Government has nominated Permanent Secretary for Information and Military Spokesperson Lt. Col. Neumi Leweni to take up a counsellor's post at the Fiji High Commission in Wellington. The nomination of a military person is seen by one NZ website as "provocative" but as I commented on their website, Government has had to rely on military people to occupy many top positions precisely because the NZ (and Australian) travel bans have prevented many suitably-qualified civilians from applying. Seen in this light, the "provocation" is of NZ's making. Lift the bans (or at least apply them more flexibly), and Fiji may be in a position to nominate a civilian for the Wellington post.Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand, followed on from Apolosi Bose's AI earlier report, renewed its call for the NZ Government to ensure human rights are included in any dialogue with Fiji. Improved dilomatic relations, they wrote, provide a new "opportunity to raise concerns about the recent intensified crackdown on opponents of the Fijian regime."
We all know that human rights will be restricted in Fiji until the Public Emergency Regulations are lifted (a move Bainimarama says will take place once the new Media Decree is in place) but AI's portrayal of minor events like Imrana Lal's summons as major assaults on civil liberty and the use of phrases like "intensified crackdown" do the organization no credit -- and neither does the employment by Amnesty International of Apolosi, a Fiji national and son of a former politician, who clearly finds it difficult, and most times impossible, to keep his personal views out of his Fiji reports.
13 comments:
Boy, is Murrary McCully in a bind now! Accept Leweni and the NZ media and the ubiquitous human rights lobby will be feral. Reject him and it's yet another diplomatic incident and the new policy of rapprochement is over. Leweni might be a red rag to the pro-democracy bulls but he's hardly a torturer and Wellington is in one hell of a quandary. What about the other news that emerged in Suva today - that author and former diplomat, Peter Thomson, is to be Fiji's new UN permanent rep in New York? This will really set the cat amongst the pigeons because unlike Leweni, Thomson can't be lightly dismissed. His old man was one of the most respected colonial civil servants of his time and he goes back five generations in Fiji on his mother's side. Peter represented Fiji as a diplomat in Australia and Japan before becoming permanent secretary to the late governor general, Ratu Sir Penaiia Ganilau. But he was forced into exile after Sitiveni Rabuka jailed him during the 1987 coup. Well, now he's back representing Fiji after giving some recent high profile speeches in Oz and NZ urging reengagement with the regime. What does it all mean? Well, firstly that Bainimarama doesn't have any of the old hang-ups about appointing Fiji Europeans to official positions. And he's got himself one smart cookie at the UN to present a multiracial face and press his case for maintaining the Fiji military in UN peacekeeping operations. Boy, would I love to be a fly on the wall when Peter T comes face to face at the UN, as he doubtless will, with fellow New Zealander Helen Clark! Word is that he really upset the Kiwi establishment with his recent public utterances on NZ policy towards Fiji at the NZ-Fiji Business Council. Isn't dual nationality a wonderful thing! Thomson is a top bloke and his book, Kava in the Blood, a must read for anyone interested in Fiji.
I just can't understand how a Fiji national with a history of political activism against the regime can be given the credence he does as a mouthpiece for Amnesty International. How can Apolosi Bose enjoy the exposure he does without some media outfit or other examining his record in Fiji? Instead of an independent, impartial, reasoned approach to what happens in Fiji, Amnesty employs a polemicist with a local record of partisan agitation. As far as I'm concerned, Bose has no credibility whatsoever, whatever the merits of his campaign on behalf of Imrana Jalal and the Methodist hierarchy. Something to remember when next you're bailed up by an Amnesty collector in the street. Tell them to rack off.
