FDFM News Updates

New media laws in place in Fiji

FDFM Team — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:42:00 GMT

New media laws in place in Fiji

Updated June 29, 2010 17:05:04

Today Fiji's media is getting used to a whole new set of rules which are governing its activities, with the gazetting, and enacting of the military backed regime's new "Media Industry Development Decree 2010". When Fiji's interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum announced the Decree was in force he started by saying those writing it had listened to the feedback and criticism given by the country's media and public, when a draft of the decree was released in April. But the changes have been described as nothing more than number tweaking cosmetics by media commentators and practitioners around the region. So what does the Decree mean?

Presenter: Pacific Correspondent, Campbell Cooney
Speakers: Fiji's interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum; Russell Hunter, Editorial Advisor at the Samoa Observer; Deputy Director of the Centre for International and Regional Affairs at the University of Fiji, Doctor Richard Herr

Source: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201006/s2940264.htm

Loopholes closed between draft and Fiji media law

FDFM Team — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:36:00 GMT

Updated June 30, 2010 09:38:38

It is about two-and-a-half months since the Fiji's attorney-general released a draft of the Media Industry Development Decree 2010 and conducted what he described as consultations with those affected.

Australia Network's Pacific correspondent Sean Dorney was himself deported from Fiji for his reporting when the constitution was abolished at Easter last year, and has been sifting through the details of the changes made between the draft and the decree implementation.

Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Sean Dorney, Australia Network's Pacific correspondent

Source : http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201006/s2940773.htm

Petition

FDFM Team — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:07:00 GMT

Petition

Ladies and Gentlemen, this morning Friday the19th of March 2010, at 12.00 pm Canberra DST (2.00pm FT), a petition was handed over to the Interim Prime Minster, Mr. Voreqe Bainimarama. The petition was from Mr. Vilisi Nadaku, his wife Ana and their five children, demanding Bainimarama and his Interim government to return Fiji to the polls this year, 2010.

Accompanying the petition was a letter from me, and a list of people and organisations who endorsed and supported the Nadaku family's intiative, who took the brave and selfless step in informing Bainimarama and his government of our right, demand and entitlement.

This action I could say, is also supported by the UN Human Rights Council, with majority of its members agreeing to the fact, that Fiji has been deprived of fundamental human rights in its recent meeting in Geneva, to which they further commented through their respective representatives, that Bainimarama should restore the 1997 constitution, and return the country immediately to electons and a democratically elected government.

The number of people that are represented in the support of the Nadaku family came to a total of 685,936. To all of you who have put your names and photos to support your intensions, I would like to thank you for your loyalty to your country and its freedom. You have contributed immensely to the liberation of your homeland.

I would like to thank the Democracy Movement Chapters and their respective leaders and supporters. Let me remind you, that after being mocked for doing nothing but blogging, we have achieved a lot, not only in getting the World to sit up and take notice, but most importantly to take action. The three events that took place in the space of a week, (HRC, Vanuatu PIF, Petition) showed that “Truth” has decided to show itself, and it has exhibited its strength, its timing, significance and most importantly its desirability or value to human kind.

The petition has been sent to various high offices and entities for further exposure of the peoples' desire.

This localities include, UN HQ New York, EU, Commonwealth Secretariat, Political parties Head Offices (Fiji), Various embassies and High Commissions, Bloggs/Websites, NGOs, Academics in Fiji and abroad, ANU College of Asian Pacific Studies , Amnesty International and Churches.

That part done, we will await Bainimarama's response, and in the meantime, we will be putting a second part of the fight in motion. While I cannot disclose the nature of the actions we will take as yet, I can tell you that we will intensify our efforts and we are confident of volutary support, if the response to the petition is anything to go by.

I hope that the fight will now be of a more extreme degree, because the Regime will not be giving us our freedom cheaply. That said, I will remind one and all, they(military) have blood on their hands, and if we don't liberate the country for our children, then, we are guilty of the same offence.

A special mention for the President and members of the Melbourne Democracy Movement Chapter, for their “Lolo- Masumasu” every Tuesday since their conception. This fight cannot be won with mortal strength, we need Divine intervention, for a complete and through victory. From me to all of you, vinaka vakalevu.

This is a reminder, for those who try to oppress people who pray and believe in God ;

Jeremiah 28 : 10. Hananiah grabbed the wooden yoke from my neck and smashed it, 11. Then he said, “The Lord says, this is the way he will smash the power Nebuchadnezzar (Bainimarama) has over the nation(s), and it will happen in less than two years.

Vinaka.

Suliasi Daunitutu.

The Petition itself

Lot 9 Kuruva Place
Caubati
Suva, Fiji.
February 18, 2010.

Dear interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama,

We the Nadaku family, write to share our concerns regarding developments in Fiji since the December 5, 2006 military coup. We urge you to ensure the swift transition to an elected government, and call on you and your officials to immediately and publicly make a commitment that fundamental human rights will be respected.

We are particularly concerned that the longer the Interim Government delays the elections, the more we the people will suffer.
To deny us the right to elections is contrary to Article 21 of the UDHR which states;

“. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.”

You are reminded that Fiji is a signatory to the Declaration.

We also note with concern the latest statement by Brigadier Driti who is quoted as saying that any act of civil disobedience by the people of Fiji will be dealt with “severely”.
These types of statements only create fear and do not promote a healthy relationship between the government of the day and its people.

We as a family unit are of the view that it is our right as citizens of Fiji to demand for elections this year, and for a swift return to parliamentary democracy.

We therefore urge your IG to make a commitment for elections to be held towards the end of the year, 2010.

We also urge the government of Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America, The United Kingdom, Japan, The E.U, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Forum Secretariat and other relevant NGO’s and organizations to continue to pursue the process towards elections this year.

