Rabuka's 1987 coups decimated the Health Service and trend continues into 2022. The old Auditor-General's reports will support our claims TERRORISTS: "On 29 May 2000, the Australian Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs cancelled George Speight's visa, and made it clear that any future application he might make to enter Australia will be considered on character grounds. Any application for entry by other individuals involved in the hostage taking would be considered in the same light. I have also instructed our missions abroad to seek the cooperation of other like-minded governments to take equivalent measures against what can only be described as terrorists." RACIALLY VIOLATED IN DEATH: Troops Search Coffin for Guns, 1987
.BLOODY 2000 MUTINY: It was just a pimple on the backside of Fiji's inglorious coup history. Come on, FORGET it, for it happened 22 Years ago. Maybe, Suva lawyer GRAHAM LEUNG should donate the $130,000 in fees that he received to flood victims. We may recall that the former Fiji Law Society president Leung was the Judge Advocate of the Court Martial panel that had tried the 20 soldiers convicted of mutiny in relation to the Speight coup of 2000. The Suva lawyer had been commissioned as an Army officer, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Before Leung’s appointment a row had broken out between Bainimarama and the Minister for Defence Josefa Vosanibola over the payment fees of $130,000 to Leung, with Bainimarama arguing that the payment to Leung was being made from the Army budget (still to be audited) and that the Ministry of Home Affairs had no say in the payment. Just imagine if |
Almost everyone in Fiji has a view on Mr Sitiveni Rabuka who staged the first coup in 1987 as a relatively young army officer. That single event has defined and informed Fiji’s politics for over three decades. I was totally opposed to that coup. Members of my family sold their home and fled Fiji in 1987. I have been opposed to every coup since then – 1987, 2000 and 2006. |
As a strong adherent of the rule of law and democracy, the unconstitutional removal of a government runs against the grain of what I have been taught and what I believe in.
The coups have destroyed lives and livelihoods, set this country back by generations and come at a huge cost.
I recognize that those responsible have not been held to account and justice has not been received by many who have been hurt or injured by these events.
They have debased our young democracy. Mr Rabuka’s day or reckoning will come, if not in this life, then in the next.
He will carry this heavy burden forever.
Love him or hate him, Mr Rabuka is an integral part of the Fiji story.
I truly believe that the Rabuka who was responsible for 1987 is a changed man. He has apologized for his role in those events.
He was forgiven by the leader of the NFP the then leader of the largest Indian party, Jai Ram Reddy and together they worked to produce the 1997 Constitution which led to equality of Fiji’s races and the formation of a genuine multiracial cabinet.
Mr Reddy was a victim of the 1987 coup but he set aside his personal hurt and feelings in the wider national interest. This act of statesmanship destroyed his political career.
If Mr Reddy was able to collaborate with Mr Rabuka, that is good enough for me.
In February 1990, the then president of South Africa, FW de Klerk, took the fateful decision to release Nelson Mandela who later became President.
Mandela was later to form a political partnership with his arch enemy although their political views were diametrically opposed at one stage.
What President Mandela has taught the world is that it is possible to forgive one’s political enemies and work together for the common good.
Fiji has had 14 years of one party rule.
The record of government during that period has been dismal – unprecedented levels of poverty, decrepit infrastructure as evidenced by frequent water cuts and power outages, diminution of human rights, extraordinarily high levels of external debt and mismanagement at all levels.
Democracy needs to be refreshed and reinvigorated from time to time.
Any government that is in power for too long tends to become arrogant, complacent and authoritarian. They stop listening to the people.
The coming elections this year provides voters a chance to have more of the same, or the choice of a new government that has the ability to take Fiji out of the wilderness.
None of the parties or their leaders are perfect. All of them have weaknesses, just as they have strengths.
None of us are perfect. That is the nature of being human.
The electoral system in the Fiji Constitution is skewed and unfair.
A political party or candidate cannot qualify for a seat in Parliament unless they win at least 5% of the votes cast.
That is a very high bar and which many candidates and small parties will be unable to reach.
Some other opposition leaders have outstanding records, but regrettably the electoral system places them in a disadvantageous situation.
Reviewing the current political landscape, I believe Mr Sitiveni Rabuka is the leader who will best be able to take Fiji forward and bring the changes that Fiji needs at this time.
He is humble and compassionate.
He is a leader that listens.
He has learnt from his past mistakes.
He has the experience of being a former head of government.
I trust him.
The founders of Mr Rabuka’s party give me confidence that if they win a majority of seats in the general elections, Fiji will have a government that is kinder, gentler and more inclusive.
The coups have destroyed lives and livelihoods, set this country back by generations and come at a huge cost.
I recognize that those responsible have not been held to account and justice has not been received by many who have been hurt or injured by these events.
They have debased our young democracy. Mr Rabuka’s day or reckoning will come, if not in this life, then in the next.
He will carry this heavy burden forever.
Love him or hate him, Mr Rabuka is an integral part of the Fiji story.
I truly believe that the Rabuka who was responsible for 1987 is a changed man. He has apologized for his role in those events.
