr Hughes received a call from Mr Broad.
"He sought my assurance that no NZ citizen would be endangered in Fiji as result of an arrest," said Mr Hughes.
"Of course I would do all in my power to protect all the people in Fiji but a blanket assurance of that kind was not possible. It would be like me asking him for a similar assurance covering all Fiji people in New Zealand. It wasn't possible to give him that.
"In the end, Mr Broad told me, 'Well, we're not going to arrest him."'
Mr Broad, now retired, told the Weekend Herald yesterday in a written statement that he remembered the call well.
In Suva, the Fiji police force had been awaiting an opportunity to arrest the commodore on the sedition charge but were unable to penetrate his heavily armed personal security detail – rarely less than 12-strong at any given time.
"I had earlier taken a brief of evidence to the DPP," said Mr Hughes, "and it was agreed that there was a case to answer on a sedition charge.
"We wanted to arrest and charge Commodore Bainimarama but he was permanently covered by heavy security. I was very keen to avoid an armed confrontation between the police and the military. So we waited."
As Prime Minister Qarase waited at Suva's Nausori airport to board a New Zealand Air Force VIP jet to take him to the Peters-brokered talks in Wellington, he was surprised to be joined by Mr Hughes, who then explained that the arrest plan was unlikely to come to fruition. Mr Qarase was shocked.
The Fiji Police Commissioner boarded the flight and in Wellington he met a deputy secretary for foreign affairs but was again told the New Zealand Government's position was that a political or diplomatic solution was preferred.
Aware that the police were ready to arrest him in Suva, Commodore Bainimarama had made it one of his many conditions for any settlement that the police commissioner would have to go.
Mr Hughes had, a week previously, sent his wife and sons to Australia having received credible information that they could be targeted by a military snatch squad.
In Wellington, he sought consular advice which was that he should not return to Fiji. He never did.
Mr Hughes also considered the safety of his own loyal officers who would try to protect him from military arrest.
The 2006 coup was the commodore's fourth attempt.
In 2000 during the negotiations that ended the Speight hostage crisis he suggested that the military should run the country for up to 50 years but Speight – and the president – would have none of it. In 2004 and again in 2005 he planned to take over the Government but his senior officers refused to commit treason.
All were sacked.
By December 2006 it was now or never for Commodore Bainimarama. It was widely agreed amongst informed observers of the events of 2006 in Fiji, including the diplomatic community, that without Commodore Bainimarama the RFMF would be rudderless.
Had Commodore Bainimarama been arrested in New Zealand the Fiji military would have been unable and unwilling to proceed with the removal of the Qarase Government.
The then US ambassador to Fiji, Larry Dinger, summed it up when he told his masters in Washington in a cable leaked by WikiLeaks regarding the New Zealand arrest plan.
"Being passive with bullies only encourages them. An arrest abroad might be the only way to enforce a criminal charge and remove the Bainimarama thorn," he reported.
Labour's foreign affairs spokesman Phil Goff, who did not deal with the issue, could not confirm Mr Hughes' account.
However, he could understand why no arrest was made, saying such a course of action would mean a country lost its credibility as a mediator for dealing with crises.
"I scarcely think you were going to lure a person here under false pretences only to arrest him. That would be seen as an ambush and bad faith and it wouldn't have resolved the situation within Fiji. "
Russell Hunter is former editor in chief of the Fiji Sun and was deported from Fiji in 2008. Victor Lal is an Oxford-based academic researcher and is a former Fiji journalist and human rights activist.
Flood aftermath -- Diseases Claim 4 lives but regime downplays the crisis
Two dead
Repeka Nasiko, Saturday, February 18, 2012
TWO women from Ba have succumbed to leptospirosis, bringing to four the number of confirmed dead from illnesses as a result of the floods.
Also in critical condition and admitted to the Lautoka Hospital's Intensive Care Unit is a 10-year-old infected with dengue fever.
Commissioner Western Commander Joeli Cawaki said he was aware of the deaths and maintained the need for restriction of movement, drinking kava and mass gatherings in flood-affected areas.
He said these controls need to be put in place to prevent further deaths.
Yesterday afternoon Health Ministry spokesman Peni Namotu said a decision on Cdr Cawaki's proposal would be made known today.
The latest known deaths are of Ivamere Lewavuga, 24, a teacher from Vatulaulau Village. She died on February 12 while Ulamila Savui, 54, of Natawarau settlement died the next day at the Lautoka Hospital.
Ms Savui's nephew, Eparama Ravutakala, said his aunt was healthy when she visited them in Suva before the floods three weeks ago.
He said she left his home in Suva and returned to Ba in the midst of the heavy downpour throughout the Western Division.
He said shortly after the flood, Ms Savui started to develop a fever which remained for about a week.
The Naviti villager from Yasawa was then rushed to Lautoka Hospital where she was immediately admitted.
Mr Ravutakala said he received the news of her death in the early hours of Monday morning.
He said Ms Lewavuga lived with her sister at the settlement which was one of the many places submerged during the floods.
He said some residents used water from a catchment located not far from the area.
Since his arrival at the village for the funeral of his aunt, Mr Ravutakala said the settlement was still filthy and that the smell of animal waste was strong.
Ms Savui will be buried at Nailaga Village today.
The second victim, Ivamere Lewavuga, was buried at Vatulaulau Village on Thursday.
There have also been two deaths from dengue fever ù one of a 28-year-old mother of one and a 16-year-old girl.
So far, more than 50 cases of communicable diseases have been confirmed in flood-affected.
210% increase in debt expense!
Bainimarama leaves behind a legacy of Debt Expense beyond Fiji's means!
This explains why the Auditor General's Report, from 2007, has been suspended from being made public. Over borrowing has seen the interest component of government expense increase by a staggering 210%.
Public Health Near Collapse!
Deadly diseases going untreated in Fiji: WHO
Doctors in Fiji are concerned about an outbreak of waterborne diseases following recent flooding. [ABC]
AUDIO from Pacific Beat Dr Jacob Kool, from the World Health Organisation in Fiji, speaks to Pacific Beat. Created: Fri, 17 Feb 23:24:11 UTC+1300 2012
Waterborne diseases are going untreated in Fiji because doctors are failing to identify symptoms correctly, health authorities have warned.
Dr Jacob Kool, from the World Health Organisation's communicable diseases unit in Fiji, said some doctors were confusing leptospirosis with the common flu.
Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal bacterial disease, which can infect humans through direct contact with the urine of infected animals. The bacteria enter the body through cuts or abrasions on the skin.
"Most of the cases look like a flu-like illness; people have a fever, some body pain, but not much else," Dr Kool told Pacific Beat.
"But it can progress to much more severe symptoms like pulmonary haemorrhage, coughing up blood, or damage to liver and kidneys. It can be deadly."
Fiji's Ministry of Health has confirmed 16 cases of leptospirosis, 14 cases of typhoid and 23 cases of dengue fever.
One woman has died of dengue fever in the last week.
The WHO has urged anyone experiencing fever to see a doctor
Spin cannot hide the tyranny and deception of Fiji's dictatorship
The Dominion Post 10 Feb 2012
90% Reject Bainimarama Infrastracture Performance Source: www.Fijilive.com
An independent Fijilive Poll reveals shocking results for Baini-khaiyum illegal junta. In the past five years, despite spending over $2 billion on capital projects, 90% of the Fiji people say the roads are in worst state ever.
