Fiji People reject sham charter

No explanations needed about this great letter from Mere Samisoni today. It mirrors what everyone in Fiji (except for the brown nosed brigade) is thinking.

FIJI TIMES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR : 30 Dec 2008

IN contrast to the warped views, twisted priorities and forced, non-sequiteur reasoning of the interim regime and its dwindling cadre of support, Professor Wadan Narsey's article 'Charter sham' (FT 23/12) was clear, straight forward, logical and, most of all, true.

However, there is one point where I take issue with the good doctor -- his contention that the charter has no evil in it.

The claim is true as far as it goes but the charter nevertheless bodes evil because of its real raison d'etre.

The evil is that the charter is not, as has been claimed, Bainimarama's exit strategy to allow Fiji to return to democracy, normality and common sense.

It is far from it.

The charter is actually Bainimarama's carte blanche re-entry strategy to serve as some kind of legal basis to allow him and the military to do at any time in future, what the Constitution point-blank did not allow him to do in December 2006.

It means that all the post-2006 stupidity, denial, illogic, lack of understanding and wrong-headedness that we are suffering under, will not be rolled back by the coming election because it will only be a Damocles sword away from being re-visited on the poor, suffering people of Fiji again at any time in future and at the whim of the charter's so-called guardians.

These are the people who, we have already seen, refuse to submit to any ministerial directive, parliamentary vote, court ruling or constitutional clause that it does not like.

It means that any post-regime government must either submit itself to the guardian's views, as opposed to the people's views or expect another 2006-style takeover.

So post-election Fiji will only be in one of two states:

* Within yet another interim regime nightmare or

* Under threat of being returned to one.

MERE SAMISONI
Lami

When Xmas is reflective

The holidays are dashing through with its combination of dim-wits and bright lights, road rage & busy shoppers, idiotic Teleni parades, lovo & curry, parties, diplomatic expulsions and greetings between long lost friends and relatives. But the holiday season can be a dreaded time of year for many of us women and can bring much anxiety.

We women often struggle with a silent pain we work hard to hide, and one that is often misunderstood. That pain is for all the combined worry and grief we expect will come at us sometime during this silly season.

This worry has uneven edges that sometimes jabs at the soul and lacerates raw hearts especially those mothers and wives that have experienced loss or grief. We worry about many things - food and education for the future, for our relatives that are spending beyond their means.

We worry about the lost message of what Xmas means, we worry for the children; for the drunkards that may invade our space, our homes and our families during this time. We worry that people wont behave themselves so we nag and become bossy.

We worry there will be arguments but try to be upbeat and muster energy to smile and hope no one notices that the twinkle in our eye is really looming tears. We worry our sadness will show so we carry on with our charade of happiness.

I have not found it easy to forget about Sakiusa Rabaka's Nau, Nimilote Verebasaga's wife and Tevita Malasebe's Nau, Anise, whose beloveds passed away 2 years ago at the hands of the Fiji Military and Police.

As we spend our Christmas's in 2008, please spare a thought for all those women in Fiji who have been so courageous in the face of everyday adversity . It is often at Christmas that we ladies crave the nostalgia for perfection - the perfect lovo and plenty of it , joyful families with no smelly drunks around to annoy us, lots of makabuna to do the dishes for us, and homes full of love.

But ragone, we do have a tendency to let our expectations overshadow reality. When the church choir start singing the carols and the Courts and MH sales begin- we can count on the fact that a woman we know is grieving.

If you have been fortunate enough to be spared a loved one passing away this year, take a moment to look around at the women in your village or community & go to see those in difficulty that may be uplifted by your friendship or care. Try to find some way to include her in your family festivities if this can help.

Love in action is more powerful than any medicine and stronger than any spoken word.

May the Good Host bless all the wonderful Freedom Bloggers in this festive season. Be safe and love one another. And may we have a much better New year in 2009.

Its full moon time again and Frankie's cranky

SO WE HEAR on the grapevine that cranky Frankie is preparing to expel New Zealand’s Acting High Commissioner because the great dictator is unhappy Iloilo's personal assistant’s son is unlikely to be granted a student visa.

Apparently young George Nacewa said something to the effect of "It's (The travel and visa sanctions) are supposed to only include permanent secretaries and my dad isn't one, he's just a normal secretary, he's a civil servant,"

Yeah Right Jioji ... as the makabunas would say !

And as we all know sanctions against Fiji apply to members of Bainimarama's regime, senior officials and their relatives. And further as we all know Rupeni Nacewa is not "just a secretary" - he is in fact the de facto President of Fiji. Rupeni is the one who has been the one giving Ilioilo wrong advice, being highly immoral domestically (yes Rups Big bear - we all know what you are doing) and is the evil behind the throne so to speak.

Thank you NZ and Australia for keeping the sanctions on Fiji's illegal rulers. The sanctions are working and the pressure needs to be wound up now.

We hear on the grapevine that it is also really also the wives and mistresses of the newly rich military officers and the newly appointed junta sympathisers that are whining because they can't go SHOPPING overseas .....

Welcome to the real world Frankie. It doesnt just evolve around you or Rups mate. Its what you have done that affects everyone else, so enough of the foot-stomping and buffoon-ism and give Fiji back to its people....... then maybe Georgie can get his visa. Kapish ?

Trigger Happy and Capricious no more?

The trigger-happy and capricious administration that heads up Fiji's current dictatorship may perhaps sober up at this news which means that the UN is finally putting their money where their mouth is.

Coupled with the EU not releasing sugar funds, and the international condemnation that followed the junta's lackey's refusal to allow the IBA into Fiji, this will spell a very sorry time for hundreds of thousands of individuals who are the dependants of wage earners that will be affected.

I hope this sends a very strong message to the dictatorship in Fiji who are trying very hard at present to convince themselves that the Charter gives them legitimacy.

It does not and never will.


We are on the brink of becoming a Pacific Zimbabwe. There are no easy solutions but we need to regain our democratic feet and begin to heal the pain that has hurt our nation since the time of the ignoramus Rabuka.

Its time for everyone to get tough. Our Chiefs are showing the way by not attending the BLT and therefore lending any more legitimacy to the regime.

Times are very tough and we must be prepared for them to get harder. Fiji's Freedom Fight wont succeed overnight but the people's WILL will prevail!

Down with the regime!

More brave Fijian Women telling it like it is

Topical wisdom from brave Fijian women that I admire (Letters to the Editor Fiji Rimes 4th December, 2008).

YOUNG LIES

EVERYONE lies sometimes.

Young children sometimes have problems differentiating between telling fantasy from reality.

These children, however, do tend to have some psychological issues, which may range from lack of self-confidence or gregariousness.

But when adults continually lie and totally believe in their lie, it becomes pathological.

This is the problem with the regime and their military supporters.

First, it was the clean-up campaign.

Now, it's about them getting paid for what they "sacrificed" for our country.

Yes, we agree sacrifices have been made for our country but only the sacrifices made by true, courageous soldiers in past eras.

They fought for God and country, and upheld the Constitution without question.

The current crop should never, ever think we hold them too in the same high pedestal.

Because what you did is you robbed us of our rights to hope, to be successful, to be prosperous, to be financially secure, by lying and using your guns to threaten unarmed citizens and take over our democratically elected government in the name of "national development".

Stop the lies. Give us back our country and our elected leaders.

MERE HUDSON, NAOMI ROBERTS, KIRI RICHMOND, AKESA FLANKPERTS & VANI VEIKOSO