Propaganda techniques - Part I

I have been accused of over sensationalising the issues of this coup in this country by "anonymous" along with writing like a teenager. Thank you for your comments, please email me so we can discuss this further.

I write in my own "teenage" fashion to help expose the Propaganda techniques used by the Illegal Military Regime to make their presence in this country more "acceptable". As we all know in Fiji, once it becomes "acceptable" it's almost certain they'll be here to stay.

If you need an explanation in propaganda, read this article from a fellow blogger.

Bear with me as I uncover the techniques of propaganda being used against us the people of Fiji by this illegal military regime!

1/ Bait n Switch:
This technique is a two phase one - Bait the people in with an attractive positive sounding idea or scheme, then once they've been reeled in, switch your approach with the real meaning - one that usually won't be acceptable to them in the first place if they knew what it was all about!

• Bait:2 year Pre-coup campaign to clean up government, all for anti-corruption with constant public statements by military commander on political issues (remember when he was telling the people of Fiji NOT to vote SDL back in power?), allegations of "massive corruption in government", allegations of "corrupt practices". A big sell to the public using media to voice out anti-corruption agenda with the key sell of minimum disruption to the people - "Won't take long", "peaceful transition", "bloodless coup", "interest of national security".
• Switch: After December 5 takeover illegal military regime loads the media with emphasis on "roadmap to democracy" with a first 2 year timeframe and then a 3 year timeframe (they miscalculated the ammount of money required to pay off bad debt?).
  Gone are the "peaceful transition" statements 3 month later, what ever happened to "bloodless coup" ?
  And more importantly, the illegal military regime have NO PROOF to show for their allegations of corruption that link SDL government to any shady dealings. They have nothing to show for their claims, but instead cement themselves into the illegal administration as "Interim" Ministers, Judiciary, Prisons, FNPF, FIRCA, and other bodies relevant to their cause. [read this article for further clarification]
  

2/ Repetition:

"But the most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly and with unflagging attention. It must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over."
Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, p. 184

"The purpose of propaganda is not to provide interesting distraction for blasé young gentlemen, but to convince the masses. But the masses are slow moving, and they always require a certain time before they are ready even to notice a thing, and only after the simplest ideas are repeated thousands of times will the masses finally remember them."
Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, p. 185

The illegal military regime's repetition of "move fiji forward", "peace and stability", "unknown elements", "roadmap to ..." , "anti corruption", "lesser of two evils", "law and order", "interest of national security", "protect the people of Fiji" has been repeated over and over again as much as "ahhh" has been in a certain spokesperson's interviews! This is based on the simple fundamental principle of repetition and how it affects a human's automatic perception of the truth. Hitler's words quoted above show how vulnerable the masses are to this sort of thing. What you need to do is ask yourself the question -

• Are the propaganda phrases becoming acceptable or more acceptable to you then they were in December?

I leave you with another phrase the explains it all:

"If a lie is repeated enough times, it would become widely accepted as the truth."

Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's Minister of Propaganda

3/ Using Celebrities:
In a Fiji Village article Bainimarama states publicly that he "understands that" the 7s team has prepared well, "he'd like them to know" that the people of fiji are behind them...
He is trying to make it sound like he's speaking on behalf of all of us - you and me! And in mentioning his well wishes for Serevi and team he's trying to make it appear that Serevi's on his side! Even though we know that Serevi isn't political and prefers not to comment on the situation - as further confirmed by another "anonymous"! This example can also be used in the "Transference" technique. I'll cover that later in Part II.
This is a common technique and it has failed them in the past - Dr Nandan's endorsement of Bainimarama , "Shyster" Shameem's endorsement of the Dec 05 events, Transparency International's sudden activity against corruption, Leweni's speeches about human rights, civil rights and military investigations to name a few.
Don't let this work on you! Be aware of the work that they are doing to quietly manipulate your thoughts into accepting Bainimarama as your spokesperson. Or Leweni. Or Driti.

4/ Vagueness:
The vagueness of their claims and allegations of corruption and corrupt practices by the SDL led government that led to "corrupt practices being accepted as the normal way to do business in Fiji" have no standing in any court of law because of one important factor - NO PROOF! These people have violated the fundamental rule of law - innocent until proven guilty - and have tried their very best to convince us that they're right in their allegations.
Before the coup, VB was hurling accusations left right and center about known elements in government who were perpertrators of the 2000 Coup - Yet since the coup NO ONE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO JUSTICE for this! (what justice?). To this date NO ONE HAS BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURT FOR CORRUPT PRACTICES - Not one person in SDL or the SDL Government!
To further prove my point, they have raided SDL offices, even Pacific Connex offices and have "obtained more evidence" according to their mayjahhh Lewenski, but nothing has been compiled in a court of law - Don't you think that since they now own the courts, they'd be the first to show us the proof they have if any?????
It only follows that as they had no proof, still have no proof, and didn't look like they were able to obtain any proof at all - they set up their own "Anti Corruption Unit" to pry into the affairs of all citizens on the allegations of corruption.
This Unit duplicates the function of the Auditor General's Office, Economic Crime Unit (Police), Ministry of Home Affairs (Intelligence gathering, case compliation of national security issues) and if their bill is passed in Parliament - this Unit will be given the right to take apart our civil rights all based on a single allegation!!! Watch this space for more on this Unit's promised power!
What do you have to do to earn their interest? Anyone can complain about you (with or without proof) and they will earmark you based on your $$$$ income and how much they can use this in the media to justify their initial allegations of "Corrupt Practices" of the SDL led government. Even if you're not part of Government, they'll try to find a tie in back to Govt- either through Immigration puppet, or some FTIB screw up!


