Almost all remaining blogs on the Fiji political situation are anti-Government; most do not mince their words, in English or in Fijian; passion is often more evident than reason, fact and evidence but, when they get it wrong, questions have to be asked about their standards.Malaysian Former PM Blasted for Supporting Fiji’s Tyrant, reads the RawFijiNews, headline, that then claims: "We have been reliably told that certain international organisations and pro-democracy bodies have slammed Malaysian former PM Tun Mahathir bin Mohamad (photo) for warming up to Fiji’s murderous tyrant Frank Bainimarama during his recent visit to Malaysia."
Reliably told? Certain organizations and bodies? Why is it so difficult to name them, and provide the sources of this information? Are the Fiji-based "international" or more representative international? Why the secrecy?
"These sources", the Blog continues, "also say that Frank’s claim in today’s Fiji Sun that Malaysia backs him is totally untrue ... He’s obviously not telling the truth..."
But it was the Fiji Sun headline Malaysia Back Us that made this claim, not Bainimarama.
What Bainimarama said, following his recent trip to Malaysia to sign a loan agreement with Exim Bank, was that "Malaysia is ready to assist Fiji with its reform programs" (as, incidentally, is the Commonwealth and Australia, once the electoral process recommences).
"I was thrilled with their support and interest towards Fiji," said Bainimarama clearly referring to support from the people he had met -- businessmen and former PM Mahathir. He certainly did not claim, as RawFijiNews would have us believe, that the Malaysian government supported the Fiji regime.
A trivial error perhaps, but not when it happens over and over again. Anti-government blogs are probably mainly read by people of like minds, but if they wish to influence the undecided, they should handle the truth more carefully. Photo:phonity.com
3 comments:
Crosbie,
I have come to the conclusion that Raw Fiji news is not about being anti-Frank, they are a full-blown anti-Fiji blog. They are saying that they despise Frank Bainimarama but look at most of their articles, its not only anti-Frank, most of them are anti-Fiji.
If bloggers in Raw Fiji News are really concerned about Fiji, they would have ensured that what they print are substantiated and factual.
Your comments on the conduct and the inability of most who write on the anti-government blog sites are justified. Homophily: the tendency of those who think irrationally or emotionally to seek out others like themselves. This does nothing to assist a rational debate in Fiji. Do we deserve democracy? Can we manage democracy? Are we able to contribute sensibly and rationally to the democractic process? I leave you to answer this question. It is a valid question, an important one. Why would public money be wasted on people so incompetent in their mode of argument? This is the ranting and raving of ill-educated, unformed minds. Not that of competent adults attuned to democracy and all the freedoms that come with it.
Raw Fiji reminds me of the media before censorship. Distorted, dishonest and manipulative.
Post a Comment