An Idealist Thinking Outside the Square for a Fiji Solution or - The blog I Don’t Really Want to Write, But the Fijian People Come First.

With the looming third anniversary of the coup which saw Commodore Bainimarama take power in Fiji, maybe it is time for this passionate Democrat to get uncomfortable and take a look at another scenario which might see a resolution to the issues surrounding Fiji’s current plight.

One says uncomfortable because this specific blog is about compromise. This is a compromise of all that has been written before by this blogger, in an attempt to look at an idea that remains just that – an idea, and, an idealistic one to boot. And it is a hard thing to write this, especially as I am very concerned at a number of injustices that have been meted out over the last three years, on a range of levels.

But this is all about the people of Fiji: they matter most.

A new diplomatic attempt, no matter how unpalatable, may provide a circuit beaker in this impasse that is Fiji. It could also be a face saving process for Bainimarama: it offers him one chance to have honest dialogue, if possible, and possibly secure a pathway that leads Fiji out of its current situation.

Bainimarama states that he will call democratic elections in 2014. Other countries disagree with this timetable for a return to democracy.

What if:

• The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) was to call an Extraordinary Meeting and call upon Commodore Bainimarama to attend and quantify his vision for Fiji. This would give him the opportunity to explain his case to the Forum, directly. If he sticks to the 2014 timetable, PIF members should offer assistance or mentoring to bring the elections forward and to assist in addressing what he sees as his concerns for Fiji.

OR

• The Australian and New Zealand Governments called for a Round Table Conference between Bainimarama, the respective Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of those countries. Included in this process would be the leaders of the major stakeholders in Fiji – the religious leaders, the leaders of the political parties in Fiji (they DO have the experience), the Trade Union leadership, and the heads of a range of Fijian Non-Government Organisations. (NGO’s).

OR

• A combination of both.

Politics is a frustrating game; I was involved in it at the grass roots level in Australia on and off for over 30 years. It is very ugly. But compromise in an effort to seek a solution is possible if the political will is there.

The question needs to be asked – Does Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, via the PIF, have the political will to at least establish dialogue and work on a compromise solution? It would be the circuit breaker that Fiji sorely needs right now.

If this doesn’t work because of a refusal on Commodore Bainimarama’s part, then the rest of the world will know for certain where he stands…..and, I suggest, the consequences will flow from that.

Commodore Bainimarama will have had an excellent opportunity to not only save face, but also ensure that Fiji does not implode.

Finally – an idealist’s quote:

" An optimist is a person who sees only the lights in the picture, whereas a pessimist sees only the shadows. An idealist, however, is one who sees the light and the shadows, but in addition sees something else; the possibility of changing the picture, of making the lights prevail over the shadows."

Thursday 12^th November 2009

Gates Exposed: More Proof of Incompetence (not that it was needed)

Sir Anthony Gates is incompetent. Follow the link to a very telling article in The Australian, 9th November 2009.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/flawed-memo-behind-fijis-decision-to-expel-top-australian-diplomats/story-e6frg6n6-1225795572925

Now the Expulsions Hit Fiji Sport: It's Paranoia

News published in today's Fiji Times that the sacked Netball Fiji coach, Melissa Walker, has been given seven days to leave the country, is a sure sign that oppression by the military is mounting with each passing day.

With a court case (ironically, an illegal one at that most likely, as the judiciary is illegal!) pending against Fiji Netball Association over a messy dispute and unpaid income of $40,000 to the former national coach, it is little wonder that the illegal remime has stepped in and given Walker her marching orders.

This is but another example of how far the military dictatorship will go to make an example of those who contibute to Fiji in some way but will turn on them nastily if they don't agree with the way issues are being resolved.
I suggest that it is BECAUSE Walker is testing the (illegal) judiciary with her court case that the illegal regime has given her notice to leave the country. Another reason is this is a tit-for-tat schoolyard mentality retaliation against Australia and New Zealand.

