Fiji's "Cancerous Conspiracy of Silence"

Prof Wadan Narsey's use of Coup4.5 as the vehicle by which to publish his recent Fiji’s cancerous conspiracies of silence: an expose  article has drawn comment from both sides of the political divide. Some, such as Graham Davis, have also berated Wadan's slurs on the characters of moderate people in Fiji such as the Rev. Akuila Yabaki; others such as "Choice I think not" on my blog yesterday, asked: "And where else might Narsey express his views? PER and government extreme sensitivity to any criticism give him little other choice" (but to publish in Coup 4.5).



To answer this question first. Wadan's article as it now stands would not be published by an reputable media outlet, in or out of Fiji, but if he removed the personally insulting and obviously libellous parts, I'm sure the Australian and NZ mainstream media would be interested. So also would a number of reasonable anti-Bainimama blogs such as Fiji Today and Pacific Media Forum, or moderate blogs such as the Pacific Media Centre and David Robie's Cafe Pacific (or my own "qualified pro-Bainimarama" blog) which have previously published Wadan's articles. Blocked as he probably would be by the Fiji media that used to publish his articles, there are far more reputable outlets for his informative articles and opinions than Coup 4.5.

Coincidentally, I published an article by Wadan that attacked the Bainimarama government's use of FNPF loan money to pay for new Air Pacific planes and the Natadola resort, on Saturday, at the same time as Coup 4.5 was publishing his "Conspiracies"  article.

This blog publishes reasoned viewpoints from all concerned with the future of Fiji. This is not true of Coup 4.5 nor apparently, on this occasion, of Wadan whose article in parts is petty, vindictive and self-promoting.

The questions he raises are important but the use to which his accusations will be put, in today's political climate, cannot serve the goals he presumably seeks. They will be used by the so-called "pro-democracy" people who supported all of Fiji's coups — except its most recent.  Take time out to read the comments on his Coup 4.5 article and you will see the sick sentiments  he has encouraged.

I don't usually respond to insults with a counter-insult, but after reading Wadan's article that opens with the words: “There is a popular saying: truth liberates.   Yet thousands of people, privy to vital information about one or other of Fiji’s coups, refuse to liberate us with the truth.” some comment is necessary.  Wadan then proceeds to attack almost every public figure in Fiji's history since 1987,  many without fair cause.

I react poorly to  pomposity and exaggeration (Only Wadan knows the truth. Only Wadan has the courage to raise such questions) and to his choice of the Coup4.5 blog as his publisher. Birds of a feather, I thought, and then I remembered the words of an old song that seemed far more appropriate.  Please forgive me, but I can't resist publishing it:

 'Twas an evening in October, I'll confess I wasn't sober,
 I was carting home a load with manly pride,
 When my feet began to stutter and I fell into the gutter,
 And a pig came up and lay down by my side.
 Then I lay there in the gutter and my heart was all a-flutter,
 Till a lady, passing by, did chance to say:
 "You can tell a man that boozes by the company he chooses."
Then the pig got up and slowly walked away.'

If Wadan was seeking the "truth" — and not just that part which may embarrass the Bainimarama government, much to the delight of its opponents — he should have chosen a different media outlet.