Solivakasama Worldwide Movement

The disloyal, spineless, coward Epeli Mataitini

2009-08-09T23:22:00.001-07:00

LATEST FIJI NEWS 110
The Vunivalu Epeli Mataitinis childish claims the Church has been playing politics with the Vanua of Rewa is a lot of crap. Ro Temumu knew what she was doing when signing that Open Letter. She signed this Open Letter because she believed its contents and she does not recognise Bainimaramas illegal claim to rule. He is the one who raped Fiji of democracy and whom Epeli Mataitini is kowtowing to because hes paying his bills.

How can Epeli Mataitini tell the Vanua of Rewa and the Matanitu of Burebasaga to follow Bainimaramas orders, when the majority of right thinking Rewans and Burebasagans do not recognise Bainimaramas illegal reign!

It is sad to see the Roko Tui Dreketis Vunivalu run away in fear, when the Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi shows moral courage by standing up to the Military goons and standing up for truth and justice!

The people of Rewa should look for a more suitable Vunivalu because Epeli Mataitini has just proved how unworthy he truly is and how low he is willing to go, even to the extent to betray (liu muri) and sell off his own Paramount Chief and then have the cheek to try to deflect the blame to the Methodist Church.

Epeli Mataitini knew the Police would come for the Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi and he gave them his blessing and advised them to come under the cover of darkness, hoping to hide his tracks, but it reeks of him.

SWM Management Board urges the people of Rewa and Burebasaga to stand by your Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi during this turbulent time and get rid of your spineless, worthless, traitor Vunivalu, Epeli Mataitini.

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The moral gutting of Fiji and coming economic collapse: to raise our voice as one

2009-08-03T18:49:00.001-07:00

FIJI NEWS 321
For two and a half years, we have watched our society unraveling in bits and pieces.

Too close to each incident and emotionally traumatized, we are unable to see the totality of the massive erosion that is taking place in our nation.

Every civilized nation has institutions, glues, threads, moral values, and accepted social processes, that enable all citizens to fully contribute to their familys and countrys growth and development.

But what happens when all the glues dissolve, when all the sacred institutions and organizations become morally gutted by the unlawful actions of a few? Sadly, that is Fiji today.

Just as one can climb a mountain with one small step after another, so also can a country descend into a social and economic hell, if its citizens take one wrong step after another, while the others watch in silence.

With the active collaboration of many good citizens following their own narrow agendas to move Fiji forward, Bainimarama continues the destructive moral gutting of Fiji, depriving us of our basic human rights, and leading us into deepening disaster.

Our peoples fundamental right to elect a government and leaders has been stolen by the countrys soldiers, armed with guns paid for by the tax-payers themselves.

Self-imposed leaders now tax the people, borrow and increase the public debt as they will, and spend tax-payers money wherever and whenever they want.

They hire and fire civil servants and board members without any heed to signed contracts or natural justice, or future lawsuits that they certainly wont bear.

The highest in the judiciary take illegal oaths and support treason.

The military rank and file are warned they owe allegiance not to the State but personally to the Commander.

The police are told that the way for crime prevention is through Church Crusade antics.

Unelected people, with no accountability, make fundamental decisions on the countrys only pension fund, without any reference to the fund owners- the workers of the country.

The Military Government stifles any dissenting voices through ruthless censorship of the media, whose owners either readily capitulate, or collaborate perniciously.

Major religious organizations willingly support the illegal government, blatantly ignoring the rule of law. Many willingly collaborate.

Man-made financial disasters and scams arise again. Social organizations disintegrate.

Once the TV images of the failed African states seemed so far, now they are very near.

Instead of energetically building this country, the majority of our decent citizens watch in totally demoralized silence, this pervasive moral gutting and erosion of the very foundations of our society, deeply worried about the future, with many choosing to emigrate.

Take stock today, and witness how Fiji is morally gutted, from the top down.

A morally eroded President

In 2006, the President of Fiji allowed himself to be removed by the Military Commander, and then reappointed as the President in a Military Government.

While massive electoral fraud and corruption were the excuses for the coup, almost three years later, no convincing evidence of either has been produced.

Then for two years, the Military Government, the NCBBF and its Co-Chairman Archbishop Mataca, John Samy and their collaborators spent tens of millions of dollars and massive amounts of civil servants time, on national meetings, consultations, the drafting and printing of a glossy Charter. Alleged to be a Sacred Covenant, the Blueprint for Fijis recovery, it was eventually approved by the Military President.

The Charter proudly began We the People of Fiji, Affirm that our Constitution represents the supreme law of our country, that it provides the framework for the conduct of government and the people.

But when the highest court in the country- the Court of Appeal- ruled against Bainimarama, the President and the Military Government, the very same Constitution was thrown aside and purportedly abrogated.

There was not a whimper from all the upright citizens who were members of the NCBBF which developed the Charter allegedly with the co-operation and consent of all the people of Fiji: Mataca, Barr, Arms, CCFs Yabaki and Dakuvula, Arya, DC Maharaj, Tevi, Serulagilagi, Tabakaucoro, and the hired consultants like John Samy all have remained silent on the Constitutions alleged abrogation.

How ironic that in his abrogation speech, the President asserted that the Charter had been supported by 64% of the people of Fiji but with his next breath he claimed to abrogate the very 1997 Constitution whose supremacy was stated in the Charters first paragraph.

Did he even understand what he read, or was he blindly following the orders of Bainimarama?

Did the Presidents advisers tell him that by claiming to abrogate the 1997 Constitution that had been approved by the whole Parliament, all the political parties, and the Great Council of Chiefs, he was committing treason against the Republic of Fiji?

If he did understand what he was reading, then a morally eroded President now treasonously presides over a Military Government which continues to erode and destroy the nation the President is sworn to protect.

It is tragic that the Tui Vuda is being led through this massive charade, by Bainimarama and his legal advisers.

The Morally Eroded Commander

Some of the origins of the 2006 coup may be in the attempted coup and mutiny of 2000, still largely unexplained.

But the seeds of the 2006 coup must be seen in Bainimaramas own attempted abrogation of the Constitution in 2000 (rejected by Justice Gates), the 2000 mutiny by the CRW soldiers who tried to assassinate their own Commander, and the murder of CRW soldiers taken alive from their homes in the militarys attempt to get at the truth behind the mutiny. No one has been charged for those deaths in military custody, although Hughes said the police were close to doing so when the 2006 coup took place.

It would seem that Bainimarama planned a coup from 2003, and eventually executed it in 2006. With that 2006 coup, Bainimarama also stalled his own prosecution for the militarys $26 millions of over-expenditure of tax-payers funds in 2006 and much more in the years before.

Appointing himself Prime Minister and Finance Minister, he misappropriated for the military another $50 millions of tax-payers funds in 2007, and another $30 millions in 2008. It is unknown what he is misappropriating in 2009.

Bainimarama gave himself $180 thousands as back-pay for 30 years of accumulated leave- a benefit denied to the lower ranks of soldiers.

Despite all the Charters grand claims towards greater transparency and accountability of government, Bainimarama, as Minister of Finance, refuses to release the Auditor Generals Reports to the public. And no one in the NCBBF is even asking Bainimarama for the Auditor Generals reports.

Bainimarama is enjoying his role as Prime Minister, with all the financial benefits, adulation, the status, and the immense power he wields using his guns.

No one knows who Bainimaramas real advisers are, although clearly influential are the Military Attorney General (Aiyaz Khaiyum), the Military Council including Colonel Aziz, a few well-known senior business tycoons and rising stars (they are all named on the blog sites), and foreign consultants like John Samy who still come and go.

Whoever they are, they ruthlessly and callously play Russian Roulette with the lives and future of Fijis people.

Bainimarama is not accountable to the Military Council or his Military Cabinet or to the people of Fiji. He hires or fires at his whim. He may sell public assets to whoever he wants to. Or do deals on tax-payers behalf, with international fugitive millionaires.

It seems clear that Bainimarama will drag his Military Government out as long as he can.

He used the excuse of the NCBBF and the Charter for the last two years, a Roadmap this year, work on a new Constitution and a simple electoral reform from 2012 (why three years from now? duh!) a new pocket-size Constitution by 2014 (why pocket size? duh!) and, if anyone wants to believe it, parliamentary elections in 2014.

And whos deciding all this for we Fiji people? Commodore Bainimarama, armed with the guns we gave him to protect us.

Bainimarama seems to care little that by 2014, he will have brought the economy and the people of Fiji to their knees, that he has so deeply divided this country that he has to impose total censorship of the media, to hide the cracks.

Is his Military Council (including advisers like former Military Commander Paul Manueli) going along with this destruction of Fiji? Will they take joint responsibility for the tragedy they are creating?

The morally eroded judiciary

After the military takeover in 2006, a High Court judge (Naz Shameem) did a coup on the previous Chief Justice by purporting to appoint Anthony Gates as Acting Chief Justice. Gates, together with Pathik and Byrnes, then purportedly legalized the actions of the President and the military during the 2006 coup, and thereafter.

But when the judgment of the Appeals Court in 2009 made clear that the actions in 2006 by the President and the military were totally illegal, the 1997 Constitution was purportedly abrogated by the President and Bainimarama reappointed as Prime Minister.

High Court Judges Gates, Pathik and Byrnes then rejoined the judiciary under the new military regime, totally ignoring their sacred oaths under the 1997 Constitution.

Gates decision to become the Chief Justice was not justified on any argument that the Appeals Court judgment was wrong. No. He merely argued that the judiciary had to be kept going. That the people needed a functioning system of laws.