The question remains, what has Khaiyums buddy company Neim Constructions acheived in the last five years? Absolutely zero improvement.
Australian Aid increases to $2.3m while junta's Chineese connection fails to assist
The Australian Government provides an additional $1.8 million for flood recovery assistance while the junta's Chinese connections only talk's of assistance. The New Zealand government has also been donating relief packages to those affected during the recent floods ever since the government sought help. Sa vinaka vaka levu Australia and New Zealand.
Fiji Soldiers to be replaced in all UN missions
– just days after Kaiyum alleged UN of political bias. A Heavy Price to Pay for Kaiyum's ambitions to rule Fiji forever.
Bainimarama decree 'bizarre', says expert
A Fiji interim government decree giving ministers immunity from prosecution over what they say professional and personally, has been criticised by a constitutional law expert.
Professor Bill Hodge, from Auckland University's Law faculty, says the State Proceedings Amendment Decree turns the concept of parliamentary privilege on it's head.
The coup installed military regime in Suva says the decree extends protection against prosecution for reporting minister's statements to the media, and is intended to facilitate open and frank discussion between government, the public and other stakeholders in the lead up to Fiji's parliamentary elections in 2014.
The interim government says the decree is consistent with law about parliamentary privilege in Commonwealth countries, but Professor Hodge told Pacific Beat's Bruce Hill, that's simply not true.
"First of all it's a decredd that purports to change fundamental rights and one wold think that can only be done by statute," Professor Hodge said.
"To say that it is consistant with parliamentary privledge is totally beserk, bananas, bizarre.
"Parliamentary privledge is designed to protect MPs in the house proceeding in parliament, not to protect executives in their personal capacity".
Professor Hodge said the decree fails the very basic requirements of constitutional law.
"I've never seen anything like this in any parliamentary system porporting to be under the heading of parliamentary privledge".
Source: http://fijitoday.wordpress.com/
NZ Military Bans its Members from Visiting Fiji
NZ Military, Navy and Airforce bans members fr0m visiting Fiji due to the state of lawlessness and complete breakdown in rule of law as confirmed by the NZ law Society...
Defence Force staff stick to Fiji holiday policy
DANYA LEVY
Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says he will look into suggestions that personnel have been encouraged to list their occupations as public servants when they visit Fiji on holiday.
"I'll be mentioning it when I meet with officials in my regular meeting," he told reporters at Parliament.
"Obviously there's issues around visiting Fiji for New Zealand government personnel."
It was a matter for the Defence Force to comment on, Coleman said.
"I don't know if that is the case or not because I haven't seen what they have actually written on those forms and don't know what volume it is happening in."
The Defence Force had a policy around personnel travelling to Fiji on holiday in place since 2009, a Defence Force spokesman said.
"This was a response to the Defence Force's assessment that there was potentially an increasing risk to the personal safety of New Zealand Defence Force people travelling to Fiji."
The policy allowed all personnel, except more senior ranks, to travel to Fiji on personal business. "For Service personnel wishing to travel to Fiji on personal business, they must request approval prior to travel to allow their itinerary details to be recorded and for a security briefing to be given to them."
In the past year, about 40 Defence Force personnel holidayed in Fiji, he said.
Any personnel wishing to travel to Fiji on Defence Force-related business required prior approval of the Chief of Defence Force, and none had sought such approval, the spokesman said.
Immunity Decree comes into effect
UN Technical Mission please note that Khai-yum grants illegal government immunity from civil liability while other leaders have been gagged with the Public Order Decree. Only Khaiyum and his puppet regime have the freedom to make wild allegations against leaders without any legal ramification.
Publish date/time: 08/02/2012 [08:02]
A new State Proceedings Amendment Decree has come in force from last night which provides that no media organization can be held liable for publication of statements, whether verbal or written, made by the Prime Minister or any Minister of Government, whether in their official or personal capacity.
A government statement said the decree is consistent with the Parliamentary Privilege as was applicable in Fiji and which is applicable in countries throughout the Commonwealth.
However this goes further by protecting media organizations.
The government said the law is intended to facilitate open and frank discussions between the government, the public and stakeholders in the lead up to Fiji's parliamentary elections.
The decree will expire upon the date when a new parliament is convened which will have its usual privileges for statements made by parliamentarians.
Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislator.
It is common in countries whose constitutions are based on the Westminster system. A similar mechanism is known as parliamentary immunity.
This allows members to speak freely during ordinary parliamentary proceedings without fear of legal action on the grounds of slander or contempt of court.
K-yum alleges UN of Political Bias
Fiji's Number one Hypocrite Kai-yum alleges UN is politically biased. Kai-yum should first look at the record set by Bainimarama's junta for bias, lies, deceit and stupidity.
Govt accepts UN offer of assessment preparation for fair elections
The Fiji Government today accepted an offer from the United Nations to send a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) to Fiji ahead of the planned Parliamentary elections.
Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum stipulated that the composition of the mission must be politically neutral and unbiased with regard to Fiji, so it can provide an objective technical needs assessment for Fiji to conduct free and fair elections.
The NAM, which will be conducted by the Electoral Assistance Division of the UN Secretariat in New York, is slated to take place in early March.
It will provide technical assessment of Fiji's needs, such as ballot boxes, staffing and logistical preparation, among other considerations.
The move follows the Fijian Government's recent selection of the Canadian firm CODE Inc as Fiji's vendor for electronic voter registration.
Story by: Filipe Naikaso
[Source: MINFO THE NYMPHO]
New DPP Pryde's office NOT independent
The new Fiji DPP Christopher Pryde needs to disclose what happened in the Fraud Case No. CID/HQ/PEP/128/2010 of a prominent hotelier and coup supporter!! What is the status of this file?
Bainimarama directed that the YP Reddy file be stopped from progressing to Court! We will shortly publish documents relating to this fraud case .
LAW TALK OUSTS FIJI
February 5, 2012 | Filed under: Fiji News | Posted by: newsroom Source: Ministry of Information
The New Zealand Law Society (NZLS) has refused to allow the Fijian Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to advertise legal positions (vacancies) in its magazine, Law Talk.An email to the Office of the DPP on Friday said: "The New Zealand Law Society Board has decided unanimously that the NZLS will not accept advertisements for legal positions in Fiji under the current interim military regime".
Fiji's Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde, said it was unfortunate that the NZLS was involving itself in politics and preventing New Zealand lawyers from hearing about job vacancies in Fiji.
He said: "It is unfortunate that New Zealand lawyers are being denied the opportunity to decide for themselves whether they wish to take up legal positions in Fiji. By refusing to allow us the right to advertise, the NZLS is effectively censoring what New Zealand lawyers know about Fiji."
The Office of the DPP is an independent office and the DPP has the sole responsibility for criminal prosecutions in Fiji. This is without recourse to any Government minister, including the Attorney-General. The Office in that regard is non-political. This is a lie.
Mr Pryde said he remained concerned that the NZLS continued to have an inaccurate picture of the Fijian situation, in particular of the judiciary and the courts.
