In two weeks time I'm giving a paper in Auckland at the Pacific Islands Political Science Association conference. The paper is titled Political Blogs on Fiji:Cybernet Democracy or What?
There are three areas where I especially need your help, although your comments and ideas are welcome on anything relevant. They are:
1. Other blogs. Anything you can tell me on where they are located and the general identity (no names needed) of their publishers.
2. Among the people you know, who reads blogs? My impression (and I could be quite wrong) is that most readers are ethnic Fijians and Others (few Indo-Fijans answered my poll questions and there's no other way I can identify readers' ethnicity). Most people only read blogs that agree with the way they think?
3. Your opinions on the indirect and direct influences of blogs, particularly on the Fiji Government, anti-Government and the "middle ground" in Fiji, and on public opinion, the media and politicans overseaas, most especially in Australia and New Zealand. Do you think blogs can influence and change people's opinions?
Unfortunately, there's no reward, but your help on all or any of these topics really will be appreciated. You don't need to write a lot. Anything, however brief, will be useful. Please reply by commenting on this post or by emailing me croz.walsh@xtra.co.nz
If you intend to help, please do so now or ASAP. Time is running out.
Illustration,Morse code for SOS by Fondear
23 comments:
Bula:
A quick reply to your SOS:
1) Other blogs I read include all the usual: Coup 4.5, Micheal Field, Real Fiji News (when it was regular). I used to regularly read RawNewsFiji but found it too hateful. FijiGirl as a list of blogs on her site and I often consulted that list. I found your blog rather late in the process. Yours is the best of the lot by far for fairness and professionalism. I also read the Fiji Sun and Fiji Times online. Why not.
2) Who reads? Nearly everyone I know at USP -- local and ex-pat and student. They are reasonably protected by USP's internet system via AARNet. I am no longer employed by USP. I am hoale from USA, working on a PhD in Pacific development communication at a uni in Australia.
3) As for direct and indirect influences of blogs, they allow locals to keep up with reasonably uncensored news and opinion (depending on what blogs they read) and offer a place to vent and rant. As with all media, it's best to access multiple sources and blogs fill this need. I do hear that some students are intimidated about posting to blogs when visiting internet cafes. Not sure what the students do in the USP computer labs (besides download music).
Keep up the good work.
Pls take off the links to the ANti Government Blogs especially one which preach violence and have tried to instigate instability and violence in our beloved Fiji - Raw Fiji news which gave instructions on how to build bombs to use against the Fiji Military only a year ago
I've changed my mind about providing links to anti-Govt blogs but may reinstate them later after I have had time to assess the situation. For the present, I'm concerned there may be good reason for Govt to have blocked blogs over two weekends. Barely concealed advocation of violence by some anti-Govt blogs seem to have increased lately. For the moment links to most, or all, of these blogs will be deleted.
Good for you Croz, because these sites have, by their actions, forfeited their right to be part of mainstream debate.
It's now gone beyond mere misinformation, as in the case of Coup 4.5, for instance, and its false claim of a physical assault on Brij Lal.
Raw Fiji News is now actively encouraging the assassination of Frank Bainimarama. An entry I read today called for like minded individuals to band together to eliminate him.
Whatever you might think of the PM, this is a shocking and totally unacceptable development in the Fiji context.
The fact that Raw Fiji News is permitting such things on its site should lead to it being blocked wherever possible and the prosecution, if and when possible, of anyone associated with it.
While I was perplexed by news that the regime was trying to block various blog sites, this kind of threat to the life of the country's leader makes such activities not only acceptable but absolutely necessary. And I think most Fiji people would agree with me.
We are now finding out the true nature of many of the individuals who've been posing as democrats but who are, in fact, dangerous extremists spreading a message of violence and hatred.
Everyone of goodwill in Fiji and abroad needs to band together to confront this threat to our beloved country. It's certainly not the way Fiji was, is and can be and I commend you for your latest stand.
