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

Friday 21 January 2011

Blog Fortune Tellers, Government Housing, the DPP, Chaudhry & Takiveikata, FSC Reforms

N0051. THE ANTI-BLOGS ARE AT IT AGAIN. Don't get your fortune read at the CoupFourPointFive blog — or the FijiDemocracyNow blog that regugitates and adds to their predictions. Almost all their previous predictions have proven wrong.  Now they foresee that the days of the President are numbered.

Why?  Because  "speculation resurfaces" and, I quote,  they "have heard reports that the so-called attorney-general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has written to the Naulukau [sic!] to advise him that his term as president ends at the end of February."  And because "it would make sense."

And the "sense"?  FDN says that because  the A-G "has the legal power to sack Bainimarama, then it would make sense for Sayed-Khaiyum to act sooner rather than later."

Why? Because "Sayed-Khaiyum knows only too well that his position in the regime is completely dependent on Bainimarama’s support. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum also knows he would be totally vulnerable to a most unpleasant fate [my italics] the moment Bainimarama ceased to have power."

So  -- and here we have it -- the prediction is not really about the President at all. It is another attack on Sayed Khaiyum. And that does make sense -- for racists.

They need to tread carefully on Nailatikau. He is a very high ranking chief to whom even Fijian racists need show some respect, but it's always open season on Sayed Khaiyum. He is, after all,  a manipulating Indian, a "mongoose" who threatens native land and customs, a vulagi with no place in Fiji, the epitome of evil they're been warning uneducated i'taukei about  — in order to advance their own manipulating and pecuniary interests. 

I asked someone with their nose to the ground in Fiji if there was any truth in the story. Their reply was "Rubbish." As indeed were the blog's earlier predictions that Sayed Khaiyum had been dismissed, Bainimarama was grievously ill,  Christopher Pryde had been dismissed,  Parmesh Chand had resigned, and ... 

The anti-blogs thrive on rumours that they feed to readers waiting in vain for Bainimarama to disappear in thick smoke.

It's understandable that they make errors. It is in the nature of rumours that they are often wrong.  But the blogs never correct their errors, and that — while understandable given that their purpose is to destabilise government and keep barren hopes alive  — in most people's books is inexcusable because  an uncorrected vindictive rumour is a lie.

N0052. GETTING RID OF THE PERKS.  Government quarters surplus to requirement for eligible officers are now rented out to the public at commercial rates. Rents from 50 properties, mainly in Suva's  centrally located Muanikau, Domain and Veiuto areas, brought in  over $475,000 last year — 670% more than the $71,000 received from previous subsidized rentals.--Based on 2011, No:0139/PSC.

N0053. DPP STAFF, CHAUDHRY, TAKIVEIKATA CASES
.The work of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is not being helped by the lack of senior and experienced legal counsels, a situation made worse by the departure of two senior counsel, David Toganivalu and Ana Tuiketei, late last year.

The Directorate confirms, however, that a  Queens Counsel from overseas will represent the State in the case against former PM Mahendra Chaudhry while a local senior counsel Pita Bulamainivalu will take over the mutiny re-trial for the Qaranivalu Ratu Inoke Takiveikata later this year.

N0054. FSC REFORMS
. The Fiji Sugar Corporation board met yesterday to discuss ways to speed up reforms of the sugar industry. Permanent secretary LtCol Manasa Vaniqi said that the reforms are well underway but with the mills now closed for the season, there is an opportunity to look at organisational structure and the possible divestment of FSC properties overseas.


Meanwhile,  Government and Price Waterhouse have advertised widely searching for a new CEO  "who has a vast knowledge of managing the sugar industry with a proven track experience to match." Permanent secretary for Sugar Col. Manasa Vaniqi said "all local applications were thoroughly examined but we could not find the person we were looking for to drive the industry.” -- Based on 2011 No.0102/MOI.



 

10 comments:

Kahukiwa said...

