DPP says sufficient evidence but no charges against Bainimarama

The DPP has now closed the investigation into Frank Bainimarama assaulting Pio Tikoduadua saying nothing further can be done since Parliament has already dealt with the situation.

Christopher Pryde says there was sufficient evidence of the assault for the case to go to court but since Parliament has already ruled on it, the matter cannot be dealt with in court since Parliament has higher powers.

The Speaker of the House, Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum would already have known, as we did, that if Parliament ruled, that would be the end of the investigation.

Yet another huge miscarriage of justice with Frank Bainimarama getting away with his thug behaviour yet again.

Still believe Fiji is a democracy where there is fairness, transparency, accountability, freedom of the press for all?

Hopefully those who support the Fiji First Government are coming to their senses and realise that there are 2 rules of law in Fiji - one for the citizens and the other which sets Frank Bainimarama and his merry men free of any criminal activities, even though they may be guilty of it.

Welcome to Fiji - the way the world shouldn't be.

Qiliho defends arrest of 16-year-old by soldiers

The Commissioner of Police, Sitiveni Qiliho, has come out today saying there was nothing wrong with two off-duty soldiers arresting a 16-year-old for allegedly “writing vulgar language” about Frank Bainimarama.

Qiliho quotes Section 131 (2) of the 2013 Constitution saying it is the overall responsibility of the RFMF to “ensure at all times the security, defence and well-being of Fiji and all Fijians”.

He adds this is not the first time that the army has assisted police in arresting persons of interest in relation to criminal offences such as drug-related offences.

What purpose does the Fiji Police Force serve if the military is doing their jobs?

Don’t the military have better things to do than engage in the arrest of minor offences? Other than peacekeeping duties there is no other purpose for the existence of the RFMF — hence ‘helping’ the police justifies their existence.

And the REAL question is why this 16-year-old is being targeted for writing something vulgar about Bainimarama on Facebook?

What about the video showing Frank Bainimarama assaulting Pio Tikoduadua – when will that justice be served Mr Qiliho?
Social media is rife with anti-Bainimarama comments – will all these thousands of people be arrested as well?

Fiji is not a democracy then is it Shammi Lochan.

Lochan, a Programme Manager at FBC which is headed by Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum’s brother, Riyaz, has announced a new programme on all six FBC stations from 8am-9am to identify fake news on social media.

FBC says “Fiji is a democratic country and there is no space for fake news in the country”.

Bainimarama gets away with a crime, Pio asked to apologise

The Privileges Committee has ruled that both Bainimarama and Pio Tikoduadua issue apologies in Parliament and if they fail to do so, they will be suspended for 6 months.

As predicted, the Committee's decision saves Bainimarama from facing criminal charges for assaulting Pio.

The Committee only viewed the official CCTV footage provided by Parliament and not the video evidence we released.

Pio Tikodudua provided the committee with the video evidence we released but they did not take that into account.

Why should Pio apologise when he did not commit a crime?

And will Pio apologise - we don't think he should and he won't - this is a matter of principle and the crime was not committed by him.

The sad thing is that the victim - Pio - will then be suspended from Parliament instead.

Fiji's thug Prime Minister gets away with a crime AGAIN while his victims get punished.

From the Committee Report:

"After hearing evidence from Hon. Pio Tikoduadua, the Committee reviewed the CCTV footage again and noted that the Hon. Pio Tikoduadua only took one step back as opposed to being thrown back.

"The Committee established that there was no evidence of a forceful shove/push/touch from the Hon. Prime Minister as alleged by Hon. Pio Tikoduadua.

"The Committee noted from the Hon. Prime Minister’s testimony that he pulled the collar to attract his attention about what he said about him.

"Furthermore, whilst responding to Hon. Mosese Bulitavu’s question, “Can you recall what words did you say?”, the Hon. Prime Minister responded and said “Well I abused him.

"The Hon. Prime Minister further stated in his testimony that he was distraught and depressed.

"The Hon. Prime Minister admitted that he was remorseful. He realised that he was wrong and immediately on the same day at around 3.30 p.m. he apologised to the Hon. Speaker. He also advised the Hon. Speaker that he was willing to apologise to Hon. Pio Tikoduadua.

"In that regard, the Hon. Speaker attempted to arrange a meeting with Hon. Pio Tikoduadua and the Hon. Prime Minister but this meeting did not eventuate. Hon Prime Minister made another attempt to apologise to Hon. Pio Tikoduadua
a week later but was again unsuccessful.

"During the examination of the Hon. Prime Minister, the Committee noted that he was remorseful of his actions and again offered to apologise.

