Sorry it has been so long since my last post. But I took on the challenge of moving my blog to a new location. I felt my host, who is not directly involved in this, had been taking on too great a risk. And so the decision was made to move.
Meanwhile, I was not without news, as I’m sure you’ve been keeping up with my blogging colleagues who have been keeping current on threatened strikes, diplomatic rumblings, etc.
So to start off the blog’s “new” location, I offer you the TVNZ “Frank Exchange” program. Note the great act our dear Interim St. Giles escapee leader was in front of the cameras... But you can see that for yourself! Above is the short version. But if you want to watch it all (or nearly all), here is part 1 - tvnz-bai-part1-070807-sm.mov (5.2 mb, about 7 min) ; and part 2 - tvnz-bai-part2-070807-sm.mov (4.4 mb, 6 min).
One cannot help but wonder if Bainanapyjamas took lessons in politics from GW Bush? He had that dumb look of incredulity that dubbya’s honed to a high art whenever asked a direct and intelligent question.
Apparently NZ PM Helen Clarke agreed to some degree and was even joking about it in her interview a day after the program aired.
But then Bai, the confused queen of darts, attacked NZ for asking questions on their visa applications of Fijians and their relationship to the interim government leaders. Here’s the report in the Fiji Village last week.
Bainimarama questions NZ visa forms
By fijivillage
Jul 7, 2007, 10:42
As the New Zealand government continues to have questions in its visa application forms asking Fiji citizens whether they are related to or associated with Commodore Bainimarama, the Interim Prime Minister has questioned what NZ is achieving by doing that.
Commodore Bainimarama said the NZ government should realize that it is hurting people who had nothing to do with the events of December 5th, and they are being unfairly treated.
When some members of the media questioned whether the interim government will retaliate in similar fashion as the NZ government, Commodore Bainimarama said he had no time for these kinds of matters
But then a few days later, Baiji tries to allay fears that Native Lands are under attack after stories of the Chinese Agricultural scheme were tauted.
Native Land Will Remain With Landowners –
Interim PM
By fijivillage
Jul 10, 2007, 08:12
The Interim Prime Minister has stressed that none of the native land will be taken away from landowners by the interim government.
Commodore Frank Bainimarama has also rejected the views of certain politicians since 1987 that Indians will steal the native land.
The Interim PM said all native land is well protected and fear tactics are being used by certain people to incite fear amongst the landowners for political gain.
Meanwhile, ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase said it is well known that only an elected government can make changes to land legislations.
Qarase said the Bainimarama led government has no authority to even propose any changes.
But it’s a sad turn of events these days when we find ourselves fighting amongst ourselves, and within families. Not that domestic abuse is unknown here. But when the individual boys in green become confused, the situation can get nasty at home. Check this breaking story from the Fiji Sun on the Nurses strike situation.
Nurses face threats from army hubbies
Fiji Sun, Last updated 7/15/2007 9:49:40 AM
Some members of the Fiji Nursing Association are being threatened by their spouses in the army not to join in the nationwide strike planned by the association.
Association general secretary Kuini Lutua confirmed they had received a few cases. She would not, however, reveal the exact number of reports FNA had received.
Ms Lutua said the association met with its members and informed them to explain the situation and the main objective of the strike.
She said FNA had told its members that they should explain to their spouses that not only nurses would benefit from this but their family as well.
"It is not a concern to us and we have discussed that generally and they were concerned about being disciplined if they go on strike. They are thinking that if I go on strike, I will be disciplined by the army and that can't happen," said Ms Lutua.
"And we know as well that our members know their rights. And we are only asking Government to recognise nursing as an essential service."
Military spokesman Major Neumi Leweni would not confirm nor deny the threats by some soldiers.
"That is a matter between the husbands and the wives," said Major Leweni. He would not comment any further.
Ms Lutua said the association was trying to meet the Interim Government tomorrow to discuss pending issues. She said nurses had been promised so many things that did not eventuate. "We ask the Government to address nursing as an important and an essential service. Nowadays, the nursing profession is being compared to clerical officers," said Ms Lutua.
But it will be necessary to really tighten our belts more than ever as we suffer through the even harder times to come. Maybe some traditional food preservation practices are in order...
Alarm on food prices
Fiji Sun, Last updated 7/15/2007 9:57:06 AM
Citizens are wary of the price increase on several food items since December 5, 2006. And many are saying that more prices will increase.
A housewife, Shashi Narayan, 40, of Nawaka in Nadi, said they are now cautious of spending money on things that are not important.
"We are always making a budget on how much money we are going to spend and how much money we are going to save. Ever since the price increases on several food items we have cut our spending on unnecessary things," said Ms Narayan.
"My husband is a carpenter and works on a contract basis. He always tells us to be careful with our spending and always keep money for tough times to come. The prices of vegetables have increased, fuel, meat and now powdered milk," Ms Narayan added.
"It seems that slowly the price of everything is increasing. I use kerosene to cook food and regularly use powdered milk for tea. Kerosene and powdered milk is our daily essential usages.
"We just hope that the prices of other essential things do not increase.”
But just as crazy, Laisa Digitaki and her daughter are prevented from leaving the country. So now “pro” democracy activists are blacklisted and banned from travel.
Businesswoman told she cannot leave country
Fiji Times • Thursday, July 12, 2007
Laisa Digitaki and daughter, Natasha, at the Nadi International Airport yesterday
BUSINESSWOMAN and pro-democracry activist Laisa Digitaki has been stopped from leaving the country by Immigration officers.
She was surprised when called aside by Immigration officials at Nadi International Airport and told that her name was on the travel-ban list.
