My Appeal to Australia (and NZ)
Leaving aside the "return to" (How could you possibly believe the Qarase government was democratically elected or acted in ways that democratically-elected governments should, and usually do), there are "signs of progress": witness the Citizens' Assembly in Suva yesterday and the one in the West next month. Dialogue is going on. Not as much as you may wish, but dialogue nonetheless.
You could argue that the old parliamentary parties should be included in the dialogue. This seems reasonable until examined more closely. Qarase's SDL (and its links with the Speight Coup perpetrators) are in large part responsible for the situation in Fiji today. Qarase has also said his SDL party opposes the People's Charter. It's difficult for Bainimarama to include people in dialogue when they refuse to even consider the merits of the Charter. Bainimarama will not negotiate with Qarase and the SDL. He thinks them spent forces, irrelevant to Fiji's future.
For Bainimarama, the Charter is the bedrock on which the future Constitution will be built, and elections in 2014 will be conducted according to the new Constitution.
Qarase (if you truly love Fiji), and Australia and New Zealand (if you are truly Fiji's friends), examine the Charter. Spell out what you disagree with, and what you can work with. Acknowledge that the Citizens' Assemblies are "progress." Acknowledge also that the Bainimarama government is doing many things for the ordinary Fiji citizen that should have been done years ago.
I know you, Australia, are not deliberately trying to cripple Fiji, its governance and economy. But your rigid stance is making things worse. Your so-called "smart sanctions" are hurting the ordinary Fijians you say you are trying not to hurt. I'm told there's an influx of ordinary Fiji citizens into Australia. I suspect this is as much, or more, due to economic than political factors.
Things are moving in Fiji, slowly, erratically and not always as you may wish. Often Fiji government spokesmen are their own worse enemy. It's often a case of two steps forward, one step back. But Bainimarama, at least, is genuine.
Applaud the good things his government is doing. Offer technical and other support to help him achieve his stated goals. Stop pushing him into a corner. Ease back on the isolation. And hurry. The longer this takes, the greater the dangers. Help to keep him on track. He's far more likely to heed a friend than an enemy. Offer all the help you can to promote truly democratic change in Fiji.
Heed the advice of many: Richard Herr, Peter Thomson, Scott MacWilliam, your fellow Australians, and in Fiji that veteran stalwart of "true" democracy, the Rev. Akuila Yabaki. All of them want more flexibility in your policies. None of them like coups but all of them want positive outcomes from a coup that has already happened.
The only clock you can turn back by your inflexible policy is a return to the far-from-democratic and racist government of Qarase -- and none of the deep-rooted problems which caused the 2006 Coup would have been resolved. Back to square one and -- counting -- and over three years lost. You (and my own government) cannot want this!
39 comments:
Croz, why bother to make any appeal to reason when it comes to Australian foreign policy? DFAT had to say something about the Herr report and has chosen to repeat its same, tired old line. No matter. It's merely a knee-jerk reaction to media requests while they go away and think about what the good professor has had to say. So many reputations are at stake not only in DFAT but places like the ANU and the Lowy Institute that I'm not surprised at their less than enthusiastic response. But believe me, the ground has shifted and Australia has no choice but to modify its hardline policy and join NZ in engaging Fiji. Soon, the foreign ministers of all three countries will meet to chart a new way forward. And right now, much of DFAT's efforts are directed as how they're going to spin their way out of the impending change of tack. The fact that this initial official comment on the Herr report came not from the PM or Foreign Minister but the department shows that the politicians are keeping their options open. Murray McCully, with the backing of John Key, has started something that the Aussies have no choice but to embrace. They really don't have any choice when their existing tough stand hasn't done one jot to dislodge Bainimarama. So no need to be upset by this pretty bland statement in comparison to all the previous thundering, Australia knows the game has changed, as events over the coming weeks will prove.
@ Croz ..
Great piece. If you are not already in the legal profession you should consider a career - very emotive and convincing.
Politics is a strange game and 4 years is a long time.
Don't be disheartened if nothing seemingly eventuates from your plea.
All the best.
Funglius says ..
There will not be a change either by Australia or NZ. They don't necassarily want Bainimarama to vaccate government. But they do want to see movements towards democracy. You've seen both countries change governments and at no stage did the message alter. There is no need to. For both nations, they have far less to loose then Fiji. And they do seem to have most of the pacific standing behind them. It would be great to say that isn't the case but there's nothing happening with PACER, Commonwealth games, ect .. to even hint at it being otherwise.
Whatever happens, I'm prepared to go all the way in realizing what Bainimarama has set out for Fiji. The truth is his vision is really the only lasting solution to all of Fiji's problem.
Anyone notice how bad things have got at 4.5 in recent times? Take at look at the headline below.
Quite. Not content with being quiet itself for days - without any content change whatsoever - this once active site has been abandoned to the illiterate.
