Thursday, November 17, 2011

ADDRESS BY THE GONE MARAMA BALE NA ROKO TUI DREKETI

Gone Marama Bale Na Roko Tui Dreketi

A CLARIFICATION OF REWA’S PERSPECTIVE REGARDING THE ILLEGAL OVERTHROW OF THE FIJI GOVERNMENT

DELIVERED AT THE BOSE NI YASANA ‘O REWA

BURENIVUDI, LOMANIKORO, REWA – THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER, 2011

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN MEMBERS OF THE BOSE NI YASANA, THERE IS NOTHING NEW ON EARTH ABOUT DIFFERENCES OF VIEWPOINTS WITHIN ANY MEETING, REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF MEETING. IN FIJI, THERE IS ALSO NOTHING NEW ABOUT DIFFERING VIEWPOINTS BETWEEN TRADITIONAL CULTURAL LEADERS AND THE PEOPLE OF THE VANUA.

1.2 WITHIN THE TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS CULTURAL CONTEXTS THERE ARE VERY CLEAR DEMARCATIONS ABOUT THE RESPECTIVE ROLES WE ACQUIRE AT BIRTH SUCH AS THE DUTIES OF THE SAUTURAGA, THE DUTIES OF THE MATANIVANUA, AND THE DUTIES OF THE BETE, BATI, MATAISAU AND THE GONEDAU.

1.3 IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT DUTY OF ANY TRADITIONAL LEADER TO LOOK AFTER THE WELL BEING AND WELFARE OF THE VANUA.

1.4 THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE WELL BEING OF THE VANUA IS TO BE ACHIEVED BY ILL GOTTEN WAYS AND MEANS THAT MAY BE ILLEGAL BY THE LAWS OF MAN AND WRONG IN THE EYES OF GOD..

1.5 IN MY POSITION AS THE ROKO-TUI DREKETI AND AS THE LEADER OF THE VANUA OF REWA, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I FEAR MORE THE GOD I WORSHIP, THAN THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT TO THE EXTENT THAT I WOULD ATTEMPT BEFORE GOD TO JUSTIFY AN ILLEGAL ACT SUCH AS A COUP.

1.6 I COMMEND TO YOU THAT WE GIVE THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN THE HIGHEST PRIORITY ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE THROUGH FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATION.

1.7 I ASK YOU AS MEMBERS OF THE BOSE NI YASANA, WHAT IS THE ROKO TUI DREKETI AND MEMBERS OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL TO SAY IF THERE IS ANOTHER COUP TOMORROW? WILL WE THEN BE SUPPORTING THE NEW REGIME? I ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE WAY IN WHICH THE LIVES OF COUP SUPPORTERS HAVE ENDED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. HAS ANYONE OF THEM EVER COME TO THE END OF THEIR LIFE IN A QUIET AND PEACEFUL MANNER?

1.8 THIS IS A QUESTION WE WILL HAVE TO REFER TO THE MEMBERS OF OUR RESPECTIVE TIKINA.

1.9 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ON THIS ISSUE THE GREAT COUNCIL OF CHIEFS HAS BUT ONE POSITION ON THIS ISSUE. AT THEIR MEETING IN DECEMBER, 2006, AND AGAIN IN APRIL 2007 THE GCC STATED THAT WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE RULE OF LAW ABD ABIDE BY THE 1997 CONSTITUTION. ALSO THE SUPREME COURT RULING IN 2009 STATED UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT THE 2006 COUP WAS AND IS ILLEGAL. THEREFORE WE THE PEOPLE OF REWA CAN REST ASSURED THAT WE STAND ON THE CORRECT AND RIGHTFUL LEGAL AND MORAL GROUND AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE GUIDED BY OUR GOD TO PROVIDE US THE WAY OF LIFE AND TRUTH.

2.0 THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF REWA’S DIVISIONAL PLANNING OFFICER

2.1 YESTERDAY WE WERE ADVISED BY THE DIVISIONAL PLANNING OFFICER THAT REWA WOULD BE DENIED DEVELOPMENT FUNDING AMOUNTING TO $3 MILLION DOLLARS IF WE DO NOT SUPPORT THE MILITARY REGIME.

2.2 HE ALSO INDICATED THAT FUNDING FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROVINCIAL OFFICE AND ITS WORK PROGRAMME AMOUNTING TO SOME $315,115.00 COULD ALSO BE WITHDRAWN BY THE REGIME SHOULD WE MAINTAIN OUR OPPOSITION.