It is our humble opinion that this great nation of ours cannot, must not, continue on the path it is taking today. To do so would only prolong the pain and suffering of our people who cannot stand up to voice their opinion due the Public Emergency Regulations, and the censorship of the media.

Copies of this letter have been sent to the three paramount chiefs of the Kubuna, Tovata and Burebasaga Confederacies, the Methodist Church, Foreign Embassies in Fiji, NGO’s and human rights groups, democracy advocates worldwide, and Fijian Political Parties for their information.

We pray that you will do what is right and just for the people of Fiji, based on the four fundamental principles of democracy, government by the people, active participation of the people, protection of human rights and above all, the rule of law.

Sincerely,

Vilisi Nadaku,
On behalf of the Nadaku Family.
Phone: 679/3608406/
Mobile: 679/9653023

c.c. Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi
Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu
Ro Adi Teimumu Kepa
US Embassy
Australia High Com
New Zealand High Com
Japan Embassy
European Union
United Nations
Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre
President Methodist Church In Fiji
Mick Beddoes, UPP
Mahen Chaudhary, FLP
Raman Singh, NFP
Laisenia Qarase, SDL
Forum Secretariat
Citizens Constitutional Forum
Media(Fiji Times, Fiji Sun, Daily Post, ABC Australia, RNI)
Democracy and Humans Rights Groups

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - Press Release

FDFM Team — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:56:00 GMT

The Fiji Government has misrepresented its human rights record in a report to the United Nations, Amnesty International said today.

The government has submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Council ahead of a formal review of the state of the country’s human rights scheduled for Thursday 11 February in Geneva.

Amnesty International disputes many of the claims made in the Fiji Government’s National Report, including assertions that religious freedom is enjoyed in Fiji; that the right to free speech is respected; and that the censorship of the media is a necessary security measure.

“Government assertions that human rights are protected in Fiji are an insult to its citizens, who have had to endure surveillance, intimidation and threats by the military,” said Apolosi Bose, Amnesty International’s Pacific Researcher.

Amnesty International rejects government claims that that the abrogation of Fiji’s constitution, in April 2009, did not have an impact on the respect and enjoyment of human rights, and that the independence of the judiciary remains intact.

“The abrogation of the constitution dealt a devastating blow to the enjoyment of human rights, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary in the country,” said Apolosi Bose.

The entire judiciary was sacked in April 2009 and since July, a number of magistrates have been summarily dismissed without any official explanation. Local media continue to face censorship on a daily basis and people are fearful of voicing an opinion that may be contrary to government’s view.

“In an assault on religious freedom, the authorities have specifically targeted the Methodist church of Fiji and have banned the church from holding its annual conference until 2014. Since July 2009, more than 25 pastors and senior administrators of the church have been arrested, briefly detained and charged under the Public Emergency Regulations,” said Apolosi Bose.

The Public Emergency Regulations (PER) which came into force in April 2009, have enabled the government to violate key human rights, while ensuring impunity for those committing these violations. Amnesty International maintains that the interim government has applied the PER to protect itself from any criticism or dissent and to suppress any comment or news item that may be critical of the government or the security forces.

“More than a thousand people have been assaulted, threatened, intimidated or subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment, arbitrary arrests, and detention by the military for either being critical of the authorities or on trumped-up charges,” said Apolosi Bose.

As recently as January 2010, senior officials in the Fiji military have openly threatened critics and dissidents. The government has also begun terminating benefits to pensioners who have been critical of the regime, violating their rights to freedom of speech and social security.

“This speaks volumes about the Fiji government’s lack of commitment to respect human rights,” said Apolosi Bose.

Amnesty International urges the Human Rights Council to conduct a rigorous examination of Fiji's fulfilment of its human rights obligations and commitments and to call for practical measures aimed at addressing serious shortcomings.

The organization also calls on the government of Fiji to engage in the examination in a spirit of openness and frankness and to act on recommendations to improve the human rights situation in Fiji.

Amnesty International has documented a litany of human rights violations since the military overthrew the elected government in December 2006. As part of the UN Committee’s review of Fiji, Amnesty International has prepared a submission to the committee which examines in detail the human rights situation in that country.

ENDS

Note to editors:

The UN Human Rights Council formal review of Fiji’s human rights record is part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process by which the United Nations Human Rights Council examines the human rights record of each of the UN’s 192 Member States. Each State is reviewed once every four years on a rotating basis.

Amnesty International’s submission on Fiji may be found at:

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA18/001/2009/en

FDFM Message for 2010

FDFM Team — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:14:00 GMT

As we see off 2009 and move into the new year, I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all our supporters and leaders in Australia and abroad for your principled, invaluable support of the motives and goals of the Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement.

The Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement was the first overseas based movement created to actively campaign for the restoration of democracy in Fiji after the Military Coup of December 5th 2006 and the follow own purported abrogation of the Constitution on Good Friday 2009. That coup forcefully removed at gun point the democratically and legally elected coalition government led by Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.

As national president of the Movement in Australia, I am glad to note the launching of Movements in the United States and New Zealand all fighting for the same course and that is the restoration of parliamentary democracy and basic human rights in our beloved Fiji. I salute their initiative and wish them well.

As we come to the close of 2009 and anticipate the challenges of 2010, it is timely to remind us, as strong believers of democracy and freedom that our job is not done until the people of Fiji have been given the opportunity to speak through the ballot box in a free and fair general election.

I urge that we continue to fight and campaign for our course with renewed vigour in 2010. Let us not relent and let us keep reminding ourselves that we will not rest on our laurels while our beloved homeland burns under the illegal leadership of rogue elements set out to protect their own narrow and selfish interest.

Let us not forget the fact that Commodore Bainimarama, President Nailatikau and Aiyaz Khaiyum gained their positions of leadership through treasonous violent means. That the present Government of Fiji is made up of usurpers and no matter how much they try and spin it differently, their actions have made them criminals and they will have to answer for their crimes one day.