Ms Digitaki questioned Immigration authorities why she was not allowed to fly out of the country with her daughter Natasha on Air Pacific to Sydney yesterday.
"The last time I travelled was in May and now I am told I cannot leave the country," she said. Ms Digitaki said she and her daughter were made to feel like fugitives when they were pulled aside.
"I feel sorry for my daughter who had to go through this experience," she said. "I thought my being stopped had something to do with my case earlier but that was quashed by the court.
"The interim administration's travel ban is not working. By stopping civilians from travelling they are sending out the wrong message to the rest of the world. What I want to know is what wrong have I done.
"The so-called people they say they are trying to protect are a lie and as far as I'm concerned, the public emergency regulation is still intact despite them saying it has been lifted."
Ms Digitaki said she did not know why some civilians were not allowed the freedom of movement. Immigration Director Commander Viliame Naupoto said Ms Digitaki was banned from leaving the country. He said he advised her where she could get clearance from. He said he would not disclose why Ms Digitaki
was stopped from leaving the country but said she was on the travel ban list.
"Laisa is on the travel ban list but I cannot disclose what for as I am only following instructions handed down to me," he said. "I don't decide who gets put on the travel list and who gets taken off it. I only receive directives and follow them out."
Ms Digitaki was among a group of pro-democracy activists who were charged for publicly protesting against the military takeover.
The courts recently dismissed the charges against the group after the Director of Public Prosecutions Office found that there was insufficient evidence to make the charge stick.
Ms Digitaki, who was among the first to be taken to the military barracks, had even turned one of her properties into a democracy shrine.
But wait! No worries at all, for the Chinese will no longer need Visa’s to enter Fiji! Oh joy! Let the land deals begin...
Visa exemption for China
1629 FJT
Fiji Times • Friday, July 13, 2007
Update: 4.29pm
MOVES to exempt Chinese citizens from having to obtain a visa to enter Fiji has been welcomed by the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association, according to a report carried by Radio New Zealand.
Director of Immigration Commander Viliame Naupoto said China could join the list of countries whose nationals are exempt from visa requirements such as Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada and India. He said there may now be a need to tighten border control measures once the list of countries on the visa exemption list increases.
The Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association has welcomed the move, saying it would provide a welcome boost to the tourist industry.
Fiji's ambassador designate to China, Sir James Ah Koy, has been pushing for the visa free status, the report says.
Sir James says over 30 million Chinese tourists with large disposable incomes travel abroad every year. He says if only two per cent of them can be persuaded to visit Fiji, that would exceed the current total number of visitors to Fiji every year.
Meanwhile, dear Queen bai continues to sound like a spoilt child accusing Larry Dinger of misleading the USA (sounds like Green all over again) after the US factfinding mission came back with a not-so-nice report. So what next, Bai? Will you expell the US Ambassador, too?
The Associated Press published in the International Herald-Tribune had a more thorough story on the subject...
US envoy criticized by Fiji military ruler for 'misleading' information
The Associated Press
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
SUVA, Fiji: Fiji's military ruler accused the U.S. ambassador Wednesday of spreading misleading information about his coup, comparing the envoy to a New Zealand diplomat he expelled for allegedly meddling in the country's affairs.
Commodore Frank Bainimarama did not threaten to kick out U.S. Ambassador Larry Dinger, but the comments are likely to deepen divisions between the military government and countries, including the United States, demanding Fiji quickly return to democratic rule.
Bainimarama's condemnation of Dinger was in response to criticism from a visiting U.S. Congressional delegation that coups like Fiji's were "disastrous," and its demand for elections to be held.
Bainimarama expelled New Zealand High Commissioner Michael Green last month, accusing him of interfering in the country's domestic affairs, prompting New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark to announce tougher sanctions on the regime.
Of the U.S. delegation, Bainimarama said: "They're getting the same story from their ambassador, Larry Dinger, as Helen Clark was getting from hers, Michael Green. They're not getting the real story of what's happening in Fiji."
Dinger said in a statement he had not influenced the delegation's findings, but had helped arrange meetings with members of the ousted government and the regime's Foreign Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.
"The congressmen came to their own conclusions," Dinger said.
A statement from the U.S. delegation said its members told Nailatikau that the world views military coups as "disastrous," and that Bainimarama's putsch was "extremely troubling."
Members urged the regime to end rights and rule-of-law violations, and to hold democratic elections as soon as possible.
They said they were "disturbed" by Nailatikau's suggestion that elections may not be held as promised by late 2008 or early 2009.
Under threat of tough economic sanctions, Bainimarama has promised to restore democracy after weeding out alleged corruption in the bureaucracy and reforming the electoral process. But he has given only a vague commitment to a timetable that independent observers say is possible.
Bainimarama indicated on Sunday that he would only call elections when he was ready.
"If we have elections next week, I can tell you that we will have the same brand of people who were running country for the last five years. They will turn this country upside down again," he told New Zealand's TV One.
Bainimarama's coup was Fiji's fourth since 1987. He says he seized power to protect the rights of the country's substantial ethnic Indian minority from the former nationalist government, and to prevent plotters in the previous putsch in 2000 from being pardoned.
so there you have it... the world thinks our illegally self-appointed “leader” is nuts... and we’re all stuck in the same bowl of soup with this mental case holding the key to the door...
I hardly advocate for any kind of violence. That is the OPPOSITE of what Fiji needs. But the IG needs to know that their actions have led a severe blow to all of us, affecting our livelihoods, our futures, our children, our beloved islands... Please let us put our heads together... and find a way to climb out of this Alice in Wonderland Rabbit Hole...
Your ideas for peaceful change are urgently needed...
