ANALYSIS: Do We Want Democracy Or Not?
August 06
08:242015
At the height of the wildfire that spread this week about a rumour that the Attorney-General had been arrested and detained, I had fielded many calls.
Among them were calls from a Fijian village, Sydney and New Zealand, all wanting to know if it was true.
If it was true, it would have been on the news. I told the callers it was not true
The truth was reiterated on Tuesday in the Fiji Sun which carried a front page photo of Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum enjoying time with kindergarten children and their parents in Sigatoka.
Later in the afternoon he came to Suva and met Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. It was a normal briefing meeting before PM left for Canada.
The rumour was linked by the perpetrators to the resignation of Brigadier-General Mosese Tikoitoga and the appointment of Commodore Viliame Naupoto as acting Commander of the Repuc of Fiji Military Forces. It also suggested there was trouble brewing in the military.
The rumour was designed by anti-FijiFirst forces to cause a revolt and destabilise the Government.
I was reliably informed that a one of leading trade unionists was busy spreading the rumour.
They fit into this saying: “Rumours are carried by haters, spread by fools and accepted by idiots. People are quick to believe the bad things about good people.”
Their act of disinformation or misinformation tantamounts to inciting to cause revolt and public disorder.
It shows their total disregard of the democratic processes that have been implemented since last year’s general election.
The question that needs to be asked is what kind of democracy do they want?
Do they want us to go back to the pre-election status quo?
We cannot afford to go backwards. It would cause irreparable harm and damage to this country.
In our democracy we are free to differ or disagree as long as we express ourselves responsibly and within the bounds of the law.
Spreading lies is outside the ambits of the law if it incites feelings of intolerance and hatred that may lead to civil unrest.
Rebel rousers who are stoking anti-Government feelings through lies and deceptions should think seriously about the consequences of their devious and sinister campaign and actions.
2 comments:
Has Croz been hacked?
Geez Marc Edge you again. Please just leave us Fijians (I am a I'Taukei alone and dos omething useful where you are. As a country we are doing well given our detractors (local ones that is).
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