5/ Plain Folks:
This technique is to use ordinary folks and make it appear that they the illegal military regime is made up of ordinary citizens like YOU and ME.
This technique has been used since January with regular articles in the Fiji Times and other newspapers on members of the illegal regime who pose and appear as ordinary folks making it big "for the people of Fiji". Note that these articles in no way talk about the horrors of the illegal military regime, but make it appear that this "plain folk" is just like you and me. The best examples are those of failed politicians of the NAPF that have appeared in the Fiji Times. These articles do not talk about how these people were NOT voted in by their own people! It doesn't talk about how these people's ideas for their interim "ministries" are NOT sanctioned by the people of Fiji!! It certainly doesn't talk about what these "ordinary" folks have to say about the murders and beatings done by their boss!
Don't believe me? Watch this weekend's dailies for such articles as those that appeared in previous dailies - [1], [2] and tell me i'm wrong (this is one case where i'm hoping i'm wrong). they'll probably just shift the dates of publication.

*--*

Therein lies today's lesson on propaganda techniques utilised by this illegal military regime in their attempt to justify their illegal coup and reason for existence!

Please feel free to educate me also on the matter or even better - share your experience on the subject with me and we can discuss how to better present this to the masses.

There are a few other items that may need to be written up, so don't worry - Part II coming out soon with more techniques and how this illegal military regime is using it against us the people of Fiji.

Don't let them get the better of you!

To Sir-evi and the boys

I thought it appropriate to break the mood with a more positive message of hope and unity.

To the King of Sevens Waisale Serevi and the Fiji 7s team leaving for the Hong Kong Sevens tournament, I would like to wish you all the very best and may you and the team play your very best out there. May you conduct yourselves with dignity, discipline and honour on and off the field.
May your struggles be blessed and rewarded with victory.

I know the nation will be watching, praying and cheering for you, the management and the players; so know that you have the well deserved respect and backing of everyone in Fiji.

God Bless

A Necessary Evil

Excerpt from Fiji TV's national news:

One National News
Commander most modern day leader: Nandan
21 Mar 2007 17:59:18

"The military takeover has been described by one of the countries and the worlds leading academics as the lesser of two evils.

Former politician and prominent academic Doctor Satendra Nandan has even labeled the military commander as one of the country's most modern day leaders.

Dr Nandan has gone further to describe the December 5th takeover as the best of four coups in Fiji's history.

The renowned literary academic and former politician is now adding his own literature to our state of affairs.

Dr Satendra Nandan - here speaking at a corruption seminar today says even in the lead up to the military takeover, too many said too little.

The academic says this has led to whats now called a consultant culture in the country.

No stranger to political turmoil, the former politician initially served in parliament under the NFP banner in 1982 before switching to Labour in 1986.

As health minister in the month-long Bavadra government that was forced out at the barrel of the gun in 1987 Dr Nandan has described this takeover as a necessary evil.

Unlike other academics, he holds a different view of the December 5th takeover.

Dr Nandan says there are always compromises and sacrifices between right and wrong.

Democracy Dr Nandan says always means different things to different countries but in our case, he adds, its no longer the difference between good and evil, but evil and a lesser evil."

WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP !

Excuse me but that's just way too much BS for me not too react to.

Let's have a look at the esteemed writer's analogy.

1. "The Lesser of two evils" ???

• This is the most common phrase used by Voreqe and his merry men to describe the coup in their weak attempt to justify their actions so much so that his whole statement reeks of military influence.
  
• Read these articles to see the truth for yourself
  

2. "the best of four coups in Fiji's history".

• Would the learned Dr care to explain his definition for "BEST" ?
• Which coup is best for this country ? Haven't we learnt anything from our previous coups?
• With the decline in economic conditions and more dark economic weather forecasted by our economic experts - all because of the coup - how does one logically argue that this is the best for this country?
• Our hotels are still operating on reduced staff with reduced hours - talk to any of the hotels in Denarau and they'll tell you that, some even at 40% staff. still think it's the best?
• Unemployment just increased because of the coup - the slight decrease in the unemployment figures due to the re-employment of unemployed loser politicians didn't put a dent in it. How is this the "best" again?
  

3. "a necessary evil"
He now acknowledges the coup as EVIL.
But Necessary ????

• How necessary is it to kill two people, beat up civilians, sexually harrase females, detain families, in the name of "EVIL" ?
• How necessary is it to increase the unemployment in this country in the name of "EVIL"
• How necessary is it to abuse the law, place one's self above the law in the name of "EVIL"
• How necessary is it to deny the citizens of Fiji the right to discuss this openly in public, deny us the right to express our opinions in public in the name of "EVIL".
• If what Voreqe is doing is right, then why does he have to hide behind an AMNESTY DECREE ?
• If what Voreqe is doing is right, then why does he have to SHELVE MURDER INVESTIGATIONS ?

