Conversations of Jone, Jaswant and Joe : There is Hope Yet!

A hot evening in Suva, the park opposite the road that is normally filled with kids, young and old, playing touch is desserted. Even the neighbourhood dogs that roam up and down the street are nowhere to be seen.

 

Everyone prefers the shade on a day like this.

 

 

Jone " Isa man! Fiji lost to Wales man. We beat those gang last time we played them man.

 

Jaswant: I know man. Since they sacked the Human Skewer, we have gone backwards. Our front row lacks the dynamism.

 

Jone " Chee Chee…..how many games of rugby have you played?

 

Jaswant : Whats that got to do with anything? You never played cricket but you always talk about cricket.  You know what I think? Its because they never perform the Cibi.

 

Jone : (A strict churchgoer) No way man. They prayed before the match. They ask for Gods blessings

 

Jaswant : Yeah Ok, but wont God help the Welsh team too? Why God will take sides?

 

Joe :He's right you know. As much as I hate to say this, he is actually making sense for once.

 

Jone : Seti man, you Kaivalagi's are god-less. And you Kaidia worship 100 Gods, you too confused. What you talking about?

 

Jaswant " Look Jone, don't criticise my Gods OK. They all listening to you and you never know what might happen aye.

 

Jone : See, I told you. Cibi is for heathens.

 

Jaswant : Then why do All Blacks do it, Samoa and Tonga, they all Christians, tell me!!

 

Jone " Vitalia , we gonna pray and that's it.

 

Joe : It's a useful psychological tool to psyche yourself up. Its also very commercially viable , look at how popular the All Blacks Haka is. The last game in Japan between Wallabies and All Blacks, most Japanese were supporting All Blacks. I think people like the Haka and relate to the All Blacks.

 

Jaswant: True. Then why no Cibi?

 

Jone is quiet. After a long pause, a voice calls out from the dark.

 

Not even God knows. Its hard to understand irrational acts by applying the framework of widely accepted logic. That's why we are all so confused.

 

Jone : (Startled) Who is that? Who said that.

 

Only me says Jone's 5 year old son Timoci who hasn't yet started attending Church.

 

Yeah, fundamentalism has no rational explanation.

 

Says Jaswants 4 yr old boy, who hasn't yet been introduced to the wisdom imparted by the Pundits.

 

Joe is smiling, there is hope yet!

Bring Back the Cibi!!

What? No Cibi?

 

Not long ago Loyal Fijian had a few words for a certain businessman in Labasa who in the face of competition had tried to do what many have done for thousands before him, claim a direct link to God!

 

That's right, the Hindu group in Labasa which claims to have a direct line to God and therefore only its services should be used is a classic case of using religion to further their own interests.

 

Today, Loyal Fijian will discuss another bane of society, Fundamentalism.

 

The Cibi has been a wonderful spectacle in our rugby tradition for more than half a century. The Cibi is to Fiji what the Haka is to the All Blacks , the Manu Samoa to the Samoans and the Sivi Tau to the Tongans.

 

Can you imagine if the All Blacks decided they were going to abandon the Haka because their captain is a "born again Christian" and doesn't believe in such pagan rituals.

 

The All Blacks brand is enhance by the Haka, school kids not only in NZ but Fiji, Japan and even Iceland perform the Haka.

 

It is a dance. Take it for what it is.

 

The Fiji Rugby team for the first time in a long time did not perform the Cibi against Wales over the weekend because the captain Seremaia Bai refused to take part.

 

There is a time to pray and a time to play. Don't mix the two. That's what is called fundamentalism.

 

Imagine the All Blacks without the Haka? Can you?

 

Cibi is great promotion for the Fiji Rugby brand, we need all the promotion we get, believe you us !

 

It is very possible to have a strong faith in God and still manage a balance in all other aspects of life. Very possible.

 

Four potatoes, two packets of noodles and a can of tinned fish!!

Four potatoes, two packets of noodles and a can of tinned fish!!

That is supposed to be a meal for 10 labourers who are engaged to harvest cane in Kawakawavesi in Seaqaqa.

Things turned ugly when a group of 10 Fijian labourers who are "camping" at the farm of Uma Dutt in the quiet farming community, were given four potatoes, two packets of noodles and a can of tinned fish to prepare their dinner.

The leader of the group indicated that the rations being doled out by Mr Dutt's wife was not enough and asked for more.

An argument ensued and Mr Dutt was slapped across the face.

Four potatoes, two packets of noodles and a can of tinned fish!!

That's right!

Four potatoes, two packets of noodles and a can of tinned fish!!

On hearing news such as this one scratches the head in disbelief and the greed and lack of compassion that some people demonstrate.

Cane cutters are among the hardest working and most exploited of all labourers in Fiji. They work from 4 in the morning till late at night and what do they get? Next to nothing.

A form of semi-servitude still exists in Fiji's cane belts. Dirt poor labourers and their families are kept by wealthy farmers to work the land. These labourers are given a tin shack to live in . In return , the labourer, his wife and even the young kids sometimes as young as 5 years old are expected to work the farm.

The money the labourers earn is not enough and they resort to taking loans from the farmer, loans which they can never pay off, locking them and their families into a life of semi-servitude.

Four potatoes, two packets of noodles and a can of tinned fish for ten people!!

Ask yourself, what would you do?

Hindus Make Giant Leap Backward in Labasa?

An organisation has sprung up in the Northern Division which claims that's its members have a special line to God and only they can speak to God.

 

Claiming that only prayers chanted by members of their group make its way to God, the group has asked all Hindus  to hire their services and no one elses.

The Akhil Shree Sanatan Dharam Brahman Purohit Sabha said "Brahmans are the only ones ordained by the gods to perform these prayers," he said.

"The prayers said by the Brahmans are received by the gods because the mantra or religious chants said by those from this caste have special powers.

"This is according to our religious books. What we have found is that persons from lower castes are making these prayers for people who are being cheated out of a special connection to the gods.

What is even more laughable is that this  man goes on to claim that he is not trying to reinforce the caste system among Hindus in Fiji. According to him , only high caste Hindus have the magical powers to make a connection with God.

"Non-Brahmans performing prayers do not benefit the person they are praying. It's the same as a carpenter does carpentry, mechanics deal with mechanical issues while Brahmans deal with prayers."

It is because of people like Ashok Maharaj that hundreds of thousands of Hindus are converting to Christianity, Buddhism and Islam all around the world.

In India, the Chief Minister of Indias most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, recently led a mass conversion of more than 100, 000 Hindus or people Ashok Kumar refers to as low caste.

It is only in Hinduism that followers of the faith are treated as less than animals. In India today, if you are tagged low caste, you are forbidden from entering a temple or sending your children to the same school as other Hindus. Its is not uncommon to hear and read of so-called low caste Hindus being paraded naked through Indian villages for nothing more than crossing the path of a so-called high caste.

And the so-called low caste are now striking back. Do a google search on "Maoists in India" and you will find hundreds of articles , as recent as today, on how the most oppressed section of Indian society have taken to arms against the landowners, the priests and the money lenders who are invariably high caste.

The best example is Nepal where the King claiming to be a direct descendant of Hindu God was thrown out by Maoists. The Maoists have established a republic and abolished the worlds only Hindu monarchy.

It seems that Ashok Kumar in order to maintain his source of income, wants to create this divisive and morally bankrupt system in the Northern Division.

Go for it Ashok Kumar. The Churches in Northern Division should prepare for more Hindus arriving into the Christian family as those living in the dark ages try and go even further into darkness.

BREAKING NEWS: MASSIVE FRAUD AT FNPF

A massive fraud amounting to more than $40 m has been uncovered at FNPF.

 

It is possible that a number of employees of FNFP as well as contractors engaged to work on the troubled Natadola project could be involved.

 

An Australian accountancy firm, Deloitte Tohmatsu has been engaged to conduct an investigation and staff from the firm are currently in Fiji .

 

It is not known at this stage how such a massive fraud went undetetcted for so long as the siphoning off of such large amounts of money would require a very well planned and organised gang.

 

There are also concerns that some of the people involved may have left the country.

 

 More to follow................

Conversations of Jone, Jaswant and Joe : The Two Musketeers

It's a quiet Friday night, the moths as usual are buzzing around the kerosene lantern that the boys have placed on the nail protruding from the verandah beam.

 

Jone decided against turning the light on, "bad times" as he put it.

 

The waka mixed in the usual basin, which has seen better days , was below the "refill level", but today the boys had had enough. "Bad times" as Jone put it.

  

Jone: Sa, what about those two?

 

Jaswant: Which two?

 

Jone: Kuni guise man, you know what Im talking about.

 

Jaswant: Se eh, Im not a mind reader.

 

Jone : (Laughs) Arre man, Chaudhry and Qarase. (As he says this, he raises his neck to look over at his neighbours houses on both sides. Its almost a reflex action borne out of living in close proximity to others and always being aware if anyone might be listening)

 

Jaswant : What about them?

 

Joe: Laughs

 

Jaswant :What you laughing at ? yeah OK,  I know what you mean. So now they are friends or what?

 

Jone: Exactly, funny isn't it?

 

Jaswant : Thye both miss the power and privilege man

 

Jone: Chi Chi Chi ….bigh words bro

 

Joe :Laughs

 

Jaswant : If you laugh again, Im gonna smack you sa rag a Joe

 

Jone and Joe both laugh

 

Jone : I reckon both Qarase and Chaudhry are finished man. Seems like the actions of some very desperate people

 

Joe : True. Taki

 

Jaswant : You Taki, M%#@#& T%&*&

 

Jone : (Laughs) Kaidia and Kaivalagi fighting in the land of the Kaiviti (Laughs long and hard)

Paradox of our Times

Loyal Fijian thought this article was worth publishing. Its not an original LF article but has some interesting thoughts.

 

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The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

StolenWealth not CommonWealth

Goodbye StolenWealth…Hullo China

  

So what exactly is the Commonwealth? Even the name "Commonwealth" is  completely out of step with the time. It indicates that all the wealth of the countries subjugated and  colonised by the British, belongs to the Crown.

 

Get lost!

 

StolenWealth is more appropriate.

 

We don't need this relic of history. Wake up. The British Empire is Gooooooooooooone.

 

Ok, credit where credit is due.Thats the Loyal Fijian Charter. They did have a good run and made significant contributions to the way society is organised and lives. Fair enough.

 

But the advance of air power in WW2 meant that the naval supremacy upon which the British Empire was built was gone forever.Air superiority replaced naval superiority and Bada Bing Bada Bang, US and USSR are the new superpowers.

 

And what do this 2 new superpowers do? They embark on the "Cold War" . Communism v Capitalism.

 

Who won? Hand down, the free market. Poland fell to the Pope, Czechoslovakia fell to nationalism and then fell  the USSR and the Berlin wall. (Authors have written books running inot hundreds of pages on this topic, so excuse moi if moi is a bit brief here)

 

Until that is, Tiannmen Square came along.

 

When the student led revolution erupted in China and millions gathered in Tiannmen Square and various other places across China, it seemed that Communism was about to face a complete defeat. The PLA however (drugged or not) put the crowds to the sword. The Revolution was defeated.

 

However, ah huh….. there is always a catch in these stories, isnt it?

 

The Chinese Politburo recognised that change had to be made. So they adopted a twin pronged strategy of economic liberalisation while maintaining political control.

 

And Boom, China is today the sole superpower.

 

Yeah Yeah, USA has aircraft carriers and ICBM's etc etc. If that's your take on what constitutes superpower , go for it.

 

Here's the Loyal Fijian take.

 

When the Global Financial Crisis hit, the US Treasury secretary made a mercy dash to Beijing. He went there to  assure Chinese Government that the US$ 1 trillion that Chinese Government held in US bonds was safe. China is the single largest creditor for the US. If they pull the plug, whooshka……….

 

Chinese influence in Africa is unparalled. They are building ports, roads and mines like never before in history. The roads and ports are to transport the iron,gold,uranium that Chinese rip out from the mines. Clever aren't they?

 

When the ANC led South African Government, composed of freedom fighters and activists against apartheid, refusesd a visa to the Dalai Lama, you know you are dealing with a very powerful nation.

 

Pick up the world map. Put your finger on China,. Now take in Hong Kong and  Tibet, that's official China. Include Taiwan, which China claims, North Korea which they virtually control and Nepal where communists run the show.

 

Who is the superpower?

 

Goodbye StolenWealth…..roll out the carpet for the one and only superpower….the Mighty Chinese are here!!!

 

Empire rise, Empires fall. Only the Chinese Empire has risen again. 

Fiji to be suspended from Commonwealth

Fiji is is set to be suspended from the Commonwealth.

 

While this statement Will surely be used by the Anti-IG forces to depict the IG in a bad light, life will go on as normal.

 

The Commonwealth is nothing more than a Club of former British colonies with no real purpose or power.

 

In fact, what is the sense of reminding ourselves of the dark chapter when we were subjugated by a foreign power?

 

In this day and age, do we need a Commonwealth?

 

Loyal Fijian does not think so. We are a sovereign nation and have no need for the relics of history.We are a republic!

 

The Commonwealth can do as it pleases.

 

The so-called self appointed expert, Mr Brij Lal has not wasted any time to get his name in the print by offering a  comment to the foreign press.

 

Brij Lal, said there was "not a drop of hope" that the country will go to the polls next year and that Fiji's suspension is as sure "as day follows night".

 

Steven Ratuva was more pragmatic, saying that "It's a case of been there, done that," "They know that they'll survive it and Bainimarama seems to have little interest in maintaining those colonial ties."

Free Poets Society : Bye Bye Tabua

Isa Isa Illivasi Tabua

Off you go, on your bike, the human skewer

 

Not needed anymore by the FRU

We dont care, we dont need you

 

He took us to a famous victory over Wales

We stood 10 foot tall, to Tabua we all said Hail

 

And now he is guilty of some off-field indiscretion

Hes been sacked, in the typical FRU fashion

 

And out come the wanna be's, the so-called contenders, the hopefuls

Give me the job, they all wanna play us for fools

 

Even Wayne Pivac wants to have another go

Bro, this guy can get enough of the Fiji show

 

Good bye Tabua

See you tonight in Nabua

 

Isnt it funny how we do this everytime

Make it all so funny and makem it rhyme

 

 

Free Poets Society : Play the China Card

The Pacific Islands Forum its called

Speak your mind and you are rolled

 

The Leader is not even an Islander

It's the Kaivalagi's , what the hell are they doing there?

 

A lot of talk , a lot of hot air

We will do this , we will do that, right right, yeah yeah

 

You see, its all talk and no bite

Never in their lives, will they take on Fiji in a no holds barred fight

 

They hope to scare us into submission

Their bravado clouds their vision

 

Pacific Island Forum needs to change

We need to expand our range

 

We need to look further and wider

Aussie and Kiwis used aid money as a binder

 

China is a superpower

Aussies will hate to see her build in Fiji, a base and a communications tower

 

Lets use this bait

Its about time we write our won destiny, throw away the Colonial written fate

 

Lets get China in, Lets get Indomnesia in, even India

Lets say to the, come , build a deep water port in Kadavu,  come in here

 

Kadavu is within range of Australian/NZ cities for Chinese weaponry

Boy, wont this send the Aussies running for cover in a hurry

 

Then see Aussie and Kiwis run

Because then, it wont be any fun

 

Isnt it funny how we do this every time

Make it all so funny , and make it rhyme

 

Rev Yabakis's Brisbane Speech : Breaking the Coup Cylce

Reverend Akuila Yabaki delivered a speech at the University of Queensland on Monday 20th july titled "Breaking the Cylce of Coups".