He was forgiven by the leader of the NFP the then leader of the largest Indian party, Jai Ram Reddy and together they worked to produce the 1997 Constitution which led to equality of Fiji’s races and the formation of a genuine multiracial cabinet.
Mr Reddy was a victim of the 1987 coup but he set aside his personal hurt and feelings in the wider national interest. This act of statesmanship destroyed his political career.
If Mr Reddy was able to collaborate with Mr Rabuka, that is good enough for me.
In February 1990, the then president of South Africa, FW de Klerk, took the fateful decision to release Nelson Mandela who later became President.
Mandela was later to form a political partnership with his arch enemy although their political views were diametrically opposed at one stage.
What President Mandela has taught the world is that it is possible to forgive one’s political enemies and work together for the common good.
Fiji has had 14 years of one party rule.
The record of government during that period has been dismal – unprecedented levels of poverty, decrepit infrastructure as evidenced by frequent water cuts and power outages, diminution of human rights, extraordinarily high levels of external debt and mismanagement at all levels.
Democracy needs to be refreshed and reinvigorated from time to time.
Any government that is in power for too long tends to become arrogant, complacent and authoritarian. They stop listening to the people.
The coming elections this year provides voters a chance to have more of the same, or the choice of a new government that has the ability to take Fiji out of the wilderness.
None of the parties or their leaders are perfect. All of them have weaknesses, just as they have strengths.
None of us are perfect. That is the nature of being human.
The electoral system in the Fiji Constitution is skewed and unfair.
A political party or candidate cannot qualify for a seat in Parliament unless they win at least 5% of the votes cast.
That is a very high bar and which many candidates and small parties will be unable to reach.
Some other opposition leaders have outstanding records, but regrettably the electoral system places them in a disadvantageous situation.
Reviewing the current political landscape, I believe Mr Sitiveni Rabuka is the leader who will best be able to take Fiji forward and bring the changes that Fiji needs at this time.
He is humble and compassionate.
He is a leader that listens.
He has learnt from his past mistakes.
He has the experience of being a former head of government.
I trust him.
The founders of Mr Rabuka’s party give me confidence that if they win a majority of seats in the general elections, Fiji will have a government that is kinder, gentler and more inclusive.
Fijileaks: Jai Ram Reddy might have destroyed his political career (he was rejected at the poll) but he returned to his successful legal career, becoming President of the Fiji Court of Appeal, and later a Judge on the International Tribunal on Rwanda. Instead of holding Rabuka to account for crimes against humanity, he was sending Rwandans to prison. As for Mandela and d'Klerk, they went on to carve lucrative political careers, one becoming President and the other his Vice-President. That is what Reddy had hoped for in 1999, to serve as Rabuka's deputy, informing us that Fiji was NOT ready for an Indo-Fijian Prime Minister. It seems NFP's Biman Prasad is replaying the same music in 2022. Reddy, Rabuka, Mandela and d'Klerk's were no Mahatma Gandhi, who died penniless and without power or property. Like Mandela, d'Klerk and Reddy, Gandhi was a lawyer. Where is Jai Ram Reddy? Sitiveni Rabuka is a wolf in a fake Tapa Cloth, remote controlled by his handlers until the election is over.
RESIGNATION Fijileaks: Our own headline regarding FLP's Facebook posting had a question mark: SANEEM RESIGNS? FLP should have waited before it ran the story. We will be revealing those dud cheques and payments to Suresh Chandra which is mired in secrecy
* Meanwhile, both the Italian University and Mohammed Saneem are not releasing his online MA Thesis for a rigorous examination. For he claims he compared how his Office handled the 2006 and 2018 Elections?
* Did Saneem use insider materials to write up his thesis? He can't be judge in his own case. If he wants public confidence, he MUST make his thesis public? Normally, a "ghost" reviewier familiar with the topic, in this case relating to politics and elections in Fiji, should have been requested to read Saneem's thesis.
* In the case of his Master and Election Minister Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, in 2000, our Editor was asked to comment on Khaiyum's University of Hong Kong thesis for his Masters in Law. Khaiyum was in Hong Kong, writing up his thesis when Speight had seized the Chaudhry led government, holding the MPs hostage for 52 days. His supervisor was Professor Yash Ghai. Khaiyum's thesis was aprroved for submission, and he passed and returned to Fiji.
* Saneem must explain why he didn't release the 2014 Donor List that contains donors donating twice (Peng etc).
* What about High Court judgment that he defied his own Electoral Commission. And, that he didn't have 15 years of legal experience when he was appointed Supervisor of Elections
From Fijileaks Archives:
The late Brij Lal to Our Editor on his former student ASHWIN RAJ,
25 March 2015:
'During all that time, he (Raj) kept on pontificating to others. In the end, he became an irritation and a source of embarrassment here (ANU) and had to pack up and return to Fiji.'
