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Friday, August 7, 2009

Fiji Should not Lecture PIF Nations!!

Isn't it ironic that the only authoritarian state in Oceania is trying to lecture the rest of the Pacific Island nations on "responsibility and accountability," and on the issue of "marginalization and fragmentation of regional cooperation and unity" across the region? This is indeed incredible.
Uriel Matanani, wrote from Cairns, Australia, quote Fiji Foreign Minister,

"The Fijian Government accused the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Tuiloma Neroni Slade of poor leadership and practicing double standards in relation to Fiji’s situation."

What? "poor leadership and double standards?" What the heck is Fiji talking about here? the current illegitimate government of Com. Bainimarama lacks responsibility and always shows double standard ever since it was created. The current Fijian government rose to power after Fijian thugs toppled the democratically elected government of Mahendra Chaudhry and failed to return the rule of law to the Fiji Islands. Com. Bainimarama shredded the Constitution and remained the dictator of islands of Fiji regardless of opposition within and without. It is ridiculous, however, that Fiji would have the audacity to accuse the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) of "double standard".

Matanani continued, "The newly appointed Foreign Affairs minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola said the double standards by the Forum Secretariat in selectively inviting Fiji as and when suitable, is a poor reflection of the secretariat’s leadership...
'As an institution established to strengthen regional cooperation and integration among state parties, it is sad to note that it is not only marginalising its own members, but fragmenting the very fabric in which the institution was built upon.'"(Fiji Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola: Quoted)"

Fist of all, Ratu Kubuabola is right on one thing and that is the PIF is "an institution established to strengthen cooperation and integration among State Parties," but Fiji has never cooperated whatsoever with the rest of the Pacific Island nations. Especially since its government took office after the coup against a legitimately elected government. The PIF nations have been pleading for the Fijian dictator to restore the rule of law, but their plea fell on deaf ears. This dictator earlier this year broke a promise to return the rule of law, instead he restored himself as the leader of the nation, expelling journalists and foreign diplomat. How can the a man with such atrocious mindset accused the PIF members of something he failed to do for years? Despite constant plea from PIF members to restore the rule of law in the beautiful islands of Fiji, Com. Bainimarama remained a dictator.

Secondly, the Fijian government has no right to lecture the PIF and anyone in the Pacific region about s0-called "marginalization" (of a particular state) in an organization that pledges to unite island nations on common interests because Fiji is the champion of such. This is a country (Fiji) that "marginalizes" the Indian race right from the start. It became evident in the first coup of 1987 when Com. Siteveni Rabuka overthrew the Indo-Fijian dominated government, and the coup of year 2000 the threw out an Indo-Fijian government. This is a nation that rewrites its constitution in the name of transparency and and then shredding it because an Indo-Fijian (Mehandra Chaudhry), the first ever Fijian of Indian decent, was elected (in 1999) the Prime Minister of Fiji. The Fijian government, despite locking up the coup leader, carried out the ideas that the coup leader of 2000, George Speight, stood for. Every right minded leader would restore the rule of law and the democratically elected Prime Minister if things were against the nation's Constitution. Instead, he became the leader and suppressed almost all opposition forces against him, including the expulsion of the NZ Higher Commissioner, locking of our opposition voices (blogers esp) and censoring national media. It is sufficient to say that the current Fijian government is either carrying out an extension of a wider conspiracy hatched in 2000 by the coup leader, Mr. Speight or just running out of options that would go in favour of indigenous Fijians if the rule of law is restored. In an earlier attempt, the government tried to push through a legislation that would have resulted in the release of the coup leader, but went unsuccessful (need to double check). It was a fishy move the seemed to validate the idea that this government may have been backing or even orchestrating the coup of 2000.

Until the Fijian government restored the rule of law to the beautiful islands of Fiji, the PIF nations don't need to be lectured by that government on issues of national integrity, regional cooperation and stability.

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