Fiji’s PM tigtens hold on Information.
FIJI’S self-appointed prime minister Frank Bainimarama has tightened his grip on information in his country, deciding he alone should be the army’s media spokesman.
The move is expected to make it tougher for journalists to get information about the workings of the Fiji government, which has been controlled by the military since a bloodless coup in December 2006.
Bainimarama issued a directive today that said all public relations work regarding the military should pass through him instead of the previous spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Qiliho, Fijilive reported.
The decision came after Qiliho reportedly told the Fiji Times newspaper that the country’s Military Council, which advises the coup-installed government, had recommended Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry be investigated.
Qiliho yesterday was forced to deny the story was accurate.
Chaudhry has been at the centre of allegations he committed tax evasion.
The move by Bainimarama comes amid a new media offensive in the country, in which Australian publisher Russell Hunter was last week deported after publishing allegations about Chaudhry.
This week, a journalist from the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation was summoned to a meeting with soldiers after they misheard a story he had written.
There was also a report commissioned by the Fiji Human Rights Commission, an organisation sympathetic to the interim government, released last week which recommended the media be more heavily regulated and foreign media workers not work in Fiji.
Bainimarama could not be contacted for comment.
March 7, 2008 at 5:02 pm
This madman criticised the media, certain individuals and the public that condemn the 2006 coup.
When reading these articles, “Bainimarama blasts media,” “Interim PM attacks Ro Teimumu” and “Look out for lies, nation warned” it is easy to identify the Commander’s ideological arrogance and one is reminded of that saying “it takes one to know one.”
The person who expressed criticism has similar faults to those he criticized. Only a person with identical character traits would recognize these traits.”No one is better at finding a wrongdoer than another wrongdoer.”
People that are quilty of certain actions often accuse others of the similar actions. It seems to calm their guilt and help them pretend that they are doing the right thing for the people and that they are innocent.
In this case the media was only doing its job and reporting what they see and hear and the public for voicing their opinions.
It is becoming tiresome the way in which the Interim Prime Minister keeps trying to justify or defend himself and the Regime for what they say and do.
We, on the other hand have nothing to hide or defend and will not be fooled into a sense of undercutting our confidence in our capacity for making honest, objective and moral judgments. Such judgments are necessary and crucial part of life.
Don’t under estimate the electronic media, the eyes of the world are watching.
One day all this will catch up to them and boy he’ll get it. The way things are shaping out we seemed to be approaching the winning post where as the goons are still still trying to find themselves.
Chin up and lets keep going.
March 7, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Amen … Well said BulaBula … Lets blog on ….!
March 7, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Well said Bulabula!!. We will see [one day], with our very own eyes when the wicked men shall be paid for their evils.. Sega ni ura me damu totolo ia ena damu mai…Have a Nice Weekend all and God bless us…Lets keep blogging all the way..Something good will soon happen. Its in the air!!!!.
March 7, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Something in the pot is cooking!
Now we hear that chaudhry, the cheat, has gone on leave.
Guess who has taken over all of chaudhry the cheats’ portfolios; bananasinpyjamas.
This is the fellow who defrauded the regimental fund and refused the auditor-general access to the books.
It looks like Fiji’s rate of decline is about to accelerate.
March 7, 2008 at 7:21 pm
there’s something fishy about all of this and my guess is Frank will find it , especially if he’s hiding under Sha-mimi’s skirt .
March 7, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Frank must have been paid his 30 pieces of silver to do this coup .
March 7, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Its Funny that chodo the snake is going on leave at this juncture. A lot of things are now happening that is creating a field day for speculations. Has he had enough and decided to quit. chodo is notorius for being such a workaholic that he is not known for taking leave while in office. Does he know that its endgame and his crimes are gonna catch up on him so he may as well run while he can. Or are they going to announce later that an enquiry is going to be carried out ito the snakes tax issues. Anyway by the look of things the regime is showing cracks everywhere and the court case going on now could be the final nail in the pigs coffin.
The pig is no leader nor diplomat. When Sir Paul Reeves called him for a meeting with other leaders he declined and instead went to watch Marist 7’s. At least he has some intellect albeit just a micro one to turn down all request for him to be interviewed otherwise he will be grilled very badly. Just like when he refused to take the stand in the Qarase case. The no-brainer bipolar pig.