BEATING AROUND THE BUSH
'He couldn't hack it as a junior lecturer and so joined the academic bureaucracy at USP. Before too long, he joined the chorus of coup supporters. He has no moral spine; he will change his tune to suit the occasion. Blaming others for his shortcomings is his modus operandi.
Keep up the fantastic work you are doing. You are indispensible to the struggle for democracy in Fiji.' Best Brij
BOOTED OUT OF AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Thanks for all your support. I do not normally respond to attacks on me, but this is for you to use however you wish to put the record straight on him. Ashwin Raj says he walked away from ANU.
* The truth is that in four years, he had not written a single chapter of his thesis, not a single chapter. During all that time, he kept on pontificating to others. In the end, he became an irritation and a source of embarrassment here. He says that I wasn't competent enough to supervise him.
* Did he ever complain about this to anyone? Why couldn't he choose an alternative supervisor. My competence as a supervisor was honoured by the ANU with a 'Top Supervisor Award, 2010," not an inconsiderable achievement. Any one of my students can be contacted for confirmation.
* Not me, but Ashwin Raj did not have what it takes to complete a competent thesis.
* He says he was trained by Gyatri Spivak. What a load of nonsense. He did his MA at University of Hawaii, and took only one course from Spivak when she was visiting there. Raj is an incorrigable name-dropper.
* He couldn't hack it as a junior lecturer and so joined the academic bureaucracy at USP. Before too long, he joined the chorus of coup supporters. He has no moral spine; he will change his tune to suit the occasion. Blaming others for his shortcomings is his modus operandi.
Keep up the fantastic work you are doing. You are indispensible to the struggle for democracy in Fiji. Best Brij
ASHWIN RAJ to Fijileaks: March 2015
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/7/5/13759434/published/screenshot-2022-01-16-at-07-56-20-professor-lal-was-not-a-fijian-citizen.png?1642323351)
Under international human rights law, a state cannot refuse entry of its own citizens but has every right to do so to foreign nationals in accordance with its Immigration laws. Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Director, Ashwin Raj, clarified that Professor Brij Lal held a Fijian passport which expired in June 1993. Professor Lal did not apply for renewal after the expiry of the Fijian passport and he held American (since 1993) and Australian passports since 1995. Records from the Department of Immigration show that he is a former Fiji citizen and did not apply for dual citizenship but continued to hold Australian and American passports. Dual citizenship for Fiji came into effect on 10 April 2009. According to the record, Professor Lal chose not to hold Fijian citizenship and therefore effectively forfeited certain rights that citizens of Fiji invariably enjoy as his entry into Fiji as a non-citizen is subject to Fiji’s immigration laws.
Fijileaks: We have no quarrel with Raj's statement but what right Sitiveni Qiliho had to torture the late Professor Brij Vilash Lal? We had privately expressed our disappointment to NFP leader Biman Prasad over his mass hysteria during the condolence service for Brij Lal. We argued that just because the late Lal had made great contribution to Indenture scholarship, it shouldn't be the ground for preferential treatment. The FOCUS should have been on banning order against Lal and his wife Padma. But Prasad turned it into election issue. We pointed out to Prasad that we found it odd that Brij Lal had even bought a property in Suva in 2010 and was planning to retire to Fiji when he was not yet a Fiji citizen. For academic reasons, we do understand why Brij Lal held on to his Australian citizenship. After all, Mara and Rabuka governments didn't want Indo-Fijians who fled to hold dual citizenship. Lal had not fled Fiji in 1987. Moreover, at the condolence service Prasad didn't question what right Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho had to take Brij Lal into custody, beat Lal up, and threaten him to leave Fiji the next day otherwise his body would have to be fetched from a mortuary. Prasad was aware of Lal's affidavit that we had revealed regarding the torture at Qiliho's hands. Once the late Brij Lal asked me if I knew my ancestral roots in India. I told him, "Bro, despite all your scholarship on indenture and the coolies, the answer is NO. I have no idea where they originated in British India, and I have no interest after two centuries to even bother, for India is some strange land. Like our family, thousands of Indo-Fijians can not trace their roots. Your books are too expensive, anyway. My surname is Lal. So was my father's surname. His father was Ram Bharos (Kabir Panth). His father was some pseudo brahmin Govind Maharaj, according to family tales, and the trail goes cold. That is why I have always implored Indo-Fijians to be Fijians. Fiji and not India must come first. Our links with India should be Curry, Sari and Diwali. I am as Fijian as any other person born in Fiji. We must, on the other hand, never forget our Girmit roots and our contribution to our BELOVED Fiji.'
