"BACK TO DEMOCRACY FOR FIJI"

You are invited to share and pen your ideas, views or opinions that will facilitate/assist our country back to democracy. All positive and/or negative ideas and comments to steer us back to the road of democracy are welcome.

Whichever way one looks at our current situation back home, democracy has been completely raped. The rape of democracy in Fiji is a virtual degradation of the populus of Fiji. Their human rights are being deprived:

1. the right to decide their government;
2. who they want to represent them;
3. their right to free assembly;
4. free protest;
5. free to organise into groups so that they can talk about what is pertinent to their daily lives;
6. protest on issues they do not agree with....with no fear of intimidation from anybody.

With this military regime in place, the concept of freedom per the Constitution is a total myth!

And, we, the people of Fiji need to come together and be vehement about our total disagreement with the military regime. So give us liberty or death! The reality of the issue is that democracy in Fiji has been raped...from top to bottom...left to right....inside and out and vice versa!

Here we have a military regime that talks about freedom to the people and yet the very same military regime randomly arrest people, torture them, inflict unnecessary harrassment and emotional stress to those that seem a threat to them. The military regime talks about racial unity.......the communal concept of togetherness and yet Fiji is far more racially divided today than it ever was.

The so-called advisors, viz-a-viz, John Samy, these are rejects from their adopted countries and yet they are being rewarded with exuberant amount(s) of money by these rogue military regime who have no idea what they are doing. Lying to the international community does not augur well with this interim government and yet the interim Prime Minister continuously talks with a forked tongue when addressing international issues. The ministers talk about internal securities as if Fiji is going to be invaded.

All around it is clearly seen that the economy is in tatters and the Constitution is just a useless piece of paper. The rule of law is as what the military regime wants it to be.

The above are just some of my views (from a pro-democracy viewpoint). But, do not let that deter you from penning your comments if you share otherwise.

So, let us come together and voice our views/comments, whether they be for or against the military regime and have a very healthy discussion here so that in the end we can factually understand what our role is, what we need to do and how we can come up with ideas to help restore democracy back in our beloved Fiji!

Please feel free to write what you like or dislike about the military regime. Be sincere and honest about your thoughts, without getting personal or spiteful.

Kindly note, this "topic" will expire as soon as we have an election.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Loruama Tawawili on January 12, 2010 at 7:38pm: Sorby haven't you learned that no one mourns a mischief? We only mourn the good deeds of the great because it is rembered, as Henry Longfellow said, "it will never pass into nothingness." Loloma to the people at the QVS Club OB.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Makrao George on January 12, 2010 at 5:45pm: ''Bula vina'' to all back home,i thought what a better way to start the new year, than have the 'Fiji and the New Zealand'' goverment engage in dialogue to mend their relationship.Wow...thats really awesome...i guess that leaves the Australian goverment thinking on their next move[if any].Its a step in a positive direction and i think we all should be very proud.Cheers to Mr Kubuabola...you have my vote!!!!!!!!!!!!.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Loruama Tawawili on January 12, 2010 at 6:29pm: Fiji: Now is not the time to improve relations

This week, the government announced proudly that it was improving relations with Fiji. Unfortunately, this improvement comes at a time when the illegal military regime is increasing its crackdown on its critics. In the past week, the Fijian regime has:

Extended emergency rule and media censorship for another 30 days;
Initiated a baseless prosecution of a prominent human rights lawyer for opposing the regime;
Sacked magistrates who ruled against the regime's prosecution;
Started a purge at the Suva City Council, targeting those suspected of opposing the regime;
Banned all religious conferences by the Fiji Methodist Church until 2014, on the basis that they are "spies" working against the military;
Deported Dr Padma Lal, solely because she is married to a critic of the regime;
Used food as a weapon to silence dissent, by cutting the pensions of regime critics
In this context, improving relations simply looks like rewarding bad behaviour.