2.3 ADDITIONALLY WE AS A PROVINCE WOULD ALSO BE DENIED SHARE DIVIDENDS HELD IN FIJIAN HOLDINGS AND YASANA HOLDINGS VALUED AT $1.3 MILLION DOLLARS OR SOME 547,000 SHARES.

2.4 WE HAVE BEEN DENIED DEVELOPMENT FUNDING UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO THE TUNE OF SOME $100,000.00 ANNUALLY USED FOR BUILDING VILLAGE PATHWAYS, BUYING BRUSH CUTTERS AND ASSISTING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR COMMUNITY HALLS.

2.5 IF SOME OF THESE POINTS ARE TO TRANSPIRE WE WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE ALL OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAMME EXPENSES AND THUS I STRESS TO YOU THE IMPORTANCE OF MEETING OUR TARGETED PROVINCIAL LEVY. (SOLI NI YASANA)

3.0 THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

3.1 MAY I SHARE WITH YOU THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WHATEVER GOVERNMENT IN POWER TO LOOK AFTER THE WELFARE OF ALL ITS CITIZENS.

3.2 YESTERDAY WHEN THE DPO SAID ONLY REWA REMAINED IN OPPOSITION, I WANTED TO SHOUT WITH JOY.

3.3 WHETHER A GOVERNMENT IS ELECTED OR NOT, IT MUST LOOK AFTER THE WELFARE OF ALL ITS CITIZENS WITHOUT FAVOUR, WHETHER WE SUPPORT OR VOTED THAT GOVERNMENT IN OR NOT, THE GOVERNMENT IS OBLIGED TO LOOK AFTER ALL OF US IN THE SAME WAY.

3.4 THE FACT THAT SOME VILLAGES HAVE BENEFITTED FROM DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES WHILE OTHER HAVE NOT IS SOLELY DEPENDENT ON HOW GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTS ITS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES.

4.0 NATIONALLY COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE ENDLESS

4.1 AS RECIPIENTS OF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES WE MUST ALSO REALISE THAT NO ONE PERSON OR COMMUNITY IS EVER COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH ALL THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN AND NO GOVERNMENT CAN EVER FULFILL ALL OUR WISHES.

4.2 HOWEVER A SINGULAR TRUTH I WISH TO SHARE WITH YOU IS THAT IT IS ONLY GOD’S KINGDOM THAT CAN EVER COMPLETELY FULFILL ALL OUR NEEDS AND GIVE US PEACE.

5.0 THE DEFINITION OF GOVERNMENT

5.1 YESTERDAY WE HEARD FROM THE DPO THAT WE DO NOT SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT SO I WANT TO ASK JUST WHO IS OR WHAT COMPRISES GOVERNMENT. THE EASY ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION WOULD BE THE GOVERNMENT CONSIST OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR IT, THE CIVIL SERVANTS. THIS IS BECAUSE IT’S THE CIVIL SERVANTS WHO VISIT US AND IMPLEMENT THE PROJECTS WE REQUEST.

5.2 THEREFORE I MUST ASK, DO WE NOT LOOK AFTER THE CIVIL SERVANTS WHO COME TO WORK AMONGST US TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES, DO WE NOT COOPERATE WITH THEM AND GIVE THEM FOOD AND SHELTER. AND WHEN THEY RETURN TO THEIR OFFICES DO WE NOT GIFT THEM WITH TOKENS OF APPRECIATION.

5.3 WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED FRIENDLY AND CORDIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF THE CIVIL SERVANTS SENT TO WORK WITH US AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS EXPRESSED THEIR GRATITUDE AS THEY ARE SIMPLY IMPLEMENTING THE WORK FOR WHICH THEY ARE PAID.

6.0 REWA’S CONTRIBUTION TO GOVERNMENT RESOURCES

6.1 WE CAN SEE THAT WHILE GOVERNMENT HAS ITS ROLE, WE AS CITIZENS ALSO HAVE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. IT IS ALSO INCUMBENT ON US THE PEOPLE OF REWA TO WORK HARD TO PAY OUR PERSONAL AND OTHER APPLICABLE TAXES LEVIED WITHIN OUR PROVINCE SO THAT GOVERNMENT IS ABLE TO COLLECT REVENUE TO DEVELOP OUR PROVINCES.

6.2 WE ALSO PROVIDE OUR ANCESTRAL LANDS TO GOVERNMENT TO ENABLE IT TO DO ITS WORK, IN PARTICULAR WE THE PEOPLE OF REWA HAVE GIVEN THE LAND ON WHICH THE CAPITAL CITY IS SITUATED. WE THE PEOPLE OF REWA ENABLE GOVERNMENT AND BIG BUSINESSES TO CREATE COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES AND LARGE SUMS OF MONEY. IT SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN THAT THIS IS WHAT THE PEOPLE OF REWA HAVE GIFTED TO OUR BELOVED FIJI.

7.0 WE DO NOT HATE CIVIL SERVANTS OR THE GOVERNMENT

7.1 IT MUST BE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT WE DO NOT HARBOUR ANIMOSITY TOWARDS THE CIVIL SERVANTS WHO GIVE OF THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES AND WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE OUR VERY BEST TO MAKE THEIR TIME OF SERVICE WITH US AN ENJOYABLE AND MEMORABLE OCCASION BY GIVING OF OUR HUMBLE BEST.

7.2 WE ALSO DO NOT HARBOUR ANY ANIMOSITY TOWARD ANY GOVERNMENT THAT HAS COME INTO POWER ELECTED OR OTHERWISE AS LONG AS THAT GOVERNMENT HAS FULFILLED ITS BASIC DUTY OF SEEING TO OUR WELFARE AND BY PROVIDING SOUND ADVICE AND LEADERSHIP TO US ALL.

7.3 NEVER BEFORE IN OUR HISTORY HAS A CIVIL SERVANT FROM ANOTHER PROVINCE PUBLICLY BERATED US IN OUR OWN PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MEETING. PERHAPS IT IS A SIGN OF THE CHANGING TIMES THAT HE NOW SEES IT FIT TO GROSSLY OVERSTEP THE BOUNDS OF TRADITIONAL AND CULTURAL PROTOCOL AND BEHAVE IN SUCH AN APPALLING AND BOORISH MANNER IN OUR PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

8.0 WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF COUPS

8.1 OUR COUNTRY HAS SUFFERED MANY COUPS AND WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM THE SUCCESSIVE COUPS. PERHAPS THE ONE CLEAR THING WE HAVE LEARNED AFTER ALL THESE COUPS IS THAT A COUP WILL ALWAYS HINDER PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT.

8.2 AT THIS POINT IN OUR HISTORY WE CAN SAY WITH CERTAINTY THAT COUPS CONTRIBUTE NOTHING POSITIVE TO OUR SOCIETY AND WILL ALWAYS RESULT IN IMPEDING PROGRESS.

9.0 THE BASIS OF OUR OPPOSITION

9.1 THE REASON WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE REGIME AND THE COUP IS BECAUSE WE CAN SEE NO GOOD CAN COME OF IT, ONLY GRAVE DIFFICULTIES. THEREFORE WE CAN SAY THAT WE NEVER WANT TO EXPERIENCE ANOTHER COUP IN FIJI.

9.2 IF IT FALLS ON REWA TO EXPRESS THIS OPINION TO THE CURRENT REGIME LEADERSHIP, SO BE IT. LET THERE BE NO CONFUSION, REWA IS OPPOSED TO ANY COUP.

9.3 WE CAN NOW SEE THAT OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO FACE EXTREME DIFFICULTIES IF WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT COUPS AND A COUP CULTURE.

10.0 LET US ALWAYS SUPPORT THE TRUTH

10.1 THIS MORNING I WISH TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT IT IS OUR MORAL DUTY TO SUPPORT THE TRUTH AND THAT WE DO NOT EVER WANT TO SEE THE OVERTHROW OF A GOVERNMENT LEGALLY ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.

10.2 IF WE SUPPORT THE 2006 COUP, IT IMPLIES THAT IN THE FUTURE IF ANYONE DOES NOT LIKE THE LEGALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT, WE WILL AGAIN HAVE ANOTHER COUP.

10.3 WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT A COUP CULTURE IS WRONG, IF WE DO NOT EXPRESS OUR HONEST OPINION AND EARNEST OPPOSITION TO COUPS.

10.4 WE DO NOT HATE THE GOVERNMENT PER SE, BUT WE ARE TRULY SICK AND TIRED OF COUPS AND CAN NO LONGER MEEKLY FOLLOW ALONG.