Let us remind ourselves that we aspire to a free Fiji where the common citizens will have the freedom to choose who to lead them and those that rule will always be weary of the need to perform in order to continuously have the people’s mandate to lead.

Let us also continue to remind ourselves that the people of Fiji have been taken hostage and tormented into silent submission by a vicious Military backed illegal government and it is our duty overseas to be the voice of those that suffer in silence under strict media censorship and freedom of speech regulations, imposed on the people by the illegal Bainimarama Dictatorship.

Let us fight for those who cannot speak or resist when the odds of guns and intimidation are against them.

Let us fight for those that must endure silently and have no say in important decisions that affect they daily subsistence and their future.

Therefore it is our duty overseas to be the voice of the common people and to shout out from the roof top what is wrong with the illegal Bainimarama Regime.

Finally, I strongly urge, that people not to be swayed by the consistent spins of the Illegal Interim Government who now control all forms of news coming out of Fiji’s Media Outlets. Let us be strong in our beliefs and views because we are fighting the good fight. Stand tall and be proud because you are doing a good and noble thing for your Country.

I would like to close off by taking you back to the banks of the Mbashe River, Thembu Land, South Africa in 1934. A group of teenagers were undergoing the Xhosa Tribe’s transitional circumcision ritual. This ritual transforms one from being a boy to a man overnight under Xhosa tradition. Included in the group undergoing the ritual was a boy named Rolihlahla, a living treasure better known Nelson Mandela.

As the main speaker at the giving of gifts and feasting following the ceremony, a chief called Chief Meligqili had this to say as a closing remark “These gifts today are nought, for we cannot give them the greatest gift of all, which is freedom and independence”.

I pray and urge that we the people of Fiji will be able to rise up as one in 2010 and give ourselves and our children the gift of freedom and independence.

Have a prosperous and happy 2010.

FDFM Condemns Decision to Expel Australia and New Zealand Diplomats

FDFM Team — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:45:00 GMT

Subject: Bainimarama’s Expulsion of the Australian and New Zealand Diplomat Condemned.

Date: 4^th November 2009

The Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement strongly condemns the latest action of Fiji’s Military Dictator Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, who yesterday announced the expulsion of the Australian and New Zealand High Commissioners from Suva.

The Fiji Military Dictatorship must continue to be reminded of the fact that they gained power through illegal violent means, the barrel of a gun. The legal Fiji High Court have already made the decision that Bainimarama and his attorney general are illegal and took office through illegal criminal means.

The least they could do is spare us the indignity of having to listen to them try and justify their illegal grab of power and their continued weak claims of the need to maintain their illegal occupation of office.

The expulsion of the two envoys was again another knee jerk reaction from Bainimarama, and enhance his tendency to make erratic, ill thought out decisions that only suites him and is over inflated ego.

Also, it once again demonstrates that real power lies with his Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. After all, it was only last week that Khaiyum threatened to go and see his Prime Minister about the rejection of a High Court Judges visa to take her son to New Zealand for medical treatment.

It appears that whatever Khaiyum says or advises, Bainimarama does without fully considering its follow on effect. It raises the possibility that the tail (Khaiyum) is wagging the dog (Bainimarama) and that Khaiyum is now the real power in Fiji similar to the influence of Rasputin in Tsarist Russia.

The expulsion further demonstrates that Bainimarama’s Military Dictatorship says one thing and does the opposite. It proves the many claims that those illegally holding powers in Fiji do not really care about the common people and that is why we need an elected government answerable to the electors as soon as possible.

The last thing that Fiji needs at the moment is negative reporting on the international stage. It scares away potential investors. It scares away potential tourists. It scares away potential aid donors.

And who takes the full brunt when such selfish and gung-ho decisions are made? Not Commodore Bainimarama and his air condition SUV travelling illegal hangers on and ministers, or his cocktail circuit mates. It is the lowly paid struggling common citizens of Fiji who continuous to struggling daily to put food on the family table.

Commodore Bainimarama again showed his arrogance and naivety when he hinted that he thought relations with Australia and New Zealand might improve with the change of government in these two countries since he grabbed power in December 2006. Once again, he let out that the PM’s job is beyond him capability when he truly expected that the mentioned change in governments was going to change Australia and New Zealand’s views of his illegal dictatorship.

Commodore Bainimarama, in his exact words say “they (Australia and New Zealand) are engaged in dishonest and untruthful strategies to undermine Fiji’s judiciary, independent institutions and economy”. It is a bit rich coming from someone who grabbed power illegally via the criminal act of treason and has continued to illegally occupy the seat of power in Fiji without putting it to the people of Fiji to decide.

This is the same man who has to one day answer for the goon squad that have taken thousands up to the military barracks and have their rights violated, or those have their cars smashed in or houses fire bombed.

Not to mention the cold blooded murder of special force soldiers after the failed mutiny at the military barracks have been put down or the deaths in custody of Verebasaga, Rabaka, Malasebe and Baleiloa after the December 2006 coup.

The illegal Military Dictatorship needs to be reminded that Fiji needs Australia and New Zealand more than these two countries need Fiji. These are two very wealthy nations and the expulsion of their diplomats is not going to badly impact their economy as much as it is going to impact Fiji.

Fiji’s illegal Prime Minister also need to come clean on what he is trying to defend here.

The former President abrogated the Constitution on the 10^th of April 2009 after the Fiji High Court declared the coup of December 2006 and the subsequent action of the President in appointing the Bainimarama Government was illegal.

As a consequence, the entire judiciary and magistrates were all dismissed and those that make up the present judiciary and the lower courts were head hunted by Bainimarama’s attorney general, appointed by Bainimarama and rubber stamped with consent by the current illegally appointed President Nailatikau.

In other words, these are not independent judge, separate from the executive arm of the state but directly linked via the appointment process that made them become judges under his regime. Therefore, their work and judgements will be overshadowed by the nature of their appointment and the question of doubt will always linger over the cases they preside over.

