CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY SOME: Qs and As. Permanent Secretary to the PM's Office, Colonel Pio Tikoduadua says the announcement of members of the Constituent Assembly is probably being held up until the political party registration issue is resolved. He expects the number of members to be about 40. The Assembly will review the draft constitution which is being re-drafted by Lawyers at the Solicitor General’s Office, and also study the Ghai draft complied by the Constitution Commission led by Professor Yash Ghai.
UNIONS WANT IN. Trades Union Council (FTUC) is hoping to be part of the Constituent Assembly. Speaking to FijiLive FTUC general secretary Felix Anthony said they have noted that civil societies will be invited to be part of the assembly and they hope to be also one of those that will be invited. Anthony also told FijiLive their preparations to start a new political party are progressing well and they are hoping to lodge their application soon. The Decree on the Constituent Assembly requires it to be diverse, and where possible, be composed of members who represent registered political parties, faith based-organisations, trade unions, employers, the business community, Government, farmers and members of rural communities, the RFMF, national organisations, women, youth, people with disability, pensioners, other Fijian-registered civil society groups, and individuals, amongst others.The Assembly members, to be announced next month, will review and approve the draft constitution.
MORE AUSTRALIA AID FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION. AusAID is expanding its development assistance in areas such as health and education in Fiji, and about $100 million has been allocated this financial year. AusAID is working with Government to find out the areas of need in the communities. AusAID will also work to increase the economic opportunities for people in disadvantaged communities, helping farmers find buyers for their produce, and helping women who have products to sell gain access to markets.
POLITICAL PARTIES DECREE VIOLATES INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS. A study by international lawyers has found the decree to be extreme compared to electoral provisions applied in democracies and in parts unprecedented in global practice. The International Senior Lawyers Project says banning civil society leaders, such as trade unionists, from party membership manifestly breaches Fiji's obligations under the ILO Convention. The New York-based group says in-depth research has failed to identify a single country that has such rules. It says the decree's provision allowing anybody access to a party's records is in breach of the right to privacy under the UN Human Rights regime. It describes Fiji as an outlier by international comparison in for example how it criminalises political finance offences. The report says the way parties are being made to wind up violates the international right to property. It concludes that should democratic rule be restored in Fiji, affected parties might claim compensation, restitution and damages. --- Radio New Zealand International
MUSLIM PHOBIA: COUP4.5 EVEN WORSE THAN MICHAEL FIELD. This comment by Deepak Chaudan on Facebook's Fiji Economic Forum:
Even Michael Field, for all his distaste of the Bainimarama government, has not stooped to such accusations. Field, a frequent visitor to India, says all Fiji's Muslims are liberal Muslims with no links to Sunni extremists. Yet the Coup4.5 editors, who seem quite untutored on Islam, have persisted, for the past two years, to claim Muslim influence in Fiji politics. They have claimed the 2006 Coup was Muslim-led; they have portrayed Bainimarama as a Khaiyum puppet, and repeatedly called attention to supposed Fiji Muslim links to Al Qaeda. This story, for which they have produced no evidence, is what they are trying to sell to U.S. Intelligence, and drill into to a gullible itaukei public.
Readers who choose the check out their latest story will find mention of supposedly mysterious comings and goings of people and money, a trip to Cuba, Fiji's membership of the Non-Aligned Movement, a UAE embassy in Suva, Fijian soldiers who speak Arabic, and more, much more, in a rambling overkill that will leave U.S.A. Immigration no less confused that the blog's more intelligent readers. But the main message is clear: Fiji's Muslims could be aiding terrorism.
Putting aside their other claims (I will not ask them to name names or amounts of money), I must ask them one question that can easily be proven or not proven: Where did they get their story about Aslam Khan? I know for a fact that he has not even been to the U.S. recently, and the last time he was there he denies he was frisked or detained. Someone made this up.
Coup4.5 continues to use deceitful tactics by creating, spinning and embellishing tidbits of information, pandering to the prejudices of the less educated and the more bigoted, warning i'taukei not to trust their Muslim and Indo-Fijian fellow citizens.
