Thursday, July 09, 2009

Frank Running Scared of Colleagues

FHL is still on its dangerous trail of non-compliance as a publicly listed company. Their board and management have breached just about every rule governing Fiji’s stock exchange – the questionable stock exchange whose board has FHL listed as one of its public trading companies. One of the basic fundamental rules of publicly listed companies is the requirement that they must always be truthful and transparent in all their dealings. Public companies like FHL are required by law to always make a market announcement via the stock exchange on important matters happening in their business. It is a basic necessity to keep the public informed about what is going on and the performance of their share investment in the public companies.
But FHL have been hopelessly secretive on some major developments in their growth strategy plans and the way they’re conducting their business. The truth about their failed BP Oil acquisition was never transparently communicated to the public by FHL. Those disclosures were taken to the public domain by bloggers and not FHL as required of them. The same thing happened when FHL’s top three were suspended. The bloggers broke the news first forcing FHL to release an announcement to the Stock Exchange which is what they should have done in the first place. Now, the no cement reality.
Again, that piece of news was dissiminated by bloggers, now picked up by the mainstream media who have been unsuccessful in getting a response from FHL. Meanwhile, no public announcement has been forthcoming from FHL via the stock exchange which again raises the question as to why such a dishonest team like FHL board and management are still allowed to run a public company by CMDA and SPSE. We say – be warned people! Refrain from buying any public company shares in Fiji until the watchdog CMDA and SPSE get their act right. Your share investment has been looted right infront of your eyes by dishonest incompetent boards like FHL. And guess what, the useless CMDA and SPSE are toothless tigers who don’t know how to protect your investment.
Posted by rawfijinews
The Frank empire is slowly but surely falling! Latest from within is that Ului Mara is now in control at the Fiji Military Forces. It is understood he is talking to ”some” people to gauge whether he has their support to take over from Frank Bainimarama. If Ului Mara’s mandate is to carry on from where Frank Bainimarama left off, then he might as well forget about it. If he is thinking of following the Appeals Court judgment and give Fiji back to a lean civilian government of four wise people to prepare for an election in the next 12 months, then Ului will get our support. To be consistent with his resolve to make things right for Fiji, Ului must be seen not to take sides and must call a spade a spade by removing everybody serving under the illegal new order which includes his two brothers-in-law. If he can’t swallow that, then he should expect one of his own boys to do it.
Pita Driti had the opportunity but he got too carried away with the novelty of his new found illusive power. Ului now has his best opportunity to do what is right for his fellow countrymen and his own conscience by honoring the rule of law spelled out in the Appeals Court judgment between Qarase and Bainimarama.
Good luck Ului Mara!
Posted by rawfijinews
We say – FICAC should look into this investigative reporting by Communications Fiji. Something stinks in this scheme of arrangement. The four shareholders of Namosi Development Company, the investment arm of the Namosi Provincial Council must be investigated to find out whether the rental receipts from the Namosi House was used for the livelihood of the people of the Namosi Province or is it another of those corrupt cases where the office bearers and high thiefly chiefs continue to steal from their people. If that’s the case, then Suliano & Co. must be taken to task. By Communications Fiji Thousands of dollars which have been made as rent payment by the government for Namosi House have ended up in the bank account of Winproject Limited, not the Namosi Development Company.
Following investigations, it is now clear that Namosi House which was given out on rent to the Health Ministry based on the tenancy agreement signed by Namosi Development Company. However, according to information gathered by Fijivillage, all the money paid has been forwarded to Winproject Limited which is owned by a group of local businessmen. Based on the records obtained by us, it is also clear that Winproject owns Namosi House at the moment. It was earlier claimed that the building is owned by Namosi Development Company.
A company search shows that Namosi Development Company has four shareholders, issued with $1 shares namely Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, Ratu Kiniviliame Taukeinikoro, Samisoni Tuilawaki and Leone Tuvutokona. We have also received confirmation that on 30th October last year, a cheque for the sum of $695,265 was paid by the government to Namosi Development Company.
This government cheque was for rent arrears for the period 4th January 2008 to 30th November 2008. All monthly rent payments of $63,766 for Namosi House has also been deposited in the same ANZ bank account number provided by Namosi Development Company.
Investigations reveal that the ANZ bank account number where all this money has paid out belongs to Winproject Limited. Namosi Development Company also has a bank account with ANZ. Transaction history of the account shows a deposit of a government cheque of $695,265 on 3rd November, 2008.
The same amount was withdrawn from the Namosi Development Company account the same day and deposited into the bank account of Winproject Limited. When Fijivillage contacted Namosi Development Company chairman Ratu Kiniviliame Taukeinikoro, he confirmed that Namosi House is currently owned by Winproject Limited. Although it was earlier said publically that Namosi House is owned by the people of Namosi, Taukeinikoro admitted that the house does not belong to them at this stage. There is an audio file attached to this story. Please login to listen. Namosi House is currently occupied by the Health Ministry, under an agreement that the government has to assist the province’s development.
Posted by rawfijinews
Fiji’s interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says he hopes Fiji will be allowed to sit in at next month’s Pacific Islands Forum summit in Australia despite its suspension. Commodore Bainimarama refused to attend last year’s Niue summit and he sent his attorney-general to the Papua New Guinea summit in January which was called to discuss the Fiji situation. The Forum suspended Fiji in May after its interim regime refused to commit to relinquishing the power seized in the 2006 coup by holding elections this year. Speaking to Auckland’s Radio Tarana, Commodore Bainimarama says if the Forum invites him to the Cairns summit in August he will attend.
He is in Vanuatu for an extraordinary meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group whose members backed Fiji’s Forum suspension. Commodore Bainimarama says he wants to explain his road map which will provide for elections in five years, a year after a new constitution is to have been drawn up.
News Content © Radio New Zealand International PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand
Posted by rawfijinews
Frank’s fall is fast approaching. Our intelli say that Frank Bainimarama has been told by his MSG peers in Vanuatu that he must step down to allow a civilian government to take Fiji back to democracy. The MSG leaders have also been told about the latest development in Fiji regarding Driti and Ului’s opposition to Frank’s roadmap to nowhere including Frank’s failed attempt to stop the Methodist Church annual conference. We predict Frank is living out his last days in power. It will be another laid-back bloodless take-over by the military and it is now just a matter of time!
Posted by rawfijinews
Wanna know the truth why FHL is not producing cement any more? Word from FHL is that the whole group is having cashflow problems after the board paid out almost $30million to BP Oil for a buy-out plan that has gone completely wrong. They say FHL’s bankers ANZ and Westpac are not giving FHL any relief by freezing a large component of their overdraft facility. This overdraft restriction was placed on FHL by both banks following FHL’s reckless decision to channel all its available cash towards the payment of BP Oil non-refundable deposit of close to $30 million. But now that the sale and purchase has flopped followed by the suspension of its senior executives and the company’s impending suspension from South Pacific Stock Exchange, the banks are managing their risk by declining FHL’s overdraft credit line. Sources also say that FHL’s clinker supplier, the main ingredient for cement manufacturing, has refused to dispatch the raw materials to Fiji without prior payment by FHL. The supplier is demanding cash on delivery before they can load the raw materials onto the shipping vessel. In an earlier report, we ran a story on how Merchant Finance, owned by FHL, was not able to pay its staff on time during its last pay day. Cash is getting very scarce in what was once the Fijian flagship in commerce.
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To all Pacific Youth Festival Participants

