My dear readers, have you ever wondered how a pair of shameless old scoundrels might possibly become heroes in the eyes of practically every man, woman and child in our beautiful Fiji ?Of course, I realize none of you has ever wrestled with such a bizarre question, but that’s not going to stop me taking you through it anyway.
First, which old scoundrels ? Well permit me to introduce them, notorious as they are.
For some time now your humble correspondent has held a very low opinion of the two Epelis (Ganilau and Nailatikau) in Frank Bainimarama’s illegal and hopelessly inept “interim” government.
Their present roles have lost the public respect, notwithstanding the fact both are highly educated former commanders of the RFMF who also bound through their kurau relationship to the Mara clan.
Until January 2007 each had a record of outstanding military and public service.
Then each of the chose to mortgage his honour by becoming ministers in Frank’s phony and fraudulent “interim” administration.
That single, treasonous act made a sick joke of the values and ideals that each had previously publicly upheld and, we must presume, attempted to live by.
However, over the next few days, those two scoundrels have a golden opportunity to redeem themselves. Ganilau and Nailatikau could become national heroes.
How is it, I hear you ask. Well dear readers, let me explain.
With the dictator out of the country the two Epelis have a golden opportunity to save their nation, and, incidentally, save themselves in the process.
All they need to do is call on President Ratu Josefa Iloilo and make the case that nearly two years of non-governance by an llegal “interim” government has wrought huge damage to our nation;s economy, population and international prestige.
Who knows ? Our ailing and rarely seen president might be stirred into action if someone tells the truth for a change! Surely we must assume he has the best interests of the country at heart.
The idea is not as far-fetched as you might think. And, most importantly, its a plan that could be executed without violence.
Ratus Epeli Ganilau and Epeli Nailatikau are both former heads of the military and Ganilua is acting interim Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, so they are well-positioned to take the RFMF with them, espeically with Pita Driti currently in charge of the shop.
Whatever else you think about Ganilau, Nailatikau or Driti, somewhere in their hearts they must surely harbor a lingering sense of loyalty to the RFMF and therefore share a desire to see the restoration of that institution’s once proud reputation.
Well, they can make all that come true in their own lifetimes by acting for a chnage like the loyal and professional soldiers they once were.
All they need to do is dosown that raving madman, Frank ($184,000) Bainmarama, and re-pledge their loyalty to our wonderful nation and her beautiful people.
And then there’s Teleni. If the two Epeli’s fronted him with their proposal and simply asked him to do his part by instructing the police to maintain the peace, is it not beyond reason that the police commissioner might also seize upon this opportunity to be patriot and true son of Fiji (and avoid an otherwise inevitable lengthy spell in the clink)?
OK. Lets suppose for the moment that the two Epelis, Pita Driti and Esala Teleni actually have it in them to act like true men. What next ?
My suggestion would be that they propose to the President that the interim regime be instantly stood down and replaced with a multi-party ruling group led by a respected figure, whose main taksk would be to organise free and fair parliamentary elections no later than March 2009.
Several possible candidates for this vital interim leadership role came to mind and include the likes of highly principled individuals such as Commissioner of Prisons Iowane Naivalurua, former minister Kaliopate Tavola or former Vice President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi.
But I hear you ask, what about the unprincipled feral pig, the dictator ?
Well, what’s the betting he would choose to return to Fiji once he knew he had been profoundly but peacefully usurped ?
Dont forget how he’s demonstrated to all of us that he’s a towering bully while he’s got the guns, but I’ll wager he’ll be reduced to a sniveling, craven coward once he knows they have been taken away.
So dear readers, that’s my rough blueprint for our immediate, peacful return to the path of prosperity.
Its a blueprint that I strongly commend to the two Epelis, Pita Driti, Esala Teleni et al.
And I once again remind them that they only have until this Tuesday to save our nation, and their own skins to boot.
CASSANDRA