Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Chief's Call for Reconciliation
A PARAMOUNT chief's call for national reconciliation in a newspaper advertisement has been welcomed by several civil leaders although the military labelled it as "inciteful".
Commander Land Force Colonel Pita Driti said Naitasiri paramount chief, the Turaga na Qaranivalu, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata's full page advertisement in The Sunday Times yesterday which outlined suggestions for amnesty and immunity from prosecution in the December 5 takeover was tantamount to incitement.
In the advertisement, Ratu Inoke warned hatred would be institutionalised in the absence of genuine reconciliation.
"Nothing this regime undertakes will ever be legal and the regime can not force its will upon the people," he said.
He said the methods used to achieve some of the interim regime's objectives were illegal and unacceptable. Ratu Inoke said the objectives outlined for and by the interim Government should be the priority of a newly-elected Government.
But Colonel Driti said Ratu Inoke should change his views if he wanted to discuss the issues he highlighted with the military.
Ratu Inoke recently had his conviction and jail sentence for mutiny-related charges quashed this year.
A retrial was ordered by the High Court.
Army chief of staff Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga said the military would only seriously consider his call when he was cleared by the courts. "He is not free. He is not credible," he said.
"Anybody can put out such a paid advertisement if they have the money and if the newspaper can publish it.
"As far as the RFMF is concerned, he (Ratu Inoke) is still an accused until proven otherwise by the court.
"We don't know if his comments were personal or if it was backed by his followers," Colonel Tikoitoga said.
He reiterated earlier calls by Colonel Driti that there were demagogues whom the military kept its eye on.
"Quite a few of them (demagogues) are working on the ignorance of the indigenous Fijians. They play on emotions. But the RFMF is prepared to meet that," Colonel Tikoitoga said.
Former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the advertisement should have been the last resort and Ratu Inoke should have gone straight to the interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama with such issues.
Deposed Opposition leader Mick Beddoes supported Ratu Inoke's suggestions, saying there was "very little to dispute about our situation as he describes".
"Unless we, as a people, acquire the good sense to recognise this and take steps to alter our course, we can't avoid the perils that await us," he said.
Fiji Women's Crisis Centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali said everyone had a right to want to take the country forward but this should be done in a positive fashion that was non-violent and peaceful in nature.
"Ratu Inoke's suggestion should be welcomed by the interim Government," she said. Great Council of Chiefs chairman Ratu Ovini Bokini supported the call, saying society had developed a bred of self-righteous, stubborn people who had forgot to revere and respect God.
"There is wisdom in Ratu Inoke's words and his intentions and noble and good. Who are we to turn away an apology when one is made as such? Our role as humans, as God's children is to accept the apology and move on, in the same way God does us for our transgressions," he said.
National Federation Party leader Parmod Rae said Ratu Inoke's ideas were not made by "just an ordinary man" and that it provided a sound analysis of what Fiji was going through.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Chief throws away charter
Qaranivalu Pleads for Reconciliation
In a full page advertisement, Ratu Inoke, who was imprisoned for life for his role in the November 2000 mutiny, suggested the national reconciliation would among other things ensure amnesty and immunity from prosecution to everyone involved in the 5 December coup; normalisation of all costitutional offices including the President, Vice President, Judiciary, Great Council of Chiefs, Public Service Commission; free and fair elections held no later than December next year; the demilitarisation of government and addressing Fiji's coup culture. Ratu Inoke said: ''I am making this plea to the regime because our beloved nation is undergoing unprecedented hardship, widening racial divisions and economic ruin.''
He said nothing that this regime undertakes will ever be legal and the regime cannot force its will upon the people.
Interim PM invited to participate in reconciliation process
Naitasiri High chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata has invited the Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama to participate in a national reconciliation process.In his first public statement since being released from prison two months ago, in an open letter to Bainimarama, the Qaranivalu said national reconciliation involves the amnesty and immunity from prosecution to everyone involved in the December 5th takeover, normalization of all constitutional offices including the President, Vice President, Judiciary, GCC, the Public Service Commission, the demilitarization of government, addressing Fiji's coup culture and for elections to be held before December 2008.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
State Actions Brew Hatred
Update: 2.46pm INSTITUTIONALISED hatred could come about if the country does not jointly address the crisis we are facing, says the Qaranivalu, Ratu Inoke Takivekata, who believes that the unresolved deaths of civilians during the regime's control of security forces will lead to hatred.
