Aziz thesis: myth that military orders can't be questioned

In his thesis Military Culture, War Crimes and the Defence of Superior Orders, Mohammed Aziz acknowledges that soldiers can choose not to hide behind the 'do or die' maxim. Aziz, one of the senior military officers that helped plan and carry out the 2006 coup, writes that soldier's can 'question orders provided that such questions relate to the possibility of eliminating criminal acts or atrocities being committed when complying with orders.' He obviously chooses to continue following the orders of the treasonous Frank Bainimarama in spite of the crimes the regime has committed because it suits. The link to his 2008 thesis (we took a look at the first part several days ago) is at the end of the story. 

Liberian despot's fate proof Bainimarama's crimes will catch up with him

Fiji's illegal ruler has tried to reinvent himself as a legitimate leader but no makeover can change the fact Frank Bainimarama is an unelected leader ... an unprincipled military commander who used the army to take control of the country and who has kept citizens under this thumb for the past five years via the rule of the gun and illegal decrees. The fate of the Liberian despot, Charles Taylor, is a message to unsanctioned leaders like Bainimarama.  

Ro Teimumu might be Fiji's only answer but can key players come behind her?

Ro Teimumu has shown she can lead from the front but are SDL, FLP, unions, chiefs and the church prepared to relinquish their power base to allow her to take that lead?

Where to now? By Non Fijian

Every now and then we see statements from political leaders, comments from unionists, opinion pieces from democracy fighters and a few masterpieces from people like Professor Wadan Narsey regarding prevailing situations.

But there is no use going back to 2006 over and over again and trying to analyse how the political situation in Fiji unfolded.

A considered goner: Vorege Bainimarama in India

There is no doubt that two main political parties in Fiji today is SDL and FLP headed by Mahendra Chaudhry and Laisenia Qarase. But will - and can they - survive the political battle in Fiji today? From what we can see they are trying to show their presence in the political arena but are only making statements every now and then, nothing else.

'Irregularities' at the office of the Chief Registrar

Insiders say the Chief Registrar of the High Court, Ganga Irani Arachchi, is being investigated by FICAC after preliminary findings in an audit report found she requisitioned $38,000 worth of orders without obtaining proper authorization. 
 
Civil service rules allow department heads to purchase up to $20,000 worth of requisitions without authority. 

FNPF 'fiasco' shows new system was rushed

Attar Singh

Critics say fears the regime rushed the overhaul of the Fiji National Provident Fund have been proven with the fiasco over pensioners not getting the first payment as promised.

Mahendra Chaudh

There was wide protest last year when FNPF announced it was making reforms to the pension scheme under a new decree, but the changes went ahead on March 1 despite submissions saying the plan was flawed.

Mick Beddoes

The Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions says the whole process was not only rushed and forced on people but the decree also prevents anyone from challenging the amendments.

Desperate pensioners told to go home and wait

Last Monday's queue. pic Fiji Times

Distressed pensioners who've been queuing outside the Fiji National Provident Fund in Suva for their money have been shooed off by the chief executive, Aisake Taito.

He's told them to go home and wait to be called.

Aisake Taito

Pensioners have been queuing outside the FNPF building since last Monday when they were supposed to have gotten their money.

The first payment of the new age based system was then supposed to have been made on Friday, then Saturday and then today. 

Taito has blamed internal glitches but there is growing anger at the incompetence of FNPF. There is also talk FNPF has run out of money. The illegal leader, Frank Bainimarama, left the country for India last week without a backward look at the FNPF fiasco.

FBC says it arrived at about three o'cock to find another long queue today and not long after Taito showed up, telling staff to get the names and phone numbers of all those waiting for their money.  Pensioners were then told to go home, and wait for FNPF to call.

FBC says Taito was overheard telling pensioners 'it will do them no good to wait around, or waste their money coming to Suva'.

Aziz calls for 'Fiji spirit' but doctoral thesis reveals his own failure to address the truth

Ours is not to question, ours is to do or die: Aziz with Bainimarama and Aseri Rokoura. Below with Ana Rokomokoti.

“We need a new Fiji." That's the call from the RFMF's chief of staff, Brigadier General Mohammed Aziz.

And yet, Aziz could not answer directly in his own thesis a most critical question that continues to dog Fiji - why does the army allow itself to be used by coupmakers and can soldiers hide behind the Defence of Superior Orders?

Aziz addressed cadets during a passing-out parade at Navua a few days ago saying Fiji was at a time where we needed "total commitment to all that we pursue, particularly, when we sense a constraint in our social, political and economical structure.'

“Fiji needs a new spirit," he said. "We need sound judgment and understanding. We need clear hearts and minds. We need a new Fiji. Given the constant pressure and hardships we face, we the leaders of our societies, teachers and parents can expect the soaring demands at the end of the day. 

"But it is not something we should all be pessimistic about. Rather it something that we should face up to and rise to the challenges, so that we can be confident that our future generations are best prepared to deal with whatever lies ahead.”

Yet in his 2008 thesis looking at why soldiers follows orders from superiors taking refuge behind the saying ‘Ours is not to reason why, ours is to do or die', Aziz fails to explore honestly the situation in Fiji, preferring instead to look at the conflict of other countries. 

Fiji 'torn between faith and fear'

An opinion piece by Suliasi Daunitutu, president of the Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement in Australia 

Fijians at home and abroad are observing with profound interest how the next two years will unfold. After the purported abrogation of the 1997 Constitution, FDFM has been the voice of opposition to the illegal regime that we believe is also the voice of the oppressed populace.

Evidence gathered over the past two and half years from expatriates and locals shows clearly that the Military has a firm grip and part in the running of the nation, making it the most politicised institution in the country.

Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga (instead of Sharon Smith Johns, the Permanent Secretary of Information) in a recent public announcement on Fiji Radio, showed that the military is the intimidating figurehead that Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum will use for the complete subjugation of opposition and consequently the acceptance of their enforced rulings.

Now, at the doorsteps of the ostensibly first ever free democratic election, the  signs are not supporting the pair's claims of racial and electoral reforms but more importantly as Bainimarama proclaimed, 'the coup to end all coups.'