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

Wednesday 28 December 2011

Is this the Way Fiji May Go?

(Wednesday 28th December, 2011 No:2307/MOFA) OFFICER GRADUATES FROM RESILIENCE INSTITUTE
Superintendent Sakiasi Tamani of the Fiji Police Force recently completed a 13-month course organized by the National Resilience Institute of Indonesia.

Superintendent Tamani, who graduated this month from the institute, joined participants from 13 countries to undergo the ‘Regular Training Course’ which took place between March and December this year. Prior to this, participants attended a mandatory Indonesian language course in September last year.

The institute serves as a think-tank for the President and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia. It is also a non-department government institution subordinate and responsible to the President.

A statement issued by Fiji’s Embassy to Indonesia reports that the institute has a vision to create national leaders who dare to maintain a robust, comprehensive, integral and holistic national integrity based on the nation’s ideology namely Pancasila [The Five Principles/Pillars of the Indonesian Society], the 1945 Constitution, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and the principle of unity in diversity.

The establishment of Lemhannas was a response to the strategic development nationally and internationally, which suggested the need for integration and close cooperation and dynamics between civilians, the military and the police as well as heads of the national private sectors, leaders or political organizations and social organizations to ensure proper state governance.

The establishment of Lemhannas is also to fulfill one national urgent need in the efforts to safeguard and preserve the national ideals, the goal of the nation and sustainability of the nation amidst political games in the world.

Their main task is to carry out government tasks in the field of Strategic Studies on various national as well as international issues required by the President and the decision makers of the national policies; and in the sector of education to prepare cadres of potential leaders at the national level, ensuring the national leadership as having the mindset, attitude and action in a solid, comprehensive and integrated manner.

9 comments:

Why the confusion? said...

Croz
Why the confusion. Fiji's direction as a military state controlled military regime is very clear? We cannot even find out how much the military commander PM is paid?

Future maybe said...

The way Fiji may go ?

Well I'm not sure but one this is for certain. Very few in Fiji will have any say in it and even beyond elections the military will remain the ultimate power in the country. Why ?

1. They (or at least a few at the top) believethey are best for Fiji.

2. They do not want to ever give up there new trappings of power - the money, trips, invitations to events and being able to stay above the law (mostly).

3. They never ever want to be held accountable for their action in 2006 and beyond. Nor their roles in previous coups.

Romeo said...

Yes, indeed this is the way Fiji is heading. One of the consequences of Australian, NZ and US 'sanctions policy' on Fiji is the removal of training opportunities made available to Fiji military and police officers. They have gone to China, India, Malaysia and Indonesia instead. Malyasia in particular has trained senior military officers at their staff college for over 20 years now. The majority of senior military officers including Frank Bainimarama, Ioane Naivalurua (COMPOL)etc have received their higher military education in Malaysia where they have closely studied the Indonesian system and the role of their militaries play in society. So it should not therefore be a surprise that these countries are where Fiji will draw ideas from.

In a small and closed society like Fiji where security cannot be divorced easily from politics, it makes some sense for Fiji to adopt a 'whole of government' (WOG) approach by utilisisng or harnessing all arms of government (military, police, NGOs, private & public sectors etc) in fufilling internal development and internal security roles.

We need to set up a similar institute in Fiji to optimise our resources and address our development challenges in a more holistic and strategic way.

Anonymous said...

@ Why the Confusion

Whats your business how much the PM is paid? The Fiji taxpayers are happy - they dont quibble about this useless piece of information, as you do! It will not change their mindset!

Why dont you stress about the Auditor General's reports from when Qarase was in power 2000-2006? Was Qarase's salary and other pecuniary interests declared then?

You are pissing up the wrong tree my friend. And your demands for advice as to the PM's salary is sounding like a broken record.

on the side lines in viti levu said...

@ Anon

The PM and ministers salary was available under the previous government. Not all benefits or wealth but at least the salary.

The secrecy around the current governments salaries leads to suspicion. Especially since there are no checks and balances, they can do what ever they like. You may also recall the PM promised no soldier including himself would benefit from the coup. He has also accused unionists (ones he appointed) of doing the wrong thing and being paid to much. In light of all this I think it is a reasonable request that he declare what he has decided to pay himself and him team. If all is fair what is he hiding ?

Then there is the small issue of the Charter often used to claim majority support for the military government and the direction they are taking Fiji. It promises better accountability - why not start at the top ?

Even some of the military's biggest supports like Croz (Croz please correct me if I am wrong) think government should declare minister salaries. I think they should go further and declare net wealth and all financial interests.

Strangely the AG has promised future governments will have to do this. Why not start now and turn the spot light on themselves.

Then there is the information that a private company looks after the salary of Frank and his top team. I have no idea if this is true or not but why would they let this rumor linger for so long if it is not true ? It also adds fuel to the fire that the AG's aunty takes care of this to ensure no leaks through the civil service further fueling the rumor mill.

Finally you mention tax payers are happy. How would anyone know if a taxpayer was not happy ? Try getting any critical comment posted in the Fiji media. Say the wrong thing and you could feel the weight of a military boot up your ass or have FICAC chase you for years.

Sorry, the PM's salary may not be anywhere near the level of rumors but they let themselves down by not clearing this up and setting the standard for future governments now.

Your calls for all of us to just ignore and beleive are as crazy as the nay sayers on everything.

Ram Sami said...

Some interesting posts here and food for thought !!

Anonymous said...

@ At the Side Lines

Forget about the issue of the PM's salary at the moment and have a go at answering the substantive question Cros raises at the header: Is this the way Fiji may go?

The PM's salary issue is indeed a broken record that some people cant let go of. It is being repeated ad nauseaum. Lets move this debate on rather than remain the rut that you insist we stay in.

Yea yea said...

@anon

As far as I can see the PM or perhaps AG are the only ones who can remove all the doubt, innuendo and rumor. But they chose not to, which makes many people suspect that they are indeed paying themselves a good deal more than previous governments and certainly more than his military salary (in the case of the PM).

This isn't Fiji's biggest issue but it Goes to the core of this governments promises. Why won't they be open and what do they have to hide ? Can we trust them to do as they want others to do ?

Anonymous said...

@anon

I will happily move on when the question on salaries has been answered.