 

As part of Loyal Fijian Charter, we are committed to publishing comments from all sides of politics and civil society that are constructive and try to move us forward.

 

Here are 10 recommendations that Rev Yabaki suggested could break the coup cycle:

 

1)     remove the economic and social conditions that lead to coups.

2)     Require all holders of public offices, including the military, to take an oath agreeing not to participate in coups. (like this one hehehhehe)

3)     Strengthen penalties and operation of criminal law in relation to offences related to coups.

4)     Amending the Constitution to say that no coup can abrogate the Constitution.

5)     Prohibiting participants in coups from holding public office in future.

6)     Greater effort should be geared towards addressing the situation of the rural and urban poor in order to avoid social alienation and political manipulation.

7)     Encouraging Indo-Fijian and Indigenous Fijian mutual partnerships in development, commerce and investments.

8)     Any conviction of treason is to be subject to automatic life sentence.

9)     Every politician who enters parliament must, as part of their oath of loyalty to the state, make a commitment not to participate in any future coups. (even better, looks like Rev Yabaki was struggling to get to 10)

10) Participation in a coup to lead to immediate vacation of a public or chiefly office and forfeiture of all property owned by the individual.

 

Make sense to you? Take it on board!

 

Dont agree with it? Well, just agree to disagree!

 

Loyal Fijian salutes Apollo 11

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human being since the dawn of time to set foot on another "planet" (For all you kids,( especially journalists and public servants), The moon is now recognised as not actually a planet in the strict sense of the word).

 

Man and woman had conquered the final frontier.

 

Since the dawn of time, man (and woman) had looked up the the night sky, seen the moon and the stars and wondered.

 

July 20 1969 must rank as one of human kinds finest days.

 

What we can achieve if we put our minds to it and of course if the Government has a spare 20 billion in today's money it always helps.

 

What an achievement as Neil Armstrong and  Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.

 

The moon landing was significant in more ways than one. The Americans had beaten the Russians and a large part of the aura that surrounds American power and prestige today can be traced back to their historic achievements of July 1969.

 

They had done what no one else could. The had taken on what only a year prior, had seemed impossible. And they won. Americans have reaped the dividends of this achievement for decades, not only in research and development, but the pride that comes with being a citizen of a nation that can achieve the impossible.

 

Where are you from? America, the land of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.

 

And rightfully so too. Good on you.

 

There is another side to this story however. And it would not be a Loyal Fijian article if we did not give you all sides of this story.

 

You see after WW2, The Americans and the Russians were amazed at the advances in rocket technology that the Nazis had been able to achieve. So began a mad scramble for blueprints and scientists.

 

When the Korean War broke out, the Americans unveiled their first jet engine aircraft modelled entirely on Nazi blueprints of the Messerschmit, the first jet fighter, expecting total dominance . Amercian pilots returning to base however, claimed that they were being attacked by their own aircrafts. It soon became clear that the Russians had also got their hands on the same blue prints and developed their own version of the jet fighter , identical in appearance to the Americans.

 

The Americans brought to America Nazi scientists who had worked on the V2 rocket program and set them to work on developing American rocket programs. Yes, made in America but with lots of Nazi brain power.

 

There are also naysayers. The narrow minded among us will say that we need to spend the money here on Earth. If it was not for the Apollo missions we wouldnt have had the advances in aircraft construction technology, wireless transmission, and countless other spin offs to come from the space program.

 

There are those who fear the loss of their power, their explanation, their ideology on what lies above may come under question as people dare to think and question.

 

There can be no denying.

 

What an achievement,

 

Loyal Fijian pays tribute to men and women, American and Russian who dreamed to make the impossible possible.

 

Wow!

 

(Spare a thought for Michael Collins who got so close but had to stay in the space craft that orbited above. Boy, talk about almost but not quite.)

Freemasons and Murder of Erasito in Levuka. "Dopey Locals" says Cult members

Freemasonry is back in the news.

Yesterday Police raided a Freemasons secret gathering on Denarau Island and arrested 14 people who spent a night in a Fiji prison cell . The Police were alerted by frightened residents suspecting sorcery.

It is understood locals contacted police after becoming concerned about the group's unusual equipment, which is believed to have included a sword, mace and Bible.

A New Zealand man, who was also among the group, blamed "dopey village people" for the raid on Tuesday.

Freemasonry extends its tentacles through all levels of society and freemasons have managed to infiltrate into the highest levels of commerce, public service and politics.

In Levuka, where the Freemasons had their headquarters, the mysterious death of Mr Erasito has never been explained or the perpetrators brought to justice. Erasito was found completely naked behind Levuka Public Scholl with puncture wounds to his body, after a gathering of prominent Freemasons from across Fiji and overseas.

The Police files have also disappeared as this correspondent(s) found out when he/she/they travelled to Levuka to attempt to unravel the mystery.

After the 2000 coups, residents of Levuka burnt down the Masonic Lodge as villagers believed human blood sacrifices had taken place there.

The Masonic Lodge in Suva is located opposite the Dolphin's Eatery and distinguished by the Compass on the front side of the building.

 

It should be noted the freemasomnry has been banned from public life in Britian where it started as numerous cases of corruption and nepotism piled up against members who were looking after their own.

 

In Fiji, Freemasonry is alive and well. And locals who are fearful of their practices are described as "dopey locals".

 

What were they doing with a Bible when they claim not to be affiliatesd to any religion?

Power of the March – Iran and Fiji

We have just witnessed massive demonstrations in Iran following what the opponents of re-elected Mahmoudneijad claimed were rigged elections.

 

Spontaneous demonstrations largely in the form of marches through Iranian cities, not seen since the Islamic revolution that swept the Shah from power, broke out across Iran.

 

This went on for a number of weeks and have now seemed to have run out of puff.

 

The demonstrators failed in their objective of getting a recount after the parallel power centre and the body where the real power lies, the Islamic Guardian Council refused to budge and supported their candidate, Ahmedenijad.

 

In this instance the demonstrators failed to achieve critical mass and their demonstrations failed to kick off a wider anti-establishment movement. There are a number of reasons for this, reasons which Loyal Fijian will discuss in later posts.

 

For now, let's move our attention to the other proposed march, the Methodists march.

 

For years the Methodist Church has been marching through the streets of Fiji's major cities in their annual get together/fundraising drive.

 

This year the permits were refused.

 

Seems like somebody has been taking lessons from history. Marches can be and have been used as springboards for civil disobedience campaigns.

 

Once the critical mass is reached it is hard to stop. Just ask Mrs. Marcos.

 

It is best to stop this tide from becoming a tidal wave and nip it in the bud. That's what's happened here.

 

Loyal Fijian is not suggesting the Methodist Church was planning to use its fundraising week to engage in a civil disobedience campaign.

 

But the threat of these marches being infiltrated by anti-IG forces who can use the people as cover for their plans seems to be a cause of concern.

 

History repeats itself

 

The wise learn from it.

 

The coups of 1987 started with marches . The coup of 2000 started with a march in Lautoka with no more than 100 people.

 

The fools allow it to repeat. Just ask Fiji's version of Mr.Marcos.

 

History Desk.

Free Poets Society : Right Royal Mess

Oh Boy, its all getting a bit sad and very tiring

No ones hiring and everyone's firing

 

They call it the Global Financial Crisis

Call it what it is, it's a right royal mess up, that's what the Loyal Fijian sees

 

The Over 55's have been sent home, go home and have a rest

Nothing wrong with that, they were past their best

 

Old timers are not happy, they are crying and screaming

Get over it, you must be dreaming

 

Reserve Bank says our foreign reserves are low

Yeah right, tell us something we didn't know

 

Thank God for our boys in the British Army

Thanks to their remittances, things are a little balmy

 

Thank you to all of you emigrating and leaving our shore

We are sad to see you go, but can you take some more?

 

We are in a bit of strife here

We are in a ship that no one knows how to steer

 

We wonder what is going on, is somebody gazing in a crystal ball?

Is somebody being deliberately led to a fall?

 

There are those who came to office on the backs of others, they picked the winning side

They have a genuine fear, without the guns behind them , they will need a place to hide

 

Are these people out of self interest having too much say

Loyal Fijian leaves it to the people to say yay or nay

 

Isnt it amazing how we do this every time

Make it all so funny and make it rhyme

 

Free Poets Society

 

No slander

No incitement

No violence

Just FUN and FACTS

 

 

Conversations of Jone. Joe and Jaswant : March or Fundraising?

Another Friday evening, and another grog party. In fact, its been while since they've had one. Joe has been unwell and off the grog. Strangely, the moths that were everpresent around the lanterns, are not around tonight. Really strange that, beyond comprehension! Oh wait a minutes.......the mosquito coils burning!

 

 Jone : Man, after long time, no march for me. Ive been a life long marcher and donor to the Church.

 

Jaswant : That's good man, because you give, you will get.

 

Jone : True, bro, I tell you guys, 3 years ago, our talatala said we have to collect half million.

 

Jaswant : Mate na  $@%^. Half million.

 

Jone : Yeah, that's nothing man. He said everybody must give.

 

Jaswant : And?

 

Joe : And is an adjective, you normally don't use an adjective by itself.

 

Jaswant : Don't mess with us man, this our style of speaking!

 

Joe laughs.

 

Joe : Anyway, some families didn't have much to give and they feel madua.

 

Jaswant: Of course man, that's bad man.

 

Joe : So, they take loans, sell their valuables and even put off paying their kids school fees

 

Jaswant : We never do that in the mandir. We just take the coins and put it in there.

 

Jone : Don t even start about the mandir man.

 

Joe : It's a deliberate tactic.

 

Jaswant/Joe together : What is?

 

Joe : The fundraising where they announce who collected what. So that people feel embarrassed and feel pressured to give more money/

 

Jone : But its for the church man. You Kaivalagis are now atheists that's shy you have drugs and what not/

 

Joe : Where does the money go?

 

Jone/Jaswant together; Where?

 

Joe : To human beings like you an me.How much of the money goes to paying salaries ? Have you ever wondered why they want to fundraise every year? They are angry because their salries are about to dry up!

 

Silence descends on the room.

 

FRU Gives up Twickenham Test for Money and game against......... USA

The Fiji Rugby Union once again demonstrated that it has got its priorities right.

 

In a stunning move that will disappoint all rugby players and followers, the FRU has decided to forfeit the opportunity to play England at Twickenham in November/December of this year.

 

Why?

 

Because the Australian Rugby Union offered them money and a chance to play……wait for it…..USA. Now Australia will play at Twickenham while Fiji will twiddle their collective thumbs.

 

That's right.

 

Haven't these guys got their priorities right?

 

Money over a chance for the dream of all rugby players, playing at Twickenham as the crowd sings "Swing low sweet chariot…"…..!!

 

Oh boy!

 

Isn't this a sign of the times we are in?

 

No doubt all the rugby players will be disappointed. Instead of testing themselves against the English in front of talent scouts from all the English clubs, they will play USA.

 

Well done FRU!

 

How many times have we hear this phrase after every loss and embarrassment, "Five Year Development Plan "

 

What went wrong, don't worry, we have a Five Year Development Plan "

 

This shows that he only thing the FRU is worried about is paying the salaries of the administrators. All Fijians need to know what percentage of the FRU budget is chewed up by administrator salaries.

 

Because only someone afraid of missing their pay can forego a Twickenham test for money and a game against USA.

 

And how much money FRU?

The Ultimate Treachery - Our Soldiers used as Guinea Pigs by British

The Fiji Government must do more to bring the plight of soldiers like Viliame Sigamasa, 71 and Simeli Rokotuibau, 81 to the attention of the British Authorities who used their own soldiers as guinea pigs during the 1950's.

Hundreds of Fijian soldiers were exposed to radiation during the nuclear tests and used as guinea pigs. No treatment was ever made available for the inevitable sickness and suffering that followed.

This was the ultimate betrayal by our former colonial rulers.

But some good news for the families of the exploited soldiers may be on the way if the Fijian authorities can get their act together.

Thousands of British nuclear test veterans are attempting to sue the government for cancers and other illnesses they say were caused by participation in Britain's atmospheric nuclear test programme between 1952 and 1958.

The High Court in London has now decided to allow the veterans to proceed with a class action for compensation. The Ministry of Defence, which has consistently denied responsibility for the men's illnesses, argued that their claim should be struck out under the Limitation Act because they did not sue within three years of injury, or within three years of discovery of injury.

The decision to allow the veterans to sue the MoD for negligence is the culmination of a 50-year struggle for justice.

As many as 27,000 men, including contingents from New Zealand and Fiji, took part in the tests, which began with Operation Hurricane, the detonation of Britain's first atomic bomb in the Monte Bello Islands off the north-west coast of Australia.

The Fiji Government must act to join the class action on behalf of our soldiers so that maybe their families can get some compensation after all these years.

Act now!

 

 

Free Poets Society : Gods Word

We want to march, like we have done every year

Yeah right, go ahead and try, we will twist your ear

 

But, we are the Methodist Church, don't you know that

Talk too much and you will run like a rat

 

Every year we collected millions from the people

Not just 50c or a dollar, for us that wont even cause a ripple

 

We are talking big money, big amounts of cash

If you don't give , the Talatala might give you as lash

 

Some people gave us their kids school fees

Whats wrong with that, Church needs money for its various needs

 

Some who could not afford to give, sold their valuables

For this God will be there in their troubles

 

Don't mess with us, we have brought down Governments in the past

Don't forget what happens when the die is cast

 

For we are the voice of God

All the people need is our nod!

 

Isnt it amazing how we do this every time

Make it all so funny and make it rhyme

 

Free Poets Society

 

 

Fly on the Wall : Jemesa Boco

"Well, what have we got" . Nobody speaks before Brutus shifts his weight firmly to his right. Right on cue, I see the Taliban who is sitting next to Brutus take out his handkerchief and pretend as if he is going to blow his nose.

 

You see when Brutus shifts his weight to his right, it means only one thing. He is going to break wind. And the Taliban after being exposed to the Suvavou WMD on more than one occasion has learnt to be one step ahead.

 

But if after being exposed to the Suvavou WMD on more than one occasion to the point where his DNA must surely have mutated, he insists on sitting next to Brutus. He is prepared to endure God knows whtat diseases will befall upon him after being exposed to such noxious gases, if he can secure what everyone here at the Ministry of Floundering Affairs is after.

 

An Overseas Posting.

 

Noobdy speaks for a while. Its not because nobody has nothing to say but the Suvavou WMD takes a while to dissipate and everyones holding their breath. Everyone except Kissinger. Noxious gases don't affect this aman and that's why Ive thrown my weight behind him. He may not be going anywhere too fast but he can surely send me to where everyone here at the Mini…you get the point….an Overseas Posting.

