(+) Un-Pacific Neighbours

Auckland-based journalist and political commentator Thakur Ranjit Singh (TRS) has a weekly column in the Fiji Times. Last week, in "Un-Pacific Neighbours", he reflected -- fairly but a little sharply -- on recent comments by Samoan PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegao that he thought aggrevated the situation and could make Bainimarama more resistant to calls from the PI Forum.

Here are some extracts.

Tuilaepa advised Bainimarama to seek advice from his Church leaders.
TRS: "He fails to realise that the Methodist Church has become a political wing of the SDL Party and has been so heavily embroiled in politics that it has overlooked its manifest functions of promoting spiritual enhancement, love for neighbours and moral values."

Tuilaepa advised Bainimarama to return to the barracks.
TRS: "I shudder to think of the outcome of Tuilaepa's advice to Bainimarama: allow for elections within this year to fulfill the Forum's demand, return to the barracks and make the military firmly answerable to the elected government. Was not Bainimarama doing exactly that to the elected government of Qarase when the fundamentalist Church and militant Taukei leaders manipulated his racist SDL for their blinkered and jaundiced agenda?"

Tuilaepa advised Bainimarama to hold early elections.
TRS: "What will [such] an election achieve? SDL will come up with bigger numbers, there would be vote rigging as in the past and the unfair and uneven representation from a flawed electoral system will create similar coup situations. After so-called democratic election, the Forum and international community will go back to sleep and Indo-Fijians will be destined to slavery and girmit (indenture) under a morally bankrupt and racist regime. Is that what TISI*, NFP, Fiji Law Society, elements of some trade unions and NGOs wish for Indo-Fijians? If that is also the level of understanding Samoa and its supporters in the Pacific Forum have of Fiji, then we need to question the usefulness of this august body."

*Then India Sanmarge Ikya Sangam Fiji (TISI) is a South Indian religious and cultural organization based in Nadi. Dor Sami Naidu is TISI's National President, President of the Fiji Law Society, and a strong Interim Government critic.

Click here to read the article in full.

Two Interim Govt Critics with More than One Hat
Readers should be aware that opinions can double (or even treble) their apparent importance when the media asks one person belonging to several organizations to speak on issues. Attar Singh is the best example. He speaks as a trade unionist, an NGO activist, and as a member of a political party. Pramod Rae is another example.

Attar Singh. GenSec Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions; Chairperson, Movement for Democracy In Fiji; Executive member of National Federation Party; unsuccessful candidate in several elections. In the 2006 election he polled 6% of votes in the Suva City Open electorate.

Parmod Rae. GenSec National Federation Party; formerly GenSec Bank and Financial Sector Employees Union - removed by the Court after an appeal that the election was rigged; unsuccessful candidate in several elections. In the 2006 election he polled 5% of votes in the Samabula Tamavua Open electorate.