RIP, late Professor Brij Vilash Lal. Our fight for 'FIji: The Way The World Should Be' will be restored
Fijileaks: We have no quarrel with Raj's statement but what right Sitiveni Qiliho had to torture the late Professor Brij Vilash Lal? We had privately expressed our disappointment to NFP leader Biman Prasad over his mass hysteria during the condolence service for Brij Lal. We argued that just because the late Lal had made great contribution to Indenture scholarship, it shouldn't be the ground for preferential treatment. The FOCUS should have been on banning order against Lal and his wife Padma. But Prasad turned it into election issue. We pointed out to Prasad that we found it odd that Brij Lal had even bought a property in Suva in 2010 and was planning to retire to Fiji when he was not yet a Fiji citizen. For academic reasons, we do understand why Brij Lal held on to his Australian citizenship. After all, Mara and Rabuka governments didn't want Indo-Fijians who fled to hold dual citizenship. Lal had not fled Fiji in 1987. Moreover, at the condolence service Prasad didn't question what right Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho had to take Brij Lal into custody, beat Lal up, and threaten him to leave Fiji the next day otherwise his body would have to be fetched from a mortuary. Prasad was aware of Lal's affidavit that we had revealed regarding the torture at Qiliho's hands. Once the late Brij Lal asked me if I knew my ancestral roots in India. I told him, "Bro, despite all your scholarship on indenture and the coolies, the answer is NO. I have no idea where they originated in British India, and I have no interest after two centuries to even bother, for India is some strange land. Like our family, thousands of Indo-Fijians can not trace their roots. Your books are too expensive, anyway. My surname is Lal. So was my father's surname. His father was Ram Bharos (Kabir Panth). His father was some pseudo brahmin Govind Maharaj, according to family tales, and the trail goes cold. That is why I have always implored Indo-Fijians to be Fijians. Fiji and not India must come first. Our links with India should be Curry, Sari and Diwali. I am as Fijian as any other person born in Fiji. We must, on the other hand, never forget our Girmit roots and our contribution to our BELOVED Fiji.'
RIP, late Professor Brij Vilash Lal. Our fight for 'FIji: The Way The World Should Be' will be restored
'We will visit India and see the sights but, in our hearts, we know we belong somewhere else': Professor Brij Lal
Fijileaks: Aiyaz Khaiyum's response was before FLP went public on its Facebook.
What was the allegation? The allegation was that Electoral Commission chairman Suresh Chandra had been picking thousands of dollars through submission of false claims for sitting allowances when the commission was not sitting. Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem facilitated this abuse. He was issuing CASH cheques to pay for these claims – in blatant contravention of FEO regulations. Both these executives were regarded as grossly lacking in integrity, independence and impartiality -and therefore major impediments to the conduct of free and fair elections in 2022.
COMING SOON: PAP Treasurer JOSEVA LEANO and the fraud and tax allegations against him at FRCA that had led to his sacking in 2008. Dracula guarding PAP's Money Bank
Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem has resigned following allegations of abuse of office made against him by the Fiji Labour Party and its two cooperation partners Freedom Alliance and Unity Fiji. This is still unofficial news but we are very reliably informed that the Fijian Elections office staff held a farewell party for him on Friday. We of course take full credit for this highly welcome development which comes close on the heels of the resignation by the chairman of the Electoral Commission Suresh Chandra also following allegations by the three political parties. Labour Party had written to the Auditor General and FICAC last week asking for a follow up on their investigations against Mohammed Saneem, putting renewed pressure on them to act. |
The three parties had written to the two investigating authorities on 20th December calling for an investigation into Saneem when the chairman of the Constitutional Services Commission ( the Prime Minister) failed to act on their allegations in a letter sent to him on 18 November. Suresh Chandra had resigned the next day without giving any reasons.
What was the allegation? The allegation was that Suresh Chandra had been picking thousands of dollars through submission of false claims for sitting allowances when the commission was not sitting.
Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem facilitated this abuse. He was issuing CASH cheques to pay for these claims – in blatant contravention of FEO regulations.
Both these executives were regarded as grossly lacking in integrity, independence and impartiality -and therefore major impediments to the conduct of free and fair elections in 2022.
Labour is proud to have forced their removal ahead of the elections. A job that should really have been done by the current Parliamentary opposition.
What was the allegation? The allegation was that Suresh Chandra had been picking thousands of dollars through submission of false claims for sitting allowances when the commission was not sitting.
Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem facilitated this abuse. He was issuing CASH cheques to pay for these claims – in blatant contravention of FEO regulations.
Both these executives were regarded as grossly lacking in integrity, independence and impartiality -and therefore major impediments to the conduct of free and fair elections in 2022.
Labour is proud to have forced their removal ahead of the elections. A job that should really have been done by the current Parliamentary opposition.