 

"No reports from Canberra " says Jemesa Boco, the local  version of James Bond, in his mind at least. Why and how he got that name is a long story and must be left till later. Right now I must tell you what happened next in this meeting of minds in this fine Ministry.

 

"What" Kissinger is really worried. He puts his head in his hands and says" This time I'm really worried". That's how I know.

 

"Whats the Pundit doing? Thats why you never send a Pundit to do a mans job"

 

To be cont.....

 

 

 

 

Two Sides to the Story (At Least)

There's at least two sides to every story. And the truth may lie somewhere in between.

 

It is in the interest of balance in journalism that we published a Press Release sent to us by the Citizen Constitutional Forum (CCF).

 

This created a flurry of emails from all and sundry, some commending us and some not so pleasant ones.

 

Well, Loyal Fijian stands for Fairness and Freedom.

 

Loyal Fijian does not believe in telling people what to think, but encourage people to think for themselves.

 

It is in this pursuit that we have decided to publish another press release from the CCF, this one in relation to the Fiji Human Rights Commission (FHRC).

 

But not without adding our voice of reason and balance first.

 

The FHRC as we all know has come under criticism from the anti-G forces, with allegations being made against the Chairperson that she is too soft on the IG and not taking a hardline against them.

 

Under Dr Shaista Shameem, the FHRC has published papers which some claim seeks to legitimise or justify the events of December 2006.

 

Now it seems, that there has been a bit of a falling out and the FHRC finds itself wit much reduced powers. And, the positions of those involved with the FHRC is starting to change.

 

Well, well, well.

 

But our job is to give voice to the voiceless and encourage balance and fairness in the reporting. So we will  cede to your request and publish your statement.

 

But, this is not to be seen as an endorsement of the views contained therein.

 

*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

Media Release

 

Curtailment of FHRC powers is unfortunate

 

The Citizens' Constitutional Forum (CCF) describes the curtailment of the status and powers of the Fiji Human Rights Commission (FHRC) by a Presidential decree as unfortunate, however, CCF reminds that the international human rights mechanisms can still be utilised under the various human rights declarations and conventions.

 

CCF calls on the Caretaker Government to restore the 1997 Constitution and the judiciary, so that those arrested or detained under the State of Emergency regulations have a chance of fair treatment from the law.

 

"The decree prevents the FHRC from receiving complaints against, investigating, questioning or challenging the legality or validity of any Decrees made by the President. It is interfering with the independence of the FHRC," Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rev Akuila Yabaki said.

 

"The FHRC will now be unable to perform the key role of acting as a watchdog of the government as it is no longer allowed to make recommendations on the implications of any proposed law or policy that may affect human rights," Rev Yabaki said.

 

"However, Fiji's government is still accountable to the international human rights bodies and has obligations to protect and respect core human rights and provide progress reports to the international community represented by the various treaty bodies," Rev Yabaki said. "Fiji, as a member of the international community and a recipient of aid money, has obligations to uphold core human rights."

 

"Concerned citizens can still utilise the international mechanisms available – such as the reporting and complaints procedures available through the Optional Protocols and the UN Committees for human rights conventions and declarations," Rev Yabaki said.

 

For further information, please contact CCF Executive Officer Rev Akuila Yabaki on ph: 3308379, fax: 3308380.

 

 

 

 

……………………………………

Rev Akuila Yabaki

Chief Executive Officer

In the Interest of Free Speech

In the interest of free speech, Loyal Fijian is publishing this Media Release that was sent to us. Our commitment today as always is to a free and fair media.

 

 

Media Release

 

Arbitrary detentions and media censorship is alarming

 

The Citizens' Constitutional Forum (CCF) is concerned at the arrest and detention of people by the police and military, and at the inability of Fiji's public to be informed about these, due to heavy media censorship.

 

"The current caretaker government has extended the imposition of the State of Emergency regulations for another 30 days. The continuing arbitrary arrests and detention of civilians by the police and military for questioning is a worrying trend. We fear that this may become worse," CCF Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rev Akuila Yabaki said.

 

The first arrests took place after the abrogation of the 1997 Constitution on April 10 2009, when President of Fiji Law Society Mr Dorsami Naidu and a Fiji TV journalist Mr Edwin Nand were arrested and detained. In the weeks to follow, a politician Iliesa Duvuloco was detained. Two journalists were arrested on May 9 and released after two days. Rumour has it that currently, a Methodist preacher has been arrested and detained.

 

"The censorship of media means that it is difficult to verify how many more people are or may have been arrested and detained. These detentions are breaching basic human rights. These detentions will create a bad international reputation for Fiji and will have a negative impact on efforts to move the country forward," Rev Yabaki said.

 

 

For further information, please contact CCF Executive Director Rev Akuila Yabaki on ph: 3308379, fax: 3308380.

 

 

 

 

……………………………………

Rev Akuila Yabaki

Chief Executive Officer

Fly on the Wall : Yagoona Meeting

Cont from last post..

 

Sorry for the break. The haet has definitely been on, had to keep my head down. Somebody has told Kissinger that somebody is leaking news from this fine Ministry to the "F%$@# internet"" . Its a blog, Its a blog, Its a bolg. But anayway, I have a story to tell and here it is....

 

Taliban is having a say too. This bloke thinks he is the authority on all matters related to this fine Ministry. And he has his sight set firmly on the No. 2 job.

 

Yes, he thinks he is in with a chance.

 

Kissinger looks worried. Well he's always got a frown on his forehead, but this time he's really worried. Because as soon as he sat down he said" This time Im really worried". That's how I know.

 

You see , the "We Love Fiji So Much We Live Overseas Front" held their meeting in some place called Yagoona. As soon as Kissinger says Yagoona he raises his eyebrows and tilt his head towards the ledge next to the windows at the back of the room.

 

This is my clue to mix the grog . I hope they don't talk about this bloody place called Yagoona too often because I think it reminds Kissinger of Yagona. And you know what that means. Me mixing the grog, but my ears are tuned right into what Kissinger, Brutus and the rest of this motley crue are discussing.

 

The word came from "The Place that Must Only be Spoken of in Whispers" that the  Col Sa-Dro-Ga addressed a gathering of 40 and spoke of the need to return our country to democracy.

 

Brutus coughs, not the cough that comes with the flu that is going through at the moment but a nervous cough. Ive always had my doubts about Brutus, is he playing both sides?

 

Anyway, Kissinger says that those from "The Place that Must Only be Spoken of in Whispers" want answers.

 

Answers! Boy are we in trouble. Because you see those of us here at the Minstry of Floundering Affairs are after one thing and one thing only and answers to political dilemmas isn't it.

 

Overseas Postings.

 

We have to send a report to the The Place that Must Only be Spoken of in Whispers" on how may people were there and anyone of note . "They Who Cant be Discussed in Loud Voices" want to know if our people in Kangaroo Land were in attendance and sent a report.

 

Oh boy,are we in trouble I thought to myself.

 

Do "They Who Cant be Discussed in Loud Voices" really think that our best and brightest in Kangaroo Land don't have anything better to do that keeping watch on the "We Love Fiji So Much We Live Overseas Front".

 

Ha! And that too on the weekend. Double Ha! They'll be drunk as a Tailevu Rugby player after a win over Nadroga in the Fairbrother challenge.

 

Mata Hari shoots a look at Brutus and quickly breaks eye contact and looks straight over at me. She's got that look on her face which says "Does he know?" He hehe. If only she knew. I quickly start spinning the grog, first bowl to Kissinger who downs the sa- soko grog in one gulp.

 

"Wai dala!" He says. Put some more Kava in there. I do as Im told.

 

To be cont...

News or Propaganda ?

At the risk of being accused of justifying media restrictions, it is important in the interest of balance to take a closer look at the allegations levelled against the IG for banning certain foreign journalists from either reporting in Fiji or entering our beautiful nation.

 

It is vital in the intrest of a free media, to report both sides of the story and allow the readers to make up their own minds. It is not for the reporters to convince people to form their opinions for or against a subject matter. Our job is to provide credible and balanced reports and let the people decide.

 

So lets take a closer look .

 

Every country on this planet has at some stage disallowed entry to someone.

 

Take New Zealand for example, the Kiwis banned George Nacewa , the son of a civil servant. Can you believe that ? This young student did nothing wrong , and he was banned from re-entering NZ and had to miss his exams.

 

The Kiwis even banned the goalkeeper of the Fiji soccer team because his father is a member of the disciplined forces. What wrong had these guys done?

 

The Australians banned Snoop Doggy Dog from entering because he would be a negative influence on the youth of that country.

 

The beacon of human right, the mighty Americans, have a list that must run for miles on persons not allowed to enter their country. On grounds of national security. The conduct of these persons or their associations with other persons poses a threat to the national security of the United States. A lot of it on suspicion only.

 

A friend tells the story of how his/her cousin was detained at an American airport. After being grilled for a number of hours, it emerged that he/she had borrowed some books on WW2 history with some detailed descriptions on 1950's weaponry from a library in the U.S that was on a F.B.I watch list. Don't believe it? Suit yourself.

 

We all know somebody who has been denied a visa to enter Australia, NZ, USA or some other country. Same thing.

 

And so, we have a certain so-called journalist who thinks he has a god given right to jet in and out as and when he wishes.

 

We are a small country sir, but we are a sovereign nation. The citizens of this country expect our authorities to maintain law and order.

 

If a journalist does their job to report fairly and with balance, that's a different story. But what about someone who is publishing a blog filled with rumour , speculation and innuendo aimed at humiliating senior public figures and even inciting unrest and mutiny.

 

There is a story being peddled by this NZ based self-proclaimed journalist that the Commander of the FMF had an attachment with the Chilean navy ages ago and then goes on to very mischievously suggest that this somehow has a bearing on what's happening in Fiji now.

 

I-War 101. The Big Lie Theory! Dont let the truth get in the way of a good story.

 

But just hold up a second!

 

NZ Forces and Australian forces have trained the Kopassus in Indonesia who went on a rampage in East Timor, they have trained Afghani units who aren't exactly known for their "softly-softly" approach. And lets not even go into the "keeni-meeni" missions! We don't see the heads of the Australian or NZ Defence Forces being subjected to such slander and character assassination.

 

There has been a long standing tradition for FMF officers to train in NZDF Command and Staff College in Wellington and at Duntroon in Australia. Does this mean that NZ and Australia are responsible for the coups we've had? Why single out the Chilean attachment?

 

Whats next? Accuse an FMF officer who has been through the American officer training facility in Hawaii (a highly rewarding experience, we are told) of being complicit in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo?

 

What hypocrisy and rumour mongering!

 

That's where this bloke crosses the line. Using bits and pieces of hearsay to try and conjure up an image in order to achieve a political objective.

 

That's not journalism, that's propaganda.

Why arent we suprised?

South Pacific Forum meeting turned out as expected.

 

Leading in to the meeting, there was all sorts of rumour and speculation flying around regarding Fiji 's membership of that august body.

 

As part of the pressure being applied on the IG, foreign leaders were suggesting that Fiji could be suspended. But before you go running off thinking the world will come to an end if we are suspended, think again.

 

The rhetoric is not random but quite well orchestrated. NZ Foreign Minister one day, Australian Foreign Minister the next and most lately Sir Michael Somare.

 

Mr Michael Somare added his voice in the lead up to the Forum suggesting that Fiji could be suspended and despite being a staunch believer in Melanesian unity, he too was coming around to the view held by our big brothers, Australia and NZ.

 

Mr Somare's voice is important in this Psychological Warfare being waged very cleverly by our powerful neighbours. Mr Somare is Melanesian, Mr. Kevin Rudd and Mr. Key are not.

 

But when Mr Somare got up on the soap box to preach democracy, he forgot to mention one thing.

 

He forgot to mention that he was standing in Canberra.

 

He forgot to mention that he was in Canberra to ask for more Australian aid.

 

He forgot to mention that Australian aid keeps PNG afloat.

 

He forgot to mention that if he doesn't toe the Australian line, he and his country will struggle big time.

 

And just to highlight the point Mr Rudd was quick to point out that the aid money that his Government was giving Mr Somare's Government was misspent. Mr Rudd also pointed out that sovereign nations like PNG have every right to run their own affairs and Australia does not believe in meddling in the internal affairs of other countries.

 

Least of all deciding what PNG's foreign policy should be towards their Melanesian neighbour. Of course not.

 

Sovereignty means that every country has a right to run their own affairs including PNG, without any interference or influence from countries which may contribute a large share of their GDP in the form of aid.

 

Because aid is not given in the hope of buying influence over the policies of the donor nations. Never.

 

Japan just feels like giving money to Kiribati and Tokelau and Marshall Islands, the fact they vote in favour of lifting the ban on whaling is because those pesky whales are eating up all the fish and someone needs to go in there and teach them a lesson. Even if that means they end up as sushi .

 

China gives aid to Solomons , Vanuatu and Fiji because they are making a lot of money these days. The fact these countries no longer give diplomatic recognition to Taiwan is because we are sick of the cheap Taiwan made TV's which always break down during the HK Sevens and nothing to do with Chinese conditions on aid.

 

Australia gives aid to PNG because they are grateful for what the Fuzzy Wuzzies did for the  Australian soldiers during WW2. The fact that 80% of PNG's forests and minerals have been sold to Australian interests is just a happy coincidence.

 

And right on cue, as Mr Rudd said the words "Aid" followed by "Misspent", Mr Somare said that Fiji must return to democracy and should be suspended to encourage it to do so. Even Mr Rudd couldnt have said it any better.

 

Democracy at work! Plato will be turning in his grave!

Fly on the Wall: The Mole

Cont. from yesterday.....

 

But anyway, as I mix Brutus is giving his finest impression of Colin Powell. He does rate himself this guy. But I should explain why he is called Brutus in the corridors of this fine Ministry.

 

Its no secret that Brutus covets the top job, no secret at all. In fact, Im sure that Kissinger knows that too. But what can he do, Brutus is connected! If you know what I mean.

 

And so, there wages an undercover internal war. Brutus in his bid to out do and usurp power and Kissinger in his bid to keep the upstart at bay. As for the rest of us, we have to decide which side to back in this internal war. Who will get us that most coveted of all things?

 

An overseas posting.

 

Thats what all public servants in this fine Ministry are after. 99.9% of our time and effort is directed towards getting an overseas posting.

 

And I almost got one. Brutus promised me a position in a South Asian country, but then I heard he had also promised the Taliban. I did what anyone would and switched my allegiance to Kissinger. For the 27^th time I had switched allegiances. The record is held by Don De Nako, a reported 58 times. No wonder the man made it big.

 

Brutus talks, Kissinger yawns and the Taliban, well, he has in a spot of bother the poor fellow. You see, someone is leaking information from this fine Ministry to a "bloody F*%*  internet" (some fine diplomatic words by Kissinger) and this guy is the prime suspect.

 

Mata Hari gives a wink at Brutus. Mata Hari thinks she is tech savvy. It's a running joke in the corridors of this fine Ministry that Kissinger is looking for the mole who is leaking information to the "bloody F*%*  internet" (fine diplomatic words by Kissinger).

 

 Its a blog. Not the internet. But I wont correct him. No one thinks Im that smart and they dont mind having me aorund when they are discussing sensitive matters. Because one day right after I had dropped a hint that the Taliban might be the mole he looked at me and said " I like haivng you around". Thats how I know.