"When Hon. Pio Tikoduadua was asked by the Committee whether he would accept Hon. Prime Minister’s apology, he responded “Why should I apologise?” and later he replied that he will require time to think about it.

"When asked whether he would apologise to Hon. Prime Minister, he replied that he has done nothing wrong and therefore has nothing to apologise for.

"The Committee after hearing all evidence and considering all relevant matters is satisfied that there is a breach of privilege on the part of the Hon. Prime Minister and the Hon. Pio Tikoduadua."

Full Report:

   Final Privileges Committee Report September 2019 by coupfourpointfive on Scribd

Privileges Committee report delayed to tomorrow

The Speaker of Parliament says the Privileges Committee has asked for more time to decide whether Frank Bainimarama is guilty of assaulting Pio Tikoduadua.

The Committee was supposed to present its report this morning in Parliament but will now instead present it tomorrow morning.

It's been 2 weeks since we released video evidence of the assault and almost a month since the incident happened outside Parliament.

Yet still no update from police on how the investigation into the assault is going.

The Police investigation should be ongoing even with the Privileges Committee having their meetings because a complaint was filed.

Yesterday Pio Tikodudua and Frank Bainimarama both appeared separately in front of the Committee to give their version of events.

We won't be surprised if the Committee believed Bainimarama's version of events over Pio's - even with the video evidence.

Are they in military barracks or are they elected MPs?

Opposition Leader Sitiveni Rabuka has done a u-turn on the Privileges Committee not because it was the right thing to do but because it was a command from a senior officer.

"We wrote to the Speaker ... he wrote back and at the end he hoped that we would continue.

"On that note I agreed to continue because he had answered our concerns and he was coming to us as a Speaker of the House, and I'm a member of the House...

"I'm a leader of the Opposition, and I also go back to an old 'ism' that we observe in the military - an invitation by a senior officer is a command. I took that and was willing to carry on with the meetings today."

Rabuka also said that as the former head of the Fiji Military Forces he had attempted reconciliation between Bainimarama and Tikoduadua because he wanted the military men to set an example.

All three - Rabuka, the Speaker and Bainimarama are former military personnel.

The Speaker, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau is also a former military guy.

We remind them that they are no longer in the military running soldiers - they are elected officials accountable to their voters and the law. Frank Bainimarama assaulted Pio Tikoduadua and the law is that he needs to be arrested and charged for that crime. 

Fiji has had two elections: they've been elected as representatives of the people of Fiji but continue to act like soldiers and treat Parliament like a military camp.

Rabuka: Resorting to military protocol to resolve what is clearly a police case.

SODELPA won't boycott Parliament

Opposition Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed that he and SODELPA MP, Adi Litia Qionibaravi did not attend the first meeting of the Parliamentary Privileges Committee called at 1pm today to discuss Frank Bainimarama’s assault on Pio Tikoduadua.

Rabuka told Fiji media they will not be attending any of the committee meetings because he doesn’t want to jeopradise the outcome of any police investigation.

While this move is commendable, it would have been more strategic for Rabuka and the rest of the SODELPA MPs to boycott Parliament with NFP. From there, both should’ve continued to put pressure on the Police to investigate.

Because whatever way you look at it, Bainimarama and Khaiyum have so far managed to weasel their way out of Bainimarama being criminally charged for assault.

The Privileges Committee will continue without Rabuka and co because there is a majority of Fiji First reps on it, so they have a quorum and can make and pass decisions.

If SODELPA joins NFP in the boycott, it will at least send a clear message of unity and keep the heat on Police to do its job.

The NFP boycott is an excellent idea but shortlived; if they boycott for longer no doubt some law from somewhere will suddenly appear and deem the boycott illegal and then the suspension of those boycotting follows.

How can justice be served if the lawmakers themselves are guilty of the injustice?

The police have obviously had orders to drop the investigation and leave the Privileges Committee to rule on it. This is in Bainimarama’s favour and that of Fiji First, not Pio Tikoduadua and the citizens of Fiji.

There is video evidence there was an assault so:

• Where is the legal challenge to passing the matter to the Privileges Commitee?
• Where is the unity to defeat this decision?
• Where is the Police neutrality?
• Where is FICAC on this - why is it not investigating?

Where is the fire in the belly that we are seeing in Hong Kong?

Speaker refers Bainimarama assault case to committee not Police

First acknowledgement by Fiji Parliament of Bainimarama’s assault of Pio Tikoduadua was brief this morning with the Speaker referring the matter to the Privileges Committee.

The Speaker Ratu Epeli Nailatikau said there has been a breach by both Bainimarama and Tikoduadua.

