Fiji's Censorship and Deeper Darkness During Diwali

By Professor Wadan Narsey

The Hindus of Fiji have just celebrated the festival of Diwali: sharing food, sweets and companionship with families, friends and neighbours. 

Long a national holiday, Diwali, like Christmas, has become a joyous festival for all races and religions, with diya and electric lights brightening up the night.

For Hindus, Diwali is associated with the celebration of Prince Ram’s return to Ayodhya after his unjust banishment and exile, with diyas lit to welcome him back.

Speeches by Fiji’s leaders highlighted that Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, representing the victory of truth over ignorance.

But no leader spoke of the deeper darkness of media censorship imposed by Bainimarama’s military dictatorship, hiding the truth about the disasters besetting Fiji.

The few Diwali delights
Certainly, many Indo-Fijians are happy that Bainimarama keeps talking about wanting racial equality in Fiji.  Here at last, is a Fijian Prime Minister who seems to want Indo-Fijian culture to share centre stage with others in Fiji. 

Many Indo-Fijians, after a century of being made to feel that they are forever vulagi, are happy that they can call themselves “Fijians”. 

A few are pleased that they don’t have to fill out the ethnicity space in the immigration arrival and departure cards.  Great!

There appears to be reduced random violence around the country and a greater sense of personal security amongst ordinary Indo-Fijians.  And that is most valued.

Tourism Fiji might even include Diwali in their advertisements abroad, and an Indian face or two might make it into their posters.

After four years in power, the Bainimarama Government is now talking about merging scholarship systems for indigenous Fijians with those for the Others. 

Great, but already indigenous Fijians are more than 62% of the population, and a financially struggling Government will have great difficulty giving scholarships to all who deserve it, indigenous or otherwise.

And that’s about it - the sum total of Diwali delights for Indo-Fijians after four years of the Bainimarama Government.

Bainimarama claimed that he would enforce a non-racial electoral system, and there is indeed consensus on a “one-person one vote”, proportional system.  But Bainimarama is in no hurry to implement it.

Bainimarama claimed to deliver land reform, but there is nothing in sight after four years: other than an unfulfilled Land Bank proposal.  There is also an unwise promise of 99 year leases, by which time the land-owners’ children will be dead as well, and Indo-Fijian farmers an extinct species and distant memory in Fiji.

So what else has Bainimarama offered Fiji for four years since his 2006 coup?

The Charter Cloak of Darkness
Bainimarama did the 2006 coup claiming widespread corruption and electoral fraud.  Four years later, no great evidence has been found.

Bainimarama claimed that no military personnel would benefit from his coup.  But he personally, has enjoyed all the perks of being Prime Minister and Finance Minister (official and on the side); and a little icing on his cake, $184 thousands of back-pay for 30 years of leave allegedly not taken. 

His (remaining) senior military personnel have benefited enormously from this coup, through huge increases in salary and perks, and appointments to better paying senior civil service positions.

Bainimarama keeps repeating his hollow mantra - that Fiji will be guided by the principles of the Charter and the Roadmap. 

But contrary to the very first paragraph of the Charter,  the 1997 Constitution was abrogated last year when the Court of Appeal judgment went against Bainimarama.

While one of the pillars of the Charter is that the Fiji Government will abide by the principles of transparency and accountability to the people of Fiji, that ideal has been trashed for four years now and continues to be trashed every day. Not a whimper from the Charter supporters.

Bainimarama has stopped the release of all the recent the Auditor General’s Reports, and all the other Reports on the disasters at FNPF, Natadola, Momi and FSC.

He has long stopped the audit of the Regimental Funds, thought to have been abused by virtually all the Military Commanders.

Without any public emergency in sight, an illegal Military President mindlessly keeps signing the Public Emergency Decree and enforcing media censorship.

Despite Diwali, the Fiji public will not be allowed to see any light of knowledge, or publicly meet and freely discuss any of the huge disasters created by the Bainimarama Government.

Disasters in the Darkness
It is only when you put them together and estimate the total cost, that the full scale of Fiji’s disaster becomes evident, much due to Bainimarama’s coup.