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COUP FOUR AND A HALF
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2010
NZ Gov't remain quite on Leweni's nomination
The NZ Government is maintaining its position of not commenting on a proposed Fijian appointment to its high commission in Wellington after the regime admitted today it was testing New Zealand by putting up a provocative candidate.
-----------
And they pride themselves on being clever?
Croz, I don't understand why you bother with an appeal like this. Your attempt to justify Qarase's exclusion from the political process is simply indefensible by any democratic standard. So why expect the Aussies and the Kiwis to listen? There's only one appeal worth making - to their self interest. When they change their policies, it will be because they're worried about losing control of events in Fiji and the region. In other words, the threat to their own strategic interests.
That was well put Croz, I applaud it. Perhaps it is time for community leaders of the silent majority in OZ& NZ need to speak up now. The problem is the likes of Brijlal. Frank and Iloilo fought tooth and nail to keep the 1997 constitution intact, but 3 OZ judges effectively ditched it. If the current trend continues, Fiji will be the Israel of the Pacific. The abrogation of the 1997 constitution is more than enough indication to guess what is around the corner, should push come to shove.
VII Generation
Further to the comment above and the Iraq Inquiry: interesting to note that former PM Tony Blair had the honesty and tenacity to stick to his view that Saddam Hussein was better removed. He stood by his decision. That is the mark of an honourable man. Iraq was immersed in evil. No fudging or dodging this fact. The Iraqi people are now free to pursue their own destiny. And what of the destiny for Fijians? Twenty years of hardship and misgovernance with the tacit and sometimes overt support of near neighbours. There can be no Democracy without Liberty. This is self-evident. So how free are we in Fiji? How free do we choose to be? Democracy is only a process. It starts with liberty to think and to act: the tool is education. No one turns their back to liberty - yet we Fijians paid a former Prime Minister and a former Police Commissioner to do just that. A shameful day for both and a most painful day for us all?
Croz, if you're to be at all consistent with your actions during the week, these anonymous postings should be deleted, A pity because they're worthwhile contributions to the debate.
Thanks One rule for some. I have deleted the anonymous comment, valuable though it is, but will gladly re-publish if Anon would use a pseudonym like you have, or like VII Generation who's used a pseudonym as part of his comment.
Croz - Fiji would definetly be better off with relationships with Aus & NZ improved.
However Fiji will also benefit by diversifying the countries that it maintains close relationships with. The world is changing so fast with the rapid development in Asia. China is now expected to be the largest economy in the world by 2025 instead of 2040 and India to be the 3rd largets at that stage. Indonesia, and Malaysia are also growing in power and influence.
Yes we need Aus & NZ but it cant be based on previous relationships where they dictate what Fiji has to do.
V Generation Raptor
The former High Representative in Bosnia (born in India 1941) The Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon GCMG,KBE, otherwise known as 'Paddy Ashdown' has maintained that in Bosnia after the Bosnian War, "Justice and Jobs came first: democracy later".
He has recently had a few things to say about current policy of the allies in Afghanistan. Paddy Ashdown is a former serving officer in the Royal Marines and the Special Boat Service. He served in Belfast as Commander of a Commando Company. So, he ought to know a thing or two about what comes first in crisis situations. Common sense really.
He also speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese (like someone else we all know of?). Justice and Jobs: ....YES.
Croz, can you try to get some clarification from somewhere on the alarmist reports appearing elsewhere that the new media decree will make it an offence to contribute to internet websites? They're saying people who do so could be liable for a life sentence. Could this possibly be true? I can't imagine them throwing the book at Qanibulu, Snoopy et al for praising the regime on your site but stranger things have happened. I personally would hate to find myself in the slammer with the likes of Mark Manning and Mere Samisoni, that's for sure. Can you imagine the panting and general carry on? Not to mention being cheek by jowl with the loathsome George Speight. So I'm afraid that if there's any truth whatsoever in these reports, it's over and out and back to the koro for me. Bugger freedom of speech if the threat of sodomy hangs in the air.
Goodness knows. But if the reception of all previous decrees is any indication, the Media Decree (and Monday's Criminal Procedure Decree) will be misinterpreted by people opposed to Government and by the foreign media. I'll wait to hear from Fiji, and preferably sight the decrees, before commenting further. Decrees are published on the Government website but they're usually weeks behind their promulgation.
P.S. Please help me maintain the high standard of comments by refraining from comments that some readers would find offence. Vinaka, on both counts.
Our "Draft Copy" of the media decree (and we cannot confirm it is a true copy) says that any Fijian Citizen that publishes, contributes to or promotes any articles against the interests of Fiji either in Fiji or overseas is committing treason. The maximum penalty for treason is life imprisonment.
This ups the stakes for us as an antiregime blogsite operating inside Fiji so we are taking a pause and having a discussion amoungst ourselves about our future.