Finally, it is a well known fact that anyone that accepts an illegal appointment by the Bainimarama Military Dictatorship automatically has a travel ban placed on them by Australia and New Zealand. This was part of a list of smart sanctions that was announced by these two countries immediately after the 2006 coup. So why the sudden drama?

The Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement appeals to the Military Dictatorship of Bainimarama, if there are any level headed people left in there, to please consider the plight of the innocent lives of Fiji Islanders suffering from these poorly conceived decisions of your leader and be brave enough to offer some positive advice to your leader.

Usaia Peter Waqatairewa

President

SUBJECT: FDFM’s Reaction to the FBC’s Report on Bainimarama’s UN Speech

FDFM Team — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:34:00 GMT

PRESS STATEMENT

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Fiji’s Illegal Interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has once again demonstrated his lack of understanding of what is acceptable or unacceptable to normal, law abiding, civilised societies of the Free World.

Commodore Bainimarama should understand that the Free World totally abhor the actions of aspiring dictators like him that go and overthrow democratically elected governments. He must therefore not expect the Free World to cosy up to him after what he has done.

Bainimarama sounds like a desperate man when he has to resort to the outrageous claims that he had to overthrew the SDL Party-Fiji Labour Party Coalition Government because politicians with links to terrorists were threatening the people of Fiji. The only people threatening the people of Fiji with terror techniques are his very own soldiers who come in the night and take people up to the barracks to torture and beat or even kill like Verebasaga and 19 year old Rabaka.

His constant use of the words “mismanagement”, “corruption” and “nepotism” are beginning to bore us when he says something and does exactly the opposite. If Bainimarama wants to talk mismanagement, he should look no further than his record as Commander of the Fiji Military Forces. A record littered with mismanagement, overblown budget, wastage and corruption as highlighted by the Auditor General’s Report of 2000-2005.

He must also come clean with Epeli Ganilau on their mismanagement of the Regimental Fund that so absurdly led to his appointment as Military Commander in the first place.

Then there is the controversy about the back paid salary paid to him and calculated based on a back date going back thirty years. If it is correct, then Bainimarama should come clean and publicly release the Auditor General’s investigation and report on the case.

Bainimarama dares talk about nepotism when he should put his house in order first. He just need to look at the continued employment of his elder brother Meli Bainimarama, as a senior public servant when he is almost seventy. Then

there is Timoci Bainimarama, over fifty five but still employed as head of the Bureau of Statistics, contravening his government’s policy of the 55 years retirement age in the Fiji Public Service.

Then there are the many senior military officers that supported his 2006 coup and now occupy well paid senior public service positions they are not qualified for or the re-employment of his brother in law Francis Kean as Fiji Naval Commander after serving prison time for manslaughter?

Bainimarama claims that “The basis for the new constitution will be the ideals and principles formulated by the People’s Charter for Change and Progress, a document prepared following widespread consultation with, and input from, the people of Fiji.” The whole world knows that this document was already drafted in New Zealand before the coup and came through the interim government via former interim finance minister and Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudry.

The “widespread consultation and input of the people of Fiji” he claims has again demonstrated Bainimarama’s tendency to make wild claims and lies. How can there be widespread acceptance when major Fijian institutions such as the provincial councils, the Methodist Church and the SDL Party were not involved in the consultation. It is also a well known fact that many people were coerced into signing papers accepting the proposed Charter, especially public servants who faced the threats of being sacked if they refused to sign. There was also no independent audit of those consultation results.

Bainimarama’s claim of Fiji’s peculiar history is utter nonsense. Fiji is about as peculiar as many other multiracial society. The only peculiar thing about Fiji’s history is the Military’s involvement in one form or another in all coups that have taken place, including George Speight’s Coup.

Bainimarama must understand that the only way to resolve Fiji’s ongoing crisis is to return to the barracks, allow a civilian caretaker government to conduct the consultation needed to see whether reforms are needed and ensure these are implemented into the constitution under the ambit of the 1997 Constitution before organising a general election.

People should not take seriously, his repeated claims of Fiji being bullied by Australia and New Zealand. These two countries, if their actions can be interpreted as bullying, are taking actions against Bainimarama’s illegal government, not the Fijian State or the people of Fiji. Bainimarama and his

troops, on the other hand, have demonstrated in the last three years that they do not blink an eye whenever they bully and brutalise any Fijians that dare questions or challenge their actions.

The Australian and New Zealand stand of returning all Fijian soldiers serving in United Nations Mission has been the stand of the Movement from the date of its establishment. After all, the current situation is hypocrisy that borders on the absurd, when you have the very same military personnel that brutalises and bullies the citizens they were armed to protect and then be flown off to some other troubled spots of the world to maintain the peace there!

If Bainimarama is indeed a man of principle and righteousness as he so often likes to portray himself to be, then he should be man enough to return to the barracks and let an independent judiciary legally examine his actions and claims of the last three years. There will only be two outcome from it, jail or legitimisation!

If he does not have the integrity and principles to do that, then he should retreat to the barracks and continue his lectures and wild claims within the confines of his family and soldiers rather than embarrass us all at important places like the UN General Assembly.

Usaia P. Waqatairewa

President, Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement.

29/09/2009.

Press Release after Cairns Forum Meeting

FDFM Team — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:21:00 GMT

FDFM Cairns Pacific Forum Meeting a Success

The Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement continued its fight by lobbying leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) at the recent Pacific Islands Forum Meeting in Cairns to drop its plan to table the roadmap by Fiji’s military regime for elections to be held in 2014.

Instead, the Australia-based Movement lobbied Forum leaders to accept the joint submission by Fiji’s deposed Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase and Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry that the Presidential Political Dialogue Forum should resume and workshop a path for a return to parliamentary democracy with an election deadline of October 2010.

The MSG comprises Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomons.