4. "sacrifices between right and wrong".

• Where were you when Sakiusa Rabaka was murdered by the military?
• Where were you when Nimilote Verebasaga was murdered by the military?
• How many more must be sacrificed for this "EVIL".
• How many more people must suffer and their rights be sacrificed for this "EVIL" whilst the previously unemployed politicians lap up their illegally gained salaries?
  

The only sacrifice this country needs to make is to rid itself of this military regime and their supporters.

5. "democracy means different things to different countries".

• I take a page out of Voreqe's idol's book
• General Musharraf and his version of democracy
  
  
• Another link regarding Musharraf shows a lot of similarity with what we're going through today people!
  

6. I've saved the best for last...
"Commander most modern day leader"
If by modern day leader you mean

• Leadership values shown by forcing his senior officers to sign their allegance to him or leave the military. When his contract was up for renewal, he forced the government to renew it at the threat of a coup and dismissed the top 5 ranking military officers for refusing to help him draw up coup plans that he intended to use as his bargaining chip. Needless to say that his contract has been extended since the December take over.
  
• Leadership skills that caused a rift in the RFMF ignored by him until an attempt at a coup by his own military personnel was staged in 2000. Four soldiers were murdered by his loyal soldiers and these murderers have not been brought to justice to this day.
  
• Leadership skills shown in his stint as President of Fiji Rugby Union by threatening to step down if FRU did not get rid of a rival individual. Needless to say FRU stood by the individual and he was left with no choice but to step down. That individual is now in a major team for the FRU flying Fiji's flag and hopes on the international arena for a positive Fiji image, whilst this "modern day leader" has made himself the laughing stock of the globe and favourite "bati ni tanoa" joke by his own people!
• [read this article to find out more about it]
  
• Leadership skills that recently made him promise that judges would also take 5% cut, and only to have his appointee counter that? And another appointee apologise nationwide about it and rescind the modern day leader's pledge? What a great modern day leader he must be!!! So great that you can read what the people of Fiji have to say about him
  
• Leadership skills that allowed 22 military finance department officers to run a finance scam under his nose BEFORE the coup! (of course there hasn't been any "leaks" to the media about updates to this story).
• The only skill he's been good at is utilisation of the media to present his case even though legal channels and forums were available to him for his views to be aired. These channels were available to all other citizens also!
  
• other skills he's good at...multiple accounts of foot in mouth disease since 2000
• showing to the nation and the world the sad level of intelligence behind the uniform.
• the inability to pronounce "renumeration" on national television correctly. "remuneration" :) couldn't help myself :) one from the bati ni tanoa ...
  
• the list goes on and on and on....
  

It is blatantly obvious that this Dr Nandan has been cooerced as part of the military's strategy for propaganda battle against the academics and the like.
To address those in the higher echelons of intelligence, something that's way out of reach for our current military dictator, the military propaganda machinery needs to put a different face to their music.

Do not be surprised people that as time goes by the military will be putting out associates of their illegal interim administration to make public statements like these in their attempt to influence the people of this great country.

But fear not, the battle is not over. For as long as this Dictator rules this country this voice of freedom will not rest until him and others like him are removed from power.

Will you help?

Military Dictator Rules Fiji... for another month...

Do not be fooled people, we are being ruled by a dictator - not the "interim government". If you took the time to evaluate all that's happened so far since the December take over, hopefully your eyes will open up to the reality that is destroying our Fiji, our way of life.

"A military dictatorship is a form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a repressive ruler or a small clique who use military and police power to dominate the people mentally and physically. The dictator either seizes power directly, or creates an environment of fear and chaos and offers himself up as the liberator from the current cycle of evil."

Is this begining to sound familiar people?

"Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

Hermann Goering, President of the Reichstag,
Nazi Party, and Luftwaffe Commander in Chief.

The dictator uses repeated propaganda to reach out to the masses and quells any uprising with a show of unopposed physical force in order to divide the people; thereby conquering them.

For as long as there are people out there who fall in behind the military regime, the country will always be in conflict in whatever form that conflict may take.

Those of you who still believe that this coup by Bainimarama is justified and is the right way to go: Please understand that history is being repeated here, not just Fiji's coup culture history, but the history of Rome (Cicero), Germany (Hitler), Pakistan (Musharraf), Iraq (Saddam).

You know Fiji's ruled by a military regime when:


The military is used as the primary force to control the civil population in violation of the nations constitution.

• With beatings,torture and even deaths used to scare the populace into submission. All this being done whilst they swear publicly to "uphold the constitution".

The military utilise the tools of propaganda to reach out to the masses in an attempt to sanction their actions and sway the majority their way.