The most senior judges in our judiciary have themselves now taken illegal oaths, the same crime for which they imprisoned a number of persons after the 2000 coups.

These senior judges will now claim to apply the rule of law to Fijis people, but by the Military Decrees, our people will have no legal right to challenge any military actions prior to the decree.

This morally compromised judiciary is now to be the ultimate protector of the human rights of the people of Fiji.

They will probably perform the same function as was performed by the other Shameem who emasculated Fijis Human Rights Commission, in defending and justifying the 2006 military coup.

So what if investors now have no faith in contracts and simply will not invest, however much FTIB jumps up and down? So what if the economy does not grow and the poverty increases? Oh, thats not the judiciarys problem.

The gutted Great Council of Chiefs

In the 1997 Constitution, the GCC and its nominees to Senate, played many critical roles in being the last safeguard for the welfare of Fijians, especially regarding land.

More than $30 millions of scarce tax payers money were spent on housing this so called august body of Fijian elders.

But the GCC has been closed down by the military, and the chiefs sent home, with not a whimper.

There has been no organized opposition from the Chiefs, high or low. No great statements have been made against the actions of the military. No lines drawn in the sand. No meetings with their people. No meetings amongst themselves.

A few of the chiefs, including two former military commanders, have even joined the military regime, yet again profanely swearing oaths on sacred bibles, oaths they have never kept before.

We still socialize with them, drink grog, play golf, have a laugh, pretending that life goes on as usual, while these prominent chiefs help the country to collapse around us, destroying our poor peoples livelihood.

With the increasing emigration of the educated Fijians, the chiefs supporting the military government are also helping Bainimarama to gut the Fijian people of much needed and relevant leadership for the future.

The eroded military and police

After the first coup in 2006, Bainimarama appeared to be merely following the Presidents lawful directives.

And strengthened by the Gates, Pathik and Byrne judgment, military personnel could have followed their Commanders orders in good faith. Similarly, the police rank and file may have understandably followed the military-appointed Commissioner of Police.

For two years, the Military Government bought off most of the senior officers with improvements in their salaries and conditions.

But following the 2009 judgment of the Fiji Court of Appeal, the insides of most of those in the Military Council, the Fiji Military Forces and the Fiji Police Force, at all levels, must be now in turmoil.

They know that in abrogating the 1997 Constitution, the Military Commander and the Military Council, and all the Ministers appointed by the Military, are now committing treason against the state of Fiji.

They know in their hearts that in following the orders of the Military Government, they are also engaging in treason, as well as a whole range of illegal activities, such as censorship of the media, and detention and intimidation of ordinary civilians without good cause.

What must the ordinary rank and file soldiers and police be thinking, when they are asked to mount full-time guards around the persons and residences of the Commander, the Commissioner of Police, and the Attorney General? What? Our countrys guards have been reduced to providing guards for themselves? Never has this happened in the history of Fiji.

Many in the police know that there should be no room for Christian Crusades in a secular professional police force, yet they follow orders, or risk losing their livelihoods.

In following the immoral orders of their Military Commander and Police Commissioner, the professional military and police officers are being morally eroded, on a daily basis.

The innermost morale of the professional soldiers and police officers must be at an all time low. Such erosion of professionalism in the military and police will take decades to correct, if ever, as the experience after the 1987 coups showed.

The soldiers and policmen must also know that any future economic collapse of the economy or the FNPF, must also affect them and their families.

The Eroded Civil Service

Gone are the days when civil servants had the confidence to give proper professional advice, knowing that they had the protection of their association, and ultimately the protection of the judiciary against unlawful treatment by their employer.

Since December 2006, senior civil servants have been fired willy nilly, with not a thought to natural justice.

Worse still, senior civil servants have been hired out of the blue for key positions, with no proven track record, or without going through the proper channels.

For instance, a NZ citizen (John Prasad) is appointed as the Permanent Secretary of Finance, against the protests of all the professional senior civil servants in that Ministry.

He has no relevant qualifications for the position. He is known to be related by marriage to the Military Attorney General. But he has now been given powers for all manner of commercial dealings using Fiji tax-payers funds, accountable to no one except the Military Commander.

Does he have conflicts of interest through companies which do consultancies with the Fiji Government?

On what basis would such a person then be appointed to be the Chairman of the Fiji National Provident Fund, where he will now have ultimate responsibility for all decisions regarding our pension savings.

He may lend our money to risky projects that the military wants to support- like Fijian Holdings Limiteds potentially disastrous $190 million bid for BP South Pacific. He can sell off FNPF assets, with no accountability to FNPF stakeholders. He may reduce pensions to all and sundry.

John Prasad will also be ultimately responsible for board decisions to lend more of FNPF money to the Military Fiji Government to cover its irresponsible deficits and expenditure. As Secretary of Finance, he will simultaneously also have joint responsibility for deciding how much to borrow from FNPF on tax-payers behalf.

How ridiculous? It is as if the Military Government used its guns to make the largest borrower from Westpac, the Chairman of the Board of Westpac.

Has John Prasads appointment been approved by the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Jo Serulagilagi? Does the current Chairman of the PSC take responsibility for whatever happens as a result of John Prasads decisions?

The eroded business community

The business community, as always, do not give a jot for what happens to the country or its ordinary people. They have never had any morals to be eroded.

They give every support to the Military Government, publicly and privately, in return for the expected favors.

Largely because of the support of such immoral businessmen, Bainimarama and his Ministers have been able to maintain the great pretense that they are successfully running a Government.

These immoral businessmen and business tycoons have no qualms in ignoring that the economy is in dire straits; that poverty and unemployment are far worse than in 2006; that crucial national institutions such as the Fiji National Provident Fund, are in the process of being gutted by this Military Government and their cronies.

As long as these tycoons (and all of Fiji know who they are) can make even bigger fortunes which will end up outside Fiji.

Too late, a few will find that those who could not abide by the law when it comes to an elected government, will not abide by the law of contracts signed and sealed: note the FICAC raids on RB Patel offices.

Our eroded political leaders

The military emasculation of the SDL/FLP Multi-Party Government, and more particularly, the SDL leadership is all too obvious.

When the 2006 coup took place, all the SDL and FLP Ministers, except for Qarase and Kinivuwai, disappeared over the horizon.

The Fijian political intelligentsia retreated into their culture of silence or culture of acquiescence, joining the winning military band-wagon. Some retaliated by secretly blogging away.

The Fiji Labour Party leaders readily joined the Military Government, throwing aside decades of moral and lawful opposition to military coups and undemocratic governments. So also did the National Alliance Party.

With serious questions being raised about millions of dollars given by India for dispossessed Fiji cane farmers ending up in Chudhrys Australian accounts, what kind of leadership can the FLP provide to the Indo-Fijians.

Intellectually weakened by the massive emigration of professional and skilled persons, the Indo-Fijian political and social elite who remain, blindly follow the leader or are totally indifferent.

Witness the abject silence and disinterest of the majority of young educated Indo-Fijians in national events, immersed as they are in Bollywood, and pre-occupation to emigrate from Fiji.

The irony is that when these apathetic Indo-Fijians emigrate, they will have lost 20 percent of all their life savings in Fiji, because of the 20% devaluation, with more losses to come in the future.

Our eroded religious organizations

The Military Government has muzzled the Methodist Church and denied them their freedom of assembly and speech. But there has not been a cheep of protest from the sister Catholic or other Christian Churches or Hindu organisations.

But then, seduced by Bainimaramas rhetoric of racial equality in Fiji, these same latter organisations had all joined the NCBBF ride to create the Charter, whose foundation was stated to be the supremacy of the 1997 Constitution.

But there were no strong protests from Mataca (Co-Chair of the NCBBF) or the other religious organisations and their followers (Arya Samaj and Sanatan Dharam), or the CCF (Yabaki and Dakuvula) when the 1997 Constitution was abrogated and tossed aside by the Military Government, and their sister organization prosecuted for their political views.

Indeed, one head of a Hindu organization has made a lot of money out of the printing of all the NCBBF and Charter documents- none of which acknowledge the printer.

No religious organization is protesting that the Commissioner of Police is thrusting his sectional Christian Crusade down the throats of all police personnel, and telling dissenters that they can resign if they dont like it.

ECREAs Kevin Barr, happy with his marginal Wages Council gains and a million tax-payers dollars for squatter housing, is happy to ignore the massively bigger destruction of the economy and peoples livelihoods, the increases in poverty, the increasing inability of tax-payers to look after health and education needs of the needy..

David Arms, happy that a minor electoral reform may be implemented in the future, does not care that the alleged need for minor electoral reform has been used to justify the treasonous over-throw of a lawfully elected government and the 1997 Constitution. He is also now silent.

The Citizens Constitutional Forum, awash with EU money, can now of course help the Military Government on Fijis forthcoming new constitution!

Our religious organizations and clerics are so morally eroded that they cannot make a principled stand any more on the treasonous abrogation of the Constitution, because they threw in their lot with Bainimarama two and a half years ago, believing his rhetoric of equality of races, religions and cultures.

Even Bainimarama, whose Charter keeps harping about the equality of all religions, is totally quiet on the Police Crusades.

The morally eroded former and current citizens

We would not be where we are today, had it not been for the many former citizens, especially elite Indo-Fijians, who supported this 2006 coup, many because of some racism against them in the past: a leading economist driven out by the 1987 coup: a High Court judge who did not receive government support for an international position; a high flying CEO who did not get Government support for a Brussels position; an economist bureaucrat who was bypassed for the position of the Governor of the Reserve Bank; senior managers in the sugar industry; rejected good applicants for Government and statutory organization positions; media personalities who thought they deserved better; and many more.

