The news in Fiji fails to improve when the government dogs inspect the media hen house, and true investigative journalism ends up being nothing but propaganda regurgitation. No offense to the wellmeaning journos out there who want to get the story straight. But the reality is that the memories of the 2000 coup, destruction of FijiTV, threats to media freedom and real threats of bodily harm, it is no wonder that we all end up reading a mostly watered down grog of a report.
So, in the interest of livening up your sense of outrage, I offer the above entertaining remix of the Black Eyed Peas “Lies” number. With apologies to the BEP’s, i hope you’ll agree that this kind of satire warrants the “borrowing” and remixing of pop culture and available news.
Now, back to the news...
Bai’s Bans: The Control Freak tries to prevent “dissidents” from leaving Fiji!
In case you haven’t been following the news lately, it seems that the latest moves by the narcissistic mental case, aka Queen BainiMarama, has been trying to control how people talk about Fiji, even when it’s NOT in the traditional news media. Graham Leung was blocked from leaving Fiji and this was followed shortly after by a ban for Laisa Digitaki and daughter travelling out of the country[See FijiTimes story - Businesswoman told she cannot leave country - Fiji Times Online.pdf], followed by a block to Shamima Ali. And they’re not the only ones being barred from travel, including Francis Herman, former FBC head... You might recall that all have spoken out against the illegal regime, including when travelling overseas in the past.
But Queen Bai says: “NONE OF THAT! You shall NOT talk badly about ME while you go on holiday! And if you DO, then NO MORE HOLIDAYS FOR YOU!”
I received this story from a reader:
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Shamima Ali stopped from leaving Fiji
Source: Fiji Women'sCrisis Centre ( 17 july 2007)
On Monday 16 July 2007 Commissioner Shamima Ali of the Fiji Human Rights Commission and head of the Fiji Women’s Crisis
Centre was prevented from leaving the country. The instruction to prevent Ali from leaving was sent to the airport at about 7.30pm
last night. The instruction came apparently from Pramesh Chand, military appointed CEO in the PM"s Office. Ali was leaving for
Townsville to attend the Townsville International Feminist Women’s Conference where she was to present a paper on women’s issues. Ali has taken a strong stand against the military supported government and has spoken out against the actions of the Director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, Shaista Shameem who has openly supported the military coup and military government.
Shaista has been appointed as Ombudsman by the military authorities which makes her Chair of the Fiji Human Rights Commission as well. She believes that this is an act of intimidation designed to stop her from being critical of the Bainimarama military regime. The price of free speech is the loss of freedom of movement.
On Legend FM on 17 July 2007 on the 7am news Commodore Bainimarama said on the travel ban imposed on prominent lawyer
and outspoken critic of the military government, Graham Everett Leung that, Leung could "go to court of he wanted or he could
stowaway...but he is not going anywhere". Bainamarama questioned why lawyers were defending their own rights but not the rights of those banned from going to Australia and NZ like members of the interim regime. In a similar statement (Fiji Village July 16.2007) military appointed Attorney General Aiyaz khiayum said that lawyers were being selective in standing up for human rights, and that they ought also to be standing up for the rights of those banned from traveling to NZ and Australia eg those in the regime who the NZ and Australian governments have banned.
The military regime continues to maintain that the Constitution and the Bill of Rights is still in existence and that all rights and
freedoms, including free speech and free movement are guaranteed.
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What kind of logic is it to “prevent” folks from leaving just because you think they’ll say bad things about you? Wouldn’t that just give them MORE bad things to say about you? Seems like diplomacy and “spin” are not this administrations strengths... and bullying can only go so far...
These folks are not taking it lying down and have challenged BainiPyjamas BAN on LEAVING... [See Leung_ Stand up for people - Fiji Times Online.pdf]
This report out of Radio New Zealand, however, doesn’t bode well for “happy Fiji” if the military decides to use strongarm tactics against the public at large...
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FIJI – FILE 8363: RNZI-Suva July 21, 2007
POLICE AND MILITARY TACTICS LIKE TIANANMEN SQUARE!!