The abuse of human rights and the torture of innocent civilians will also lead to hatred. These comments are contained in the full page advertisement of the Sunday Times today, and which also carries the Fijian version in a separate full page.
The Naitasiri chief claims to have tried to engage in meetings with interim Prime Minister, Commander Voreqe Bainimarama and some members of his regime but was unsuccessful. The plea in his statement was an invitation to the interim regime and the military for national reconciliation.
''The unprofessional and unethical treatment of numerous government executives, board members, businesses and investors will also lead to hatred. Increasing the racial divide will bring about increased instability to our beloved country,'' Ratu Inoke said. The interim Government is expected to release their response tomorrow, says the Permanent Secretary in the interim Prime Minister's office, Pramesh Chand.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Fatiaki takes State to court
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Update: 1.58pm ACTING Chief Justice Anthony Gates has confirmed that the court case brought against the President and the interim Prime Minister by suspended Chief Justice Daniel Fatiaki will be heard in the Suva High Court on 3 September, according to a report by Radio New Zealand International.
Justice Gates also confirmed that a judge has been allocated to the case.
Mr Fatiaki is challenging his suspension by the interim government and the subsequent appointments made by the Judicial Services Commission, chaired by Justice Gates.
Aside from President Ratu Josefa Iloilo and the interim prime minister, the other defendants are the interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, the acting chief justice Anthony Gates and High Court judges Nazhat Shameem, John Byrne and Isikeli Mataitoga.
Three magistrates, the Public Service Commission chairman Rishi Ram and solicitor general Christopher Pryde are also among the defendants.
Mr Fatiaki is challenging his suspension by President Iloilo, the composition of the Judicial Services Commission and all appointments made by the commission in the absence of Mr Fatiaki on the grounds that it is not legally constituted.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
The Undoing of the Illegal Interim Government
Tui Savu, Townsville, Australia
A cardinal rule of cross-examination, which the IG Advisors incorrectly applied, is ‘never ask a question you don’t know the answer to’, but it is too late now.
The High Court has ruled that FICAC has no locus standi to instigate criminal prosecutions in Fiji.
The High Court has also previously ruled against the IG; such as the reinstating of Fijian Teachers Union President Maika Namudu and the revoking of the unilateral decision to reduce the retirement age from 60 to 55, which are ominous signs for the IG.
However, the attitude of Bainimarama and his cronies since the coup reveals their utter disrespect for due process and the rule of law through their selective termination of CEO’s and other high profile Fijian executives and the various frivolous investigations against innocent Fiji citizens.
After some 8 months there is still no irrefutable evidence of endemic corruption implicating Qarase and his SDL Party as alleged, it is becoming very similar to Iraq with no WMD and the IG now desires to prolong the elections for at least another 5 years to defer the inevitable.
This brings me to the million-dollar question on everyone’s mind whether Bainimarama and his cronies’ are going to accept the High Court’s decision should it rule against the Presidential immunity and declare it unconstitutional and invalid and the December coup as illegal and unlawful?
Judging on the indifferent behaviour of Bainimarama and his cronies since the December coup and more recently the callous joke of General Elections to be held on 13/05/2009, it is not too difficult to foresee Bainimarama rejecting the High Court rulings and abrogating the 1997 Constitution.
Should these unfortunate state affairs transpire, it only confirms what many already knew, that is Bainimarama and his cronies executed this coup to prevent criminal charges against him and others and to remove Qarase.
One undetected fact now becoming more apparent is Bainimarama and his cronies fatally misread the Fijian mindset by believing that having the support of certain prominent chiefly families guaranteed the loyally of the majority of the Fijians.
However, what they didn’t envisage was the majority of the Fijians acting independently, embraced democracy and the rule of law and rejecting the coup despite the support of these prominent chiefly families.
Another unforseen phenomena are the uprising of young, professional Fijians vehemently opposing Bainimarama and his coup.
The ever-growing list of blog sites and u-tube sites reveals young professional Fijians who are now using their intellect, expertise, hearts and minds to rationally and logically justify their stance against the coup.
The majority of the Fijians to their credit were more discerning during this coup; however it was the Indians who became gullible.
It is my belief that history will look back at this period and despite what Bainimarama and his cronies inflicted upon the Fijian community, it will show it as the period of the rekindling of the taukei spirit and when the Fijians awoke from their slumber and become active and constructive participants in their national affairs.
In summary, despite all the illegal and injustice innocent citizens of Fiji have endured from this illegal regime, the unforseen phenomena the coup inadvertently unleased have sealed their fate.