The are problems:
1)Technology exists to unblock. Blocking only delays access.
2) The blocking is indiscriminate.
Readers in Lautoka inform me they can't see my blog, and yet you apparently can. Can my blog be unblocked?
3) Total blockouts heighten frustration,encourage
rumour, prevent reasoned discussion, give no feedback to Govt, alienate the undecided, and allow overseas media to futher misinform people of the Fiji situation.
I do hope blocking will cease and PER lifted as soon as physical fears are thwarted or contained.
For Fiji,
Croz
From Raw Fiji News today ( at least someone was questioning the morality of killing Frank )
.....
Dear Oracle: (referring to a previous post by Oracle)
Are you just being rhetorical for the purpose of stimulating discussion as your quaff your cup of Yaqona under your palm tree? Or what?....The problem with your “Christian final solution” is that it is not only that it isn’t a just solution – it simply isn’t Christian.... what is your suggestion. Extermination in the name of Christ? So much for peace and reconciliation! ....the plan as you put forward to “exterminate the bastards” avoids the justice that will have to be meted out and it also forgets just how much we Christians, without God’s disciplining are prone to being “mere bastards”.
....
BUT THEN THIS:
.....
I like The Oracles suggestion – without the christian principles. There are people who have committed a cardinal sin against the people of Fiji in power now. That is up to God to sort them out. I’d say; let us arrange that meeting.There is too much talk and not enough action. If you are interested in walking the talk email: libertyfarm01@yahoo.com
......
THIS TO ME, IS PERILOUSLY CLOSE TO CONSPIRACY TO MURDER. AND RAW FIJI NEWS, WHICH REVIEWS EVERY COMMENT, LET IT THROUGH!
THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE BY "THE ORACLE". STILL ON RAW FIJI NEWS. THIS IS DEFINITELY INCITEMENT TO MURDER. THE AUTHOR IS A DANGEROUS CRIMINAL YET IS ALLOWED TO SPREAD HIS MESSAGE ON THIS APPALLING SITE.
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Fiji lacks national pride due to lack of true leadership
November 12, 2009
The problem in Fiji is we’ve become so westernised that we’ve allowed our bellies to direct our brains. Urban Fijians are more worried about putting bread and butter on the table and rural Fijians don’t give a damn because they have their farms and their yaqona.
There is no national pride because we lack true leadership. No longer do we have chiefs who will stand up for their people. Chiefs will bend like reeds in the wind to ensure they maintain their social positions at the expense of their own people.
Politicians like Qarase, Beddoes and Chaudhry are simply players in the political game – when it comes to the need to stand up and lead their people they go into self-preservation mode.
We all know that no man is bigger than the country he lives in. No man should be allowed to rape democracy and pilfer the national wealth – no matter what well-meaning intentions he might claim to have.
And, while we call ourselves Christians we must accept that sometimes we must sacrifice human lives to correct the wrongs that have been done. Frank and his group of supporters need to be exterminated because that would be in the interest of the people of Fiji.
There’s no two ways about it. The country and the people that occupy it must be saved and those who have seen fit to install upon themselves the mantle of “saviours” need to be exposed for the fraudsters they are and they HAVE to be executed so that this chapter in our history does not repeat itself.
The Bible provides evidence that God wreaked death upon the Earth through the floods and through plagues to rid the Earth of those who were exploiting what He provided for all mankind.
We need to take our cue from the Bible. Frank and his supporters are usurpers who are inflicting great damage on their fellow countrymen. They need to be executed – that is the only solution to the problem we have.
Someone needs to begin that planning NOW. That somone should have some military background as strategies are needed to counter the cloak-and-dagger approach by the Military Council.
It’s simple, cut off the head and the body will die. Eliminate Frank and the Military Council will flounder as every man on the Council will be too busy protecting his back from the daggers that his fellow Council member keeps as a hidden agenda.