“The Movement believes that the Qarase-Chaudhry Joint Submission should be the roadmap adopted by the Forum because those two leaders head political parties that attracted 85 per cent of the votes in the 2006 election,” Movement President Usaia Pita Waqatairewa said.

“They therefore represent the true views of the people of Fiji,” he said.

“Frank Bainimarama’s roadmap, on the other hand, does not represent the views of the people of Fiji,” Mr Waqatairewa said.

“Commodore Bainimarama’s roadmap reflects his own personal views and those of an elite few that have much to lose if Fiji is returned to parliamentary democracy.”

Mr Waqatairewa said the Movement succeeded in convincing the MSG leaders through meetings with their High Commissioners and the Solomon Islands Prime Minister that there is an alternative to Commodore Bainimarama’s Interim Government’s roadmap to democracy.

“Our cause was strongly boosted by the Communiqué of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Committee just days before the Forum meeting, which fully endorsed the Qarase-Chaudhry Joint submission leading to the Forum’s own endorsement of the submission in their communiqué after the Leaders Retreat on Thursday August 6,” he said.

He said the Movement also aimed to engage media attention and send a message for the immediate restoration of democracy and freedom in Fiji.

Mr Waqatairewa was met by a media scrum on the first day of demonstration outside the meeting venue and gave 10 separate interviews to a global audience during the two-day demonstration.

He had driven to Cairns from Sydney, meeting up with Fijian communities along the way in Armidale, Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns.

In the process, he managed to establish working committees for chapters in Armidale, Townsville and Cairns with plans to establish chapters across Australia for a nationwide movement fighting for the restoration of democracy to Fiji.

Support for Ro Teimumu

FDFM Team — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:25:00 GMT

23/7/09

I write to offer my support and solidarity to the Gone Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi, who was unjustly and unceremoniously detained in the past few days.

The boldness and courage of this Lady and leader in making a stand against the devious, self-serving, and ultimately self-defeating manipulation of the present illegal Regime, is a breath of fresh air in the cynical and dishonorable times we now live in.

As disgraceful as her detention is though, we must nonetheless accept in faith that this IS all part of God’s Plan, as the lady herself so eloquently put it in her letter to her people.

Jesus, Himself began the battle to throw off darkness and evil, and to replace it with His Kingdom, with His death on Calvary’s Cross.

Since then, Christians have always been impelled by the implications of their faith to struggle and stand against evil. St Telemachus for instance was, by his own death, instrumental in ending the barbaric practice of gladiatorial death sport in the Roman Empire. William Wilberforce, by his life of sacrifice, spearheaded the abolition of slavery in Victorian times. Lord Shaftsbury’s exertions kick-started the dawn of industrial emancipation and worker’s rights during the same era. Elizabeth Fry was the first prison reformer. Samuel Plimsoll spearheaded shipping safety regulations and reform. John Wesley, St Vincent de Paul (Ladies of Charity) and William Booth (Salvation Army) founded pioneering organizations to succor and minister to the poor in the preceding Century. Later the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King forfeited even his own life for his stand of faith and principle against the insidious scourge of racism.

In all cases, these Christian saints acted out of the dictates of their faith, at great personal cost and risk, often against brutal or hardnosed Governments that were either indifferent to the injustice, or who were part of it themselves under the lobbying and control of those, who were directly benefitting from the status quo. But not one of them ever backed down, as to do so would mean betraying their consciences as well as their God.

Fiji once again finds herself faced by this kind of evil. In 2000 it was Speight. Now it is Bainimarama. In 2000 it was rebellion. In 2006/9, the rebellion has succeeded and the Barbarians have risen to power on the back of guns, brutality, lies and intransigence. The situation seems hopeless and the usurpers seem to hold all the cards that count.

But just as the injustice and evil of the past always raised up Christian movers and shakers of conscience to opposition, so are the lies, wickedness and travesty of Bainimarama’s Fiji raising up champions like Ro Teimumu Kepa.

The question for people like her is “Are we our brother’s keeper?” According to God’s law, and people’s man-made constitutional law and values, yes we are. These are for two reasons, the work of the Church in the community, and its prophetic role against the injustice of this coup. The Regime is WRONG to try and stop either.

In any crises management there are four pitfalls that stakeholders may fall into. These are panic, apathy, fear and denial. Good leaders are able to communicate the truth, and inspire peoples’ spirits in order to strategically motivate them out of those pitfalls into just and righteous action. Winston Churchill is the best crises manager known in history when he fearlessly asked for the British peoples’ steadfastness knowing that the technically superior German Army were preparing to bomb London. And England won the battle and the war.

Like the infamous Nazi propaganda machine, Bainimarama’s illegal Regime also hopes to use its ridiculous PER and hand-picked judiciary to deny Ro Temumu-Kepa and the Methodist Church leaders’ right to be their “brother’s keeper”.

But whatever unjust and unjustifiable trumped up charges and punishment they dream up, they will NOT prevail!

Dr. Mere Tuisalalo Samisoni, SDL member for Lami Open Constituency.

Police Detains Paramount Chief

FDFM Team — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:18:00 GMT

Fiji Police detains Paramount Chief and Church leaders

Suva, July 23, 2009: One of Fiji’s senior most paramount chiefs and head of the troubled island nation’s largest confederacy, the Burebasaga confederacy, Ro Teimumu Kepa, has been detained at Central Police Station in Fiji’s capital, Suva.

In addition, two former presidents of the Methodist church of Fiji, Rev Manasa Lasaro and Rev Tomasi Kanailagi, were arrested by military security forces in the early hours of this morning and are being detained at the military barracks in Nabua, Suva.

As well, the National Director of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL), Peceli Kinivuwai, was arrested 10am Fiji time today and is also being detained at the military barracks.

In other news, the military-appointed court has refused to release the passport of deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.