Bula Vinaka
The Young Peoples Concerned Network is a network of Youth Advocates like yourself from around Fiji who have been working in the area of youth advocacy for some time. We have been excited just as you are, about this Pacific Youth Festival. To us, the festival is a pot of many ingredients – ingredients needed to carry and sustain youth advocacy in the region, setting the bar for better understanding, involvement and standards for young people in all our Pacific nations especially Fiji. We as an organization cannot be part of this years gathering of great minds, wise voices and future leaders of our Pacific but I sincerely hope you all the best. As a youth network, the YPCN has faced some very trying trails that have tested our endevours and strenghen our beliefs. When I say this, I make mention of our Democracy Shrine that was destroyed 2 times by militant elements in 2006, later on termed by a Insurance Report into the incident as a ‘terrorist attack’. I recall the hardships many of the members of the YPCN have faced whilst been detained and abused for the cause of Youth Progression. I recall members and 100 plus supporters who have since Easter 2009 worn the ‘Black Arm Band’ to silently share their thoughts on the extent of human rights violations we face not only as youth but as citizens of Fiji after the Junta Administration has been set up and have replaced our laws with their own, demeaned the Judiciary and gagged our media. I make mention also of many events we were to organised but unkindly blocked out by security forces and denied permits or spaces to encourage meaningful dialouge on the furture of Fiji youths. I recall my own personal trials, where i and other mebers have been arrested, on a handful of accasions warned, intimidated, and abused for believing that ‘youths should have a voice’. In making these recollections, I plead with all participants in the PYF to use their time wisely and make every moment count. Many voices that have gone before you, have ensured that our governments and civil society have specified programs that factor in young people and prepare them for sustainable futures.
I also make mention of the efforts of many Department of Youth and Pacific Youth Council Memebers to tried their very best to negotiate our presence at the PYF this year and keep us in. Because of our principles and extensive experiences in the area of youth progression we have eventually been blocked out of the PYF, an event we have been preparing for, with heartfelt appreciation of its endureing promises. It has been our prayer from the very begining that the PYF engage all sectors of our society and not be as politicised and controlled as it looks. Now as a result we cant help but mourn the missed opportunity where many young people have been denied the help of some of the worlds most inspirational speakers and great minds of democracy, human rights and gender equality.
But the answer for Fiji is Peace, Dialouge and Understanding, and we accept the ban placed upon us by Fiji’s Junta, but we make this statement, we will not be dettered. The YPCN holds onto its priciples and will continue with its work with young people and will push the ‘youth agenda’ striving for ‘youth justice’ in all spheres of our lives. It is our calling! We will be pasteing our resources and speeches we hoped to share at different sessions throughout the PYF on our website www.ypcnfiji.com (which is also self censored for the safety of its members) and please do visit the page and access our database of youth advocacy materials. Enjoy yourselves and make every moment count.
Vinaka
Peter WaqavonovonoPresident
YPCN
The YPCN is a youth network of youth activists from around Fiji focused on providing a space for youth activists and youth issues to address their different advocacy issues on the national level.
Visit YPCN on the World Wide Web: www.ypcnfiji.com
Posted by rawfijinews
Another budding candidate for the unstable FNPF board has pulled out. Tabualevu’s family have confirmed that he has rejected the offer quoting that they (the Tabualevu family) do not support nor recognise Frank Bainimarama. And we say – kudos to Radrodro and his wife Marica for their principled stand!
Posted by rawfijinews
Joe Rodan has written to Frank Bainimarama advising him that he can not accept the FNPF Director job he was offered. We can report that Fosters Australia, Joe Rodan’s employer, have told Joe in no uncertain terms that it is his job or Frank Bainimarama. Joe was reminded by Fosters to take heed of their company policy when it comes to political matters. It seems that Joe Rodan is not ready to lose his job over Frank Bainimarama’s board director offer and we say – he had better forget about it or face the coup supporter stigma for as long as he lives.
Posted by rawfijinews
Well, Aiyaz Khaiyum has finally realised how short-lived his illegal political life is becoming and how fast the Naboro Prison is approaching on the horizon. Aiyaz Khaiyum is a smart, cunning bugger. He can smell trouble a mile away. But the trouble that is looming before him right now is beyond him. He can’t handle it with his new order bull decrees. He can see the guns being drawn out by the gun holders. Does he have one to defend himself? Just a toy water gun for Aiyaz Khaiyum leaving him fully exposed to the viles of the military people he used to carry out his 2006 coup. Tick…tock…tick….tock
Posted by rawfijinews
Reliable sources have confirmed to us that 3rd FIR chief, Ului Mara, is with Pita Driti, in their stand to allow the Methodist Church and the Bose Ko Viti to go ahead. Frank Bainimarama’s two most important men, Driti and Ului, have openly defied their Commander’s discriminatory decision to try and suffocate the Methodist Church. Sources have reported that Ului, whose late mother was the high chief of the host Rewa Province, is disturbed by Frank Bainimarama’s decision to follow Aiyaz Khaiyum’s advise in trying to dismantle the Methodist Church. He is also said to be upset about the way Aiyaz Khaiyum is trying to influence and weaken the indigenous Fijian structures and its forums like the Bose Ko Viti.
Posted by rawfijinews
In one of our earlier postings, we were questioning why there is still no announcement as to who is acting on Frank Bainimarama’s various positions while he is away in Vanuatu. It has come to light that Frank Bainimarama is finding it hard to trust his own man. Pita Driti’s defiance to question Frank Baimarama’s ban on the Methodist Church took Frank’s fears to greater heights.
He had to move fast and eliminate Driti, which he has. But in doing so, he has not announced Driti’s landforce commander replacement. Why? We hear that Colonel Aziz Mohammed is too scared to enter the QEB facility. We also hear that 3rd FIR boss, Ului Mara, is at loggerheads with Frank. Right now, it is Colonel Qilio, Teleni and Leweni who are on Frank’s side. The rest of the military council members are beginning to doubt Frank Bainimarama’s “mandate”.
Posted by rawfijinews
We can confirm that a deep crack is beginning to surface within the high echelon of Fiji’s Military Council. We’ve been told that Pita Driti warned Frank Bainimarama not to interfere with the August Methodist Church annual conference and to let it go ahead considering that other christian denominations and religious bodies are publicly holding their crusades/conferences without any objection from the regime. Sources say Frank ordered that Pita Driti be prohibited from entering QEB or any military facility. Driti was subsequently suspended after Frank heard of Driti’s opposition to his Methodist Church ban.
Posted by rawfijinews
If the Church officials choose the option of re-visiting Bainimarama to ask for ‘permission’ AGAIN then the standing committee may as well just make Frank, President of the Methodist Church. If he has not already, Frank is on the verge of realising that he CAN control the church members, after all – through the standing committee’s inability to make a firm statement of the church’s position. I wouldnt be surprised that his next move after that – will be to sack the whole lot of church officials in the standing committee, and replace them with his own team, like he has done with Driti. The committee must make a firm statement on what they want to do and not allow information go around as rumors. Dont keep the people waiting. The last thing you want is everyone going beserk. Don’t side-step now Standing Committee!
rajnalu
Posted by rawfijinews
We say – Coup Four Point Five blog is reporting that one of Frank Bainimarama’s closest ally and landforce commander, Pita Driti, is on his way out. Coup Four Point Five reports … The military’s Land Force Commander, Colonel Pita Driti, has been ordered to take leave. Well-placed sources have confirmed that Driti was told to take all of his leave after he was seen talking to former Methodist Church head, the Reverend Manasa Lasaro recently. It is not known where the conversation took place.
Lasaro and former church president, Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi, are regarded as anti-regime elements by army commander and interim prime minister, Frank Bainimarama. Bainimarama used the two powerful leaders of the Church as the main reason why he ordered the cancellation of the annual Methodist Church conference scheduled for next month. Our sources say Driti was basically stood down as Land Force Commander. The Land Force comprises the largest force of the military, under which is he powerful 3rd Infantry Regiment (3FIR, that is led by a son of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara. Coupfourpointfive has been informed that Driti was asked ordered to relinquish his uniform as well and that leave is a precursor to his inevitable termination as Land Force Commander.
Meanwhile, the standing committee of the Methodist Church was meeting late yesterday afternoon. According to a report posted on teh Fiji Village website last evening, the meeting was supposed to discuss the option of approaching Bainimarama once more to request him to allow the conference to go ahead next month.
Posted by rawfijinews
Rowan Callick, Asia-Pacific editor July 09, 2009
Article from: The Australian
FUGITIVE billionaire former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra flew in his Learjet to Fiji for a secret meeting with the controversial prime minister and military commander Frank Bainimarama. The subject of their discussions, held in Mr Bainimarama’s office in Suva on Monday, is unknown, but informed sources in Fiji say Mr Thaksin is considering investing $300million in the country. In return, he would probably be assured safety there from extradition, if he should choose to use Fiji as one of his bases in exile. Thailand is seeking to return him to Bangkok, where he faces two years in jail for abuse of power. Mr Thaksin used an assumed name to enter Fiji, although his true identity was known to the authorities, who approved his visit in advance. The Thai government has cancelled Mr Thaksin’s Thai passport, and says he is currently using a passport issued by Montenegro. Thailand’s deputy prime minister, Thaworn Sennian, said Mr Thaksin had earlier flown to the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, where he stayed en route to Fiji. Thai embassy officials immediately sought Mr Thaksin’s arrest and extradition. “Somehow, Thaksin managed to get wind of the impending arrest and escaped,” Mr Thaworn said.
Mr Thaksin was believed to be heading next for Tonga and then to Port Vila in Vanuatu, which is tomorrow hosting the annual meeting of the heads of the Melanesian Spearhead Group of countries — Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji. The MSG meeting is important for Mr Bainimarama because he will not be able to attend this year’s Pacific Islands Forum summit in Cairns in August, as Fiji has been suspended from the Pacific body. The Fiji economy is in considerable trouble, with tourism in a downward spiral globally as a result of the economic downturn, and with the other major industry, sugar, suffering from the withdrawal of subsidies from the European Union following the failure of the Fiji government to announce elections.
The major investor there this year has been Fiji’s own national provident fund, with some financially stretched smaller tourism operators seeking to exit but finding no buyers at present — thus reinforcing the attraction of Mr Thaksin’s business empire. Mr Bainimarama’s military-installed government has said it will not hold an election until September 2014, providing Mr Thaksin with five years’ security if necessary, reinforced by the Fiji government’s control of the courts. Mr Thaksin’s legal adviser, Noppadon Patama, said the stopover in Kuala Lumpur was merely in order to refuel the jet.
He said there was no attempt to arrest him in Malaysia. He said foreign leaders were willing to welcome Mr Thaksin because they understood the charges against him were politically motivated. Thailand’s deputy foreign minister, Panich Vikitsreth, said extradition requests had been filed to Malaysia and to Australia, apparently in the hope Canberra could use its influence in Fiji.
But relations between Australia and Fiji have become increasingly strained, especially since Mr Bainimarama’s government in April abrogated the constitution, dismissed the judiciary, and ruled out elections for five years. Mr Thaksin was a senior police officer who built a telecommunications empire worth billions of dollars. He became Thailand’s prime minister from 2001 before being ousted in a military coup in September 2006, while he was attending the UN general assembly.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25754325-16953,00.html
Posted by rawfijinews
Australia’s Government says it’s confident the Pacific Islands Forum’s suspension of Fiji won’t be watered down. Fiji’s interim leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, is in Vanuatu for a meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, which includes Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands . The 2006 coup leader will be trying to convince the Group that his plan to hold democratic elections by 2014 is reasonable. Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Smith, says the Pacific Islands’ leaders demands for elections before then won’t be weakened.
He says, I’m confident that all members of the Pacific Islands Forum will conduct themselves in accordance with the two most recent unanimous resolutions of the Pacific Island Leaders Forum.” He says, “Fiji needs to return to democracy, but I also continue to make the point that at some stage we need to find a method and a way of engaging Fiji in a dialogue to bring it back to democracy.”
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/story.htm?id=19498
Posted by rawfijinews
Reports from Fiji say the ousted Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, has been in Fiji amid speculation that he is seeking safety in a country with no extradition treaty with Thailand. The former Thai politician, whose Thai passport has been cancelled, is wanted in Bangkok to answer corruption charges. Pacnews says he met the interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, on Monday after arriving in his private jet from Dubai via Malaysia where, according to the Bangkok Post, he narrowly escaped arrest. Thaksin reportedly spent a day in Suva before flying to Tonga yesterday. There has been no comment from Fiji’s interim government about the outcome of the talks. Pacnews says there has been a suggestion that Thaksin may have offered a substantial investment in return for a right to add Fiji to the places he can stay.
News Content © Radio New Zealand InternationalPO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand
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New Zealand’s prime Minister has denied claims that Samoa’s Head of State expressed displeasure at the way Wellington is handling the Fiji situation. John Key drank kava while paying a visit to Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, in Apia, on the second leg of the Prime Minister’s Pacific goodwill tour. Tui Atua Tupua reportedly conveyed to My Key his deep concerns that the current approach to Fiji by New Zealand and Australia was harming Fiji’s residents. Mr Key defended the Forum’s suspension of Fiji, saying he stands by the decisions made by Forum leaders in Port Moresby earlier this year. He says he has seen no indication that other Pacific leaders, including the Samoa Head of State, want to veer away from that. “No, I mean his main point was really just that he is concerned everyday Fijians are being hurt by this process and he’d obviously love to see it resolved. And in that regard, I reiterated the position that I say everywhere, which is that New Zealand wants to help Fiji on its pathway to democracy as soon as it possibly can.” John Key’s four-day Pacific tour takes in Tonga, Samoa, Niue and the Cook Islands, focusing on the impact of the economic crisis and swine flu on the small countries.
News Content © Radio New Zealand International PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand
Posted by Sai Lealea at 7:46 PM 0 comments Links to this post

FDFM Denounce Vore's Foggy Roadmap

The Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement would like to denounce the announcement a week ago by Fiji’s interim Prime Minister, Commodore Bainimarama, of a Road Map for the Restoration of Fiji’s Democracy. It is a lot of fancy words about nothing and another poorly attempted strategy for Commodore Bainimarama to legitimise his illegal term as Prime Minister for another five years.
Commodore Bainimarama must first of all cease his many attempts at insulting our collective intelligence with his claim of a so called President’s Mandate. The President is now an illegal occupier of that High Office after his treasonous purported abrogation of the 1997 Constitution of the Republic of the Fiji Islands on the 10th of April 2009. Commodore Bainimarama should also cease from claiming a Presidential Mandate when the whole world knows that he is the puppeteer pulling the strings of a proverbial puppet, the figurehead President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.
Having stated that, the Movement will keep reminding Commodore Bainimarama, and the World as our witness, that any suggestion of reforms and change must come from the people and the 1997 Constitution of Fiji is still pulsating in the veins of the people of Fiji and can never be abrogated.
The people of Fiji must give the mandate, and the world does not recognise some false claim of a Presidential Mandate. Changes can only be made by those that represent the people in a legally constituted parliament under Chapter 15 of the 1997 Constitution of Fiji. Commodore Bainimarama, in his speech said that in his road map for change, he will seek to re-engage with his neighbours and development partners. The Movement wishes to remind Fiji’s regional neighbours and development partners that it was not them that disengaged from dealing with Fiji.
It was Commodore Bainimarama that so rudely disengaged from Fiji’s regional neighbours by snubbing them twice. First, at the Pacific islands Forum Leaders meeting in Niue and secondly at the Special Leaders Retreat on Fiji in Port Moresby early this year. It was also Commodore Bainimarama that lied after he promised to have a general election for Fiji in March 2009. He made this commitment at the 2007 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Tonga.
The Movement would like to remind regional leaders and development partners planing to re-engage with Commodore Bainimarama that while they are legal and elected, he is not. While their first priority is the people they represent, Bainimarama’s first priority is his personal survival and the delaying of his inevitable arrest and imprisonment. Any leader that engages and dialogues with Bainimarama is doing business with a common criminal who has raped the democracy of his country and pillage the national assets of its people.
Bainimarama’s leadership scorecard since grabbing power via the barrel of a gun is pathetic. In his two and a half years of leadership, Bainimarama has presided over the decimation of the sugar industry, the destruction of the tourism industry, the devaluation of the Fijian Dollar, the wholesale sacking of thousands of public servants, the destruction of the future of an entire generation of Fiji’s youths and most recently the destruction of Fiji’s Dairy Industry. Commodore Bainimarama in his address puts forward the false claim that a new legal order exists. A new legal order can only exist if the people have accepted it.
The World must be reminded that the Military overthrew a popularly elected coalition Government that was voted in just six months before being overthrown in December 2006. The two political parties that made up the ruling coalition attracted 84% of the votes cast in the May 2006 General Election.
There has been no popular opposition to the Bainimarama Regime since the purported abrogation of the Constitution because of the draconian Public Emergency Regulation Decree introduced after the abrogation declaration on the 10th of April 2009. This decree was suppose to be in force for only thirty days but has now been extended till the end of the year. The draconian terms of the Decree included the censoring of any news items that may portray the government in a negative way and the suppression of freedom of speech.
With the threat of an indefinite closure of any news outlet that attempts to defy the Decree, newspapers are not publishing any letters to the editor or statements that opposes the Regime.
Since the 10th of April 2009, the people of Fiji have been drawn under a dark blanket of news blackouts while bombarded with government propaganda modelled on some Stalinist totalitarian regime.
The framework for the return to constitutional democracy announced a week ago by Commodore Bainimarama lacks any clearly defined milestones and timeframes for his three year grandiose socio-economic dreams.
The Bainimarama Regime’s total mismanagement of the economy and erosion of the social structure of Fiji’s Society so far has created a lot of doubt about their ability to deliver on their latest attempt to provide a clear roadmap to democracy.
Delaying the start of their illegal constitutional reform till 2012 is just another poor attempt to conveniently come up with some sort of excuse that they will need more time in the constitutional consultation process and therefore extend their illegal governing mandate past 2014 when their self imposed five year mandate is about to expire.
Therefore, the Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement calls on Fiji’s Regional Neighbours and Development Partners not to be fooled by Commodore Bainimarama’s latest attempt to pull the wool over their eyes. They should learn from his many false promises and lies of the past.
Pacific regional leaders need to up the level of pressure and sanctions and demand an immediate return to constitutional democracy under the terms handed down by the Fiji Court of Appeal in the Case of Qarase and Others v Bainimarama and Others on the 9th of April 2009.
Posted by Sai Lealea at 7:35 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Church Elders to be Arrested and Detained