"People charged with offences by Police need to be prosecuted through the courts. What shall we do with people charged with rape or robbery or murder? Send them to New Zealand?" Mr Pryde said.
"My invitation to the NZLS still stands. They are welcome to visit Fiji and meet and talk to anyone without restriction so that they can obtain for themselves a first-hand appraisal of things in Fiji. In the meantime, we would appreciate the NZLS allowing lawyers to decide things for themselves and allow us the right to advertise," he said.
Bainimarama and K-yum's Lies Continue
Government starts Constitution awareness. Thursday, February 02, 2012
[Pictured: Arrogant Bainimarama who threatened Fiji's rightful PM to renew his contract as Commander RFMF]
The Government has embarked on a programme to educate all Fijians about the new Constitution and is first targeting the urban population. However, we have reliable information stating that the "new constitution" has already been drafted by the pig face K-yum and his bunch of crooks.
According to Kisoko Cagituivei of the Prime Minister's Office, teams have started visiting areas in the Suva-Nausori corridor beginning in Lami, 1st February.
Kisoko told FBC News it's the wish of the Government that the new Constitution is a home grown one – meaning that all Fijians participate in its preparation.
He says the teams are telling the people what the Government is doing and advising them that the new Constitution will be a people's document.
Cagituivei says a villager suggested in the meeting held last night that the National Charter be an integral part of the new Constitution instead of being a political document like the previous ones.
2012 - Fiji economy bleak!
It is a fact that the Dictator's five successive budgets growth target of 5% GDP growth was achieved,... BUT in the reverse NEGATIVE growth from 2007 to 2011 – 2012. This is no different to what was confirmed by RBF yesterday! Friday, February 03, 2012. [Picture: Reserve Bank of Fiji]
Wasted Court time, money and personal suffering!
FICAC discontinues proceedings against FRCA Legal Officer. Publish date/time: 02/02/2012 [17:30]
"nolle prosequi" was entered today in court by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption to discontinue proceedings against Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority Legal Officer Faranisese Gavidi.
Vinsent Perera who appeared for FICAC, informed Justice Salesi Temo that after giving due consideration to the representations made by the Defence Counsel, FICAC had decided to enter a Nolle Prosequi thus discontinuing proceedings against Gavidi without delay.
Aca Rayawa who appeared for Gavidi was impressed with the way FICAC conducted itself today.
He acknowledged the Deputy Commissioner and the prosecutions young and robust team for considering the representations he had made on behalf of his client.
35,000 starving while Khaiyum Flirts!
Story by: Sofaia Koroitanoa and Vijay Narayan, Publish date/time: 02/02/2012 [13:12]
Authorities are now advising people to contact Commissioner Western's Office on telephone number 666 0158 or their nearest district office if they are in desperate need of daily food rations after the recent floods.
Meanwhile K-yum flirts with girls and is not bothered by the 35,000 starving people. [Picture: K-yum & bimbo]
Fijivillage has been receiving calls from areas like Bangladesh Settlement, Talaiya, Mataniqara, Voroko Cemetary Road in Ba and Drasa in Lautoka that they have not received any food assistance and they are finding great difficulties.
Residents from some of these areas say that they have seen some officials but they have not received any assistance. The people in these areas are some of the worst of the worst affected who do not have formal employment, have lost all their crops and most of their belongings.
One of the residents of Talaiya, Ba, Saimun Nisha hopes that assistance is on the way. There is an audio file attached to this story. Please login to listen.
Initial assessments indicate that thirty five thousand people are in need of daily food rations in the Western division however officials are now trying to determine how many people actually need the daily food packs.
Provincial Development and National Disaster Management Permanent Secretary Colonel Inia Seruiratu said they are trying their best to assist all the affected people.
This morning, Colonel Seriuratu received a cheque of $5,000 from Home Finance Company Limited for the Prime Minister's Flood Relief Fund.
Bainimarama threatens Namosi Land Owners!
The dictator Bainimarama threatens Namosi Land Owners with the military. Ratu Tevita Mara. January 2012
A source from the PM's office in Fiji has revealed to me the details of the meeting that took place between the illegal ruler of Fiji and the Land owners of Namosi.
In his opening address the illegal self appointed Prime Minister threatened the Land owners saying "The last thing I want to see is this situation prolonged and having to send the military up there to sort it out".
Bainimarama had announced to the country, when he was on his last overseas jaunt, that he would take over the negotiations between the land owners and the Newcrest Joint Venture Company. We now know why. If any one else handled the negotiations then the Land owners would most likely get their way and deprive Bainimarama and K-yum of their big mining payoff.
This is not negotiating as we know it. This is negotiating Dictator Style! In this case the dictator tells the rightful landowners of Namosi that they have no say in the future of their province, because Bainimarama and his soldiers call all the shots. This is hard evidence that Fiji is ruled by the power of the gun.
My source sent me the following quote by Bainimarama, "Dou ciqoma na veivakatorocaketaki e kauta tiko yani na matanitu, ena kalougata kina na nomudou vanua, vakavure cakacaka kei vakaduri bisinisi eso. Kena toso tiko ga na vakaduduile e sana keitou sana muri tale edua na gaunisala kaukauwa na matanitu. Nai otioti ni ka au via raica ke mani toso tikoga na leqa oqo keitou sana vakaqiqica yani e cake qori na mataivalu."
The English translation is, You people accept development this Regime is bringing to your province, your province will be blessed by it, and it will bring employment and business as well. If you continue with your in-differences against this regime, we will take a harder approach. The last thing I want to see is this situation prolonged and having to send the military up their to sort it out.
The land owners have nowhere to turn. The Government spin doctor Sharon Smith Johns is trying to portray Bainimarama as the saviour of the Fijian people. He isn't their saviour but she is trying to tell everyone that he is the only prime minister who has ever worried about their development and invested in infrastructure in rural areas. This is patently not true and here in a closed meeting we learn the true colours of the dictator who is telling the landowners to "Do as I say and I will give you things or don't do as I say and I will give you a bullet."
Bainimarama does not believe in land owners' rights in Namosi. His puppet master K-yum has convinced him that all minerals belong to the government and so the regime can do what it wants and to hell with the Namosi Landowners.
This is a very difficult situation for the Namosi Land owners. How do they save their province, their fields, their rivers and their way of life? If they try, then it means going against the dictator Bainimarama. They could end being shot for their troubles.
What does this situation say for the constitutional discussions that are supposed to happen this year. What happens when a participant pushes for something the dictator does not want? It is most likely that Bainimarama will use the same negotiating tactic where you either shut up or he will send the military to pick you up and take you to the camp to be beaten up!
People of Fiji know too well that there will be no free and fair elections in 2014. We have also seen, in late December 2011 and early January 2012, how the dictator manipulated a simple popularity poll to ensure he is the winner. If he does not get the right result then he will use government backed institutions to punish the "guilty".
We also see here how Bainimarama negotiates and dictates an outcome. It will be the same in 2014. The negotiated constitution will be so one sided in his favour that the result is a foregone conclusion.
And if by chance the result goes against Bainimarama then he will simply take over the country with the military once again.
Fiji weather: situation update
[Click on Fullscreen at the top of the document for a larger view]
China pays lip service for Fiji Flood Aid
While New Zealand and Australia with the UK and US are already pitching in to help in real dollars...China, at best can offer words but no cash...