Without any moral qualms, many have accepted appointments at the expense of other Fiji citizens who were arbitrarily removed without a hint of natural justice.

However one may sympathize with their unfair treatment in the past, two wrongs will not make a right.

Then of course, there are many former citizens who just appeared out of the wood-work, using their friendships with those in the Military Government, to get into astonishing positions of power and authority, earning themselves massive financial benefits.

These morally eroded former citizens are quite comfortable lapping their milk and honey, and basking in the recently acquired power and glory in Fiji, caring little about the future of ordinary Indo-Fijians who will remain in this country for the foreseeable future.

Of course, these opportunist former citizens, while claiming eternal love for their country of birth, will eventually disappear back to the security of their newly adopted countries, where they and their families can happily enjoy civilized lives, under a rule of law which they have helped to destroy in Fiji.

Some may have been genuine at wanting to help, like Robin Nair, who realised all to late that he was just being used. He left quietly when he realized there was no Presidents Mandate, just instructions from a military dictator.

And then there are the many good citizens who have stepped up to help the illegal Military Government: Rishi Ram, Winston Thompson, Isoa Gavidi, Jo Serulagilagi... . the list is long, and still growing.

They all bear joint responsibility for this illegal edifice that has been created after 2006, and the economic disaster that is being visited on us.

Will these good citizens ever stand up to right the wrong they have done the country? Or will they, like Pontius Pilate, simply wash their hands off the matter and disappear from public eye as many have done and others are doing now?

The eroded Fiji Law Society

Of all the professions in the country, the legal profession may be expected to give the ordinary people the greatest guidance during legally confusing times such as these.

But bar a few, the majority of lawyers have failed Fiji miserably. They have failed to enlighten the country on any of the major issues. They have failed to defend the Constitution as their oaths obliged them to.

One of the key objectives of any Law Society is the provision of guidance to members on issues that affect them all collectively. What could be of greater collective interest than their own registration.

But the Fiji Law Society decided to let members decide for themselves, with the inevitable result.

A principled few (two?) may refuse to take oaths under the illegal regime. But most will willingly serve under an illegal Military Regimes rules, even if clearly illegal: clients need to be served; the legal system has to keep going; and of course, bread and butter has to be earned.

And no doubt, a select few are able to enjoy not just bread and butter, but also a lot of sweet jam, from their closeness to the Military Government.

The eroded accountants and auditors

The accountants and auditors recently had their annual Accountants Congress.

As they have done since 1987, they ask non-accountants (usually naive economists, lawyers, and even historians) to make bold speeches that will shake up Fiji, re-engineer Fiji, raise troublesome issues, and challenge governments of the day.

The accountants and auditors themselves have never ever rocked the boat. They are too busy making money from government contracts and making sure that they stay appointed on the important boards in the country.

They even choose to ignore vital issues of the day, which ought to be central to the accounting and auditing world: the 2009 Accountants Congress did not ask why this unelected Military Government is not releasing the Auditor Generals Reports for 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Reports which would no doubt outline how $150 millions of tax-payers money has been over-spent by the Military? And how tens of millions of tax-payers dollars have been wasted on the Charter Charade, the NCBBF, Police Crusades, etc?

The Accountants Congress did not really mind that their invited guest speakers were removed from their Congress program. Indeed, their Chairman even thanked the Military Government for allowing their Congress and AGM to proceed. How nice for all.

The eroded media

Worse than after any previous coup, we now see total censorship of the countrys media, taking away our rights to freedom of expression and free speech.

Anything which raises questions about what is happening, does not make it to the public eye or ear.

Critical opinion articles are censored from newspapers. TV interviews are either heavily censored or just cut altogether. One cannot even ask questions on the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation airwaves about our own pension funds, and why totally unaccountable and inappropriate persons are being appointed on the FNPF board by this Military Government.

This Military Government has been able to decide who will not be allowed to speak to a Pacific gathering of youths, partially funded by Fijis tax-payers (including the banned speakers).

We Fiji people quietly accept that this unelected Military Government armed with guns will decide what we can see on television, read in papers or hear through radio.

The Military Government has virtually stopped Fijis people from knowing what is going on in their lives and to their own welfare.

And the media has capitulated, of course protecting jobs and livelihoods, but also protecting their large corporate profits.

Our eroded social and sports organizations

Our moral gutting is not confined to the formal institutions of state but extends to all our major sports and social organizations.

The Fiji Sports Council has gone through several revolutions with hints of scandal, mismanagement and power politics.

The Fiji Football Association hierarchy has kept its iron grip on the sport, preventing by fair means or foul, any challenge to the leadership which might have taken away huge financial benefits from the incumbents, while the sport stumbles along.

Year after year, the Fiji Rugby Union and the Fiji Netball Association have gone through paroxysms of organizational and professional conflicts, with massive public acrimony.

The boxing organizations have split, fallen apart and regrouped in competing camps.

All manner of social clubs, all over the country, keep getting their funds embezzled by office bearers, some are taken over by the trustees, some eventually closed down in prime city locations.

Everywhere, schools management committees have fights with school principals- the discretionary control of school funds usually at the heart of it.

Credit union and co-operative funds have a long history of being abused, while Fijian co-operative efforts like CBM collected massive amounts of funds from ordinary villagers, eventually disappearing from sight with nothing to show. Somewhere along the way, a Banaban Trust Fund was also gutted, without inquiry.

Fiji is totally morally gutted and the massive financial disasters are the glaring symptoms.

Our major financial disasters

Rabukas 1987 military coup and military appointments led to the collapse of our National Bank of Fiji, with hundreds of millions of dollars eventually lost by tax-payers. A public inquiry was called for, but Makrava then said, If I go, all the high and mighty in Fiji will go with me. There was no public inquiry.

In the nineties, a Commodity Development Fund Scam involving tens of millions of dollars surfaced, and disappeared, with no public inquiry. In this decade, the Agricultural Scam came and went, also with no public inquiry, while a few small fry were convicted.

And today, a huge financial disaster is about to be imposed by this Military Government on our Fiji National Provident Fund, the effects of which may well financially gut the savings of the current and future working generations, and take this entire country into economic collapse.

For no good cause, the military government has removed employees (and employers representatives) on the Fiji National Provident Fund. Those removed were not antagonistic to the Military Government- some were quite sympathetic but are unable to even speak to Bainimarama. The censorship ensures that their views are not known to the public.

This unelected Military Government is now appointing even more dubious representatives to the FNPF Board, who presumably will be amenable to the Military Governments demands on where to lend, who to lend to, and how much.

FNPF is in the process of being financially gutted by a Military Government, accountable to no one.

This Military Governments censorship is making sure that the FNPF shareholders (including even their soldiers and policemen) cannot hear about it, or talk about it, until it will be all too late.

Our impending economic collapse

What does the future hold for us?

Just as one can climb a mountain with one small step after another, so also can a country descend into a social and economic hell, if a few citizens take one wrong step after another, while we others watch in silence.

Fiji seems destined to slowly disintegrate over the next five years, as we are doing now.

Bainimarama and his Ministers, will continue their grand parading and charade of good governance for as long as they can, surrounding themselves with and being reassured by yes-men and sycophants.

Civil servants will continue to support the Military Government initiatives, or lose their jobs, while some will gladly collaborate for the promotions they will get.

Empty speeches will continue to be made about tourism looking up, new investments here and there, inflation figures, or GDP figures, etc. etc.

The Military-appointed Reserve Bank Governor, now safely a NZ Permanent Resident, will make supporting noises here and there.

There will be a few cases of corruption exposed, involving a few millions.

But this Military Government, its Ministers, and coup supporters, will continue to ignore the harsh economic reality that the ordinary people of this country have already lost more than a billion dollars because of their 2006 military coup.

They choose to ignore that our pension fund may lose hundreds of millions more in bad loans.

Millions of tax-payers money will be spent on white elephants like new Police Headquarters which will not make an iota of difference to crime prevention.

Without adequate investment there will be little economic growth, our foreign reserves will keep falling, and more devaluations will occur.

There will be continuing inflation, sending everyones savings, in FNPF and elsewhere, down the drain- including those of all the soldiers and policemen who are blindly following the orders of their Commander and Police Commissioner.

The incomes of our poorest people will not rise to compensate for the increases in the cost of living. It will be increasingly difficult, if not impossible to construct a moral society, on empty stomachs.

There will be a worsening of poverty, crimes, violence against women and children, and prostitution.

Our educated, both Indo-Fijians and increasingly the educated indigenous Fijians, will continue to emigrate.

Our people will continue to claim to hear nothing, see nothing, and say nothing. Until it is too late.

Then, their eyes will not be able to avoid seeing, and they will weep tears; while their ears will hear hungry and angry mouths wailing.

Is it really too late?

It is not too late

What will we tell our children when they ask us: Dad, Mum, what did you say or do, when you saw that our future was being destroyed. You did nothing? You said nothing?

But this beautiful country of ours, with it gorgeous kaleidoscope and rainbow of peoples, religions, and cultures, deserves better; our poor deserve better; our children deserve better.

Whatever our past differences, the social and political leaders of Fiji must get together and convince Bainimarama and the Military Council to return to the lawful constitutional path, to prevent this impending disaster, and to enable all citizens to join in contributing to national recovery and development.

As was said by a forlorn diamond, whose musical rays and twinkling toes bewitched his generation, despite his very human flaws:

There is nothing that cant be done, if we raise our voice as one.