What breach is this? The assault took place outside Parliament and there is video evidence of this. This is a Police matter - there is evidence and witnesses of the assault so why hasn’t there been an arrest?

The police should be charging Bainimarama not a Committee filled with a majority of Fiji First puppets tabling a report of the assault.

This is Bainimarama’s way out of the assault and not getting charged.

The committee has to come to parliament with its report on a Thursday.

Committee members are Deputy speaker and Fiji first MP Veena Bhatnagar as Chair, AG, Inia Seruiratu ( leader of government business in parliament ) and Alvick Maharaj ( government whip ) . Opposition Members are Leader of the Opposition and Adi Litia Qionibaravi.

So that’s 4 government reps including the Deputy Speaker and only two reps from the Opposition.

There you go folks another miscarriage of injustice in coup coup land where the PM Bainimarama and his Fiji First followers get away yet AGAIN.  

NFP have boycotted Parliament this week, 3 empty seats as you can see in the picture.

More to the Bainimarama assault video than meets the eye

A week after C4.5 released video footage of Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama assaulting NFP MP and President Pio Tikoduadua on August 9, further analysis of the footage reveals several significant things:

1. The bodyguards of Bainimarama are equally as guilty as their thug boss as they step in to protect him and chase off those who more than likely wanted to capture the assault on their cell phones

2. The force used by Bainimarama is excessive. On close examination, he uses enough force to jolt Tikodaudua’s glasses from his pocket to fall to the ground. Like a trained torturer, he holds him by the lapels and knees him with his right leg. He holds Tikoduadua with such ferocity that he propels him backwards, even though Tikoduadua is physically a bigger man than Bainimarama.

3. At all times during the incident, Tikoduadua has both his arms beside him – he doesn't even lift them to even fend off his attacker. The only thing he does is bends down to pick up his lens from the ground that was broken by Bainimarama's assault.

We ask:
Why didn't Frank Bainimarama's bodyguards chase away this vehicle and its driver and passenger which stopped next to them as their treasonous boss was assaulting Pio Tikoduadua of the National Federation Party on August 9?

The dark tinted twin cab with private registration plates (FV. 783) suddenly drives up and stops near to where the assault is taking place. Analysis of the footage shows the bodyguards surrounding Bainimarama are communicating with someone.

A suited man gets out of the vehicle, walks behind Bainimarama and Pio and stands behind a government ministerial vehicle monitoring the scene. He is not told to move away by Baimanarama's thuggish guards.

Why is this important?

Sources have told us that the vehicle is registered to the Legal Aid Commission. It is clear it used by the bodyguards as a back-up vehicle. No private vehicle, apart from authorised vehicles of ministers and MPs, are allowed to park or enter Constitution Avenue when Parliament is sitting. Both ends of the roads are blocked, so this vehicle was within the blocked area.

Now this is where things get interesting. The man who gets out of the vehicle is no lawyer but a trained military officer, who is part of Attorney General and Bainimarama's right hand man, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum's security detail. His name and rank is Sergeant Kenawai.

Why is a Legal Aid Commission vehicle being used by bodyguards of both Bainimarama and Khaiyum? Surely Khaiyum has authorised it as the Legal Aid Commission comes under the Ministry of Justice, which is under Khaiyum's control.

Now, is that not abuse of taxpayers funds!

Did Khaiyum know of Bainimarama's planned attack on Tikoduadua? You be the judge. 

It has just been proven that the two-man rule of Bai and Kai will go to lengths to abuse taxpayers funds and protect themselves.

Nobody else matters to them.

Beddoes's questions Speaker of Parliament's inaction with Bainimarama assault case

OPEN LETTER TO THE SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT, THE CHAIR OF THE PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE, THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
CASE OF ASSAULT OF HON PIO TIKODUADUA

It is now 17 days since the assault took place and 4 days since the video showing the actual ‘assault was released to the public.

In light of the ‘inaction thus far I will assume that you have paid no attention to your individual obligations under the 2013 constitution and therefore I have taken the liberty to spell it out for you.

Sec 26 Right to equality and freedom from discrimination
(1) Every person is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection, treatment and benefit of the law.

(2) Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms recognized in this Chapter or any other written law.

(3) A person must not be unfairly discriminated against, directly or indirectly on the grounds of his or her—
(a) actual or supposed personal characteristics or circumstances, including race, culture, ethnic or social origin, colour, place of origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, birth, primary language, economic or social or health status, disability, age, religion, conscience, marital status or pregnancy; or
(b) opinions or beliefs, except to the extent that those opinions or beliefs involve harm to others or the diminution of the rights or freedoms of others, or on any other ground prohibited by this Constitution.