Tui Savu,
Townsville. AUSTRALIA.
Leweni's appointment worries ex-diplomat
Wednesday August 22, 2007
Comment:
Everyone knows how eminently unqualified Leweni is for the posting. What does a Military Army Band conductor understand about international diplomacy and relations. We all know tis jobs for the boys and sooner we get a democratic government, sooner he is hauled back to his band master role.
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| Major Neumi Leweni |
Waqanisau who was recalled earlier in the year told the Fiji Times that Leweni was not qualified for the position.
Leweni will also be counsellor to Waqanisau's replacement, Sir James Ah Koy.
He said Leweni's predecessor Naipote Katonitabua was a university graduate and was the principal economic planning officer and was able to produce reports and plans for the embassy's missions and objectives.
"If he is going to replace the first secretary, he will not be able to do the job because he is not trained for that," said Waqanisau.
He added that Leweni's inability to do job of the first secretary will affect the embassy's mission.
Meanwhile interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama says he hopes Leweni's appointment as defence attaché to China will strengthen ties with its military.
"We thought it would be good to have a defense advisor in China," he said.
Bainimarama said the Fiji military had to look north after Australia, New Zealand and the US stopped military training and assistance.
Waqanisau said the post of the first secretary to the ambassador should be left to a civil servant.
He said appointing someone who did not have any knowledge of policies would be a disadvantage to the service.
Leweni is expected to leave for China with his family this Friday.
Leweni unfit for role: Ex-envoy
FTimes - Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Former Ambassador to China Jeremaia Waqanisau has expressed concern at the appointment of military spokesman Major Neumi Leweni as counsellor to his replacement, Sir James Ah Koy.
Mr Waqanisau, who was recalled from Mainland China earlier this year, said the First Secretary to Fiji's Ambassador to China Naipote Katonitabua was a university graduate and was the principal economic planning officer and was able to produce reports and plans for the embassy's missions and objectives.
"My concern is that if Major Leweni is going to replace the first secretary, he will not be able to do the job because he is not trained for that," said Mr Waqanisau.
He said Major Leweni's inability to do job of the first secretary would affect the embassy's mission.
Mr Waqanisau said he was still of the opinion the post of the first secretary to the ambassador should be left to a civil servant.
He said appointing someone who did not have any knowledge of policies would be a disadvantage to the service.
"When I came back from my post as Fiji's ambassador to China, I had raised this issue with the permanent secretary of Foreign Affairs," he said. He said his concern was the mission would not be successful if an unsuitable appointment was made.
Major Leweni is scheduled to leave for China with his family on Friday.
QVS victory
At times, the destination is not always as important as the journey when you are comfortable with the dedication shown for the cause, especially when such dedication and pride can be levered off to secure broader achievement goals.
As the two schools battled it out on Saturday in a competitive but clean spirit, one wonders about their prospects in an environment where the Fijian middle class has been gutted by the actions of the interim Government.
As each of the teams go back to focus on academic work, in front of them will be an uncertain future, where educated and well qualified Fijians have been pushed out of their jobs and investigated for unsubstantiated allegations of corruption.
For members of the interim administration, therein lies their challenge. To work towards restoring democratic government so that Fiji can be salvaged from the abyss thanks to a misguided military.
Sai Lelea
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Fijian Pride
Deans final - Letter to Editor, 17 August 2007
AS the RKS Under-19 and three other teams prepare to lift all the trophies on offer on Saturday, at stake is something more powerful that the interim Government should take note of.
Fijian pride will be on display in a theatre of operation whose landscape has been carved with values such as respect for your fellow human beings, humility and selflessness.
These are intrinsic virtues upon which Fijian ethos, culture and practice over thousands of years have been based. The values were drummed into me as a proud former student of Delainakaikai and which will stay with me forever.
Regrettably, the actions of the interim Government toward Fijians and their institutions are contrary to those values and against its practice. They have belittled the position of chiefs, disbanded and disrespected the GCC and fanned inter-Fijian hatred through the actions of soldiers.
If any of the interim ministers intend to watch the games on Saturday, perhaps they may care to reflect on their policies and the impact in degrading Fijian pride.
In doing so, they may wonder what difference it would make to running the government if based on Fijian pride. That pride will cause me to celebrate a complete RKS victory on Saturday. And as the Under-19 team hoists the Deans Trophy, I will be happy to say to our neighbours at Matavatucou: Moce Mele".
