Fijian Church leaders appear in court

I am sorry to have to bring you very disturbing news from Fiji today. May I ask for your prayers, so that our fellow Christians in Fiji know that they are not alone but are supported by a giant cushion of prayer.

Leaders forbidden to speak, preach or meet together

Nine Methodist Church leaders in Fiji have appeared in court, pleading not guilty to charges of breaching Public Emergency Regulations.

The nine leaders, including the Church's President, Revd Ame Tugaue, and General Secretary, Revd Tuikilakila Waqairatu, appeared in court yesterday and have been released on bail until a full hearing on September 24.

For the last three weeks the leaders have been forbidden to speak, preach or take part in meetings, making life almost impossible for a church whose spiritual life-blood is based on gathering together. The church's solicitor is in negotiation with the police and the Fijian Government to relax the conditions for the next bail period.

Last month the Church agreed to comply with the Government's demands, cancelling this year's Methodist Conference and negotiations are proceeding with the police concerning an administrative meeting planned for August 31. Currently the Government insists that only ordained ministers (excluding the arrested leaders) should be allowed to attend, but the Church does not want to exclude lay people.

Steve Pearce, World Church Partnership Coordinator for the Methodist Church in Britain, said; "It is clear that the military government is active in the life of the courts. Where police actions contradict court decisions, the courts are reluctant to assert themselves. Negotiation and dialogue are difficult in these circumstances but the Church is clear in its wish to avoid confrontation."

Speaking to Steve this morning, the Church's Deputy General Secretary, Revd Tevita Bainavanua, expressed his frustration during a monitored phone call, saying, "We can talk about Jerusalem and Galilee but not Fiji! We are telling our people not to do anything to worsen the situation."

The Church continues to work and worship despite this situation, which is consuming much time, energy and finance, with the prospect of a long court case ahead. Traditional choir festivals will go ahead as planned, beginning August 22, although no national festivals will take place.

Source: Methodist News Service 13/08/2009

‘I want to lotu and live amongst the stars’ – Joeli Bulu

The illegal junta is getting jittery leading up to next weeks Methodist Church Conference. Leweni's laying down the conditions of the Conference on what they can and cannot do, contradicting the Police Permit already obtained.

I find it ironic, here we have the Military, the lawbreakers who bullied their way into Fiji's politics and removed its lawful elected Government in December 2006, warning Church Ministers from discussing politics during the Conference. How pathetic!

The illegal junta have decreed no laymen or Mata Turaga may attend the Conference, except Church Ministers. I question whether this Bose i Talatala have the full authority to make decisions binding on its members? For instance, the Bose i Talatala usually discussed only matters relating to Ministerial postings, discipline, etc, but needed the full Conference to make decisions with respect to the Church's budget and financial matters, projects, etc.

Also, within the Methodist Church hierarchy, the Vice President position is given to a layperson, so the Vice President in effect is prevented from the attending the Conference this year and this is the first time in the Methodist Church Conference's history, its very own Vice President is prohibited from attending. 

For the Conference to refrain from discussing political issues in my view is a serious dereliction and abdication of its moral responsibilities and pastoral duties. The Church cannot properly fulfill its role as a good Sheppard, if it turns a blind eye to the pain and suffering of its flock and the people of Fiji. The illegal junta in effect is trying to subdue the Methodist Church from discussing its faults and exposing their lies.

I question whether the illegal junta have the guts to stop this mini Conference if a Minister brought up a topic, which they viewed was political? I wonder what would the Conference's response be if a Military Officer walked up to the podium and stopped the Conference?

Will the delegates further humiliate themselves and bow down to their new Baal or stand up for righteousness? I challenge the Methodist Church to stand up to the illegal junta and follow in the footsteps of its trailblazers – Joeli Bulu, Aminio Baledrokadroka & Josua Mateinaniu.

• Tui Savu.
• President. SWM

Bainimarama, the demigod….who will you serve?

With the fast approaching, much anticipated Methodist Church Conference next week, blabbermouth Leweni's threats against the Methodist Church sounds shallow and lacks moral conviction.

