Fiji's Black Friday

Last month, the Emergency Decree was extended and we suffered another month under the Illegal Military Dictator's rule. As predicted, we are into another month, and they've extended the Emergency Decree again!
This time to suit their purpose of suppressing the pending strike by the Unions over the pay cuts being forced down their throats, and now the GCC falls victim to this illegal dictator's childish, pathetic temperament - unfit for a leader at any level.

The Great Council of Chiefs made a decision to stand by their December meeting resolution regarding the coup of December 5, 2006. This meant they opposed the illegal regime's ruling and recomended a quick return to a democratic elected government based largely on the question of legality of the coup.
One can see in hindsight that the Chief's were remembering their mistake in appointing Ratu Seniloli as Vice President after the 2000 coup, only to have the judicary system find him guilty of taking part in the illegal coup.

As was their right, the Chiefs deliberated over the nominee for Vice President and democratically arrived at the conclusion not to support the President's nomination of an illegaly appointed administration and especially if the nominee is already part of the illegal administration. Their reasons for not supporting the nominee ranged from the illegality of the coup, illegality of the individual nominated participating in the coup and the status of the constitution (taken from various interviews with the respective attendees of this meeting).

As a result of the public 'slap in the face', Voreqe and Epeli Ganilau in separate interviews made it clear to the nation

• Their dissapointment at the result (What were they thinking?!)
• Their expectation that the GCC would go along with the nomination simply because it was the Presidential nominee
• Threatening to replace all the 'influenced' members of the GCC with members 'who are willing to take this country forward' because they didn't agree with the GCC's resolution.
  
• Their SUSPENSION of the GCC with diversion of funds elsewhere in their attempt to erase the GCC and it's members.
• Their harrasement of Ratu Timoci Vesikula as a warning to citizens of this country on what to expect from their leadership style.
  

Besides reminding me of my 5year old daughter stomping and kicking up a fuss because she wasn't allowed ice cream, this behaviour at this level is frightening as one takes into account the power that this illegal regime holds in their hands.

We must never underestimate the power they have, even though they do not have the support of the people of Fiji.

"With great power comes great responsibility."
"With great responsibility comes great accountability."

Driti's claims that he was asked to remove Bainimarama before Dec 5 by foreign diplomatic missions has been refuted by the diplomats themselves and now an escalation of events appear to be looming between the illegal military regime and the respective embassies. The citizens will only suffer more hardship if this happens and is not dealt with now.

The illegal regime need to consider that they have nothing, literally nothing to back them up - they are not in power through legal means, they do not have the mandate of the people, and worst of all they do not seem to have a plan at all. Their claims at having a roadmap have been rubished by their immature attempts at leadership.
Yes ok they do have their guns and that is what's keeping them untouched ... so far.

With the military's latest attempt to establish their authority with the USA giants; they have only shown the world the quality of their mentality, their leadership skills, and diplomacy. Instead of using alternative means of communicating with these foreign representatives via the Foreign Affairs ministry, they've decided to go public - Voreqe's usual M.O for dealing with pressure situations. As the media laps this up, one is left to wonder whatever happened to their illegal interim Foreign Affairs Minister who should have dealt with this situation - hang on, wasn't this individual also the Presidential nominee for Vice President?

Well it appears that the Chiefs have been proven correct to reject the nominee, after all how could this person be accepted as Vice President if he couldn't even handle diplomacy at this level?

Maybe it's because this nominee has taken off with a group of other illegal administrators to the EU to beg for more money? A matter of priorities perhaps.

I am puzzled as to how they believe that the EU will hand over millions of dollars to an administration that has been

• Rejected by the indeginous Chiefly council representation
• Lacks the support of the people.
• Not to mention that it's an ILLEGAL administration.
  
• And there is no gurantee that this illegal regime will stay in power long enough to justify the investment!
  

I had stated previously in my early posts that we're currently being run by a dictator. It appears that there is agreement with that point and by the looks of it, this Dictator is becoming bolder and letting the power get to his head.

For those of you who still believe in the cause of this coup, ask youselves these questions:

• Are you doing this out of your personal hatred for the SDL/FLP government? Is that what drives you to agree with this illegal administration and their dictator?
• Are you doing this because you're protecting your interests that were threatened by SDL/FLP government? Does this protection justify ALL that has occured since 5th of December? Does this country deserve to suffer all that it has and more ?
• Are you supporting this false clean up because you were a victim of the SDL/FLP policies? Was this resort the correct one? Have you exhausted all other aveneus?

If you answered yes to any of the above try the following - isolate your disagreement or hatred of the previous govt, isolate your personal insecurity and look at the events that have occured since December 5.
Strip away your hatred for the previous Government, strip away the personal insecurity, strip away the politics and look at what's left. Look at what's occured since December 5 and where it has taken this country.

Is Voreqe the leader that you wanted?

Is it all justified?

The Art of Deflection

As the attention of the world is drawn to the illegal regime's global humiliation in their failure to secure the respect and endorsement of the Great Council of Chiefs, the illegal regime's best tactic is deflection, deflect the attention from the public failure with some juicy or shocking news that will keep the public's attention away from their public failure!

This came in various forms today - Thursday 12 April.

The first is the allegation that the Ambassadors of UK, US, and Australia had approached Voreqe's thug Pita Driti to stage a mutiny. When it comes down to it, it's simply a matter of his word against that of the honourable, government appointed Ambassadors of the United Kingdom, United States and Australia.