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MORE MINISTERS DETAINED

2009-08-03T17:21:00.001-07:00

LATEST FIJI NEWS 131
The military have again detained Rev Manasa Lasaro last night. Information received is that at 11pm a convoy of 3 cars with military personnel arrived at Rev Lasaros Nawanawa home and took him away. They also took Rev Tomasi Kanailagi and the Church General Secretary Rev Tuikilakila Waqairatu at 10pm last night both of whom were at the Epworth Hall in Suva. All are reported to be at the military headquarters.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Esala Teleni is due to meet the Church executives at Epworth Hall at 10am this morning. Information received alleges that Teleni is claiming ignorance of any knowledge or authorization of the detention of senior Ministers of the Church. Could this signify a split between the Police and military?

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Bainimarama Refuses Church Counsel

2009-07-30T08:00:00.001-07:00

LATEST FIJINEWS 7
Sources close to the President of the All Nation Church have revealed that the tin-pot dictator Bainimarama had called recently on Rev Ratabacaca for spiritual guidance. The message which God had revealed and which Rev Ratabacaca had conveyed the tin-pot dictator was more or less the same as given to dictator Bainimarama by the Methodist Church: That he had done wrong by the nation of Fiji and its people by disregarding the rule of law, the ruling of the Appeals Court, in trashing the Constitution and in removing the basic rights and freedom of the people and by causing so much poverty and hardship. Rev Ratabacaca had conveyed the advice to the tin-pot dictator that he humble himself, seek forgiveness and reconciliation and hand power to elected representatives of the people at the earliest opportunity. It is believed that the tin-pot dictator had spurned Rev Ratabacacas counsel.
Meanwhile, in a move designed to salvage, in a roundabout way the fast eroding support of the Christian community in Bainimaramas illegal regime, Bainimaramas elder brother Meli Bainimarama, Permanent Secretary for Fijian Affairs, had this morning sent a telephone message to the President of the Methodist Church Rev Ame Tugaue asking that he call on him for a meeting. The two are currently meeting at Meli Bainimaramas Office. The Methodist Church supported by other churches and Christian organizations, are currently fasting and are in a prayer vigil for the whole month of June following which, it is hoped that with Gods guidance, a decision will be taken on the Bainimarama juntas refusal to allow the holding of the Rewa 2009 Conference of the Methodist Church.

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Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi- a true Christian Soldier.

2009-07-29T20:29:00.001-07:00

LATEST FIJI NEWS 126
With all the clamour generated by Franks propaganda machine against the Methodist Church and especially Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi it may well pay to revisit the facts of the May 2000 coup involving the ex President of the Methodist Church .

Rev Kanailagi is from the chiefly yavusa Nayaumunu of Viwa Bau. It was Ratu Namosimalua the then Roko Tui Viwa who welcomed Reverend Joseph Hunt to set up the Methodist mission on Viwa as Ratu Cakobau and Bau were still about there heathen ways. The Reverend is also a blood relative of Viwa high chief Ratu Varani the notorious but later staunch Christian convert who bent his knee to Jehovah on Good Friday 1845.

Reverend Captain Kanailagi is most admired amongst the real RFMF soldiers as the Padre of the 1st Battalions second contingent (Batt 2) UNIFIL during the tough Palestinian Liberation Organisations era of 1978-80. This era is when the first Fijians underwent their baptism of fire and stamped the Fijian character in Middle East UN peacekeeping. He was tested under fire such as the firefight in Qana when Private Leitubadei was killed in action. Most unlike some in high military office today who are calling for his resignation.

His leadership during his presidency of the Methodist Church in the dark days of the 2000 coup is exemplary for the moral courage and physical fibre of the man. Here is the evidence from the Fiji Times of Tuesday 23rd May 2000, (page 15):

Methodists Stay Out

Methodist Church President Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi has dissociated the church from the events on Friday (19th May). Reverend Kanailagi visited the President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara at Government House on Sunday morning and the two held a prayer session together. He later visited the group held hostage at the parliamentary complex and then the captors. Reverend Kanailagi said the church had made known its stand on what happened on Friday and it did not want to meddle into the politics of it.

Wesleyans and all Christians stand up! For such a man of God in his twilight age who does not fear Frank and his guns. His strength is eternal! Praise the Lord!

With the Lotu and Vanuas defiant stand on the Bose ko Viti being held in Rewa, lets again revisit the facts of the May coup 2000 involving the ex President of the Methodist Church Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi.

Frank in his convoluted non political mind spews his political venom accusing the Padre of being deviantly motivated and an agent of political instability.

Well here is published evidence in the Fiji Times of Thursday May 25th 2000 to the contrary:

Churches unit against crimes

The Fiji Council of Churches say it is against the unchristian act of those who seized members of the democratically elected government last Friday (19 May).

We the Fiji Council of Churches stand together to oppose this very thoughtless crucifixion of democracy that has taken place its chairman Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi said.

The Council expressed its sincere apologies to everyone affected by the rioting, looting and fires experienced last weekend.

It was an understatedly unchristian act that truly shocked us all

The Council called on Christians to play their part in restoring order through little acts of love and kindness to all their neighbours.

Let us look for the images of God in the faces around us and treat every individual with utmost love and respect in these trying times. Reverend Kanailagi said.

Methodist Churchs true May 2000 coup stand.

Here again we make the case for the Methodist Churchs true stand in May 2000 which Frank and Ayarse harps on falsely for the illegal regimes naked power grab in December 2006 and April 2009.

This is evidence as published in the Fiji Times of Saturday June 10th 2000.

Churchmen want Peace.

Senior ministers of the Methodist Church visited the military camp in Nabua and the parliament complex yesterday. Church general secretary Reverend Doctor Ilaitia Tuwere, said members of the churchs standing committee, ministers and some members, divided into two groups-one to the army camp and the other to the parliamentary complex. The church members went to Nabua to show their support for Commodore Bainimarama and the army in their effort to resolve the crisis. Last Friday the church leaders visited the parliament complex with the intention of urging Speight to release the hostages.

But Dr Tuwere said people in the complex thought the Methodist church had come to support Speight. There are so many rumours going around. We give our support to Bainimarama to clear the air with our ordinary people. Dr Tuwere said.

What the church needs to see now is the rebuilding of the nation and that is not an easy job.

Because the Methodist Church backed the military in 2000 for upholding the rule of law against Speights high treasonous act which he is now serving jail time for, Frank now sees the church as his Enemy No. 1 this time around.

Hey! So isnt Frank in effect saying to the Methodist Church and Fiji, you are not permitted to destabilize me, even though I committed high treason! The church has been true in its stance against coup mongers like Frank even Reverend Josateki Koroi the President of the Methodist Church at the time of the Rabuka coup condemned the 1987 coup on behalf of the flock.

Amen to that venerable Reverend! Stand up Wesleyans! And defend your faith against the great usuper of the state and church of our fore fathers! Come hell or high water!

Tebara sili wacala.

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Franks Palace Politics and Dark Principles 101

2009-07-29T19:27:00.001-07:00

LATEST FIJI NEWS 125
Deep in the dark recesses of the deviant dictators mind sits his box of tricks of the Machiavellian school known to all Fijian as the Vere vaka Bau (Conspiracy a la Bau).

At the height of Baun domination of Fijian politics in the 1840s, Horatio Hale a white voyager through Fiji summarises the Baun attainments to power that he found.

First Principle The enemy of my enemy is my friend and

Second Principle- The friend of my enemy is also my enemy.

Every decision to actions and reactions by the Dictator is taken personally and boils down to a familial microcosm a la Palace Politics we are now witnessing unravelling our nation. This is what Frank thrives on.

Yes folks hang tight as we spiral out of control in the coming days.

Kai wai

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A shameful police state

2009-07-29T14:45:00.001-07:00

LATEST FIJINEWS 120
Day by day, this Military Government and the Military Police (that is what they have to be now called), take this country deeper and deeper into an evil police state.

At midnight, a whole group of police officers woke up Ro Temumu Kepa to take her to the Police Station.

Was she a dangerous criminal about to commit a crime at mid-night? Caught in the act? So dangerous as to require several police officers?

No. She is just an elderly woman, insisting on her basic human right to host an annual meeting of the Methodist Church of Fiji; the basic human right for all their Church members to participate at the meeting; their basic human right to discuss whatever issues affect their lives- economic, social or political. Who are the military to decide otherwise?

How demoralizing for professional police officers to blindly following this Military Governments immoral orders, and treat this senior lady, Roko Tui Dreketi, like a common dangerous criminal.

They could have called on her in the morning. She was not running away from anyone. But no, the police had to mount a raid at midnight. Which evil person made that decision?

Notice that the media have been stopped from reporting on these immoral arrests and detentions.

Quite clearly, this military government and police have totally lost their way. Shame on them.

Shame on the Military Council and all the military-appointed Ministers who are going along with this evil immoral treasonous Military Government of Frank Bainimarama.

Shame on all those citizens and non-citizens who have taken appointments from this illegal Military Government and continue to do so.

Shame on all those coup supporters (all those in the NCBBF, CCF etc) who are now totally silent in the face of this onslaught on our peoples civil rights, while some make tiny bleating noises here and there, having helped to create this military monster over the last two and a half years.

Shame on all those businessmen who support Bainimarama and his immoral actions.

The blog-sites need to boldly name all of these coup supporters with pictures so that the ordinary public can identify them.

It is time that the rest of Fiji stops tolerating and associating with all these evil people who are destroying our country. When are we going to draw the line?

It is time for the ordinary decent folk to speak up, using their names. Do it on the blog-sites if the newspapers and TV wont give you space.

As was said once before, if you do not speak up when others are taken away, one day the evil ones will come for you, and there will be nobody left to speak for you.