• A certain radio station with the military appointed announcer marketing Voreqe's work aimed mainly at the rural hard working citizen.
• National newspapers are not following up on articles that expose the faults of the military led regime ever since the military paid the dailies a "visit".
• Pro military articles in our dailies from personal profiles of their military appointed personnel, leaks about ongoing "confidential audit investigations" (witch hunts) that are illegal by nature, to straight forward propaganda articles with the same sing song phrases of "move Fiji forward", "peace and stability in the country", "don't disturb the peace", "rid us of corruption"...if you can think of any more email me please and I'll add it in. I'd like to compile a list of the military propaganda catch phrases so people become more aware of these when reading it in the dailies.
• Remember the military's public campaign against the former CEO Finance Mr Paula Uluinaceva? Lewenski declared him a "wanted man" for officially reducing the military spending budget to F$10,000 per month - before the coup!. Mr Uluinaceva was a victim of a public witch hunt led by none other then the military dictator himself wich caused this gentleman and his family to go into hiding untill he was sure his family would not be harmed by the military's brutal arm of enforcers. He was later replaced by another military appointee. The budget for militar spending was needless to say left alone. This is only an example taken from the many that have occured since the December take over.

The military continue to suppress the people whilst working around the legislation to protect themselves;

• "Presidential decree" grants amnesty to the military dictator and his soldiers for all their wrong doings. Note that this presidential document is coming out of an office that's surrounded by military personnel right up to the President's secretary. Questions about authentication of the Presidential signature have resulted in investigations into the lives of those who dared to "speak out against the President." Any public hints of this is dealt with by a visit to the military HQ. Mr Keneth Zinck can testify to that, along with the respected lawyer who's been publishing articles regarding the (il)legality of the coup.
• The removal of the VICE PRESIDENT himself after he sent out a formal memo denouncing the coup. This presidential statement apparently clarified the fact that the Presidential office was not in support, repeat DID NOT CONDONE, the coup. After the removal of the Vice President there was a public statement read from the president's office that the President supported the coup - in a language that differed from previous Presidential statements. Obviously the speech writer had changed or been replaced.
• Emergency Decree still in place, extended every month. This decree prevents the public from speaking out against the atrocities that this military regime is causing by intimidating the public with silent threats of "visits to army HQ" for some "exercises". The decree denies the individual their right of free speech, public assembly and everything else the military can think of to quell any possible public show of rebellion or uprising as shown in recent articles. Anyone who does so is labelled as "disturbing the peace and stability of this country". We all know who's really doing that don't we!

The military dictator takes total control of agencies that could pose a threat to this regime, and agencies that will enhance the propaganda and build his empire.

• Public denouncement of the Great Council of Chiefs - the indigenous people's highest ranking body of rulers second only to their leader the President. The military dictator publicly scorned the Great Council of Chiefs in his post-coup press releases and the removal of the GCC appointed Vice President.
• Military appointed Chief of Police. Removal of Police Commisioner Hughes and other top policemen who publicly opposed the coup replaced by military appointed personnel. The military appointed Chief of Police later announced that the Police was no longer going to investigate the military dictator Voreqe Bainimarama for his involvement in the deaths of the crw soldiers in 2000, for his treasonous statements made against the elected government, for him and his men's involvement in the illegal removal of arms shipment from the wharf just before the coup.
• Military appointed head of Prisons to prevent any possible chance of having him or his men ending up there. As the Prisons department doesn't pose a direct threat to the illegal regime, the only reason he'd have this take over is to remove completely any trace or possibility of a legal lashback on him and his men for their illegal actions in 2000[military deaths] to the 2006 coup.
• Military removal of Justice Fatiaki and quick replacement with a certain anti-SDL judge. Being in charge of the judiciary allows the military regime to carry out tasks they want to and bend the law to suit themselves - as seen by the recent Nabua roundabout saga.
• Military removal of all senior government personnel who have been seen as pro-SDL, or simply anti-coup. Personnel that have not been cooperative with the military regime since the coup have also been removed. Under the guise of re-structuring the government, all senior CEOs were sent away - except of course that of the Dictators "favourite advisor".
• Military appointed Director of Immigration. This department was needed by the dictator to place travel bans on civilians they label as a "threat to the stability of the nation". Somehow the military men never ended up on this list. This list was some 5000 in January 2007 and according to sources from the Immigraition department, the increase was by some 2000 names post-coup. To make the list one had to be removed by the military from their post, speak out in public against this military regime, or just be disliked by military personnel or their relatives.
• Military appointed appointee for head of Audit Team to "investigate corruption" in all and any government body thay may come under the microscope. Whilst this Audit Team (more like WitchHunt Wackos) have publicly spoken out about allegations of mismanagement of funds in various bodies, they have failed to update the public on the finance scam that was going on under the nose of the dictator himself at the RFMF Finance department. There were at least 22 people sent on "a break" [Lewenski strikes again] from the RFMF's finance section because of "discrepancies" with the FNPF payments. The investigations, according to our military source, were uncovered by FNPF when they realised that there were staff members who were getting paid more FNPF money then their annual salaries. As the FNPF is a percentage of the annual salary, it appeared based on the data presented by FNPF that these staff members were being paid two annual salaries, thereby having two FNPF deductions for every pay. This was picked up by diligent FNPF staff since most of the finance team at RFMF were involved in this. To date, there has not been any updates public or otherwise of what happened to the second annual salary that these RFMF finance team members were deducting from. Who was getting that second pay and why hasn't anything been done about it? Further proof that the military have influenced the media is the lack of follow up reporting on this interesting item since it made it's way to the Fiji Times on Feb 26.
• Military removal of anti-coup or pro elected-government personnel in various statutory bodies and their Boards. The list is too numerous to name, but we all know those boards and who they are. I'm sure those citizens are awaiting the return of law and order so they may proceed with legal proceedings against Voreqe and his bunch of merry men.
• Public show of support for the military by the no longer respected head of Fiji Human Rights Commision. This Director of FHRC is no longer respected publicly and internationally with her blatantly biased pro-coup propaganda. When she tried to play down and justify the military beatings and deaths of civilians - she publicly crossed the line and no one can doubt that she's been corrupted by the military regime. This corruption seems to have been coerced before the coup as part of the planning for this, which completely makes her a part of the illegal military regime.
• Public show of support for the coup by losing political party National Alliance Party of Fiji (NAPF). Their spokesperson was quoted post-coup in the dailies as stating that "the GCC's list to the military should be sent to Santa" in reply to the list of actions the GCC presented to Commander Bainimarama in the quest for peace and stability. These demands were similar to those presented in the EPG report. Not surprisingly members of this party now hold ministerial posts in the military "interim government". These include Interim Minister for Transport Mr. Manu Korovulavula (5.57% of first count votes only), Interim Minister for Fijian Affairs Epeli Ganilau, Interim Minister for Education Netani Sukanaivalu (6.15% of first count votes only). If I've missed out on some names it's really because i'm just too tired to research it. Check elections web site for more information.
• The shocking silence of the interim ministers in light of the two deaths of civilians at military hands. To date not one of this ministers have spoken out against the deaths, even those who claim to follow a religious lifestyle! What type of religion will condone the beating to death of a human being? When these ministers pray next time one wonders what they're praying for?