From Fijileaks Archives
ELECTION: Aiyaz Khaiyum says the 2013 Constitution of Fiji
allows election to be held in JANUARY 2023. Did Khaiyum outflank LYNDA TABUYA who prematurely jumped ship, to steer Sitiveni Rabuka's PAP ship, believing the election will be held this year? Also, since NIKO NAWAIKULA will not be seeking re-election on SODELPA ticket, and will most likely join Rabuka, SODELPA must decry any of his bullshit screaming on indigenous rights in Parliament. They must cut his oxygen of publicity, when he portrays himself as indigenous rights champion. Returning to Bainimarama, WE must still SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER. Who will be paying his Bills? Will we be told the cost of his treatment. We may recall that other RACIST, and Co-Conspirator with Coupist Rabuka, RATU INOKE KUBUABOLA, jump ship, to become FFP's Minister for Foreign Affairs. In the 2012 Auditor-General's Report we had discovered that his new coupist handler Frank Bainimarama had ordered the Ministry of Finance to pay Kubuabola's medical bill of $165,000 to New York Presbyterian Hospital after he (Kubuabola) was admitted to the hospital while attending a UN General Assembly meeting in September 2011. Kubuabola had suffered a HEART ATTACK. In 2000, in his capacity as Interim Information Minister, this thug took out a full page advertisement in Fiji's Daily Post to portray himself as indigenous rights champion and condemned our Editor for Standing Up to George Speight. We have made it very clear to those URGING and BEGGING us to endorse Sitiveni Rabuka and his PAP that only "Political Opportunists" will embrace HIM. One cannot condemn Bainimarama-Khaiyum and embrace Rabuka and his lot. As we keep pointing out to the old and young that Rabuka's COUP, RAPE, ROBBERY, VIOLENCE, TORTURE was committed when we DIDN'T have Internet, I-Phone, Social Media, Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, Instagram and Tik-Tok (where Tabuya was chewing on a Fiji Airways model plane). But we had for the last four decades collected a long and disturbing DOSSIER on Fiji's ADOLF HITLER. From day one of his coup to all coups, we have remained steadfast to our beliefs - in justice, freedom, equality, human rights, media freedom and democracy. And, consequently, have paid a very heavy price - collecting enemies along the way. Its time for NFP leader BIMAN PRASAD to publish a detailed economic account of the COST of COUPS and DICTATORSHIP in Fiji. Of course, Rabuka's potential political chambermaid will not take up our challenge. Now, he has a new sleek NFP Facebook: Onward Together. Hello, with whom, RABUKA? Just like Jai Ram Reddy let us all down and ran and formed a coalition with Rabuka, claiming that FIJI WAS NOT READY FOR AN INDO-FIJIAN PRIME MINISTER (Chaudhry).
Where is Jai Ram Reddy TODAY? Instead of Rabuka, he was JAILING RWANDANS for Crimes Against Humanity, Genocide, Murder and Rape. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has been at the forefront of the global fight against Impunity (Immunity), prosecuting those Rwandans considered most responsible for the crimes committed in 1994.
BELOW: Fiji's ACTING INDO-FIJIAN PRIME MINISTER AIYAZ SAYED KHAIYUM
RELIGIOUS BIGOT RABUKA:
Now, Sitiveni Rabuka is calling on us to PRAY for Frank Bainimarama (snakey political crococidle tears) when he was openly celebrating the DEATH of Prime Minister Bavadra after deposing him. Again, it beggars belief how many "normal" people have fallen for this man's snake charm offensive and his new party. He claimed that the FFP government should have informed the general public that Bainimarama was going away to Australia for medical treatment. The BIGOT didn't inform us, his military commander nor the Bavadra government that he was going to overthrow the government on 14 May 1987, disenfranchise Indo-Fijians, Others and urban progressive i-Taukei Fijians in his new racist 1990 Constitution and was going to rule Fiji until 1999. Thankfully, the VOTERS threw the
SVT-NFP Coalition out. Operation Kidacala!
"The Minister is expected to subsequently inform Parliament of the outcome of the visit by way of a ministerial statement. Now, that is being accountable! I have observed that the Fiji First ministers have consistently flouted this rule. PM Bainimarama is paid a salary of around $1000 per day. He must account for it to the taxpayers by keeping them informed. This also raises the question of Cabinet meetings. I am reliably informed by government sources that the regular fortnightly Cabinet meetings are no longer held. Under Fiji First, government business, it seems, is no longer a matter of collective cabinet decision-making."
FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/7/5/13759434/screenshot-2022-01-14-at-09-16-17-fiji-labour-party-facebook_orig.png)
There is considerable speculation, fuelled by all kinds of rumours, on the whereabouts of Prime Minister Bainimarama and his deputy Sayed-Khaiyum.
At a time when the people are faced with an alarming rise in Covid-19 cases and the suffering inflicted by the recent massive flooding, it is natural that people should turn to their rulers for guidance and assistance- only to find nobody knows where they are. They have just disappeared without a word.
“This is simply not acceptable,” says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry.
* “There are well-established conventional rules that the Prime Minister or, indeed, any of his ministers must observe whenever travelling out of the country.
* The rules require that an official media statement is issued informing the people of the official engagement and the duration of the overseas visit.
* The Minister is expected to subsequently inform Parliament of the outcome of the visit by way of a ministerial statement. Now, that is being accountable!
“I have observed that the Fiji First ministers have consistently flouted this rule,” Mr Chaudhry said.
* PM Bainimarama is paid a salary of around $1000 per day. He must account for it to the taxpayers by keeping them informed.
* This also raises the question of Cabinet meetings. I am reliably informed by government sources that the regular fortnightly Cabinet meetings are no longer held.
Under Fiji First, government business, it seems, is no longer a matter of collective cabinet decision-making.