Amnesty International is 'out of order' on this stand. Having attended their very first conference in Australia (completely at my own expense): no one assisted or paid for my opinion. They have lost the plot and their blind support for Ms Imrana Jalal and cohorts brings into question their integrity. Do your homework on Fiji, AI. You are out of your depth with this stand. I will go anywhere in the entire world to say so too. Seven generations of Fiji-born members of my family require that I should. As for a diplomatic representative from Fiji in Wellington: what is wrong with Lt Colonel Neumi Leweni? In May 2006 when the SDL Party was busy rigging the elections and posters were going up telling us not to vote for there would be "Bloodshed unless you vote SDL", it was Lt Col Neumi Leweni who received our call: not the Fiji Police, not the local Party agents. He knows what has taken place in Fiji and he has served in China. It is high time that New Zealand listens to those who have had to act in the interest of equality and equity for all generations of Fijians. You may not like to but that is hardly the point. "Press the Point" - a race horse running in the Santa Anita Races at New Year 2010. Yes, we shall continue to press our point. That is what democracy requires. And what is more, we have been pressing the same point since 1997 and the 1999 elections. No change of tack; no change of tone. Receive Lt Colonel Leweni in Wellington and hear what he has to say on our behalf. Fiji is not to become the Haiti of the South Pacific Region. Not while we have anything to say or to do about it.
The second horse running in the Santa Anita Races in California at New Year 2010 was called "COST OF FREEDOM". Could there be a better bet than that? The Cost of Freedom (Liberty) in Fiji has been high. Very high for some since 1987. Ask Peter Thomson, Fiji's reported new representative at the United Nations. Read his book "Kava in the Blood". Our view is that crimes against humanity have been perpetrated in Fiji and some who have colluded in these crimes are paid as 'Human Rights Activists'. with their aiders and abetters, their political 'kin'. What audacity and temerity for these people to believe that they, funded by overseas taxpayers, shall be permitted to escape accountability for their misguided, deliberate and possibly criminal conduct? Criminal? Yes, because not content with prancing on an international stage as proud 'upholders' of the rights of man, they have systematically acted within Fiji to deny and compromise rights to significant sections of Fiji's population, especially those of minorities. Their accomplices in the Fiji press and their incompetent colluders in the overseas press, went along with them. Eventually, they are all found out. At the UN, they must be completely revealed. There are those of us in Fiji who will happily testify to this charade of a defence of 'human rights'. For many, it has been an orchestrated and choreographed dance of corruption, greed and self promotion. And the international community has applauded and rewarded them. Academics sitting in overseas universities have assisted and supported them. Now the charade must end. With Peter Thomson situated where he so rightly should be at the United Nations and with Lt Col Leweni in Wellington the truth may emerge into the light. Many of us will give witness,if required, to what has actually been a systematic attempt in Fiji to deprive citizens of many minority communities of their birthright; to force thousands into exile. That is a Crime against Humanity. The 'Cost of Freedom' is high. We will pay it - whatever it takes.
Anonymous of Jan 22 hit the nail squarely on the head. Very well explained how the products and recipients and children of an unfair and racist affirmative action policy of a racist regime, masquerade as human rights activist once they have been thrown away by the Fiji Military from the racially loaded gravy train. Two names, Bose and Waqavonovono ring a bell. While the seniors enjoyed the loot of a racist system, the juniors have become human rights activist, completely ignoring how Indo Fijians have been stripped of their rights by successive Fijian regimes, singing the songs of indigenous superiority. Fiji, which has a dearth of brave and bold Indo Fijian academics and journalists always get the back seat as those in the front seat of the supposedly balanced human rights fraternity are linked to the past Fijian regimes known for their racist policies. Where were these defenders of human rights then?
Good, Leweni for Wellington and Peter for New York!.
"Civilisation advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking about them. Operations of thought are like cavalry charges in a battle - they are strictly limited in number, they require fresh horses, and must only be made at decisive moments."
A.N. Whitbread - Frontispiece to
Chapter Two of Friedrich Hayek's
"THE CONSTITUTION OF LIBERTY"
The decisive moment has come. Nothing less than a cavalry charge is required to save thousands of Fiji citizens' rights and their liberty. These have been under continual siege since 1987: almost no one noticed.
But the identities of all who have worked tirelessly to compromise our rights and our freedom since 1987 are writ large in our minds and also in our actions. They will NEVER prevail.
Thanks for quoting me on your home page. I only wish that I still had time to write about IT in Fiji, but alas. Keep the information flowing!