Sai Lelea
Wellington
Friday, August 17, 2007
Legally flawed
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Tax evasion is corruption
Tui Savu - Townsville, Auckland
Bainimarama’s efforts to evade calls for the sacking of his corrupt Interim Minister alleged to have evaded tax is so naïve making him look foolish.
Legal Counsel.
Townsville.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Taxman and the Minister
Corrupt Fiji Minister in Tax Evasion Racket |
| Last updated 8/15/2007 10:04:51 AM |
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Verebasaga's Brother Reveals
NIMILOTE VEREBASAGA’S BROTHER WRITES
August 13th, 2007Something Fishy
The repeated attempts by the Fiji Military to have a court martial trial on the Nimilote Verebasaga murder case has raised eyebrows on the hidden agenda of the Military particularly the Interim PM when his brother in law is involved. There has been speculations that Nimilote Verebasaga was the taxi driver that went to pick John Whippy when he was punched by Frances Kean. With the prolong investigation about my brothers death, this speculations best fit the puzzle even though DPP spokesperson Asishna Prasad confirmed to Village news on June 12th that it is common practice that if a soldier is involved in a crime against a civilian he should be dealt with through the normal court proceedings in the criminal courts. The way things are going with the Military and Police it appears that they are trying very hard to hide the truth behind Basaga’s death. It’s a dual fight for justice for my family and we will not rest until all the killers are known and charged.
NDraumasei
Nakaulevu Nakelo.
Majority Party Unfairly Sidelined
Include us, Qarase's party urges regime
Tuesday August 14, 2007
SDL national director Peceli Kinivuwai told fijilive.com that as the representative of the majority, the party should be involved in any decision making.
"You cannot get a peaceful solution if you exclude the majority," he said.
Kinivuwai said SDL is the largest political party representing 84 per cent of the indigenous population and as such should be given the recognition it deserves.
He said the party was not invited to contribute to a people's charter to be drawn up by the interim Government.
"Only ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase was given the invitation as an individual," he said.
Kinivuwai adds that the party has increased its support since the December 5 military takeover.
In a statement, Kinivuwai said that people of Fiji have witnessed the gross manipulation of the machinery of government," he said.
"It has also seen the militarisation of key government positions.
"Moreover the interim Government has not found any concrete evidence to justify its cause and allegations that the SDL government was corrupt.
"The country has also seen the trampling of institutions like the GCC, NLTB, FDB, FHL all under the guise of trying to wipe out corruption.
"We have also seen the gross termination and appointment of people to various key positions."
Kinivuwai said that the SDL has a civil court case to be heard on October 2, which should spell out whether the December 5 event was legal.
"We must now put an end to all personal vendettas, malicious and baseless allegations, character assassinations and dishonest consultations," he said.
Kinivuwai stressed that the only way the country can be brought back to normalcy is for elections to be held as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase is expected in Suva at the end of month to prepare for the court case.
Kinivuwai says Qarase will also be on Viti Levu to see his grandchildren whom he hasn't seen for the past 8 months after being exiled to his village in Lau in December last year.
He said the party management has been informed of this decision and is now making arrangements to welcome their party leader.
He also said that Qarase's conduct in the capital will be restricted.
"He is not allowed to meet or conduct meetings with party supporters that may be seen as a threat to national stability."
Illegal Decree to be Challenged
Decree by Fiji’s interim State challenged in court
Deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase will challenge the military in court for overthrowing his democractically elected government on December 5 last year Taken from / By: Commonwealth.org
Society president Devanesh Sharma said any decree passed by the Interim government is illegal and as he understands it only Parliament can grant immunity.
“The fact of the matter is if it’s an Immunity Decree granting immunity to acts of criminality then I’m sure it will be challenged under the Constitution at a later time as well. In fact my understanding of the law and I stand to be corrected on it, an immunity can surely only be granted by the Parliament. Like in 1987, it was an act of Parliament that granted immunity to those who carried out the coup in 1987.”
Sharma said that even the fact that the decree was issued by the President of Fiji could be questioned.
“I’m not to sure how a decree passed by this interim regime can grant immunity to itself even though it may have been promulgated by the President. So the legality of this immunity decree may be under severe challenge.”
Suva lawyer Tevita Fa, who is representing deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and members of the deposed government had earlier said that he will be taking the military officials, which are the Commander to court.
Fa said his clients have been served with a summons calling for the parties to meet.
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation
