I couldn't believe my ears when I was told about a circular distributed to all government entities with the directive to no longer use Fiji's most experienced legal giants - Munro Leys and Howards!
A directive such as this is a classic example of the bullying tactics this current regime resorts to when its caught between a rock and a hard place. And that is putting it quite mildly.
These two firms combined include some of the most brilliant legal minds in the country. Lawyers who are willing to stand up for what they believe. Lawyers who make known their honest interpretation of the rule of law because it is their forte.
We now not only have an illegal regime - we have an illegal regime with a personal vendetta!
So...we have the experienced and very-much educated two (small) legal firms on the one hand and the big brother IG on the other.
Reminds me of David and Goliath. And we all know what happened to Goliath don't we?
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
To Blog or Not to Blog....
So much has happened in my beloved country during my short absence from blogging.
The beatings and warnings continue - Young being the latest victim after Taoi; the suspension of the august GCC; The FHRC is still waffling crap; and continuous attempts by the military to block freedom of speech by trying to shut down blog sites....
None of this has slowed down any of the bloggers however. Intelligentsiya, Good Men and Women, Hearts and Minds, Hyde n Ceek and Discombobulated are still here. Thank heavens for their unbiased forthright opinions :-)
The RFC hosts must be patting themselves on the back as well - they have been a thorn on the side for IG with their spot-on leaks! And there are even newer bloggers springing up each day - both for - and against - the Fiji IG which makes for healthy debate.
What the illegal IG must understand is that blogging is not a weapon. It is our only source of protesting anything that is undemocratic, illegal and against the Constitution.
And this coup is wrong. As was the first coup. And the coups in between.
It makes me sick to hear any educated person - especially people who are supposed to uphold the law - condone this coup. Regardless of how anyone analyses it - any coup is illegal. And that is the last thing a small country like ours need.
Strangely enough - I understand where the military is coming from. But theirs is a motto of discipline and obedience - to the Army first and foremost. Not anybody else. And for anyone to use that blind obedience of any army to further their own agenda - is treason!
Watching Fiji's judicial system fall apart was a sad day for Fiji. These were the people who were supposed to uphold the law. In their arrogance a group of these people helped oust the Chief Justice and invented legal loopholes to support their actions.
Ignoring its Pacific Island neighbours, Australia, New Zealand and the United States etc may not be wise. Ignoring the EU and its conditions attached to badly-needed money is worse!
But thats why I blog. To vent my frustration at how my country is run in the vain hope that someone may take heed.
Anyway - to all my blogging associates - Blog On. Peace.
The beatings and warnings continue - Young being the latest victim after Taoi; the suspension of the august GCC; The FHRC is still waffling crap; and continuous attempts by the military to block freedom of speech by trying to shut down blog sites....
None of this has slowed down any of the bloggers however. Intelligentsiya, Good Men and Women, Hearts and Minds, Hyde n Ceek and Discombobulated are still here. Thank heavens for their unbiased forthright opinions :-)
The RFC hosts must be patting themselves on the back as well - they have been a thorn on the side for IG with their spot-on leaks! And there are even newer bloggers springing up each day - both for - and against - the Fiji IG which makes for healthy debate.
What the illegal IG must understand is that blogging is not a weapon. It is our only source of protesting anything that is undemocratic, illegal and against the Constitution.
And this coup is wrong. As was the first coup. And the coups in between.
It makes me sick to hear any educated person - especially people who are supposed to uphold the law - condone this coup. Regardless of how anyone analyses it - any coup is illegal. And that is the last thing a small country like ours need.
Strangely enough - I understand where the military is coming from. But theirs is a motto of discipline and obedience - to the Army first and foremost. Not anybody else. And for anyone to use that blind obedience of any army to further their own agenda - is treason!
Watching Fiji's judicial system fall apart was a sad day for Fiji. These were the people who were supposed to uphold the law. In their arrogance a group of these people helped oust the Chief Justice and invented legal loopholes to support their actions.
Ignoring its Pacific Island neighbours, Australia, New Zealand and the United States etc may not be wise. Ignoring the EU and its conditions attached to badly-needed money is worse!
But thats why I blog. To vent my frustration at how my country is run in the vain hope that someone may take heed.
Anyway - to all my blogging associates - Blog On. Peace.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
EU Roadmap for Fiji's Return to Democracy
Another major neutral entity has made its stand!
Not only has the EU reconfirmed its committment to protecting the poor it has provided a compelling roadmap the IG must follow to pull this country of ours back from the brink of disaster. The roadmap essentially includes the guarantee of normal and independent functioning of constitutional institutions; preservation and the substantial independence and functioning of the Great Council of Chiefs; and that the independence of the judiciary be fully respected,
The IG must abide by the Constitution.