-cht
Has anyone else noticed how quiet the anti regime blogs have become? Apart from the rambling hysteria at Soilivakasama ( can anyone decipher all the "oiking" from those morons?), everyone else seems to have gone doggo. Croz, is there any intelligence on what might have happened at RawFijiNews? Still no further post since December 22nd. It's become the Marie Celeste of cyberspace. There were rumours that the authorities in Fiji had caught up with these monkey's. Any further word on that? Coup Four and a Half is also a shadow of its former self. Utterly bland content and sometimes days before any new material is posted. It also takes an age for comments to appear, a clear sign that whoever is in charge of the site has pretty much lost interest. Meantime, the good Doctor Walsh powers ahead.
Anons, PLEASE use pseudonyms. Your unnecessary extra disguise limits discussion.
Anon21Jan(1).Agree on Peter's posting. Isn't he an Australian?
Anon21Jan(2)and Liu Muri. More info on Apolosi and other NGO people, please.
Anon22Jan (1 and others. Your "crimes againt humanity" should be followed up. Pleased list them, with examples, here or better still to me croz.walsh@xtra.co.nz.
Anon22Jan(2). I've heard nothing further on RFN. Agree about Coup4.5. Not long ago Christine Gounder assured me its editors worked 24/7!
Thashor, Great to hear from you. Found your posts on Fiji blogs v. useful in my paper for PJR, still in draft.Ps email me.
All of you. Vinaka Vakalevu for your thoughtful, intelligent and calmly worded comments. If people commenting on the anti-blogs would follow your example, dialogue across the divide may be possible.
Has the Fiji Government publicly stated that Major Leweni is the proposed dimplomat to NZ or is it a rumour?
Amenisty International should consider the conflict of interest with Apolosi.
Yes, both Bainimarama and his permanent secretary Tikoduadua have confirmed that Leweni's name has been put forward to Wellington, Frank in an interview on Radio Fiji and Tikoduadua to the Communications Fiji Ltd radio stations and Fiji Village site. Peter Thomson's appointment to the UN has also been confirmed privately, though there's been no official announcement thus far. But that one too is definitely on.
Where to begin with these NGO's?Imrana Jalal controls the Fiji Womens Rights Movement and has done so for a long time. Virisila Buadromo does nothing without Jalal's say so. Jalal also controls the country reports on Fiji by Amnesty. Bose is her trainee from RRRT and cements Jalal's links with the Fijian nationalists who are also very close to her husband Tuisolia. Tuisolia's connections with Apisai Tora, Isimeli Bose (Apolosi Bose's father) and Qarase (Tuisolia's former boss and mentor) are well-known.
Then we have Shamima Ali, who has an on-off friendship with Imrana Jalal (they pretend to like each other but are constantly back-stabbing each other) and who is heavily funded by AUSAID, the political slush fund of the Australian government. Whenever she speaks against the government, her allowances are increased!
Both Ali and Buadromo got the US Bravery Award. AKA the Guantanamo Bay Award!!
Then we have the frightened NGO's, CCF, ECREA, etc who are too scared of losing their funding from Aus and NZAID to speak the truth.
These NGO's are either openly manipulated by the Imrana/Tuisolia gang, or are too intent on keeping their own funding to speak out. The result? They have all failed us in Fiji because they failed to maintain their objectivity.Like the media and the diplomatic (!!!) corps.
Oh liberty, liberty, what crimes hath been committed in thy name!
Thanks, anon at 9.05, for what seems to be a very comprehensive analysis of just how far the Jalal/Tuisolia tentacles spread. These two scream persecution when the heat is directed at them yet conspicuously failed to speak out in defence of those persecuted by the Qarase Government. That was because they were among the principal beneficiaries of SDL rule. Now the harridan Jalal screams "traitor" at anyone who doesn't join her chorus of hate against those who've rightly given these two their comeuppance. As someone else said re the reversal of fortunes of Peter Thomson and Steve Rabuka: "what goes around, comes around".
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