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Hari Punja bribes Frank Bainimarama on 12th July deal brokered by Colonel Aziz.â

2009-07-29T06:42:00.001-07:00

LATEST FIJI NEWS 124
It has been revealed by inside military sources that there was a secret meeting held on the 12th July between Hari Punja, Frank Bainimarama and Commissioner Central Colonel Tikoitoga (Colonel Qilihoâs albino twin brother) at HPâs residence at Kavika place.

With a spy device placed right under Punjaâs elephant god Ganeshâes statue in his foyer the discussions ranged from Hari bribing Frank to buying a property for $1 million instead of the market $5 million. No surprises HP is hedging his bets again.

Frankâs deal is to be sourced from India by the Teflon don of Fijian Holdings Ltd notoriety Colonel Aziz Mohammed.

Word from Camp is that the soldiers are p#@*! Off with Azizâs lies. For instance, Aziz strutted his stuff into the Nadi court and told the Rabaka murderers that the immunity decree covered all their crimes.

But when the verdict was read out at the Rabaka court case he told the eight guilty soldiers to take their punishment like a man.

The soldiers are fed up with being lied to! Tu cake ra gone! Me vesu o Commander lasulasu ! Dou sa vakaloloma!

Red Diamond

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OPEN LETTERS FROM REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS

2009-07-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

Open letter from Reporters Without Borders to Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama
http://www.rsf.org/Open-letter-from-Reporters-Without,33066.html
Commodore Frank BainimaramaInterim Prime MinisterSuva – Fiji IslandsParis, 18 May 2009Dear Prime Minister,Reporters Without Borders would like to refer you to the decline in press freedom since you promulgated the Public Emergency Regulations 2009 on 10 April, initially for a period of 30 days. These regulations have officialised prior censorship. Criticism of your government has disappeared from the Fijian media. Political, social and economic news is still being covered but journalists are not able to play their role as Fourth Estate. Fear has taken hold within the news media following a number of arrests of journalists and threatening statements by officials.The Public Emergency Regulations 2009 give the permanent secretary for information, Lt. Col. Neumi Leweni, full powers to prevent the media from publishing or broadcasting reports that could “give rise to disorder” or “promote disaffection or public alarm.” He has warned on several occasions that those who fail to respect the rules will be arrested and prosecuted. The media have been told to limit themselves to providing “positive” news.As a result of the regulations, which have been extended until 10 June, soldiers and information ministry officials have installed themselves in newsrooms in order to control content and prevent undesirable reports. Around 10 journalists and bloggers have been arrested and several foreign journalists have been expelled.The journalists who have been detained include Shelvin Chand and Dionisia Turaganbeci, who were arrested on 9 and 11 May for writing an article for the FijiLive news website that was “negative” about you, and Theresa Ralogaivau, who was arrested on 14 May because of an article in the Fiji Times.Joseph Ealedona, the head of the Suva-based regional news agency Pacnews, announced on 14 May that it would be temporarily relocated because of the political situation in Fiji.Journalists based in Suva have told Reporters Without Borders about the fear reigning in newsrooms. Some journalists even refuse to talk as they are scared by the possibility that someone could be monitoring what they say.Your government seems to be considering taking direct control of certain programmes on Fiji TV and using the Fiji Sun newspaper to publish official information. This would be a veiled and arbitrary form of nationalisation that jeopardises years of editorial independence for these privately-owned news media.As you know, the international community has adopted sanctions in response to the promulgation and strict implementation of these regulations. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has tried to give Fijians an explanation. He sent all the Fijian news media an editorial on 13 May about the reasons for your military-backed government’s suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum. None of the media in Fiji carried the editorial, presumably because of censorship.Your recent decisions suggest that you only tolerate the news media when they do not question your management of the country’s affairs and your government’s legitimacy. Fiji is heading dangerously towards a system of permanent prior censorship.These policies prevent the international community, including the European Union, from resuming close cooperation with your country. The repressive regulations that you have introduced are punishing the Fijian people and jeopardising the development aid that Fiji’s economy and society need. You have a duty to stop exposing your country to this danger.We ask you to lose no time in repealing the Public Emergency Regulations, especially articles 16 (1) and 16 (2), which violate the international human rights accords that Fiji has signed. We also urge you, as Prime Minister, to order the security forces to withdraw from newsrooms and to stop arresting journalists.We trust you will give this matter your careful consideration.Respectfully,Jean-François JulliardSecretary-General 47 rue vivienne – 75002 Paris (France)Tel: 331-4483-8484 / Fax: 331-4523-1151asia@rsf.org

On Target for the Rewa Conference

2009-07-27T17:04:00.001-07:00

LATEST FIJI NEWS 110
The pig is only fooling himself that he has a mandate to rule and delay elections for the next 5 years. The facts as we know them point otherwise. How long will this mentally deranged terrorist remain on top? How long can he deny the people of Fiji their right to be ruled by the people of their own choice? How long can he deny the unlawful actions that have perpetuated his rule? Not long if we take recent happenings into account.

Despite the announcement yesterday by bugler turned head poncho for the pigs propaganda unit.....ahh.... Leweni threatening Methodist Ministers against attending the Standing Committee meeting due to there being no license for such a meeting, it went ahead anyway. And despite the threat of arrest for those Ministers attending the meeting, the Methodist Ministers have well and truly called the pigs bluff. That comes as no surprise; all this has happened before- remember the pigs hullaballoo against Rev Kanailagi after his preaching against the evil deeds of the regime in that evening service of 17 May?

The threat remains an empty threat. What is becoming plain is that this regime rules by bluff. Yes, the pig will grunt, dig with its heels, show its rotten teeth and holler. Then it puts its head down, turns the other way and run as fast as its smelly feet can carry it. What is certain is that the pig himself and his regime are now stuck between a rock and a hard place. Your move pig. So much for picking a fight with God!

FIJI NEWS

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Church Elders to be Arrested and Detained

2009-07-21T17:08:00.001-07:00

MORE LATEST FIJI NEWS

After receipt of information early today that warrants were being prepared for the arrest and detainment of two senior Ministers of the Methodist Church Rev Manasa Lasaro and Rev Tomasi Kanailagi, senior Ministers and top officials of the Church gathered at the offices of both Rev Lasaro and Rev Kanailagi waiting for the Police and Military to turn up and arrest them.

Both Rev Lasaro and Rev Kanailagi confirmed that they were ready to be arrested for the cause of Gods truth and justice and in peaceful defiance of an oppressive, unlawful regime that has brought poverty and great suffering on the nation and its people.

The persecution of the Methodist Church by the Bainimarama regime is nothing new when one considers the history of the Church. Right throughout history, the Church has posed a real political threat. There continually hangs a nagging question over the loyalty of the Church to the State.

With the high moral ground that the Methodist Church has adopted against the 2006 coup and the resulting increased poverty and suffering of the people, the leaders of the Church have clearly shown, just like the Church martyrs before them, of their avowed allegiance to their Heavenly throne and to Gods commandments as opposed to those of Bainimarama and his unlawful regime. Like all dictatorships, the Bainimarama regime is sensitive to unrest, and demand complete submission and obedience. But the Church can give neither to the regime for its allegiance lies only with God and His justice.

So as we in Fiji approach a possible flashpoint resulting from the state refusing to allow and the Church deciding to go ahead with the Rewa Conference, let us be mindful of the lessons of history. The rift between the Roman state and the early Church was such that early Christians would not obey any secular law that contradicted their own belief. Their failure to comply with the required homage demanded by the State was to be a major cause of the martyrdom of many faithful believers. Yet in the martyrs sacrifice, and despite policies of persecution against it, the Church continued to flourish in influence and number.

We salute you Rev Kanailagi and Rev Lasaro. Gods grace and peace be unto you!

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Intelligent officer sacked by Bainimarma(Belovula)

2009-07-20T01:33:00.001-07:00

FREE FIJI
SWM have been informed by one of our members in the military camp in Nabua that the two intelligent officers who carried out an assessment in regards to Bainimaramas support in the Fiji army has been sacked.

The report that they deliver to Bainimarama says that he no longer command the respect of the Fiji Army and it is getting thinner every day.

Last week they brief Vore the result of their survey and they told Voreqe the frightening truth that the majority of the military no longer supports him and as a result they were fired on the spot.

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FRANK BEATEN BY THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURNS

2009-07-18T19:54:00.001-07:00

CASSANDRA
Dear people at SWM,
Here's a little piece that could just prove timely in the over all scheme of things!
Warmest regards,
Cassandra
***********************************************************************
From Cassandra's Desk

it is not often that your humble correspondent chances his hand as he is about to now, but on this occasion he can confidently make the following prediction: Frank Bainimarama's days as dictator of your beloved Fiji are well and truly numbered!

Wishful thinking I hear you say. Another example of Cassandra's hokery-pokery! well, dear readers, please feel free to think what you may.

But first you may wish to ruminate for a brief moment on a well established principle of both science and philosophy known as The Law of Diminishing Returns.

In Frank Bainimarama's case, his returns are diminishing faster then ever and his means of recouping them are becoming weaker and weaker. In short, he is finding himself with now where to go except, perhaps, into history.

Two and a half years ago Frank Bainimarama briefly enjoyed an actual majority in overall public support after seizing power and installing himself as interim Prime Minister. It's what is known in political terms as a strong constituency, but in Frank's case it was destined to be squandered, and oh so quickly!

Sure, it wasn't all rosy for Frank back in 2006. There was outcry, particularly from a vocal domestic minority (mainly lawyers, the media and non-government organizations) and from important democratic neighbours such as New Zealand and Australia.