The military dictator continues to remind people of their status in the society with public show of force or more subtle means of persuasion

• We still have road blocks; even if it's operated by the police as they claim it will be, there are still roadblocks in place, with no justifiable reason to have it in place.
• Military dictator continues to give his illegal Interim Prime Minister addresses from the military army base dressed in military uniform.
• Military appointed head of Immigration gives his TV interviews dressed in full naval commander gear.(This is in case they mistake him in the Immigration office for a passport-seeking civilian).
• Military appointed Teleni does likewise for his meetings with public media and civilians alike. Of course Driti and Lewenski are in their military gear be it as military spokesperson or Ministry of Agriculture consultant.
• Military 'advisors' hold 'discussions' with members of the media who are seen as being too anti-coup in their articles. As a result the media organisations have to tone down their reporting in order for their business to survive, despite publicly declaring themselves as free of military intimidation.
• Not to forget the extensive harrasement, abuse, sexual abuse, torture and sadly eventually deaths of civilians since the December take over. This is the worst ever abuse of human rights that Fiji has had init's short history, and ranks amongst the worst in the South Pacific.

I could go on and on people, but this article will then become too comprehensive and the main points would become lost in the volume of attrocities that these people have committed against us and our nation.

I appeal to you the people of Fiji, think about these facts that have been presented before you make your mind up about the military dictator.
Don't let someone else do the thinking for you.

When you finally see the light let this regime know that they do NOT have your support.

Can you in good conscience read this and do nothing?

If you still believe that Voreqe Bainimarama and his military puppets are the "lesser of two evils" please let me know - and allow me to persuade you to see the truth for what it is.

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than
those who falsely believe they are free."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Military Regime rules Fiji

The extension of the Emergency decree finally reached the news today, 5 days after it made it on intelligentsiya.

Whilst the Military regime is "appealing" to the unionists not to destabilise this country's "progress" on one hand, the other hand is still enforcing the rule of military law with the Emergency decree in place till the end of March.

I'd like to be proven wrong on this one, but my bets are that the Emergency decree will be extended again in April to dissuade any public show of rebellion against this military regime. In the meantime, until the end of this current Emergency decree is reached, the military will be hot on the heels of the unionists with their own personal "invitation" to meet either Teleni or Driti for some "advice".

And don't be fooled people of Fiji - This is a military regime!

Why else does the illegal Interim Prime Minister hold his press conferences from the Military Officer's Mess dressed in full battle uniform?

Do you the people of this beautiful country need any further points stressed out to you on how wrong this regime is? For those of you who believe, sign up then.
Those of you who're still lost in the tunnel, come towards the light.

Where most of the people are.

Voreqe's Idol

When Voreqe took over the people's elected government in December 2006, he stated in his early press releases that he likened his principles to that of General Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan.

This particular General overthrew the elected Government in 1999 and then later appointed himself President of Pakistan in 2001.

Voreqe overthrew the people's elected Government, and then later appointed himself "interim" President of Fiji before relinquishing executive authority to the President so he could take up the post of Interim Prime Minister.

Prior to September 11, 2001 General Musharraf was an ardent vocal supporter of the Taliban regime.

