Cogito, ergo sum. I think, therefore I am. (René Descartes, mathematician and philosopher,1599-1650)

Wednesday 6 January 2010

(o) Lament Over Democracy in Fiji:Sanjay Ramesh*

An excellent, thought-provoking and provocative article on Fiji's coups with comments on Australia's and NZ's policies and the role of the media in 1987, 2000 and 2006; the accusations against Bainimarama over the November 2000 mutiny; how Bainimarama tried to work within the Constitution, and why the press is now restricted.  Click here  or here for full article.
* Sanjay Ramesh is an adjunct research associate in transforming cultures at the  National University of Fiji. He is currently completing a research degree on inter-group conflict in Fiji at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney. He invites you to send comments to sanjay.ramesh@uts.edu.au

4 comments:

CQ said...

great article!!

maybe someone can pass this onto Brij Lal & Co at ANU, Michael Field etc - a bunch of cluessless, one sided idiots pushing their own personal agendas (there is a rumour in Fiji that Brij Lal has ambitions of becoming a politician in Fiji and hence his recent outbursts, he is hated by his own people)

The only issue that the media can bring against Banimarama is the death of the 8(??) CRW terrorists. Anyone who was in Namadi Heights, Nabua, Tamavua or nearby areas will remember the gun fire and explosions on that day - it sounded like the wars we see on TV The terrorists were shooting to kill and the FMF had to respond.

if the FMF had not responded strongly against the CRW terrorists many more might have been killed - where would the CRW terrorists have stopped if all were not rounded up!! Many more inoccent people would have died for sure

Thank you Banimarama for stopping a potential Civil War in Fiji in 2006. Hundereds have died worldwide in military mutinys

Liu Muri said...

Well said CQ. I still vividly remember 2 November, 2000. Imagine where Fiji would be if those thieves, oops Chiefs from Naitasiri and other ethno-nationalist behind the mutiny had succeeded. Those killed chose to be in that dangerous "war games" where one comes out either victor or dead. Fortunately for Fiji, the rebels ended up dead. Law allows self defence as an excuse for killing. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED AT QUEEN ELIZABETH BARRACKS IN NOVEMBER 2000 WHEN THOSE SEEKING HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY NOW WERE AFTER FRANK'S BLOOD. THOSE WHO LIVE BY SWORD DIE BY SWORD. Had those rebels been successful in killing Frank, Fiji would have been like another Zimbabwe or perhaps Uganda under Dada Idi Amin Rabuka and Takiveikata.

Indeed , God saved Fiji and Frank Bainimarama on 2 November, 2000. We are so thankful for that

Anonymous said...

A brilliant article indeed. Nothing else for me to say about what happened in Fiji in the last 20 years. This article sums it up so well.

Red Dragon said...

Some of us remember 2 November 2000 in Fiji (All Souls Day - the Day of the Dead) as if it were yesterday. Terror visited Fiji yet again and the terrorists intended to prevail. What did they expect? That all in Fiji should lie down with legs in the air and surrender to such vile designs? All acts of terror must invite rapid and requisite response. What is 'proportionate' in the face of such evil? Ten years on the fall-out persits with a ghastly momentum and residue of its own. All associated with these acts are tainted by their association however tenuous. Let Michael Field and Barbara Dreaver contemplate their positions - pathetic, insufficiently informed and dull ignorance. Why not try a spell on Fox News - but would they last a day? Yet the Fiji Times gave not only comfort but solace to the terrorist enemy. In vain, it attempts to cover its terrible tracks. In such a ruse, it will fail. Our memories are sharpened, honed in the face of such demonstrable hypocrisy.