Church Elders to be Arrested and Detained
After receipt of information early today that warrants were being prepared for the arrest and detainment of two senior Ministers of the Methodist Church Rev Manasa Lasaro and Rev Tomasi Kanailagi, senior Ministers and top officials of the Church gathered at the offices of both Rev Lasaro and Rev Kanailagi waiting for the Police and Military to turn up and arrest them.
Both Rev Lasaro and Rev Kanailagi confirmed that they were ready to be arrested for the cause of God’s truth and justice and in peaceful defiance of an oppressive, unlawful regime that has brought poverty and great suffering on the nation and its people.
The persecution of the Methodist Church by the Bainimarama regime is nothing new when one considers the history of the Church. Right throughout history, the Church has posed a real political threat. There continually hangs a nagging question over the loyalty of the Church to the State. With the high moral ground that the Methodist Church has adopted against the 2006 coup and the resulting increased poverty and suffering of the people, the leaders of the Church have clearly shown, just like the Church martyrs before them, of their avowed allegiance to their Heavenly throne and to God’s commandments as opposed to those of Bainimarama and his unlawful regime. Like all dictatorships, the Bainimarama regime is sensitive to unrest, and demand complete submission and obedience. But the Church can give neither to the regime for its allegiance lies only with God and His justice.
So as we in Fiji approach a possible flashpoint resulting from the state refusing to allow and the Church deciding to go ahead with the Rewa Conference, let us be mindful of the lessons of history. The rift between the Roman state and the early Church was such that early Christians would not obey any secular law that contradicted their own belief. Their failure to comply with the required homage demanded by the State was to be a major cause of the martyrdom of many faithful believers. Yet in the martyrs’ sacrifice, and despite policies of persecution against it, the Church continued to flourish in influence and number.
We salute you Rev Kanailagi and Rev Lasaro. God’s grace and peace be unto you!
Posted by Sai Lealea at 7:29 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Illegal Fiji Regime Running Dry of Ideas

Ah that word: “mandate”.
When it suits his purposes Commodore Bainimarama has tried to use common political terms but in doing so shows that he and his advisors lack genuine political understanding. The same goes for repeated appeals to “national sovereignty”. Did he not do so, again and again, ad nauseum, in the days after December 5, 2006 trying to justify to the world that Fiji should be left to do want it wants to do. Well we know that it wasn’t what Fiji wanted to do. And that is not now the way appeals to “national sovereignty” work – neither at home, nor in the region, nor throughout the world.
Look at the US. The American myth that gave justification to George Bush’s unilateralism with Iraq, was justified in terms of an appeal to “national sovereignty”. The problem was, however, that they were not under any military threat. But when you make such an appeal …. and so the US (Bush/ Rumsfeld/ Cheney) understanding of national independence (standing tall etc etc) has undermined the place of the US across the world and caused many to look down on a nation that has done many good things. The US contribution was despised on account of that action based on “national independence”. And the myths that supported it are now in doubt in many people’s minds, particularly among Americans themselves. And in fact they should be looking again at our they understand their place in the world, just like all other citizens of all other nations, including Fiji and Australia, have to do.
What approach should the US now take? Well the previous myths need to be replaced by the truth and the truth is that the US, though dominant, is but one nation (dust on the scales) among the community of nations and that it needs to co-operate with other nations if it is to play a true role in fostering justice around the world. It is a question of “shoulds”; the US has to win back its place in the international realm by doing justice at home and by using its great talents to assist the building of just societies throughout the world. It doesn’t have any other task.
And as a nation that so often appeals to God, it should have learned by now by heeding the Old Testament prophets that this is the way – as a servant of justice not as the servant of itself – and along that path it can contribute to God’s purposes, to the Kingdom that Jesus said we should pray for and which will surely come. But that is no different from any other nation. That means that the citizens of America and Fiji, of Australia and Vanuatu, will need to start eye-balling each other in the search for what justice means. Nations, governments and citizens, as political communities have a global role to play by being committed to serving one another with justice. Not with rhetoric. Not with hairy-chested defiance. But service with justice and humility.
What does it mean for a country to do justice domestically and internationally? That’s the question. It is evident that Commodore Bainimarama and his hapless crew have shown a genuine seriousness about politics since they grabbed hold of power. How could have been if they were too busy holding on to what they had stolen? Where is the effort to actually confront the problem of “coup culture”? Where is the evidence that public trust has returned by engaging all the citizens of Fiji in discussing about their own political responsibilities? The answer given is usually that Fiji’s citizens are a lot of no-hopers and need the neo-colonialism from Queen Elizabeth Barracks, if not the judiciary and the former Fiji Human Rights Commission, because they simply can’t absorb democracy. And so genuine trust is always positioned somewhere off in the blue yonder by this mob. And whenever he speaks, he continues to justify that delay by pathetic appeals to “national sovereignty” shorn up by trying to transfer the accusation of imperialism from himself to New Zealand and Australia. It doesn’t stick. The new imperialists, the neo-colonials are the ones with the power these days in Fiji.
In America under Bush there was continued efforts to characterise the UN and efforts to develop world-wide governance as a tendency that Christians have to deplore. Global governance was viewed as a matter of Satan’s rule, right? And so it went. That’s why many Christians believe that efforts to promote global justice goes against national sovereignty and Christian beliefs. But even the US actually gave up such notions of totally “pure” sovereignty years ago. How else could they have become such a powerful force in the world if they hadn’t willingly co-operated with the UN and many other transnational agreements and treaties? Like all the countries of the world the US is not sovereign over its own money and over its own debt and over its own jobs. Not anymore. Even with all the military apparatus they have over the world they simply are not sovereign. And there’s a massive debt. It’s contribution is being formed from all sides by other nations so that for its very continuance the US will have to work internationally. They might even have to take a leaf out of the European Union book where many states have been working like crazy since 1989 to figure out how to have something that is more transnational that still retains their national identities. We all live in one globe – and that is where Fijians should take the opportunity of thinking hard about the EC’s help with sugar and further reflect upon why the Junta is such a complete disaster.
The President, the judiciary, the military and those supportive of the two coups, whether they know it or not, in their mad commitment to help the treacherous military commander avoid the legal spotlight, are actually trying to remain loyal to an ideal of separate independence that was pronounced dead after the second world war. Forward to the past. But there’s simply no future in that. And a careful examination of the problems the US is dealing with will help Fijians understand just why the current junta is so wrong. Living so close together, as the American states have realised, and as the states of the European Union now realise, means that the inter-connectednss, the inter-twined economical relations, the transnational treaties and agreements, locally, regionally and globally, all come together and tell us that there is no wisdom in inventing a road map for a world that doesn’t now exist; not in the Republic of Fiji Islands, not in the South West Pacific, not in the East or the West, the North or the South, not anywhere.
“Christ will have dominion, over land and sea; earth’s remotest regions shall. His empire be”. That empire is one of serving our political neighbours with justice and our joy is to follow the One with all authority seeking wisdom and humility as we do so. Knowing that the fruit of our labours is not ultimately in our hands. We might want to say “God bless Fiji!” but had we not better say it as a humble prayer lest we presume to be telling God what He ought to be doing. Our task is clear and there is always going to be a lot to do.
charleswhyman
Posted by rawfijinews
If our dictator thinks he has any sway with the international community, he’s badly mistaken.
Civilized countries don’t like dictators, especially grubby little tin-pot dictators like Bainimarama. His lies, oppression of basic human rights, greedy self-enrichment and arrogance get right up their noses. Take the Pacific Islands Forum. The Forum decided unanimously that Frank’s dictatorship over Fiji was untenabie and, from 2 May 2009, Fiji’s membership or that important body was suspended. And this happened after Forum member countries had given the dictator more than enough time to consider his position, and after the dictator broke his solemn promise to call elections in 2009. That’s right, civilized countries don’t like shameless liars who steal people’s freedom and intimidate them when they speak out, as Frank Bainimarama has so consistently done to us!
This week the US State Department made it very clear that a Fiji being administered according to Frank Bainimarama’s whims Is unacceptable. In the near future Fiji’s membership of the Commonwealth will be on the block. Unless Frank has a sudden change of heart, Fiji is certain to be suspended from that body. But Frank Bainimarama, stupid and belligerent as he is, thinks that he can win the international diplomacy stakes by spinning yet another lie to the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). He thinks he will win sufficient support in Vanuatu to get himself number one spot on the agenda of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Cairns two weeks later. Well, Frank, you’re wrong again! The agenda is already set and it’s not about you.
It’s the economy. Stupid!
Fiji Democracy Now
Posted by rawfijinews
We say - wait for Frank and his ahhh no-depth spin doctor Leweni to pounce on this story by their buddy Vijay Narayan. It’s now confirmed. The Namosi House is not owned by the Namosi Development Company at this stage. Although the tenancy agreement for Namosi House was signed by the Director of Lands and the Chairperson and Secretary for Namosi Development Company on 22nd September 2008, Namosi Development Company was not the owner then and still does have the title of the land. A company search shows that Namosi Development Company has four shareholders, issued with $1 shares namely Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, Ratu Kiniviliame Taukeinikoro, Samisoni Tuilawaki and Leone Tuvutokona. However, a title search shows that Winproject Limited which is owned by a group of businesspeople own the piece of land on which Namosi House was built.
Further investigations in relation to the ownership of Namosi House reveal that the land and the building in Toorak is owned by the group of businesspeople. However, an agreement was reached a few years ago that the government would rent Namosi House because the building is owned by the provincial council’s investment arm, Namosi Development Company Limited.
When Fijivillage contacted Namosi Development Company Chairman Ratu Kiniviliame Taukeinikoro, he confirmed that Namosi House is currently owned by Winproject Limited. He now said that there was a deal and he would not want to reveal the names of some people involved because according to him, it is a confidential matter. He also confirmed that the Namosi Development Company was started off with the issuance of $1 shares to the four people from Namosi. Namosi House is currently occupied by the Health Ministry, under an agreement that the government has to assist the province’s development.
http://www.fijivillage.com/?mod=story&id=080709838fb37051d2e153470d3f15
Posted by rawfijinews
Fiji’s (illegal) interim Prime Minister claims to have a mandate to impose his rule for the next five years as he plans to explain his deferral of elections to the leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Commodore Frank Bainimarama has told Auckland’s Radio Tarana he believes the MSG leaders meeting in Port Vila this week will appreciate what he calls the reality that elections won’t be held until 2014. He has arrived in Port Vila ahead of the meeting on Friday and is meeting with Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, Edward Natapei, this afternoon. Commodore Bainimarama says he would like to personally share with his fellow MSG leaders the mandate that guides his government to ensure democratic elections are held by September 2014.
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/story.htm?id=19447
Posted by rawfijinews
Ah hah …. so coup coup Frank is already announcing from Vanuatu that he will meet the Methodist gang upon his return? So why the change of heart you? The Methodist standing committee subtle defiance yesterday to carry on with their meeting without a permit or approval from the regime says alot. It has sent disturbing signals across the seas from Fiji to Frank in Vanuatu on just how fickle things are back home. The regime’s inability to stop the Methodist standing committee meeting yesterday is the beginning of what is to come. Without using guns or any killing machines that Frank & Co. are using to shield their sorry selves, the Methodist Church have successfully sent a weighty subliminal message to team Frank i.e work with us or step aside! Will Frank get his way with the Methodist? We doubt it and Frank knows it!
Posted by rawfijinews
Coup apologist Australian, Sharon Smith-Jones, is the controversial CEO of unprofitable internet provider company, Connect. Connect is also a subsidiary company of Telecom , Fiji’s telecommunication company that is letting off more than 100 staff due to falling financial performance by the company. Questions are now being raised by affected local staff why an expatriate non-performing CEO like Sharon Smith-Jones is still enjoying her $350,000 per annum salary package when her business unit, Connect, has been running at a loss for the past financial years. They are demanding an answer from the board and management to explain why someone like Sharon, a well known regime supporter, has not been fired from her position for her lousy performance todate. They say it is incompetent expatriate executives like Sharon who are chewing into their Telecom bottomline for not delivering the deliverables required of them.
Some are even complaining that Sharon’s annual salary can employ almost 30 local staff at $12,000 per annum. They added that expensive non-performing executives like Sharon should be removed to protect low paying hard working locals whose pay go towards feeding hundreds of children and extended family members in Fiji’s worsening economy.
Posted by rawfijinews
Our Methodists should take a defiant leaf out of the heroic fight of Archbishop Tutu who told an equally defiant South African crowd against apartheid: “We will be free!”, “All of us!”, “Black and white together!” and finished his speech saying: “We are the rainbow people of God! We are unstoppable! Nobody can stop us on our march to victory! No one, no guns, nothing! Nothing will stop us, for we are moving to freedom! We are moving to freedom and nobody can stop us! For God is on our side!”
Posted by rawfijinews
Fiji’s military regime have had their first taste of peaceful defiance by the Methodist Church today – and they obviously didn’t like it. We’re not talking about the military boys and girls but Frank Bainimarama, his senior military and police officers and his very few supporters. Radio network Communications Fiji today filed this report: “The government and the military have stressed that the Methodist Church of Fiji executives need to have a permit to have the church standing committee meeting today. Permanent Secretary for Information and Military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni said the standing committee cannot just meet without an approval to decide on their next step after the cancellation of the Church Conference.
Fijivillage has received confirmation that the church standing committee meeting has already started. Meanwhile, Police Director Operations Waisea Tabakau said they are aware of the meeting and are taking the necessary steps.” Later this afternoon, there were talks that members of the Methodist Church standing committee were going to be arrested for purpotedly breaking the public emergency regulation as suggested by Leweni. It never happened! So why didn’t the regime move in? Sources confirmed that the regime was advised against it with a warning that arrests of the Methodist Church standing committee will be a fatal mistake. The committee ended their meeting peacefully and guess what, Fiji’s military regime couldn’t do anything about it. Leweni’s cowardly statement achieved nothing except to show to the world how Frank & Co.’s scare tactics are not having its desired effect on the Fijian masses. Frank & Co. are ruling by bluff for far too long and it is the Methodist Church who can and will topple them with their peaceful defiance.
Watch!
Posted by rawfijinews
Frank Bainimarama thinks he’ll manipulate his meeting with the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) in Vanuatu this Friday to make it appear he has a support base in the Pacific. Once again he’ll be clutching at straws. What he doesn’t seem to understand is that there fe a difference between dialogue and support. Being invited to the meeting is not a sign of support. It’s because people like MSG Chairman, Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, Edward Natapei, see the meeting as an opportunity to maintain dialogue.
The MSG wants dialogue among MSG nations, including with the pariah state of Fiji, which has been formally suspended from membership of the far more influential regional grouping, the Pacific Islands Forum. This is because the MSG was launched with the stated objective of strengthening inter-Melanesian cultural ties, commercial, trade and common adherence to shared values such as “sustainable development, good governance and security”. So, with the likely exception of Frank Bainimarama, no one at Friday’s meeting will see what the dictator has done in Fiji as in any way enhancing the region’s sustainable development, good governance and security. In fact, it’s quite to the contrary. Other Pacific leaders see the dictator as a threat to those shared values. So, if Frank thinks the meeting will help him undermine the will of the Pacific Forum and the wider International community, he’s a bigger fool than so many people already take him for. Remember, Frank, the purposes of the meeting is dialogue. And remember also that it will be two-way dialogue, NOT your preferred one-way dialogue. No doubt you’ll get a fair hearing, but because you can’t bring your guns to bear on your interlocutors, like you do on the people of Fiji, your interlocutors will want to have your say. The best thing you could do for our beloved nation is to shut up and listen, just this once?
Fiji Democracy Now
Posted by rawfijinews
It would be funny if it wasn’t so serious. Radio Regime the radio propaganda machine controlled by the brother of Adolph Sayed-Khaiyum has run a story trying to blame Australia for the outbreak of brucellosis. According to Radio Regime: “Imported semen from Australia used for breeding cows in Fiji could be the cause of the Brucellosis outbreak in Fiji.” The evidence for this is zero. It’s just an obvious attempt to switch responsibility from the illegal regime to the Australian Government because they’ve told the dictator he has no credibility unless elections are held. If Radio Regime had taken a moment to check the website of Animal Health Australia, they would have found that Australia has been free of brucellosis caused by Brucella abortus since 1989. Check it out on their site:
http://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/programs/adsp/nahis/diseases/nahis_bbr.cfm
Australia has strict standards of checking animal health status, while it seems the Fiji Government now has only two veterinarians actually working their trade. If the regime wasn’t so arrogant and stupid they would be asking Australia nicely to help eradicate the disease as quickly as possible. If they haven’t realised it yet, the dairy farmers of Fiji, just like the cane farmers and tourism operators will realise that they paying a huge price for the tin-pot dictatorship.
Corruption Fighter
Posted by rawfijinews
King kong Frank Bainimarama has left his banana tree for Vanuatu to further his monkey business. But he has forgotten to appoint his deputy to look after his monkey kingdom. Or has he? Frank left Fiji earlier this morning but at the end of business today, no announcement has been released by his minority group as to who will act on Frank’s behalf during his absence. Surprised? Don’t be! Fiji is a lawless banana republic. They are all under the bananarama spell, listening! And what can they hear? Their sickening silence!
Posted by rawfijinews
The Methodist Church will hold its Bose Ni Viti and Conference at Rewa. Frank cannot stop them. He and his 3,000 soldiers will have to take over 200,000 Methodists to jail. The capacity of the jails is approx., 1000 – I have to confirm this. But going on metrics alone the Methodist population will flood them out. What a joke!

1. Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle see his banners go! Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before.
2. At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee; on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory! Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise; brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise. (Refrain)
3. Like a mighty army moves the church of God; brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. We are not divided, all one body we, one in hope and doctrine, one in charity. (Refrain)
4. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane, but the church of Jesus constant will remain. Gates of hell can never against that church prevail; we have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail. (Refrain)
5. Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng, blend with ours your voices in the triumph song. Glory, laud, and honour unto Christ the King, this through countless ages men and angels sing.
Cannot be there to join you but will be in thought and spirit. God Bless you All
A blogger
Posted by rawfijinews
My last comments on your site seemed to have caused a lot of controversy. I wanted to let my thoughts be known and realized that none of your daily papers would publish it because of the censorship brought about by your nation’s Dictator, Frank Bainimarama. I then checked out all the blog sites and felt that Rawfiji News was the only one that had credibility.My great maternal grandmother was born in Fiji so the family have always had a great interest in your beautiful islands. When I was old enough and could afford to pay for my airfares I made an effort to return to Nadi on numerous occasions to enjoy your resorts, beautiful weather and the lovely people. I am certain a part of Fiji was given to me through my great grandmother because the first time I set foot on your islands I told myself when the time was right I would return to make Fiji my second home. The time was now and made that journey only to be disappointed in what I saw and read in Rawfiji News. I haven’t or will give up hope but sadly realize it is going to be a long wait for me to return to Fiji because of its messed up legal system. A trusted justice system is very important for those of us entering your country – a legal system that is trusted throughout the world for our safety. Each and everyone of you need to think and choose your battles very carefully because it is going to be a long arduous campaign.You must all first learn to unite and focus on right over wrong. The squabbling and what came to my notice about my comments did your cause nothing. It showed you all up, the fact you are all educated but have not a clue what is right from wrong and why people like me make comments on how the 2006 coup have affected all of us.Unity is what is required and you will need the Trade Unions, big business people, owners of large resorts, large organisations, NGOs, religious groups and last but not least Fiji’s lawyers to bring the Military Regime down and out. This has not happened and when the lawyers had their opportunity they decided on the pragmatic approach and applied for their PCs.Don’t waste your time on people like me because I have a choice and for the moment I have chosen to stay away because I don’t like what I see. The other reason is because I have spoken out and according to your country’s rules they would kick me out anyway.Good Luck with your endeavours and thank you very much to Rawfiji News. Keep up the good work!
Frank VoyagerUSA
Posted by rawfijinews
Frank and Leweni’s attempts to stop the Methodist Church Standing Committee meeting today has failed. Leweni used FM96 Communication Fiji radio network to try and propagate fear on the Methodist Standing Committee members. He said the committee needed a permit to meet at their own Centenary Suva church and that they run the risk of breaching the regime’s public emergency regulation. But Leweni’s hot air didn’t stop anyone. The committee members are meeting as we blog. Sources say Leweni and Teleni are now considering arresting these committee members. Let’s wait and see!
Posted by rawfijinews
We believe the Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting in Vanuatu is a complete waste of everybody’s time. The Melanesian so-called leaders are not part of Fiji’s constituency, nor do they have the mandate by the Fijian people to determine sovereign issues for them. These leaders should be reminded that majority of Fiji peoples don’t respect nor recognise Frank Bainimarama for his cowardly coup act that is fairing out to be nothing more than a grab for money, power and status. At the same time, they should be wary of Frank’s machevalian ways for he will surely use their meeting and their melanesian group to try and legitimize himself to the international community. They should leave it to the Fijian people to determine Frank Bainimarama’s fate. It’s coming – we can almost smell it!
Posted by rawfijinews
Fiji’s high ranking coward, Frank Bainimarama, has nothing better to do except to spend most of his time trying to shift blame to others on the ripple effect of his unpopular 2006 coup. His latest childish assertions blaming the Forum Secretariat’s Secretary General, Tuiloma Slade, as the guy who instigated Fiji’s exclusion from last months Pacifc Trade Minister’s talks held in Samoa is laughable. Frank Bainimarama just doesn’t seem to get it. The international community which includes the Pacific community have no place for coup-makers. Coups are birthed by cowards like Frank Bainimarama who are born to contaminate the world with their infectious coup seed.
All they know is to blame others except themselves for all their problems. And we say – be a man Frank and stop being a cry baby you stupid fool!
Posted by rawfijinews
So, in terms of corruption – do we still remember the “Clean up” coup – it seems clear from this distance that now, more than ever before, the attempt by the December 2006 coupsters to isolate and smear allegedly “corrupt” individuals (PM Qarase, CJFatiaki, PCHughes) is showing its internal weaknesses and that it was itself the outcome of a far deeper corruption which was given covert support by those bodies which craved more power for themselves. Now the focus shifts as prominent Fijian “national flagships” – statutory bodies, corporations, businesses, even churches join the RFMF, the President and the judiciary under the spotlight that Frank Bainimarama and his inept cohort assumed was under their control.
charleswhyman
Posted by rawfijinews
I must say that when the FHL/BP Oil deal officially goes belly up and shareholders loose the value of their shares with the loss of capital in FHL then the Solicitors who drew up the financing agreements must be sued that is what they have professional indemnity insurance for. We have to understand that the legal advisors are the people that should have warned the Board of the impact of their decisions and should have protected their clients money from being lost with such an idiotic non refundable deposit condition for such a large percentage of the FHL Capital. Why are the provincial councils and indigenous shareholders still holding on to their shares? Shareholders must sell immediately and mitigate our losses now because the situation will only get worse by the day and court action will not solve anything especially with the Military government controlling that area and even if we do manage to file how long will we wait for a decision and appeals etc? That will take around 3 to 5 years in best case scenario. There are only two steps to be taken now. First get a Mareva Injunction and Freeze FHL Assets until final determination. Second sell all shares in FHL before it is too late. Dont worry the illegal government will steal the money from somewhere else to buy us out anyway but at least we will have our money back now.
Posted by Sai Lealea at 8:07 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Washington criticises Fiji election delay

Washington criticises Fiji election delay

SUVA (AFP) — Washington on Monday condemned the Fijian military regime's roadmap for a return to democracy and its suppression of the media and free speech. Military leader Voreqe Bainimarama, who overthrew the elected government in a 2006 coup, said last week that a new constitution would be introduced by September 2013, a year before planned elections to restore democracy.
In a statement released through the US embassy in Suva, the State Department said it supported steps to hasten Fiji's return to a constitution and free elections. But it said "the roadmap falls short of that goal". "It is imposed without the participation or consent of the Fijian people and it delays the process leading to elections," the State Department said. "We are also concerned that public emergency regulations that curb freedoms of speech, press and political assembly remain in place." Fiji has been suspended from the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum and is expected to face similar action from the British Commonwealth after Bainimarama broke a promise to hold elections to restore democracy by March this year. In April he abrogated the constitution, sacked the judiciary, and introduced emergency regulations after a court ruled his regime was illegal.
Last week the military strongman told Radio Fiji that the emergency regulations would stay in place until the end of the year. The new constitution will remove the ethnic-based voting system introduced in the 1997 version, he says. He blames the voting system for aggravating racial divisions because most of the legislative seats are chosen along racial lines by the majority indigenous population and minority ethnic Indians.
Posted by Sai Lealea at 11:17 AM 0 comments Links to this post