How will the Methodist Church respond? Follow the directive of an illegal regime which is hostile towards it and in effect worship Bainimarama or follow its conscience. 

I use the term 'worship Bainimarama' cautiously because when soldiers justify following illegal orders or civil servants claiming to not seeing any problems executing inhuman policies of the illegal junta so they can put bread on their table, oblivious of the consequences to innocent victims, then you are in effect worshiping Bainimarama because he determines your actions.

In Fiji, we have an illegal government who first claimed it took over government to 'clean up' its endemic corruption, but after 2 years, no evidence of endemic corruption was ever proved, but within this time, Bainimarama and his cronies went on their merry ways and looted and plundered the tax payers of Fiji.

The Methodist Church must carefully consider their response to the illegal government because there will come a time and could possibly be now, when they can no longer compromise or risk being contaminated and corrupted. It has happened in church history and if they are not careful, it can happen to them again.

I call upon Qase Levu Rev Ame Tugaue, Vunivola Levu Rev. Tuikilakila Waqairatu and other Methodist Church Leaders to lead their Congregation in the way of righteousness, even if it means confronting this demigod Bainimarama and his evil regime.

• Tui Savu.
• President.

Fijian Citizens have been murdered under Frank’s command

Mark Manning of Australia say's As an outsider, I feel I can make the comments that those inside Fiji, either cannot, will not or are too afraid to make. So I have made these observations and I’m unclear if I am correct or not.

One should ask, what is the common denominator behind each act of treason against the State, since 1987 ?

There doesn’t seem to be one !

The 1st. coup in 1987, was supposedly because of the fear of an elected Government, predominantly represented by Ministers of Indian decent, or Indo Fijians as they are commonly referred to, a term I find insulting.
But was this the true reason behind the 1987 coup ?

The 2nd. coup by Rabuka, I’m unsure as to the details, but my understanding is that Rabuka wanted to save himself, Politically.

The 3rd, coup in 2000, took place because George speight supposedly wanted to continue to sell off the protected Mahogany to the Malaysians.
But we all suspect that he was used by someone behind the scenes.

The 4th. coup took place, for no other reason than Frank Bainimarama and others were about to be questioned and possibly arrested, by the then Fiji Police Commissioner, Andrew Hughes.
Frank Bainimarama for sedition and his part, if any, in the murders of 5 C.R.W. Soldiers in 2000, one being completely innocent of any wrong doing at the camp some days previous to their own murders.

If Mr. Qarase was to openly defy Frank Bainimarama, a man already with blood on his hands, then he, Frank, would have absolutely no compulsion in having Mr. Qarase murdered also.
And why should Mr. Qarase risk his life, when not one other Fijian citizen is prepared to do so ?

As for the Great Council of chiefs, well, perhaps it’s name does not reflect it’s ability !
Again though, any chief who was to defy Frank Bainimarama, would no doubt be treated as the 4 Fijian Citizens who have been murdered under Frank’s command, since December the 5th. 2006.

So, where does that leave us ?

It appears to me, and others now, that outsiders, not even Citizens of Fiji, are now and have since the beginning, been running the show, and that their intention is to continue to destroy the heart and soul of every Fijian, by turning Brother against Brother, Sister against Sister, Children against Parents, Chief against Chief and Faith against Faith, until every facet of the Fijian culture and it’s institutions are totally obliterated once and for all, never to return !

Sadly, it is Fiji’s own Military which is allowing all this to happen, and this generation of Soldiers will be able to look back on this time and say to their children, ” yes, we were blinded by a mad man, just like the German population in the 1930’s ” !
But it’s too late now, because we no longer own the land, the People’s Republic of china does !

Ana Rokomokoti denies Jagannath Sami his right to be heard in court

We say – Ana Rokomokoti will go down in Fiji’s history books as a human rights violator, coup apologist and beneficiary, and a morally bankrupt Fijian woman who has no shame in aiding and abetting the purportedly abrogation of Fiji’s Supreme Law, the 1997 Constitution.

Here is Jagannath Sami’s statement our sources produced revealing his heart wrenching testimonial confirming how the Fiji peoples human rights continue to be trembled on by dictator Frank & Co.