The country and its people have to be bigger than Frank and his supporters. Take our cue from the Bible – destroy for the sake of preservation what needs to be destroyed.
The Oracle
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THIS COMBINATION OF NATIONALISM AND RELIGION IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS WHEN SUCH INCITEMENT IS DIRECTED AT FEEBLE AND RECEPTIVE MINDS. YOU JUST HAVE TO RECALL WHAT CAUSED THE MURDER OF RED CROSS DIRECTOR JOHN SCOTT TO GRASP THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME TROUBLED OR MISGUIDED PERSON TO TRY TO KILL FRANK AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE "NAME OF THE LORD".
AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO ADDRESSING THE CONSPIRACY THAT WE ALL KNOW CONSTANTLY LURKS ON BAU, TAILEVU AND THE REST OF NAITASIRI. ( Sorry for the capitals but I wanted to properly highlight the content of the Oracle's ranting. God save us from these lunatics).
If the regime is blocking anything, I don't like it but I must say this stuff provides a whole new perspective on what's happening. Holy crap, no wonder they're worried! Frankly I'm amazed the repression isn't greater. No sign at all of anything being other than normal.
Croz, Let's just look at what Oracle said on RAW about Frank and the Government:
---------------
They need to be executed – that is the only solution to the problem we have.
Someone needs to begin that planning NOW. That somone should have some military background as strategies are needed to counter the cloak-and-dagger approach by the Military Council.
--------------
And then go to this reply a couple of posts later:
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I’d say; let us arrange that meeting.There is too much talk and not enough action. If you are interested in walking the talk email: libertyfarm01@yahoo.com
---------------
If this isn't a conspiracy, I don't know what is. Maybe we should call the lout "libertyfarm's" bluff and flood him with offers of help.
Certainly, if anyone knows this address, they should be contacting the authorities wherever they are.
Blogs in all their forms are playing their part in providing balance to the restrictive reporting by the mainstream local papers. I read all the blogs each day but believe I am adult enough to weed out the crap from sites like RFN. Your site I rank as fairly neutral with slight leanings towards supporting the status quo. I am frustrated by what is happening in Fiji and only have the internet to try and get a balanced view of what is happening. While RFN is more radical it is sites like Fijitoday that are more dangerous as they are targeting tourists with the intention of crippling the economy to bring down the government. This is economic sabotage.
How can urging people not to holiday in Fiji be "more dangerous" than urging the killing of the Prime Minister? One is a legitimate form of protest, the other isn't. People are entitled to oppose Frank through peaceful means however much others mightn't agree with their position. But they're not entitled to engineer his assassination.
All of the postings advocating economic sabotage or wholesale murder are:
Fundamentally anti-democracy
Anti-stability and economic development
Inciteful and dangerous (and this would include those postings and . activities which originate outside Fiji). We will not be prescribed to from outside.
Most of this is self-evident and common sense. Do we wish to have a Pakistan in Fiji? It could easily be engineered. Are we going to choose such an unsuitable path and if we do, how do we expect to extricate ourselves from it?
Some quiet, sensible and productive thinking must take place. We are all duty-bound to do this and to encourage others to do likewise.
The Old Testament was for Olden Times and it was replaced by the New Testament of Jesus and St Paul. We really must attempt some critical and careful thinking before we act. The GREATER GOOD is what must be sought and it must be actively and critically sought.
No more of 'the blind leading the blind'. Remember in the Kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed Man is King? (Old Proverb)
All this use of selective quotes from the bible has nothing to do with the political situation in Fiji.
It is the height of arrogance for Christians to approach the subject in this way. How would they feel if Muslims started quoted from the Koran or Hindus from the Veda to justify a particular position of theirs?
The rest of us who sit in the middle, not especially religious but trying to respect the beliefs of others and lead worthy lives, should also be spared this onslaught.
As Christ himself said: "render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's". Whether Fiji has democracy or not is a temporal issue in which no religion has a monopoly on righteousness.
