Great Council

I've been busy lately with family, work and basic survival and am now only able to put foward this short piece after all that's happened. What a great Easter weekend, bad for my blood pressure but good for rugby lovers worldwide. My heartfelt congratulations to the Fiji Sevens team. The doubt I had in the Fiji team after the game against the great Tongan team is similar to the doubt I had when the GCC met yesterday.
The jubilation at the end of the Tongan game is similar to the experience I had when I heard of the stand of the GCC, hence this article.

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Great Council.

When the GCC met in December 2006 to deliberate on the implications of the coup and compiled their advice in a list of directives and recommendations to the coup leader Voreqe, their conclusion was that the coup was illegal and that Voreqe return Fiji to democracy by either reinstating the previous govt, or hold an election. I'm not too sure about the actual details - can't find that Fiji Times I was keeping for this very matter. I do recall however the statements made by Voreqe - "Chiefs should just have a meeting and drink grog..." whilst the failed political party of Ganilau, Sukanaivalu, Korovulavula were recorded as saying that the "Chiefs list should be given to Santa" regarding the list of recomendations the Chiefs put foward to Voreqe and his coup criminals.

These words came back to bite them where it hurts when the great Marama na Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa spoke in the GCC meeting yesterday - Wednesday 11th April. The public humiliation and degradation that the GCC suffered at the 'mouth' of the military dictator Voreqe and his henchmen Ganilau opened up a rift in the indigenous people. As of December 5, their way of life was ridiculed, stomped on and trashed by this illegal regime. Every Fijian born in this country is taught their identity, their cultural way of life which is deeply founded on respect and leadership.

This was thrown to the wind when the existence and purpose of their very own hierarchial council was questioned and publicly ridiculed.

This great council was established to provide an indigeous voice in the leadership of this country, allowing indigenous Fijians the benefit initially denied the indigenous Maoris, denied the Aboriginals of Australia, denied the indigenous American Indians. The adaption of the Western democracy model to allow the indigenous voice to be heard, respected and where possible followed, is Fiji's version of democracy. A version that of course may need revision, and may need tuning along the way, but a version nevertheless that worked towards protecting the indigenous culture, people and their way of life whilst accepting a democratic way of life to coexist with other peoples, cultures and the ever changing social structure of this multi-cultural pacific nation.

This was thrown away with the onslaught of injustice brought about by the December 5th coup - the biggest culprits being chiefs themselves - Epeli Ganialu, Epeli Natilatiku, Voreqe (claims to the Ratu title).

Rejected chiefs.

Now the very people who ridiculed this establishment of Chiefs and their advisors have become dependant on the same council to push forward their pawn in their evil scheme of taking total control of Fiji. The endorsement of the GCC for the Vice President's nominee would seal their status in the eyes of the indigenous people - the very people whose identity and way of life was ridiculed by these arrogant treasonous criminals.

The GCC's rejection of the Presidential nominee speaks volumes of the integrity of this council.

Although some will claim that the rejection centered on the council's own agenda and personal politics, it has become obvious to the nation that the stand of the GCC since their December meeting has been one geared towards bringing this country forward by restoring it as soon as possible to a democratically elected Government, in as peaceful a manner as possible. Their opposition to the illegal regime has been admirable, especially when one considers the personal cost to their status, lives and families.

The recent shady attacks on the GCC Chairman Ratu Ovini Bokini is one obvious ploy in the illegal regime's attempt to ursurp this respectable authority before the scheduled GCC meeting. The fact that one of the ring leaders of this attack was allowed to leave the country even though his name was on the Immigration Watchlist implicates some darker involvement of the authorities in this matter. The Director's claim that he let the culprit go because there was "something funny with the ban on him" speaks volumes of the integrity of the shady attackers of Ratu Ovini Bokini, the 'interim director' of Immigration and the department's integrity in allowing a person to depart the country even though his name is on the watchlist. The implications this will have on other friends of the Director whose names appear on the watchlist is frightening to say the least - particularly for the countries of destinations these said individuals were to visit. I do wonder if the US is paying close attention to the apparent lax in our country's immigration border control.

The illegal military regime has now failed at their various undertakings regarding the GCC with their

• weak attempt at undermining the respected chairman's position as Tui Tavua
• failed attempt at cooercing the various provinces to their cause
• public failed attempt at winning the respect of the GCC to endorse their nominee for future President of Fiji.

They have now taken the high ground with the typical response of not acknowledging the GCC, with Epeli Ganilau even going as far, on Fijian radio this morning, as to feign surprise at the manner in which the GCC questioned the legality of the coup.

He was quoted in today's daily as saying that the chiefs should "accept what has happened and move fiji forward".
He then threatens to throw out any Chief in the Council who refuses to agree with the illegal military regime.
This from a man who's own people DID NOT vote him into government.
This from a man who doesn't even rule his own province.
This from a man who was unemployed before the coup and is now taking up an ILLEGAL post in the Fijian Affairs.

Latest broadcast [12 April] from the Fiji Radio Station is that this same man is looking at legally changing the composition of the Great Council of Chiefs. He has now raised questions regarding Ro Teimumu's appointment into the Great Council.

Now even Voreqe's getting on the bandwagon about getting the Chiefs to see it their way - the illegal military regime's way or not at all.

This man is obviously either very very desperate, very very stupid, or very very both.

"Our Fiji today is a new Fiji where individual freedom is protected and not a Fiji solely for Fijians. Wise decisions from this august house will promote multiracial harmony and true friendship."

Excerpt from voreqe's speech to Great Council of Chiefs in 2005

As the GCC meets again today to discuss our country's next president, the nation waits with anticipation, anxiety and dread. We all hope and pray that the GCC will stand up to the illegal regime and continue their stand for progress towards democracy and freedom. Whilst on the other hand, somewhere deep in the back of our minds, we know that this GCC decision could easily be overturned or ignored by the illegal military regime should the GCC continue to stand up against the illegal regime. We know that there is nothing to stop the illegal military regime from pushing their presidential pawn through their judicial pawn(s) and somehow legalise this. We know that the illegal regime will most probably just go ahead and ignore the council of the peoplel, ignore the voice of the people.

Yet we dare to hope and cling to that ideal that the Great Council of Chiefs will stand firm in their resolve to advice this illegal military regime to return this country to democracy as soon as possible, and return the power to the people of this great nation.

For even if the Great Council of Chiefs make the right decision for the people, only the people can show this illegal regime of failed politicians and criminals that we want them out!

I call upon you to make your stand known today. Email us your acknowledgement, recomendations, support or let a friend know. That's the start to getting these illegal criminals in power out so you and I can have a say in who leads this nation foward into the next year, not forward into the 'cannibalistic' era.

[read a fellow blogger's article on same topic]