*    in just four since 2006, a loss of more than one thousand million dollars ($1.2 billion) of national income, because our economy has not grown and has probably contracted;

*    consequently, a loss of more than $300 millions of potential government revenue, and potential expenditure on health, education, poverty alleviation, etc;

*    a write-off of $300 millions in FNPF’s investments in Natadola and Momi, and more to come (public cannot seen any reports)

*    likely taxpayers’ loss of $300 millions to cover the mistakes made at FSC by this Military Government’s appointees since 2006; (and what exactly did that Deloitte Report cost, telling the sugar industry what it already knew?)

*    loss of $300 millions of EU funds to help the sugar industry and develop alternative livelihoods in the rural areas, because Bainimarama arrogantly and callously refused to hold elections in 2009 (who cares about the lives of 100 thousand, mostly Indo-Fijian people, depending on the sugar industry?)

*    loss of $150 millions of tax-payers’ funds through unlawful military over-expenditure from 2006 to 2009 (taxpayers are not allowed to see the Auditor General’s Reports).

*    another $30 millions lost through illegal over-expenditure by the previous Police Commissioner; (tax-payers are not allowed to see the Auditor Generals’ Reports).

*    combined with the refusal to reduce the illegally expanded military expenditure, the falling government revenues, and the need to spend money to cover the disasters at FSC, will ensure that there will be even larger increases in Public Debt that Bainimarama and Khaiyum will callously pass on to the future generations, in a few weeks, with yet another illegal budget (no questions to be allowed);

*    illegal decisions made by this Military Government, on the sale and purchase of tax-payers’ assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars; issuing and cancellation of contracts worth hundreds of millions; questionable changes in the education system; questionable allocations of public funds to special interest groups; plans to introduce socially evil industries like casinos;  (cost unknown)

*    the continuing destructive undermining of civil service professionalism through arbitrary firing of civil servants without any considerations of natural justice and rights of appeal; appointments of friends and cronies to top positions; and a steady drain of good civil servants (Fijian and Indo-Fijian) who can easily find jobs elsewhere and do (cost unknown)

*    the continuing appointment of military personnel to key positions, who by their very military training are unable to question doubtful decisions made at the top, so obey mindlessly; (cost unknown)

*    the continuing undermining of the professionalism and the international marketability of the Fiji Military Forces, which has effectively become a private militia swearing personal allegiance to Bainimarama, and not to an elected Government, and Fiji taxpayers who pay their salaries. (cost unknown);

*    continuing undermining of civil service financial procedures, with Ministers (including Bainimarama and Khaiyum) allegedly being paid multiple salaries through a private accounting firm related to Aiyaz Khaiyum; (cost unknown)

*    the continuing political damage to Fiji’s traditional ties with neighbors and donors (Australia, NZ, EU) and organisations (Commonwealth, Forum Secretariat and MSG); with economic losses resulting (lost aid, banned from Commonwealth Games etc). (cost unknown).

What do all these disasters add up to?
Easily more than $2,000 millions - or half the GDP of Fiji. 

The National Bank of Fiji disaster (which cost a mere $200 millions or so) was peanuts compared to what Fiji is facing now.

A once leading legal light, today passionately preaches and quite rightly about corporate accountability, constantly pleading that Fiji learn from the NBF disaster and the Agriculture Scam.  But she conveniently ignores the bigger disasters right before her very eyes - but then she started the Bainimarama coup rolling with a coup in the judiciary.

The sad fact is that Bainimarama and Khaiyum have already been running Fiji for four years.  Had theirs been a normal elected government, there would be elections this year.

Would a Bainimarama/Khaiyum Government be ever elected, given their record above?
It is no wonder that Bainimarama and Khaiyum want to hang on to power for another four years, without any accountability to tax-payers.
 
They will continue to rush around the country, making noble speeches, being garlanded by the ever servile business community, increasing numbers of provincial councils,  and narrow vested groups. 

Bainimarama will feed them generously with tax-payers’ money, in return for statements of support.

But Bainimarama should get his Ministry of Information to dig out similar photos of all past Prime Ministers, Finance Ministers and Attorney Generals.

All were similarly garlanded, and often similarly surrounded by the same faces. And when the tide turned, the same smiling faces deserted to the new holders of power.

Ask Rabuka and Qarase.  They left mixed legacies, some good, but mistakes as well.

But at least, voters voted them in to govern on their behalf; and voters must share responsibility for whatever mistakes they made; and the leaders were ultimately accountable to the voters, at the next election.