The fact that they are now driving the oppression down into the the community level, i.e. sport in this instance, indicates that Fijians are now personally feeling the effect more than ever before.

Who next? I gues it's a matter of watching this space.....maybe the Australian and New Zealanders who are working in Fiji as volunteers or employed in a raft of NGO's?

Paranoia is certainly now an issue:

The "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders", fourth edition (DSM-IV), the US manual of the mental health professional, lists the following symptoms for paranoid personality disorder:

• preoccupied with unsupported doubts about friends or associates


• suspicious; unfounded suspicions; believes others are plotting against him/her


• perceives attacks on his/her reputation that are not clear to others, and is quick to counterattack


• maintains unfounded suspicions regarding the fidelity of a spouse or significant other


• reads negative meanings into innocuous remarks


• reluctant to confide in others due to a fear that information may be used against him/her Source:http://www.depression-guide.com/paranoia.htm

Saturday 7th November 2009

An Inspirational Day in Honiara - Democracy attracts 10,000 visitors

A report in the Solomon Star News (Thursday 5th October 2009) provides an insight into what could be in Fiji. (www.solomonstarnews.com)

The Solomon Star News reports that more than 10,000 people visited Parliament in Honiara for the 2009 Open Day. This equates to almost 17% of the population of Honiara!

The Open Day demonstrates what democracy is all about - openness, inclusiveness, providing ownership to the people of a political process, and actively educating people about democracy.

The community groups who also participated on the day provided further evidence that the Solomons are showing the way when it comes to how a community can galvanise and make a political process work.

It is inspirational, and the contrast with the insanity that now prevails in Fiji under illegal dictator Bainimarama, couldn't be more stark.

Expelling Envoys: Illegal Dictator Bainimarama’s Foolhardiness Comes Out

Breaking news on Australia’s ABC “Fiji Expels Australian Envoys” (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/03/2732256.htm?section=justin).

Illegal Dictator Bainimarama has told the Australian and New Zealand envoys to leave within 24 hours, because of their interference in Fiji’s judiciary. He is also recalling Fiji’s High Commissioner from Australia ‘with immediate effect.’

The illegal Dictator, as I have previously said, will bring himself undone by his own actions. It is beginning……

This is a welcome move in that it exposes Bainimarama’s ignorance. It also shows he is way out of his depth. It is the beginning of the end, now, and it could provide an opportunity for a step up in the campaign from within to rid Fiji of its pariah.

In a previous blog I wrote that Australia is not interfering with the Fijian judiciary, it is not recognizing it because it is illegal.

It seems that both Bainimarama and Sir Anthony Gates continue in their inability to differentiate between interference and non – recognition of an illegal regime, including its judiciary. They just don’t get it.

This expulsion provides the Fijian people with an excellent opportunity to say enough is enough with this illegal regime, as it clearly does not care about them.

What will happen now?

• Travel advisories against Fiji will be stepped up and tourism will drop away again
• the economic consequences that will flow from tonight’s actions, at a range of levels, has the potential to severely impact on the already suffering Fijian people
• Other international consequences may flow that negatively impact on Fiji and this includes increased isolation from other pacific neighbours.

The upside is that in exposing himself, the Illegal Dictator will find it tough going to survive long term. We can only hope he keeps it up so the wonderful people of Fiji will be free of him - soon.

Sir Anthony Gates, You Really Don’t Get It.

As reported by Blogger Fiji Coup News and also Fijilive today , comments by Sir Anthony Gates calling on Australia and New Zealand to stop interfering with Fiji’s judiciary are nothing short of laughable.

First of all, YOU are an Illegal Chief Justice, Sir Anthony.

Secondly, the concept that YOU have to stand up against so called interference clearly indicates that you are sharing delusional megalomania with the Illegal Dictator Bainimarama.

YOU have no credibility to take a stand against anyone, because you have no legitimacy. What part of that don’t you understand?

