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!

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?