But Fiji’s voters and taxpayers did not ask Bainimarama and Khaiyum to govern Fiji.

It is surely clear now, that Bainimarama and Khaiyum (and all their collaborators) have no intention whatsoever of being accountable to the tax-payers for what they are doing now to Fiji.

They no doubt plan to walk smugly away, after they have had their fill at the tax-payers’ trough.

They care little about the gutted FNPF, the destroyed FSC and the sugar industry, the increased Public Debt, the increased poverty, and the thoughtless destruction of all the national social and economic institutions, with nothing to replace them.

Where’s the good governance?
How sad that the accounting and auditing bodies (like the Fiji Institute of Accountants) have not uttered a word for this military government to be accountable to its tax-payers. 

Instead, their leading lights actively collaborate with the government, in return for directorships and business contracts.

All the three universities in Fiji now have academic courses to ensure that all graduates fully appreciate the critical importance of principles of good governance, ethnics, transparency and accountability to the tax-payers who pay their costs.

Yet no University management in Fiji has publicly stood up for academic freedom, and called for an end to the damaging media censorship that contradicts all the principles of good governance, transparency and accountability.

University managements in Fiji placidly accept that they must obtain permits before they can organize academic conferences, public seminars or departmental retreats, to discuss academic issues.

That same disregard is shown by most organisations in Fiji, such as Principals’ Associations, that have their annual meetings to discuss future directions, and how to create the good young leaders of tomorrow!

The Darkness during Diwali
For two successive Diwalis this military government has spouted the hollow rhetoric that Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, and truth over ignorance. 

But their media censorship throws a deeper darkness over Fiji, that no Diwali celebration is going to dispel.

It may be noted however, that Diwali is also about forgiving those who do wrong.

There are no truly evil people in this world, just evil deeds, many resulting from very human people thoughtlessly taking just one wrong turn on the hard road of life.

The coups of 1987, 2000 and 2006 are replete with such persons, from all the major ethnic groups in Fiji, from all the classes, and all the professions.

Most coup supporters have eventually regretted what they did, when they realised the evil consequences of the coups.

All of Fiji’s religions encourage those who have taken the wrong road, to turn back.

Those who did and supported the 2000 and 1987 coups need to seek genuine forgiveness and reconciliation with those they wronged.

Those who have supported the 2006 coup and its Charter, and who now see the light, need to help bring Fiji back from the brink, to bring back true transparency and accountability to the Military Government, to remove the Public Emergency Decree and media censorship, and to help throw light into our current darkness.

That would give festivals such as Diwali a more meaningful significance in our lives.

Bank governor Sada Reddy is no longer at his post

Reddy allegedly secretly transferred thousands into his NZ bank account

 
BY VICTOR LAL

Sada Reddy, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, is no longer at his post as the custodian of the country’s financial system.

Inia Naiyaga is expected to be brought in as  the Acting Governor. Coupfourpointfive understands the illegal regime is to make an official announcement in due course.

According to highly reliable sources inside the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Reddy had allegedly transferred thousands of dollars to his private bank account in New Zealand last year, shortly before he devalued the valueless Fijian dollar.

On 9 April 2009, the Fiji dollar lost its value by 20 per cent. So while the poor feared more hunger and loss of employment, the man who devalued the Fiji dollar had the previous day allegedly secretly funnelled his own money, to the tune of $850,000 into his New Zealand private bank account, where his family reside, and he holds permanent residency.

The RBF’s Financial Intelligence Unit, tasked with the job of  monitor money-laundering, according to the reliable bank sources, turned a blind eye to the alleged money transfer.

More information as we get it.

Leweni back in the ranks

There's been another changing of the guards in the military junta.

Neumi Leweni, who was made Permanent Secretary of Lands, has been brought back to the front line.

According to the Ministry of Information, Leweni will resume duties within the Military Forces from next Monday.

The Ministry statement says "the move is in line with statements previously made by the Prime Minister, that any Military Officer  seconded to serve in the Government would return once they have completed the duties they were assigned. "

The statement goes on to say "Leweni, has been dedicated to the reforms the government is undertaking and has made a considerable contribution towards improving service delivery within the Ministries he has served in."
 

