Chaudhry v Punja

Hari Punja, arguably Fijis richest man, met with the Interim PM, Commodore Frank Bainimarama to complain about the exchanges between his company and Interim Finance Minister , M.P Chaudhry.

This meeting takes on greater significance in that Commodore Bainimarama met with Hari Punja when his Finance Minister had declined his numerous requests.

Well placed sources in Government Building indicate that Commodore Bainimarama was sending a not too subtle message to Chaudhry that while MPC may be the man controlling the money, he is the BOSS.

It is reported that Hari Punja has put on hold $30 m of planned investments because of "changing rules" as he put it.

It appears that Mr Punja is a bit upset that he no longer has preferential treatment at the Ministry of Finance like he did in the past. He is also upset that preferential tax concessions that were available to him have been removed meaning he has to operate like any other business.

Documents seized by the authorities, indicate that previously Mr Punja had been promised a tax holiday for up to 50 years on his proposed factory meaning that effectively, Fiji taxpayers wouls have subsidised his business gamble.

The history between the Punjas and MPC is well known to all in Fiji. MPC had removed the tariffs on imported rice after coming to power in 1999 and this had caused major losses to the Punja rice empire.

The Punjas never forgave him for this and according to former CRW solider, Barabados Mills, a high chief had promised each CRW soldier $100,000 for their part in the coup. Money which according to him "came from Harry".

Is Hari Punja the elsuive Harry?

This account was backed up by former head of 3FIR, Lt Col. Seruvakula who was offered $200,00 to take his 3FIR into Parliament, as revealed to the Loyal Fijian some years ago before he left for NZ.

Chaudhry KO's Bune

Never ever count Chaudhry out.

Just as it was looking like he was on the way out, he has manged to outmaneuver his nemesis, Mr Poseci Bune.

My mail is that Poseci Bune will be asked to leave his Ministry handing a victory to M.P Chaudhry.

Loyal Fijian has reported here on this blog (read previous posts) about the power struggle between M.P.C and oseci Bune.

Well placed sources have told us that Chaudhry managed to outmaneuver Bune by reminding Bainimarama that he brings a support bloc to the table, Bune brings nothing.

Stay tuned..................

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Poseci Bune - Stung by FNA

The decision by some elements in the Fiji Nurses Association to go on strike has been a significant blow to one person in the IG.

And no, its not Bainimarama or even Chaudhry. Its Poseci Bune.

According to well placed sources inside the administration, the inability of Poseci Bune to bring Kuini Lutua around has seen his standing in the inner circle of the IG take a battering.

This is particularly so, as Mahendra Chaudhry had successfully negotiated with the 2 major unions of the FTUC to accept a deal and not go on strike.

The same sources reveal, Poseci Bune was tasked with pulling of a similar deal with the FNA. The IG's strategist believed such a deal as would deprive the anti-IG forces of a springboard from which to launch further destabilising actions.

That Mahend Chaudry and Poseci Bune aren't exactly the best of friends is an open secret and the FNA strike has dealt Poseci Bune another blow.

All this comes at a time when Chaudhry was coming under increasing pressure form within the interim cabinet about the downward slide of the economy. It is believed that Poseci Bune was one of those questioning the way Chaudhry had gone about things.

FNA strike has allowed Chaudhry and co. to regroup and get back on the front foot.

Stay tuned.........

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

SDL strategy leaked

The SDL Party has announced what observers feel is a significant part of a grand strategy to overthrow what they believe is an illegal regime.

The Party through its director Peceli Kinivuwai has announced that they "will be putting up a good fight" in assisting the Great Council of Chiefs court court case against the interim regime. The hearing has been tentatively scheduled for June 29.

Lets face it, this hardly comes as a surprise to any Fijian. The whole country is waiting for the "opposition" to do something.

With this announcement, the SDL strategy, until now kept under wraps, is now beginning to become clear.

There are 3 main components of the SDL strategy. This is divided into Direct Action, Legal Action and Public Campaign through the media and internet .

• Activate the Overseas Coordination Committee (O.C.C) under the Moto ni Vanua (Spear of the Nation). Lt Col Filipo Tarakinikini and Isikia Savua have been assigned overall strategic command and will undoubtedly draw from their experience in the military. It has been a long held suspicion in the security establishment that Lt Col Filipo Tarakinikini has been in regular contact with SDL functionaries.

Fijians will remember in 2006 when an ex-FMF soldier arrived from Israel to meet with Laisenia Qarase and offered the services of Hashmira, an Israeli private security firm which has Fijian,Russian and ex-Shin Bet and Sayeret ( http://www.isayeret.com/) operatives in its service. Was he acting on his own?

Isireli Leweniqila and members of the business community ( name withheld pending verification: Editor) who frequently travel overseas on business as cover have been assigned positions in the O.C.C as Fiji based coordinators to channel funds and messages through to the leadership.

• Engage the IG in a legal battle through the Courts. This will be the precursor of planned public demonstrations. The GCC will be used as a cover to bring people out onto the streets. This is what Qarase was referring to in his last televison interview before fleeing when he said " The demonstration will overwhelm them."

• The third component of the strategy is to create a perception of wide spread abuse by the FMF . A significant part of this campaign is to creat a a divide between Comm Bainimarama and his senior staff. Attempts were made by some to try and recruit Col Joela Baledrokadroka and then Pita Driti to achieve this. These efforts are to be stepped up.
  

An inherent part of Part 3 of the "Resistance" strategy is to paint the IG as a Mahendra Chaudhry enterprise. Bring Chaudhry out into the open where he can be engaged. Divide and Conquer.

Details on leadership of the Moto ni Vanua and O.C.C are a closely guarded secret. The isolation of Laisenia Qarase has meant that communicating has been an issue for the organisers to put their plans into practice.

Will June 29 change all that?

Certain documents have been passed on to LoyalFijian including a letter carried by a high level organiser to a Middle East country recently. We are debating whether to publish this.