The Singapore School Children's Pledge as shown above is first class. Had this been daily practice in Fiji Schools over the past two decades, we might not be placed as we are. Civic Education ('Civics') must begin in Primary School and continue throughout a child's school life. This is quite normal overseas at any level of education (public or private,secular or religious). So how did we fail to observe such simple but fundamental outward
signs of nation building? The price we have paid is a heavy one.
@FijiToday
Well looks like it will only be a matter of time before they start burning books.
I hope you have cleared the bookcases of anything offensive or treasonous.
Sorry, sorry. I meant to label that as "Can it really be so?"
Caromio! They've finally let you out! And not a moment too soon. My dear, things have been awful. Colonel Walsh has unleashed a new reign of terror against those wishing to remain anonymous. And now that we've all given ourselves names, we learn that the penalty for writing anything here could be life in Naboro with Gorgeous George! I've got a tasi pori like his after just one afternoon of worrying about it. Thank God your back!
@ Croz
Have you noticed that all of a sudden, there has been an influx of anti-government/Frank comments on this blog lately. While at the same time, anit-government/Frank blogs like RawFijiNews and a few others have stopped or almost stopped publishing any new materials altogether?
Does this mean that because they have been proven wrong so consistently, they have resorted to attacking other blogs that publishes well thought out pro-gov/Frank articles and comments? So now they are going around spreading their poison to blogs like this one?
I have noticed every now and then the poison that was sipping in those anti-gov/Frank blogs are now coming onto this blog. You can tell by the way they frame their comments and in some cases, personalized their comments against others whose comments are pro-gov/Frank.
I feel sorry for this people and let me tell them this, YOU WILL NEVER STOP THIS MOVE TOWARDS REAL DEMOCRACY IN FIJI. We are working all the way with this vision to rid Fiji of these poisonous snake that slithers all over the place.
We will NEVER BACK down. We will PERSEVERE and WIN. You can take that to the BANK.
OMG, will someone please give TheMax his medication? Talk about hysterical. Listen up Maxie. Putting your stuff in capitals doesn't make it any more logical or sane. You reckon this is some kind of plot? Sure.
To Can it be so, Fiji Today and others concerned about the new Media and Criminal Procedure Decrees. For the most part these new decrees merely update provisions of the old Penal Code that, like all laws made under earlier constitutional provisions, needed to be replaced when the 1997 Constitution was abrogated. Coup4.5 is either deliberately spreading this misinformation, or its editors don't know about the old Penal Code provision which, incidentally, could have found Fiji Today guilty of sedition (not treason) and liable for 2 years jail (not life imprisonment). I'll write a fuller piece on this over the next few days.
Welcome to the anti-Government readers. Let's all keep our comments well reasoned,reasonable and polite. Attack the argument; not the man (or woman).
@Crosbie
Quite prepared to accept that reports about the media decrees are not confirmed and should be treated as such. Though they will make interesting reading - criticising the government becomes an act of Treason, give me a break!
@TheMax
I think you will find that threats of grevious bodily harm tend to focus the mind. Though I suspect you knew that already.
Tomorrow, 1 February, it will be seen if acts of perjury which are commited in Fiji Courts are fully investigated by the Fiji Police by order of the court. Corruption in Fiji is being aided and abetted by persons who come into our courts to lie on oath. Not all are citizens of Fiji. Impunity appears to apply also to overseas nationals determined to rip us all off. Shall they get away with this? Perjury is a serious offence meriting a minimum two year jail term. No one is above the law!
@ Caromio
No one is threatening anybody here but if those violent uprising advocates from RawFijiNews and other anti-gov/Frank blogs are deliberately inciting the ire of pro-gov/Frank commentors here with their poisonous drivel, think again. Take a very good look at what happened in Kadavu lately when the PM visited, they are defying the head of their confederacy of Burebasaga to support Bainimarama.
The people's eyes have opened because they now realize what a joy ride all those politicians have been doing to them for so many years. It's not only happening in Kadavu, it's happening everywhere amongst the indigenous Fijian communities in the various provinces. It's gathering momentum and it's growing and growing by the day.
Why I singled out the indigenous communities above is because the violent uprising advocates from RawFijiNews and other anti-gov/Frank bloggists are mostly targeting the indigenous community to take the lead in bringing Frank's government down by any means. And then we have the SDL crooks and thugs going about covertly/overtly using the church and vanua to garner support, the government has every right to remove their parliamentary retirement pensions.
I would very much like to comment in a much more civil manner but the way anti-gov/Frank people are flooding this blog with their drivel and smartarse comments, they need to be reminded to think again.
BTW, I'm an indigenous Fijian myself and I can tell you, the mindset have changed. The younger generation are fully embracing Frank's vision. That's because they are up to date with global trends and are not hung up with the old irrelevant ideas and systems of the past.