March 7, 2008 at 9:17 pm
If anyone had any doubt about voreqe josaia bainimaramas real character & state of mind they must surely be convinced now that he’s completely lost his marbles.
If he had any to begin with.
Now he fancies the title of MEDIA LIAISON OFFICER. Kemudou!
I used to get pretty pissed off with his rantings & ravings – not anymore – he’s such a joke that I’m just falling about laughing. Yee hah!
It’s so hilarious – I wonder what other position he’s going to usurp for himself.
Then again if he has multiple personalities then it’s only fair he should have as many titles as he can get – I wonder if they converse with each other – the multiple personalities that is – pity they can’t come up with a clear solution to rectify & resolve the many issues that personality #1 or was it #2 has created toward the downfall of Fiji, the despair of the Fijian citizens & the almost zero economic state Fiji is in.
That’s the trouble with schizos.
The Universe sure works in mysterious ways – is the Universe exposing voreqe josaia bainimarama to shame himself to all of us – NA VAKAMADUA TAKI.
March 8, 2008 at 12:51 am
O Chaudhry mo dou qarauna ragone!!. Me kua sara ni dou vakalaivi koya mai Delainabua!!. Esa kidaca ni sa na vakarau tavuki na ua ka mo dou kila vinaka sara tiko Voreqe kei ira nomu i lala ni o Chaudhry ga ena mai yavalata tale yani na ua me luvuci kemudou kina vakadua. Dou tauri koya tiko. Kakua sara ni laivi koya me dua mai nona overseas trip. E sa baci matata oti tu qori vua na veikatuba me na vakacuruma me bula kina…Dou yadravi koya matua sara..sa vakarau kati kemudou tale na gata dou mai susugi koya toka!!!!
March 8, 2008 at 1:35 am
Baci rau tune cake mai o Rabuka kei Yabaki – yavu has beens!
Qo meda bacani kina meda kua ni vakadikevi Chaudhry kei Voreqe. Kila vinaka o Yabaki ni ratou dau bind na mataivalu ni kaukauwa nodratou vosataki se sevaki.
~~~
Former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says he’s surprised by recommendation from the Citizens Constitutional Forum to the Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination or CERD.
The Forum has recommended that a review of traditional institutions such as the Great Council of Chiefs and the NLTB must ensure equal ethnic representation.
But Rabuka says he cannot see any other race to lead the Great Council of Chiefs .
“First of all, they acknowledge that these are indigenous institutions – then it is incongruous of them to say that indigenous institutions must ensure racial parity,” he said.
“Why bring racial parity or equality into indigenous institutions?
“In fact indigenous institutions will be scrutinized by institutions higher than they are which ensure a racial representation and I’m talking about Parliament overseeing everything that involves public funds.”
Rabuka says even if we have an all-indigenous council of chiefs or an all indigenous Native Land Trust Board they are subject to overview by Cabinet and Parliament where there is racial representation .
March 8, 2008 at 7:38 am
Schizos and multiple personalities are different . multiple personalities , know of the existence of the other . in schizos , there are only 2 and each does not know about the other . my guess is that frank is schizo , which might allow him to get off the treason charge as it would make him mentally incapacitated , something I’ve been suggesting all along . chaudhry on the other hand , may just be delusional after his near death experience in 2000 with George , so he might also get away with what he has done . makes you wonder though , why the rest of the community has followed these two mentally unstable characters , what’s it saying about everyone else in Fiji ?
March 8, 2008 at 8:12 am
I’m probably the last person to be quoting bible verses, but yesterday’s reading really expressed how I often feel about our beloved Fiji. Au sa baci mavoa vi ratou na Naita – You all have a blessed weekend.
Psalm 80
[A psalm by Asaph for the music leader. To the tune "Lilies of the Agreement."]
Help Our Nation
1 Shepherd of Israel, you lead the descendants of Joseph,
and you sit on your throne
above the winged creatures.
Listen to our prayer and let your light shine
2 for the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Save us by your power.
3 Our God, make us strong again! Smile on us and save us.
4 LORD God All-Powerful, how much longer
will the prayers of your people make you angry?
5 You gave us tears for food,
and you made us drink them by the bowlful.
6 Because of you, our enemies who live nearby
laugh and joke about us.