The Ministry says Filimone Kau, the Deputy Secretary of the SFCCO, has now been appointed Acting Permanent Secretary of Lands.

Fiji news and truth as you know it

Another example of the unfortunate loss of media freedom in Fiji and the insiduous rule of the illegal regime.

The Fiji Sun newspaper, dodgy at the best of times because of its unabashed support for the illegal regime and advertising dollars, has today printed a story headlined 'Chief calls for Government support.'

The chief named is Ro Teimumu Kepa, of Rewa, who we know has this year been in the wars with the regime over a legitimate show of defiance against a Frank Bainimarama ruling to ban any gatherings, especially those by the Methodist Church.

So the Fiji Sun story raises questions, when they quote her as calling on her people to support the Government.

The occassion was the Rewa Provincial Council meeting at the Burenivudi in Lomanikoro Village, in Rewa, and she is reported as saying: "We should always show our support for any government that comes into power."

One can either doubt this outright or surmise that her  comment was a cautious, if not diplomatic one, that must've come after one the former minister in the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party, hailed the regime for bringing new roads, water and other improvements to Rewa. 

Whichever it is, it's fair to say the Fiji media is these days making readers sift through the 'facts' for themselves to find the truth.


So much for the regime boasting that its media decree would lift professional standards in the industry.

Fiji's illegal lawmakers open conference to New Zealand Law Society

Fiji's illegal regime continues to try to convince the outside world, especially its neighbours, that is has things well in hand and that there's no cause for concern.

The illegally-appointed solicitor general, Christopher Pryde, has now invited the New Zealand Law Society to visit the country to observe for itself the state of law there.

New Zealand's law society president, Jonathan Temm, has been asked to attend the 12th annual Fiji Attorney-General’s Conference in Nadi next month, an invitation that comes on the heels of the society denouncing the regime for compromising the independence of the judiciary.

The Attorney-General’s conference is normally attended by members of the Fijian judiciary and legal profession, diplomats and policy-makers so Pryde is opening it up to New Zealand to sell the ground-breaking work supposedly being achieved under the regime's direction.

According to today's statement, Temm will have the opportunity to exchange views with Pryde and members of the legal profession. Which ones we ask? Those handpicked by the regime to endorse its view that there is justice in Fiji and that they didn't take a sledgehammer to the judiciary?

The regime's track record has been worse than shabby and include the abrogation of the Constitution, the introduction of illegal decrees and the dismissal of a number of magistrates, including one who questioned the propriety of a prosecution by the Independent Commission against Corruption.

The case is known to the New Zealand Law Society, which has also embraced a Law and Justice report by the Citizens Constitutional Forum that found the regime had dismissed 40 judicial officers and five magistrates in the year to April 2010.

Laughably, the country's key illegal lawmakers yesterday gathered to welcome a new community law centre in Suva.

At the signing of the MOU with the University of the South Pacific, the illegally-appointed attorney general Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum had the gall to say that democracy is not simply about going to elections but having access to justice.

According to FijiVillage, he said the center will be free to  people who can't afford the services of a lawyer, albeit under the care of a final USP law students who is being supervised by a qualified lawyer.

Sayed Khaiyum says the opportunity will allow law students to have a sense of community spirit as they serve the marginalized group who are usually neglected, adding the centre is part of the process in gaining just services.

Pryde, who also chairs the Legal Aid Commission, piped up to say the center - which doesn't open until next year - will operate as a law firm committed to access to justice and the promotion of legal literacy among the people of Fiji.

There are none so blind as those who've destroyed the natural order to create one that suits their crooked vision.

Pictures: Illegal lawmakers - Pryde (at top) and Sayed Khaiyum at yesterday's talks for a new community law centre in Suva. (fijivillage pic)

Young People's Network welcomes Clinton's comments

The Young Peoples Concerned Network has welcomed suggestions by the United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, to Fiji's military leaders that they return Fiji to  Democracy and respect the human rights of its citizens.

"Since the purported abrogation of Fiji's Constitution, the YPCN have faced limitations to its work and still face a large-scale media ban."

"Also on many level's, the YPCN has been pushed out of regional and national youth development forums due to a blacklist maintained by the Ministry of Information and Defense that limit the movement and speech of certain persons/organizations by way of permits and censoring. This also meant that the YPCN, as a youth group, cannot hold the State accountable to its many false promises on Youth and demand more transparency on youth development funds."