This supposedly Christian blog has thrown the 9th Commandment — Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour — out of the window.
51 comments:
The Fiji regime should take bold step against the 'imperialsts' and refuse Aus Aid and ask that it be replaced with benevolent Chinese aid. We should'nt really feel inclined to assist anyway, when there is need here at home.I say we take $50 Million cback for every Australian diplomat that has been expelled. It's the only way they will learn.
'It is pleasing that FL is again publishing polls on a political topic'. As we all know and have witnessed, only until the next decree that will outlaw it when it reports on opinions that displeases the 'sun king', his goons and cronies. I wouldn't celebrate just yet.
Croz your report on the lawyers' study on our party decree is disgusting. You know as well as everybody else that Fiji is a unique country with a unique set of circumstances. What these lawyers do not want to see is that the majority of the people in Fiji do not want elections and political parties. They are happier than ever with the current government under our PM.
Your are a disgrace calling our beloved PM Sun King and his brave man goons and cronies. Go and live in "democratic" Solomon Islands and you will realise how wonderful our Fiji under the rule of visionary and honest leaders is!
Don't be naiive Croz. 4.5 is not interested in the truth because it is a propaganda machine for the SDL and its cronies, churning out false perceptions in order to create a picture which is accepted as the truth overseas and in the diplomatic dispatches. All the diplomats are devotees of the blogsite, because it justifies their childish and simplistic policies. 4.5 has a purpose beyond reporting the 'truth'. It was created to create false perceptions to justify vicious and hostile foreign policies.
SDL is now proposed as SODELPA, to comply with the amended decree. I think they are just being stubborn. I dont think they will make it past the registration process. The acronym is still SDL (Social Democratic Liberal). I am sure a lot of objections will eventuate if and when the registrar calls for it. I wont be surprised to see another amendment to the decree, and why not. Anything to contain these undemocratic and non-liberal demons.
very good post
'Visionary', lol sounds like somehting from the North Korea propaganda ministry, next you'll be saying he was ordained by god to save the fijiasns...
Well we do seem to have created some fijian fascists intent on stifling any debate or comment form others not supportive enough of the military regime, happy to see the clamp down on any non-compliant media and ANY dissent from the 'PM for life' and his henchmen and goons. More decrees more decrees, and to suggest that fijian would be 'happy to see no elections or political parties ??!!" how laughable and self serving, put it to the test you gutless wonders and ask them..you won't be happy with the resply and you certainly won't allow reporting of it!!!
well then the opposition can always campaign for a boycott and rob this regime of even more legtimacy and completing humiliuate them. Between FLP SDL and others they have the rump of the voter base anyway.I say go for it. That will create some pressure from the regime and make them break their promises again to hold free and fair elections.
if they can't bee 'in the tent', they can p*ss on the regime from outside the tent. They have nothing to lose. Perhaps the opposition can take some well calculated holidays to the region to drum up pressure.
I say this is good opportunity to get the churches back into the vocal opposition given that it won't be free of fair election, they can agitate for a christian state among their followers who still follow the talatalas. Kaiviti know how to speak in code to our own people, to get the outcome we want. All bets are off now.
actually the SDL , FLP NFP etc don't have to do much, just wait until it is too late to do anything about them maybe the last couple of weeks, cause the thugs to arrest a few key people, some great pictures of brusies , being led away in handcuffs, a few beatings make sure iot gets in the headlines, even a few fires in nopposition offcies would help. Nothing like claiming a free and fair election and see old Ro Tem being carted off in a police van for 'having a public meeting without a permit'. I say let Bainipajamas create whatever decrees he likes and then rubbish the result and spoil. Mass protests, create an 'occassion'.
You had your chance of a RAMSI intervention and you missed out, bad luck.
i am with you %$#@!. They will have to put poilice in EVERY church and they will have to be Kaiviti anyway.