Monday, July 06, 2009

Fiji Suffering Worsens

Revelations from Fiji’s building sector today reveal that Fiji is without cement. Seems like Fiji’s cement manufacturer, Fijian Holdings Limited, is unfortunately too busy trying to hide their bull that they’ve forgotten to produce cement. One can only hope that cement manufacturing was not abruptly stopped by FHL due to their overseas suppliers refusal to deliver imported raw materials supplies for fear of FHL’s inability to pay them. FHL’s worsening state of affairs is snowballing and picking up speed. And cement shortage in Fiji is most definitely a good indicator on what’s ahead for Fiji’s cement producer – no cement, no money! God help FHL!
Posted by rawfijinews
It seems that Colonel Aziz Mohammed and Sereana Qoro are at great odds with each other these days. FHL board directors our sources spoke to say that Aziz and Sereana are involved in a scratchy cat fight. They are clawing each other to death with both demanding separate meetings with coupster Frank Bainamarama to tell on one another. Childish?
Damn yeah! And so the finger-pointing and blaming game has started at FHL.
Posted by rawfijinews
BP South West Pacific can not be blamed for wanting the FHL appointed Hindustani Petroleum management team out of their Suva based head office. For starters, FHL has defaulted in meeting their sale and purchase deadline not once, twice but three times. BP must be finding these Hindustani gang annoying given that they were planted in there by FHL to take over operations from BP. The Hindustani gang would obviously have access to confidential information regarding BP South West Pacific operations. But now that FHL is heading towards being delisted from Fiji’s South Pacific Stock Exchange, BP could very well say that enough is enough sending all those Hindustani Petroleum staffers packing and will kick them outta there.
Who knows, they might start squatting at the FHL boardroom for a few days before heading back to India.
The inevitable is happening at Fijian Holdings Limited. It’s cash cow Merchant Finance is also running low on cash. So much so that employees complained about not getting paid in their last pay day. Employees say its CEO, Freddie Keshwan, the $400,000 per annum guy, had to delay salary payment as there was no cash in the bank. These employees said that never in the history of Merchant Finance has non payment of salary ever been a issue ’til now when Merchant Finance was placed under the military appointed board and management including Sereana Qoro, Aziz Mohammed, Freddie Keshwan.
Posted by rawfijinews
Minority shareholders of FHL should exhaust all avenues available to them if they are serious in protecting their investment in FHL. To test the independence of FICAC from the regime and their military appointed FHL board, individual shareholder(s) should simply write to FICAC to officially lodge their complaints and concerns with them. There is no doubt that parallel investigations will be running simultaneously by CMDA and SPSE but FHL shareholders must learn to fight for their own rights by building on their case via FICAC, CMDA, SPSE etc. All their findings should help shareholders when they finally present their own case in court against all individuals (board directors, management, consultants, auditors, Frank Bainimarama & Co.) who helped sink titanic FHL.
Posted by rawfijinews
Fiji’s Capital Market Authority and South Pacific Stock Exchange should spearheard their own investigations into FHL. FHL board and management have no doubt exhibited non-compliance of important rules and regulations governing publicly listed companies operational conduct.
They have unashamedly displayed their cunning ploy to hide their failed attempts to secure financing for their BP venture. And in doing so, they have lied to the public and shareholders with their many broken promises in closing the deal. CMDA and SPSE in the meantime should suspend FHL stock from trading on the floor while they carry out their own independent investigation. FHL must not be allowed to bastardise nor personalise Fiji’s capital market standards based on their internal bickering. Fiji’s capital market is bigger and more important than FHL. FHL board must be reprimanded for not towing the line!
Posted by rawfijinews
We say – FBCL sounds like sour grapes! Fraud suspects can travel overseas, screams Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Former Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited Chairman Daniel Whippy and his deputy Champak Kapadia who both earlier in the year denied charges of fraud laid against them by FICAC, were given permission this morning by the Suva Magistrates Court to travel overseas. Both were charged with one count each of obtaining money by false pretense. FICAC alleges that Whippy and Kapadia on 19TH of March 2004 – with intent to defraud – procured the offer of an advance of $1,030,000 from Westpac Banking Corporation for the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited (FBCL), on the basis of a fictitious resolution. Kapadia’s lawyer Hemandra Nagin says his client needs to travel overseas and asked the court if he could do so. State Prosecutor Aca Rayawa objected to the accused traveling overseas and asked the court that certain conditions be put in place for his travel. Magistrate Ajmal Khan ordered the two to advise the court registry and FICAC whenever they travel overseas and when they return.The Matter is adjourned for mention on the 3rd of August.Fiji Broadcasting Corporation LTD
Posted by rawfijinews
We say – FHL and South Pacific Stock Exchange owe it to the public, in particular, FHL shareholders to explain in detail what the investigation was all about and its findings. Again, FHL is a publicly listed company demanding that all major issues which could adversely affect shareholders interest must be made public and transparently by FHL and SPSE. Loss of millions in FHL must not be taken lightly. All relevant authorities including CMDA and SPSE have fiduciary duties which they will one day be answerable for. Will they be able to tell FHL shareholders the truth where their millions have been spent? They can’t claim they weren’t told about FHL’s disaster ready to happen. Read FHL’s latest statement here http://www.spse.com.fj/publish/_comp_announce.shtml#4057
Posted by rawfijinews
Next weekend’s Fasting and Prayer Conference at the Trade Winds includes meals.Sunday morning sermon: ‘Jesus Walks on the Water’. Sunday evening sermon: ‘Searching for Jesus.’Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at those who are hard to love. Say “Hell” to those who doesn’t care much about our society.Don’t let worry kill you off – let my Church help.Mrs Teleni sang ‘I will not pass this way again,’ giving obvious pleasure to the male congregation.For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.Those that were married recently in the new church feel free to sperate. So ends friendships that began in their school days.At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be ‘What Is Hell?’ Come early and listen to find out.Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of new members and the departure of the many that are not satisfied.Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children and send them back on the streets.Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want to go to Hell.The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.Lovo Sunday at 5:00 PM – prayer and siesta with partners to follow.The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their belongings for the dress up and good play next Sunday.Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7pm for more enhancement.The school drama group will be presenting Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the Church hall on Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.The Associate Minister unveiled the church’s new campaign slogan last Sunday: We want ownership of this nation – Up yours!
Posted by rawfijinews
Amazing how tyrant Frank Bainimarama and his advisors are manipulating Fiji’s South Pacific Stock Exchange through one of its listed companies, Fijian Holdings Limited. In an attempt to hide the multi-million dollars stuff up at FHL, Frank & Co. decided to suspend FHL’s top three personnel, its chairman Isoa Kaloumaira, deputy chairman Colonel Aziz Mohammed and Managing Director Sereana Qoro. Contradicting statements were released by FHL and the regime. FHL, in a South Pacific Stock Exchange announcement stated that Isoa, Aziz and Sereana were suspended. While Isoa and Sereana’s names were clearly highlighted in FHL’s statement, Aziz was only referred to as the Deputy Chairman and one of the three suspended.
Junta spokesman, Leweni, came out today on FM96 radio to defend Colonel Aziz Mohammed saying that only Isoa and Sereana were the ones suspended and not Aziz Mohammed contradicting FHL’s own statement. This afternoon, another radio station led by Riyaz Khaiyum is broadcasting that Frank Bainimarama has re-instated Isoa and Sereana. Sources from within say Franks’ right hand cherry told Riyaz to immediately air the reinstatement story on their network, in particular the Fijian radio stations, as part of their damage control plan. It was an urgent announcement Frank Bainimarama needed to hear before he boarded his flight to Vanuatu for that Melanesian Spearhead meeting. So where is South Pacific Stock Exchange and Capital Markets Development Authority in all these? What have they done to protect Fiji’s capital market and FHL’s shareholders while its board and the regime pussy foot around them?
Where are the capital market’s rules and regulation that should provide the safety net for Fiji’s capital market players? Why are matters relating to publicly listed FHL casuallly announced by the regime and not through the South Pacific Stock Exchange as required by law?
Where is South Pacific Stock Exchange governance and transparency? Shame on SPSE and CMDA for doing sweet eff all when they are most needed! South Pacific Stock Exchange should change its name to Frank Bainimarama’s Stock Exchange since they are powerless to stop him from turning SPSE into a junk stock exchange.
Posted by rawfijinews
Melanesian leaders should learn to follow the rule of law. And that means not entertaining coupmakers like Fiji’s Frank Bainimarama. There is nothing glorious in promoting lawbreaking power hungry self-serving usurpers who don’t respect the rights of their fellow men. These Melanesian leaders had better remember that they simply can’t depend on their melanesian brotherhood for their survival, particularly when members of their brotherhood have committed indescribable treasonous and human rights violation acts on their fellow citizens. Melanesian people are more aware and sophisticated these days and they can not be easily fooled by corrupt leaders.
Melanesian indigenous Fijians know Frank Bainimarama is bad karma to them. They know Frank is only there for himself and his supporters. They also know that Frank and his group of thieves are running on a desperate mode right now as they begin to drown in their own corrupt practices and lies. Quite frankly, we’re not particularly interested in the outcome of that Melanesian spearhead group – they’re soiled with the presence of that stinking parasite Frank Bainimarama. And we doubt they can derail the international community’s no-nonsense stand on Frank & Co.
Posted by rawfijinews
The game plan behind no-school Frank Bainimarama’s “roadmap to nowhere” is easy to see.
In his “strategic framework” speech the dictator deliberately put the drafting of a new constitution on hold for three years. First, it’s a means to consolidate his power. Second, it was a ploy to enable him in the future to blame nations such as Australia and New Zealand for not helping Fiji. He knew all too well that the governments of Australia and New Zealand would not accept his five-year timeline, particularly if it included a three-year wait before work started on a new constitution. Yet by making a call for engagement and re-engagement with our traditional international partners, the dictator was clearly hoping those countries might reverse their position and accept his terms. But such crude gambit was never going to work. For one thing, member nations of the Pacific Forum are not going to easily forget their bitter experience of Frank Bainimarama making solemn promises and then going back on his word. For another, the wider international community, including the European Union, the United States the Pacific Forum and the Commonwealth, are at one in their insistence that Fiji must have elections sooner, rather than later. In a word, the dictator’s game plan is a failure, which leaves him even further isolated from much-needed sources of financial support. Unfortunately for us, the people of Fiji, we are condemned to share that isolation with him. We are the innocent hostages of a dangerous fool.
Fiji Democracy Now
Posted by rawfijinews
Fiji’s leading women’s advocacy group says a new interim government endorsed womens group will not take the place of existing institutions. In a statement, Fiji’s interim government says the new “Fiji Womens Federation” will be the advocate for, and representative of, women’s rights in the country. The coordinator of one the longest serving women rights groups, the Fiji Womens Crisis Centre, Shamima Ali, say previous governments have tried and failed to create something similar. “Often these things have fallen by the wayside because of lack of funding, lack of the political will in government,” she said. The interim government says the membership of the federation will be made up of women’s non government organisations, which meet a set criteria.
But no detail of what that criteria is has been made public. Ms Ali’s says the federation’s creation won’t mean groups like the Crisis Centre, vocal critics of the interim government, will be sidelined
Posted by Sai Lealea at 9:08 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Fijian Holdings Thrown to Crooks

Mariana Saumadu says additional $5million pay-out by FHL engineered by suspended trio
July 6, 2009

Fijian Holdings acting Managing Director, Mariana Saumadu, says the additional $5million paid out by FHL to extend settlement date with BP Oil to end of June was made by Isoa Kaloumaira, Colonel Aziz Mohammed and Sereana Qoro without proper board approval. Mariana admitted that a US$10 million non-refundable deposit was paid by FHL to BP Oil during the signing of their sale and purchase agreement. However, demands from BP Oil that FHL pay them an extra $5million non-refundable deposit was not discussed with the rest of the board members. She said no flying minutes or an extraordinary board meeting was called to rectify the matter and instead, Kaloumaira, Aziz and Sereana decided between themselves to sign and hand-over the $5million cheque after they realised they were caught between a rock and a hard place. She went on to say that other board directors only got to learn of the additional $5million payment from blogs and later, the mainstream media.
Posted by rawfijinews
Fiji’s stock exchange under siege
July 6, 2009
The decision by the military regime to step in and to take-over operations at Fijian Holdings Limited, a public company listed on Fiji’s stock exchange, is affecting their stock exchange credibility ratings. Fiji’s stock exchange independence and integrity is now in question with the regime disregarding the stock exchange strict guidelines on how listed companies should conduct itself for the sake of their public shareholders. Again we say, Fiji’s South Pacific Stock Exchange should move fast and suspend FHL from trading as they are obviously contaminating the stock exchange.
Posted by rawfijinews
Leweni’s veiled attempt to cover up Colonel Aziz Mohammed’s wrong doings is obvious but it will not stop the truth from being told. Emails sent to us show supporting evidence to prove without doubt that Colonel Aziz Mohammed was milking money from FHL without shame. We can report here that Colonel Aziz was charging Merchant Finance (owned by FHL) $33 each time he signed loan approvals. He is the Chairman of Merchant Finance and he insisted that the conveyancing fee of $33 usually paid out to Merchant Finance lawyers for each loan transaction should be redirected to him since he is a also a Commissioner of Oath in his capacity as a military lawyer. Obviously, Aziz’s get-rich-quick scheme is quickly catching up on him with whistle-blowers freely sending information for our posting.
Posted by rawfijinews
Not one, two, three but all of the eight board directors of FHL should be suspended for their negligence that has contributed to the wasteful allocation of more than $30million of shareholders funds lost in the failed BP buy-out plan. They should all be taken to task for approving what was already proven to be a poorly crafted deal from day one. So who exactly is doing the investigation at FHL? FICAC or the newly appointed Acting Managing Director, Mariana, who is Sereana Qoro’s shadow? What a bunch of thieving holligans trying so desperately to cover up their million dollars error in judgment!
Posted by rawfijinews
94% of the Methodist congregation want their church leaders to go ahead with their annual conference in August. This is the result of the feedback from all the 53 districts under the Methodist Church Fiji wide constituency. And that is what the Methodist church leaders must honor if they are to be taken seriously. Their congregation have spoken and they must be seen to do what they’re purporting to promote – to respect their members freedom of choice, freedom to vote and freedom of speech, in defying the usurpers oppressive and discriminatory plan to ban their annual conference.
Posted by rawfijinews
Colonel Aziz Mohammed’s investigation into tyrant Frank’s $184,000 back-pay questionable
July 5, 2009
Colonel Aziz Mohammed didn’t need anyone to tell him and his tyrant boss how shady he is when it comes to money. He himself exposed what a big crook he is as a board director of Fijian Holdings Limited and its various subsidiaries. Now that he has been suspended by his own coupmaker boss for indiscriminately indulging himself in FHL’s pot of gold, the credibility of Frank Bainimarama’s call for an investigation into the validity of his own $184,000 back-pay lumpsum payment, led by Colonel Aziz, becomes questionable. Colonel Aziz have shown that he doesn’t have what it takes to conduct any kind of investigation because he himself is a thief and a corrupt individual. Frank’s announcement months ago that Colonel Aziz was nominated to investigate his back-pay was nothing more than a lie. He went further to say that if the investigation ruled against him, he was willing to repay the $184,000. But like all the bull they spin, no one knows whether the investigation did take place or what came out of it. One thing is clear though – it is doubtful Frank will wanna return that $184,000. Over his dead body as he always say!
Posted by rawfijinews
If only we were fighting a legal government
July 5, 2009
Imagine if Frank’s Illegal Govt was lucky enough to be elected like the Qarase’s Govt. Our Justice System would have remained unchanged and would be trustworthy. Our police force would have made sure they abided by the constitutional laws before ensuring the public did. The Military would have remained in camp doing what it does best and that is to protect our country and not get involved in politics. We would have a wail of a time exposing and protesting against Frank’s Govt in our real identities on the blog, on the streets, in the media etc etc We would fight with determination to make sure Frank’s Govt was never given another chance to govern and destroy what was once the best country to live in. The ending of Winston Churchill’s speech – “We Shall Fight On The Beaches” is a good reminder to us all in what we could have done if things were normal to get rid of Fiji’s Military Regime.
However, it will be fought and our only choice is to fight it on Cyber Space! “The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail.
We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.” Fiji 4 All
Posted by rawfijinews