 

He did cost me my overseas posting, after all!

 

And so the mood is tense. The Yagoona group meeting has reached "The Palce you only Go whn Invited" and Kissinger has to give a briefing . Oh boy!

Fly on the Wall: "The We Love Fiji So Much We Want to Destroy it from Overseas Front"

An "emergency meeting" in the Ministry of Floundering Affairs. Kissinger looks worried,Well he's always got a frown on his forehead, but this time he's really worried. Because as soon as he sat down he said" This time Im really worried". That's how I know.

"The We Love Fiji So Much We Want to Destroy It from Overseas Front" led by Col. Sa-Dro-Ga has held a meeting in some place called Yagoona and "They Who Wear Big Black Boots" have summoned him up to "The Place that You Only Go When Invited" for a briefing.

I really dislike these meetings. Firstly, these things are scheduled for 30 minutes and go on for an hour.

That's not why I really dislike these meetings though.

Because like clock work, 5 minutes into the meeting after repeating word for word some article that he has read on the internet in a bid to seem like a seasoned diplomat, he will get down to the real business.

He will look towards me when Brutus is doing his best to appear like a seasoned diplomat in his effort to outdo Kissinger, raise his eyebrows and tilt his head towards the ledge next to the windows at the back of the room.

Sitting on the ledge is the tanoa, the national symbol of our country. Well if it isnt, it should be!

This is my clue to mix the grog! Ah, where would we be without the grog! And so, Ill spend the next 5 minutes mixing the grog. But, my ears are tuned right into what Kissinger, Brutus and the rest of the brains trust of the Ministry of Floundering Affairs are discussing.

You see, Im just a small time player in this game. No one thinks Im too smart so they don't mind having me around when they are discussing "sensitive matters" . Big mistake.

**All Characters in this series are fictional. Any resemeblance to anyone living or dead is purely intentional, coincidental sorry.**

Fly on the Wall.

Fiji Travel Advisories not balanced : NZ TV

From 3 News: Click to watch video

Tourists and resort owners in Fiji are questioning travel advisories issued by governments like New Zealand's.

They claim the travel warnings are causing unnecessary harm to Fijian businesses and workers and insist the country is safe to visit.

It has never been cheaper to holiday in Fiji - with cut price flights and accommodation deals, along with a recently devalued dollar.

While there are some who have been influenced by the negative reporting, those choosing Nadi as a holiday destination say they've seen little sign of the promised trouble.

“That's what we'd been warned. Travel agent had said you know don't bring anything valuable, don't take photos at the airport, that kind of thing. But there was no security there,” says New Zealand tourist Sue Scutter.

Australian tourist patricia Smith said authorities are more concerned with journalists than holidaying families.

Even on the streets of Suva, there is little evidence of a military presence, certainly no police with guns on every corner.

Tourist numbers are well down though across Fiji. At this Nadir resort ex-pat Philip Buckleton is blaming countries like New Zealand for his half-empty hotel.

“The negative impact of travel advisories have virtually stopped business, or brought business to a standstill,” he says.

Mr Buckleton says he is a supporter of Bainimarama’s regime and claims the advisories and media reports are painting a one-sided picture.

The New Zealand government's "safe travel" website lists Fiji as "some risk".

While travel agents say it is up to individuals to decide whether it’s a holiday they're happy to take.

3 News

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

“Pulitzer Chasing - Enligtened Ones" tell us what to do!

"Bula, the record needs to be set this straight (note the Pulitzer Prize winning capable grammar?) on this one - the blog you refer to does not belong to Mike Field. I am the editor of that blog and the name is one that has been coined by several of us here in New Zealand, not just Mr Field. His blog - among others - is listed as a link on our page, that is all. A number of blogs have sprung up in the last few weeks as a result of the recent developments in Fiji and our's is one of them. Good luck to everyone."

Loyal Fijian published this comment under the post titled "Setting the Record Straight" in the interest of fair and balanced reporting.

The author of this comment claims to be the owner of a blog which is taking a lot of interest in Fiji. Fair enough!

But we feel, in fairness to our readers we should give you a closer look at the "New Zealand based journalists" who have suddenly emerged as experts on all matters related to Fiji.

This blog has links to just about every anti-FMF or anti-IG blog that exists, including those that have published bomb making instructions and called for attacks on NZ citizens visiting Fiji. But they don't carry a link to Loyal Fijian.

Tells you a bit about their motivation and their way of thinking doesn't it? Not exactly balanced and impartial, are they?

And why such an interest in Fiji?

If you want to report on race relations, where better to start than in New Zealand. You don't have to go to Fiji to find stories on race relations between "Fijis two major races", as these foreign journalists like to describe our nations demographics.

Have a look in your own backyard! Report on the race relations in New Zealand , why don't you?

You don't have to go to Fiji to find stories on "law and order situation, as these foreign journalists like to describe it. Go and have a look in your own backyard. Report on the law and order situation in New Zealand , why don't you!

Whats that sorry?

Oh, Oh, Sooooorrry!

We need to be told do we? Because you live in NZ , you have a birth right to tell others how wrong everything is in our country. Especially if it is a Melanesian country.

Oh, its like that is it?

The "Pulitzer Chasing - Enligtened Ones" will tell us because we don't have a clue. Right Right!!

Where have we heard that one before?

Theres more, you say! Ok!

Reporting on Fiji makes you feel like a "real" journalist does it? Because no media organisation will employ you, you describe yourself as a "freelancer". In Fiji, we call you "unemployed"!

So, reporting on Fiji makes you feel like you are reporting from a "danger zone", does it? Because you feel totally left out, don't you?

The closest you'll ever getting to being embedded with an American military unit in Iraq, like all the real journalist are doing, is being embedded in your swivel chair in front of your desktop!

So, you feel you deserve a Pulitzer Prize do you? Oh, we get it!! You think this your golden opportunity to bagging an award by reporting on a major crisis! Reporting from/on a danger zone, like you've seen real journalists doing on BBC!

We can just see the headlines "Unemployed, No-Name Wannabe Pretend Journalists Win Pulitzer Prize By Telling Their Melanesian Neighbours What to Do!

Wow! Go for it brother!

A Loyal Fijian first!

A Loyal Fijian first!

 

For the first time since the start of this blog, we are including links on our blog.

 

Only those sites which conform with the Loyal Fijian Commitment will be included.

 

Loyal Fijian stands for a prosperous Fiji. If you love our beautiful Fiji like Loyal Fijian does, we will consider including you in our Links list.

 

But if you publish Hate, Incite people to attack tourists visiting Fiji, call for soldiers families to be denied food and publish bomb making instructions to be used against the Fijian people, Loyal Fijian will work to highlight how you are hurting Fijians.

 

If you are calling for ban on flights to Fiji which will cost Fijians working in hotels thero jobs, Loyal Fijian will work to highlight how you are hurting Fijians.

 

If you want to run Fiji's economy into the ground, Loyal Fijian will work to highlight how you are hurting Fijians.

 

Loyal Fijian stands for Balance and Fairness. So, if you have a balanced and informed opinion, we will consider publishing your views.

 

Loyal Fijian is not pro-this or anti-that! Loyal Fijian stands for TRUTH and JUSTICE.

 

Loyal Fijian stands for a FREE and FAIR media. If you use the media to run your agendas and publish propaganda which vilifies innocent people, Loyal Fijian will work to highlight how you are hurting Fijians.

 

Loyal Fijian has been the only voice of reason and moderation in the cyberwar that has been raging for the last 2 years or so. Loyal Fijian has been the sole voice against those who wish to use Hate, Rumour and Speculation to achieve their agendas. Its good to see others too are stepping up , in the interest of fairness and balance in reporting.

 

Loyal Fijian has exposed Hate-mongers and Inciters.

 

Loyal Fijians are patriots. We love our country!

 

Come and join us to put forward the voice of reason . Join as a follower by clicking "Follow".

 

For Fiji, Ever Fiji!

 

 

** Come and visit our beautiful Fiji for a safe and enjoyable holiday.  We guarantee you will be treated as royalty. And you will be helping our people too.**

Lets Set the Record Straight

By Pacific in the Media

 

 

Bula, the record needs to be set this sraight on this one - the blog you refer to does not belong to Mike Field. I am the editor of that blog and the name is one that has been coined by several of us here in New Zealand, not just Mr Field. His blog - among others - is listed as a link on our page, that is all. A number of blogs have sprung up in the last few weeks as a result of the recent developments in Fiji and our's is one of them. Good luck to everyone.

 

 

Come over for a Holiday!

Is it cold?Are your freezing your backsides off?

Is it 9C and miserable?

Guess, what its a balmy 27C here in Suva, 29C in Nadi.

Come over, why dont you?

Come over for a holiday. Loyal Fijian will spend the next 4 weeks in attracting tourists to our lovely, beautiful country.

Why? Because you will have a great holiday and our people need you.

Yes, tourism helps our people put food on the table, pay the kids school fees! Come over, relax and be spoilt.

Fiji is safe and fun. No terrorists targeting tourists here like in Egypt.

To those who are calling for attacks on the tourism industry and for bans on flights to Fiji, think again. You are doing our nation and our people a great disservice. Your hate blinds you.

The difference between Loyal Fijian and the Hate bloggers is we love our country and you talk of running the economy into the ground. But you are few, we are many!

So, come on over and experience the Fijian hospitality. Friendly Fiji awaits you. The airfares are cheap and the hotels are rolling out the red carpet.

See you in Fiji.

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Ant-IG on the march

Remember as kids when we went fishing with the kerosene lantern and the reef fish on seeing the bright light would momentarily freeze, long enough for us to stick the spear through it.

Another analogy is "Like a deer in the spotlights", for those of you reading from the comfort of your Auckland homes or in Yagoona or in Washington D.C or San Francisco.

That's what the IG appears to be at the moment: caught in the spotlight.

There is no doubt that the IG has been ill-advised and is paying the price. The momentum since Good Friday has definitely swung towards to the anti-IG forces.

At the moment there are as many as 10 anti-FMF blogs on the web. These are run individuals and groups such as the one formed in Yagoona in Sydney on Saturday night (18 April 2009). Some stand totally discredited and exposed while others have sprung up in recent days.

By placing restrictions on the media, the IG has created an international media firestorm.

You see, we all have our little "secret codes".

Like "No man left behind" for the soldiers. Well the journalists also have their code. And measures such as travel bans and media censors will invoke that unwritten code for others to flock to their defence. And so they should.

Would the London Times reporter have flown to Fiji if the media had not been placed under such restrictions? Probably not.

New Zealand based journalists have started a blog since Good Friday to publish Fiji related news, a direct result of the media censorship. The blog with the mathematically inspired name sprung after the author was banned from entering Fiji and has taken to publishing the blog has his way to get back at his detractors with active local support.

There is a war of words on folks. Not with bombs and guns but with blogs and words. And at the moment , it seems that that anti-FMF forces are on the march.

We live in Fiji bro!

All of us here at Loyal Fijian are 100% committed to the freedom to debate and criticise.

 

All for it. So, thumbs up to the Pita Waqatairewa and his group for holding their Australian  forum. There's no harm in talking. None.

 

Go for it. Hold more meetings and publish your views. No harm in that. Lets talk and debate.

 

But, what's this about calling for bans on flights to Fiji in order to cripple the Fijian economy.

 

What's this about waging a campaign to deter tourists coming to Fiji?

 

What's this about running the economy into the ground?

 

Bro, thousands of Fijians rely on tourists to buy put food on the table and pay their childrens school fees.

 

Why punish them?

 

Sure, go ahead and make your voice heard. Put your view across. Go ahead, we will even publish your "statements" if it meets our criteria of Balanced, Impartial and Fair on this blog.

 

But please don't punish the common Fijian.

 

You see, we live in Fiji, you talk in Australia.

 

Big difference bro, big difference!

 

Even the Australian Foreign Affairs Minister openly stated that measures being pushed by Mr Waqatairewa's group would hurt the Fijian people and said "We are not proposing to introduce sanctions which have the impact of adversely impacting on the Fijian people themselves."

 

Mr Smith went on to say that the Australian Government was not proposing to introduce wider sanctions against Fiji.

 

The Australian Governments has clearly decided against the tough line stance. Now the Interim Government must respond.

 

A good first step would be to remove media restrictions.

With Freedom comes Responsibility

Professions such as lawyers, doctors and journalists have a "social contract" with society where society grants them a status of privilege, so to speak, in return for the professional conducting themselves ethically, honestly, fairly and to the highest standard.

 

Which is why there is such widespread indignation when we hear about a lawyer who abuses the trust funds entrusted to his/her care.  The people are shocked and demand answers.

 

Professions must always strive to maintain the highest standards in order to keep the "social contract" intact.

 

Journalists belong to one such profession, especially in a country such as ours, with over 300 islands and people living in remote areas, the news via the radio, newspapers and now the internet, is their way of being in touch, of knowing what is going on.

 

The freedom of the media to report freely must be maintained. Media censorship is a great disservice to our nation.

 

What must also be maintained is the "social contract' between the journalists and society.

 

A journalist's job is to report dispassionately, with balance and without resort to sensationalism. That's what most people would expect when they pick up a newspaper or turn on the radio. The person writing the article has done their research, obtained alternative views where there are dissenting positions, exercised their skill obtained through proper training and arrived at an article that adds to the body of knowledge available on a subject.

 

That in a nutshell is a journalist's job. And Loyal Fijian will defend that right to the end.

 

But if journalists start taking positions in a political debate as part of their job, is that journalism?

 

If a political leader wishes to issue a statement, they should have a right to do so. A journalist should obtain a copy, do their work and report on it. Not be the one drafting the statement and then use their position to publicise it.

 

If a political leader wishes to consult with his/her members they have a right to do so. A journalist could attend, stand at the back, do their work and report on it. Not be the ones running a campaign on the internet hiding behind silly pseudonyms and publishing content which are inciteful.

 

Another element to this debate has to be mentioned. Our friends from overseas.

 

Of course, they should be allowed in to report. Of course they have a right to raise their voice when poorly advised authorities impose restrictions on the media. Of course they must highlight incidents of harassment against their fellow journalists. They must do these and more.

 

But to take sides, to start up blog sites and report hearsay and innuendo hiding behind silly names. C'mon, that is doing journalists in Fiji and all over the world a great disservice.

 

The journos who are behind the blogs which are publishing posts of the nature highlighted in our last post are actually playing into the authorities hands. This is the time to maintain the standards, not throw the book out the window.

 

This LF contributor remembers reading an article which appeared in a prominent daily after the 2000 coups. A certain Mr Micheal Field, displaying his enormous knowledge and even greater foresight wrote in his article , the exact words escape me, but words to the effect of : " Men like Mr Chaudhry and Mr Qarase have been confined to the dustbins of history. The future of Fiji belongs to men like Lt Col. Filipo Taraikinikini."

 

And this man is an authority on Fiji.

Anti-FMF Blog's INCITE MUTINY

On April 17, a blog lacking any balance and known for spreading rumours and speculation published a blog filled with gutter-level innuendo about the Land Forces Commander Pita Driti.

