Frank’s Public Emergency Regulation used to cover his junta’s corruption
The Public Emergency Regulation or PER is back again! For another 30 days! But why? Sorry, but I’m cynical and the re-imposition of the PER tells me that we are looking at the increasing probability that its true purpose has got EVERYTHING to do with the “public” but NOTHING to do with any “emergency”. In other words, its true purpose has to be a hidden one.
For as long as Bainimarama keeps the PER in force more of us will suspect the obvious, that its real purpose is to conceal the corruption that he and his supporters are happily engaged in. Let’s face it, what other reason in today’s Fiji could there be for censoring the media and preventing people from assembling?
At this point Bainimarama cannot possibly be scared of the people, the GCC or the Methodist Church. We and those major Fijian institutions know only too well that he’s got the guns to back him up and that’s all there is to it.
So if if we know that it’s not organized opposition that makes him shit scared, what is it? The obvious answer is that Bainimarama is scared of the truth.
Exactly what truth is he scared of? Well, truth becomes a threat when you fear that it might reveal something that will cause harm. But everyone knows what Frank Bainimarama did on 5 December 2006 and everyone knows how he lied through his teeth about having elections.
So what else is it that he needs to hide? That’s exactly my point. There is something very sinister that Bainimarama wants to hide and it has nothing to do with national security.
Instead it’s about his fear that either he or one his closest cohorts will get caught red-handed as they fleece the national coffers and use their power to manipulate the system to their advantage, just like Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was exposed in his corrupt deal with the Tappoo Group.
It’s a case of if it looks, walks and quacks like corruption, then the PER is designed to prevent you from finding out that this particular duck is the corrupt Bainimarama dictatorship.
That’s the REAL REASON why we have the PER and that’s why month after month Frank Bainimarama keeps it going so the media remains muzzled while he operates with impunity. As Professor Biman Prasad of the University of the South Pacific pointed out back in October of this year, there’s no way to stamp out corruption if you don’t have a free media.
Let me quote Professor Prasad directly: “Corruption flourishes in an environment where the media is curtailed. In addition, the government can have more legitimacy if it allows the media to operate independently. Many people who may have information and would like to expose some of the corrupt practices are reluctant to do so. A free media would help the government to have a better handle on the level of corruption.”
Another authority I can quote is Transparency International, which knows a great deal about corruption because its main purpose in life is to root it out. This is TI’s definition of corruption, “Corruption is operationally defined as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.”
I hope Aiyaz has not forgotten those words. He used to be on the Board of Transparency International Fiji. Isn’t it amazing how the wheel can turn full circle in our Fiji Islands?
CORRUPTION FIGHTER
Public Emergency?
Two observations:
1. How will this PER come to expression within the lower ranks of the demoralised RFMF? What are its implications for the military’s celebration of Christmas? Does it not mean that all celebrations must now be under a military cloud?
2. Fiji! The celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, the Father’s nominated Prince to rule the Princes of the earth, seems now to take place in your midst under a threat of military intervention because a “public emergency” has been decreed. Let me encourage you to join with all the region and the entire world, in remembering that this new-born child, Jesus, was immediately subjected to the inconveniences of another PER when a neurotic and unjust governor realised that the Three Magi were not returning to tell him where the Babe lay.
Herod’s “worship” of this Babe had been stymied. Yes indeed and the result? “A wailing voice was heard to give loud lamentation in Ramah …” Was such a Baby ever such a threat? Ask the grieving families of the slaughtered children in and around Bethlehem!
And could the celebration of His birth in the Republic of Fiji Islands be sufficient reason to issue a PER? Well maybe it isif we read the entire story, and learn who this Baby was, AND IS, we would realise just how provocative the Christmas celebration is to those bent on their own militaristic survival as usurpers of government.
But since the December 2006 coup it seems that Christmas has become more and more of a threat to this regime. Why? Well, remember the front page of the Fiji Times on the Monday 11th of December? Three years to the day? The Commodore is pictured piously drinking from the cup of blessing in a communion service. Remember that? Just three years ago. That remembrance of Christ until He comes again (as the ancient service reminds us) proved to be very useful PR then in the days after the coup which we just before Christmas 2006. Such a picture would be sufficient to keep wavering Fijian Christians on side with the military. Or so they evidently hoped.
But now, it seems, it is Christ Himself, and the celebration of His birth which frightens the Star off the RFMF’s Christmas Tree and puts a dampener on their cocky feasting. Whence their fear of ordinary people, whatever their background, from gathering to celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace?
Jesus’ mother, Mary the song writer, had it right when she sang:
“His strength is not troubled
By the aloof and the loud
He’s put down the mighty
Whose thrones are too proud.
The low He’s placed higher
And the hungered are fed
The rich are now bankrupt
Empty-handed instead!”
This PER is the anniversary of a failed attempt to conscript Jesus as a coup supporter. Let us grow wise and prepare to celebrate Christmas remembering the PER that turned Joseph and Mary and the Baby into asylum seekers.
Charles Whyman
South West Pacific Citizen for Public Justice
charleswhyman
December 11, 2009 at 12:17 am