Police and military training being practised in Fiji for the control of unruly crowds in the event of a civil service strike next week have been likened to Tiananmen Square type tactics.
Fiji TV showed pictures last night in which large bodies of riot police armed with protective gear including helmets, shields and large batons pushing back an imaginary crowd.
When they failed, armed troops with bayonets fixed to their rifles moved forward firing bullets at the ground.
After viewing the pictures, a tearful trade unionist Taniela Tabu, his lips quivering, said he was only responding to the call of workers and a call from God.
He told the Fiji Sun newspaper later the tactics were similar to the brute force used by Communist China in Tiananmen Square in 1989 when thousands of pro-democracy student protestors were killed and injured.
Mr Tabu said it is the influence of China on Fiji and if the interim prime minister cannot take the heat from the civil servants, he should step down.
The military says it is not intimidation but a deterrent to illegal behaviour.
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I don’t know about you, but I’m beginning to think it might be a really good idea to watch for foreign ships in the neighborhood... Could it be only coincidence that the US has been practicing “humanitarian” exercises in Vanuatu and elsewhere nearby? something they haven’t done in “decades”? [See USmilitary-200707.pdf]
But, speaking of leaving, it seems that the delays in justice (where can there be justice when the judiciary is left completely and utterly weakened and dysfunctional) have driven one widow to find comfort overseas...
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Widow seeks refuge in NZ
Monday, July 23, 2007, Fiji Times
THE widow of Nimilote Verebasaga, the Tailevu man who was allegedly beaten to death by soldiers, left for New Zealand last week, with mixed reports from her family members on her intention to reside there permanently.
Asinate Verebasaga's father-in-law, Vatimio Liganisulu said yesterday she left the country last Thursday and she planned on staying there permanently if she adapted to the conditions there.
"She told me she would stay for about four weeks and if she liked it she would try and stay on,'' he said.
Liganisulu, 80, said his son's widow had been helped by the New Zealand Government.
However, Verebasaga's brother, Vatimio Junior, maintained that his sister-in-law had only travelled on a business visa.
"They have no plans on staying there permanently as yet, contrary to media reports," he said.
Liganisulu Junior said the New Zealand Government had not given her special treatment and that herrequest for political asylum in January had been rejected.
He said Mrs Verebasaga was on a three-month visitor's visa and was on her second month of work leave and that a third child was still residing with him.
When contacted yesterday, New Zealand High Commission first secretary Kirk Yates said they were not at liberty to comment on immigration details of individuals.
Verebasaga's father however has hit out at the delay in trying those responsible for his son's death and at the probability that a military court would try the suspect.
"I do not agree with a court-martial. They should be brought before a court of law like anybody else,'' said the Nakaulevu elder.
His sentiments were echoed by Alanieta Rabaka, who maintains the military is using delaying tactics as investigations into the death of her son Sakiusa, drags on five months after he was allegedly beaten by police and army officers in Nadi.
Mrs Rabaka said she was monitoring the investigation into Verebasaga's death and said she was concerned her son's death probe could be sidelined by a military court-martial instead of trial in a court of law.
"The lawyers have told us to be patient and wait but we are only humans and our patience is limited," said Mrs Rabaka.
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You can amuse yourself with some of the more obvious outcomes of this ridiculous situation...
Job losses in Fiji Tourism sector? Duhhhhhh
http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_39895.shtml
Revenue collections down? Duhhhhh
While guess you can SAVE LOTS OF MONEY YOU DIDN’T HAVE IN THE FIRST PLACE if you cut back on government services and spending! Duhhhhhh
http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_39881.shtml
Nothing like a gift for stating the obvious in a bad situation... So, just in case you still needed to amuse yourself, I offer this for those of you who want to download the MP3 version of our new remix, for your iPod-style player...lies_and_peas.mp3
How about somebody out there provide the next tunes or your own recording and video or photos for a new hit coup-coup remix?! Send it along! I’ll post the resulting magical contributions on behalf of the Fiji Freedom Bloggers.
Meanwhile, be safe and stay strong!
v!