They have to. For the good of this country. For the good of our people.
Not only has the EU reconfirmed its committment to protecting the poor it has provided a compelling roadmap the IG must follow to pull this country of ours back from the brink of disaster. The roadmap essentially includes the guarantee of normal and independent functioning of constitutional institutions; preservation and the substantial independence and functioning of the Great Council of Chiefs; and that the independence of the judiciary be fully respected,
The IG must abide by the Constitution.
They have to. For the good of this country. For the good of our people.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Heat Getting to Fiji's IG Attorney-General?
The witch-hunt is still on.
Today the IG's mouthy A-G has now personally attacked the integrity of Ms Shamima Ali!
How absurd! How disgusting!
Ms Ali's actions has never been other than professional. At least she stood up for what she believed in. And her belief is not political. She is only looking out for the people that get caught in the middle of the farce!
Unfortunately the same can't be said for Aiyaz Saiyad Khaiyum and his coup-abetting colleagues - the two Shameem sisters....
Today the IG's mouthy A-G has now personally attacked the integrity of Ms Shamima Ali!
How absurd! How disgusting!
Ms Ali's actions has never been other than professional. At least she stood up for what she believed in. And her belief is not political. She is only looking out for the people that get caught in the middle of the farce!
Unfortunately the same can't be said for Aiyaz Saiyad Khaiyum and his coup-abetting colleagues - the two Shameem sisters....
Monday, April 2, 2007
Fiji Human Rights Commission Suspension
It didn't take too long for that one to happen aye?
How can FHRC be a respected organisation after its January statement in support of the military takeover?
With FHRC's credibility and independence flushed down the drain - perhaps it is time for its senior members to seek jobs with the IG and join the rest of the scandal-tainted debt-riddled team.
It is obvious the international community is keeping a closer watch on the happenings in Fiji - first the EPG recommendations, then the Foreign Ministers' communique and now the ICC suspension of Fiji's HRC.
Hmmm...what next?
How can FHRC be a respected organisation after its January statement in support of the military takeover?
With FHRC's credibility and independence flushed down the drain - perhaps it is time for its senior members to seek jobs with the IG and join the rest of the scandal-tainted debt-riddled team.
It is obvious the international community is keeping a closer watch on the happenings in Fiji - first the EPG recommendations, then the Foreign Ministers' communique and now the ICC suspension of Fiji's HRC.
Hmmm...what next?
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
An Already Corrupted Anti-Corruption Commission
I was so disgusted reading Justice Nazhat Shameem's public admission on her failure as DPP to persecute those involved in the NBF scam! So whats coming next in the years down the line - an apology for her role in the illegal suspension of the Chief Justice Daniel Fatiaki?
Sounds familiar today doesn't it? Replace NBF with QEB and the manipulation of the justice system and the country's finances and its same old same old.
An Anti-Corruption Commission is an excellent venue for corruption issues and has been a long time coming but not only does it need the criteria listed by the apologetic Ms Shameem, it must be emphatic in its independence and led by people of high moral and professional ethics which can be likened to looking for a needle in the haystack amongst Fiji's current illegal regime - and this is the same group who nominates members of the Commission?
Forget it! - Any commission or board elected by this illegal regime will neither by independent nor honest!
Its like pissing against the wind!!
Sounds familiar today doesn't it? Replace NBF with QEB and the manipulation of the justice system and the country's finances and its same old same old.
An Anti-Corruption Commission is an excellent venue for corruption issues and has been a long time coming but not only does it need the criteria listed by the apologetic Ms Shameem, it must be emphatic in its independence and led by people of high moral and professional ethics which can be likened to looking for a needle in the haystack amongst Fiji's current illegal regime - and this is the same group who nominates members of the Commission?
Forget it! - Any commission or board elected by this illegal regime will neither by independent nor honest!
Its like pissing against the wind!!
Monday, March 19, 2007
Fiji Unions Show Their Strength
There has been an overwhelming response from the various Fiji unions with the majority of its members voting to go ahead with a strike.
Unfortunate as this may be, this is the time for decision-making. It is time for the country's largest workforce to make known their stand - that against diversity they stand as one. And it is a message the group of QEB-elected people should do well to take heed.
Unfortunate as this may be, this is the time for decision-making. It is time for the country's largest workforce to make known their stand - that against diversity they stand as one. And it is a message the group of QEB-elected people should do well to take heed.
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