Posted by Idiot/Savant at 1/13/2010 02:07:00 PM; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Loruama Tawawili on January 12, 2010 at 6:59pm: Posted at 03:22 on 13 January, 2010 UTC

Fiji’s interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has told Auckland-based Radio Tarana that the thaw in relations with New Zealand should lead to Wellington lifting travel bans.

He made the comment after the two countries’ foreign ministers agreed to dispatch councillors to their respective capitals following last year’s expulsions of top diplomats.

Commodore Bainimarama says the sanctions, imposed on him and his regime in response to his military coup, should be lifted.

New Zealand has had travel bans on Fiji coup makers and their associates since 2000 when George Speight fronted the overthrow of the Mahendra Chaudhry-led government.

News Content © Radio New Zealand International
PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Loruama Tawawili on January 12, 2010 at 7:01pm: So now we know why Bainimrama wants to reconnect with NZ. The problem for Bainimarama is the fact that NZ has stated that unless there is an election, the travel ban will stay so Bainimarama will not be able to go to NZ and watch rugby there.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Loruama Tawawili on January 12, 2010 at 7:07pm: Fiji's military strongman Voreqe Bainimarama has labelled New Zealand's decision to improve relations while maintaining sanctions against the island state as "very confusing".

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully yesterday announced that New Zealand and Fiji would begin to rebuild diplomatic ties following the expulsions of three diplomats since Bainimarama's 2006 coup.

Sanctions against regime leaders, the military and their families entering New Zealand would continue.

Speaking to Auckland's Indian station Radio Tarana, Bainimarama said the sanctions should be lifted.

"That is very confusing because that goes against all the gist of all the press statements that [have] come from New Zealand foreign affairs," he told Tarana.

"The whole idea behind it is to move toward understanding of what we want to do and needs to be done and that means lifting the sanctions."

He thanked New Zealand for its willingness to work with Fiji.

"This is very significant for the government and the people of Fiji.

"For us, the people of Fiji, it is about recognition."

The decision meant Fiji was seen as a sovereign nation charting its own path.

"We welcome New Zealand's efforts to resume diplomatic relations with us," he told Tarana.

He said he had a message for new New Zealand diplomats arriving in Fiji.

"My message to the officers concerned is to take the time to fully understand and appreciate Fiji."

The diplomats need to come with an open mind and a genuine desire to recognise what the regime was doing, he said.

Bainimarama was moving Fiji from being a "racially polarized nation that prompted racialist (sic) views that is determined to treat all its citizens equally."

Having good ties with New Zealand was "absolutely critical", the commodore said.

Bainimarama overthrew a democratic government in 2006.

Relations with Wellington were hit when Bainimarama declared, over an 18 month period, three New Zealand diplomats persona non grata.

McCully went to Fiji last weekend on an unannounced visit to meet the military-appointed Fiji foreign minister Inoke Kubuabola.

Kubuabola has long been a controversial figure in Fiji and played a high level role in Sitiveni Rabuka's 1987 military coup.

He claimed to have created the Taukei movement for indigenous supremacy.

Now with Bainimarama he is opposed to indigenous nationalism.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Loruama Tawawili on January 12, 2010 at 7:15pm: 'Informants in the church'
Wednesday, January 13, 2010

THE Methodist Church says it is unaware of some inisters being paid by the police force to act as informers for the military and the police.

Army commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama told local radio station, Radio Fiji, that some ministers were on the police payroll.

Radio Fiji reported "Commodore Bainimarama says Commissioner of Police Commodore Esala Teleni has confirmed to him that some Methodist ministers were on government's payroll and have been actively providing the police and military with information.

In another major announcement Commodore Bainimarama says Government has decided not to approve a permit for the Methodist Conference until 2014."

Methodist Church acting general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra said this was a surprise to them.

"First of all we need to substantiate the report on the radio station and secondly we are not aware if such a thing is going on. Even if the claims are right, this office (the Methodist Church) does not have any records of such practices" he said.

Mr Nawadra said church ministers had taken an oath to the church and God and such actions, if the claims were real, would be a direct violation of that oath.