Businessman Asif Razak buys Governor Reserve Bank’s official residence
July 5, 2009
There are rumours that Golden Manufacturers majority owner, Mohammed Asif Razak, is the buyer of that controversial Governor of Reserve Bank official residence in Tamavua. Sources say Razak offered $1.7million to buy the property that cost RBF $1.4 million to build. Asif Razak’s packaging company in Valelevu is a successful private company that manufactures boxes for big companies like Fiji Water. A small shareholding of Pacific Manufacturers was bought by Fijian Holdings Limited before the coup of 2006 which sources say is earning good returns for FHL.
Posted by rawfijinews

FNPF ousted board of directors received almost $100,000 yearly directors fees
July 5, 2009
Word is out that certain members of the ousted Fiji National Provident Fund board of directors received close to $100,000 per annum as directors fees. This is a far cry to the $12,000 annual directors fees paid to previous board members before the 2006 coup. James Dutta and Felix Anthony were named as two ex-board members who were paid such amounts. Reports reveal that the two often demanded seating allowance each time they appeared at FNPF head office to do some “work” for FNPF. They are part of the FNPF board that turned almost all of the FNPF tourism investment projects into disastrous ventures. Their Natadola Intercontinental Resort, eventhough completed, had millions of dollars over-run after they hijacked the project from its original developers, APRIL.
Pundits say that it is the Intercontinental hotel management team that will make money from this project and not the FNPF members whose funds was used to build the resort. They added the Natadola Intercontinental Resort will continue to bleed FNPF funds in the coming years with negative returns to the FNPF members. APRIL’s legal case against the FNPF board is still pending.
Posted by rawfijinews
We’re told that FHL’s suspended deputy chairman, Colonel Aziz Mohammed, was advanced US$10,000 per diem each time he travelled to India to try and convince Habib Bank to fund their BP South West Pacific buy-out plan. It is said that Sereana Qoro, one of the three suspended executives, also advanced herself similar amount for her many unsuccessful travel to India. Sources say that eventhough the duo were given perdiem, they often charged their FHL company credit card expenses that were meant to be paid from their perdiem allowance. Colonel Aziz Mohammed and Sereana Qoro’s abuse of office is part of the investigation instigated by their junta appointing authority.
Posted by rawfijinews
FHL already paying $500,000 per month to Hindustani Petroleum
July 4, 2009
We have evidence to prove that FHL is already paying a hefty $500,000 monthly management fees to Hindustani Petroleum Company. This is the company FHL commissioned with a management contract to manage the BP operations. Late last month, Sereana Qoro announced that the same Hindustani Petroleum Company will own 25% while FHL will take the remaining 75% shareholding in FHL Energy Limited, their subsidiary company created for the purpose of buying BP Oil. It was a sudden announcement aimed at hogwashing the public. The reality was that FHL was having problems paying up their half a million monthly management fees to Hindustani Petroleum and were forced to offer equity instead of paying cash. FHL’s once healthy cash reserves was quickly depleting given the ridiculous monthly management fees they were paying to Hindustani Petroleum, quite apart from the US$10 million plus another $5million non-refundable deposit already paid out to BP Oil. Millions was pouring out from FHL’s shrinking purse with nothing to show for and that, we are told ,was another reason why the FHL board decided to sell off their cash cow Fosters stocks – to pay their monthly fee to Hindustani Petroleum Limited for setting up a failed deal.
Posted by rawfijinews
FHL should be suspended from trading on stock exchange
July 4, 2009
For the sake of FHL shareholders and to protect the credibility of Fiji’s capital market, relevant authorities in Fiji should now move fast and suspend FHL from trading on the South Pacific Stock Exchange. Minority shareholders should also exercise their right by applying for a court order to freeze all dealings and movements of monies associated with the failed BP Oil buy-out including pay-outs to the Indian Petroleum Company managing the project for FHL. Minority shareholders should demand a full investigation to be conducted by Fiji’s Capital Market Development Authority to pave the way for their ensuing court battle against FHL’s current board of directors and management for the millions of dollars they’ve flushed down the toilet.
Posted by rawfijinews
Public company FHL brings disrepute to Fiji’s capital market
July 4, 2009
Publicly listed Fijian Holdings Limited bizarre dealings have no doubt brought disrepute to Fiji’s capital market. The manner in which FHL board and management have mis-led the public with their overly ambitious BP South West Pacific acquisition gah gah is now a proven lie. Dictator Frank Bainimarama no doubt played a major role in this phenomenal stuff up of the year. His direct intereference in ordering the wholesale sacking of FHL’s previous board and management should have immediately pulled Fiji’s capital market emergency gear into full throttle. No individual should be allowed to exert his/her illegal influence in any capital market and coupster Frank Bainimarama is no exception to the rule. So where and what exactly did Fiji’s capital market watchdog (Capital Market Development Authority) do to safeguard not only the FHL shareholders but Fiji’s stock exchange and capital market?
Sweet eff all!!!
We think their (CMDA) silence and inaction is a major injustice to all individuals and corporate entitites who are part of Fiji’s capital market. How they’ve allowed FHL board to manipulate and take the public for a ride with their BP acquisition bullcrap reflects negatively on the integrity of Fiji’s capital market in general. The FHL bluff have shown to the world that Fiji’s capital market is really a circus of dumb asses, controlled by one tyrant pupeeter called Frank, who has absolutely no idea how to run the show. And what a put-off for potential investors thinking of raising capital in Fiji’s capital circus market!
Posted by rawfijinews
Sada Reddy’s sinister motive not to move into RBF’s house
July 4, 2009
Military man and now Governor of Fiji’s Reserve Bank, Sada Reddy, has publicly announced that he ain’t interested to move into the official million dollars Tamavua home specially built for the holder of his position. What Sada Reddy is not saying though is the fact that he is receiving $4,000 per month housing allowance for remaining in his private home, while the Governor’s official residence becomes a well appointed home for spiders, roaches and ants to holiday in. But why should Sada receive housing allowance when it is his own personal choice not to move into the RBF home? We think Sada Reddy’s RBF board decision to put the house in the market shows just how dumb these people have become in trying to camouflage their guilty conscience.
Sada Reddy can’t deny that he feels ackward moving into that house given the unceremonious way in which the real lawful Governor Savenaca Narube was ousted by his junta friends. His decision to accept that position under Frank & Co’s new illegal order just comes to show how unprincipled Sada Reddy is. He might be good at what he does but without basic principles, he become poisonous to the morality of the RBF staff and Fiji peoples. One would have thought that economic and finance wizzes at RBF already know what a a no-brainer it is to try and sell in a bears market, unless you are desperate of course. There’s no hiding that Fiji and the global economy is effed, yet, these so-called smart people are selling? Even the no-school commoners are holding back their cash and assets with their school of hard knocks understanding that you just don’t sell when the market is down. Gippes, no wonder Fiji’s economy is all screwed up with this kind of stupid decisions going on at Reserve Bank of Fiji! People like Sada Reddy come and go but the role of Governor of Reserve Bank of Fiji is permanent demanding a permanent residence for the position holder. So Sada, stay on at your private home and stop being a crook with the housing allowance. Rent the RBF home to the diplomatic community until such time a lawful Governor is in place. Sell your private home when you finally migrate to New Zealand but leave the Governor’s official residence alone!
Posted by rawfijinews
Methodist congregation carry on with their annual meet preparation
July 3, 2009
There is nothing stopping the Methodist from carrying on with their preparation for the upcoming annual conference. Not even tyrant Frank Bainimarama’s blurbs and threats of soughts will stop them. Allowing Teleni’s new found church to march through the city of Suva with their noisy week long Sukuna Park crusade has confirmed to these Methodist followers that Frank Bainimarama has no right to stop them from doing the same. The people of Rewa are on full swing preparing for the August do. A spirit of commaraderie is in the air with Rewa paramount chief , Ro Temumu Kepa, a Roman Catholic, leading the way in preparing to host their Methodist relatives at her turf. Our sources say she is currently in the US garnering support from her people there. They say a large group of Fijians from the US will take their high chief back to Fiji with suitcases full of knick knacks for the Methodist conference meet. Call it what you want but that is the true Fijian way of preparing for big ceremonies like the Methodit church conference. It’s their unique friendly and giving way of doing things which dictator Frank Bainimarama can not and will not be able to stop. What a sight it’ll be with Frank Bainimarama dispatching his green goons to set up a war zone in and around Rewa, ready to haul innocent unarmed Methodist church followers heading to their church meet! Not a smart strategy Frank & Co. It can be your un-doing you know!!
Posted by rawfijinews
FHL shareholders ready to launch legal battle against their military-imposed board
July 3, 2009
We’ve been reliably told that a litigious court battle will soon ensue between FHL indigenous Fijian shareholders vs its military appointed board and executives. Key shareholders are said to have already mapped out their legal battle plans many months ago, when their invitation to the FHL board fell on deaf ears. Sources say the FHL board and its Managing Director were invited by provincial councils to attend their annual general meeting to dispel concerns surrounding the controversial $190million BP Oil acquisition deal they had committed themselves to. But the FHL board thought these shareholders were insignificant in the whole scheme of things and that it was them as board of directors who had the absolute power to do as they see fit. The FHL military board snubbed these key shareholders and instead launched a series of press conferences and insignificant press announcements aimed at distracting peoples attention from their huge stuff up.
But with the suspension of FHL’s big kahunas by another FHL board faction, it is clear that the directors are pitting against each other in their desperate attempt to disassociate them from the mess that is before them. Can they run away from it? Hell no! They sure like hell have failed to discharge their duty of care, to protect the interest of FHL shareholders, etc,etc,etc.. and they gonna get it from the shareholders come their October AGM.
Posted by rawfijinews
May we soon see the collapse of this godless tyranny
July 3, 2009
Yes indeed, someone should stand up and take all these misery away! It should be completely unbelievable but now it is quite believable because this is completely consistent with the conduct of the criminals who hold on illegally to offices they have so unjustly usurped – particularly Mr Justice Gates who must know that he business whatsoever to adjudicate the Qarase vs Bainimarama case since his own position was in the balance because of his prior illegal appointment. It is not lawful administration that is an ass in Fiji. And now this gang of thieves are showing that they are hell-bent on running a vendetta which exposed them as inept even before the initial writs were issued. It must be pointed out, as a matter of justice, that the Daily Post and its Editor were alerted to the serious error which had not been discovered by Mr Khaiyum and those seeking to get back at the Fiji Times (for publishing the same letter). The Daily Post published an apology as soon as it became known on the 14th November 2008 and supporters of press freedom in Fiji were then wondering whether, in fact, the letter had its origin in some dirty tricks unit from those bent on defending the perpetrators of the 2006 coup. The writer of the letter has not come forward. To have this case re-opened now – after the contemptuous way in which this junta and Mr Gates himself have shown complete contempt for the freedom of Fiji’s citizens and the media in particular – simply shows the underlying jealousy and fear from those who do not know how to conduct themselves of those who do act in the true public interest. The Daily Post apology can be read here: http://www.fijidailypost.com/editorial.php?date=20081114 And I can report that the Daily Post Editor is not well at this time and his family and friends would respectfully ask those who love the Lord who abundantly repays those who act haughtily to restore to full health this servant of God’s justice in Fiji. May we soon see the collapse of this godless tyranny. “Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”
charleswhyman
Posted by rawfijinews
Frank for Pride of Fiji Awards!
July 3, 2009
The Fiji Times is to be congratulated for staging the Pride of Fiji Awards and I think it’s just wonderful that “prominent” people cannot be nominated. The Awards are open only to ordinary men and women, so I would like to nomiate someone who is very ordinary and so humble that he tries to keep his Award-winning ways a complete secret. While other people who know him call him “the dictator” or “the pig” I call him my “Miracle man” or the fantastic, fantabulous Frank. This is my 100 word statement in support of his nomination.
“Miracle man, the fantastic, fantabulous Frank is my nomination for the Pride of Fiji Award for the following 6 reasons. 1. He holds the Fiji land-speed record despite the fact he was running in a cassava patch. 2. He makes money appear out of thin air, eg: he suddenly got $184,000 back pay! 3. He primes the Fiji economy by buying real estate while also generously supporting the airline industry by flying first class. 4. He’s a loyal friend who makes sure his family and best mates get rich. 5. He saves us lots of money by not wasting it on meaningless administrtive exercises like elections. 6. Kids love him because he gives them an extra day off from school every week! Yes!!! He’s a Miracle Man!!! Is there anyone, anywhere in Fiji, who wouldn’t love this fantastic, fantabulous fatuous freak of nature?”
Posted by Sai Lealea at 11:00 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Fiji Dictator Dragging Fiji into Ruin