The YPCN also welcomed support by the United States and Australia on 'inclusive dialogue processes' as a means to restoring democracy in Fiji. 

In a statement, the organisation said, "dialogue without the common Military Agenda and Preconceived Outcomes is possibly the only solution to a  deadlock in taking Fiji forward domestically."

"At a 'Youth Summit' in October, organised by Government, YPCN members and Youth Advocates were warned by a high level Government official to work within the Military Governments Decrees, Strategic Framework for Change and the Peoples Charter or risk isolation and further censorship. 

"The YPCN and other pro-democracy advocates were also threatened to work within the Military Agenda "especially if you want to live long"."

"This, in addition to countless documented acts of intimidation, arrests and damaging of property, the YPCN has been forced to self censor and regulate its own work in line with the safety of its members."

"As we celebrate the International Year of Youth, Fiji's Military Government has done very little to protect and effectively engage young people."

"Instead youth are the target of instilled State driven village bylaws that limit youth participation, freedoms and emancipation; there is also a huge hindrance in allowing youth access to democratic processes and full exercise of their rights by way of the extension of the Public Emergency Regulations, Decrees and institutionalized impunity by State Officials."

"Suddenly talk of a Decree to shape youth policy, government commitment to youth, and its possibility of regulating youth organizations and activists has become the immediate threat to our work."

"The YPCN stands ready to work within the framework of a pathway that is free of the PER and inclusive of all wide aspects of our society, leading to the restoration of a Constitutional Parliamentary Democracy as a priority."

FDFM responds to Sharon Smith Johns re Radio Australia story

Below is a statement issued by the Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement in response to Sharon  Sharon Smith Johns reaction to  "Viliame", an Australian visa applicant interviewed on Radio Australia last week.

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The illegal Government spokesman Sharon Smith’s reaction to one Viliame on Radio
Australia last week was very irresponsible and insensitive.

The Fiji Government should be more concerned and come up with answers as to why
thousands of Fijians are leaving Fiji and seeking greener pastures overseas?

The over 2000 applications from Fiji citizens currently clogging the Australian Refugee
Review Tribunal’s system is not, to quote her exact words, ‘a handful of people’ .

Instead of brushing aside Viliame’s claims, the illegal self appointed leaders of Fiji
should ask themselves, what is wrong here? Why are people leaving Fiji in large
numbers?

They must be reminded that it is their responsibility to look after Fiji’s people and
their plight wherever they are because these are Fiji’s Citizen. It is the Bainimarama
Regime’s duty as the wannabe and self appointed Fiji Government to look after Fiji’s
citizens whether they are in Suva, Sydney or the South Pole.

If they want to relieve themselves of the obligation of looking after Fiji’s citizens, then
they should do the honourable thing and stop collecting taxes or better still resign
their positions and open the way for those better suited and with the right attitude to
replace them as public servants.

There are many things seriously wrong with Fiji and the whole world knows about it
except those who deliberately deny it. And those who do so are the ones benefitting
the most from it such as Sharon Smith.

The current illegal administration made an illegal power grab in December 2006
based on wild unsubstantiated claims of corruption. It is now four years and they
have not managed to successfully prosecute any members of the deposed government
on corruption.

Therefore, their reason for their continued existence is constantly changing and the
flavour of the moment is economic reform. In the last four years, the Bainimarama
regime have mismanaged the economy and brought a lot of misery and suffering
upon the people. In the mean time they continue to live a life of abundance in their
ivory towers.

With no one to answer to, they have gone about their ill thought-out decisions
without regards for the consequence of their decisions.

A report commissioned by the Fiji Islands Bureau of Statistics and produced by Dr
Wandan Narsey recently indicated the incidence of poverty have increased from 27%
in 2006 to 31% by 2008-09. Economic commentators are expecting another big
increase by the year end due to the imminent collapse of the Sugar Industry.

The collapse of the sugar industry was avoidable given the European Union had
approved a grant of 300 million Euros to rescue the sugar industry. A condition of
‘election first’ was placed on this grant following the 2006 coup which Bainimarama
has stubbornly refused to meet.

Results of Dr Narsey’s study has indicated that back in 2003-04 rural people already
make up 63% of those classified as poor in Fiji. This percent has risen to 71% by
2008-09. What will the result be given the current state of the Sugar Industry?