In 2005, Voreqe's idol made it to the Top 10...Worst Dictators in the World!

In 2006, Voreqe's role model was rated 17 "not because [his] conduct has improved but because other dictators have gotten worse."


I rest my case.

International "Pote"

The delegation that left Fiji's shores to sell their wares at the recent Pacific Island Forum Foreign Ministers made the embarrasing assumption that they could convince intelligent, elected officials of our Pacific neighbours with the same drivel that they repeat daily to themselves to justify their actions.

This embarrasement was somewhat a "total shock" to the Dictator and his regime, and the best reply the military propaganda machinery could come up with was stating that the Eminent Persons Group to Fiji had their minds made up about Fiji before talks were held with the Fiji stakeholders [fijivillage article]

The move by the Pacific Island Forum Foreign Ministers to stand by the EPG report [pulse of the pacific] shouts out to the people of this country that our woes and sufferings are not being ignored by our Pacific neighbours.

As our civil servants begin their plans for strike action against the illegal military regime, we all heard Leweni's threat of military action guised in a reminder about the renewed Emergency Decree. One wonders what the dictatorship will do now that their own neigbours have made their stand, and what excuse they'll come up with this time for their retaliation to such actions or what they like to call "preventative measures".

I would like to wish these civil servants my very best in their actions and hope that their leaders do not receive the "re-patriotism" that the military have become notorious for.

The right for these hard working people to stand up for their money should not be denied them, nor should they be ignored. After all the 5% pay cut only applies to the civil servants - but not the interim MINISTERS!!! Aren't they also the servants of the people!! Should not they be receiving the same treatment ?

What does this imply about the quality of leadership - military or otherwise - that this country is under right now? When the going gets tough, everyone else takes the pay cut except them?

How does this reflect on this dictator's leadership under fire? (and i'm not referring to the tavioka-patch dash).

The cry for return to democracy has been heard by our neigbours, now lets hear it from our own nation!!

Military Cover Up?

You know you're hitting the right nerves when the Military shuts down one of the talk servers that have been quite "popular" recently by advising the hosts that it's for the "best interest of the people of Fiji".

I had the spare time to visit that site a bit the last couple of weeks and it was a hive of discussions with varying topics, from those interested in providing constructive solutions to getting Fiji out of this rut, to those who simply want to vent both for and against the coup. Understandably, there was slurring and some vulgarity in it, but there were more well presented points and arguments - both for and against - then slurring. Of course, the support for the coup was always coming up short as there was no logical humane defense for the violation of human rights in this country since the illegal military take over.

The bottom line is : The military have shut down an avenue for free speech both for those who support this coup and those who don't. This avenue was no threat whatsoever to the people, and allowed for anonymous free speech - something that has become a precious commodity in these troubled times.
The military no longer allow people to freedom to speak out against the atrocities that they've committed, the violation of people's freedom, twisting the law with their jargon to suit their purposes.

I've made this point before, and will continue to reiterate it until something is done about it that meets the standards if not exceeds those adhered to by our previous governments !!

Their actions raise a lot of questions as to why they're so interested in shutting down free speech for the public? Is it the topic of discussion?
What are they really scared of? - that people will eventually start putting two and two together and raise their voices as one ? How dare they assume that we the people of this county are as gullible as they are ??? How dare they assume that you and I would fall for such blatant arrogance and mistake it for quality leadership!

Well that's not really why i'm writing this article. Lets get back on track here.

In light of the two recent killings at the hands of the military - Nimilote Verebasaga and Sakiusa Rabaka - the investigations have taken a NEW turn in Fiji's crime investigatin history. Well not so new as this article will explain.

To my limited knowledge in all Police investigations into murders the Police force take the lead in the investigations and question everyone involved to set up their case file. When they have completed this, the file is then passed onto the Judiciary or AG's office for the legal process to continue in court.
In these two particular murder cases however - the military have told the police that they will do their 'own internal investigations into the matter and they will give the names of any soldier they identify to be investigated by the police'. Lets stop and catch our breath for a while.

It appears that the RFMF will carry out their own internal investigations into the alleged murders, and then allow the Police to question only those they identify ?!

• Is this whole intervention legal?!
• How credible are these military investigations?
• Aren't the military personnel also subjected to the SAME laws and regulations as normal citizens of Fiji? Even under an Emergency Decree?
• Where does it say in the constitution that the military has the legal mandate to inject itself
  
• into a murder investigation in such a manner?

[here's an update of the investigation status]

And the questions continue, but sadly the fact is THE ARMY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT AND GET AWAY WITH IT!
They are after all supported by their commander who just so happens to be the Interim Prime Minister. The continued silence of the Interim Government has given the army free reign in dealing with civilians because even the "politicians" in the Interim Government (junta) know they themselves risk their positions if they were to be so bold as to speak out against the military. Why do you think no one has brought up the issue of deaths at military hands - instead they try to divert our attention with their propaganda machinery to other matters that pale in comparison to deaths at military hands!

Your silence does the same!

So the Military have bent the rules to suit themselves, and as this article will show, it's NOT THE FIRST TIME!!