"If we do find any church ministers of being involved in such activities then we will definitely take them out of the church."

The Methodist Church last year was not allowed to hold their annual conference as the government saidd it was more political than religious.

This led to the cancellation of not only the conference but also the choir competition.

"We are also not aware of the government's intent to cancel our permits until 2014. After the cancellation of the conference, the police have allowed us to have our standing committee meetings" said Rev Nawadra.

He added that not being able to hold conferences would affect the church in more ways than one as that was one time when members were able to mingle and sing praises to God.

"We are still trying to digest the news as this is quite a difficult bit of information to swallow."; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Loruama Tawawili on January 12, 2010 at 7:16pm: It is very hard to believe this news especially when the person making the claim is a known lier.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tevita Korodrau on January 12, 2010 at 6:15pm: Wolf circles resources within:
As guns were now turned towards Fiji from the hands of this illegal Regime, as time goes by they now begin to feel the depleting resources they have.The guns against Fiji now understands that people may be quite and it is far away from agreeing,secondly productivity is a product of good management only,not of forceful orders,thirdly experience yields over time and it is a very important to development in terms of decision making. Soldiers are trained to execute orders regardless but officers are trained not to agree to all orders but should disagree on moral issue. As a point of interest for the FIRCA to engage on a $11.00 license issue a bull crap for it clearly revealing that everybody are running all over not knowing their job description. This a matter for the city council to handle.
Well what I am saying that all this duplication of role and unnecessary usage of resources leads only to one thing, the grass root to pay for it. FNPF coming up of million excuses and hurdles to avoid releasing funds to members and the decree to deny pension entitlement is nothing but an indicator your illegal PM is running low on fuel with alot of miles ahead to cover.Wax has been labelling this as a gossip is clear of brainless and heartless individual he is. Pension is earned and it is a personal entitlement regardless. by the way what has this to do with clean up... The longer the boys of delainabua allow the cunning illegal regime loot everybody in Fiji the worse it will be for Fiji.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike on January 12, 2010 at 7:38pm: Fiji regime bans church conference until 2014

By The Associated Press

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010

Fiji's military-led government banned the country's powerful Methodist Church on Wednesday from holding their annual conference until 2014, accusing church ministers of spying on the nation's military for the government ousted in a 2006 coup.

Wednesday's move follows a ban last May on the 2009 conference and the arrest of eight senior Methodist leaders after the regime accused them of pursuing a political agenda to destabilize the government.

The government also accused the church of being in breach of the regime's Public Emergency Regulation that bans meetings and protests not approved by authorities.

The military regime, led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama, took power in this Pacific island nation in a bloodless coup in December 2006, ousting a democratically elected government. It tightened its grip on power last April, imposing a state of emergency, overturning the constitution, firing the judiciary and placing censors in newsrooms.

Dozens of opponents have been arrested, questioned and eventually released with warnings to stop their criticism of the regime, which plans to hold democratic elections only in 2014 despite international calls for a swift return to civilian rule.

Bainimarama said Wednesday that Methodist Church officials had spied on the military before the 2006 coup.

"Police have found that they were being paid as informers by the past government which indicated that politics was alive in the church," he told reporters. "There will be no Methodist Church conference until 2014."

There was no immediate response from the Methodist Church of Fiji, whose more than 200,000 members account for a quarter of the volatile South Pacific country's population, and which strongly opposes Bainimarama's regime.

The latest action comes just a day after Fiji and New Zealand agreed to begin a thaw of frosty relations by appointing senior diplomats to some of the posts in their capitals left empty by expulsions over the past 18 months.

Also Wednesday, the regime said pension payments to former Fiji civil servants who do not support the government will be stopped from this week.

"We will stop pension payments to all those who speak against the government or all citizens seen to halt government's work on moving the country forward," said the permanent secretary for information, Lt. Col. Neumi Leweni.

A decree stopping such pension payments was passed by Cabinet last week "to change the mindset of people who were against the government," he said.