China ready to help Fiji with flood relief
January 30, 2012 | Filed under: Fiji News | Posted by: newsroom
By SITERI SAUVAKACOLO
China is ready to help Fiji repair the damage caused by the floods that devastated the Western Division last week.
Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Huang Yong made the revelation during the Fiji Chinese Federation of Commerce and Industry lunch and Chinese New Year celebrations held at the China Club in Suva yesterday.
Mr Yong told the business community that he had received confirmation from the Chinese government of their intentions to assist Fiji in terms of rehabilitation and relief.
This, he said was part of the strengthened relationship the two countries have in common, adding that China was always ready to help Fiji in such areas.
Meanwhile, an association aiming to strengthen the friendship between the two countries will be officially launched by the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama next week.
Minister for Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni, who was chief guest at the lunch, said the association which was the first of its kind, would further strengthen relationship between the two countries.
The association is called the Fiji – China Friendship Association and was established to strengthen and enhance the relationship and friendship between the two countries.
This is in terms of trade, business, education and employment and the fact that Chinese have done so much for the country.
The launch will be held at the Civic Centre in Suva on Friday.
A large number of the Fiji Chinese business community gathered at the China Club to celebrate the Year of the Dragon as part of their Chinese New Year celebrations
PR mouthpiece Qorvis attempted to gag NZ media!
Posted at 01:41 on 30 January, 2012 UTC
The Prime Minister of Samoa stands by his claim that there is no chance a general election will go ahead in Fiji in 2014.
A public relations firm hired by the regime, Qorvis, has complained to Radio New Zealand International about its reporting of Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi's comments, saying the story was false and slanderous.
Fiji's interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, reneged on a 2007 promise to hold elections in 2009, but has said since that elections will go ahead in 2014.
Tuilaepa says Commodore Bainimarama has taken no credible action to give the international community assurance that an election will take place.
"Instead he has recruited army people to occupy the administration's ministries, he has again put in orders which restricted further freedom of expression, and he has done nothing to prepare the nation for general elections."Prime Minister Tuilaepa says Qorvis' criticisms of his comments should be put into context.
Meanwhile, the interim Fiji government has selected a Canadian firm to conduct electronic voter registration in the country.
650 new teachers without work
Six hundred and fifty new teacher graduates are without jobs this year in Fiji says Permanent Secretary for Education Dr Brij Lal.
Speaking to FijiLive Dr Lal said out of the 800 new graduates only 150 new teachers were able to get posted because there are not enough posts and schools available.
However Minister for Education Filipe Bole said not every graduate with a degree or diploma can automatically be posted into schools because there are other procedures to be followed.
"New graduates have to pay fees and be registered first as teachers before everything can be finalised," he said.
Meanwhile, a new teacher graduate from the Fiji National University, Vakamoce Beitaki in an interview with FijiLive said the ministry had informed them before Christmas last year that the system was down and they had to wait for their posting.
Beitaki said some of the new graduates have already registered but are still awaiting posting.
She said the only thing they can do now is wait.
By Mereani Gonedua
K-yum's Hypocracy January 2012
2001 - defends constitution
2012 - condemns constitution
Last week, Khaiyum bitterly critised the 1997 Constitution in Radio New Zealand interview.
However, consider the letter below from him in 2001 when he defended the same constitution against the Muslim league.
Letter: Critique of FML decision to make submission to Constitution Commission
by A S Khaiyum
(Letter from A S Khaiyum)
The claim by some executive members of the Fiji Muslim League ('League') that Muslims support a review of our Constitution and demand separate seats merely because the executive says so is a gross misrepresentation of the views of the everyday and majority of Muslims in our country.
The executive lack the mandate to speak as a representative body for Muslims since the League has been and is essentially an administrative institution managing and maintaining mosques, schools, orphanages, a sugar cane farm and real estate.
In addition to the lack of mandate the arguments and justifications espoused by the executive for a review and separate seats are flawed. They are flawed because our Constitution, in particular the Bill of Rights, namely sections 38(2) and 35 more than adequately guarantee and protect religious freedom and minority rights. Indeed if an almost identical South African Bill of Rights provision protects the rights of the minority South African Muslims then what is so special about and differentiates Muslims in Fiji?
On the basis that last century the then nascent League made submissions on separate seats, it is argued today that so called Muslim rights will be achieved if these seats as submitted then are allocated now. To refer to a resolution passed some seventy years ago, in an era with its own specificities and dynamics, as justification for separate seats in today's Fiji illustrates a complete ignorance and denial of our political, social and constitutional history/experience as a nation-state.
Indeed if we were to hark back and uphold the standards of 1929 then commoner indigenous Fijians and women would not have the right to vote. Fiji and the rest of the world have moved along. Clearly such absurd referrals to the past illustrate an enormous vacuum in basic critical thinking and analysis, discourse and a general prevalence of obscurantism within the executive.
Furthermore, it aptly demonstrates a complete ignorance of contemporary developments in and interpretations of Islamic law and jurisprudence vis-a-vis constitutional, human rights and international law and conventions. More tragically, however, the opportunism of the executive displays the absence of and lack of belief in justice, compassion, selflessness and basic human decency.
Most Muslims in Fiji know that certain officials treat the League and its branches as their own little fiefdoms. Fiefdoms, where nepotism is known to be rampant at most times; where certain families and individuals have reigned as executives literally for decades; where children and families of well-to-do officials benefit from scholarships which were and are meant for poor students; where chairs of numerous committees are held by single individuals; where businessmen and business interests are over represented; where women,the youth, various provinces and other denominations are either underrepresented or not represented at all; where appeals to religious dogma and unity are utilized in response to queries of administrative/financial discrepancies and where certain individuals view the League merely as a means to acquire access to power, influence and ultimately money - all under the guise of "protecting Muslim interests."
Indeed the absence of proper representation, transparency, accountability and ultimately legitimacy also plague other local institutions in contemporary Fiji.
The executive of the League cannot and does not represent the political opinion, views, philosophies of individuals or the bulk of Muslims in Fiji. These self appointed guardians do not speak for the masses. Therefore, the current administration and all Fiji Islanders must understand and recognize the majority of Muslims who believe in basic human decency, justice, democracy and constitutionalism reject the idea of separate seats and/or a review of our Constitution.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
sayedkha@hkusua.hku.hk
Samoa PM says no Fiji elections in 2014
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has described the military regime's promises of an election in two years time as a pipe dream. I pray he is wrong.
The Prime Minister of Samoa has vigorously attacked Fiji's interim government, saying there no chance a general election will go ahead in Fiji in 2014.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has described the military regime's promises of an election in two years time as a pipe dream.
He says the regime's empty promises create deception and false hope among Fiji citizens and the international community.
Concerns have been raised about the militarisation of Fiji's public service, a situation Samoa's leader describes as unqualified army colonels occupying top-level positions.
While comparing the iron will of Samoan people to the situation in Fiji, Tuilaepa warns that Fiji could soon experience the Pacific version of the Arab Spring.
He says one cannot suppress people indefinitely because people power is mightier than guns.
Tuilaepa says if what is happening in Fiji occurred in Samoa, 100,000 people would march from the mountains, plantations and countryside into the streets of Apia – old women armed with brooms included.