Yet Frank appeared to have a lot going for him back then, so much so that the wily Mahendra Pal Chaudhry had no qualms signing on as Frank's interim Finance Minister.

But, as we have witnessed, things soon started going downhill, in every possible way, in every possible direction and at an ever-increasing pace.

Inexorably, the law of diminishing returns kicked in and Frank had no way to counter it, except to dig his heels in like an ill-tempered, obstinate mule (or should that be pig?).

Apart from our economy, the first thing to begin diminishing at an alarming rate (at least for Frank) was his credibility.

His initial platform had been cleaning-up corruption but by acting to protect Chaudhry's corruption ad by such greedy, stupid acts as ripping off $180,000 on the patently phony pretext of "unpaid leave" Bainimarama proved that he was as corrupt as they come.

In the beginning, Frank appeared to enjoy almost universal support from the ethnic Indian population of Fiji, but how strong is that constituency today and the economy crumbles and our once great sugar industry heads ignominiously down the gurgler?

Then, there was Frank's personal intervention to featherbed his brother-in-law, the convicted killer Francis Kean, and his mindless promotion of the drooling drummer boy, Neumi Leweni, to the rank of half-colonel, no less!

These two acts have seen the law of diminishing returns hurting Frank's credibility where he needs it most, which is among his own troops.

And now, as he unashamedly oversees the overt manipulation of our judiciary and presides over the worst press censorship this side of Pyongyang, the oafish dictator has decided to take on the Methodist church.

For Frank Bainimarama, the law of diminishing returns is leaving him with less and less support. He is now exposed on all fronts and his back has never been more vulnerable.

Don't forget, dear readers, history shows that the biggest single threat to any tin-pot dictator is other would be tin-pot dictators waiting in the wings.

And just how many of these are luring in the background, ready to pounce like hungry pussy cats?

On his latest count, you humble correspondent can think of at least three.

CASSANDRA

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Tui savu

2009-07-16T07:46:00.001-07:00

Tui savu
Re-evaluating the Fijian Chiefly system
April 30, 2009 by Free Fiji

It is an accepted fact; that no culture in the world remains stagnate, but constantly undergoes changes and at times turbulent transformations. The Fijian chiefly system is no exemption. Roko Tui Bau has previously warned hereditary chiefs in Fiji they can no longer sit back on their laurels and rely on their birth right alone, but need to work hard, prove themselves and earn the respect of their people.

This fact is much more apparent today when ordinary Fijians are returning to Fiji with Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate degrees and have so much more impact, wealth and influence than their own hereditary chiefs, who at times view them with deep suspicion because they feel threatened.

Chiefly disputes are becoming quite common today especially when lease monies are attached to titles; however the basis of adjucation as to who is the rightful owner of the title is from out dated records stored with the Native Lands Commission, which is frozen in perpetuity, whist Fijian culture has undergone so much transformations, making the NLC Records (Tukutuku Raraba) virtually obsolete and irrelevant.

The issue of freeing up more native lands for development is something very dear to native Fijians and shrouded in mystic, but this needs to be re-evaluated and our presumptions tested to see whether they are relevant and addressing the needs of modern Fijians today.

The hereditary chiefly system should be re-evaluated as well to allow qualified ordinary Fijians into traditional positions of authority as well, something akin to the House of Lords in the UK. The chiefly system should be reviewed with conditions imposed by law making hereditary chief unfit to hold office if they cannot fulfil this condition/s causing the title to pass onto the next most suited candidate or their title be stripped from them because of some disqualifying act.

For instance, conditions making a hereditary chief unfit to hold a title would be but not limited to; bankruptcy; previous criminal convictions, mental instability, brings disrepute to the title, country, trouble maker, etc. People who cannot pass these conditions should be deemed not worthy to hold and/or retain hereditary positions in Fiji.

For instance, in my recent articles, I have reverted to calling President Josefa Iloilo, Minister Epeli Nailatikau, Minister Epeli Ganilau and Colonel Ului Mara without using their hereditary Ratu titles because in my opinion, they are unworthy and have forfeited their right to any hereditary chiefly position in Fiji.

My opinion is based on their committing treason against the lawful Qarase Government through their greediness, selfishness and hunger for power, which has brought about this great calamity, lawlessness, human rights abuses, poverty, unemployment, etc on the innocent peoples of Fiji.

The chiefly hereditary system in Fiji, if it is to remain relevant, the cornerstone and the beacon of hope for the ordinary Fijian peoples in the future, then it must be transformed and ensure only good, upright, moral and worthy leaders are eligible for these hereditary chiefly titles and if there is none available, then they should elect someone else who commands the most respect.

Too radical you say.I dont think so because we cannot continue living in the past and repeating the same mistakes in the future!

Tui Savu.
President.
Solivakasama Worldwide Movement.

President calls for a Coalition of the Willing from the US, UN, EU, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
April 22, 2009 by Free Fiji
The situation in Fiji today is totally untenable and no foreign government, regional or international body including non governmental organisations can legally and morally continue to treat Fijis illegal junta with kids gloves. Who are we trying to kid?

Both the Australian & NZ Governments are trying to shy away from imposing further sanctions claiming it will only further disadvantage the innocent victims, yet it knows full well of the intimidation, corruption, militarisation of the civil service and rule of the gun happening in Fiji at this very moment.

The UN is guilty of double standards by condemning the illegal abrogation of the 1997 Constitution by the Fijian Military on one hand, yet on the other hand allows itself to be represented by the same illegal soldiers taking part in UN Peacekeeping duties to other parts of the world!

The US too is not absolved from it share of double standards as well because whilst its Secretary of State Ms. Clinton condemns Josefa Iloilos illegal abrogation of the 1997 Constitution, it too continues to allow these same illegal soldiers to be part of its US-led MFO (Multi Forces Observers) in Sinai.

I challenge the US, UN, EU, UK, Australia and NZ Governments to act justly, responsibly and condemn Fijis illegal junta not only with words, but reinforced with smart sanctions.

For example, it could impose smart sanctions such as refusing Josefa Iloilo to come to Australia for his regular Medical Treatment, withdrawing of Aid, withdrawal of Military troops seconded by the illegal Fiji Military to the UN and US led Forces; criminalise all its citizens who have sworn illegal oaths to the illegal Fijian junta, travel bans on everyone connected with this illegal junta, etc. This is the only language a rouge government knows, which is a well known fact, so why pretend otherwise?

The innocent victims in Fiji are already being disadvantaged whether sanctions are imposed or not, so it makes very little difference to them, however if smart sanctions are not taken against the illegal Fijian junta now, then their miseries and woes will only turn into despair. The innocent victims can accept short term suffering if it sees hope at the end of the tunnel, but will wallow in despair, if they see no hope, as in the current situation.

I urge the US, UN, EU, UK, Australia and NZ on behalf of the Solivakasama Worldwide Movement to be part of its Coalition of the willing and act together to topple the illegal junta in Fiji, restore democracy and the rule of law in Fiji now and not wait until it is too late to intervene.

Tui Savu.

Solivakasama Worldwide Movement.

President.

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Restrictions emerge on Pa

2009-07-16T07:42:00.001-07:00

Restrictions emerge on Pa
Organisers of the Pacific Youth Festival being held next month in Fiji will know later this week who has been barred from attending.

A security sub committee made up of defence and police personel has insisted on complete details of all the speakers, facilitators and presenters.

The Chair of the Pacific Youth Council, Jacque Koroi, who chairs the group responsible for the Festivals programme, says the political climate is affecting the atmosphere surrounding the Youth Festival.

But she says those involved in organising the event have varied responses to this vetting procedure:

We have those who are understanding of the situation because of the current public emergency regulations in place, and there are those who are not in agreement because the specific purpose of having a regional gathering where everyone is allowed to speak openly and freely about , especially young people, about issues that affect us.
It has now been confirmed that all speeches at the Festival must first be vetted by Fijis Ministry of Information.

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METHODIST CHURCH 101

2009-07-14T14:09:00.001-07:00

METHODIST CHURCH
How important is the Bose ko Viti or Annual Fiji Methodist Conference to Fijians, is it just the funds pledged or soli misinari ?Much as we like to believe in modern western democracy and one of its pillars-the separation of state politics and the church, in Fiji the separation is much more complex with the lewe ni lotu Waisele.

The nexus between the Methodist Church and Fijian Politics is part and partial of the doctrinal harmonizing of Lotu, Vanua kei na Matanitu that Wesleyan instructions created in 1838.

This is when the Wesleyans in Fiji under Reverend John Hunt formed the Bose ko Viti (Fiji Methodist Conference) after being recognized by the British Wesleyan Methodist Conference as large enough to do so.

In becoming a district of the British Wesleyan Methodist Conference, the Bose ko Viti was recognized internationally as a national identity. A first time ever such political recognition was given to the group of indigenous inhabitants of the Feejeean archipelago based on religion.

From its inception the Bose ko Viti did not exist by itself but was fused with close collaboration with the Vanua and the Wesleyan Connexional Government that reinforced Kubuna hegemony over the other Matanitus of Burebasaga and Tovata especially after 1854 and Ratu Cakobaus conversion to Christianity. More so the present three traditional Matanitus with the three Turaga Bales is a Wesleyan construct crafted by Rev Waterhouse to foster political unity of Viti by adopting a Fijian mindset. It was created mainly for the Fijians, symbolizing the British Wesleyan Methodisms recognition of the Fijians independence and sovereignty over their islands.