11.0 MISTAKES THAT COMMENCED IN 1987

11.1 WE WILL LEAD OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS ASTRAY IF WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT COUPS. I WISH TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS MORNING THAT WE STARTED TO GO ASTRAY AS A COUNTY IN 1987. MY YOUNGEST CHILD IS 25 YEARS OLD AND WAS BORN IN 1986, AND SHE HAS KNOWN NOTHING BUT THE COUP CULTURE. WE MUST STATE NOW AND FOR ALL TIME THAT THE COUP IS WRONG AND CAN NEVER BE MADE RIGHT SO THAT WE DO NOT CONTINUE ALONG THAT PATH

11.2 IT IS TIME TO TELL THIS GOVERNMENT THAT WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE COUP AND OUR SOLDIERS MUST GIVE THEIR SOLEMN OATH TO THE VANUA THAT THEY WILL NEVER EVER IMPLEMENT ANOTHER COUP IN FIJI.

11.3 TOGETHER WITH THE LEADERS OF THE REGIME WE MUST RENEW AND CLEAR OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE IN ORDER TO AGREE ON A PROCESS TO RETURN OUR NATION TO A GOVERNMENT LEGALLY ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE.

11.4 LAST BUT NOT LEAST I HAVE A PERSONAL REQUEST – “IF YOU COME TO ARREST ME, DON’T COME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, I AM AN OLD WOMAN, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL ME OR SEND ONE PERSON. YOU DON’T HAVE TO SEND 16 MILITARY AND POLICE PERSONELL TO ARREST ME.”

11.5 TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL, I MERELY WISH TO RESPOND TO THE DIVISIONAL PLANNING OFFICER REGARDING OUR POSITION – THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

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Monday, October 24, 2011

Mystery of the Vatu Vola

Fiji Times

by Anare Ravula

HIGH and deep into the Dakuniba mountain forest located on the east of Savusavu on the southern coast Vanua Levu, lies a mysterious rock with strange carvings. A joke? Not according to what I and others have witnessed.

This fascinating journey took place so I could gather stories from the village elders, but this one still remains an unsolved mystery today.

It all began a few years ago after hearing stories from 85-year-old Natewa man. Ratu Semisi Bukayaro who witnessed the findings of pure kerosene in some kind of a pond beside the village of Dakuniba in the 1950s.

"Villagers filled their kerosene but then it suddenly disappeared during low tide never to be seen again, " Ratu Semisi had said. According to him, the village elders say it disappeared because it wasn't the right time yet for it to be revealed ("se bera na kena gauna"). Dakuniba itself is within the vanua of Mabuco with traditional links to the Tui Cakau.

I asked villager elder, Josua Tamaiqarikula, aged 74, on what Mabuco meant. He said "mabu" means semi-covered and "co" means grass. "This is a sacred place and there's a lot that's yet to be discovered here in the village and up there in the mountains, but it's not the right time yet," he said. Tamaiqarikula said, he was born at Dakuniba village and holds the leadership position to date, but is yet to be traditionally installed.

Sitting with him for a couple of hours, I listened as he reminisced on stories of his forefathers and village elders told when he was just a boy. "A pool of kerosene was found here twice but then it disappeared again and also up there in the mountains are some rock carvings which we believe indicates where we orginated from," he said.

Rock carvings? Now this revelation interested me, especially after having a few bowls of strong waka from the presentation of sevusevu early on that Sunday morning. Tamaiqarikula said the rock carvings could have been more than 300 years-old because the villagers don't have any proper memory of the purpose of the rock carving itself. With the strong mix of yaqona slowly kicking in, I interrupted the village elder, asking for permission to see the rock carvings myself to which Tamaiqarikula and Inoke Duru, aged 68, both agreed.

Walking across the village lawn, I was excited. This was what I had been looking for, for so long - actually since I started searching for ancient writings in caves within the dense forest of the Nakauvadra range from 2008 to this year. Could this be a link to the unusual writings in one of the caves that was seen by Narara villager Kemueli Penisoni, aged 63, during one of his pig hunts some 33 years ago.

He was awe-struck when he made the discovery but he never got to see the cave again.

But Duru said with stories passed down from their ancestors, they had brought the rock carving or the Vatu Vola with them from Verata in Tailevu. "We are from Verata and we were brought here by Vueti the warrior," he confirmed.

Is it Vueti, the son of Paula from Motoriki whose mother is Buisavulu the only daughter of Lutunasobasoba? Biusavulu is the sister of Rokomautu, the chief of Verata. It could be fitting if it was Roko Ratu from Verata, asking Vueti to accompany them to seek land in Cakaudrove. He said their ancestors carried the rock carving up to the hill to be hidden from the outside intruders who might be searching for it. They treasured the rock carvings as it held something very special to them. "The rock carving holds a lot of mystery that is linked with our land and the people itself," he said

Close to the mountain top, I came across the rock carving - it was broken into big pieces with symbols engraved on it as deep as half an inch. Some of the stones lie flat with carvings facing upwards. The engraved rock of Dakuniba symbolizes an advanced race of man, who dealt with time. The villagers believed the carvings tell the story of a race of mankind during the migration period.