Ro Teimumu Kepa is a former minister in the Laisenia Qarase-led government that was deposed by military strongman, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, in the 2006 coup.

According to well-placed sources, Ro Teimumu was picked up from her traditional village, Lomanikoro in the province of Rewa – in eastern Viti Levu – about midnight Fiji time.

Sources said up to 16 uniformed and civilian police officers made the arrest but charges have yet to be confirmed.

It is understood however that this latest crackdown is directly related to the military-led arrests of members of the steering committee of the Methodist church of Fiji.

The Church has been vocal in its opposition to the military regime and defied a ban by the regime to cancel its annual Church Conference, a major event in the church calendar, normally held in late August.

Ro Teimumu had given her approval for the conference to be held in Lomanikoro next month in direct defiance of the military ban.

On Monday night, the military arrested and late released the General Secretary of the Methodist Church, Rev. Tuikilakila Waqairatu. In a series of crackdowns on the dissident Church, the military arrested and detained another eight Church ministers by Tuesday afternoon.

Military Arrests Church Leaders

FDFM Team — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:22:00 GMT

MEDIA RELEASE
July 22, 2009

Fiji military cracks down on Methodist Church leaders

Sydney, July 22, 2009

The military-backed regime of Fiji strongman, Frank Bainimarama, has cracked down on senior figures within the Methodist Church of Fiji, making a number of arrests last night and this morning in response to the Church’s defiance against the military ban to go ahead with its annual church conference in August.

The Military had earlier this month imposed a ban on this event which has been a firm fixture on the Church calendar since the 1840s.

“The General-Secretary of the Methodist Church, the Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu, was arrested and released last night,” said Peceli Kinivuwai, Spokesman for the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) Party which was ousted from government by Commodore Bainimarama in the 2006 coup.

Mr Kinivuwai confirmed that eight ministers of the church were arrested this morning, putting to rest any doubts about the validity of the claims of arrests, in the midst of the military-imposed news blackout in the island nation.

”Of the eight arrested, police are questioning: Rev. Apete Toko – Head of the Men’s Fellowship; Rev. Simione Koli — Divisional Superintendent of the Suva Division and Rev. Ili Vunisuwai – Head of the Evangelical Division.

The Sydney-based Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement (FDFM) meanwhile, has condemned this latest move saying it is a direct reaction to the defiant stand taken by the Methodist church against the military’s declaration of a ban against the holding of Church conference.

“The Annual conference, which can attract up to 100,000 people, is an established event in the spiritual calendar of the majority of Fijians,” Movement President, Usaia Waqatairewa said.

“This annual event normally held in late August, has been around since the 1840s and this dictator wants to put a stop for the purposes of political expediency."

This year, the conference was scheduled to be held at Lomanikoro Rewa (in eastern Viti Levu) -- which is the traditional powerhouse seat of the Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa – One of Fiji’s three Paramount Chiefs and traditional Head of Fiji’s largest confederacy, the Burebasaga confederacy.

It was at the personal invitation of the Roko Tui Dreketi in 2006, that led to her province of Rewa hosting the annual Conference this year. “This is the most powerful evidence yet of the kind of opposition facing this regime,” Mr Waqatairewa said.

“What this regime has done in issuing a ban on the conference, is a direct assault on the

1997, Constitution, which says, under section 31, subsection 1: “Every person has the right to assembly and to demonstrate with others peacefully.

“And every person has the right to freedom of conscience, religion and belief.”

--ENDS--

Ro Teimumu's Letter to teh People of Rewa Part 1

FDFM Team — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:11:00 GMT

Ro Teimumu's Letter to the People of Rewa

FDFM Team — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:28:00 GMT

Methodist Church General Secretary Arrested this afternoon

FDFM Team — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:53:00 GMT

We have received news from our sources within the PM's Office that the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma's General Secretary, the Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu has been arrested by the police this evening.

It was again another ill thoughout reaction to a letter he wrote to Commodore Bainimarama and Police Commssioner Teleni warning of possible bloodshed should the Military not allow the annual Methodist Church Coneference to go ahead in August 2009.

Bainimarama again demonstrating his dislike of good sound advice rather than the ones he likes to hear.

So they have arrested Rev Waqairatu today. Will they be able to arrest the 300,000 other Methodist Church in August?

Letter to the Editor of Vanuatu Daily Post regarding MSG Leaders Decision by Mere Samisoni

FDFM Team — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:22:00 GMT

13/7/09

The Editor Vanuatu Daily Post, Dear Sir,

Re: The Prime Minister’s PNG/ Solomon’s/ Vanuatu in MSG decision.

LACK OF LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES FOR 21^ST CENTURY NEEDS.

The recent decision by the MSG to support the so-called “road map” of Fiji’s illegal Regime (IR) is an absolute disgrace! I am writing to express my anger at the blatant disregard for the rights, expectations, conscience, will and choice of the people of Fiji that this unaccountable decision represents. Condoning the Regime’s illegitimate moves like this will only prolong the unnecessary suffering of the Fiji people. Better to continue isolating the IR and hasten their collapse from within (a process which was already underway, but which will now be needlessly prolonged).

I cannot for the life of me think what could possibly have prompted the MSG leaders to accept the Fiji Regime’s brain-dead roadmap. It is nothing more than a wish list of fine words by people who have proven time and again that they don’t know what they are doing, or how to keep their word. For these reasons alone, the roadmap is about as meaningless as it can be. And that is before you even consider the fact that it is based on their tainted “People’s Charter” which is already in place and failing to deliver on any of its promises to date, and which the Regime did not even have the guts to put to the people of Fiji by referendum or vote or any other legitimate polling method.

The roadmap is simply a joke – it lacks understanding, it lacks expertise, it lacks legitimacy, it lack popularity, it lacks detail, it lacks an economic platform, and most importantly, it lacks the commitment of the Fiji people. The only reason I can think of then, that the Regime might have been able to arm-twist support out of the MSG, is if it somehow made this into an issue of Fiji’s “sovereignty”.