Excerpts from that post are reproduced below:

He is a short boring Bart-looking man who wakes up every morning, puts on his hijacked landforce commander uniform, looks at the mirror and sees Tom Cruise staring back at him.
Driti is an unknown military officer who came into prominence after he was named by the Lami democracy shrine youth group as the man who ordered and participated in their brutal torture soon after the December 2006 coup.

Sources say that Driti is now “very busy” with one Fiji TV One journalist (she migrated from Fiji Sun).

Driti and this skirt journalist are said to have been seen in ”places” at odd hours of the night while the local media have been gagged by Driti’s gang.

He is “dah bomb” for now until he gets bombed out - soon.

In the past blogs associated to this one have published inciteful calls to bomb tourists which was reported on TV NZ, published instructions to its (thankfully very few) readers to deny FMF soldiers families food and published detailed bomb making instructions sourced from certain websites used among others by people such as those who carried out terrorist attacks in Madrid and London.

And now this same blog is publsihing calls for Pita Driti to execute a mutiny and is balatantly spreading rumours of an imminent blood bath.

With posts such as these:

April 18, 2009
Yep, just do it Pita Driti!!!

April 18, 2009
By Save
Driti, you have our support. Start the revolution and we will move from out here. My brother, we want you to know you have all our support to go after Voreqe. We ready my brother. Me and my group ready to die for my Fiji.

April 18, 2009
A heated row erupted between Frank Bainmarama and landforce commander Pita Driti today.

Sources from within confirm that tension is high between Frank and the military as we blog.
They say that the 55 years retirement age for the military officers against Frank’s 65 is making Frank’s gun carriers angry.

Sure, people have the freedom to express their thoughts and freedom to organise. But incitement to violence against innocent civilians has to be condemned.

Isnt it funny how the same blog that was ridiculing Col. Pita Driti on April 17 was exhorting him to carry out a mutiny on April 18 .

Talk about running with the hare and hunt with the hounds !

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Devaluation, thats a big word!

Oh my my my, what an eventful week it has been

Only three times before (is it 4?) anything like this have we seen

 

Where to start, where to begin

Its all a blur, nothing seems to work, not even the Gordons Gin

 

Easter Friday, like any other, dug the lovo, mixed the waka (a mild traditional narcotic)

Was jolted to see the neighbours, kids and all, running to get into their car

 

Whats the matter? Whats the fuss?

Run they said or else you will miss the bus

 

Turn on the radio, Lo and behold, there we go again

Its another coup, back where it all began

 

Relax I said to Bubu, we've seen this before

Just spin the grog, what is it now, coup no. four?

 

The newspaper said they cant print what they want

The censor said you cant just go on and publish your rant

 

Saw on TV, the ABC news reporter given his marching orders

Off you go, go on, go along now, over the borders

 

It suits no one to have a media hobbled and lame

Don't shoot the messenger, just get better at the game

 

Then came the news about the devaluation

Now thats a big word, came as a shock to the entire nation

 

We pay more for our imports, more for oil, powdered milk and just about anything else

To the poor man, this does not make sense

 

The business man rubs his hands with glee,

His family with all his money had already fleed

 

Lets wait and see what happens next, ears and eyes open, be sharp as a tack

Beware the ides of April, be sure to watch your back!

 

Isnt it funny, how we do this every time

Make it all so funny and make it rhyme

 

Free Poets Society

Fiji Dollar Devalued : Was Narube resisting political directive?

Savenaca Narube was removed as Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji after the abrogation of the Constitution on Good Friday. He's replacement was Sada Reddy, the Deputy Governor.

 

Mr Reddy's first act was to devalue the dollar by 20 percent effective immediately.

 

The devaluation by such a magnitude must rank alongside the 1987 coup and the several abrogations of the Constitution as one of the most severe actions taken by any Fijian administration.

 

Following the 1987 coup we had two devaluations. But the devaluation announced today by 20%, effectively reducing the buying power of the Fijian dollar by one-fifth is unprecedented.

 

There can be no denying now that we are in serious trouble folks.

 

The smart businessman who are well connected would have been tipped off and squirreled their loot offshore before this announcement. The common man and woman will now pay more for all our imported products.

 

So next time you go to the shops to buy noodles, mackerel, powdered milk and just about anything else, you will pay more.

 

And this is on top of the inflation rate which surely must rank in the double digits now.

 

The Fijian economy has been hit hard before, inevitable when you consider the amount of political turmoil we have had. But we have come out without the economy collapsing.

 

Economies such as Argentina collapsed, but we remained steadfast. Zimbabwe has introduced a billion dollar note to buy a single loaf of bread. In Zimbabwe, the loaf of bread which you bought for 1 billion in the morning costs 2 billion the following day. No kidding, its called hyper-inflation.

 

We are some way away from being that far gone, and probabaly wont unless the Reserve Bank starts printing more money.

 

But folks, things don't look to good this time round.

 

The factors that kept our economy going are not as strong this time around.

 

Sugar industry is almost gone with the South Pacific Fertilizer factory nearing closure and if fertiliser is to be imported, the cost will become prohibitive and the sugar cane industry will be good as dead. The riches from mahogany has not flowed like we were led to believe. Tourists are finding alternative venues such as Vanuatu and Samoa safer .

 

Last but not least, the timing of Narube's departure and the announcement of the devaluation is rather curious. Did Narube resist political pressure to devalue the Fiji dollar and was asked to ride off into the sunset?

 

Did he jump or was he pushed?

 

Economics Desk

 

Free Media is No One's Enemy

A free media is no ones enemy. Censorship of the media of the likes that we have seen in the past few days is morally indefensible and poor political judgement.

Banning the media is like bashing your wife. No matter how you try and justify it, it is just wrong and will be condemned by one and all, even by those who are guilty of the same.

But, she was cheating on me, you say! Maybe you should have paid her more attention, comes the response.

But, she was going to leave me, you plead. Maybe if you had been more sensitive to her needs, comes the reply.

No way to defend it.

Condemnation of the moves to impose censorship has been swift and widespread. From individuals to groups to Governments have condemned it. And that should not come as a surprise to anyone.

Let the media report freely and without censorship. And with the freedom to report freely comes the responsibility to report fairly.

Media freedom is about Economics folks. Media freedom is what made Rupert Murdoch a billionaire. Media freedom is what made Larry Flynt, the publisher of pornography, a billionaire.

Media freedom means money.

The Interim Government accuses the media of being selective in its reporting of employing individuals who have allegiances to political parties or are using their positions to pursue personal agendas.

Loyal Fijian will let the people decide if certain Fiji media outlets at times have been less than balanced due to the influence of certain persons with agendas to push.

But we all remember FM96 coverage of the 2000 coup when Tu-Kini Cama appointed himself as the spokesman of George Speight and used FM96 to broadcast the coup plotters message. Or Kamal Iyer who regularly uses his acquaintances in the media to publish his articles which he himself will be the first to agree is political propaganda. Or Victor Lal's articles which appear in the Fiji Sun and often divulge material which are not public information.

Can some journalists deny their involvement with blogsites which publish half truths and rumours under the cover of anonymity?

Can they?

How is it that one of blogsites which among other things published bomb making instructions, pubslished ridiculous slander about the wives of innocent people and called upon people to attack tourists had displayed an original photograph of FCYPN activists outside the Lami home of Laisa Digitaki displaying their anti-coup message?

The original photograph can only be available to the media outlet that took those photos. How did the anti-IG bloggers get it?

With freedom comes responsibility. Can Fiji's media outlets take a good look within themselves and say they are totally dispassionate in their reporting, their journalists don't have "favored" sources or driven by allegiances to political parties or traditional links?

Can they?

The best thing the Government can do is to remove the censorship and let the media go about its work.

As we here at Loyal Fijian have said all along, the people are smart enough to sense rumour and innuendo from facts .

Bloggers like WhyFijiisCrying and its clone Solivaksasama which sprung up after the 2006 are now totally discredited due to their rumour mongering and mindless slander.

But the best defence against such bias is to let them talk or write, present your own side of the story and move on .Censorship is not the solution.

The move to impose censorship is an admission that the information machinery of the Government is not doing its job as it should. Get better at the game , dont take the ball and go running home. That never made anyone any friends.

Media Desk

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Appeals Court of Fiji rules in former PM Qarase's favor

The Appeals Court of Fiji decision today overturned the Supreme Court judgement last year ruled the Intrim Government formed after the 2006 military coup was illegal and said a caretaker prime minister should be appointed to call for elections and restore democracy.

The Supreme Court had ruled that President Ratu Iloilo had acted legally in asking Mr Bainimarama to form an interim government after the bloodless coup.

The contention by Laisenia Qarase that he be re-instated as PM and he would then advise the President to call fresh elections were however not allowed.

This decision brought much rejoicing in the SDL camp and hopes among former MP's and supporters that an election could be called were raised.

But does the decision by the Appeals Court of Fiji mean that the Interim Government will call for elections soon?

There a number of possibilities, in order of likelihood:

1. The President re-affirms Commodore Bainimarama as Interim PM

2. Interim Government overrules Appeals Court of Fiji under Doctrine of National Security Exigency

3. New independent PM is appointed who vacates office in favour of Commodore Bainimarama

4. Constitution is abrogated and the People Charter will serve as the framework to return Fiji to Parliamentary rule

5. Independent PM is appointed who calls for fresh elections in 12 months

6. Mahendra Chaudhry is appointed as Interim PM

7. Peceli Kinivuwai is named as Interim PM

The Appeals Court of Fiji is not unexpected given the precedent that was set in Chandarika Prasad case that allowed a return to Parliamentary rule in 2000. As such, the planners in the IG would have sufficient time to work out their options.

Its time for likes of Aiyaz Khaiyum/Shaista Shameem to earn their dollar.....Tip to Aiyaz, have a read of the 7 options above.

Legal Desk

Conversations of Jone, Jaswant and Joe : Hong Kong and False Flag operations!

Its another grog session at Jone's house. Fiji has won the Hong Kong Seven's after a long time. The mood is better but the events of the previous weeks are still on Jone and Jaswant's minds.

 

Jone: Va cava! Uh ! Wana- navu: So – Kon- Po Boy

 

Jaswant : Yea man, set sa ra ga qo boy! Wooo….

 

Jone : Long time coming this one, man. Taki!

 

Jaswant : Taki Joe

 

(Joe just sits quietly, he seems to be smiling, but at what no one knows. He just takes it all in)

 

Jone : Seti Jas, o koya vulagi, Ill taki.

 

Jaswant : Why cant he taki uh? I taki.

 

Jone : Vita lia man. So what you think, we'll get a public holiday?

 

Jaswant : Must tu ge bro. Must have a public holiday.

 

Joe : It was a good win.

 

( With these words he goes back into his own world)

 

Jaswant: See Joe, come closer. Jone and I been talking about that sugar and kerosene thing aye. Bro, that's sa danger man. Who can do that?

 

Joe : That's a good question Jaswant.

 

Jone : I think this very high level man!

 

Jaswant : You mean, the you-know-who?

 

Jone : Yea man.

 

Joe : Either that or somebody wants us to think that. Its called a False Flag operation

 

Jone/Jaswant (together) : M*@# T%^#$ We're F*&*##

 

Jone : Just think about it. Sakiusa Raivoce is an ex-Army man. He is a recruiter for soldiers to serve overseas in his company. Why is the Army so interested in him? What has he been up to? He's boys include ex-SF boys from UK.

 

Jone : Man, this stuff is getting serious.

 

Jaswant: Hey Joe, you stay with us gang OK.

 

Joe : (Laughs) You're right about one thing, things are getting interesting.

 

(With that Joe goes off into his thoughts again. What is he thinking?)

PARTY TIME : WE WIN WE WIN!!!!

 Oh how sweet it is,

For this everyone gets a Loyal Fijian kiss

 

We have done it again

Lets dance, rejoice and sing, whether its sun or rain

 

It has been along time coming

But the victory is mind numbing

 

We have won at So Kon Po

All we can say, is Fiji Go Go Go

 

Tanivula has weaved his magic

It is ours once again, his coaching has done the trick

 

We took a lot of new boys

They have done us proud, go on, make some noise

 

Lets have a great big party

Let it all out, lets be happy and hearty

 

For this we need a public holiday

Its been a long while, give us one, we say

 

Fiji Fiji Fiji, all the way

Oh what a night, and what a hangover we all have today

 

Two players in the sin-bin

Never mind, nothing was gonna stop us, we went barging in

 

Isnt it amazing how we do this every time

Make it all so funny and make it rhyme

 

Free Poets Society

 

No Hate

No Death Threats

No Slander against innocent people

Conversation of Jone, Jaswant and Joe : Sugar Belongs in Tea, Not Kersosene

Its amazing how many moths were fluttering around the tube light in Jone's lounge . It was a Friday night like any other and Jaswant, Jone's neighbour and Joe, an expatriate who worked with Jone had arrived to swipe the grog and yarn around the tanoa.

The Super 14 was one but their minds was elsewhere. There were rumours flying that Joe wasn't his real name and that he had been in a specialist military unit before taking up the job in Fiji. Joe laughed these rumours off.

Jone : Sugar belongs in tea, not with kerosene in a beer bottle.

Jaswant : Yea man, whats with that? Maybe they try to use that to make the bottle heavy eh?
Jone : Yea man, things are getting a bit crazy now man.

Jaswant : I know bro. First stones, now kerosene and sugar mix. (Joe kept quiet listening to Jaswant and Jone)

Jone : Hey, Joe, this ever happen in your country?

Joe : (Laughing) Yes and no

Jaswant : You always speak in riddles man. Where are you from anyway?

Joe : Planet Earth

Jone : Man, you one strange Kaivalagi ( All three laugh)

Joe : The sugar is a sucrose/dextrose substitute

Jaswant : What ? What u talking about man?

Jone : Calm down Jas. You Indians just stick to making money, leave military stuff to us, Kaivalagi and Kaiviti.

Joe : Sucrose/Dextrose combined with oxidisers is used to create low intensity explosives, sugar is a substitute.

Jone/Jaswant : (Together) : M*^*@!@ , We're F#$%$$#%$

(Silence descends on the room)

Jaswant : How you know all this man? Is it true what they say about you?

Joe : Taki.

Jaswant: YOU Taki..........boci!

Jone : Seti, Jas...relax man.

Jaswant : Relax? We have a freaking James Bond inside and the freaking T.L.F outside. Relax , my a@^&!

Jone : I know man.

Joe : Taki maan.........................................................!

Jaswant : Hey Colonial days are over OK! U taki, M&*@#@## T#$%#$$

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Lovo Stones belong in the Lovo

Wow wee, its has been an eventful week

Rumours and speculation were flying thick

 

Well, so much happening, not good for one weak of heart

I guess from the beginning is a good place to start

 

Netani Rika got a rude awakening

Somebody stoned his car, now thats a naughty thing

 

Then Attar Singh heard a loud bang, Oh my God, Oh Nooooo

Hey, shouldn't these stones be in the lovo

 

Now Now, before you accuse Loyal Fijian of justifying these acts

Take a deep breath, lets just look at the facts

 

Lovo stones belong inside the earth, under the fire

If they end up in peoples cars, now that means the situations getting dire

 

Our sympathies with Attar and Rika

Loyal Fijian stands for speaking your mind without favour or fear

 

Then there was the underwater volcano going off near Tonga

Tsunami is the last thing we need, if you see the big waves be sure to honker

 

The shops were closed, public servants took a break

Yes sir, count me in, a day off, I'll be happy to take

 

Isnt it funny, how we do this every time

Make it so funny and make it rhyme

 

 

Free Poets Society

 

No Death Threats

No Rumour-mongering

No Slander

Just FACTS and Fun. 