Instead, most important decisions are now conveyed by way of directives from the TOP. And that is why there is so much inconsistency, confusion and chaos in the manner the government is run today.
Case in point is when a letter from my office addressed to the Prime Minister was being delivered to his office last month, the person was told to take it to the Attorney General’s office.
He insisted that the letter was addressed to the PM and he would deliver it to the PM’s office. His insistence prevailed.
“No wonder, many ask just who is running the show?” Mr Chaudhry said.
At a time when the people are faced with an alarming rise in Covid-19 cases and the suffering inflicted by the recent massive flooding, it is natural that people should turn to their rulers for guidance and assistance- only to find nobody knows where they are. They have just disappeared without a word.
“This is simply not acceptable,” says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry.
* “There are well-established conventional rules that the Prime Minister or, indeed, any of his ministers must observe whenever travelling out of the country.
* The rules require that an official media statement is issued informing the people of the official engagement and the duration of the overseas visit.
* The Minister is expected to subsequently inform Parliament of the outcome of the visit by way of a ministerial statement. Now, that is being accountable!
“I have observed that the Fiji First ministers have consistently flouted this rule,” Mr Chaudhry said.
* PM Bainimarama is paid a salary of around $1000 per day. He must account for it to the taxpayers by keeping them informed.
* This also raises the question of Cabinet meetings. I am reliably informed by government sources that the regular fortnightly Cabinet meetings are no longer held.
Under Fiji First, government business, it seems, is no longer a matter of collective cabinet decision-making.
Instead, most important decisions are now conveyed by way of directives from the TOP. And that is why there is so much inconsistency, confusion and chaos in the manner the government is run today.
Case in point is when a letter from my office addressed to the Prime Minister was being delivered to his office last month, the person was told to take it to the Attorney General’s office.
He insisted that the letter was addressed to the PM and he would deliver it to the PM’s office. His insistence prevailed.
“No wonder, many ask just who is running the show?” Mr Chaudhry said.
Government sources have confirmed that the Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, is in Australia for medical treatment. While no details have been made public, it is understood that the PM was treated in Canberra for his existing heart condition. The treatment is said to have been successful and Bainimarama will soon be returning to Fiji.
The Prime Minister's medical status - along with that of the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum - has long been regarded as a state secret in Fiji. But both of them have cardiac conditions - the PM requiring stents that were first installed in Melbourne several years ago and have presumably just been replaced and the AG having undergone a heart bypass operation in Singapore last year.
The PM has gone to extraordinary lengths to cover up his medical trip to Australia. Ten days ago, he tweeted the following photograph of himself and his wife, Mary, on a shopping expedition in Marks Street, Suva, while denying rumours that he was in New Zealand. The posting carried the admonition that the Fijian people should not believe "fake news". Yet in the event, the only fake element was that the PM was leaving for Australia and not New Zealand.
Confirmation of the PM's treatment comes after fevered speculation about his whereabouts, including a Fiji TImes front page asking "Where Art Thou"? It was highly unusual for Bainimarama not to be visible during the twin national disasters of a cyclone and the third Covid wave. In previous cyclones, he has been in the front line of the response, wearing his customary "Navy" cap and in shorts and runners inspecting the damage and interacting with victims.
We now also know why the government's PR team - reportedly Vatis - was prompted to create its own fake news by publishing a photo on Facebook of the PM taken nearly a year ago and depicting it as a contemporary event. (see previous posting). It was an astonishingly inept attempt to mislead the public but demonstrates just how sensitive the leadership is about public attention being focussed on their uncertain health in the lead-up to the 2022 election.
As Grubsheet has already reported, the Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has just returned to Fiji from Singapore, where it's a fair bet that he saw his doctors who performed the heart bypass operation on him last March. Such operations routinely require follow-up consultations. But the AG is also desperate to keep his cardiac condition from being public knowledge.
Whatever their attempts at secrecy, the base line is that both leaders of FijiFirst have health challenges going into what will be an extremely bruising election campaign, with all sorts of ramifications for public confidence in the ruling party and the country's future.
The Prime Minister's medical status - along with that of the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum - has long been regarded as a state secret in Fiji. But both of them have cardiac conditions - the PM requiring stents that were first installed in Melbourne several years ago and have presumably just been replaced and the AG having undergone a heart bypass operation in Singapore last year.
The PM has gone to extraordinary lengths to cover up his medical trip to Australia. Ten days ago, he tweeted the following photograph of himself and his wife, Mary, on a shopping expedition in Marks Street, Suva, while denying rumours that he was in New Zealand. The posting carried the admonition that the Fijian people should not believe "fake news". Yet in the event, the only fake element was that the PM was leaving for Australia and not New Zealand.
Confirmation of the PM's treatment comes after fevered speculation about his whereabouts, including a Fiji TImes front page asking "Where Art Thou"? It was highly unusual for Bainimarama not to be visible during the twin national disasters of a cyclone and the third Covid wave. In previous cyclones, he has been in the front line of the response, wearing his customary "Navy" cap and in shorts and runners inspecting the damage and interacting with victims.