Further, in the instruction to Missionaries published on 20 Feb 1825 as a guide to Wesleyans working overseas article 5 stipulates- Behaviour to Lawful Authority, as follows. You know that the venerable WESLEY was always distinguished by love to his country, by his conscientious loyalty, and his attachment to that illustrious family that had filled the throne of Great Britain. You know that your Bretheren are actuated by the same principles, and walk by the same rule: and we have confidence in you that you will preserve the same character of religious regard to good order and submission to the powers that be- in which we glory. Our motto is FEAR GOD AND HONOUR THE KING. These provisions directed the Wesleyans to strengthen the Turaga Bales authority and unity. This motto now adorns our national coat of arms. (Late Rev Dr. T Baleiwagas thesis ANU 2003).

That the Methodist Church is opposed to the present illegal regime is not surprising Understand Fiji Methodist History then you can Understand Fijian Politics.

J Baledrokadroka

ANU

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DO NOT PAY YOUR FINE

2009-07-14T14:02:00.001-07:00

FIJI NEWS 234

News from our sources in the Ministry of Finance at Ro Lalabalavu House is that LTA Boss Etuate Koroi has been given the bum job of filling the empty illegal regimes coffers by increasing LTA revenues through all types of traffic fines slapped on Fijis motorists and their vehicles.

These fines are desperately needed to pay for government workers. 800 motorists were fined last weekend with LTA officers stationed all over the country, hiding in bushes, up mango trees, around sharp turns and under road culverts. Every breech of the traffic laws under the sun is being used to ensnare unsuspecting motorists and wheel barrow (Bara) boys in Suva market alike.

Even one Sigatoka farmer using his bullocks and gasita crossing the upper Sigatoka Valley road was fined for endangering oncoming traffic. The inside brief from LTA is that all officers on duty have been tasked a quota of 80 fines per day or else get demoted or chucked out on their bum.

So people IF YOU ARE ENSNARED BY THIS LATEST SHAME BY THE ILLEGAL Regime OF THUGS DO NOT PAY YOUR TRAFFIC FINES!! EVEN BETTER DONT PAY TAXES!! AND LET THEM STEW THE CROOKS!!

Crosseyed

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Alice In Blunderland

2009-07-13T09:59:00.001-07:00

Alice In Blunderland
By GRAHAM LEUNG
Tuesday, January 20, 2009

THE recent disaster caused by floods has exposed the regime's near total inability to govern in time of crisis.They are finding that the easy part was taking over the government by force.It's a different ball game running the machinery.The latter takes brains and experience.If the floods have shown anything, it is that they are in short supply.

Complaints and criticisms

It has been impossible to ignore the complaints and views of the people in recent days that the administration's response to the humanitarian disaster that is facing parts of Fiji has been too little, too late.Unbelievably some of the regime's lackeys have taken to blaming the flood victims for the predicament they are in.For not moving in time and not stocking up on food rations in anticipation of evacuation.

One could be forgiven for thinking that we are living in "Alice in Blunderland".What world do these people live in? The people most affected by the disaster have enough difficulty putting bread on the table in normal times.They are hardly likely to be able to stock up extra supplies in a cupboard to take with them after the floodwaters have subsided.Faced with a barrage of criticism, government stooges have now taken to suggesting that its critics are politicising the crisis and should exercise self-restraint.

When the regime is able to show the people of Fiji it is deserving of praise, some might come its way.But until that day happens, the people are entitled to be disgruntled and dismayed. This is the regime, to use a cliché, that wants to take Fiji forward to a more perfect democracy with its People's Charter.Accountability and criticism are a hallmark of democracy as is the freedom to criticise.It's a strange brand of democracy which is uncomfortable with criticism.Instead of rebuking its critics, the regime should spare no effort in deploying every available civil servant in the massive effort needed in rehabilitation work.

Response Time

The delay and response time to the victims of disaster, put simply, have been abysmal and incompetent.While hungry mouths have waited for food and blankets, the response of those in charge has been that they are doing assessments.Why could the distribution of rations and need surveys not have been done together?A Fiji Times report (FT 15/1) quoted Major Neumi Leweni as saying there were 30 soldiers deployed in the Western Division on relief work.If this is correct, one wonders where the rest of the military are and why they have not been dispatched to reinforce numbers on the ground.There has been little sense of urgency and that the West, Nadi in particular, is a disaster.They need help now, not tomorrow.

DISMAC, the arm of government set up to deal with disaster relief, seems almost clueless in its response.Surely with all the natural disasters and institutional experience gained over the years (Bebe, Lote, Meli, Eric, Nigel etc), DISMAC should have been in a state of readiness from the start of the cyclone season in November.By contrast, the Red Cross moved swiftly into action even before the floodwaters had receded.But for their timely intervention, the effects of the disaster would have been far worse and the humanitarian impact of the crisis much greater.

There is a lesson too to be learnt from this.Institutions do far better when they stick to what they are supposed to be doing.When they exceed their mandate, they are likely to botch things up through sheer lack of experience and ability.The regime's response to the people's suffering has been callous and indifferent.In short, very poor.Such inefficiency would not be tolerated in the private sector.Through all the tears and tales of woe and destruction, the President has been conspicuously silent and invisible.

I remember past disasters and the congenial frame of the late Tui Cakau, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, touring affected areas soon after cyclones when he was head of State.

It's a pity his good example has not been followed.

The people of Fiji deserve better.

Soul searching

I read that a senior government official said they would ask for help internationally from Fiji's friends.Given the way we have been shouting at our neighbours recently, I'd be surprised that we have any friends left.People who throw their weight around don't win friends that easily.Governments are not that different.The days of the Orion at Nausori and the Hercules at Nadi (within days of a disaster bringing much needed relief to stricken areas) are gone.Why should our neighbours care when we publicly scold them and send their envoys home?

The chickens have definitely come home to roost. To their credit, the governments of New Zealand and Australia, regularly on the receiving end of abuse, have shown remarkable grace and generosity towards Fiji in terms of the aid they have promised since the floods.The attitude of our neighbours should be a salutary lesson that it pays not to burn bridges because one day you might have to cross them.It is time that the regime and its advisers took time out for a bit of reflection and soul searching.

The current crisis presents a good opportunity for the so-called interim Prime Minister to front up to the Forum leaders' meeting in Port Moresby next week and to announce that he will take Fiji to elections in December 2009.Eleven months is ample time to undertake the necessary preparations for elections under the current Constitution.This would be a courageous step that would signal Fiji's return to the international community.

Even the USA is learning that the world today is about building alliances and partnerships, not destroying them.The last two years have shown that we are adept at the latter.It's nice to beat the drums and puff your chest out, but where will it get you?Some good old fashioned courtesy and humility will go a long way. Isolationism is not an option.Constructive engagement is.Fiji has been an independent country now for 38 years.There is no returning to the womb.

Fiji's recent foreign policy shifts since the latest coup place us in the same league as Syria, North Korea and Iran.The rhetoric of self-reliance and blaming your neighbours for all the country's ills may sound good, but it is hollow and comes at a huge price for a poor, aid-dependent country.Maybe it's time to swallow our pride a bit and eat humble pie.Maybe it's time to ditch the streak of stubbornness and arrogance which has been the modus operandi of the administration since its seizure of power.

When will we learn

The damage to infrastructure, agriculture and small business will easily run into the millions.It would be foolish and unrealistic to think that as a country, we are capable on our own of fixing the mess left by the floods.Put simply, we will need outside help.The international community is more likely to be receptive to requests for assistance if they are assured that credible steps and specific timetables towards returning Fiji to a parliamentary democracy are in place. Foreign governments are not comfortable handing out their hard earned taxpayers' dollars to regimes that are accountable to no one except themselves.

The effects of the financial meltdown on Wall Street are being felt across the four corners of the globe.The days of unconditional development assistance are over, if they ever existed.The mops, buckets and brooms are out in Nadi. In six months maybe, there will be a semblance of normality. Our wannabe leaders and civil servants will return to their slumber and it will be business as usual. Attention to blocked drains, a sustainable and effective disaster management plan, assessments on the adverse impacts of logging on coastal towns etc will all be but forgotten.

When will Fiji ever learn?

We seem to be a country that continues to repeat the errors of the past.If there was ever an opportunity for the regime to prove that it is capable of running this country, it was last week in the wake of the disaster.If it can't get the job done, it should make way for those who can.Armies the world over have little training in how to run a country.Their raison d'etre is to defend a country against its external enemies and threats.

The regime should not take advantage of the patience of a docile and politically inert populace.

People can only take so much.

* Graham Leung is a former president of the Fiji Law Society. The views expressed here are his own and not those SWM. Email: gleung@howardslaw.com.fj.

For Fiji's latest news click here

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Democracy a chimera of the pacific

2009-07-13T09:52:00.001-07:00

Warden Narsey
Fij, still suffering from semi-feudal political gambles, faces political and constitutional instability, reports the Economist. This has become clear after Voreque Bainimarama, who became the country's prime minister without being elected, says that he may give a new constitution within about four years from now.

He thinks elections may also take place after the new constitution is drafted. But he did not specify anything on the process and procedures of drafting and approving the new constitution if it is really drafted.

This shows that democracy is still a distant truth for the people of Fiji.