Bainimarama said he knew of a few people who were working with "some of our development partners, our international friends and some sections of the media to undermine the efforts of government."

Those people were spreading wrong information about Fiji and what was happening in Fiji, he said.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike on January 12, 2010 at 7:42pm: Fiji regime deports expelled outspoken academic’s wife

9:46 January 13, 2010 - Pacific Press Release

FIJI DEPORTS EXPELLED ACADEMIC’S WIFE

By Bruce Hill

MELBOURNE: Fiji has deported the wife of a prominent academic who was expelled from the country two months ago.
Dr Padma Lal, who was born in Fiji but is an Australian citizen, told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat program she was given no reason for her expulsion on Tuesday morning.

But she says she believes it is due to her marriage to Professor Brij Lal, a Fiji-born academic who helped write the country’s 1997 constitution.

Professor Lal, also an Australian citizen, has spoken critically of Fiji’s interim military government.

He was expelled in November, after making comments to Australian media about Fiji’s diplomatic row with Australia and New Zealand.

‘Totally apolitical’

Dr Padma Lal had been working for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, based in Suva, on issues of mangrove management, disaster risk management and climate change.

“The work that I’m doing in Fiji or in the Pacific is really for the Pacific and Fiji,” she said in a telephone interview from her home in Canberra.

“That’s totally apolitical. So as far as I can see, I cannot see any reason why they would detain me other than perhaps (because) I’m married to Professor Brij Lal”.

Dr Lal says she was taken aside on Monday at Nadi Airport as she returned from an overseas trip.

“I asked as to why I was not allowed entry and they said well there’re no reasons for it,” she said.

“Pressing further on that, they basically said we don’t need to give any reasons, and then later on they said that you don’t have a return ticket. I mentioned that I have a valid visa, and in that valid visa category I don’t need a return ticket”.

Direct orders

Dr Lal says according to paperwork shown her by immigration officers, her deportation was ordered directly by Commodore Bainimarama

After more than three hours, Dr Lal says she was taken to a hotel room – without a telephone. Her mobile phone and computer were also confiscated.

“There was an immigration officer sitting outside, together with this hotel security person by the looks of it, and the person stayed there all night,” she said.

Dr Lal says she was not physically harmed, but was told that she would be detained if she refused to give up her computer.

She says she hopes one day to be allowed to return to Fiji.

As for being deported: “I’m angry and I’m disappointed”.

“Angry for obvious reasons, disappointed to see what my beloved country that I was born and brought up in and I still feel quite strongly about,” she said.

“Where it’s going and the fact that we really do not have freedom of movement, freedom of speech, basic human rights”.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Suliasi Daunitutu on January 12, 2010 at 8:08pm: Mike,

Sa laurai ga i keri na nodra vakamumuri tu ga vakamataboko, era sega mada ga ni kila na cava era deport taka kina na marama qori. Sa oti sa qai lai kau lesu tu mai na "no return ticket" me kenai i ulubale, ia na categorie ni visa e tiko vua e sega ni yaga me dua na return ticket.

Ke dua na tamata e cakava tu na mataqali cakacaka vaqo, kevaka e tiko vinaka tiko na nona vakasama, e dodonu me sa taroga na nona i liuliu se tovolea me kila na dina ni nona cakacaka, baleta e sega ni rawa ni da vakasava tu ga vakatawa dodonu e dua e lako mai Viti. Sa raura, o ira na sotia qo kei ndra boso era sega ni tu ni kila na levu ni ka rau sa cakava na veiwatini qo ena vukudra na noda gone vuli.

Erau dau veivakatavulici vei ira na gone (private tutuoring) e rau dau soli sikolasivi, ka rau dau veivuke sara vakalevu vei ira na noda gone vuli ka ra mai vuli ena Australian National University.

Vinaka me ra veimurimuri tu ga vakamataqali vakasama vata, e rairai vakaloloma tu kina na nona veiliutaki o Bainimarama.; ▶ Reply to This