Source: Fiji Today
A sign of the 2014 election fraud to come
A taste of what can be expected in the upcoming 2014 elections [if it happens] and how Bainimarama will manipulate the system to vote himself into power is reported in the Fiji Today blog, 13 January 2012.
The popularity poll that backfired. Frank fails as a "Peoples Prime Minister"
The Attorney General's Office has lodged a complaint against Fiji TV to the Commerce Commission and Media Tribunal Authority regarding the Fiji TV personality of the Year Award that was decided by Vodafone.
"The allegation is that members of the public could text in and give their vote and the announcement was going to be made on the first of January. Unbenouced to many members of the public, Fiji TV closed the actual polls on the 30th of December as opposed to the 31st of December. In this particular case they closed the poll. We understand that Fiji TV subsequently made an apology and reversing the outcome but what we are concerned about is the manner in which it was done in the first place." FBC Radio [run by the Fiji's illegal AG Khaiyum's brother]
FijiToday has been reliably told that the December 30th cutoff was made
because there was a suspiciously large number of texts on the 31st from numbers allocated to the military. There were multiples of texts from several numbers with one number having 23 votes. At no time in the promotion did FTV state the cutoff was the 31st but it was presumed to be the date as the announcement was to be on New Years day.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimaramas amazing avalanche of votes in the last 24 hours was considered suspicious and the earlier cutoff was to avoid the results being tainted.
A peoples Prime Minister would have allowed Consumer Council CEO Premila Kumar who has worked tirelessly for the poorer people of Fiji to have her moment in the spotlight without sending his AG charging around trying to protect his damaged ego.
If his ego is this fragile then what happens if he fails to achieve his plans in the 2014 election?
Peter Firkin
The truth about the Casino 12 January 2012
The dictator endorsed a pack of lies when he launched the casino with 100 Lies (Oooops! my mistake) Sands Casino Fiji Ltd. Firstly I am going to look at the announcement and explain why it does not add up. Then I am going to reveal the true money grabbing plan revealed to me by a mole inside Aliz Pacific Nur Bano Ali's corrupt consulting firm.
Larry Claunch announced 100 Sands were going to build a casino, hotel and conference centre costing $290m USD. It was going to have nearly 200 rooms, 500 slot machines and 64 gaming tables. The ground breaking will start in March 2012 and the casino will be finished 18 months later. Larry said they were partnering with Snoqualmie Tribe. The Casino will not be open to locals. Let's look at this piece by piece.
$290m hotel
This will make it the most expensive hotel ever built in Fiji. This is nearly $600m Fijian which dwarves the $300m+ FNPF sunk into Natadola. The FNPF as we all know had to write the value of the hotel down to a mere $80m. The most expensive hotel on Denerau cost less than $100m FJD. A hotel costing this much will never make a return on investment even with a casino.
Massive Casino
The closest casino of a similar size to the one planned by 100 Sands is Sky City in Auckland. But the amount of people that Sky City has to draw on is far bigger. New Zealand has more tourists in a peak month than Fiji has in a whole year. Similarly with Business visitors. Additionally it has the population of Auckland to call on and that is bigger than the total population of Fiji. For those of you who have not visited Sky City the Downstairs is full of the urban poor, mainly Polynesians gambling with their last few dollars. It is not a pretty sight.
So with only the tourists from Denerau and Nadi and a few expats a total of about 7,500 how on earth is Larry going to fill his casino? Obviously he is not. Every punter will have the choice of 3 empty roulette wheels or 100 slot machines to play on. I know why they are calling it 100 Sands: because it is going to be DESERTed.
Larry Claunch
Larry is a man of mystery prior to coming to Fiji. The only thing we really know about him is that he is rich, he has lived in Fiji for about 10 years and he has failed to develop his one property project in Fiji. He has no personal experience of running a casino. One thing he has learnt is that in today's Fiji it is who you know that matters and he has paid to know the right people as I will show below.
Snoqualmie Tribe
They borrowed $385m USD in 2007. This money was used to build their first casino. Unfortunately for them it was not a success and actual revenue was one quarter of the projections. They have had to restructure their debt. They are in n position to borrow any more money and what profits they make on their current gambling operations are going to service their existing debt. There is no money for this investment coming from the Snoqualmie Tribe. Their casino expertise only goes back 5 years so they are mere beginners in this complex and difficult business. Added to which their track record is not good and they have had to give their first CEO a payoff of $14mUSD to get rid of him.
These are the experts that Bainimarama has invited into to Fiji to steal from the poorest Fijians. In exchange for what, a nice Indian Chief's head dress. Most of us grew out of dressing up games when we were kids but Frankie loves dressing up as a builder or an Indian Chief. Just as an aside he has the makings of being a one man Village People.
Not Open to Locals
Larry says the casino will not be open to locals. He then goes on to say he will open a smaller operation in Suva. Last time I looked I could count the number of tourists in Suva on one hand. Larry's casinos will be open to the Locals.
As you can see this casino operation does not add up and just as worryingly there are no successful casino operators involved.
Now for the real story as revealed from within Aliz Pacific
I mentioned Larry understood it was all about who you know. Well he hired Aliz Pacific, Dr. Nur Bano Ali's money laundering consultancy firm. He has paid over $1m in consultancy fees which Aunty Nur shares with her nephew the AG and shares a bit with his puppet. The AG approved the license with Larry and off we go.
However the true plan involves an investment of only a few million and building a new entrance to the upstairs at Port Denerau.
$290m Hotel = Renting upstairs space at Port Denerau
Larry is building nothing more than a glitzy entrance to the casino that will operate in "office space" above the shops and restaurants of Port Denerau.
Massive Casino = 50 Slot Machines and 7 gaming tables in rented office space in Port Denerau
Larry Claunch = Con Artist who has built nothing in Fiji and has no intention of doing so.
Snoqualmie Tribe = Clincher with the PM.
They will provide no money and no expertise. Just a fancy head dress for little Frankie dressing up cupboard. The irony of the Native Americans selling their land to the white man for a few beads now buying the gambling rights of Fiji for a few feathers and head dress.
Not Open to Locals = Let's have open house for the locals
Larry has dressed this up as saying he is totally non discriminatory and he does not feel comfortable not allowing Fijians to enter their own casino. What he means is he can't wait to get his hands on the local money and make himself rich at our expense.
Overall Larry is going to invest a few million dollars, not build anything and rip off the people of Fiji. There is not $290m USD investment, there will only be a few slot machines flown in.
People of Fiji understand the Dictator is endorsing this scam. Ask yourself why? Is he getting a pay off? Or is he just too stupid to see the real situation? Either way Bainimarama is not fit to run Fiji.
Once again we can see the Fijian people are being manipulated by the evil Khaiyum and his wicked witch Aunty Nur Bano Ali.
2012 is the year Fijians will wake up and overthrow Bainimarama's dictatorship.
Response to 6 January 2011 Address by Alleged Fiji Prime Minister on removal of the Public Emergency Regulations
11 January 2012 [Click on Fullscreen at the top of the document for a larger view]
License to Kill - Public Order (Amendment) Act 2012
Torture Watch Fiji states in this document that Fiji's illegal junta gives state security personnel license to kill under newly introduced Public Order (Amendment) Decree 2012.