If that is the case, then let me make this very clear – Fiji’s sovereignty belongs to the people of Fiji!! It does not belong to any gun-toting hooligan who happens to come along and thinks he has an idea for our collective future. Just think for a moment about the implications of accepting that, as a legitimate way of running affairs in your respective countries before you accept it on Fiji’s behalf.

The recent speech by USA President Obama to African leaders sums it up well. He pointed out that the people of Africa cannot blame colonialism or western dominance or democracy for their problems - they can only blame the tyranny and corruption of Leaders. Therefore it is up the to the African people to solve this for themselves in democratic ways of freedom, constitutional democracy and the rule of law and order.

In today’s 21-century market economy, the discipline of Leadership/Management is about fulfillment, as opposed to just effectiveness in order to sustain humanity. But the MSG completely ignored both good management practice and legal pathways in its decision. Why?

Although the MSG decision may give the IR some cause for hope, it does nothing of the sort for the people of Fiji. As I said before, this Regime is already collapsing. So even IF it makes it to its 2014 election deadline, it (or its designated successor) will not survive the verdict of the Fiji people in any free or fair election thereafter. I do not see how any legitimate Government that emerges then could find merit in an organization like the MSG whose tactics have no strategic meaning, and which so easily disregards:

1. The People of Fiji;

2. The Courts and Constitution of Fiji;

3. Commonsense;

4. Expert Advice; and

5. Basic Right over Wrong, in favor of such an illegitimate, bumbling and violent interloper as the Bainimarama Regime.

Such, an example of bad policy is not only outdated and uninformed, but goes against the heart of basic human values and hope for a free and emancipated Fiji.

The Hon. Dr. Mere Tuisalalo Samisoni MP.

Cc PNG Post Courier; Solomon’s Star; Pacific Forum Secretariat.

Latest from the MSG Leaders Retreat

FDFM Team — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:20:00 GMT

Bainimarama waltzed in this morning expecting to go right into the meeting but got the shock of his life when he was asked at the door to wait outside while the legitimate democratically elected leaders of Papua new Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu deliberated inside on Fiji.

Kudos to the MSG wantoks for looking right through the facade of deception that has been the hallmark of Bainimarama's dictatorship from day one.

Press Statement on MSG Leaders Special Retreat in Vanuatu

FDFM Team — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:06:00 GMT

The Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement would like to kindly ask the Melanesian Spearhead Groups Leaders that their Leaders Retreat today should be the last one that Fiji’s Military Dictator, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama attends.

Commodore Bainimarama, given his past misdemeanour against Pacific Islands Leaders, does not deserve to be engaged by the MSG Countries or the rest of the Pacific Islands Forum Countries.

His past lies and broken promises has brought shame on the high office of Fiji’s Prime Ministership and confirms that he is not worthy to be Fiji’s National Leader.

The Movement urges the MSG leaders to instead dialogue with people who are true representatives of the people, after all it is the interest of the people of Fiji that should be paramount.

Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama represents no one but himself and a very small elite group of people, whose interest he is trying to protect.

His so called ‘Road Map’ to restore Fiji to Parliamentary Democracy is just another stalling process to delay his inevitable exit from Fiji’s leadership scene.

The Movement commends the noble intent and patience of the Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders but believe it will again be an exercise in futility. At the end of the day Commodore Bainimarama will never relinquish power unless forced to do so.

Bainimarama’s actions of the past has indicated that he will try and hold onto power for as long as possible and any threat to his hold on power will be swiftly sabotaged by his Regime. This has included the efforts of the Special Ministerial Group under the Biketawa Declaration and the President’s Constitutional Review Forum that was to be facilitated by the Commonwealth and United Nations.

Bainimarama has twice snubbed the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders by his non attendance at the annual leaders meetings. He has even insulted the Pacific’s most respected statesmen and Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare when he rejecting Sir Michael’s ‘Tabua’ and personal overture to attend the Special Leaders Retreat in Port Moresby early this year.

Given that the Bainimarama Regime is now suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum, Pacific Leaders including those from the MSG Grouping should cast they eyes towards the leaders of the last elected government of Fiji.

The Coalition Government that was overthrown by Bainimarama in a power grab in December 2006 attracted 84% of the votes cast in a general election just six months earlier.

Therefore, any attempts to talk with those that grab power in December 2006 and members of the Interim Government ruling Fiji would be going against the grain of suppressed public opinion that exists in Fiji today.

The people of Fiji feels betrayed by the leaders of our Melanesian Brothers every time they re-engage and dialogue with a man that has brought nothing but death in custody, injury, humiliation, torture, misery and poverty upon them for the last two and a half years.

With all due respect, the Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement humbly requests the MSG Leaders not to waste their time and resources on seeking to re-engage Commodore Bainimarama. Instead, they should seek the wise counsel of Fiji’s political leaders and Civil Societies that advocate democracy and freedom. These are the true voices and representatives of the silent suffering People of Fiji.

Usaia Peter Waqatairewa

President, Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement.

FDFM’s Reaction to the Bainimarama Military Regime’s ‘Strategic Framework for Change’.

FDFM Team — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:22:00 GMT

The Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement would like to denounce the announcement a week ago by Fiji’s interim Prime Minister, Commodore Bainimarama, of a Road Map for the Restoration of Fiji’s Democracy.

It is a lot of fancy words about nothing and another poorly attempted strategy for Commodore Bainimarama to legitimise his illegal term as Prime Minister for another five years.

Commodore Bainimarama must first of all cease his many attempts at insulting our collective intelligence with his claim of a so called President’s Mandate. The President is now an illegal occupier of that High Office after his treasonous purported abrogation of the 1997 Constitution of the Republic of the Fiji Islands on the 10^th of April 2009.

