Attention seeking Frank and Aiyaz will do anything to get their pictures and names on Fiji media.

Their many deceitful propaganda since the 2006 coup pontificating them as some kind of god-like deities who know all the solutions to Fiji’s problems have failed to convert those they need most – Fiji’s business and investment people who have either down-sized, closed down, or moved elsewhere, and the undeterred international community who are the suppliers of everything good Frank & Co  need to sustain themselves in the form of export markets, imported commodities, finance though international financial market or through donor funds, grants etc.

Instead, they’ve devised many devious ways  to show the many helpless masses in Fiji just how caring, thoughtful and empathetic they are towards them following the aftermath of an act of God that whipped them hard like the recent floods.

There’s no second guessing as to who devised the idea to give out $100 each to the 99 permanent market vendors in Rakiraki.

It was Aiyaz’s kind of deviousness all over again who sold the idea to Frank hoping to rub off Frank’s bad boy image as Fiji’s worst civilian torturer, public money thief and murderer, to that of a caring saint….yeah right!

And off they went to the hinterland of Rakiraki, a small outback town controlled by an ex-SDL parliamentarian, George Shiu Raj, where they’ve given out $100 each to 99 permanent market vendors.

But wait, the $100 has a hook to it. These 99 vendors are expected to give that $100 to their Rakiraki Council to pay for their next 43 days of market fees.

All right, so Maciu and Sunil are over the moon with their fresh $100 bill each given to them by Frank.

They are told to look at the camera with a big Colgate toothpaste smile while shaking Frank’s hand.

Meanwhile, Seini and Poornima, Maciu and Sunil’s wives are sobbing in the background with delight.

Again, their sniffing noses and teary eyes are all captured on camera for maximum impact on Frank’s new sainthood status.

But it’s going to be a short-lived happiness for Maciu and Sunil’s family for Frank and Aiyaz expect them to take that $100 bills straight to their government runned Rakiraki Town Council office and give the $100 bills back to their regime appointed Special Administrator to cover their 43 days market fees.

Frank and Aiyaz don’t want Maciu and Sunil to spend the money to buy their families some food to feed their under-nourished bellies after the flood waters drowned their vegetable garden, pay their childrens’ school building fees or buy big plastic containers to store water because there is still no consistent supply of  running water in Rakiraki since the flood.

So where does Frank and Aiyaz’s donation of $100 each to these naive 99 market vendors end up?

Back in Frank and Aiyaz’s pocket.

If the two were honest about their token gesture, they wouldn’t have made such a big publicity out of their con job or better still, they should have just given a directive to the Rakiraki Town Special Administrator to give  43 days market fee grace period to the vendors instead of handing out $100 cash bills only to see it given back to them via their Special Administrator.

What a sham!

Remember how Frank accused previous governments of nurturing a “hand-out” mentality?

Well, well, well, so who’se handing out now Frank?

And why are you handing  out money to market vendors only and not to cane farmers, taxi drivers, cleaners and other low income earners who’ve been also affected by the flood Frank?

We think this was another bad Public Relations idea by Aiyaz, approved by another seasoned deceiver, Frank.

PM handouts cheques to Rakiraki market vendors

99 Rakiraki market vendors have each received a hundred dollars from the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama for revenue lost during the floods.

The payment for 43 days of market fees to the council.

Speaking at the handing over of the cheques – Minister for Trade Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says this is the first time any government in Fiji has assisted all permanent market vendors in a town.

He told the vendors – the assistance wouldn’t have eventuated without the approval of the PM.

Special Administrator Saini Raiko says while Rakiraki is a new town trying to stand on its feet – the assistance will go a long way.

“The fact that government has recognised that despite it being a small town – in light of the recent natural disaster – there is a need for support to the small businesses and this is what the government has done. Just the fact that the head of government would come to the smallest town with the smallest market to personally hand them assistance in the form of fees for days lost during business – that will be something that will be talked about for a while.”

Prime Minister and the Attorney-General are currently in Ba town to hand out cheques to the market vendors and businesses there.

More than $66,000 in assistance will be given out to businesses and market vendors in the flood ravaged areas today.

http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/72/pm-handouts-cheques-to-rakiraki-market-vendors

Reported by RealJack

the phasing down is moving into its next stage.

the UN is now working through towards the phasing out of Fiji troops at UNAMI.

the request from the UN has already been sent to the Nepali Govt six months ago – and they have been in consultations and are now working on the transition

its becoming increasingly clear that Fiji will be out of UNAMI shortly – replaced by the Nepali

“Jai Mahakali, Ayo Gorkhali”

===============================

PHANINDRA DAHAL

 

 

KATHMANDU, MAY 09 -
Nepal Army is open to the United Nations proposal for deployment of Nepali peacekeepers in Iraq. Army Headquarters said the mobilisation of Nepali troops in the war-torn nation will start “once the Cabinet approves the proposal.”

Army officials were not sure when it would approve the proposal but said it will be taken up by the government “very soon.” UN wants Nepali soldiers’ deployment to protect UN buildings and staff at the Iraq-based UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) in the Green Zone.