'It is another attack on Sayed Khaiyum. And that does make sense -- for racists.'...
So, any criticism, rumour or ineuendo, however inacurrate, is now 'racist'?. Thats a bit lame Croz. Sort of comment I would have expected from the other side.

Lies, lies and more lies said...

Croz, your rapier-sharp demolition of these anti-regime blog sites for their chronic campaign of disinformation is most welcome. Your summation of the extreme racial prejudice of these people when it comes to the AG is especially brilliant. ASK has his faults like anyone else but they've got nothing to do with the colour of his skin. God knows there are plenty of other preening, ambitious, self important people among the other races in Fiji. But with none of his intelligence, talent, willingness to dodge the spears or desire to serve the nation.

There's only one good thing about all of this. And that is that no-one - and especially the normally gullible Australia and NZ media - takes these sites seriously anymore. They've been burnt once too often, especially for believing the nonsense about Bainimarama being ill or dead.

That's the wondrous thing about a concerted campaign of disinformation. It only works when it has a veneer of credibility. Strip that away and all that remains is crude propaganda and lies. What about a weekly shame file of the best howlers from these idiots, along with a simple question; where's the evidence? If you leave them up long enough, it might make them think twice before shooting from the hip again. Qori.

Crosbie Walsh said...

@ Kahukiwa ... Kia Ora, The evidence of racism in this particular case is, I admit, rather circulatory but why is it that the anti-blogs continually read sinister and selfish motives into almost everything Sayed Khaiyum does? How would you interpret this story they made out of nothing? Taken separately, it's merely an attack on a key member of the Bainimarama government who, incidentally, also happens to be Indo-Fijian. Taken as part of an ongoing barrage, it is more than this. I may be wrong but I think it's covert racism. And FijiToday is the least racist of the anti-government blogs.

@ Lies .... The weekly shame post on the best howlers is a good idea. It's more work that I can do without but I'll keep it in mind. Feel like helping me?

kahukiwa said...

Kia Ora Croz,

perhaps if they relaxed the media censorship, we could all get a clearer picture. Any justification for the laws are well past their used by date - as you regularly point out.

Asok said...

I thought it was FDN. What has FijiToday got to do with it? I cannot find anythink on their site about the AG?

Crosbie Walsh said...

@ Kahukiwa ... I agree of course but I'd also like to see better reporting and some investigative journalism. Poor quality and biased reporting, especially by the Fiji Times, was a major factor in pushing Government towards the present restrictions.

sara'ssista said...

I see that Croz still spends a disproportionate amount of time responding to heckles and picking apart commenst but very very little time actually holding this regime to account. Why? Because it they take no notice. Very quick to take any comments from the misinformation minsitry at face value and confirmation from other self-interetsed and invested parties in the status quo, but no comment at all on prominant members of the military that still seem to be on leave, the interim PM daughers' recent appointment to the government payroll ?? Nothing investigative then, thats not allowed any more. Really inconveneient isn't it when looking at the pronouncements from this regime about 'no benefit' blah blah.

Confused said...

@ sara'ssista.. Why does Croz need to waste his time "holding this regime to account" when you are doing such a sterling job at it?

Spaced out 'ssista said...

Croz, can we have an on-line soli to raise enough money to send Sara'ssista on a long holiday? What's the modern equivalent of a slow boat to China? Better still, can we get NASA to put her on one of those 50-year journeys to another galaxy? There's never ( or very rarely) any attempt to substantiate the points she makes, no evidence advanced, no light or shade, just declamatory anti-regime hyperbole and a verbal clubbing for anyone who dares question the (SDL) party line. She badly needs a rest, though pity the other passengers on her voyage or the monkey sharing the controls as they both hurtle into inky oblivion. Off the planet in every way.

Cobra said...

@ Spaced out Ssista......

Who says this is a 'SHE'? We firmly believe not so. Much more likely to be a Cabal of many.