This pathetic show only serves to prove how desperate the illegal interim administration is in their attempt at pointing fingers elsewhere to make up for their lack of proof of any corruption in the SDL/FLP government. This distraction is an attempt to cause a stir in the rural Fijian community, whose leaders have just turned their back on the illegal regime - and rightfully so. This news is an attempt to tar the embassies and those foreign bodies that speak out for the return to democracy - after all Driti and co can not force these people to the nearest army installation for an 'exercise in diplomacy'.

The best option open to the illegal regime is publicly snob the respective embassies and make it appear as though Voreqe is in charge of these ambassadors. Another weak attempt at impressing the rural community.
As the US Ambassador stated, the US "wants the RFMF to return to the barracks, stay out of politics and public institutions, lift the state of emergency, stop interfering in the lives of ordinary Fijians, the judiciary and other accountable institutions."

Believe me; we the people of Fiji also want exactly that!

The second deflection by this illegal regime is their sell of the EU Meeting outcome - even before they leave for the EU. The notorious former ousted prime minister Chaudhry claims that he is positive the EU will give them the $350 mill for sugar industry restructure. This is the latest attempt to sell the idea that the EU supports this illegal regime. The EU has its rules and regulations and although we as a people have been told that the EU wants the country to go to democratic elections as soon as possible, it doesn't necessarily mean that the EU will hold off on the money. In fact due to the work done by the previous pre-coup Foreign Affairs ministry (again I stress that I'm not pro sdl) this money could be given to us if they utilise the framework proposed for the use of this aid. There is the talk that the ADB regional staff have somewhat influence over the EU opinion, besides the local EU office.

Some light must be shed regarding this aid money - it must be made clear that the proposal for the money IS NOT the illegal regime's work but that of the previous governments! It IS NOT because the EU believes in the illegal regime that they've tolerated the trip, but because EU must be seen as being impartial to local politics and stay true to assistance promised the previous democratic government.

The debate on whether this illegal regime will stay in power long enough to ensure proper deployment and utilisation of these funds are matters that the EU should consider greatly. The political climate in Fiji has now receded to an all time low with the recent developments by the illegal regime. Those in the EU should note that the people of this great country can only tolerate so much before they start reacting, and when this happens, no one knows what the extent of the consequences will be.

Why do you think the military keep hiding behind the "Emergency Decree"?!.

The third deflection is one that may slip under the radar but for the fact that this is provided by board members that were put in place by the illegal regime. A new movie is to be shot in Fiji from 23 April. As you may well know, this work was done by the previous board - whose Chairman and board members were respected members of the international community.
The public must be made to understand that like any civil service department, even though the members of the board have been replaced the work commitments signed off by previous board must be held up or the new board would have to face severe financial and legal penalties to say the least. The peddling of this new movie as the new board's work is a poor attempt to dupe the public into believing that something good is coming out of this evil!

Their fourth attempt at deflection, as unexpected as it may have been to them, is their attempt at turning the citizen's mind away from supporting the one last group that stands in their way - the Great Council of Chiefs.

The illegally appointed self proclaimed "anti corruption cleaner" Voreqe has suspended all GCC meetings labeling them a "threat to national security".
In his speech delivered in RFMF Mess Hall in his usual military uniform, the dictator started with "My Government...." to tell the nation that the decision was his to stop all further GCC meetings. He then went on to add that he was doing it for the good of the nation!

An obvious sign of dictatorship, selfishness and disregard for public or national interest. None but his own. Note that his speeches in early Dec started with "we have decided..." which changed from a plural to singular context soon after to "I have decided..." , "...my government...", "it is my wish..." and more - as though he has the right to speak on my behalf or yours.
Further proof of the dictatorship in this illegal regime.

This suspension only furthers the cause for justice and democracy in this country.

What Voreqe claimed the previous SDL/FLP government would do with their Qoliqoli Bill and other radical bills, he has done with this coup - he has taken Fiji back to the dark ages.

This last gasp attempt at enforcing their rule upon the multitudes, upon the indigenous Chiefs of this land, upon the poor coup victims, has only served to prove to the world that Voreqe DOES NOT have the support of the people of Fiji. Were this another country there'd be an increase in the number of citizens venting their frustrations out on those that oppress them. Were this another people, there'd be blood in the streets.

But this is Fiji; a land where the indigenous were forced to coexist with other nationalities and they adapted gracefully as is their nature. A land where the unique indigenous culture has thrived, whilst allowing others to thrive also. A land where racialism only exists in the corridors of power and politics, not amongst the rural citizens. Don't believe, travel through Labasa/Savusavu or even the western side to see for yourself. A land where the Fijians are slow to anger and quick to forgive.

This characteristic has been the trump of this illegal regime. They have abused this and counted on the indigenous being themselves and have in every way possible used the threat of violence, public degradation and even death to quell any possible uprising they might face.
For sadly as a fellow non indigenous citizen of mine put it; "this coup is about pitting Fijian against Fijian, whilst Chaudhry rips us all off".

It is time for the people of this country to say "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH !!". For the sake of this country, listen to the Great Council of Chiefs. Use their recomendations as a roadmap to bring this country back to democracy and peace. Their consultation must be sought and advice followed for any lasting peaceful resolution to be achieved.

To the members of the EU - Please take into consideration the political climate of this country should the illegal regime denounce the indigenous authority of the people. You can see now what proof of corruption these people have. You can see for yourselves the lack of support they have from the ordinary citizen to the Chiefs. You can see for yourselves the desperate attempts at re-establishing control over this nation. Your money will not be wisely spent should you give it.

There is no guarantee that this illegal regime will stay in power long enough.

Not if the people have anything to say about it.