Fiji now worse off than under PER
The lifting of the PER by Fiji's illegal and self appointed leader Bainimarama was nothing more than a ruse, intentionally done to deceive the world. The PER has been replaced by draconian provisions added into the Public Order Decree.
These new (and illegal) provisions state that no one can "legally" challenge the actions taken by Fiji's brutal and woman bashing dictator (Bainimarama) or his bakewa (parasitic) senior police officers.
Fiji's overun radio broadcasting corporation FBC published on its website yesterday (9 January 2012) that the new measures mean the illegal powers can be exercised without question. And that NO Court has the power to hear any claim against the dictator and his illegal junta (who are holding Fiji hostage) and, further that if anyone tries to challenge their actions then under the Public Order Decree, the Chief Registrar must immediately terminate proceedings.
The overrun FBC's website goes on to say that other amendments include the detention of suspected persons for up to 16 days before being charged in Court, stricter laws regarding firearms and weapons and steep increases in fines and jail terms for those found guilty of public order offences. And in other new sections of the Decree, there're closer controls on anyone suspected of breaking the law and detailed rules for meetings, parades and processions including the use of arms to disperse illegal gatherings.
Bainimarama was never elected by the people of Fiji. The Fiji court of Appeal also ruled that Bainimarama's 2006 coup was illegal. Therefore these new changes are illegal, so Bainimarama has to go around arresting and bashing everyone who disagrees with his stupid dictatorship, including unarmed defenseless women, and now even arresting a 74 year old women.
People of Fiji, these new illegal decrees mean that, under Bainimarama's current dictatorship of Fiji, he and his goons can do anything they want to anyone in Fiji, including kidnapping, torture, rape, murder and theft. Fiji is now worse off than when it was under the PER.
Fiji Lifts Martial Law, but Installs New Regulations
The New York Times, By MATT SIEGEL, Published: January 7, 2012
SYDNEY, Australia — Fiji's military rulers on Saturday officially lifted a state of martial law that has been in place since 2009, setting the stage for public deliberations on a new constitution and a promised return to democratic elections within the next two years.
However, even as the lifting of martial law was being praised in the capital, Suva, the country's leader, Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, also known as Frank Bainimarama, announced a raft of new regulations and restrictions that have prompted concerns that his government will pursue the sheen of legitimacy while continuing to silence its critics through force.
Fiji, a former British colony made up of roughly 330 islands in the central Pacific Ocean, has been under military rule since a 2006 coup led by Mr. Bainimarama. The emergency regulations that ended Saturday had greatly expanded police powers, placed government censors in newsrooms and curtailed the rights of nongovernmental organizations and religious organizations to hold meetings.
In a speech on Friday, Mr. Bainimarama announced that the emergency laws, which were enacted after a decision to abrogate the Constitution led the courts to declare his government illegitimate, would end. He said that the emergency powers had given his government time to stabilize the country, which has been troubled by political and ethnic tensions for decades.
His opponents, however, accused the military junta of using its powers to crush dissent and hobble civil society.
"There is nothing more I want than a Fiji with a truly democratic government, one representative of all Fijians," Mr. Bainimarama said. "For the first time in our history, we are on the path to making this a reality."
Since gaining independence from Britain in 1970, Fiji has been dominated by four military juntas. But the latest coup and subsequent crackdown isolated the island state, which is a member of the British-led Commonwealth of Nations. Australia and New Zealand have imposed unilateral sanctions, and the country's membership in the Commonwealth was suspended in 2009.
The governments of both Australia and New Zealand cautiously welcomed the decision to lift the emergency regulations, although they said that any discussion of an end to sanctions or to the country's regional isolation would be contingent on measurable progress on human rights issues and the development of democracy.
While life will be easier for opposition groups, there is a strong possibility that speech considered inflammatory by the government could still be punished, said Jenny Hayward-Jones, a regional expert at the Lowy Institute, a research organization based in Sydney.
"It seems likely that organizations who were the targets of the Public Emergency Regulations — mostly NGOs, the Methodist Church, prominent individual critics and media outlets — will need to continue to be cautious in whatever comments they make about government in the public domain, because they still stand to be punished under the additional decrees," Ms. Hayward-Jones said.
In his speech, Mr. Bainimarama compared the new regulations to antiterrorism legislation in the United States and hate crimes legislation in Britain and Australia that forbid inflammatory public speech.
Toward the end of the announcement, however, he stated that no attempts to destabilize the elections or constitutional consultations would be allowed.
"Know that elections cannot be held in an environment devoid of social cohesion and economic stability," Mr. Bainimarama said. "Know that those who seek to destabilize society only do so to serve their own interests. They do not serve you. Also know that we will not tolerate an iota of disruption to the peace, safety, stability and common and equal citizenry we now enjoy."
Bainimarama's Draft Speech for 6 Jan 2012
An insider was able to give me Bainimarama's draft of his speech dated 6th January. His draft was then sent to Qorvis who turned it into the speech we all heard on Friday 6th. Bainimarama's draft paints a truer picture of the situation in Fiji.
-------------START
My humble servants: As I told you in my New Year's address the Public Emergency regulations will be lifted tomorrow. Now I will tell you what will really happen; I did not want to tell you before because I did not want to ruin the good will on the first day of 2012.
This marks an important step toward the informing, you my humble servants, about the new constitution under which a truly democratic election will vote me in as President and Khaiyum, He is the one with his hand up my arse, as Prime Minister.
No modern state, especially one created by an act of terror wishes terror upon itself. I am sure you understand, my humble servants, that it is important for the well being of my family that I take a lead from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Equatorial Guinea and Bahrain to name a few of Qorvis's more enlightened truly democratic clients.
In Fiji we have experienced terrorism. I should know because I was the ring leader. Qarase will never forget the terror of having armed soldiers at his door. President Iloilo would always shake when he signed any document I asked him to sign.
We must never allow this to happen again because that would remove me from power. Therefore I will crack down on anyone who threatens my authority and my wife's shopping trips.
In the UK a person can be detained for 14 days on suspicion of terrorism. My friend Robert Mugabe tells me that is nothing and he can detain people for as long as he wants. Now that's sensible. He has been a dictator as long as anybody and he knows what he is doing. The USA has Guantanamo Bay and detains all terrorists off shore. That is a great idea and we are going to close Rotuma to all civilians and turn it into a massive detention centre.
Mugabe also tells me that any vilification of the Zimbabwe's Supreme ruler and family even on the internet has been criminalized. Any blog site that shows another picture of me and my son in the back of a limo will be exterminated. I have found the people who hacked the Government website this week and they are now working for me at the high speed internet cell at Naboro.
We have had such safeguards in Fiji under the PER. However, I removed it in a shameless attempt to garner international support and to pretend we will have consultations on democracy. However as my puppet master informed me we need to ensure that MY rights are protected and so we have updated the Public Order Act.