Frank has been trying to prevent the establishment of a Methodist theocracy and good on him. Your religious beliefs ought to be a personal matter between you and God, not a bludgeon to be used in grubby political debate.
Good on ya Croz, that you've taken away the links to anti govt blogs... you may get blocked...
RFN started of well in the beginning .. what was quality meaningful posting has deteriorated.. at one time it was interesting.
Are they getting what the kids usually say - "POTE."
(That's pronounced POT-EH)
Yeah, RFN has been hijacked by maniacs. Put the blowtorch on 'em, Croz.
Croz, your appeal for help seems to have been lost in the frenzy ( rightfully so ) of Raw Fiji News. To try to help you, let me offer you the following:
1/ I only access you, Cafe Pacific and Coup Four and a Half generally. You and David Robie are sane and reasoned, Coup 4.5 moderately sane but still intolerant of dissenting comment and prone to exaggeration or outright lies.
2/ The real "maddies" are Solivakasama and Raw Fiji News, full of racist hatred, unabashed indigenous supremacy, abuse and even threats of violence ( see above ). Intellaygensia is patchy, sometimes reasoned, sometimes not but with not enough updates to keep me engaged. And I can't see much reason to bother with Fiji Girl and the rest.
3/ My experience is that a hard core of AB demographic types who are hungry for real news would log on to you and the "sanies" every day or even more to pick up whatever they can't in the mainstream media. You, in particular, are doing the country a valuable service and when democracy returns, I think you should be "gonged". Croz Walsh OF.
In summary:
Fiji the way....read by nice people perplexed by events in Fiji but perhaps prepared to give the regime a go so long as it meets its promise to deliver a multiracial future.
Cafe Pacific...more a haunt for media and academic types similarly drawn to the admirable David Robie's determination to play a straight bat and recognise that the SDL was disastrous for Fiji.
Coup 4.5...moderate anti coup types who either supported Qarase or can never accept the notion of an "illegal" regime and the abrogation of any constitution devised by elected representatives, however racially based. Lawyers, academics, pro SDL civil servants etc. Not always well serviced given their trusting nature.
Raw Fiji News...once read by most people, especially when Richard Naidu and the gang at Munro Leys were fingered by Frank as the instigators. Said the occasional sensible thing until the weeks turned into months and into years and whoever runs it erupted in frustration. Now a stream of misinformation and outright incitement to revolution.
Solivakasama...the SDL, its ousted MPs and civil servants and its educated Methodist acolytes
waging war in cyberspace. Also anyone at all who doesn't gain from Frank's rule. Suspected early on from certain postings the hand of folk like Saki Tuisolia and his marama, Adi Imrana Jalal, ostensibly pro democracy crusaders but with acute grievances against the regime for loss of position and earnings. Now riddled with vitriol and lies and with no credibility whatsoever.
3/ Government figures tell me they take no notice of the blogs but I suspect they're more concerned than they pretend. Why else would there be attempts to block the sites, if indeed this has happened? I must say that whenever anyone talks about the regime's technical intelligence gathering capability, I'm deeply sceptical. I think the old coconut radio and "dobbers" are still their main source of information.
4/ Yes, the blogs do influence opinion but, of course, only among the affluent who have internet access in the first place. And they do influence the media in Australia and NZ because journalists there have been persuaded by the legal/media/human rights cabal in Suva that the blogs are avenues to the truth. Yours is and so is David Robie's. But the rest? Largely trash.
Hope this helps and good luck.
Does anyone know which of the blogs operate from inside Fiji and what blogs are based overseas? RFN appears to be Aus based. Coup four point five I believe is Fiji based and Fijitoday purports to be Fiji based. It does make a difference as it is easy to rant and rave if there is no risk.
I'm very interested in where the blogs are based. I think Coupfourpointfive is Auckland-based but some of the team live in Fiji. Information on all blog locations and team members would be much appreciated. Please also answer the questions I ask in this posting. Your answers will be an important part of my Auckland paper. Vinaka.