Was Esala Teleni prematurely criticised for an Innovative Solution?

Kemudou tamata liu muri!

Four words that sparked off such a controversy.

Every Fijian, Indian, Rotuman, Banaban, Kailoma and Kaivalagi (after more than 2 days in Fiji) knows what it means. And not forgeting the Chinese. (sorry, if I have offended your community by putting you last in the para, please do not go running to the media.)

Police Commissioner Esala Teleni was hauled over the coals for addressing his Indian subordinates with those words.

The Indian Police officers were apparently feeding the news media stories of their discontent with the Christian crusades that Commissioner Teleni had kicked off over the Christmas holidays to fight crime.

Apparently, they felt the Christian Crusade was contrary to their own faiths and the Police Force should not be the driving force behind a religiously inspired campaign.

It's a pity because Commissioner Teleni actually came up with a new idea to combat rampant crime in Fiji.

For years the NGO's, the Indian religious organisations, the politicians and the general public have been crying out fort the Fiji Police to "do something" about the worsening crime problem.

The community especially the Indians who often are the victims of robberies and break-ins have criticised the Fiji Police for not doing enough and doing the same old over and over again.

The Fiji Police has been criticised for not coming up with new strategies.

Everyone knows that the Christian faith is central to the Fijian community identity. Christianity binds the people together and gives them the hope of a better tomorrow.

Ratu Kitione Vesikula used Christianity with great success with Serevi being the spearhead in the successes at Hong Kong. So much so that Fijian players ran out with Phil 4:13 written on their jerseys. It gave them the motivation they needed.

Smart coaching.

Teleni has done the same. If Crime is the problem then we have to find a solution. Christianity will help. It is a unique solution to a worsening problem.

The Indians will do well to recognise that they are the ones facing the brunt of the violent crime, Esala Teleni's unique strategy may just be the "out of the box" solution that could work.

Everything else has failed. What's there to lose?

Did Someone around Pakistan team know Sri Lanka bus was to be Attacked?

Pakistan Younis Khan made a statement that provides a very valuable clue into the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan bus on Monday 2 March 2009.

He said that "another 5 minutes and we would have been right with the Sri Lankans".

Thats right, the Pakistani bus and the Sri Lankan bus both were supposed to travel together to the Stadium, like in previous days.

Due to some "unknown" reason, the bus carrying the Pakistani players was delayed on the morning of the attack.

It is very unlikely that the terrorists would have endagered the lives of the Pakistani cricketers as to do so would have meant them losing all public support.

Pakistani cricketers are demi-gods in that country.

And as commentator after commentator have been saying in the news, the attacks were very well planned.

From the weapons, to the getaway motor bikes, a lot of planning went into this.

The attackers could not run the risk of having to abort the mission after all the planning had been done because the Pakistani bus happened to be in the way.

No, they had to make sure the Pakistani bus didnt arrive at the scene together with the bus carrying the Sri Lankan players.

Is there a "mole" in or around the Pakistani cricket team? Is someone close to the jihadi elements in Pakistan?

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Melrose Cup to Fiji to Stay

The Melrose Cup is being held in Dubai, a vast stretch of palm fronds and sand

The kingdom has seen massive development , like someone has waved a magic wand

From the Palm Island resort, the Map of the World islands to the worlds highest tower

Its all there, and more are being built by the hour

To build it all has been a lot of hard work and toil

Unlike the "other kingdom", these guys have no oil

It is very hot and dusty

The dry heat can make you very thirsty

We haveFrance, US and Georgia in our pool

Its time we taught them a lesson, took them back to school

When we get past this stage, there will be bigger tests

But we should step up and show the world we are the best

Past the pool stage, Fiji will need to work very hard

South Africa, NZ, England are very strong, we will have to be on our guard

So this weekend, all Fiji Islanders look forward to this one

It is gonna be a heap of fun

South Africa under Paul Treus have made huge strides

Fiji can knock them down, hit them hard, make them run and hide

Kiwis are always a big threat, always running hot

Half their team is Fijian, that says a lot

England have stepped up on the big stage before
Its time to run them into the ground, send them into a stupor

Like all Fijians we want a win, Melrose Cup to Fiji , another 4 years to stay

So we can rejoice, grog and have a public Holiday

Isnt it funny how we do this each time

Make it all so funny and make it rhyme

Free Poets Society

Go Ryder Go Serevi

Saddened by the news that Serevi was given the sack
What a blow to our hopes of getting the World Cup back

The greatest sevens player we have ever seen
He was there for us through thick and thin

And now we hear that William Ryder has pulled out too
Oh no , what are we to do?

What is the reason for all this mess?
Why have we gone from Champions to hopeless?

FRU talks a lot, strategy sessions, 5 year plans, fancy terms from abroad
But behind all the talk, the affairs of the FRU is like a stinking cod

Why is the FRU so against Serevi?
What he done to get the 3rd degree?

Get your act together FRU, it doesn't have to be all gloomy and dark
Stop threatening players in the car park
If FRU thinks they need to protect FRU HQ and request Police protection
That says a lot of their state of mind, their intention

See what Serevi did with Lomaiviti
He will do the same with Fiji

Gordon Tietjens says he cant believe it, just ask him
He has 4 Fijians playing for NZ and if he could he'll pick Serevi in his team

Our best hope lies with the Maestro
All the way to final, its all systems Go Go Go

Isnt it amazing how we do this every time
Make it all so funny and make it rhyme Free Poets Society

ENDURING MYSTERIES : Naria's 3 Sisters : Scenarios 3 & 4

For a small island nation, we do have our fair share of mystery and intrigue. From  individuals vanishing without a trace to millions disappearing from secure bank vaults. We have it all.

 

In coming weeks, Loyal Fijian will be running a series titled " Enduring Mysteries" where we examine mysteries, conspiracy theories, and look for answers to questions left unanswered.

 

Scenario 3 - Dip Chand was on a Drug run, Girls killed by suspicious Yachties

 

Another scenario that has been doing the rounds is that Dip Chand was using the run to Malake Island to deliver a consignment of marijuana to a visiting yacht.

 

Marijuana grown in and around Rakiraki is believed to be of high potency and has a reputation among users and traffickers.

 

A regular topic of discussion around grog bowls in Rakiraki are the individuals who have grown rich on the proceeds of marijuana sale. Among these people is Mr X, a person that Dip Chand wanted to speak to before making his confession of murder of the 3 girls.

 

The scenario suggests that Dip Chand on delivering the marijuana ran into trouble with the drug traffickers on board who were not expecting to see the 3 girls. They were highly suspicious and felt their drug smuggling ring had been compromised.

 

The girls were attacked by the drug traffickers and killed. Dip Chand did not intervene to stop but he himself was not the killer.

 

Dip Chand was paid to admit to the murders to conceal the identity of the marijuana grower, a certain Mr X.

 

Scenario 4 : Girls family Complicit in the Saga

 

Another scenario doing the rounds is that the girls family knows more than they are letting on.

 

This scenario is built on the reasoning that no mother would let her 3 girls go on a picnic with a man all by themselves.

 

We are talking of a conservative rural community where word travels fast and reputations depend on peoples observations. Young girls in particular are careful not to be seen in the company of males alone let tongues start wagging.

 

Why would their mother let them go without another male member of the family? Why didnt she raise the alarm until the next day?

 

Would she have approved of them camping on the island overnight?

 

More questions than answers.

Naria Sisters Disappearance : Scenario 1 & 2

Naria Sisters Disappearance : Scenario 1- The 3 sisters were Kidnapped and Sold to Human Traffickers

 

A scenario that was not ruled out by the Police was the possibility that the 3 sisters had been drugged by Dip Chand and sold to a visiting yacht.

 

Anecdotal evidence suggests that a medium sized yacht had been anchored off Naria and Dip Chand had made at least 2 trips to this yacht in the preceding days. This was not considered unusual as Dip Chand was known as a fixer for visiting yachties.

 

He is believed to have procured marijuana for the yachts passengers. (Police have not laid any charges in this regard)

 

The yacht is believed to have left Fiji waters on or around 27 -28 June without the required clearance from Customs. It was 3 days before a search of yachts in and around Naria was started, enough time for long distance vessels to have disappeared out of Fiji waters.

 

There was intense speculation that the 3 sisters had been kidnapped by the persons on the yacht to be sold onto contacts in Thailand.

 

This possibility appears more credible in the light of information that a 11 year old Fiji girl was recently picked up by Thai authorities after escaping from a Thai brothel where she had been brought as a 7 yr old.

 

Information submitted to the Department of Social Welfare in Suva has unfortunately not been followed up with the vigour that is required to address an increasing trend of paedophiles and sex traffickers targeting the poor in Fiji and other developing countries in the South Pacific.

 

 

Naria Sisters Disappearance : Scenario 2 - 3 Sisters Were Indeed Killed but not by Dip Chand Alone

 

Another possibility is that the 3 sisters were indeed killed on Malake Island , possibly after being raped.

 

How plausible is Dip Chands claim that he single handedly overpowered, raped, killed and disposed off the bodies of 3 young girls, aged 17 -19.

 

It does not seem very likely. Dip Chand from photographs and observation is not a particularly large man.

 

Unless there were other persons on the island and Dip Chand is protecting these persons, because he is fearful of his life or is being paid to keep quiet.

 

Mobile phone calls made to people were traced by Fiji Police but mysteriously the details of the people who received these calls have never been made public.

 

This has led to speculation in the community that Dip Chand is being pressured or paid to protect other individuals who may hold valuable information on what happened on Malake Island or were there on the island themselves after being called by Dip Chand .

 

ENDURING MYSTERIES : Naria 3 Sisters : Episode 2

 For a small island nation, we do have our fair share of mystery and intrigue. From  individuals vanishing without a trace to millions disappearing from secure bank vaults. We have it all.

 

In coming weeks, Loyal Fijian will be running a series titled " Enduring Mysteries" where we examine mysteries, conspiracy theories, and look for answers to questions left unanswered.

 

Continued from Part 1

 

After the phone conversation with Mr X, Dip Chand confessed to the murder of the 3 sisters.

 

However, few believe this story.

 

No trace of the 3 sisters has ever been found. No clothes, no body parts, nothing. They simply vanished off the face of the earth.

 

Police investigators reviewing the mobile phone records of Dip Chand found that he had made a number of calls from his mobile on Sunday 26 June after he had left with the girls in his fishing boat.

 

To this day, there are more questions than answers:

 

Why would the mother of the 3 sisters in a conservative rural community allow her 3 young daughters to go on a picnic with a drifter of ill repute?

 

Why did not the family raise the alarm until the next day?

 

Who were the people that Dip Chand called on his mobile?

 

Is Dip Chand covering for Mr X and the illict activities that have been going on in and around Naria involving local drug cultivators and yachties?

 

It is also reported that young girls have previously disappeared from their homes in Naria never to be heard of again. In one case, an Indian girl of 19 was last seen standing outside the village shop. When the shop owner asked the girl who she was waiting for, she responded that a friend from her computer school in Rakiraki town was going to pick her up.

 

She was last seen getting into a blue vehicle which to observers was not one seen previously in the area and has not been seen since that day .

 

A number of scenarios have been suggested for the disappearance of the Naria 3 sisters. These scenarios are:

 

Scenario 1 : The 3 sisters were Kidnapped and Sold to Human Traffickers

Scenario 2 : 3 Sisters were Killed but not by Dip Chand Alone

Scenario 3 : Dip Chand was on a Drug run, Girls killed by suspicious Yachties

Scenario 4 : Girls family were complicit in the whole saga

Scenario 5 : Dip Chand is telling the truth and nothing but the truth

 

 

The first 4  scenarios will be explored in detail in later posts. Scenario 5 doesn't need any further elaboration. Keep tuned.

SOLIVAKASAMA HACKED and Laid Bare

Click to enlarge

The blog site that has been calling for Soldiers families to be denied food and publishing bomb making instructions has been HACKED.

The hackers decided to make their presence known last Tuesday after having collected as much intelligence as they needed by publishing 3 posts:

1. F***k me ****** ************

This post was filled with obscenities and will not be reproduced here.

2. We Confess

The names of people behind this Hate mongering, publishing bomb instructions and efforts to malign soldiers and their families was posted. Our sources reveal that the hackers have been deep inside their group and their systems for months that they have obtained everything they need to know.

In keeping with our pledge names are blacked out. Yes, LF operatives have contacts far and wide and one of them forwarded an email with the evidence. Other screen shots will be published in due course. But, sensitive information will be withheld.

3. Loyal Fijian was here

Now, let us clarify. As much as we would like to take credit for what is a remarkable hack, we cant. Hacking is not easy, In fact, it is extremely difficult. Just try it for yourself and see if you get anywhere.

Somebody is trying to cover their tracks.

Solivakasama has seem much infighting in its ranks. There are a lot of disgruntled people around. Back stabbing is rife. Somebody has taken this opportunity to get even. (Say what F.I.R.M?)

This folks is an inside job.

The split in the ranks has led to to the disgruntled member spilling the beans. Money does that. One group wants to use its new created website to collect money. And in the process ends up giving up the names, id's, email chatter and much more to the last people on earth you would want to have this info. If you comment on thes eblogs, exercise caution. This is not kids play.

The problem for our haters is who is it? It could be anyone and we mean anyone!

One last word.

To the new blog which is pretending to know the hacker who did this .

Dont fool youselves, and the people. Your so called "hacker" couldnt hack into his own piggy bank!!!!


INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

ENDURING MYSTERIES : Naria’s 3 Sisters

For a small island nation, we do have our fair share of mystery and intrigue. From individuals vanishing without a trace to millions disappearing from secure bank vaults. We have it all. In coming weeks, Loyal Fijian will be running a series titled " Enduring Mysteries" where we examine mysteries, conspiracy theories, and look for answers to questions left unanswered.

Sunday June 26 2005 started like any other day for the residents of Naria, Rakiraki, a quiet rural community not unlike many others around the country.

By days end , however, this small community would become the focus of the whole country .

The day will forever be remembered as the day when 3 young sisters vanished leaving behind a trail of mystery and intrigue that to this day has not been solved.

According to the Fiji Police files, Ashika Sherin Lata 19 a supermarket cashier, Renuka Roshni Lata 18, a computer student and Radhika Lata 17, a form six student decided to go for for a picnic with Dip Chand, 42, whom they called "aaja" (grandfather) on Sunday, June 26, 2005.

Dip Chand, a bachelor, was known through out the community as a drifter who had more money than could be provided by his day job of occasional fisherman. Rumour has it that most people put this down to him doing occasional work for a powerful local politician. The type of work involved using his boat and knowledge of the waters off Naria to interact with visiting yachties, possibly supplying locally grown marijuana.

Naria is a well known transit point for yachts travelling out off NZ and Aust.

