The Real Survivor Fiji - Plots Alleged

2007 Pacific People - Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama - Interim Prime Minister Government of Fiji -- B. 27 April 1954 VILL. Kiuva, Tailevu HS Marist Brothers High School UNIV. Fiji Institute of Technology, Second Mate Qualification; Junior Command and Staff College, RNZAF CHURCH Methodist EXP. Joined Royal Fiji Military Forces Naval Division 1975; Appointed Commander Officer Fiji Navy 1988; Chief of Staff Republic of Fiji Military Forces 1997; Commander of Fiji Military Forces 1999. BOARDS Fiji Rugby Union HOBBIES All sports especially rugby union and athletics, military history, current affairs. SPOUSE Maria Makitalena CHILD 6 -- Caption & Image Credit: Pacific Magazine

The Real Survivor Fiji - Plots Alleged

When someone takes over a country by force one might expect that others who do not agree with this action outside of democracy … resort to the same tactics in removing an illegal leader from power.

Paranoia strikes deep in a regime that takes power without the consent of the people and the rule of law. The longer this military dictatorship remains in power … the more paranoid this leadership will become.

Commodore Frank is unable to distinguish between what is good for Frank and what is good for democracy.

At this rate, this leadership-by-paranoia style of Commodore Frank means that Fiji will not be able to expect to see elections anytime soon … especially by 2009!

Heaven forbid that ANY tourist happens to voice an off-the-cuff opinion about democracy verses forced military rule in a mixed crowd of Fijians … one might just find themselves hurt because they - - (quote excerpted from AP article) suffered "minor injuries'' when he resisted arrest!

This item excerpted from the Associated Press via the Guardian Unlimited (UK) -

3 Charged in Plot to Kill Fiji Ruler
By PITA LIGAIULA - Associated Press Writer - Monday November 5, 2007 12:01 PM

SUVA, Fiji (AP) - Authorities said Monday they have arrested 16 people and charged three of them with treason in an alleged conspiracy to assassinate Fiji's military leader, while Australia and New Zealand angrily rejected suggestions they were involved.

The 16 people were arrested over the weekend in what police said was a foiled plot by dissident troops and others against army chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama. The military leader seized power in a bloodless coup in December and declared himself interim prime minister of the Pacific island nation.

Police commissioner Esala Teleni declined to identify the three charged Monday with treason, inciting mutiny and conspiracy to murder. He said a fourth man, New Zealand businessman Ballu Khan, also would be charged in the plot when he is released from a hospital.
----
"We have successfully blocked any threat to the government, the community and the safety and well-being of tourists in this country,'' he said in a statement. The island chain is a popular tourist destination.

Teleni said Sunday that the alleged plotters included local politicians who wanted to foment an insurgency. He pointed to possible involvement of "foreign governments" - likely meaning Australia and New Zealand - and suggested that money was funneled to plotters through private aid groups.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer called the allegations "completely absurd."

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark rejected Teleni's suggestions as "wild statements" and said the plot allegations were a pretext to round up Bainimarama's opponents.

Western nations have urged Bainimarama to restore Fiji's democracy after he imposed a monthlong state of emergency in September. Fiji has a history of turbulent politics, including two coups in 1987 and another in 2000.

Bainimarama blamed the latest plot, allegedly involving arms and explosives, on "disgruntled groups'' affected by the government's anti-corruption program.

"Such people have the potential to go to extremes in undermining the work which the interim government has been mandated to undertake," he said Monday.
Reference Here>>

Is the crackdown on "disgruntled groups" - as Commodore Frank calls them - or is the government anti-corruption program effort really an anti-democracy program?

The Real Survivor Fiji – The Ying & Yang Of Economics

Malalo Island – Image Credit: Vixenbird from review Fiji Fun

The Real Survivor Fiji – The Ying & Yang Of Economics

The new military junta now ruling the island nation of Fiji loves to see the world from both sides and declare things are good because they say “It’s Good”.

But these news dispatches could not be any different as it relates to the deteriorating pillars of the Fijian economy and it can not be plastered over through righteous Coup Declaration!

Excerpts from AAP via NineMSN (National Nine News, Austrailia) –

Sanctions aren't hurting Fiji: military
Thursday Mar 15 11:51 AEDT

Fiji's military rulers say human rights abuses in the Pacific nation are relatively minor and international sanctions imposed after the recent coup have had little impact.

Speaking on the eve of a meeting of Pacific Islands Forum of foreign ministers in Vanuatu, where Fiji's return to democracy will be discussed, Major Neumi Leweni said he did not feel things in his country had changed since the December 5 coup.

"The impact on the people of Fiji (of sanctions) depends on how people see things" said Leweni, who is Fiji's military spokesman.

"As we speak, I really don't feel any different to the way things were before December the fifth."

He said his situation was typical of average Fijians.
----
"It is going smoothly. Things are going well.
----
Major Leweni also defended the military government's handling of the media, amid widespread allegations of censorship.

"We haven't really interfered with the media. All we have done with the media is getting them to report the truth," he said.

"We actually raised issues with some of them on articles they have published that were totally untrue."

He said he would check reports that websites had been censored by the media, including a popular forum at the Fiji Village website.

Communications Fiji managing director William Parkinson said his site's forum had been shut down after a meeting with the deputy commander of Fiji's military, Captain Esala Teleni, and talking to police.
Read All>>

Malolo Lei Lie – Image Credit: Erikapeto from review Malalo LeiLei Lagoon Resort Club

And this from NewsRoom.co.nz (New Zealand) –

Fiji Government Cuts Tourism Funding
1:07 pm, 15 Mar 2007

Tourism operators in Fiji say a 30 percent cut in government funding will harm their industry even more as it struggles to recover from last year's coup.

In its budget the Government has reduced tourism funding to 10 million Fiji dollars, down from 15 million last.

The chairman of the Fiji Tourism Action Group is asking for a review because the cut may mean marketing is reduced in New Zealand and Australia.

Damend Gounder says the Government does not seem to recognise that economic recovery in Fiji depends on tourism.
Reference Here>>

The Ying - "The impact on the people of Fiji (of sanctions) depends on how people see things" said Leweni, who is Fiji's military spokesman. "As we speak, I really don't feel any different to the way things were before December the fifth." He said his situation was typical of average Fijians. "It is going smoothly. Things are going well.

The Yang - In its budget the [military] Government has reduced tourism funding to 10 million Fiji dollars, down from 15 million last.

Oh boy! This coup is goin'a leave a mark.