In one of the publication about Dakuniba, Professor of Oceanic Geoscience and Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of the South Pacific Patrick Nunn mentioned that the rock carving site was quite unique to be found deep in the forest of the Dakuniba mountain. The villagers said the inscribed rocks was first reported by some foreigners who tried to raise up the flat huge rock with carvings engraved in it. But upon visiting next morning the rock had crumbled due to its weight.

Now, the villagers however have other ideas. They still maintain that the time is not right for the mystery to unfold.

"Then, when will everything about this mysterious mountain be revealed?" I asked.

"E na qai tukuna ga o gauna," (Only time will tell)," was the reply from Duru.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Tailevu Clan Invests in Ginger

Fiji Times News - 30 September 2011
by Timoci Vula

Nasaumua Village Children at play

MEMBERS of a landowning unit at Naisaumua Village in Tailevu have ventured into ginger farming as it seeks alternative income sources to support them meet church and daily obligations.

The landowning unit (mataqali) Dravolau is working towards a three-year plan to focus on their ginger farm project with proceeds anticipated to be of great benefit to the members.

Mataqali member Ratu Veni Verebasaga said the idea was born out of concerns of meeting church obligations, in particular the annual contribution of members.

"We have seen that our clan members have faced great difficulty to pay their soli so we came up with the idea to set up a ginger farm, which is now a part of our three-year plan," Ratu Veni said.

"We have planted the ginger already and now we will look after it as we wait for our first harvest in February next year. This is the first time we are doing this," he said.

Ratu Veni has also taken up lessons with farmers from the greater Tailevu south region who have been involved in ginger planting over the past years.

"We have also come to understand that the ginger business is very lucrative so we have decided to venture into it.

"It will benefit our families greatly, particularly in meeting our religious obligations but also that of the vanua and our livelihoods," he said.

Ratu Veni said planting materials were brought from Maumi in Tailevu.

CLICK HERE FOR A PREVIOUS STORY ABOUT NASAUMUA VILLAGE!

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Fijian View About Citizenship

Fiji Times News - 30 September 2011

ITaukei view on citizenry

by Shalveen Chand

Fijian Men forced to be labelled as Itaukei by illegal regime

SOME iTaukei people believe that only those registered under the Vola ni Kawa Bula (iTaukei registry) are legal citizens of Fiji, a workshop on good governance and human rights was told yesterday.

The Citizens Constitutional Forum workshop targeting the provinces of Tailevu, Naitasiri and Ra with awareness programs to change attitudes on issues of good governance, human rights and citizenship was attended by provincial administrators of the three provinces.

During a group presentation, it was disclosed that ethno-supremacy still existed in the provinces and there was still much to be done to change the attitudes of people.

A baseline report done by CCF said there were common misconceptions regarding citizenships.

The report also revealed that when questions were put to the control group on citizenship, a large number believe that only the iTaukei are Fijians.

During group discussions issues such as governance were highlighted where the group members said the iTaukei community would not consult government officials readily for advice.

The report said there continued to be a high level of misunderstanding and prevailing ethno-supremist attitudes about citizenship.

CCF chief executive Reverend Akuila Yabaki said the baseline survey revealed significant ground had been made through the advocacy program to change attitudes on issues of good governance, human rights and citizenship.

Titled Scratching the Surface, the baseline survey was designed to look at the effects of human rights, good governance and citizenship workshops in the communities.

"Research results are mixed but basically validate the need for continued advocacy on the three issues in order to build an inclusive society which acts responsibly and recognises the rights of all," said Mr Yabaki.

"The comprehensive research, funded by the UNDP Pacific Centre for Strengthening Capacities for Peace and Development Small Grants, also shows, however, that many strong views remain on a perceived special status for the iTaukei."

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Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Fiji and its China Connection

by Ratu Tevita Mara - 06 September 2011

Truth for Fiji

The Fiji problem is being viewed by all as purely a political matter. From my perspective however, as a former Fiji Senior Military Officer, it also has pertinent security and defence implications and applications for the South Pacific Region, and particularly for Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America.

The Cuban Relevance

If we look at history and to what happened in Cuba then we should be able to benefit from its lessons. Cuba’s situation is very similar to what is happening in Fiji.