We now also know why the government's PR team - reportedly Vatis - was prompted to create its own fake news by publishing a photo on Facebook of the PM taken nearly a year ago and depicting it as a contemporary event. (see previous posting). It was an astonishingly inept attempt to mislead the public but demonstrates just how sensitive the leadership is about public attention being focussed on their uncertain health in the lead-up to the 2022 election.
As Grubsheet has already reported, the Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has just returned to Fiji from Singapore, where it's a fair bet that he saw his doctors who performed the heart bypass operation on him last March. Such operations routinely require follow-up consultations. But the AG is also desperate to keep his cardiac condition from being public knowledge.
Whatever their attempts at secrecy, the base line is that both leaders of FijiFirst have health challenges going into what will be an extremely bruising election campaign, with all sorts of ramifications for public confidence in the ruling party and the country's future.
"When the going gets tough, the Prime Minister takes cover, only this time with eggs on his face. We are facing another crisis which will kill more of our people. There is widespread flooding from the recent cyclone. But the Prime Minister and his right hand man, the Attorney General, are nowhere to be seen. This is totally irresponsible and unacceptable."
Unity Party leader SAVENACA NARUBE
11TH January 2022
“LEADERS HAVE ABANDONED US AGAIN”
A Statement by Savenaca Narube, Leader of Unity Fiji and former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji
When the going gets tough, the Prime Minister takes cover, only this time with eggs on his face, said the Leader of Unity Fiji and former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Mr. Savenaca Narube. Mr. Narube explained, “We are facing another crisis which will kill more of our people. There is widespread flooding from the recent cyclone. But the Prime Minister and his right hand man, the Attorney General, are nowhere to be seen. This is totally irresponsible and unacceptable.”
“19 people have already died from the third wave. Our hospitals are starting to fill up with the COVID patients. The more dangerous Delta variant is still around. When all this is happening, where are our leaders?” Are they trivializing the deaths and the hardship that we face? It is becoming all too familiar,” said the former Governor.
“We admire Prime Ministers in other countries standing tall and pointing out the direction for their people to follow in this crisis. Instead, our PM is hiding as he did in the second wave. Like in the second wave, I am sure that the PM will re-emerge when the situation is over and claim victory.”
“After the second wave, the PM claimed that the opposition parties had eggs on their faces. Well, whose faces are full of eggs now? ” asked the Leader of Unity Fiji.”
“There is no government plan to manage the crisis. It is now left to the Minister for Trade to announce measures to control the third wave. It is highly unlikely that higher fines will work. While we do no have to impose a total lockdown, there are other ways to help control the virus.”
Mr. Narube suggested that the government consider the following?
1. Tighten the protocol and rules at our borders. The “holiday in hell” incident was real. We all want
tourists to visit us. But people’s lives must matter.
2. Limit all meetings, officials and unofficial. There is no point whatsoever in limiting just unofficial
meetings. In any case, what is official and what is unofficial?
3. Delay the opening of schools by three weeks. We will be forced to do this later as more and more
teachers and children get sick. Above all else, we must protect our children.
4. Encourage people to work from home where possible for the next three weeks. This will ease the
spread of the virus on public and workplaces.
Mr. Narube concluded, “When human lives are threatened, there should be no other choice. The
government leaders have abandoned us for too long. They are clearly unfit to lead us.”
“LEADERS HAVE ABANDONED US AGAIN”
A Statement by Savenaca Narube, Leader of Unity Fiji and former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji
When the going gets tough, the Prime Minister takes cover, only this time with eggs on his face, said the Leader of Unity Fiji and former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Mr. Savenaca Narube. Mr. Narube explained, “We are facing another crisis which will kill more of our people. There is widespread flooding from the recent cyclone. But the Prime Minister and his right hand man, the Attorney General, are nowhere to be seen. This is totally irresponsible and unacceptable.”
“19 people have already died from the third wave. Our hospitals are starting to fill up with the COVID patients. The more dangerous Delta variant is still around. When all this is happening, where are our leaders?” Are they trivializing the deaths and the hardship that we face? It is becoming all too familiar,” said the former Governor.
“We admire Prime Ministers in other countries standing tall and pointing out the direction for their people to follow in this crisis. Instead, our PM is hiding as he did in the second wave. Like in the second wave, I am sure that the PM will re-emerge when the situation is over and claim victory.”
“After the second wave, the PM claimed that the opposition parties had eggs on their faces. Well, whose faces are full of eggs now? ” asked the Leader of Unity Fiji.”
“There is no government plan to manage the crisis. It is now left to the Minister for Trade to announce measures to control the third wave. It is highly unlikely that higher fines will work. While we do no have to impose a total lockdown, there are other ways to help control the virus.”
Mr. Narube suggested that the government consider the following?
1. Tighten the protocol and rules at our borders. The “holiday in hell” incident was real. We all want
tourists to visit us. But people’s lives must matter.