@ wati s
Your statement "the SDL , FLP NFP etc don't have to do much" is correct. They have done nothing for the country anyway. If the ex PM can be handcuffed and locked away, what is stopping the military from doing it to other offenders, regardless. Your suggestion of setting fires to offices is pathetic to say the least. It is beyond your comprehension that the military is there to put the fires out and not to set them. You must share a brain with SP8. Where is your mass protest that we have been hearing of for the last 6 yrs? Where is the VRF?
Ha...$1 billion commitment for new planes.. now this is nuts! i wonder how expensive the tickets will be now!! Hope FNPF has not been duped into another mis-tackle by the departing CEO. The commitment is Air Pacs but someone has to pay the money!! Hope this does not become a major failure...cos most of the world is struggling!
I don't see why the 'beloved ruler' in't a king, he has all the power of an african depot or medieval king without any charisma, self- awareness or education behind him. Perhaps he is 'aiming for the stars!! But at the end of the day he is a scared, little man in uniform with a mental illness who dreams of being the pacific's 'Napoleon', and look at that turned out!!
Cost ins't an issue, we will just fly on Qantas or Virgin.
The goons in green are doing themselves more than enough damage, we should wait and watch it all unfold. Every claim they make oof a fre and fair election is being undone by themselves so we can afford to wait and watch. Perhaps we can provoke some arrests.. always goes down well with the torists, media and emabssies.
Funny how Australia has come around now that it can see the Chinese influence increasing in Fiji. Aussies are not doing this just for Fiji but also for their own benefit - they don't want to lose all influence in Fiji.
Thanks to the Chinese who have been there during the tough times!!! Better road; dams and infrastructure. i for one would be happy to allow the Chinese a Naval Base in Fiji
c4.5 allows so many racist comments it is offensive. One poster Mark Manning is a regular racist poster - i have simply commented on C4.5 that the racist posts are offensive and my comments never get published but the racists do.
Don't dribble down your chin - DO IT. Go north, get a Chinese naval base, become a Chinese quarry, continue playing with your willie - do anything but just stop whinging. Oh, and stop asking for continual AusAID handouts to pay for help with education and health of Fiji children you are neglecting under this unelected zimbabwe of the Pacific military regime.
No different to molotovs being thrown at the houses of regime oppoenents by 'mysterious government sympathisers' or probably by the thugs themselves, so they have set the standard, no point moaning about togetherness and 'one fiji' now. We remember eveything this regime has done and to whom. At its very worst Qarase and his government never threatened or abused anyone. To claim any moral high ground for this regime is joke, on youas nobody believes it.
you now owe the chinese a packet, they were LOANS, ya dummy, but i bet you will still come begging to everyone else now to help pay that debt off!! Have some dignity.
boo hoo, go complain to the regime who are the champions of the censor and look where it has gotten them, they still can't win.
Gaddafi never thought his own tactics would be used against him either and i really look forward to a bainipajamas, Khaiyum and their cronies are paraded throught the streets all battered and bloodied for all to see as an example to other would be dictatorships, or otherwise dealt with, i don't much care. Then we can all forgive and forget. Only then. Lets make some consequences.
@ bless....Hooray for consequences. I don't forget or forgive. I can wait.
'Thanks to the Chinese '??! who are well known for their selflessness, generosity, respect for human life and defenders of human rights. Long Live Tibet.
Yes please China, take over the Ausaid budget for FIji. I have paid enough. Perhaps they could ask India to help too, Nah probably not. LOL
@ wati s
Keep barking, you wont be able to change a thing anyway. Too bad if you were taken in and roughed up, you certainly deserved it.
Gaddafi lost because he dismantled his nuke potentials and wanted to open the country. Guess what is the first thing the west did.... invade!! Had the nuke threat remained, no-one would have the guts to invade. Want a case... try North Korea for taste...USA is safe for the time being but not Japan and South Korea!!The threat is credible and very real- no messing around here!! No one wins but you need your own big stick to stop others from bossing you around! How about China for Fiji.. maybe a small naval vessel here!! Wait maybe the subs are already here!!