The Isoa Kaloumaira and Taroon Patel led Fiji TV has increasingly become a junta propaganda machine lately. Not only have they agreed to broadcast free to air garbage by the coup makers and their apologists, they have went further by airing tyrant Frank Bainimarama’s roadmap to nowhere as we blog. Why inundate the masses with Frank’s verbal diarrhea Fiji TV? Seems like you guys are lending legitimacy to these crooks. Why waste air time to a father of lies who has no regard for the rule of law and has absolutely no respect for humanity? Airing awareness documentaries on swine flu and that cows milk disease is more worthy than Frank Bainimarama’s diatribe. What a bunch of screwed up suckers at Fiji TV!
Posted by rawfijinews
We can report here that two prominent pro-democracy advocates, Fiji’s ousted Vice President and former High Court Judge, Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi and human rights champion, Imrana Jalal, are amongst those banned by Fiji’s junta from speaking at the upcoming Pacific Youth’s festival iu Fiji. The festival’s chairperson, Jackie Koroi, is said to be controlled by the military regime and hasn’t been allowed to report on anything negative or to show any resistance to the junta’s draconian ways. Wonder why organisers still want to hold the event in Fiji? Move it elsewhere where youths will be free to speak their minds without fear!
Posted by rawfijinews
The fight to return free speech to Fiji has suffered another setback after the government banned several critics from addressing an international youth congress in the troubled nation. The military regime has blocked speakers at the Pacific Youth Festival on the eve of a speech by self-appointed Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama on the future on the country. Bainimarama’s announcement is expected to shed light on his plans for a new constitution to replace the charter abrogated amid political upheaval in April.Organiser of the youth festival, Jacque Koroi, said Fiji’s Ministry of Information vetted all speeches and selected “several people who will be unable to make their presentations”. Koroi would not say who they were but it is understood most are involved in organisations that support a return to democratic rule in Fiji.Also banned is Fiji Times associate editor Sophie Foster, who last month openly criticised the government’s heavy public and media censorship.She publicly attacked the regime’s “systematic attempt to erase any trace of disaffection” by installing censors in newsrooms. The festival, backed by UNESCO, is not the first to be scrutinised by the government.Several speakers were also banned from addressing a recent Society of Accountants meeting and another annual religious conference was cancelled altogether.The crackdown stems from Easter when the regime, which took over in a December 2006 coup, imposed a new order in a fresh grab for power. Over three days, the constitution was abrogated, judges sacked and elections Bainimarama had promised to hold this year were pushed back to 2014.Rules ensuring all news was vetted to exclude publicity of “negative” issues have been extended indefinitely. Bainimarama says the conditions are necessary to “minimise opposition” while his government formulates plans for future elections. His speech tomorrow, entitled “Fiji’s strategic framework for change”, is expected to outline the new constitution and the government’s way forward.
Sydney Herald
Posted by rawfijinews
The sermon was boring, the congregation was not challenged, uplifted, provoked or transformed and instead of lowering their heads in prayer, the necks were outstretched and all eyes were focused on the naked businessman doing the butt dance on his yacht which was anchored near the foreshore where the church service was held. Most of the time his naked butt was facing the congregation and it was swept up in great excitement! After all the excitement the congregation realized that Satan had sent them there and left vowing never to return. Now that is “Amazing Grace!” Man in custody for indecent exposure A 50 year old businessman of Savusavu is in police custody for allegedly indecently exposing himself to a group of church members who were praying on Sunday. Assistant spokesperson, Sergent Suliano Tevita has confirmed that the businessman who owns a yacht allegedly indecently exposed himself on Sunday however the matter was reported to police yesterday. The businessman was arrested this morning. It is alleged the businessman was inside his yacht near the foreshore where the church service was being held, when he committed the offence.
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There You Have It – 337 peaceful protestors in which Bainimarama and his Military Regime couldn’t hurt or do anything about. But No We Didn’t – Now We Have 337 Fiji lawyers effectively abandoning the legal oath they took when they were admitted to the Bar and now will be practicing illegally. Shall we forgive them? It seems our two good trustworthy friends, Jon Apted and Richard Naidu have taken the pragmatic approach. As a profession they have joined the others and maybe it is because resistance to them at this point is useless and have given in to the Military Regime in order to remain in the legal system and hopefully fight these rogues at their own game. If this is the case Go For It Guys and we wish you all the luck in the world because you will sure need it. However, I am sorry to say that “Pacifism” is something the tyrant Frank does not understand. At the same time we should all appreciate their method of fighting the criminals. TO BAINIMARAMA AND SQUADRON DON’T THINK YOU HAVE WON – THESE PEOPLE ARE LAWYERS, THEY HAVE DONE YEARS OF STUDY TO OUTSMART YOU AND THOSE THAT YOU HAVE WORKING FOR YOU. SIMPLY THEY HAVE MORE BRAINS THEN YOUR PREDICTABLE LOT. 337 lawyers granted license 337 lawyers have today been granted Practicing Certificates by the Acting Chief Registrar. However certain lawyers have only been granted certification on professional practice matters a period of 3 months only pending clarification on professional matters. Some of the prominent lawyers who have renewed their license under the decree include Fiji Law Society President Dorsami Naidu, Former Fiji Law Society Presidents Isireli Fa and Devanesh Sharma, Richard Naidu, Qoriniasi Bale, Doctor Shamshud Dean Sahu Khan and Jon Apted. Under the Legal Practitioners Decree, lawyers had to apply for their practicing certificates by June 15th as the license would expire on June 30th. Meanwhile in a notice issued today 30/06/09 chief Registrar Ana Rokomokoti said; “under the provisions of section 42 (2) and (4) of the Legal Practitioners Decree 2009, it states that law firms cannot operate lawfully unless each and every legal practitioner employed by or in the law firm possesses a valid Practicing Certificate. ( The cunning things, they have taken principled lawyer the likes of Mr Graham Leung into account. Mr Leung will outsmart them any day – wait and see. ) Rokomokoti said failure on the part of any person to comply with this provision may result in the person concerned having his or her practicing certificate cancelled or being prosecuted for contravening the Decree. PJ
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Authorities in Fiji have quarantined two dairy farms in Tailevu North after an infectious disease was detected among hundreds of cattle. The FijiTimes reports the disease, Brucellosis, was discovered on farms in Wainivesi and Waimaro. It says members of the public are being asked to not consume unpasteurized milk, and to avoid any unnecessary visits to these areas. It reports a Ministry of Primary Industries Veterinarian, Doctor Robin Achari, saying milk suppliers in the affected areas have been told to stop providing milk to clients until further notice because humans can transmit the disease through raw milk. It is also believed that boiling raw milk does not kill the bacteria. The Ministry says all Rewa Dairy products are safe for consumption because they undergo the pasteurization process which kills the bacteria that causes the disease.
Livestock officers are now expected to conduct tests at the more than 200 dairy farms in the Wainivesi and Waimaro areas. The affected farms in the area are under quarantine and the public is being advised that all movement will be monitored and vehicles are to be disinfected before departing the area.
News Content © Radio New Zealand InternationalPO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand
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We say – Hey Sereana Qoro, why don’t you do the honorable thing and just tell the friggin truth that the BP Oil deal is all ego driven with ziltch financial sense? A loan application by Fijian Holdings Ltd (FHL) to finance its multi-million dollar purchase of petroleum giant BP South West Pacific is at the assessment stage with an overseas bank, says FHL managing director Sereana Qoro. In a market announcement earlier this month, FHL said it had reached an agreement to extend the time frame for the acquisition of BP South West Pacific to mid to late June 2009. Qoro told FijiLive, the deal will take place even though it is taking long to finalise.
“As you understand things have happened in this country that are beyond our control and the banks themselves have taken a while coming back and forth,” Qoro said. “But we are dealing with overseas banks and they have a long process of assessing. “That’s what we are going through right now,” she said. FHL has an agreement in place to purchase BP South West Pacific’s operations at a cost of $190 million, in addition to an initial $5 million deposit towards the acquisition.
Posted by rawfijinews
With the expected announcement by the dictator of his “national roadmap” for Fiji just hours away, who is holding their breath? No one, because we know the only thing Bainimarama’s dictatorship has achieved so far is the creation of pretence. And experience has taught us that the dictator’s much vaunted announcement will just be more of the same. There’ll be lots of hyperbole, but no sound logic or common sense. Just a set of objectives dressed up to look progressive, but transparently designed to entrench Frank Bainimarama’s power. Simple analysis of nearly every major statement or action by the dictator since December 2006 shows that’s all he’s capable of. And as blogger Keep the Faith so wryly notes in his most recent posting on Fiji Freedom Blogsite, intelligentsiya, the regime’s patently illegal status gives it no real foundation in the real world. This, says Keep the Faith, is demonstrated by the “empty, expensive rhetoric” we keep hearing from the dictator. At the end of the day, and despite all the words, the only thing the regime is capable of producing is the pretence that it is moving Fiji forward. In reality, of course, the regime is moving us backwards. As we have said before, the dictator’s roadmap will take our beloved nation nowhere!
fijidemocracynow2009
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Fiji’s political concerns are to be raised at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Cairns next month by the Melanesian Spearhead Group, the MSG. Radio Vanuatu says the chair of the MSG, Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Edward Natapei, confirms he is trying to convene an MSG summit next month to address Fiji’s political situation before the Forum Leaders’ meeting in August, and the meeting with France’s Prime Minister in New Caledonia in late July. He says with the interim regime excluded from Forum activities there is no other option for dialogue with Fiji. Mr Natapei admits that this has come about because Fiji had closed its own door. But he says Fiji’s situation must not be overlooked and the MSG members, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea will meet Fiji in Port Vila to discuss a way forward. Mr Natapei says he has spoken with the leaders of the MSG countries about the need for an urgent summit, but no date has yet been set.
News Content © Radio New Zealand InternationalPO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand
Thousands of civil servants have been sacked for turning 55 and yet the police claim they need to build a new building to house their headquarters. The obvious question is why can’t they use some of the empty space created by all the sackings The obvious answer is that the building is to house the enormous ego and bloated body of the fake Commissioner. This is the one person that the Dictator has to kowtow to. He just can’t say No to this bloated megalomaniac . Schools are being starved of money and left without teachers, hospitals are falling to pieces and most roads are a joke, but the police must have their new headquarters. The massive ego of its commissioner has to be appeased with grandiose plans. This rot cannot last but the damage it’s doing while it lasts is almost beyond belief.
CORRUPTION FIGHTER
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Another month long fasting and praying by the oppressed Methodist Church of Fiji will end today. According to our well placed sources, the Methodist Church elders have decided that their annual conference will still go ahead despite tyrant Frank Bainimarama’s assertions that the event is banned from ever happening. This defiance by the Methodist Church is expected to be the catalyst for Frank & Co’s dependency on the church. Sources say Methodist Church priests are ready to be martyred for the sake of upholding the truth. Like always, Frank & Co’s camp will be rocked to the core in the next few days. Past experiences with the Methodist Church month long fasting show that major unexpected things always happen in team Frank’s camp at the end of such fasting season. Major reshuffling and many defining moments in Frank Bainimarama’s short-lived naked grab for power always make it to the fore at this kinda time.
It’s already happening at the FNPF. Some are even predicting that heads will also roll at the cabinet level. And all this on the eve of what is to be tyrant Frank Bainimarama’s announcement on his new cooked up illegitimate constitution.
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Where’s the transparency & accountability?
June 30, 2009
National Farmers Union’s disclosure that 4 ex CSR and FSC executives ( all of whom had left Fiji more than 20 years ago) collected approximately one million Australian in basic salaries and other employment benefits should not come as a surprise to anybody. This equates to about $1.6 million Fijian and is a naked fraud on the poor people of Fiji. Like John samy, John Prasad, Francis Narayan, at least 3 of these recycled ex sugar industry fraudsters do not have a decent job back in Sydney and Brisbane. They are cold blooded mercenaries driven solely by greed , self interest and opportunism. Principles, morality and any ethical intergrity mean nothing to them.
They are predators who will not spare anybody for their own gain and greed. They have contributed to the crisis in the sugar industry , collected their fees and commisions. where is the transparency and accountability?
insaafiji
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Another old hand, Robin Yarrow and Transtel CEO, Radrodro Tabualevu are tipped to join the FNPF board. Yarrow was a senior civil servant during the Alliance Mara days. He later served as Fiji’s diplomat. Radrodro Tabualevu is currently the CEO of Transtel, a subsidiary of Telecom Fiji expected to be sucked back under the TFL management. Radrodro is understood to have started looking elsewhere after the re-absorption of Transtel into TFL was announced by the now sacked TFL/ATH/FNPF board member, Felix Anthony.
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We can reveal here that coup apologist Joe Rodan is a man on a mission. Insiders say that Joe Rodan is now playing balls with the big kahunas in Fosters Australia to give him the big job in Fosters Fiji that was recently advertised on Fiji’s dailies. According to our sources, the most senior position of General Manager Fosters appeared last weekend on Fiji’s newspapers. The incumbent is understood to be an Australian expatriate but with Joe Rodan now making his presence known by befriending the junta with his recent FNPF board appointment, these sources say that he is planning to frustrate the extension or issuance of new work permits for expatriates wishing to apply for the top job. He wants that job badly and he has been gunning for it for quite some time now. And Frank & Co’s coup has proven to be a good platform for Joe Rodan to push his own agenda at Fosters using the same template as the junta – the conniving usurpation way. But don’t get us wrong! Of course we’d like to see locals take up senior positions but it must be given to those who truely deserve it as true leaders and not leaders by default via Frank & Co’s illegal takeover. Joe Rodan’s crave for the top job at Fosters would have been met with lots of cheer if he got it without going to bed with the coupsters. And he could have been successful if he had maintained his moral high ground we are sure! But now that he has decided to get painted with the same paintbrush as the lawbreakers, everything he does or say will automatically be associated with his rendenvouz with coupmakers. It might have slipped Joe Rodan’s mind that he has brought shame to the Fosters company in Fiji for his unprincipled association with the junta. We think Joe Rodan has become the weak link in the Fosters lager brand mixing it with a bitter bad taste of coup dictators.
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There are talks that the over-rated Sereana Qoro and her FHL board will soon be given their marching orders by the same military gang who appointed them. The already doomed FHL/BP Oil deal has faced yet another major set-back. We are told that BP Oil in Singapore are demanding a further $5million non-refundable deposit from FHL if they wish to extend settllement to July. The initial Sale and Purchase agreement demanded that FHL pay a non-refundable deposit of US$10million. That amount was topped up by a further $5million late last month when FHL sought their second settlement extension from BP which was later announced by FHL’s chairman, Isoa Kaloumaira. Today, we are told that BP Oil Singapore has directed that a further $5 million be paid or else they will exercise their right to seek an alternative buyer leaving FHL more than $30million hole in their financial books which they will be taken to task for by their angry shareholders.
Sources report that Frank Bainimarama was informed of FHL’s financial year end today, 30th June, and he is said to be very concerned about the board’s inability to close the deal and how they have wasted $30million with nothing to show for at the end of their financial year.
Heads will roll at FHL we are told. And we say, why not! Frank Bainimarama had better act now before FHL blows up on his face!
Posted by rawfijinews
Fosters executive, Joe Rodan, has confirmed what many thought all along – that he is a Frank Bainimarama military regime supporter. Those who live near him in Nukuwatu,Lami, say Joe Rodan is a coup apologist who agrees with Frank & Co’s takeover to rid off what he terms as “indigenous Fijian supremacy”. But it is these same indigenous Fijians he despises that gave him and his forefathers that Nukuwatu piece of real estate they now call home which kinda makes Joe Rodan a thankless piece of bull dung. Joe Rodan is a well known athlete who has done good for Fiji. Unfortunately for him, it is his poor ethical judgment that is going to take away his athletics hero status to a scorned coupster supporter who will be mocked for the rest of his life.
So why exactly did Joe Rodan find it fit to accept a board appointment by murderous tyrant Frank Bainimarama? Is it one of those old Marist boys connection again? Many will agree that it is the same old boys, old girls bull crap that is half of Fiji’s problem with these kinda people still caught up in their immature days mentality from whatever school they attended. Grow out of it man! It’s 2009 for crying out loud and the world has moved on! Fiji doesn’t need the Joe Rodans of this world to tell them that sucking up to a dictator makes one a corrupt coup sucker who doesn’t deserve the respect of law abiding citizens. Shame on you Joe Rodan and yes, we think the international community should have no mercy on coup apologists like Joe Rodan.
Put Joe Rodan on travel ban!
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Fiji’s military backed government has some banned speakers and facilitators from participating in next month’s Pacific Youth Festival. Organisers say they are in the process of informing a number of delegations they will not be allowed attend the event, following a decision by the interim government that all speeches at the festival must be vetted by Fiji’s Ministry of Information. “The Department of Youth and Sport was informed by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Information that they needed to go through the list of people that would be making presentations,” said Jacque Koroi, chair of the Pacific Youth Council. “We were required to put together details of the background information on speakers and organisations and the contents of their speeches to be given to the vetting process,” she said. Ms Koroi won’t say who is on that list, but Fiji’s Young People’s Concerned Network, which has been lobbying for a return to democratic rule since the 2006 Coup has confirmed it’s one of the organisations told to stay away. The bans are being enforced under the Public Emergency Regulations, which are being used to censor Fiji’s media, and stop all political meetings. The week-long festival is intended to re-unite youth representatives from around the Pacific in Suva from July 11 to 18.
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/story.htm?id=19178
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When you look at Fiji in mid-2009 it is impossible not to understand the grim reality of our situation as a nation under dictatorship. But there is another reality, which is positive. The grim reality is that we find ourselves being led towards certain socio-economic disaster by a self-proclaimed leader whose lack of formal education and checkered past make him least suited to be running a village, let alone an entire nation. The number one man in our country is many things, but a man who is fit to lead a nation is not one of them. In an age that has produced inspirational leaders of the stature of the Dalai Lama and Barack Obama, Frank Bainimarama, the dictator, stands out as an ugly little anomaly. But he is in charge of our country. That is the reality. And we are living it. Yes, if you love Fiji the reality is so sad. Our beautiful country is in the hands of a cheap thug who used his guns to seize power, a crook who is out to enrich himself, an unprincipled moral coward who cannot tell right from wrong. Who but a man with no respect for the law or the upholding of modern moral standards wouid order the release of convicted killers back into society, simply because they wear the RFMF uniform? Who but a man with no understanding of the truth would abrogate the Constitution, clamp down on freedom of speech, manipulate the judiciary and then say “not much has changed”? Frank Bainimarama, that’s who!
But all hope is not lost. One day we will be free of Balnimarama’s tyranny and be once again empowered by democracy to control our destiny, to choose who leads us and who doesn’t.
In the meantime, as Frank Bainimarama leads our beloved country ever closer to the brink, we have at least one bright, shining fact to console us. As honest Fiji people with a deep respect for God, truth and law, we are ALL the things that Frank Bainimarama is not! That is the other reality and Frank Bainimarama should know that it is a reality of which we are inestimably proud!
Fiji Democracy Now
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Fiji’s expats today
June 29, 2009
Have some sympathy for the expatriates who have decided to live in Fiji because the country gave them the lifestyle they couldn’t obtain back in their homeland. They enjoyed the cocktail scenes, mixing with diplomats, knowing whose who in Fiji, enjoyed the help of a housemaid, making lots of money during good economic times and travelling overseas on expensive holidays, shopping included. I asked friends of mine what it was like, living in Fiji as expatriates today. At first they were too afraid to say anything but later admitted things were not too good but didn’t want to say anymore for risking their work permits. I then asked why not leave and come back to New Zealand and sadly they said they just couldn’t afford to sell up in Fiji and begin again anywhere else. Like Fiji lawyers, Fiji expatriates will say they have no choice but to remain ignorant and not get involved with what Bainimarama’s Military Regime is doing to the nation. They disagree but won’t lift a finger because they will be worse off if kicked out of Fiji. For a start they could not afford to buy the house in the right suburb as to keep up with their rich friends, they would also find it difficult to find the job that would give them the lifestyle they have become accustomed to. These are also the people that Bainimarama knows will have to give him the support he needs. For these reasons I take my hat off to those that have the guts to stand up to this tyrant. PJ
Posted by Sai Lealea at 11:50 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Methodist Church Position on Fiji Stuation