FIJI’s INJUSTICE DECREE
Civil Action No: HBC 12 OF 2007 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI AT LAUTOKA.CIVIL JURISDICTION
Jagannath Sami VS Army Commander Voreqe Bainimarama, The Royal Fiji Military Forces, Ministry of Home affairs and Immigration, The Attorney General of Fiji, Ratu Josefa Iloilo Uluivuda, Hon. President of Fiji Islands and Sugar Cane Growers Council.

Last week my legal counsel, Mr. Shalen Krishna of Krishna & Co. Lautoka, Fiji handed over to me the “Certificate Of Termination Of Proceedings” signed by the Acting Chief Registrar of the High Courts in Fiji.

In essence this means that the High Court in Fiji will not proceed to hear my (Jagannath Sami’s) Civil Action for damages against the Army Commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama (1st Defendant), The Royal Fiji Military Forces (2nd Defendant), Ministry Of Home Affairs and Immigration (3rd Defendant), The Attorney General Of Fiji (4th Defendant), Ratu Josefa Iloilo Uluivuda, Hon. President Of The Republic Of Fiji Islands (5th Defendant) and Sugar Cane Growers Council (Third Party).

The Registrar in issuing the Certificate of Termination of Proceedings states and I Quote:

TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to the powers given to me under the section 23(3) of the Administration of Justice Decree 2009, I hereby CERTIFY that this proceeding is wholly terminated pursuant to section 23(3) (e) (g) of the Administration of Justice Decree 2009.

It is a sad day for Fiji and its people that the Registrar of the High Court did not see fit in allowing the Plaintiff his day in Court before terminating the proceedings and thus making mockery of the Fiji Judicial System. No Law is a just law if it deprives the right of justice to a citizen. In this instance what is laughable is the fact the defendents in this action itself decides to terminate the Court proceedings. Is this the equality that the Interim Government brags about.

Indeed, the above action was brought after my unlawful and forceful removal from office as the CEO of the Sugar Cane Growers Council (SCGC) on 02 of January 2007 and subsequent order by the High Court of Lautoka on 16 January 2007 for me to return to work. The High Court had also ordered an injunction against the Royal Fiji Military Forces not to interfere with the Council and its CEO. However despite the High Court Order and the injunction the military and police on 17th January forced me out of office once again.

It’s almost two and a half years now since my removal from office and I have been patiently waiting for the Courts to set a date for the hearing. Instead, the Interim Government by its own naïve actions has produced evidence that the Fiji Judiciary is no longer independent and impartial. There is no respect for human rights of individuals as demonstrated by this action. The Interim government by Promulgating the “Administration of Justice Decree 2009”, which rightly should be named the injustice Decree, has deliberately hijacked the due process of the Judicial system of the country.

I therefore call upon the International Community and democratic societies all over the world to condemn the abuse of Human Rights in Fiji and demand that the country be returned to an elected democratic government and rule of Law and Order as soon as practicable.

Jagannath Sami
Former CEO, Sugar Cane Growers Council

2 Responses to “Fiji junta’s dual citizenship scheme birthing more con artists”

This is total and naked folly!

Such action could not have been taken without the exlicit agreement of the Tinpot C. Afterall, he is iPM (a legally appointed PM attends the Forum as Head of Government), Commander of RFMR, where the two stooges came from, and iMinister of Foreign Affairs, under whose portfolio the Forum comes under.

After the “thrill” of getting one over of Australia, there is now unspeakeable embarassment! And worse … the Solomon Islands goverment allowed itself to be part of the embarrassment!

Tinpot C: Justifying this silly move on tha basis that the US had used such tactics to take into and remove out of countries people does not hold water. The US was fighting terrorism… while you are a terrorist!

Log in to Reply
psinghfj said
August 11, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I wonder what the USA state department has to say to should these two travel to USA.

Fiji junta’s dual citizenship scheme birthing more con artists

The two Fiji officials who slipped into Australia to attend the Cairns Pacific Leaders Forum are products of Fiji junta’s new dual citizenship scheme.