It was also known by many in the community, including his own family and the mother of the 3 girls, that Dip Chand was investigated by Police for rape. It would later emerge after the disappearance of the 3 Naria sisters that Dip Chand had raped 3 possibly more girls in the age group11 -17 between 2001 and 2005.

It is undisputed that the 4 made their way to a nearby island known as Malake Island for a picnic.

What happened in between Sunday June 26 2005 and the following day when Dip Chand was found drifting in his boat with visible signs of blood in the boat is a mystery.

Dip Chand initially claimed that his boat was attacked by a group of Fijians who kidnapped and took away the girls.

Under intense interrogation, he allegedly asked to make a phone call to a certain person. This is where the mystery deepens. To be cont...

..

Indiscriminate Logging A Factor in Fiji Floods

In China, a wealthy business man wishes to decorate his new million dollar executive suite with exotic wood panels. He is willing to pay a high price.

In New York, a CEO of a merchant bank eager to out do his friends, purchases furniture made from hundred year old native timber, so rare now only found in small Pacific Island countries.

Flooding like we have never seen before is not an isolated incident.

We live in an increasingly connected world.

Those familiar with the "Butterfly Effect" will see similarities in the devastation that has been wreaked upon Fiji by the floods.

A Butterfly flaps its wings in Venezuela leading to a possible thunderstorm in New York.

Stuff of wild imaginations ?

Not really.

Cause and Effect folks.

The Mayor of Nadi and now the Principal Disaster Management Officer Aisea Quminakelo have both spoken out on how the indiscriminate logging in the Nausori Highlands is contributing to the flooding in and around Nadi Town.

Loyal Fijian raised this issue in our last post. Increasingly developed countries which can rely on developed industries to drive their economies are putting greater restrictions on logging so logging companies are venturing out into countries where natural resources are the principal contributors of revenue.

One cannot blame resource owners for exploiting what resource they have to build schools, hospital and roads for their people.

Its a bit fanciful for environmentalists to sit in the comfort of the air conditioned 5 bedroom brick homes with 3 Plasma televisions and 3 cars in the garage and demand that developing countries not harvest their natural resources.

Often we read in magazines and see in movies how green activists travel from far off lands to organise anti-logging campaigns in remote forests of Amazon or in Papua New Guinea railing against the evils of logging or mining companies.

They complain how the lifestyles of remote tribes are being destroyed. But these same activists at the first sign of their 3 year old son Thomas catching a cold run to their nearest doctor, 4 yr old Jane goes schools equipped with laptops for every child and surf the Internet, 5 yr old Robert wears designer Calvin Klein jeans .

Children in Fiji walk 5 km to get to school, the nearest health centre is 12 km away and the doctor has not returned from leave.

The people of PNG , the Amazon and in Fiji want the same things these activists have. They want hospitals, schools and roads and they can only get these by harvesting the resources they have.

No one can demand a complete stop to logging.

That wont happen.

But we must ensure that logging in ecologically sensitive areas is managed and controlled. We must ensure that the landowners get a fair share, unlike what is happening now where landowners are being cheated.

Corrupt officials taking a cut and leaving the landowners high and dry must stop. It is possible for development and nature to co-exist. Blind pursuit for profits only wreaks havoc as we are witnessing.

Rain, Rain and More Rain

Wheres all this rain coming from?

 

Its raining like you wouldn't believe.

 

Seven people have now died in flooding.

Thousands more have been forced to flee their homes and are taking shelter in evacuation centres and with family.

The Government has declared a State of Emergency as the flood takes a massive toll on Fijis economy.

Looting as seen in the past did not eventuate as curfews were declared in three towns, including Nadi.

Sigatoka River burst its banks and flooded the town centre for perhaps the first time since Cyclone Kina.

Flights out of Nadi and Nausori have been cancelled and hundreds of tourists are stranded in their hotels.

Just where is all this water coming from?

Inadequate maintenance of drainage, large scale felling of trees may be contributing factors, but at the end of the day, there has been so much rain, some flooding was inevitable.

As if it wasn't enough already, another tropical depression was forecast to be heading towards Fiji, potentially bringing more torrential downpours.

Take care and keep dry folks.

Vodafone v Digicel : Its War

Vodafone and Digicel, two mutli-billion dollar telcos are waging war.

 

Its not the lucrative Indian market or profits to be made in China, no its little ol Fiji.

 

Yep, Fiji.

 

Why?

 

Good question.

 

Everywhere you look, the two rivals are going at it hammer and tongs.

 

Vodafone's $29 phone and $100 talk time has been met by Digicel's $15 phone with radio. The radio has proved to be quite a hit. The phones they offer are very old models, but hey, a phone is a phone right.

 

Coming down from Princes Rd in Suva, the french bakery opposite the great big intersection has been painted red by Vodafone. Digicel, not to be outdone , has gone to town in downtown Suva.

 

In most towns , small phone booth size booths have sell recharge cards. Mobile sellers are in on the act too.

 

Its on for young and old.

 

Dont we love competition.

 

Consumers are the winners here and so it should be.

 

Its not uncommon in Fiji these days to find 12 yr old kids with their own mobile phones (until credits run out). All these cheap phones have also led to a new problem.

 

Changing mobile numbers and pest callers.

 

Its hard keeping track of your friends and relative now. Its an new mobile number every 3 months.

 

Another problem that the Ambulance service is facing is crank calls.

 

As everyone knows, once credit runs out, only emergency calls can be made. Bloody kids are using this service to drive the guys at the ambulance service up the walls.

 

So much so that, the ambulance brigade has banned calls from Digicel phones.

 

So if you are dying from a hear attack and have nothing but a digicel phone, bro, are you in trouble?  Keep two phones says LF, applying the "outside the box" thinking that we are so fond of here at LF.

 

On the bright side, People who had to walk for kilometers to find a phone, now call all over the world with their own mobiles.

 

But still, as everyone knows, mobile phone companies make money from selling recharge cards, not phones. The phones are free. It will be interesting to know how many phones sold over Christmas actually recharge once credits run out.

 

Fiji is a very small market and these guys are big rollers.

 

They deal in billions.

 

Its hard to see how Digicel will recoup its investement in the short to medium term.

 

LF admits, it doesnt have all the answers. But tell you what, it is a very good question.and no one at LF is complaining if the consumers are winning.

WRONG WRONG WRONG - AGAIN

On May 5 2008, LF had published a post with this title: WRONG WRONG WRONG.

Then it was in response to the expulsion of NZ High Commissioner Russell Hunter. Read Here

Some 7 months later, LF is shocked at the irresponsible and petulant manner in which New Zealand's acting high commissioner, Caroline McDonald has been expelled.

Ms McDonald was informed that she has been declared "persona non-grata" and had been given one week to leave Fiji.

Such an action is bereft of any logic or will achieve any political objective.

It is the action of individuals who have lost touch with reality.

At a time of soaring inflation and record unemployment, Fiji needs NZ and Aust.

Both countries desperately need seasonal workers for agriculture, mining and to provide care to their elderly.

Before Christmas 700 visas were issues to workers from PNG, Vanuatu and Solomons to work in Australia. NZ has a similar scheme operating and many Fijians had gained from this or stood to gain from it.

Thats all gone now. Years and years of lobbying at the Pacific Forum by Pacific leaders had led to such a fundamental shift in Australian and NZ policy.

Forget it now.

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Merry Xmas

Well it is that time again
Time to unwrap gifts, dig the lovo, and hope it doesn't rain

It is time to reflect and say thanks
It has been an eventful year, thanks to some cranks

But it is not the time to be grumpy
Lets just be happy, we all know the road at times can be bumpy

Lets remember some of our friends
With whom we had had some fun and for the good times, say thanks

To all who hid behind WhyFijiiscrying and now its clone, Solivakasama
We say Merry Christmas, to you, your friends and your bubu, big mama

You think you are so smart, your identities are known to no one
C'mon, don't insult us, ask anyone at USP, Pacific Magazine,or even Fiji One

You don't have to be Einstein, you don't have far to go
FYPCN, 5 letters, thats all you need to know

We don't publish bomb making instructions like Solivakasama and WFC
The people will decide who they trust, you wait and see

No wonder WFC changed its name to Solivakasama
All that hate, target soldiers families, bomb tourists, geez its enough to scare all but Osama

We are the Loyal Fijian
Its not a name, its an identify, a place for news, views and some fun

Some much speculation, and rumours about our identity, is it him, we, he or she?
Its been there all along, just read under Who are we?

You will notice we are not publishing any names
LF High Command says we wont drop to your level, we wont be like you, be so hateful and lame

No copy and pasting paragraphs from Fijilive and Fijitimes online editions here
We publish our original thoughts without favour or fear

So this Christmas, sleep tight at Dilo Street
Santa Claus will be coming with a sackful of treats

Merry Christmas to Dan the Man
Let it be known Dan, we are not your foes but your fans

Merry Christmas to Bainivore, to you we say Ho Ho Ho
What a name, but hey you reap what you sow

Merry Christmas to FijianBlack
Kai, see you at Traps, lets down some Fiji Bitter, down the big dark neck

Merry Christmas to Keep the Faith
Lets have lunch, low fat, Im watching my weight

Thank you to one and all for your emails and feedback
We are glad that you enjoyed our work, even you at FICAC

Our poem on the lovely Lisa, the Admin Manager at FICAC sent the server into meltdown
Except from the Attorney General, who threatened to sue and chase us out of town

Isnt it amazing how we do this each time
Make it all so funny and make it rhyme

Free Poets Society

FICAC Gets First Conviction, at last

That much derided entity, FICAC managed to secure its first conviction.

A former accounts clerk for the Wainikoro Fisheries Co-operative was sentenced to 18 months in jail in the Labasa Magistrates Court yesterday, for stealing money amounting to about $3000 from the co-operative’s account.

Readers will be aware of Moti "Cowboy" Rattan up in Babasiga throwing his weight around after the coup as the local sheriff after he managed to get a FICAC badge.

He was running after refrigerators that Survivor crew had donated to Labasa Old Peoples Home.

Well it appears that Cowboy didn't have everything his way and he himself was subject of an internal investigation.

So it must come as a huge relief to FICAC Northern Division now that it has has managed to get a first conviction.

FICAC Deputy Commissioner George Langman said the conviction and sentence was testament of the tireless effort of the Commission’s officers.

Wooooo Hooooo

Yeah right.

And the big fish just swim on.

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Caucau is Back, well almost

Caucau used to be so fast, so full of fury

Right now, he is full of too many stubbies and goat curry

 

He had a go at being an All Black

Instead he has put on the kilo, stack after stack

 

He used to throw a side step followed by a  dip

Now he looks like he has swallowed a sheep

 

Serevi wants him in his side

Maybe he can give him some advice

 

Cut back on the Fiji Bitter

Its not making you any fitter

 

If you want to win the Melrose Cup

You better go easy on the beef rump

 

Now he has signed a contract to play in France

He says he can still show the swerve and dance

 

He has some problems understanding French

He also thinks the French give off a stench

 

But now he is back to Agen in the summer

Just wait and watch, he will be back home after he has done a runner

 

Caucau has talent, no doubt about it

But there isn't much else going for him, mark us to it

 

Isnt it funny how we do this every time

Make it all so funny and make it rhyme

 

Free Poets Society

Questions Indian Commandos need to Answer

The scenes of the Indian commandos storming Nariman house in a heliborne attack were reminiscent of the SAS storming the Iranian Embassy.(For videos of both, see youtube) For those who remember, the SAS operation, it had a Fijian connection.

 

2 SAS soldiers as they try and rappel through the windows of the Embassy get stuck on their ropes as the fire inside the building starts to leap out through the windows . The men struggle to free themselves and in a last ditch effort, cut their ropes and fall to the ground, 2 stories below.

 

Both men pick themselves up and rejoin the fight. Brave men both. (Names witheld)

The Nariman operation also had a lot at stake. Unfortunately, by the time the NSG got inside, the hostages were dead. It appears that the attackers, killed the Rabbi and other Israelis within hours of taking over Nariman House.

 

Over at the the Oberoi,only 2 hostage takers were inside as two other had been intercepted on their way. One was shot dead and the other who face has been splashed on TV screens and newspapers all over the world is now spilling the beans.

 

At the Taj, it was a different story.

 

The Taj has more than 500 rooms with interconnected halls and suites.

 

It was not going to be easy,.The NSG entered the hotel from the ground floor.

 

 

Questions that arise from the operation:

 

1. Why didnt the NSG obtain more intelligence from escaping guests and workers on number of terrorists and where they were located before storming the hotel?
2. Why didnt the NSG planners obtain hotel layout maps ?
3. Initially, without much intell the only option was to assume there were terrorists on every floor and move floor by floor, sanitising each floor as they went. But once engagement was made and intell indicated that terrorists were on Floor 6, why did they not insert a team onto Floor 7 (rappel, cherry picker insertions are basic SF tactics) and another team proceeded from below in a pincer movement? This would have taken hours off the operation.
4. The Ground Floor was the first to be secured. How is it then, the last 2 terrorits were inside the ballroom on the Ground Floor? How did they get there?
5. Why were the TV crews allowed to broadcast live pictures of the operation , pictures the terrorists or their support cell would have been watching and communicating to those inside?
6. Why were the NSG commandos so eager to appear on TV without any attempt to hide their faces? (Again see youtube) In a protraced siege, covert operatives must infiltrate the premises to obatin intell. It appears the NSG, Indias elite force does not practice the art of covert infiltration.
7. And why were people coming out of the hotels allowed to walk away unchecked? What if the terrorists had disguised themselves as guests and hid among the escaping guests and workers? How many managed to get away this way?

Basic SF methodolgy was ignored.

 

More questions than answers!

Mumbai Terror Support Cell Behind Assam Train Blast on way to Bangla border?

Yesterday, an explosion ripped through a train carriage in Assam killing 3 people and wounding many others.

 

This comes 2 days after the Indian security forces managed to achieve control over the Hotel Taj Mahal.

 

Could this explosion be linked to the Mubai Terror attacks of 26/27 November 2008?

 

It is highly unlikely that 10 terrorists from Pakisatan landed in Mumbai and managed to cause such carnage without any local support.

 

Could it be that the support cell which provided explosives and ammunition to the Mumbai terrorists was trying to flee into Bangladesh through the Assam/Bamgladesh border and set off the bomb in the train carriage as its final act?

 

 

Mumbai Terror Link Stretches to Assam?

Are the Oct 30 2008 bombings in Assam in which as many as 10 bombs went off around Guwahati and surrounding areas linked to the Mumbai terror attacks of November 27 ?

The perpetrators of the Assam bombinsg have not been caught.

Did members of these terror cells move on to Mumbai and join up with other cells to launch the Mumbai terror attacks?

Initial reports indicated that explosives for the bombs were brought in from Bangladesh. Due to political imperatives these links were not given due prominence in the media as the Congress Govt in Assam relies on Muslim support to govern.

As in the previous post, you have to question the wisdom behind sending cell members into Mumbai by sea.

So many variables to control, so many things can go wrong.

Boats can be intercepted, sink get caught in storms.

Why risk the success of such a major operation on such a risky manouvre?