7 But if you smile on us, we will be saved.
8 We were like a grapevine you brought out of Egypt.
You chased other nations away and planted us here.
9 Then you cleared the ground,
and we put our roots deep, spreading over the land.
10 Shade from this vine covered the mountains. Its branches
climbed the mighty cedars
11 and stretched to the sea;
its new growth reached to the river.
12 Our Lord, why have you torn down the wall
from around the vineyard?
You let everyone who walks by pick the grapes.
13 Now the vine is gobbled down by pigs from the forest
and other wild animals.
14 God All-Powerful, please do something!
Look down from heaven and see what’s happening
to this vine.
15 With your own hands you planted its roots,
and you raised it as your very own.
16 Enemies chopped the vine down and set it on fire.
Now show your anger and destroy them.
17 But help the one who sits at your right side,
the one you raised to be your own.
18 Then we will never turn away.
Put new life into us, and we will worship you.
19 LORD God All-Powerful, make us strong again!
Smile on us and save us.
March 8, 2008 at 8:38 am
IslandBoy – Keep religion out of this – it does not help.
The GCC in the news – I do not think you want other races in the GCC.
However, I think people should give another look at the GCC.
I think you need some Professional types and educated people in the GCC to lead the discussion.
The ones who “sit under the mango tree and drink homebrew” types – they ain’t much of help for the Fijians and the country.
Also, since the GCC appoints the Pres and the Veep, and hold the balance of power in the senate, it is extremely important that the GCC is politically neutral and is perceived as such.
Las time when Qarase came up with the Amnesty Bill – he went to GCC and got its support. When FLP requested the GCC to listen to their presentation on the same Bill – the GCC did not have time to hear the other side.
For the GCC to survive, it has to remain neutral and it has to look after the interest of all the people of Fiji.
Otherwise the GCC is on its way out.
March 8, 2008 at 9:08 am
Budhau f@rk off with your stupidity!
Its you f@rkers that have excluded educated commoners who currently sit on the GCC from continuing to sit on the GCC with the pigs 2008 GCC regulations that make himself chairman. Blarry kaisi presuming to lead the Chiefs council.
So what if the Chiefs endorsed the RTU Bill – its that same arrangement that will save your sorry arses RFMF goons for the treason and murder you have committed because you think you know better than the people what is best for them. Frank and Yabaki had their say on the RTU Bill to the GCC. In any event, as a result of public submissions, the RTU amnesty provisions were removed by the Parliamentary sector committee and Qarase had agreed to ice the Bills after the Wellington meeting.
Kua mada na mai vateratera iloma qo. Lako madaga lai ta kisinijaina!
The chiefs do not need laws and regulations to sit and make decisions.
March 8, 2008 at 11:22 am
budhau – just concentrate on your idols – or whatever you worship while your sorry arse is up in the air.
Our Chiefs are real – Flesh & blood – we may not agree with them on some issues & we certainly don’t worship them – but we do respect them.
Our Chiefs are inherent in our Fijian culture. Love them or loathe them we do cherish our traditions. This is what molds us as a people.
March 8, 2008 at 11:53 am
Where are you Dauvavana?
Na cava tale dou kaya. Sa tucake tu qo o koya na i tutu ni vunau. Uuuuie… Emeni.. Emeni ! Me kalougata tiko na siga e dai na Turaga Naita.. ni kalougata na lewei Viti ! Na Same 80 e sa wasei mai qo.
Thanks Turaga Nite.. thats very refreshing. And a glorious day to u.
@Budhau. We are Fijians and you can never separate us from our religion. It has always been a part of our lives and it will always be until Kingdom come. Why don you join us in worshiping the Living God, for He is worthy!
Glory !
March 8, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Vinaka Balabala
These two gas bags rabuka & yabaki just can’t keep out of the limelight – as if anyones interested in their opinions.
When this whole sorry mess is over they should both be investigated thoroughly – it wouldn’t surprise me if rabuka is involved in this coup.
March 8, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Commodore adds to his title list
Saturday, March 08, 2008
ALL queries regarding the military have been directed to interim Prime Minister and military commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
The two senior officers who had been speaking on behalf of the military were relieved of their role on Thursday.
They were Colonel Mohammed Aziz, director of the military’s legal services and Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Qiliho, the chief staff officer of operations.