@ The Max
The younger generation in Fiji has every reason to want to embrace a vision - something new to give them hope. What did the 'caromios' and all their like-thinkers have to offer to anyone born in Fiji around 1987? Not allowed at 18 to vote? Not allowed to be educated sufficiently soundly that they might ask the right questions of their so-called elders and betters? Some of these E@Bs insisting that they must speak the vernacular to the exclusion of English? A world-language of business essential to progress? Even the French teach business and scientific studies in English at the Grand Ecoles! The young people of Fiji, in the land of their birth, were denied too much. So that the SDL Party 'nomenklatura' might have things all their way? This is NOT democracy. This was akin to Zimbabwe under Mugabe: an educated man gone all wrong. Zimbabwe's democracy is no vision for the young people of Fiji. They deserve much better. Australia and New Zealand must be mindful of this. Would they allow Young Aussies and Young Kiwis to be treated so neglectfully? Young Pacific Islanders deserve no less than young people of both these developed countries. It is in the interest of everyone in the South Pacific Region to see to it. Young Haitians deserve better too. Maybe they may have a chance at last? It has taken a massive earthquake to tear down what went before. What went before should be a lesson for us all. So much to be gleaned from this utter disaster. May be a Divine Strategic Plan?
@UB40..
Agree with you 100% bro.
The neanderthals and deadwood who have stunted Fiji's development over the past 50 years will be history come 2014. Frank has banked all his hopes on the young generation to lift Fiji's out of the quagmire - that is why he has reduced the voting age to 18years and will never bring forward the elections from 2014. His course is set.
Natural atrition will put paid to those who cannot and will not embrace this vision.
He does not do anything but keep the peace and the country grinding along to 2014.
I have deleted this Anonymous comment posted Sunday 8:08am, but I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt by reprinting here. Please remember all anonymous comments must contain a pseudonym,
"Just as all those in fear of the new Decrees coming into effect 1 February 2010, others in Canada are paying huge sums of money to acquire fake passports to enter Fiji. What is to be made of that? People coming to help rid Fiji of corruption, human trafficking and all the ills of the recent past? They had better measure up! One day left. In the meantime, the Legal Services Commission has a busy week ahead of it. Noticed the list lately?"
@ Anonymous 2.04pm
Walker Texas Ranger
When the lawyers have been sufficiently 'hung out to dry' by the Legal Services Commission, all the other malpractising professions must be dried out also. Unfortunately, it is required. Why? Because they also have been a fundamental maggot in the pie of corruption. There are: Accountants/doctors/bankers and most of all insurers who have contributed to Fiji Rot. They should look to their houses now, save us all a lot of public money, and sweep them clean. Failing this, then they will be swept clean by others more energetic!
@UB40 & TheMax
I wonder then why if Frank is such a saviour then why the need for things such as PER, detention and intimidation of enemies real or imagined, potentially draconian media laws, and the scrapping of the constitution?
Surely the good folk of Fiji would be falling over themselves to join the crusade?
And Fiji isn't a banana republic?....
I'll never look at roti parcel the same way again...
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption’s case against human rights activist and business director Imrana Jalal will now be heard in the Suva High Court on February the 2nd.
Magistrate Thushara Rajasinghe approved the application by FICAC to have the case heard in the High Court.
In the ruling Magistrate Rajasinghe says FICAC lawyers are public prosecutors under the Criminal Procedure Code.
He says Jalal’s plea has not been taken and that the application to transfer the case is been made before any evidence has been called.
Jalal’s lawyer Devanesh Sharma had opposed the application, saying the offence is regulatory and should not be tried in the High Court.
Jalal has been charged with operating a restaurant without a license.
Last month, a magistrate presiding over the Jalal case had her contract terminated along with two other magistrates.
This came days after the Magistrate questioned FICAC’s powers to prosecute the matter, saying it was a matter for the Suva City Council to prosecute.
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation
Caromio, my dear, what's your problem with this? What does a banana republic have to do with the treatment of Imranabanana? The scented patron saint of the Suva sisterhood acknowledges committing a "civil misdemeanour" in not getting a licence for her Hook and Chook. But FICAC sees it as far more serious, evidence that the shrill damsel and her tasi pori knight may have committed offences that a judge might reasonably find corrupt. Surely In seeking to join the two cases, we're all going to find out more efficiently and expeditiously whether the dynamic duo have a case to answer? We either have a judicial system or we don't. Personally, I favour the notion of show trials in such cases. But I don't think you can complain about politically motivated prosecutions while simultaneously doing all you can to bring the system into disrepute. I say let's wait and see what happens to the glamour couple before passing sentence on the system. My prediction is that on the available evidence, they'll probably escape the noose.
The last two comments were deleted because they added nothing to the argument and were too personal.
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