And when you have already managed to get people inside the hotels with guns and explosives, why not put the rest in the same way?

Could it be a diversionary tactic to mislead the investigations?

Is it a way to throw off the investigators regarding numbers who are in Mumbai and their links?

Reports also indicate that upto 7 members of the plot were in Mumbai last year to do recon. This was easy to organise as some terrorists included British citizens travelling on Vritish passports.

Their logistics were handled by locals. This is far from over folks.

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Mumbai's Days of Terror

What is Known?

1. Terrorists attacked landmark locations and then took hostages at the Taj, Trident and Nariman Hse


2. At least 1o came by sea
3. Local Involvement almost certain
4. More than 100 dead
5. Indian commandos storm all 3 locations
6. 2 terrorists are of British born Pakistanis

What Needs to be known?

1. How many terrorists were already inside Nariman House, Taj and Oberoi and for how long?


2. Who guided the terrorists from their landing spot on Colaba Beach to the shootout locations?


3. How can terrorists landing on a beach find their way so easily around a foreign city?


4. Why the sudden change in tactics from bombings to kidnapping?


5. How many terrorits are at large in Mumbai?


6. Did any terrorits disguide themselves as tourists and get away?


7. Were the weapons hidden inside the hotels and Nariman Hse before hand?


8. Why risk success of an operation on landing 10 individuasl on the beach same night of operation? Chance of getting caught is high. Why not arrive earlier ?

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Hari Punja gives Budget Thumbs Up

The Budget was delivered last week.

After all the speculation andrumours, the Interim Minister for Finance delivered the budget at a glitzy event .

Among the notable attendees were former interim Minister for Finance M.P. Chaudhry.

LF sources indicate that M.P Chaudhry and Commodore Bainimarama were in high spirits and exchanged jokes. In keeping with the recent times, Mr John Samy featured prominently.

The Budget has received the Thumbs Up from Fijis version of Donald Trump, Hari Punja. Mr Punja called the budget "business friendly"

Maybe because the company tax rate went down in the 2009 budget.

Why wouldnt he be happy?

More saqamoli for him and the family. Its not called Punja and Sons for nothing.

The personal tax rate remained unchanged.

So, its no wonder that Mr Punja was singing the praise for the budget.

The logic behind the cut is to encourage business investment. In other words, businessmen like Hari Punja will build new factories and hire more workers.

There is one big catch in this .

The profits go overseas to Mr Punjas family members, none of whom live permanently in Fiji.

Nope.

Be it Tappoos, Punjas, Motibhai...they all spend majority of their time in Australia and NZ. In Fiji, all their business is debt financed. Its not their money they are investing.

Its all on credit people and successive governments have given them "tax incentives" like you wouldnt believe.

Imagine if you had a 15 year tax holiday....wouldn't you be laughing all the way to the bank.

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

The Paedophiles Come Calling

At what point do you as a nation know that things have gone terribly wrong?

Uemployment? Yes, but we are not alone with joblessness.

Poverty? Absolutely, by some estimates as many as 40% of our population live below the poverty line. Bear in mind that Governments use very "convenient" measures in measuring poverty. Able to afford a loaf of bread and a cup of tea in a day and you are not living in poverty.

Crime? We are in dire straits, but we always point to PNG, who seem to be worse

The Paedophiles Come Calling.

Thats when.

Fiji has seen as alarming increase in the number of young lives spent crawling the pavements of our big cities and towns.

Take a walk through Suva and you will see these "street kids" begging trying to survive. We walk past then everyday without batting an eyelid. The woman with her 3 kids, the youngest no older than a few months old who has to spend entire days sitting outside the offices.

Painful to see, isnt it?

But it gets worse.

News that a 11 yr old Fijian girl was taken to Thailand, and was found wandering the streets after years of abuse is shocking.

Evidence that Fiji is now high on the paedophile radar. The paedophiles are very well organised and run networks where they exchange information on easy targets.

Fiji is emerging as an easy target.

The Irish national who was arrested and found with pornographic material is another indication of the influx of paedophiles into our country. He didnt just arrive here on a random holiday with camcorders, DVD burners and media editing software.

No, he knew exactly what he wanted and where he would get it. In Fiji.

And dont be mistaken. These guys are university lecturers or work as consultants in FIRCA, as previous experience has shown.

What is the Fiji Govt doing about the young girl found in Thailand? No a peep from the authorities.

How did she get there? Who applied for her passport?


An eleven yr old girl cant go alone. Its a very well organised network feeding on our most vulnerable.

The situation in Suva is shocking beyond words.


INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Operation Flashpoint - Blackhawk Down, Blackhawk Down - Part 7

In late 2006, a foreign power set in motion a chain of events that would have culminated in the invasion of Fiji.

Codenamed Operation Flashpoint, the ADF deployed its sea-borne and air assets to positions inside Fiji waters within striking distance of the capital Suva.

Additionally, elite Special Forces infiltrated the country with communications equipment and weapons.

How close did we come to being invaded? Who among us who encouraged this act of aggression against their own country?

This is a fictional account of what may have happened in the days leading up to one of the most dramatic chapters in our history
.

Two days after our arrival we were summoned back from a training run where we were testing our SOFLAM's outside Suva Harbour not far from a massive rubbish dump. I couldn't think of a worse place to situate a rubbish dump, right next to the sea and the route most people travel into and out of Suva.

We were met by an agitated military liaison officer who told us that the Australian High Commissioner had received a political directive that we were to based at the High Commission in Reservoir Road and that it was likely that we were being watched.

The FMF had gotten wind of our arrival and they were not happy. I can respect that. I mean if I was told that Indonesian Kopassus were running around Sydney or Perth preparing for a possible sea and air borne incursion, would I be happy? Of course not. Soldiers think alike and I knew exactly where they coming from.

So we went off to hurriedly organised accommodation at the High Commission. We learnt that Chief of the Australian Defence Force Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston had called the FMF to "claim our existence".

We had to remain within the compound as the FMF had assumed an aggressive posture and was threatening to confront us. The Naval deployment proceeded as planned and we maintained contact throughout.

Some time later our operation was called off.

We split into 2 groups. We bought some souvenirs from one of the many Indian shops in town and pretending to be rugby league players returning home after an end of season holiday, flew back to Sydney through Auckland.

It was here that we received the tragic news on the night of November 29 that our brothers training on board the Kanimbla had been killed when the Black Hawk they had been in tipped over into the Sea.

Private Corporal Joshua Porter had died.

We held a moment of silence in his honour.

The invasion of Fiji had been put off.

Operation Flashpoint - Andrew Hughes Boys - Part 6

In late 2006, a foreign power set in motion a chain of events that would have culminated in the invasion of Fiji. Codenamed Operation Flashpoint, the ADF deployed its sea-borne and air assets to positions inside Fiji waters within striking distance of the capital Suva. Additionally, elite Special Forces infiltrated the country with communications equipment and weapons.

 

How close did we come to being invaded? Who among us who encouraged this act of aggression against their own country?

 

This is a fictional account of what may have happened in the days leading up to one of the most dramatic chapters in our history.

 

 

Andrew Hughes had established the TRT as counter balance to the FMF's firepower. The word was that he was working closely with elements in the Fijian Govt to obtain military assistance to keep the army inside its barracks.

 

We arrived in Suva that same night. It normally takes 4 hours to travel from Nadi to Suva (speed limits are not strictly enforced in Fiji) but it took us a fair bit longer.

 

Queens Highway snakes along the western coast of the main island and it was a great opportunity for us to collect data on possible LZ's and transport network choke points.

 

We 'rested" at the unprotected Korolevu airport and the runway at Deuba. Just a bunch of Aussie blokes having a smoke.

 

Both these points are almost directly North from Kadavu where we knew the HMAS Newcastle and Kanimbla would maintain a holding position before the Go was given.

 

We used our comm. equipment to send short messages to test the equipment and log the two LZ's.

 

The next day we acquainted ourselves with the TRT and took a drive around Suva.

 

Strategic points that would have to be secured when the Go-Ahead was given had to be surveilled. The TRT boys drove us around in their twin cabin Toyota Hilux pick-ups.

 

I don't know if its all the rain or what it is , but the road never seem to get any better. The road to Nausori Airport was harrowing as the vehicle weaved in and out of traffic and narrowly avoided missing both pedestrians and other vehicles. The boys told me that it was one of the best rides they ever had.

 

The driver had consumed several buckets of Fijis traditional drink, kava the night before and was just a tad too much in the happy zone for my liking.

 

In Australia, anyone under the influence of such sedatives would be deemed unable to drive, but in Fiji it is normal to consume copious amounts of Kava and drive. No wonder the death toll on Fijis roads runs into the hundreds every year….to be cont.

Operation Flashpoint - Sunny Fiji - Part 5

In late 2006, a foreign power set in motion a chain of events that would have culminated in the invasion of Fiji. Codenamed Operation Flashpoint, the ADF deployed its sea-borne and air assets to positions inside Fiji waters within striking distance of the capital Suva. Additionally, elite Special Forces infiltrated the country with communications equipment and weapons.

 

How close did we come to being invaded? Who among us who encouraged this act of aggression against their own country?

 

This is a fictional account of what may have happened in the days leading up to one of the most dramatic chapters in our history.

 

 

The flight was uneventful, a couple of coke and rums and some extra peanuts. The flight wasn't full as the tensions in Fiji were being reported widely in Australia and the Government had come out with a negative travel advisory, which put the tourists off.

 

We knew that the travel advisory was part of the political pressure that was being applied on the Commander to back off. As soldiers we tried not to take sides and just did our job. But we had a number of friends and a great deal of respect for the boys in the FMF Barracks.

 

In our check-in luggage was a 3 x2 foot silver box that is used to transport equipment sensitive to exposure to light used by the film industry. It had been packed in a day earlier at Garden Island off Sydney at one of our supply facilities and contained all the inventory that we needed for out trip.

 

Customs was a breeze. Our cover story was that we were part of a "Defence Supplementation Staff' to provide security at the Australian Embassy on the outskirts of Suva. We were met on the tarmac by a Customs bloke along with the Australian Defence attaché.

 

The Customs bloke started a conversation about the Wallabies. Fijians love their rugby and it is a great way to strike up a conversation and a rapport with them.

 

"Hows the Wallbies going aye? Can you beat the All Blacks without Larkham"

 

"Big loss Larkham", Rod chipped in. " But we'll get the job done"

 

I couldn't tell him that I was a Broncos fan and thought rugby was boring, no, that would have been counter-productive.

 

The plan was for us to train and work with the Fiji Police Tactical Response Team, a newly established Rapid Reaction Force that had been established under Australian Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes, after the Fijian Govt approached the suits in Canberra. Fijian Police has traditionally not had a specialised CT or Hostage Rescue Unit, the closest being a riot squad which was more suited to crowd control and property protection…..To be cont..

God, Help this Child

Why?

Why , Oh Lord to one so young?

Why?


The plight of Josaia Temo was first posted on LF on August 5 2008. The he could see and his face was visible. Read here

Today Josaia is blind.

Only his mouth is uncovered . His entire head is bandaged and he is on morphine for pain control.

Yet, Temo managed to celebrate his birthday in the Nanuku Settlement in Vatuwaqa.

Life can be cruel.

For Temo it has been unmitigated pain.

No amount of appreciation can be enough for the people who have cared for Temo ever since his aprents abondoned him. God Bless you kind souls.

If you wish to help, you can make at donation to Save the Children Fund, the cancer society and Project Heaven. These three NGOs jointly care for Temo.

Donations in cash or kind can still be made to these NGOs or to the following bank accounts: Fiji Cancer Society, Westpac Account No. 980002682 or ANZ Account No. 5047761. Deposit slips should be made out to Josaia Temo.

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give your angels charge over those who sleep.

Tend your sick ones, O Lord.

Rest your weary ones.

Bless your dying ones.

Soothe your suffering ones.

Pity your afflicted ones.

Shield your joyous ones.

And for all your love's sake.

WE ARE SORRY FOR YOUR SUFFERING JOSAIA.

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Operation Flashpoint - "Diplomatic Cover" - Part IV

In late 2006, a foreign power set in motion a chain of events that would have culminated in the invasion of Fiji. Codenamed Operation Flashpoint, the ADF deployed its sea-borne and air assets to positions inside Fiji waters within striking distance of the capital Suva. Additionally, elite Special Forces infiltrated the country with communications equipment and weapons.

 

How close did we come to being invaded? Who among us who encouraged this act of aggression against their own country?

 

This is a fictional account of what may have happened in the days leading up to one of the most dramatic chapters in our history.

 

 

One of my highlights of my last visit to the island was to have a shot taken with the guard in front of what is now the Presidents residential complex in Nasese. The soldier looking splendid in his red tunic and white sulu, a Fijian traditional dress that the boys referred to as the man-dress and not all that different from a Scottish kilt except with grooves cut around the bottom, stood motionless in 34C Suva heat.

 

Why anyone would sign up for that is beyond me. But there he was without blinking an eyelid as we lined up for our shots.

 

Actually we were more interested in the colonial design building built by the British behind him. The Presidents House overlooked the Pacific Ocean and gave a great vantage point South of Suva towards Kadavu, the island around which the Navy would be holding its exercises when the Kanimbla tragedy would occur.

 

A walk from the Presidents House was the Police Barracks which housed the Police personnel and also was home to the Police armoury. The holiday snaps with the guard was a great cover and has been used by the guys for quite some time.

 

But you get the picture. A large part of SAS tradition is being prepared, and we were.

 

It was decided that an advance scout party would proceed to Fiji on a commercial airliner, landing in Nadi and proceed to Suva by land. We would need a fair bit of equipment including our laser markers or SOFLAMS to designate landing positions to the boats off-shore and aircraft, secure GPS markers to update the spot maps from our earlier "visits" and communication equipment with encryption ability and other bits and pieces .

 

It was decided that the equipment would be shipped under diplomatic cover. To facilitate this, the High Commission was asked to "place" a newspaper story on how Australian Embassy was upgrading its Visa Processing Facilities with new state of the art equipment. Our military liaison officer would also pull some strings at the airport to "expedite the process."

 

By the time we finished, it was dinner time. It had taken us 8 hours and numerous kettles of brew. Planning is everything. We went over the "What –ifs" in detail, we discussed what we would do if we were separated and marked out rendezvous points , examined detailed photos of sensitive locations and looked for ways in and out, all the things that go into making sure the shit didn't hit the fan and if it did, it wasn't us with the stink.

 

Once that was done, I as the Team Leader walked across the loose gravel that separated the mess form the SM's shed , to file the OP. If he agreed and signed off, we would be on a plane in 2 days. It was called Operation Flashpoint…To be cont…

Power of One

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Operation Flashpoint - Parliament House - Part 3

In late 2006, a foreign power set in motion a chain of events that would have culminated in the invasion of Fiji. Codenamed Operation Flashpoint, the ADF deployed its sea-borne and air assets to positions inside Fiji waters within striking distance of the capital Suva. Additionally, elite Special Forces infiltrated the country with communications equipment and weapons.

 

How close did we come to being invaded? Who among us who encouraged this act of aggression against their own country?

 

This is a fictional account of what may have happened in the days leading up to one of the most dramatic chapters in our history.

 

 

To the participant,