The same situation occured when the Police were investigating the deaths of the CRW soldiers that died in 2000. The RFMF forced themselves into the investigations and placed themselves as the liason between the Police and those involved in the deaths of the 4 CRW soldiers. To this day NO ONE HAS BEEN CHARGED for those crimes!!! [read this TIME article for details]

What justice do you see happening for the families of the two civilians murdered at the hands of the military soldiers in early 2007?!

March 15th TV 1 news showed army spokesperson Leweni stating that the military will not rush into investigating the death of Sakiusa Rabaka.
Leweni was shown on Fiji's National TV stating: "Just because someone says that an investigation has to be taken, (doesn't mean) we have to jump".

WHAT!!!

The arrogance of the man is typical of the RFMF attitude now that they can get away with anything! They've gotten away with murder since 2000 and have removed the people who were going to charge them. Who's going to stop them now?

They hide behind their version of "law and order" and use their "Emergency Decree" as an excuse for intimidating the public into silence, singing the same propaganda tune of "taking into consideration as to what is in the best interest and good for the people of Fiji."
(fiji live article)

Are we going to continue our daily lives pretending this is not happening around us? Are we going to continue to ignore what's going on around us?

How much longer will you condone these atrocities through your silence?

How much longer will you be sticking your head in the sand?

"Remember that all through history there have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seemed invincible. But in the end they always fall...always."
- Mahatma Ghandi

The Coup: Behind the Scenes

There's an interesting article that i'd like to share with you, from the TIME magazine written by Rory Callinan, dated Sunday December 10th, 2006. I've taken the liberty of including this article for your perusal.

This will give you an insight into the character of the self proclaimed anit-corruption advocate.

_______________________________________________

For months before he appointed himself President and put Fiji's elected leaders under house arrest, military commander Frank Bainimarama had been threatening to stage a coup unless Laisenia Qarase's government abandoned plans to pardon those behind the abortive coup and mutiny of 2000. But some in Fiji say Bainimarama, who during the mutiny narrowly escaped assassination by rebel troops, has another motive: ending a police probe into the killings of four soldiers from the mutinous special-forces unit.

"It's cold-blooded murder," says Ana Kalounivale, "and that's what Bainimarama is running away from." The 37-year-old widow says Bainimarama must bear some responsibility for the bashing deaths of her husband and three other special-forces soldiers. If he did not order or know about the killings at the time, she believes, then he failed to properly investigate them afterward. "Now we don't know if we will ever have justice," says the mother of four.

The commander has repeatedly denied any responsibility for the deaths of Selesitano Kalounivale, Jone Davui, Epineri Bainimoli and Lagani Rokowaqa. "I never gave any orders to kill," he said in 2003. However, in the weeks before the coup Bainimarama was under increasing pressure over the murders. Police probes and court actions by victims' families and surviving soldiers could have seen him suspended, forced to give evidence about the killings, and potentially facing charges and a six-figure compensation claim against the Fiji Military Force.

During the mutiny by members of the elite Counter-Revolutionary Warfare unit, three loyalist soldiers were shot and—in an experience which some officers say has haunted him ever since—Bainimarama was hunted by armed rebels through a jungle-choked valley behind Suva's Queen Elizabeth Barracks. After the barracks were retaken, loyalists rounded up CRW soldiers regardless of whether they had taken part in the mutiny. Selesitino and the other soldiers allegedly fell victim to a violent paroxysm of revenge.

Among Bainimarama's increasingly peremptory demands to the Qarase government were the shutting down of the police investigation into the murders and the removal of Fiji's Police Commissioner, Andrew Hughes. The day after the coup, Dec. 7, Bainimarama sacked Hughes, who had already left the country after death threats to his family, and appointed Army intelligence chief Jim Koroi as acting Police Commissioner. Next day his soldiers took in for questioning six former CRW soldiers, alleging that they could foment civil unrest.

In the past year, Bainimarama and the military had been fighting four separate legal actions. Three were lodged by former CRW soldiers who survived beatings in 2000. The fourth was a compensation claim by Ana Kalounivale, who successfully sued the Commander and the government for worker's compensation over her husband's death but has yet to receive any money.

In a hearing last April, the court was told that after he was first picked up, Selesitino had a 30-minute meeting with Bainimarama and was then taken to the local police station on the Commander's orders. He was later taken from the station by four or five soldiers. Acquaintances of his told the court they were working in a building next door to the police station when soldiers arrived with Selesitino. They said they heard him crying out for help as he was driven away in a military vehicle. According to the judgment of Magistrate Ajmal Gulab Khan, "He was on the floor of the van and bystanders could hear swearing, hitting with rifle butts and kicking at the back of the tray." Around midnight, his hideously injured body was delivered to the morgue.

Magistrate Khan found that "the assaulting soldiers may have exceeded in the scope of their duty by assaulting the deceased, but they acted as soldiers of FMF and were responsible for their actions in the general scope of their duties." He awarded Ana Kalounivale $24,000, but she says the military is appealing the judgment.