Like Fiji, it began with a revolution. In January 1959 Fidel Castro overthrew the Cuban Government of President Fulgencia Batista. Today, some 52 years later, Castro has stepped aside because of health reasons, and his brother Raul is now President.

Fidel, in the early years, like the murderer Bainimarama, also spoke of elections to return the country to democracy. It did not happen, it has not happened and it will not happen. Cuba was expelled from the regional Organisation of American States and the United States severed relations with it. Too late, way too late, there was a US sponsored Bay of Pigs invasion but it failed. In the meantime, the vacuum created by the US’s stand-off, led to the then Soviet Union moving in to Cuba and controlling it.

Cuba then began to reach out to the countries in the Caribbean and Latin America, the same as Fiji is going with the MSG countries and some Polynesian countries. It led to the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union. As other Caribbean countries fell under the influence of Cuba, the US invaded Grenada and removed the pro-Cuba government. We can avoid a similar situation if we act now.

China

But history has a nasty habit of repeating itself. China, recognizing an opportunity from the coup in Fiji to expand its power of influence and to make the Pacific Island Countries geo-political, and a possible Sphere of Influence, acted quickly. It expanded its influence over Fiji with speed. So why didn’t Australia, New Zealand or the US do the same?.........this is for another statement.

No criticism is being levelled against China. The PRC is acting in pursuit of its national interests, which dictates its foreign policy.

The murderer and military Junta ruler Voreqe Bainimarama became a close friend, ally and collaborator of China. The PRC lavished attention, huge financial grants, excessive loans, private sector investments, and most important and relevant, Military Training and the supply of military material. Fiji is now a “satellite” of China. This situation is a carbon copy of the Soviet Union and Cuba.

China, with Fiji’s illegal Chairmanship of the MSG, expanded its relations with MSG countries. In July 2010, China participated in the MSG Summit post-dialogue at the Fiji Inter-Continental Hotel in Nadi. It also participates in the Donors’ Conference at Pacific Island Forum Meetings. China also engages with some Polynesian countries and is also one of the most influential countries in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Under the influence of China, Fiji joined NAM.

This situation is certainly not in the national interest of Australia and New Zealand and its regional foreign policy. Both South Pacific powers need to act condignly, purposefully and effectively to bring an early end to the Fiji military Junta led by the murderer Bainimarama. The Fiji problem does not inhere with China. China saw an opportunity and grasped it with both hands. The problem lies with the Fiji military Junta and Fiji’s true enemy, the murderer Bainimarama.

The ANZAC powers should not only be concerned but must also act to bring about the collapse of the Fiji Military Junta, as soon as possible. They should be informed by the Cuban Revolution, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Castro Communist 52-year rule and its similarities to Fiji... with a Dictator Bainimarama, no rule of law, no fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, total military control, no media freedom, no freedom of speech, no right to dissent, no right of assembly, no trade union movement, restriction on Churches and NO FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

The United States

It is also, in the interests of security and defence, that the United States collaborate with Australia and New Zealand to bring an early end to both the Military Dictatorship in Fiji.

The Pacific Island Countries geo-political region is becoming a Sphere of Influence for China and this is not in the interests of the United States, Australia or New Zealand. The South Pacific ocean lanes are vital to the defence and security of the United States.

Australia and New Zealand, close allies, have always been and should also remain the major powers in the South Pacific. With China’s growing presence in the South Pacific and its location in the North Pacific, its relations with North Korea and influence in the Pacific far east, it would have control of the Pacific seaboard of the United States.

China also has an influential presence in the Caribbean and Latin America and the southern flank of the United States. With its massive Official Development Assistance (ODA), private sector investments and technical assistance, China is being called the new Super Power by military and political analysts.

Conclusion

It is not in the national, defence and security interests of Australia, New Zealand and the United States for the Pacific Island Countries South Pacific geo-political area to become a Sphere of Influence of China. It is not in the interest of Australia and New Zealand to allow Fiji to become the Cuba of the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand and the United States must act in concert with alacrity to bring an end to Bainimarama’s military junta in Fiji.

The hold off in the belief that the illegal Fiji regime will hold elections in 2014 is ill-advised. Castro promised elections in Cuba in 1959 and today, 52 years later, there have been no elections. Elections in Fiji in 2014 will never happen. Australia and New Zealand must review its role in the Forum and, especially, their decreasing influence in the Pacific. The Fiji problem is not solely political, it also has defence and security implications for Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Action now, rather than later, will be of benefit to the region as a whole and free the oppressed people of Fiji.

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Fijian Custom & Culture

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