The programme allows a person to hold a Fijian passport and another foreign country’s passport as Permanent Resident or citizen of that foreign country.

In this particular case, sources have reported that the two Fiji military regime officials applied for Solomon Islands citizenship all paid for by Fiji’s taxpayers money, while they maintained their Fijian passport under the dual citizenship scheme.

Solomon Islands government immediately stamped their citizenship application, with the full knowledge that it was going to be used by the duo to access Australia.

This was followed by the issuance of their Solomon Islands passport which they eventually used to gain access to Australia.

Sources have also reported that the two attended the Forum disguished as Solomon Islands observers.

Their Forum registration was facilitated by the Solomon Islands government as members of their delegation.

Behind the scene

Orion our regular blogger.

Perhaps there’s alot of movements behind the scene competeing for influence to sit up there. EN is surely up there amongst the tops. He has more power than FB. He has the backing of the b-in-law in the military. This is critical. He has the backing of his wife and followers. Together with the bro in laws etc and their influence. He has the backing of his wifes father’s network locally and internatiionally. That’s the edge they have above all their rivals.

My bet is still on him to be President. But then, why do they need a president when they can seek legitimacy their position using other means. well you know issueing decrees, presidents mandate etc. A shadowy figure advising frank once complained that he is tired of giving him advise cos he doesnt listen any more. has the poles shifted to the muslims or others yet?? perhps, but for his longevity, frank will have to play his card carefully with the people I have mentioned above IMO. Thats where his real power resides.

or has his international backers and financiers (incl. AUST US etc?) shifted gear to use an “Obama”- type model at this juncture and use someone else from the minroity community as part of the broad strategy to dismantle nationalism, nationa states and promote globalism and the new global order?. May be Im goign too far. But my bet is still on EN. He has the best chance on my card. He (and the clan he represents) will have to be at the forefront of choice. if they are sidelined, I would say then they will have to be well compensated to maintain their loyalty. But then I could be wrong.

Fiji regime accuses ousted court of acting unconstitutionally

Fiji’s interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says last April’s court ruling which declared his previous regime illegal was not in the constitution.

In an interview with the Qatar-based television station, Al Jazeera, last week, Commodore Bainimarama has given apparently contradictory explanations of the upheaval in April.

He says the court of appeal ruling, which he purported to accept, went against his regime’s People’s Charter whose key tenet was to uphold the constitution.

The Charter was endorsed by the former president who in response to the April court ruling announced that he was abrogating the constitution and sacking all judges.

Commodore Bainimarama also says the international community should have known that they were going to do away with the constitution.

He says his regime could not accept a court ruling that was unconstitutional.

“That judgement itself is not in the constitution. So how can he be coming up, following a judgment that is not constitutional because it went against everything that we endorsed in December about the Charter.”

Commodore Frank Bainimarama says if the international community didn’t know that the constitution was going to be changed, it knows now.

Last month, he said work on a new document will begin in three years.

Dictatorship – unjustifiable violence

Virtue and goodness in the world is not just wisdom but wisdom with strength. We can make this moral authority the backbone to destroy the oppressors.

We therefore should not be spineless or meek but must all be very liberal in our way of thinking and believe strongly in virtue and goodness. The same applies in a political sphere and it is therefore our moral obligation and responsibility to future generations not to sit back and allow the destruction taking place in Fiji by these evildoers.

If any government can do anything to improve things for the nation and its people, by all means let’s give it a go. Frank’s illegal Military Regime has had plenty of time to prove themselves but all we have seen is atrocious behaviour and no signs of wanting to give up the power attained by the barrel of the guns.

Constantly the illegal Regime strays from the truth to win fame and to please others. They also say one thing one day and contrary the next instead of speaking as they act and acting as they speak.

By allowing Frank and his Military Regime the freedom of unrestrained authority in a playground of all sorts of atrocities they have turned the nation into a dictatorship and are now not ashamed to lie anymore. When this happens there is no evil that these people cannot do.

They talk about the country being a safe place but we all know that any dictatorship is unjustifiable violence and therefore with moral authority we must never stray but demand they receive the consequences of their evil actions. To be in denial and ignorant of the situation is very much to their approval and abandonment of commitment to delivering consequences to evildoers gives up Fiji to Frank and his supporters.