2. Limit all meetings, officials and unofficial. There is no point whatsoever in limiting just unofficial
meetings. In any case, what is official and what is unofficial?
3. Delay the opening of schools by three weeks. We will be forced to do this later as more and more
teachers and children get sick. Above all else, we must protect our children.
4. Encourage people to work from home where possible for the next three weeks. This will ease the
spread of the virus on public and workplaces.
Mr. Narube concluded, “When human lives are threatened, there should be no other choice. The
government leaders have abandoned us for too long. They are clearly unfit to lead us.”
Fijileaks: Don't forget to take your Goat & Chicken to Evacuation Centre, in case you need to feed your STARVING CHILDREN for 48 Hours.
And, take your YOGA Mat to enhance your life span in Covid ravaged Fiji
The Italian Job: His online MASTER IN ELECTORAL POLICY & ADMINISTRATION from an Italian University. Did Saneem use insider information from Fiji Elections Office to write up his thesis? For he is refusing to give a copy to Fijileaks to verify the contents. He had also refused to make available to us the Political Party Donor Lists
Fijileaks: Saneem should upload the entire political party donor lists on the FEO's official website that was published in the Fiji Sun, if he wants to prevent misinformation on who donated how much to political parties. Anyway, as far as we are concerned, he should have resigned long ago
The Supervisor of Election says following the establishment of the Centre, the FEO will embark on a national campaign to raise awareness and educate Fijians on countering misinformation, false news, and disinformation, especially those propagated through social media ahead of the 2022 General Election - FBC News
Saneem attacks IDEA, the Sweden-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). As we can see, IDEA is one of two institutions that supports the Italian univesity, Sant'Anna's online program. In fact, the modules are based on IDEA's 2014 designed modules for the course that Saneem took |
A politician's job in Fiji's opposition party seems easy, there's a lot of 'stating the obvious' without any need to actually go out and do anything about it. Well, anything of consequence that will actually make a difference to improve the lives of the oppressed people. But there has been the odd arrest of politicians, to quickly restore control and to remind the weak opposition politicians that the dictatorship is in charge. This is all it takes in Fiji to keep the opposition politicians in-line, placid and afraid!
Sadly, Fiji has no signs of a Nelson Mandela or Mahatma Gandhi type leader to lead the oppressed people to freedom. Despite the evidence, the opposition were not willing or savvy enough to defend our win to the end after the 2018 rigged elections. So how can we expect 2022 to be any different, with many of the same characters squabbling for a seat on the gravy train....
Meanwhile, brave citizens in other countries have been protesting, some turned violent:
But here in Fiji, there have been no such protests - no peaceful street protests, no work stoppages, no go slow, no campaigns, nothing! It seems that the opposition politicians are more than happy to stop only at words, while continuing to be paid thousands in salary.
We suspect that a report card on the Opposition would show them to be the weakest ever, concerned more about their self-preservation and status, rather than defending the rights and freedoms of their voters, and a return to democracy. Source: Truthfor Fiji, www.truthforfiji.com/
Sadly, Fiji has no signs of a Nelson Mandela or Mahatma Gandhi type leader to lead the oppressed people to freedom. Despite the evidence, the opposition were not willing or savvy enough to defend our win to the end after the 2018 rigged elections. So how can we expect 2022 to be any different, with many of the same characters squabbling for a seat on the gravy train....
Meanwhile, brave citizens in other countries have been protesting, some turned violent:
- Colombia - against increased taxes, corruption, and health care reform
- Cuba - against the Cuban government and the ruling Communist Party that was triggered by a shortage of food and medicine and the government's response to the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic
- Myanmar - Peaceful pro-democracy street demonstrations and work stoppages gave way to paramilitary operations in opposition to the country’s ruthless military, which seized power in a coup d’état in February
- Thailand - against the government's unprecedented demands for reform of the Thai monarchy and the changes to the Thai constitution in 2017 that gave way to the country's political landscape.
- Venezuela - growing political discontent further fuelled by skyrocketing hyperinflation, power cuts, and shortages of food and medicine.
- Colombia - against increased taxes, corruption, and health care reform.
But here in Fiji, there have been no such protests - no peaceful street protests, no work stoppages, no go slow, no campaigns, nothing! It seems that the opposition politicians are more than happy to stop only at words, while continuing to be paid thousands in salary.
We suspect that a report card on the Opposition would show them to be the weakest ever, concerned more about their self-preservation and status, rather than defending the rights and freedoms of their voters, and a return to democracy. Source: Truthfor Fiji, www.truthforfiji.com/
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Fijileaks to Seruiratu, Why should evacuees bring their own food to sustain them for atleast 48 hours before assistance arrives? What if all their food are either destroyed or washed away in flood? Where is FRANK BAINIMARAMA? Still constipated from FREE XMAS Food?
Rumours are swirling on social media he suffered MINOR STROKE?
But, then, we were once told poor Tikoduadua had terminal CANCER, so was resigning as FijiFIRST Minister, and from Parliament. LASULASU!
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