Those that can afford to are leaving Fiji by the plane load because no one wants to
live under a dictatorship where basic rights and freedom are not allowed. Neither do
they want to watch their families’ living standard drop as they become innocent
victims of the illegal power grab.

Economically and politically displaced people from Fiji are now scattered all over
Australia working in factories, railway lines and fruit farms. These people do not want
to leave their families and love ones behind. However, they have no choice but to
leave our shores in search of income to sustain their families back home.

The Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement have come across many professionals
who have laboured for years in educational institutions and secured jobs in the public
service as teachers, air traffic controllers and custom officers and are now picking fruits
on Australian farms. They have been forced off their dream careers to go overseas
and seek work because they have lost jobs or life has become unsustainable since the
coup of 2006 given the 10% pay cut, 10% devaluation of the dollar and the
increasing cost of living brought about by Bainimarama’s decisions.

The Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement keeps a close tab on the opinion of the
people in Fiji and have noticed a mood shift take hold since April last year. There is
now a much greater sense of hopelessness as daily survival becomes more challenging
for the average person. Even those living in rural areas are finding it hard to survive in
an environment where people are expected to sustain themselves from natural food
sources.

Sharon Smith is an Australian expatriate that got paid a six digit salary while managing
Connect Internet. She has lived a grand life rubbing shoulders with the elite on the
cocktail circuit for the last ten years. She will never know nor understand the real Fiji
where the majority now live as marginalised poor.

Sharon Smith has never lived on a $90 a week wages nor have a bath from a bucket
every morning, living in a makeshift squatter settlement. She does not have the worry
of eviction permanently lodged in her subconscious. That is why she will not
understand why Fijians are leaving in droves for overseas.

We challenge her to forsake her luxury lifestyle and go and lives with a family at the
Wailea Squatter settlement for a month? It is so easy for her to speak with that tone
of arrogance and insult our dignity sitting in the air-condition office of Government
Buildings far removed from the realities of life.

Sharon Smith and her master should at least be grateful because without these
remittances, the economy and their dictatorship would have faced a financial
collapsed long ago. According to Dr Narsey’s research, remittance stood at almost
$280 million in 2009.

In a hypothetical situation, let us assume very conservatively that the Fiji Remittance
Income money multiplier is 5, that $280 million would have generated economic
activity of $1,250 million. In other words, the spin off from these remittances would
have generated an extra $970 million of net income in Fiji’s economy. A very senior
economist we consulted have highlighted that the multiplier for remittance earnings
would be much higher than for tourism, and probably higher than sugar as well- since
remittances is pure net income earned from overseas

The Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement calls for a change in direction
immediately. It demands that Voreqe Bainimarama’s resign as Military Commander
and as Prime Minister because he has in the last four years of self appointed
leadership, proven to be a conniving, corrupt individual who has demonstrated his
lack of capability, and transparency. The recent ‘Open Budget Survey’ and Fiji’s
bottom of the table ranking of zero among the 100 nations surveyed is the most
recent embarrassing example of his leadership style.

Bainimarama, like any military dictator, has quickly accumulated enormous wealth for
himself and his cronies at the expense of those easily marginalised in society such as
the workers, the poor, the rural dwellers and the voiceless and it is time for him to
go.

The Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement calls for the appointment of a neutral
bi-partisan caretaker government as recommended in the Fiji Court of Appeal
Judgement of Qarase and Others v Bainimarama and Others of 2009 to lead the
country, allow for a public open consultation of electoral reforms under UN and
Commonwealth supervision, and a general election as soon as possible. The
Movement also calls for the immediate resumption of basic human rights and
freedom as guaranteed under the Bill of Rights of the 1997 Constitution immediately.

Secretariat FDFM

Fiji's illegal leader: Gillard changed tune

By Nicky Park, AAP South Pacific Correspondent

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has "changed her tune" on the political climate in Fiji, says the nation's self-appointed leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

On Monday, Ms Gillard said she remained very sceptical of Fiji's promise to hold an election in 2014.

Commodore Bainimarama, who seized power in a 2006 coup, told FijiLive Monday's comments didn't reflect the opinion Ms Gillard held on the Pacific nation before she stepped in to power.