“Deliver justice to evildoers and much future evil will be averted.”

Our main concern is our identity, which was paramount to the late Ratu Sukuna and he had hoped it would be strengthened with “democracy”. Sadly it seems to be coming apart now that Fiji is a dictatorship.

We tried to make sense in how this has come about so decided to again read Ratu Joni’s book; “A Personal Perspective” in which we quote; “Fijians have a strong sense of identity. They pride themselves on knowing who they are and where they come from. Urbanization has eroded these sentiments only slightly. In recent times it has become tinged with some sense of bewilderment and confusion. ( This is what is happening now to those that support Frank and his illegal regime. ) The emergence of disparate interests and discordant voices appears very troubling. There is no shortage of speculation about the possible causes. It is attributed to indiscipline, disloyalty, defiance of authority, arrogance and opportunism. It is easy to forget that these islands were a collection warring and contending vanua, or chiefdoms, prior to cession in 1874.

Much has been said about the Fijian traditional system and the regard Fijians have for their chiefs. There is a lot said and written about the authority exercised by those leaders. When one peers beneath the surface, however, there have been profound changes and more are in store. Among themselves, Fijians tend to adopt a more ambivalent view, which they will not necessarily share openly. It generataes a sense of disloyalty to be looking askance at their own. However, there is increasing recognition that any leader, be they chief or commoner, needs to have some education and means. ( What do we have? Frank, the two Epelis, Ului Mara, Diriti, Teleni our kind that lack the education and means to govern a nation. ) Because that is the measure by which success and standing are reckoned in contemporary society. It is no longer sufficient just to have the right bloodlines. It is an issue of credibility. The focus on interethnic relations has often disguised the erosion of chiefly authority and the more questioning attitude of Fijians. ( TRUES UP ) These developments are being played out, even as national issues are debated and considered. This is most evident in the media and in the attitudes of young urbanized Fijians who seem more taken with the globalize youth culture. The result has been the rise of more populist Fijian leaders with less inclination to compromise sectarian interests.

The period of leadership of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau collectively covered the first 30 years of independence. It was common to this period as the continuation of chiefly leadership. In a sense that was an illusion. For while these tow towering figures dwelt at the apex, the pyramid was actually made up of far more educated Fijians of non-chiefly rank. This was not what Sukuna envisaged, for he wished to preserve the role of the chiefs. ( Not after their got rid of the BLV or Great Council of Chiefs ) The broadening of educational opportunities, and the inability of chiefly families to exploit and make use of their initial advantages, have altered the balance decisively. The process occurred gradually but inexorably. Bavadra, Rabuka, Chaudhry and now Chiefs wishing to participate in politics must do so on equal terms with others. ( Not by the use of the guns )There is no prior right of leadership, and to that extent democratic norms have taken root. ( Democratic norms should’ve taken root but then Frank because he couldn’t get that leadership any other way decided to coup for it. )

Most problematic has been Fijian attitudes to the rule of law; a concept little understood by Fijians. ( Frank and all his supporters )They see their rights as indigenous peoples existing outside and above the law. Those attitudes incline them to break the law whenever they feel their rights are under threat. That in itself is dangerous because it all allows whoever is strongest to make the rules. ( Especially that have the nation’s military on their side. ) It was the rule of the club that Ratu Cakobau and other high chiefs surrendered to Queen Victoria in return for the rule of law and civilization. One cannot have it both ways. To that to end, Fijian leaders need to be open and direct with their people. They cannot be see to be encouraging them to break the law when it suits them, and enforcing the law when it comes to expiring tenancies and leases. Fijians themselves need to be more questioning of those who would invoke indigenous rights as a rallying cry for disaffection and defiance of authority whenever it suits. While Fijian fears and insecurities may be real, too often they are open to manipulation and exploitation.” ( Unfortunately it is what we are seeing in Fiji today )

The writer, a high chief, a lawyer who obtained his law degree in Australia, a principled proud citizen of this nation has had the education and the means for us to learn from unlike Frank, the two Epelis, Ului Mara, Diriti, Teleni etc etc.