Lol...guess we know who you are employed by don't we !! See you in the dock buddy.
Well they have sent a lead team of prostitutes and laboureres already.
@ Fiji for China...Indians and now Chinese, yuck what disgusting thought.
i am not the one who needs protection and decrees to keep myself out of gaol.
@Fiji.....China would not go anywhwere close to defending Fiji,even if asked. You must be joking. Fiji is but a passing and convenient interest. If Fiji thinmks they are better off with China then go for it and we can wind up our tourists visiting and send them to Vanuatu or Samoa. Let see how you go with Chinses tourism and see how you get treated.
the Chinese loans are at 1% or 2% interest rates so they are easy to look after. A lot of the help has been for free also. Yes they don't have the best human rights records but things are improving. Just give them time
Why should we say no to Australian help if they want to - besides we send them tens of millions in aid in terms of educated migrants!!
c4.5 are a bigoted lot. People who allow their posts on the site should do a bit of research on them before being associated with them in any way.
On the most recently published figures, the average cost of educating a child in a government school is $10,715 (Productivity Commission figure), and in a non-government school, $10,444
(MCEETYA figure).
God yes. Rabuka Speight Lalabalavu Qarase and every other coupist or supporter paraded bloodied through the streets? Good one. Or is the bloody parade only for the 2006 ists?
@ anonymous ghoose
Don't underestimate Fijians or their patience. If there is ever to be gaddafi like 'incidents' (God forbid) in Fiji one can be assured it will not be Hon Mandela Qarase or other loyal patriot Fijians who will be dragged throught the streets. The same cannot be said for the treasonous scum that has attacked Fijians, their respected Chiefs, their Christian religion, or their culture. So let's all sit back, relax, and let the military finally work out the extent to which they have been used and abused by those manipulating the fool bainimarama? Then enjoy the clean up and return to Fiji as a free and democratic nation.
I oh i see it if Fiji giving Australia aid ??!! It is not our fault they get crap wages and conditions. You have done that. You might want to look at the coups that caused all of this emigration. BTW do you know as a taxpayer exactly how much Fiji has borrowed under this military regime and when it needs to be paid back?? I would happily compare the aid that was given during the most recent disasters to ANYTHING china or india have given. It speaks volumes about them really and their people. I also note that the regime has had to give a road contract back to NZ coz the Chinese contractors are useless, incompetent and don't pay their workers properly.
wah wah wah toughen up, sticks and stones ya big mimi.
Mandela Qarase ????????????
respected chiefs ????????
Which planet are you from ?
Qarase is no Mandela, and as for chiefs/thieves, the less said the better !!
Rusi - the point is that yes it's great that western government give aid to developing countries but lets recognise that here is a lot of self interest in it
The other point is that yes Western countries have taken a lot from developing and poor countries- the biggest of which in addition to all natural resources is well educated and skilled people - what a loss to the developing countries and a huge unrecognised gain for developed countries
Not so subtle threat of violence - and Banimarama is Fijian last time I checked. He is nor being manipulated - he is doing what he and the military think is right - but it is easier to excuse them and look for scapegoats
If Qarase was Mandela, his supporters would not be talking about dragging the opposition through the streets,or writing racist lies on the blogs.
How about NZ and OZ bans its trade with China because the human rights in Fiji is really bad and a lot of honest, hard working people, non racist democratic people are really struggling!! I dont think so... because China is running the planet... everything is made in china... Reality is business kicks human rights anytime.. just ask USA!! Oh by the way, the poor Fiji is a small mouse that gives a head-ache to OZ and NZ!! But China gives them the blood to run their democratic nations! Another thing.. China NEVER abandons a friend.. they will always stand beside you!! Someday they will even piss all over you too...
If Qarase is Mandela then logic would say that Banimarama is equivalent to Jesus, Ram, Mohammed and Bhuddha!! Case rested!!
And still no one has defended the 4.5 story about frisking in the US!
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