 

"It's a change of tune from what she said when she first came into power, that she would engage Fiji," Commodore Bainimarama told the local news website on Tuesday morning.
Ms Gillard said it was important for Australia, the United States and other nations to work together on Fiji to try to ensure the poll was held.

Her comment followed reports that the US and some other countries had talked directly with Fiji's government, bypassing moves to diplomatically isolate Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, installed in a coup.

"We have our plans in place and they have their policy of isolation, I don't think these two will work," Commodore Bainimarama said.

"The US should engage Fiji directly and work with us, it will not work if they are to come through New Zealand and Australia. It will not work as these two countries do not have any high commissions here and secondly, they have failed miserably in trying to engage Fiji with their foreign policies."

Gillard: keep pressure on Fiji

CANBERRA, Nov 8 AAP - Australia remains very sceptical of Fiji's promise to hold an election in 2014, says Prime Minister Julia Gillard.


Ms Gillard said on Monday it was important for Australia, the United States and other nations to work together on Fiji to try to ensure the poll was held.


Her comment followed reports that the US and some other countries had talked directly with Fiji's government, bypassing moves to diplomatically isolate Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, installed in a coup.


Ms Gillard said when it came to Fiji, Australia supported pressure being maintained so that democratic elections were held.


"The Australian government is very sceptical that the elections which are supposed to be held in 2014 will actually occur," Ms Gillard told reporters.


"It's important to us, to the US, to the world generally, that we keep working together to maximise pressure on Fiji to give the Fijian people the appropriate opportunity to go out, exercise a vote and pick their government."


Ms Gillard said this would be discussed with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton now in Australia for the annual Australia-US ministerial talks.


"The best thing is for us to be discussing is how we can best work together so we can maximise the pressure on Fiji," she said.

Showtime as the US calls Bainimarama's bluffs

By Jone Baledrokadroka former land commander now studying at ANU

 US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s announcement in Melbourne yesterday that Washington is working with Canberra to press Fiji's military rulers to restore democracy, flies in the face of those wanting rapprochement with the Fiji military regime.

This volley-across-the-bow of illegality has come at a time when there has been much propaganda to grant regional and international acceptance of Bainimarama’s illegal rule.

Clinton further dampened coup apologists ‘Look North’ policy by revealing that the US is also working with Asian nations to persuade Suva to reintroduce democratic government.

In the past months as the Fijian economy plummeted, the regime spin doctors have even tried to somehow infer by association that there has been a sea change in US` policy towards their illegal regime.

Clinton’s emphatic retort,"We are going to be working together with Australia to persuade the military government in Suva to meet its commitment to bring democracy back to Fiji," and that “that process would need to involve giving Fijians greater political freedoms” will no doubt rankle with the regime and its elections 2014 mantra.

More so, Clinton’s wish to cut through the illegalities: "In the short term we would like to see steps that advance political freedom such as allowing professional civilians to return to return to key government ministries" strikes hard at the militarization of an ever unaccountable  government without fiscal transparency.

Bainimarama’s regime is desperately gasping for the oxygen of international legitimacy and should understand that the renewal of friendly relations between close neigbours by playing the China card, or creating cheap tantrums, will not turn a trick.

In the short term, Clinton’s policy statement on Fiji will create great unease in Suva. Fiji has  339 soldiers serving in the Multinational Forces and Observers in Sinai Egypt so is at the mercy of the US granting further mandates.

Just as disconcerting for the regime is the US withdrawal from Iraq where Fiji has a compliment of 245 soldiers with UNAMI. Like the Congo, Iraq will want to rid itself as soon as possible of the bane of international peacekeepers as peace is restored. The United Nations no new future peacekeeping deployment policy for Fiji  is still extant and will sting Bainimarama’s loyal constituency, the handsomely paid military.

As the most powerful of the five  permanent members of the Security Council, the US has had a huge cudgel to wield in global peacekeeping operations. Again, Fiji is at her mercy should Washington play hardball.
The withdrawing of all international civilian security contractors from Afghanistan as of January next year has added remittances implications for Bainimarama’s flailing government.

Indeed, ex-Fijian soldiers serving in droves in that troubled nation will not take kindly to a return as low paying security guards in Fiji's crime ridden poverty stricken urban cities.