Methodist Church in Fiji & Rotuma
Stand of the Church Concerning the Current Political Situation

Since the abrogation of the Constitution and the reappointment of the Bainimarama regime by the President on 10 April 2009 following the Appeals Court ruling declaring invalid the Fiji high court decision supporting the President’s action in making valid the appointment of the Bainimarama interim government in January 2009, Fiji has gone through a potentially explosive crisis with suspension of basic rights and freedom, censorship of the press and a dramatic increase in poverty adding to increasing dependency and the greater impoverishment of a larger number of people.
The Church is charged with the responsibility to educate and instill Christian values and those of good citizenship among our people especially our children. In the light of existing circumstances, we are beginning to ask ourselves:
What have our children to learn when they see the illegal actions and misconduct of our national leaders?
What kind of role model are our government leaders of today offering our children and the world?
Can we expect better leaders of our children tomorrow, if our leaders act contrary to the law and the Constitution, and disrespect the basic rights of the people?
The Church must uphold God’s truth and His concern for human dignity.
The Bible teaches that citizens are not obligated in conscience to follow the prescriptions of civil authorities if their actions, precepts and policies are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or to the teachings of the Gospel.
What is happening in Fiji today points to the State having lost its moral authority to govern, having become tyrannical against the people it is supposed to serve.
The Church, the Pacific Forum Leaders, the Commonwealth and the United Nations have made numerous offers and opportunities for negotiation and reconciliation which have all been spurned by the Bainimarama regime.
In our Christian tradition, we recognize that we have all sinned and fallen short of the grace and goodness of God.
If the people including the leaders of Fiji are able, with humility and honesty, to recognize our weaknesses, ask God for forgiveness and turn from our ways, there can be true forgiveness, reconciliation and healing.
Therefore, in the interest of alleviating the poverty and suffering of the people, support for the rule of law, peace, justice, good governance and integrity, it is imperative that the Church sends out a prophetic message at this critical juncture in Fiji.
The Methodist Church therefore calls on the head of state Ratu Josefa Iloilo, the interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and the interim government to:
-Reinstate the Constitution and comply with the rule of law as directed by the Appeals Court on Thursday 09 April 2009
-Return the country to democratic elections under the 1997 Constitution, and under foreign, independent supervision, not later than December 2009
-Protect all the rights of its citizens as stipulated under the 1997 Constitution, especially from arbitrary arrest, harassment, torture and inhumane treatment
-Reinstate the law courts and ensure an independent judiciary.
-Ensure that any changes to the electoral system are democratic, constitutional, participatory, and inclusive and accounts for the interests of all individuals and ethnic groups complying with the UN Convention on the Declaration of Human Rights as well the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
-Ensure that the Charter is considered and acted upon in line with the provisions of the 1997 Constitution.
-Ensure the operation of a free and independent media
-Set up an independent truth and reconciliation commission towards national forgiveness, reconciliation and healing.

Fasting and praying for the Nation is observed Fiji-wide to ask for divine intervention towards the return of democracy, rule of law, basic freedoms and basic rights and good governance in our nation.

That plans for resources be drawn up, made available and executed at the respective Divisions of the Church to assist the congregation, especially the needy, as well as appraise them on relevant social, political and economic issues, and that peaceful activities be undertaken to help move the nation to constitutional democracy and democratic governance.

Posted by Sai Lealea at 2:08 PM 0 comments Links to this post
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