Over the past few years I have brought in a number of changes. We have sought to empower my family and modernize us. Well at least all my grand children have iPads and I have an iPhone. My new friend Kim Jong-un, the Supreme Commander of North Korea gave me a new app for my iPhone for Christmas. It is called iDictate and a lot of the new Public Order Act came directly from the App. (Note to self. Make me Supreme Commander at first available opportunity)
My Government has been very successful and we have achieved an overall decrease in the crime rate because nothing that I, my ministers and members of the military do can be a crime. Take the stupid policeman who went for a swim in the pool at QEB after one of my officers beat him unconscious. How stupid is that. Did he really think he could swim if he was unconscious. It's his own fault he drowned.
Under past governments corruption prevailed and the economy was mismanaged. (Apparently they had something called economic growth, I have no idea what that is) But anyway the problem with their corruption was that it did not include me, Khaiyum or Aunty Nur. I feel sorry for Aunty Nur because she is so ugly and she says she needs all this money for major plastic surgery. She was given a quote the other day and it will cost over $10m USD to make her into a decent looking woman.
Now my Government, with the help of corruption and has made sure that all the money coming into Fiji goes through Aunty Nur and Khaiyum. They then give me a cut he tells me it is the biggest cut because I am the dictator and I trust everything Lickmyarse says.
Over the past few years here is a list of my Governments achievements:
Implementation of a common and equal citizenry. - We have all read Animal Farm and some citizens, namely myself are more equal than others.
Outlaw of institutionalized racism and other discriminatory practices – Just look at the military, we are an institution, we have racism and we are outlawed by the rest of the world.
Codifying equal rights for women – Aunty Nur gets an equal share
Creation of FICAC – That's a godsend for making sure all the corruption comes my way. If you don't send the cash to my Swiss bank account then you go to Prison.
Creation of the Independent Legal Services Commission – That is answerable to Khaiyum
Instituting a Child Welfare Decree – If I had not increased poverty we would not have needed this.
Putting in place a new Crimes Decree – That gives me total control
Creating a transparent and sustainable provident fund – Well I will have a pension that will keep me and Mary in the way we have become accustomed
Equal distribution of land lease monies – Half for all the owners and half for me
And Restructured Fiji Sugar Corporation and the Sugar industry – Vaniqi tells me we have had a run of record years. He said "Lowest production ever"
Getting better returns for landowners and providing security for tenants – As Khaiyum and I are now the biggest landowners it is imperative we get bigger returns and also we need to make sure our Chinese tenants are well looked after.
Under me Fiji has managed to do great things and these include:
We have made unprecedented investment in technology and communications. How else do you think we read all emails and listen to those Vodafone mobile calls.
We have invested greatly in rural areas. My new farms are doing very well and supplying food to my new mines.
We have increased poverty so more people need free food, textbooks etc.
We have increased our diplomatic ties, especially with those countries whose concept of democracy is as flawed as my own.
We have brokered many successful partnerships. Aunty Nur with Rewa Dairy, Aunty Nur, with 100 sands Casino, Aunty Nur with…. She is good about sharing the wealth
We have given impetus to the private sector. - And that is why they are all investing overseas
We have been able to cut taxes - I have found that if you keep the money offshore in Switzerland or the Caymans you don't pay tax at all.
But none of this could have been successful if the normal checks and balances of a democratic system had been in place.
We would not have been able to move forward if democracy had kept us in the past. The freedom blogs have not seen the light and with my new iDictate app they will be destroyed.
There is nothing more I want than a Fiji which has me as Supreme Commander for life…..
-------------ENDS
ABC News Report- Defectors sceptical over Fiji changes. Simon Lauder reported this story on January 3, 2012
PETER CAVE: The Fijian military regime's promise to lift oppressive laws has been met with scepticism by a fugitive military commander who was once a senior figure in the regime.
Fiji's military ruler and interim prime minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama says that public emergency regulations will be lifted at the end of this week.
But a former military commander who fled Fiji last May says the announcement is just window dressing and it will make no real difference to the people of Fiji.
Simon Lauder reports.
SIMON LAUDER: When Fiji's Appeal Court ruled that Commodore Frank Bainimarama's coup was illegal in 2009, the military leader and self appointed prime minister repealed Fiji's constitution and imposed emergency regulations heavily censoring the media and banning public gatherings.
Now Frank Bainimarama says those laws will be lifted so Fijians can participate in constitutional reform and prepare for elections in 2014.
Lieutenant Colonel Tevita Mara was a senior figure in the regime until he was accused of plotting to overthrow it and then fled Fiji last year. He says lifting of emergency regulations won't make any real difference because the regime has introduced new rules which have the same effect as the emergency laws.
TEVITA MARA: Freedom to the people means the army being recalled back to barracks and Bainimarama giving leadership over to a civilian government. That is when you will have freedom in Fiji.
SIMON LAUDER: Isn't it at least the removal of one layer of power? Isn't it a step in the right direction?
TEVITA MARA: It doesn't mean that they've removed the controls that they have in place. They have still people in place. There are still police, there are still military people in place monitoring things.
I was just talking to people back home today, this morning, and they said, 'No it doesn't mean anything at all. People are still being taken in, still being charged for sedition, for saying things against government.'
What he's trying to do, it's part of a plan that was had before, is to put all the leaders of all the political parties, charge them with, you know, trumped up charges. And time for election comes it's only him and (inaudible) left there to run for government. There's no-one else because they've charged all the leaders of all the political parties in Fiji.
SIMON LAUDER: Seventy-four-year-old former MP and vocal critic of the regime Mere Samisoni is among four people who, according to Fiji's ministry of information, will appear at the Suva Magistrate's Court this morning charged with conspiring to use violence to overthrow the government.
Jone Baledrokadroka was the commander of Fiji's land forces and Frank Bainimarama's second in command until he was accused of trying to stage a mutiny and then defected to Australia.
JONE BALEDROKADROKA: I think a lot of people are sceptical as to what are the motives behind Mere's being detained and charged now. What are the real intentions of this lifting of the PR? Is it to allow political life and dialogue, or is it really to sort of entrench their dictatorial rule?
PETER CAVE: Fiji's former land forces commander Jone Baledrokadroka ending that report from Simon Lauder.
Fijian version of Christmas Message -- Khaiyum's land grab
Ni bula kece na lewe i Viti o ni lomana na bula tu galala
Ni bula na Turaga, Marama bale ena noda vanua
Ni bula nai Talatala Qase ni Lotu Wesele kei ira na vei Lotu tale eso
Ni da curuma na gauna ni marau ni Siga ni Sucu, na gauna ni solisoli ka, e da tiko e na ligana e dua e suguraki koya e nai i tutu vaka veiliutaki, kei na nona matanitu suguraki ka kovea tani mai vei keda na lewe i Viti na ka da vala taka ka bula taka tu, o ya na bula galala ena ruku ni matanitu digitaki mai vei keda
Au via taura na gauna oqo meu vaka macala taka vei kemuni ni kua na sala sa butakoca tiko kina na noda qele mai vua na Vanua nai liuliu suguraki o Bainimarama kei na nona dau vesu mona o Khaiyum
E ratou vaka yagataka tiko na tabana ni veilewai ni Viti, ka mo ni kila tiko, ni vesuki tu e nona lewa o Khaiyum ka nonai tuvatuva sa koto, me na tauri laivi vei keda na noda qele nai taukei
Au na vakaraitaka vei kemuni na noqu vakamacala mai na i tukutuku ni kisi ni veilewai, na nodra tou na taukei ni qele mai Suvavou.