The FMF has never explained where the soldiers took Selesitino or why he was singled out. But documents lodged in support of civil lawsuits by the three CRW soldiers who survived beatings give a chilling insight into what might have happened. The soldiers "seized me at gunpoint and handcuffed my hands behind my back," said Sergeant Viliame Lotawa of the night he was taken from the police station. "I was punched, kicked and beaten with blunt objects such as rifle butts and iron rods. I was beaten all the way to [Queen Elizabeth Barracks]." Lotawa says his attackers included a former Fijian rugby international, Sergeant Jack Komaitai. Komaitai told Time last week there was no truth to the allegation. Another survivor, Metuisela Railumu, told the court he was taken by soldiers to a shooting range and "beaten with wood and iron rods all over my body." The case of the third survivor, Barbados Mills, is due to go to trial early in 2007.

All three suits include Bainimarama as a defendant, charging that as military commander he was responsible for the actions of his troops. Police have interviewed 12 soldiers about the bashings, but the military has reportedly insisted that a senior officer attend all interviews; in at least one case, the officer prematurely terminated the interview. When Time put Lotawa's allegations to Bainimarama's spokesman, Major Neumi Leweni, he said, "Who told you that?" He has since refused to speak to the magazine.

Police have told Time the military conducted its own investigation, under the supervision of then officer Jack Koroi, Bainimarama's hand-picked new acting Police Commissioner. None of the alleged perpetrators named by Lotawa and his fellow survivors has faced any military trial or disciplinary hearing. Police are unhappy about Koroi's appointment. Says one officer, who asked to remain anonymous: "Koroi knows what to look for in the files. He's a former Criminal Investigations Department officer and he was the point of contact up at the barracks for people wanting to interview soldiers in the past." Contacted by Time last week, Koroi said of the police investigation, "[The suspects in the bashings] have all been questioned but they have decided to stay mute. There is a lot of difficulties with this. I have to see the file before I comment." Since leaving Fiji, sacked Police Commissioner Hughes, an Australian, has said one reason for the coup was self-preservation on Bainimarama's part. "He's been resistant to the investigation into the murder of the Counter-Revolutionary Warfare soldiers in 2000," Hughes told ABC News. "We believe he has some questions to answer in that regard himself." Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer shares Hughes' view. "I think, in particular, Commodore Bainimarama is deeply concerned about investigations by the police into the Fiji military itself," he told ABC Radio.

A senior Fiji police officer tells Time he and his colleagues have new evidence suggesting some of the "top [military] brass ordered the actions." Now, he says, they are bracing for the day when soldiers march in and remove their files. But "We've got copies," he says. "We won't give up." Ana Kalounivale may get justice yet.

The Lesser of Two Evils

When the military took over the elected government in December, their interim Prime Minister Dr Senilagakali was quoted as saying that their takeover was illegal but they were the "lesser of two evils".

In the last three months, the people of Fiji have seen for themselves the tactics used by this military led regime to enforce their will upon the people of Fiji.

Not only did they take over Government, but injected themselves into the Police, Prisons, Judiciary and various financial bodies - all under the guise of fighting corruption.

The military commander was so keen on making us see things his way that he's right hand man Driti was put in charge of "re-patriotising" any citizen that spoke out against what was happening around them; any citizen that spoke out for the truth and sought to bring back democracy as we know it.

What started as pre-christmas exercise for a former politician who was forced to run around the ground at gunpoint, continued to public humiliation of certain loyal citizens - citizens who stood up for democracy and were beaten and humiliated in the army camp during christmas.
With no one in power speaking out to stop these early acts of terrorism the terrorists took to the streets with a vengance, letting their adrenaline get the better of them... until sadly it cost a family their father. Still nothing was done to stop this mindless violence, this "lesser of two evils". Even when a mother had to bury her 19 year old son who died as a direct result of beatings received from the military - the interim military led administration were silent and remain so to this day!

The standard military training that formed the base of what was once Fiji's national pride and the UN's greatest asset was turned on it's own people resulting so far in the deaths of at least two civilians who to all our knowledge were never given a right to legal counsel or even charged with anything that warranted their captivity.
This is of course not including the still open case of the deaths of the following soldiers at the hands of the military: Selesitano Kalounivale, Jone Davui, Epineri Bainimoli and Lagani Rokowaqa.

The people of Fiji have been told repeatedly to go with the flow, move forward etc etc etc; yet we have people being taken away to military camp for beatings for things as small as swearing at the military. As part of the expected propaganda machinery the military were quick to point out that crime and lawlessness has dropped since they enforced military rule - but sadly no one pointed out publicly the glaring obvious - they were the biggest law breakers in town with their illegal take over, detaining and beating civilians for something as small as what they said, sometimes even beating them to their deaths.

Where was/were/is the police in all this one might politely ask?
I'm asking politely in case the lewenis take offence and question my right to ask this question.

Sadly since the December take over, law and order has taken on a new meaning for the peaceful citizens of this beloved country. We can no longer voice our opinions in public for fear of being reported as inciting people against this regime.

The bottom line is that everyone in Fiji is aware that what they say about the military led regime can cost them their lives - and that's a fact!.

Is this the Fiji you want your children to grow up in? Is this the Fiji you're proud of?