I am pleased to see that you can at least understand that Fiji must have a judiciary, but you miss the point that any so called judiciary in Fiji in 2009 is illegitimate.

Thirdly, YOU also miss the point that had Australia allowed the illegal Sri Lankan judges to pass through Australia on route to Fiji would have provided Australian acceptance of the Fijian judiciary – which is illegal! What part of this don’t you understand?

This isn’t interference in the Fijian judiciary; rather it is, rightfully, the DENIAL of it because it is illegal!

You don’t appear to be very clever, Sir Anthony, but you are in good company…cleverness is, historically, not a strength of military dictatorships.

Fourthly, Fiji’s neighbours are conducting ‘policies of hostility’? Are you serious? Australia, in line with many other nations around the world, has condemned the illegal military dictatorship in Fiji, but never the Fijian people. There is a difference.

Interestingly the number of military dictatorships has declined significantly since the early 1990’s and, in South America in particular, democracy has been embraced. Democratic models may vary, but at the very least, people have been empowered to have a say in their respective countries. In Fiji under Bainimarama, they are being told.

This year (2009-2010) the Australian government has committed $35.4 million in aid/assistance to Fiji, up from $26.9 million in 2008-2009. This is a 33.2% increase. Policy of hostility, Sir Anthony? I don’t think so. YOU miss the point again.

When you finally comprehend that YOU are part of the problem in Fiji, I can only hope that the inner turmoil you may go through will see you denounce that very Dictatorship of which you are a part. But that is not likely at all.

I know that restrictions on the illegal judiciary continue from Fiji’s pacific neighbours. And so they should.

My concern is that within the Fijian illegal dictatorship, there appear to be too many who lack the intellect to understand why the travel restrictions are there in the first place.

And THAT doesn't say much for the intelligence of the illegal judiciary, either.

Sunday November 1st, 2009

MAKE the Pressure Mount on The Illegal Regime. Ask the Questions Then Act

Company profits down, a business leader openly attacks the Illegal Regime, military beating of cane growers – all these reports from various bloggers indicate a continuous level of economic and social oppression, but it also means ongoing and mounting stress for Bainimarama and his sycophants. They have to try and contain this, and how do they do it? Increased oppression and violence. That is the trademark of dictatorial regimes.

And Blogger Ofa on Solivakasama Worldwide Movement has expressed concern about the level of passivity within Fiji, under the regime.

Passivity is a concern, and I have previously expressed some dismay at the lack of non-violent, non co-operation from within Fiji. There are so many things that could be done to unnerve the Dictator and his croneys.

Could there be a fear factor? I suggest that there is and this is probably stating the obvious. But how far down does fear trickle into the Fijian community?

Two months ago the Methodist church capitulated to the regime's religious oppression. Why? Is there fear that members of the congregation could be attacked and the church leadership caved in, in order to protect the people?

Just how many thugs are there in the military and police force who stand behind Bainimarama?

And how many are there in the military and the police force who detest the regime?

Why don’t they usurp the illegal dictator’s regime and in turn, call on previously democratic politicians to instal an interim government of national unity, which in turn will call an election for late 2010?

Why not????

What exactly is spoken about behind closed doors of an evening in homes across the country? We can never know, but we can only hope.

How many people have lost their jobs since the illegal regime took over? How many companies have seen their profits levels shredded? How many Fijians have left the country in the last three years? To what extent has homelessness increased in the last three years? How many households have been placed under increased pressure because of socio-economic factors?

How far has the international aid dollar declined in the last three years? (this does not include the assistance that came in from the floods earlier in the year?

Ask the questions, seek the answers, and act.

Passivity has its limits, just as the illegal regime has its limits – its use by date has passed, and the people of Fiji can help themselves by asking the questions, seeking the answers and acting together to rid their country of Bainimarama and his croneys. It starts from within; it starts from within the military, NOW.

Surely, aren’t the Fijian people getting sick and tired of being sick and tired?

Wednesday 28^th October 2009