E sa matata ni da raica ni veilewai oqo e va' moica o Khaiyum nai vola tukutuku ni Soli o Viti, mai na lewa e tau. O turaga ni lewa e a tauca nona vosa 'e na rukuni vola vei vosaki ni kena ka soli o Viti ki Peretania, "na qele e sa taukena na Ranadi mai Bolataqane, ka lewa ni taukei ni qele e nona qele, sa mai boko ka yali vakadua."
Ke ko raica sara vaka vinaka -dina ni o Iosefa Inoke na turaga ni lewa voli rawarawa nei Khaiyum ka roqoca na kisi- na i vola veivosaki ni soli o Viti, e sega ga ni soli na qele ki vua na Ranadi mai Bolatagane.
E na tabana e va ni lawa ni vola veivosakitaki ni soli ko Viti, e tukuna, ni lewa taucoko ni vei uma qele vaka e ra vakayaga taka tu ko ira na turaga itaukei se na matagali me ra bula tu kina, se me ra na bula tu kina mai muri, e na sega ni soli vakadua vua na Ranadi, ka e ra na taukena tuga o ira na kena itaukei (repeat)
E na tabana e lima ni vola veivosakitaki, e rawa vua na Ranadi me taura e dua na tiki ni qele ka sa qele vaka i taukei, me na yaga ki na matanitu, ia me na sauma vakadodonu vua na taukei ni qele na kena kau laivi mai vua na kena qele.
E matata tu e na tabana rua oqo ni qele ka vaka yagataka tiko na turaga itaukei se mataqali taukei e sega ni rawa ni kovei vaka veitalia na Matanitu.
E kuria ka tukuna o Khaiyum ni lewa ni kisi oqo e na vaka muria na vei kisi vaka oqo mai muri. Mo na qarauna de na vinakata o Khaiyum na nomu qele, e na taura ka na duavata kina na mata veilewai. Kemuni na Turaga na Marama, sa matata sara tuga vakasigalevu ike nai naki vuni nei Khaiyum me moica na tukutuku ni Soli ko Viti kei na vakatulewa ni kisi oqo baleti ratou mai Suvavou me kovei laivi mai vei kemuni na taukei na lewa baleta na nomuni qele.
Me da na tarova na kena yaco na ka oqo.
E sega ni ka ni kurabui ni matanitu suguraki oqo ni lewa tu na tabana ni veilewai o Khaiyum ka rawa ni butakoci na qele ka nodra na lewe ni vanua ka tukuna ka lasutaka ni vukei ira tiko kina. Ni tauri vata na lawa vou suguraki ka sa tabaki ni qele, wili kina qo na Land Bank, e sa na yaco me rawarawa sara na kovei vaka lawa na noda qele.
Sa dua na ka na veiliutaki vaka lawaki ka sa yaco tiko e Viti e na rukui Khaiyum kei Bainimarma ia e na sega ni sivita na kove qele vaka veitalia ka sa yaco tiko mai vei rau na dau butako oqo.
E dua noqu i tatau vei ira mai valagi kei ira na dau vola i tukutuku . Ke o sega ni se raica, o Bainimarama e liuliu suguraki vaka mataivalu. Ke dua na ka donu me da vulica mai na tututuku ni vei gauna na vaka loma vinaka taki ira na i liuliu suguraki e sega ni yaga.
Da sa raica na ka e yaco ena vei yasai vuravura vei ira nai liuliu vakaivalu ra kovei ka ra suguraki ira yani e na veiliutaki ni vanua. O Bainimarama e sega saraga ni dua na kena duidui mai vei ira, wili kina qo o Saddam Hussein mai Iraq, Hosni Mubarak mai Igipita, Col Muamar Gaddafi mai Libya. Yaco tiko na yavavala mai Syria vua e dua tale ga nai liuliu suguraki vakaivalu, sa kena gauna oqo vei Bainimarama me solia lesu na veiliutaki ni se bera ni na yaco vei koya na ka lolovira ra mai tini kini oi ira na liuliu suguraki vakaivakavalu au se qai cavuta oti.
Au kerea vei kemuni na vei matanitu tu galala e vuravura, na vaka vinaka taki ni veiwekani kei Bainimarama e na sega ni yaga. Ni vei idi ko ni solia e na taura okoya e dua na maile. Tu vakadua ka vukei ira na lewe ni vanua kei Viti me ra kali raka sobu na matanitu cati ka suguraki
Kemuni na Turaga na Marama
Sa mai bokoci laivi na noda Bose Levu Vaka Turaga nai Taukei
Sa mai dusi ka beci ka buturaki sobu na lotu wesele
Sa mai kau laivi vei keda vakatawadodonu na lewa ni noda qele
Na cava tale se vo me da taukena na itaukei ena noda vanua ?
Na veika kece da mareqete, da karona, da valataka, da bulataka ena veisiga sa kau laivi !
O cei tale me na qai taqomaki kede ?
Da liutaki tiko qo vei dua na tamata a bucina, tokona ka wili e na kena vuaviri na Matanitu ni Labour ena 2000, tokona tale kina o koya na noda sasaga nai taukei
Da liutaki tiko qo vei dua na tamata e bucina ka vakayacora na vuaviri ni Matanitu na SDL ena 2006, oqo na party a tokona tu na Mataivalu, dua e sa mai oka na noda vakalolomataki na lewei Viti vakabibi nai taukei, dua e tu e ligana na dra ni lewe ni vanua kei na sotia a mai kau laivi nodra bula ena 2000 kei na 2006
Mai oka na kena kau laivi na noda taukena na noda qele
Oqo na mataqali veiliutaki e qadrevi e noda vanua ?
Kemuni na Turaga na Marama, ena sega ni dua na kalougata se vinaka na kauta mai na veidigidigi cavuta tiko o Bainimarama kei Khaiyum, na sautu kei na vei gauna vinaka nei viti mai muri ena rawa ga ke kaliraki laivi O Bainimarama ka ciqoma na veivakaqaqai kei na veilewai ni vei ka sa vakayacora vakatawadodonu vei kede ena noda vanua
Na i cocovi ni bula galala e tiko sara ga e ligada.
Ki vei kemuni kece na lewe I Viti au taura tale na qauna oqo meu tukuna na noqu vaka nuinui vinaka ni marau ni siga ni sucu sa da mai sivita kei na yabaki vou ka me nomu ni na vaka cegu e na gauna dredre da sotava.
Na noqu vaka nuinui kei na masu me da na vaka sukai Viti ki na bula galala taumada mai na bula vesuki nikua. E na rawa oqo mai na nodatou cakacaka vata na lewe i Viti kei keda na tiko e taudaku kei Viti.
Wili tale ga kina o ira na vei mata tamata e vuravura ka ra tokona tu na bula galala. E a kaya o Martin Lurther King Jnr, 'Na bula galala e na sega ni soli rawarawa mai vua na i liuliu suguraki, ia me na kovei vaka kaukauwa mai ve ira na buturaki sobu tu'.
Me vakaloumana taki Viti na tamada sa cecere
Vinaka Vakalevu ka da na veivosaki tiko mai oqo
2012 New Year Message - Bainimarama's Lies
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2011: Aug / Sep-Oct / November - December