It is not clear at this stage why the two senior officers were relieved of their role as the military’s mouthpiece. When contacted yesterday, Commodore Bainimarama said he was not going to make any comment on the matter.
Col. Aziz and Lt-Col Qiliho took over the role late last year from Lieutenant-Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga who on a military training course in India.
Lt-Col Tikoitoga took over the role from Major Neumi Leweni who is serving as First Counsel at Fiji’s Mission in China.
Commodore Bainimarama, apart from being the interim Prime Minister, is also the chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs in his capacity as interim Minister for Indigenous Affairs. He is also the interim Minister for Public Service, People’s Charter, Information, Provincial Development and is a co-chair of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji.
He also heads the military council in his capacity as commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.
The role of military spokesperson is added to the roles he holds.
End of story
___________________________________
Curious Question:
Does this mean he gets paid for all the above position’s?
March 8, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Well Mark….I think Frankie was paid his 30 pieces off silver by Choddo and is using his marbles on Sha-mimi and Gates… for all we care.
March 8, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Budhau and Go the Fijians!
…I wish the two of you were beside me so i could bitch slap the two of you.
March 8, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Budhau:
Boci!
March 8, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Papa-razzor! Dreams are free, sadistic bitch!
March 8, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Oh come on guys… isnt this an open forum !!
Wheres the respect for freedom of speech; the freedom to blog; the freedom of religion and the freedom of a fellow blogger to share the Living Word ?
Chillout !
“Let us strive on to finish the work we are in.”
March 8, 2008 at 9:01 pm
@LUVfiji – Thank you for getting my back marama nite – kemuni na rosi ni saroni. I don’t see why people can post poems and song lyrics, but not bible verses that may provide inspiration. One could just as easily extract pithy quotations from the Bard to rap lyrics, its all equally valid.
Since Go to the Fijians thinks I am wasting space, I will make this my farewell message, I have really enjoyed our brief exchanges as well as Tagimaucia, Tebara and Dauvavana et al. Would have loved to run across you guys at one of the dozen parties we have to attend for work and networks, there’s just that quicksilver something about Fijian repartee.
Let me leave you with a source quotation that is related to Susana Tuisawau’s letter to the editor. Apparently after Lautoka Hospital privatisation, Nadi Airport is next. And this is major moolah!!!
March 8, 2008 at 11:09 pm
GLORY BE TO GOD…the revealer of all secrets…All the secrets that has been hidden in Fiji on this coup will be revealed…. in GOD’s time.
March 9, 2008 at 8:48 am
Bhaini has added some more responsibilities to his already expanded role- Acting Minister of Finance, Sgar, etc, etc, etc, Military Spokesman, etc, etc,
At this rate he will be the Dicktator of Fiji taking over all the portfolios by the end of the year!
That’s quite an achievement given his limited education.
Sa mavoa ga na lewei Viti!
March 9, 2008 at 10:53 am
yeah Soul of Fiji… whilst u’re at it, ask god to reveal who exactly were the fcukwits behind the ‘87 and 2000 coups too eh..?!
moce ib!
March 9, 2008 at 11:30 am
IslandBoy – Please don’t leave us – we need you in here.
Or is it God that has instructed you leave, why don’t you come back in here with another name – sort of like born again.
March 9, 2008 at 11:36 am
Just like you have been sorta borned again Budhau as Go the Fijians/Manning/Tim/Ex-Fiji Tourist????????
Fuck off and make some coffins for the soldiers who’ll die this week
March 9, 2008 at 11:59 am
Uluwai, what an apt name! First of all you can’t make me leave, I’ll leave when I want to, got that..? I hve not become Budhau just b’coz i happened to agree with him/her on an issue. U lot of overzealous religious hypocritical types belong in a house called church this sabbath day, not in this blog so piss off urself.
March 9, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Uluwai – some of us were born OK the first time.
March 9, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Go budhau or boidada, keep firing.
May 9, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Hello folks,
it is so refreshing to see a range of views expressed in here. Such freedom, a freedom that obviously doesn’t exist in the broader Fijian community.
Ridding Fiji of Dictator Bainimarama and his illegal croneys overrides everything else, I would hope. Good luck to all of you, whatever your personal values or spiritual values/ties might be….at the end of that day we are all united in striving to secure basic rights for all of us….
Cheers