Fiji4All

An opinion on the Aljazeera commentary about Fiji

The Aljazeera interview was very different to the tame interview by Davis.

A couple of gems by the Aljazeera commentator that I really liked were:

Fiji “became the first nation to be suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum for Human Rights abuses.”

Or how about this “Lacking confidence in the country, foreign investors are also holding back, depriving the country of foreign exchange earnings, forcing the Prime Minister to devalue the currency twice in recent times.”

And let’s not forget when Professor Wadan Narsey said poverty is “now at 45% on a conservative estimate.”

Our dumb dictator will not be happy with the lackey who thought it would be a good idea to invite Aljazeera to have the opportunity to broadcast this story.

Was this Sayed-Khaiyum’s smart idea or did the ever stupid Leweni have a hand in it, or did it take two fools to achieve such a result?

CORRUPTION FIGHTER

The letter that got Sakiusa Raivoce in trouble

August 10, 2009
We say – this is the letter believed to have gotten Sakiusa Raivoce into trouble. We were able to, through our sources, verify and confirm with FICAC that this is a true copy of the letter sent to them by Raivoce.

It is understood that Raivoce was arrested under the instruction of Col Aziz Mohammed, deputy chairman of Fijian Holdings, in cohorts with Police Commish Teleni.

No official charges was laid on Raivoce even-though he was detained in a cell for two nights.

Tuesday, 28th July, 2009.



Mr George Langman,

Deputy Commissioner,

Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption,

Cnr. of Kimberly St and Gordon St,

SUVA.



Dear Sir,



RE – APPEAL FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TERMINATED FHL/BP SOUTHWEST PACIFIC ACQUISITION



This letter serves to advise you that I, Sakiusa Raivoce, a citizen of the Republic of Fiji, and a Class A shareholder of Fijian Holdings Limited (FHL), wish to lodge an official complaint against FHL’s current board and senior executives for the following reasons:



the non-tradability of my (and other shareholders) FHL shares due to the recent suspension of FHL as per South Pacific Stock Exchange announcement on Monday, 27th July, 2009,
the board’s defiance not to heed mine and other shareholders (provincial councils and others) public warnings on their rushed decision to sign the now terminated $190 million sale and purchase agreement with BP South West Pacific (BP SWP) without proper due diligence,
for gross negligence, incompetence, failing to protect mine and other shareholders best investment interest and other breaches of duty of care as required of board of directors under FHL’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, in conformity with the company’s corporate governance requirements and Fiji’s Companies Act.


Consistent with your organization’s previous investigations into FHL, I urge FICAC to apply the same level of enthusiasm and urgency in instigating a thorough investigation into FHL’s :



basis of the FHL/BP SWP terminated sale and purchase agreement,
associated costs relating to the terminated acquisition such as management fees to the Hindustani Petroleum Company, legal fees, financial advisory fees, non-refundable component of the deposits , other professional or consultancy fees, travel expenses and all other similar costs incurred during the due diligence process,
adherence or non-adherence to FHL’s corporate governance requirements,
other matters relating to FHL’s operations that has greatly disadvantaged me and other FHL shareholders in the short, medium and long term.


Sir, I’m on record as the outspoken FHL individual shareholder who publicly denounced FHL board’s decision to embark on their bid to buy BP SWP.



My life and that of my family, including our personal properties, was attacked by unknown persons following my interviews on TV, radio and daily newspapers where I publicly announced my grave concerns on the apparent lack of good commercial sense by the FHL board, in signing a sale and purchase agreement without first securing a financier to fund the $190 million they offered to BP SWP.



Now that the acquisition has been terminated, I believe it is only appropriate that FICAC immediately conduct an investigation into FHL’s affairs to protect shareholders interest.



Sir, I look forward to your prompt action to the above matter.



Yours Sincerely,



Signed by

SAKIUSA RAIVOCE

(FHL Shareholder)

Tyrant Frank pulls out of Forum trade talks

“Fiji’s interim Prime Minister says his country will pull out of regional trade talks .”

Commodore Frank Bainimarama was responding to comments by New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully that the New Zealand government was waiting to see what Fiji would decide in relation to the talks on PACER-Plus and PICTA trade deals

Last week’s Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Australia decided that negotiations on the agreement would go ahead without Fiji but that it would be briefed later.

The Commodore told the Fiji Live news service that the Forum had made it impossible for Fiji to effectively defend the interests of its people under the trade agreements Fiji is a party to.

Two Fiji officials sneak into Australia – the full story

Two Fijian government officials banned from visiting Australia reportedly sneaked into the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in Cairns by travelling on Solomon Islands passports.

During last week’s summit the two representatives told Papua New Guinea’s Post Courier newspaper they turned up at the event to “watch” despite Fiji’s suspension from the forum and travel bans on the regime’s top brass.

The duo also reportedly were at an official welcome dinner hosted by Australia’s Foreign Minister Stephen Smith at the Sebel Hotel.

“We came through Solomon Islands and we had no problem with papers,” one told the Post Courier.

“We wouldn’t have entered with Solomon Islands passports if there was no support.

“We know we still remain suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum and we are partially suspended from the Commonwealth.

“We are just here to watch,” he said.

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua and the country’s PIF delegation were still in Cairns and could not comment, a government spokesman said.

Earlier this month The Age newspaper reported Solomon Islands Foreign Minister William Haomae had written to Pacific governments supporting Fiji’s complaints that PIF talks on a new trade deal were in breach of existing arrangements.

After their Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting in July, the prime ministers of PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu said Fiji’s PIF suspension should be lifted.

Fiji was suspended from the forum in May this year after its military leader Frank Bainimarama reneged on promises to hold democratic elections.

The Australian government has placed travel bans on members of the regime that came to power in a bloodless coup in 2006.

Niue Premier Toke Talagi, the departing PIF chairman, caused a stir at the Cairns meeting when he urged Fijian citizens to “rise against the regime”. His comments were played down by other leaders.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was chairman during the two-day gathering of the 15-nation regional forum.

Comment was being sought from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Fijian government officials.

If Mahendra Chaudhry can travel to Australia, why not the rest?

We think the Australian Labour Federal Government has erred in their decision to lift Mahendra Chaudhry’s travel ban to Australia while others like him and their immediate family members continue to be victimised.

The likes of Mahendra Chaudhry, and not the innocent family members of those who serve or have served under Frank’s regime, should be the receipients of travel bans, for they are the ones who made the decision to join Frank & Co. and not necessarily their dependents and immediate family members.

Now that the Australian Labour Federal Government have accepted their Fiji Labour Party leader and ex-Finance Minister in Frank’s military regime to join them in Ozy, they should stop being prejudicial and extend the same to other innocent Fiji citizens who’ve suffered terribly from the political nonsense played by Chaudhry, Qarase, Frank and others who contributed to the coup of 2006.

Why the double standard Kevin Rudd? Is it because Chaudhry is a Labour Party leader?

Fiji regime accuses ousted court of acting unconstitutionally

Fiji’s interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says last April’s court ruling which declared his previous regime illegal was not in the constitution.

In an interview with the Qatar-based television station, Al Jazeera, last week, Commodore Bainimarama has given apparently contradictory explanations of the upheaval in April.

He says the court of appeal ruling, which he purported to accept, went against his regime’s People’s Charter whose key tenet was to uphold the constitution.

The Charter was endorsed by the former president who in response to the April court ruling announced that he was abrogating the constitution and sacking all judges.

Commodore Bainimarama also says the international community should have known that they were going to do away with the constitution.

He says his regime could not accept a court ruling that was unconstitutional.

“That judgement itself is not in the constitution. So how can he be coming up, following a judgment that is not constitutional because it went against everything that we endorsed in December about the Charter.”

Commodore Frank Bainimarama says if the international community didn’t know that the constitution was going to be changed, it knows now.

Last month, he said work on a new document will begin in three years.

Bainimarama broke his promise to the EU

Blogger S.Daunitutu
I am not sure if the approach by Fiji to lash out at the PIF accusing it of marginalising its members, was the right one let alone true.

If I remember correctly, it was Fiji that told Australia and New Zealand that it didn’t want them to dictate terms to its affairs.

It was also Fiji that broke its promise to the EU in regard to the elections and the twelve point agreement on which the massive $350million aid was sealed.

Voreqe’s position in the Pacific region has been compromised by the way he choses to ignore the request for dialogue, instead he shows a careless attitude towards diplomacy and fairness.

The two big brothers, Australia and New Zealand would very much like to accomodate Fiji in proper engagements at which they would like to hear the IG’s plans and reciporicate accordingly with an opposition or alternative to get to a solution for Fiji and the region as a whole.

This has been a trend for the IG, in which their way is the only way for Fiji, and the rest have to agree. It seems, they are oblivious to the fact that Fiji is part of the Pacific Island Nations that agree collectively to what is good for the region, not to mention, the world which is bound by all sorts of international laws and agreements, which were put in place to encourage good diplomatic, business and other forms of foreign exchanges.

I don’t see anything wrong with that, but if you are not willing to participate in diplomacy, there is a good chance that no one will be prepared to engage you in any form of bipartisan exchange.

This non commital attitude is ingrown in the political landscape of our Nation, in the past twenty years, new parties have sprung up, introducing individual agendas and pointing Fiji to imaginary horizons, captivating the innocent and naive population.

The latest episode was a grand perfomance by Mahendra Chaudary in the 2006 multicabinet government, as reiterated by the deported High Commissioner of New Zealand, Mr. Michael Green at the Australian National University on Friday’s seminar which I attended.

These few words said alot in my view, “The multiparty cabinet was going quite well, it was not given a chance to build a reputation”

Fijians have had enough of coups, and everyone is seaching for a solution to the “Coup culture”, why didn’t we give that option a chance to manifest itself in our democracy.

It had both the predominant Fijian party in SDL and the the other major player, the Indian party FLP at the wheelhouse. There were shared porfolios and Mahendra was given the Deputy Prime Ministirialship.

I think that the race card would have to be dealt evenly given that circumstance, there would be equal input into the Government mechanics with both parties intergrating their policies into one governing organ.

That failed because important people at the helm of leadership, were not prepared to lookout for others, rather, they wanted others to lookout/up to them.

To conclude, I disagree with Mr. Kubuabola when he said the PIF was marginalising its members, rather the problem was in us and we exposed it after 2006.

Roko Ului is not our High cheif

The pampering you spoke of is befitting of High CHiefs like Ro Teimumu BUT definitely not of my own chiefs albeit small since we do not yet have Ratu Finau installed. Roko Ului is not our High cheif and neither are his sisters thank God. Their late father along with those who came before the late Turaga received all of the traditional pampering, love, respects, with all the trimmings and deservedly.

Consider too that everything changes and nothing ever stays the same. That said

This is a time when Fijians are at a crossroads and must decide, with yours truly taking the lead; that our our High Chiefs are held to a standard high enough befitting their traditional positions. Gone are the days when we Fijans will continually pamper you if you fail to live up to par. From now on all chiefs wanting the “usual” from his/her people must earn it.

And with that note the Marama Bale Na Roko Tui Dreketi is on par.

The Marama Bale does not need legal fees paid by the mass. Attornies have stepped up tot he plate to offer pro bono services because they believe in the GMB’s cause – one that serves all of Fiji. Hold on tight to your monies as there is something brewing and when it breaks then that is where the monies should be channeled and the GMB would much rather we fund those emergencies for the masses WHEN ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.

Amnot dismissing your points am suggesting that Ro Teimumu is well taken care of already and that there maybe better use for the masses resources and finances for the events that will unfold down the road.

A Puppet Pressi!!!

So now that he has retired what of his mandate. Seems to me he doesn’t have the soresores to see it through. Or was it really his mandate? If he really had Fiji and its people at heart he would have seen his mandate through before retiring. Guess we all know what he was. A puppet.

Now raises the question. What of the people of Fiji? Bent over with pants down perhaps? Only Time will tell.