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DO NOT PAY YOUR TAX AND FINES IN FIJI

2009-07-12T20:30:00.002-07:00

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News from our sources in the Ministry of Finance at Ro Lalabalavu House is that LTA Boss Etuate Koroi has been given the bum job of filling the empty illegal regime’s coffers by increasing LTA revenues through all types of traffic fines slapped on Fiji’s motorists and their vehicles.
These ‘fines’ are desperately needed to pay for government workers. 800 motorists were fined last weekend with LTA officers stationed all over the country, hiding in bushes, up mango trees, around sharp turns and under road culverts. Every “breech” of the traffic laws under the sun is being used to ensnare unsuspecting motorists and wheel barrow (Bara) boys in Suva market alike.
Even one Sigatoka farmer using his bullocks and gasita crossing the upper Sigatoka Valley road was fined for endangering oncoming traffic. The inside brief from LTA is that all officers on duty have been tasked a quota of 80 fines per day or else get demoted or chucked out on their bum.
So people IF YOU ARE ENSNARED BY THIS LATEST SHAME BY THE ILLEGAL Regime OF THUGS DO NOT PAY YOUR TRAFFIC FINES!! EVEN BETTER DON’T PAY TAXES!! AND LET THEM STEW THE CROOKS!!

LTA FINES A BAILOUT SHAM FOR BROKE REGIME

2009-07-12T20:30:00.001-07:00

FIJI NEWS 234

LTA FINES A BAILOUT SHAM FOR BROKE REGIME

News from our sources in the Ministry of Finance at Ro Lalabalavu House is that LTA Boss Etuate Koroi has been given the bum job of filling the empty illegal regimes coffers by increasing LTA revenues through all types of traffic fines slapped on Fijis motorists and their vehicles.

These fines are desperately needed to pay for government workers. 800 motorists were fined last weekend with LTA officers stationed all over the country, hiding in bushes, up mango trees, around sharp turns and under road culverts. Every breech of the traffic laws under the sun is being used to ensnare unsuspecting motorists and wheel barrow (Bara) boys in Suva market alike.

Even one Sigatoka farmer using his bullocks and gasita crossing the upper Sigatoka Valley road was fined for endangering oncoming traffic. The inside brief from LTA is that all officers on duty have been tasked a quota of 80 fines per day or else get demoted or chucked out on their bum.

So people IF YOU ARE ENSNARED BY THIS LATEST SHAME BY THE ILLEGAL Regime OF THUGS DO NOT PAY YOUR TRAFFIC FINES!! EVEN BETTER DONT PAY TAXES!! AND LET THEM STEW THE CROOKS!!

Crosseyed

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impasse

2009-07-09T20:24:00.001-07:00

Impasse with Australia and NZ can be solved: says Voreqe and SWM says, ‘yes we can’ with Vore in jail……
January 2, 2009 by solivakasama
Happy New Year . We at SV are really excited because of the ’smart strategies’we are going to incorporate in 2009.
For instance, asking the Australian and NZ Governments, why it isn’t a crime in their respective countries when its citizens can prop up illegal regimes like Vore’s because in essence their opportunist citizens are responsible for spreading and promoting ‘terrorism’worldwide by taking up lucrative employments in Fiji. Their reprehensible conduct in the long run, will threaten their very own ‘national security.’
On another note, whilst we understand there has been some misunderstanding in the past few days, we at SWM wish to make it clear that the ’cause’ is much bigger than us all, so let’s take a deep breath and refocus on the ‘enemy’. Remember we are getting close to the 2m hit mark, which no one dreamed of, but it is about to become a reality because of your support and we ask that you continue to support SWM this year.
Well it seems this bastard Vore is now forced to acknowledge just how ‘insignificant’ he is and imagine just how stupid and foolish he sounds when trying to convince Pacific Forum Leaders to respect Fiji’s sovereignty, when you consider this is the same bastard who executed a coup against PM Qarase in December 2006 and is the cause of all of Fiji’s woes!
SV asks the Forum Leaders to show this bastard Vore up in PNG and maintain your sanctions because it is working and furthermore be prepared to implement new laws to criminalise conduct of your citizens being employed by illegal governments!

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UN Peace Keeping Mission under threat

Regime spokesman Major Leweni is being totally dishonest when he attempts to justify the allocation of an additional $15 million to the RFMF in the 2009 Budget by claiming it’s needed to train troops for UN peacekeeping duties.
This is because Fiji is very much on the nose at the United Nations, which has announced it has no plans to tap Fiji’s military for any new peacekeeping missions until our country returns to democracy.
As a spokesman for the UN was recorded as saying earlier this year: “There has been no increase in Fijian troops or police numbers since December 2006, nor has Fiji contributed to any new missions since then.”
The UN’S decision to bar Fiji from peacekeeping missions following the 5 December 2006 coup was first enunciated by the former Un Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, shortly after our dictator assumed power.
While Annan’s successor, Ban Ki-moon, has not spoken publicly about Fiji’s black listing, it’s highly unlikely that he would ever choose to reverse it.
This is because he is well aware that major players such as the European Community, the United States and Australia would vigorously oppose such a move; and they carry a great deal more weight with the UN Secretary General than a tinpot little dictator like Bainimarama.
So, talk by Leweni and others of future UN peacekeeping missions will be nothing more than misleading speculation for as long as Fiji remains under the control of the dictator and his goons.
And if the dictator thinks he’s sending anyone a message by spending Christmas with Fiji’s troops on UN missions, he most certainly is. However, it’s a negative message as far as the democratic-minded UN is concerned.
For the record, Fiji’s current contribution to UN missions remains relatively small and has not been allowed to increase when regular rotations of personnel occur.
Altogether/ Fiji’s UN peacekeeping and monitoring deployments total only 223 soldiers with UNAMI and 37 police officers and eight military observers with UNMIL, UNMIS and UNMIT.
If Leweni was honest and had any brains he would have been better advised to explain that the extra allocation is in reality a desperate measure to make up for the shortfall in revenue flowing to the RFMF from the United Nations.
And if Bainimarama doesn’t hand power back to the people in the very near future, the United Nations money will be in real danger of drying up altogether.
And that would mean an end to any prospects of overseas missions for members of the RFMF, yet another example of the dictator and his regime moving Fiji backwards.
FIJI DEMOCRACY NOW

Solivakasama is adding names of the coup supporters in their list send names you know to Info@solivakasama.org , the pressure is working.
SWM family, don’t forget to register on www.solivakasama.org because our smart strategies beginning next year will be lobbying Governments about their citizens involved in treason in Fiji and people like John Samy lobbying his former employer like the ADB to ensure, they do not touch him again for the rest of his natural life
Latest Fiji Newsclick here

TORTURE IN FIJI

2009-07-09T08:40:00.001-07:00

TORTURE IN FIJI
UN Works with Fiji Security Forces to Ban Torture

SUVA, Fiji - The United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights is helping Fijis security forces ensure that detainees will not be tortured or ill-treated.

International law dictates that torture or ill-treatment of those arrested or detained is illegal. Matilda Bogner, a regional representative, said that Fiji already has a strong commitment to banning torture and ill treatment.

At the same time, Bogner says she has worked closely with Fiji Police and the Prison Authority to educate them not to take the law into their own hands, but to defer to the proper legal authority.

Bogner was also careful to point out that Fiji is not unique, and it is crucial that the UN work with other countries around the world to educate and eradicate torturous treatment of those who are arrested or detained. The UN hopes to work harmoniously together with local security forces to address these human rights issues.

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Smith not confident about Fiji democracy

2009-07-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

There is little confidence Fiji will return to democracy in the short term, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says.
The island nation, led by self-appointed Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, needs to be engaged in some way to set a realistic timetable to return to democracy, Mr Smith said in Perth on Wednesday.
Fiji was axed from the Pacific Island leaders forum after tearing up the country's constitution.
Commodore Bainimarama seized power in a December 2006 coup and has faced a barrage of international criticism after a speech last week which set an election date more than five years away.
He says he needs until September 2014 to introduce a fairer, non-race-based voting system and write it into a new constitution that replaces the one his regime tore up in April.
Mr Smith said reports the military leader was lobbying other Melanesian countries to oppose Fiji's exclusion from the Pacific Island Forum were not a concern.
"I'm confident that all members of the Pacific Island Forum will conduct themselves in accordance with the two most recent unanimous resolutions of the Pacific Island leaders forum ..." Mr Smith told reporters in Perth on Wednesday.
A method to successfully engage Fiji in a plan to return to democracy was necessary, the foreign minister said.
"The recent abrogation of the constitution and Commodore Bainimarama's recent speech give us no confidence that there is any short-term prospect for advancement or for improvement," Mr Smith said.
"But at some point in the process we need to successfully engage Fiji in a dialogue about its return to democracy on a timetable which is much more realistic than the timetable, the unreasonable timetable, which Commodore Bainimarama published through his speech in the last week or so."

LATEST NEWS 2

2009-06-30T13:46:00.001-07:00

LATEST NEWS 2
The Boots in the Other Foot Bainimarama

In propagating the decision of the illegal regime prohibiting the holding of the Rewa Church annual conference, despot Bainimarama and his illegal regime have painted a picture that they have brought the Church to its knees. The truth is that Bainimarama and the senior military officers and members of the military council have failed miserably. The Church had merely stuck to its principles telling the junta in no uncertain terms of its firm stance that regardless of the financial consequences, it will uphold its duty to God to be the prophetic voice concerning the dignity of the people; that when government and the military oppress, impoverish, deny the people their freedom and basic rights, the Church must and will continue to stand up and speak out.

While the offer of negotiation looks appealing, the Church has been aware all along that as long as dictator Bainimarama and the military is in control, any negotiation must not result in the Church surrendering its independence to be the prophetic voice upholding Gods principles and high moral grounds. Jesus is portrayed in the Bible as the worlds supreme liberator: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lords favor.1 Paul tells us that to be saved by Jesus Christ is to be set free: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.2

Further, as is now evident, Bainimarama and his government have already shown the world that they cannot be trusted with their undertakings. These rule out any meaningful negotiation.

So to the tin pot dictator Bainimarama; the boots in the other foot. You have merely shot yourself in the leg!

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