Fiji has built a reputation of being the good international citizen with her Peacekeeping troops. The four years of lies perpetrated on its own people by the regime has seriously eroded Fiji’s reserve of international political capital.

The US, Australia, and New Zealand have had a strong hand in the building of Fiji’s international acceptance as peacekeepers, including excellent training and logistics support.   

What our tinpot dictator must understand is that the US, with  its global democratic allies and institutions, always had more and better cards to play so can deal to his petty bluffs.

Clinton’s reiterated US policy in concert with Australia on Fiji is crystal clear. The South Pacific will remain a western lake as it has always been post World War Two.

Ironically, the regime’s latest gambling casinos stop gap intention may well have tipped US interests to paying attention to a growing human security nest of issues in Fiji and the region.

US urges Fiji to return to democracy

MELBOURNE, Nov 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged Fiji's military regime to return the Pacific island nation to democracy.



"We're going to be working, together, with Australia to persuade the military government in Suva to meet its commitment to bring democracy back to Fiji," Clinton said in a speech in Melbourne, where she was attending defence and diplomatic talks with Australia.


Fiji's self-appointed Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama came to power in a coup 19 months ago and dismissed the country's judiciary and many public servants.


"In the short term, we would like to see steps that advance political freedoms, such as allowing professional civilians to return to key government ministries," Clinton said, according to a U.S. pool reporter.


Australia and New Zealand have repeatedly called for fresh elections promised by Bainimara, but he has delayed going to the polls.

$600,000 funding of the Ra plant reveals 'icy' nature of Fiji's illegal leader

PEELING BACK THE LAYERS: Bainimarama's character deeply embedded in favouritism.

Opinion piece by Suliasi Daunitutu

Our observations and assumptions are correct according to ANU senior fellow Dr Jon Frankel who not only lived and taught in Fiji (USP) he actually “lived” and observed a lot about our cultures and traditions in the 11 years he was there. 

Based on his intellectual findings and experience, not to mention his ongoing research and studies of the Melanesian people particularly the Fijian way of life, he has concluded that Bainimarama favours those who appease him while those who oppose are starved of funds and preferential treatment.

These findings agree with what we know and what we have witnessed in the events or developments that have been conceded by various districts/koros or yasanas in this past four years of biased and prejudiced governance.

And if we look closer we will see the nature of his character as one deeply embedded in prejudice or favouritism. He has shown that character in the army, in the choices of officers he keeps, his appointments to government, and an overall windvane deployment of his generosity according to who is going with the flow of his demands or instructions.

And if you don’t agree with him are, his preferences are the door (sacking), or a night at the army camp and a barrage of questions from officers whose qualifications don't correspond with their rank, and at worse, who are promoted around the tanoa bowl, or similar circumstances as Leweni was. It's a situation that can only be described as a lose-lose for all public servants.

But neither is the public sector free of his scrutiny either. And don't forget, his umbrella influence on the workforce denies all, of the “freedom of choice or speech".

In the case of the $600,000 ice plant for Ra, Bainimarama clearly displays that trait and there will be no one to stop him, not even the Minister for Rural Development. And you can forget his gutless Cabinet.

My thoughts will mean little as this project will go ahead regardless of the other parts of Fiji who so desperately need the fund more, but I will ask these questions.

1) Who will benefit from this project?  (I say Bainimarama in popularity dollars)

2) Is it necessary considering the other sectors who desperately await needed funds?

3) Is it sustainable?

4) Has there been necessary research or a feasibility study into the project to support its supposed sustainability and productivity?

I guess these are the question that could be asked about everything Bainimarama does.  There will be some who will find my opinion distasteful but my conclusion about the  preferential behaviour of Fiji's illegal leader is this:

Development and funding is good, but it has to be structural rather than preferential.   I might be wrong, but I think if the deployment of funds towards development is according to a set structure, than everything associated to that, can be operated in an uniformed manner – and that can itself police transparency, corruption and other termites that cause administrative decay.

Editor's Note: The ice plant is planned for the Namarai village in Nakorotubu next year and was announced by Bainimarama while opening the Ra Provincial Council meeting at Nanukuloa in Ra this week. The plant is expected to boost the earnings of fishermen by helping them store their fish. 

Picture: Originally ran with a satire piece by Lyndon Hood.