Suggest commentators use pseudonyms, within the comment or as a Name/url. Discussion is difficult when almost everyone is named Anonymous.
@ Anonymous 4.11pm
I could not agree more that it is actually quite important to try to gauge which blogsites are hosted overseas and which within Fiji. A process of elimination might be initiated? The content can be a giveaway because blogging away without a care in the world across the Tasman Sea is quite different from advocating mayhem where you sit yourself. Although, the eventual outcome may be the same. Those of us who have experience of terrorism overseas (and this poster HAS)are fully aware of the craven, mixed-up and politically confused and often hysterical advocates of outright terror-in-the-neighbourhood. Unlike suicide-bombers, they are often kilometres away when their strategies are turned into violent reality. It is still innocent lives that are lost and you cannot tell me that justice does not exist both in this world and in the next for all perpetrators of terrorism: by the pen, personal computer or through weaponry. Fiji deserves a better fate than to kowtow to the likes of these sad fanatics who takecover under the guise of 'DEMOCRACY'. How deluded may one be?
Their delusions are dangerous and must be treated as such. There can be no turning the other cheek on this all too familiar Fiji phenomenon. It exists and it must be smartly and patiently deleted - just like their blogsites.
Tell us please how it came about that the likes of Sakiusa Tuisolia (facing corruption charges by FICAC for alleged misuse of public money) and his wife, indulged by British taxpayers to fly around the Asia/Pacific region with a carbon footprint which someone independent should measure, are considered by any sane person as useful or credible informants on anything in Fiji other than how to indulge oneself at the taxpayers' expense? What ever happened to private money? private outlay? private means for private purposes? It is high time that all NGOs in Fiji were audited for their income and how it is spent. They should succumb, like all political parties will eventually have to succumb, to regular, independant audits and all overseas consultants should be banished: unless they wish to fund themselves? Too harsh? Too draconian? Not in the least. NGOs have become an unwieldy, self-preserving and unaccountable industry in Fiji. The cases which were pursued through the courts concerning 'Legality' 'Illegality' demonstrate this. None of the appellants had 'clean hands': all were remunerated in some way from taxpayers' money (either in Fiji, Australia or New Zealand). This is where NZ and Australia should take umbrage: use of THEIR taxpayers' funds in Fiji and the pollution of the Asia/Pacific skies by endless unnecessary journeys by air when Fiji requires people here, on the ground, engaged. After the lawyers, let us clean up and out many NGOs. They are counter-productive and must justify their existence forensically and transparently. To survive, their GREEN CREDENTIALS will have to pass muster.
Blogsite : www.fijitoday.wordpress.com
Objective: To counter the “Positive Propaganda” produced by the regime.
Specifics. :
While we agree with the majority of the objectives of the regime, we believe the negative effects of an unelected military government are destroying our economy and causing unemployment and distress.
We believe the sooner the regime collapses the quicker the recovery.
We believe the military has no place in the government of a modern Fiji.
We differ on the way forward but agree that Fiji can never be an island.
We have no other way of voicing our objections.
We would support a negotiated way to an election free of all current and past politicians.
We have a pact to provide the equivalent positive support of any freely elected government.
Location:
Three publishers in Fiji. Two Fijian, one Indo Fijian.
One of us has a past in politics but not a ‘known” name and not recently.
One is a prominent businessman.
One is in tourism.
Method of publication:
Satellite phones equipped for internet. All posts held in a buffer file on the internet until “neutralized” to check and remove any language or distinguishing characteristics. No files are kept on any computer in any format. The sat phones are set up to have no storage. Fijitoday is published through an ISP based in New Zealand.
Hits: Currently 77,000. While initially most hits were from Fiji, now Australia 42%, New Zealand 22%,, Fiji 29%, and other 7%.
@ Fji Today. Thanks for this. Much appreciated. Would you please ask other bloggers you can contact to follow your example?
Croz
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