(4) A law or an administrative action taken under a law may not directly or indirectly impose a limitation or restriction on any person on a prohibited ground.

(5) Every person has the right of access, membership or admission, without discrimination on a prohibited ground, to shops, hotels, lodging-houses, public restaurants, places of public entertainment, clubs, education institutions, public transportation services, taxis and public places.

(6) The proprietor of a place or service referred to in subsection (5) must facilitate reasonable access for persons with disabilities to the extent prescribed by law.

(7) Treating one person differently from another on any of the grounds prescribed under subsection (3) is discrimination, unless it can be established that the difference in treatment is not unfair in the circumstances.

Mr Speaker and Madam Chair of the Parliamentary Privileges Committee, when your predecessors dealt with Ratu Naiqama’s case, for saying 2 words in a political meeting in Nasinu in 2015, they took just 7 days to call the Privileges Committee into session, drew up their terms of reference, conduct their meetings, arrive at a conclusion, and presented their findings and justification for his expulsion and despite calls from the opposition to play the audio of the meeting which was the main evidence before the matter was put to the vote, the Speaker who was party to Ratu Naiqama’s alleged ‘crime did not recuse herself and instead presided over the proceedings where the Fiji First majority and the Speaker took on the role of prosecutors, jury, judge and executioners and Ratu Naiqama was suspended for 2 years and lost all allowances and salaries and privileges as an elected representative of the people.

For Hon Tupou Draunidalo it took the same officials just 3 days in their roles of prosecutors, jury, judge and executioners to suspend Hon Draunidalo for the remainder of her parliamentary term which was also more than 2 years.

The Parliamentary process proceeded and was concluded without any waiting for or involvement of the Police, Ratu Naiqama’s alleged utterances was in Nasinu. The incident involving Hon Tikoduadua and the Prime Minister was in the Parliament Car Park, the video is clear as daylight.

Commissioner of Police, you had a lot to say when Felix Anthony and the FTUC were trying to get a permit to protest the ADB Conference and in the wake of the Water Authority dispute, yet when it comes to the PM assaulting the President of a political party, which is captured on camera, you have had almost nothing to say about this national embarrassment?

The credibility and the integrity of the Parliamentary process and the independence of our police force is at stake and the people are watching. Each of you owe your positions to the Prime Minister, and therefore none of you can act impartially or with neutrally in this matter and you must all step aside including the Attorney General.

By removing or recusing yourselves from any involvement in this matter and allowing 3 neutral and independent persons to act in your place, you will in effect help protect the integrity of parliament and the police and demonstrate to all that the due process adopted is fair, transparent and just.

To do otherwise will just be a sham!

Statement from C4.5

14 hours ago Shailendra Raju threatened to reveal who runs Coup Fourpointfive for publishing the video evidence of thug Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama assaulting NFP MP and President Pio Tikoduadua, within the precincts of Parliament on August 9.

MP Lynda Tabuya endorsed Raju’s threat, posting comments supporting his threat to reveal the identity of the person(s) operating this site - which has been in existence and the source of truth for the people of Fiji since April 2009, when the military regime clamped down on the media. Did we see Mr Raju or Tabuya back then? No.

We can imagine Raju being peeved (he said he had the video and had even talked to media about it but chose not to run it), but Tabuya is a lawyer and SODELPA’s whip, who should know better about supporting calls that go against freedom of speech in a country that has been under the rule of a military strongman for the past 13 years.

We welcome debate, but Fiji has too long been weakened by people practising liu muri, shifting camp when it suits their agenda or when they haven’t thought something through.

As a result of C4.5 releasing the video for people to see for themselves that Bainimarama did verbally and physically assault Pio Tikoduadua as he had reported to the Speaker and Police, international - and more importantly Fiji media – wrote stories that were not propaganda. They wrote stories that showed they saw through the lies of Bainimarama, that revealed his thuggish behaviour, and these stories made it to the front pages.

Such accurate and free media coverage has not been seen in Fiji for a very long time. This progress needs to be celebrated and encouraged, not undermined by Facebook posts that play into the hands of Frank Bainimarama and those working to him to keep Fiji citizens oppressed.

Because for the first time in a very long time, Fiji media is doing their job – covering and writing stories that question the actions and lies of Bainimarama – with journalists writing without fear about life in a country taken by force by military in 2006.

So, let's work together to bring back real democracy to Fiji
instead of threatening each other, promoting claims that have no basis to them,and which give Bainimarama something to hide behind.