Commodore Bainimarama should also cease from claiming a Presidential Mandate when the whole world knows that he is the puppeteer pulling the strings of a proverbial puppet, the figurehead President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.

Having stated that, the Movement will keep reminding Commodore Bainimarama, and the World as our witness, that any suggestion of reforms and change must come from the people and the 1997 Constitution of Fiji is still pulsating in the veins of the people of Fiji and can never be abrogated.

The people of Fiji must give the mandate, and the world does not recognise some false claim of a Presidential Mandate. Changes can only be made by those that represent the people in a legally constituted parliament under Chapter 15 of the 1997 Constitution of Fiji.

Commodore Bainimarama, in his speech said that in his road map for change, he will seek to re-engage with his neighbours and development partners. The Movement wishes to remind Fiji’s regional neighbours and development partners that it was not them that disengaged from dealing with Fiji.

It was Commodore Bainimarama that so rudely disengaged from Fiji’s regional neighbours by snubbing them twice. First, at the Pacific islands Forum Leaders meeting in Niue and secondly at the Special Leaders Retreat on Fiji in Port Moresby early this year.

It was also Commodore Bainimarama that lied after he promised to have a general election for Fiji in March 2009. He made this commitment at the 2007 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Tonga.

The Movement would like to remind regional leaders and development partners planing to re-engage with Commodore Bainimarama that while they are legal and elected, he is not. While their first priority is the people they represent, Bainimarama’s first priority is his personal survival and the delaying of his inevitable arrest and imprisonment.

Any leader that engages and dialogues with Bainimarama is doing business with a common criminal who has raped the democracy of his country and pillage the national assets of its people.

Bainimarama’s leadership scorecard since grabbing power via the barrel of a gun is pathetic. In his two and a half years of leadership, Bainimarama has presided over the decimation of the sugar industry, the destruction of the tourism industry, the devaluation of the Fijian Dollar, the wholesale sacking of thousands of public servants, the destruction of the future of an entire generation of Fiji’s youths and most recently the destruction of Fiji’s Dairy Industry.

Commodore Bainimarama in his address puts forward the false claim that a new legal order exists. A new legal order can only exist if the people have accepted it.

The World must be reminded that the Military overthrew a popularly elected coalition Government that was voted in just six months before being overthrown in December 2006. The two political parties that made up the ruling coalition attracted 84% of the votes cast in the May 2006 General Election.

There has been no popular opposition to the Bainimarama Regime since the purported abrogation of the Constitution because of the draconian Public Emergency Regulation Decree introduced after the abrogation declaration on the 10^th of April 2009.

This decree was suppose to be in force for only thirty days but has now been extended till the end of the year. The draconian terms of the Decree included the censoring of any news items that may portray the government in a negative way and the suppression of freedom of speech.

With the threat of an indefinite closure of any news outlet that attempts to defy the Decree, newspapers are not publishing any letters to the editor or statements that opposes the Regime.

Since the 10^th of April 2009, the people of Fiji have been drawn under a dark blanket of news blackouts while bombarded with government propaganda modelled on some Stalinist totalitarian regime.

The framework for the return to constitutional democracy announced a week ago by Commodore Bainimarama lacks any clearly defined milestones and timeframes for his three year grandiose socio-economic dreams.

The Bainimarama Regime’s total mismanagement of the economy and erosion of the social structure of Fiji’s Society so far has created a lot of doubt about their ability to deliver on their latest attempt to provide a clear roadmap to democracy.

Delaying the start of their illegal constitutional reform till 2012 is just another poor attempt to conveniently come up with some sort of excuse that they will need more time in the constitutional consultation process and therefore extend their illegal governing mandate past 2014 when their self imposed five year mandate is about to expire.

Therefore, the Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement calls on Fiji’s Regional Neighbours and Development Partners not to be fooled by Commodore Bainimarama’s latest attempt to pull the wool over their eyes. They should learn from his many false promises and lies of the past.

Pacific regional leaders need to up the level of pressure and sanctions and demand an immediate return to constitutional democracy under the terms handed down by the Fiji Court of Appeal in the Case of Qarase and Others v Bainimarama and Others on the 9^th of April 2009.

Methodist Church Remain Defiant

FDFM Team — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:07:00 GMT

The Methodist Church of Fiji's powerful Standing Committee have indicated that they will not abide by the declaration of the Bainimarama Regime that the Churches annual conference will not be allowed to go ahead as planned.

Whether Commodore Bainimarama likes it or not, the Methdosit Church will have its annual week long Solevu open on the 24th of August at Furnival Park before the Bose ko Viti Conference opens on Monday the 31st of August.

FDFM News Updates

New media laws in place in Fiji

New media laws in place in Fiji

Loopholes closed between draft and Fiji media law

Petition

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL - Press Release

FDFM Message for 2010

FDFM Condemns Decision to Expel Australia and New Zealand Diplomats

SUBJECT: FDFM’s Reaction to the FBC’s Report on Bainimarama’s UN Speech

Press Release after Cairns Forum Meeting

Support for Ro Teimumu

Police Detains Paramount Chief

Military Arrests Church Leaders

Ro Teimumu's Letter to teh People of Rewa Part 1

Ro Teimumu's Letter to the People of Rewa

Methodist Church General Secretary Arrested this afternoon

Letter to the Editor of Vanuatu Daily Post regarding MSG Leaders Decision by Mere Samisoni

Latest from the MSG Leaders Retreat

Press Statement on MSG Leaders Special Retreat in Vanuatu

FDFM’s Reaction to the Bainimarama Military Regime’s ‘Strategic Framework for Change’.

Methodist Church Remain Defiant

Rally and Fundraising Night

Fundraising Rally and Curry Night this Saturday :

Where: 348 Chisholm Road, Auburn. NSW. 2144.

When: 7.00pm

Speakers:

Pastor Savenaca Ratumaiyale

Hon. Ted Young.