“We are positive about the proposal,” said Nepal Army Spokesperson Brigadier General Ramindra Chhetri. “The process for getting the government’s approval is underway. Deployment will start after the Cabinet approval.” The request for deploying 223 Nepal Army soldiers in Baghdad was made by UNAMI to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs early this year. Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd had telephoned PM Jhala Nath Khanal on March 10 requesting the Nepali troops. Australia is against the deployment of Fijian Army as Blue Helmets, following the 2006 coup initiated by Fijian military leader Frank Bainimarama. The contingent from Fiji of 221 soldiers is deployed in Iraq since December 2004. Australia is now the lead country advocating for Nepal Army’s presence instead in Iraq.

Due to ambiguity over content of the proposal floated in March, Nepali officials had put two conditions for NA deployment: Soldiers should be under the chain

of command of UN and on static duty. Static duty means NA soldiers will be stationed in one place instead of moving around in mobile units which could expose them to greater threat.

The issue of deployment in Iraq got a positive spin after Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Gen Chhatra Man Singh Gurung reported to Defence Minister Bishnu Poudel and Defence Secretary Nabin Kumar Ghimire that the UN’s proposal was feasible. The UN Department of Political Affairs and Department of Peace Keeping Operations had taken up the issue when Gen. Gurung visited the UN Headquarters in March. Upon his return, UN sent a letter explaining rules of engagement for Nepali soldiers in Iraq to the Defence Ministry. The government has alerted Nepal’s Permanent Mission in New York and sought its suggestion on the feasibility aspect. “UN has said Nepali soldiers would be responsible for both static and mobile duties. We are evaluating the risk factors before forwarding the proposal to Cabinet,” said a government source.

…………………………………………………..

NA team off to Iraq

REPUBLICA KATHMANDU, Oct 22: A team of 16 Nepal Army (NA) personnel on Saturday left for war-hit Iraq under the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). Though NA had imparted pre-deployment training to 170 army personnel, only 16 personnel have left for the mission as of now. According to the Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) of the NA, pre-deployment training was imparted to 170 personnel but only 72 of them will be deployed for the mission till December. DPR also informed that NA could deploy more army personnel in Iraq if the UN demands additional Nepali soldiers. This is the second time Nepal Army is deploying its soldiers in Iraq after 1990. A source at the NA said the soldiers from NA will replace guard contingent from Fiji. “The UN had initially demanded more NA personnel, but the number was reduced later as it decided to retain some Fijian peacekeepers.” According to the latest data provided by NA, more than 3,500 NA personnel are currently serving in 36 different missions worldwide in more than 14 countries like Lebanon, Haiti, Syria, Israel, Congo, Ivory Coast and Eritrea, among others. Nepal Army´s engagement with the UN dates back to 1958 and it is in the sixth largest troop contributor to the UN, according to the data till last year. Nepal Army personnel were first deployed in Lebanon, Syria and Israel in peace-keeping missions. Soldiers who serve in peace-keeping operations are paid around US$ 800 per month as allowance after deduction of 22 percent for its welfare fund.

RFN says – Why would Aiyaz Khaiyum think up such a “bizarre” idea at a time when some section of Fiji’s local and international community seem to be supporting their new upcoming Constitutional Consultation programme?

Those who know how Aiyhaz operate say that the longevity of his standing relationship with Fiji’s dictator, Frank Bainimarama, is his ability to keep Frank mesmerised by his many decree concepts aimed at prolonging their term in power, to keep fanning the dictator’s puffed up ego, and ultimately to scheme devious ways of guaranteeing Frank’s win in the 2014 election (if ever it happens).

Notice how Frank  is no longer a chatter box when it comes to every national issues reported by the media? He is letting Aiyaz, Pio Tikoduadua, Sharon Smith Jones, Permanent Secretary Finance Filimoni Waqabaca,Reserve Bank Governor Whiteside and his many other mouthpieces do the talking especially when it points to the core essence of his rulership – Fiji’s economic state and how local and international investors are faring under his haphazard leadership style since it is this breed of people who create real jobs to his many potential voters.

His usual harsh dictatorial rapport targeted at eliminating some of Fiji’s best business minded individuals has been recently cloaked with a more community service focused tyrant with his latest blurbs being aired from the flood stricken areas of Fiji, while Fiji’s economic performance continue to race downwards on a steep southward trajectory.

Frank has noticably stepped up on his election campaign trail funded by taxpayers while his political opponents are kept busy drafting their planned Constitution Review submission and how they can start campaigning given the many oppressive decrees launched against them by the regime.

Aiyaz’s latest decree gives Frank and his regime unlimited powers to say just about anything about any person or institution, even if it’s mischievous, libellous, defamatory, slanderous and untrue.

These persons and institutions under this decree do not have any right to seek redress in court  to protect their reputation.

But the onus is now on all Fiji media outlets and the way they will conduct their journalism ethics on statements by Frank & Co.

One can only hope that the Fiji media will continue to work towards giving a balanced report on every news item they release to the public given Frank & Co’s unfair advantage over those they are out to crucify.

Here is a report by Radio Australia on the same subject.

A Fiji interim government decree giving ministers immunity from prosecution over what they say professionally and personally, has been criticised by a constitutional law expert.

Professor Bill Hodge, from Auckland University’s Law faculty, says the State Proceedings Amendment Decree turns the concept of parliamentary privilege on its head.

The coup installed military regime in Suva says the decree extends protection against prosecution for reporting minister’s statements to the media, and is intended to facilitate open and frank discussion between government, the public and other stakeholders in the lead up to Fiji’s parliamentary elections in 2014.

The interim government says the decree is consistent with law about parliamentary privilege in Commonwealth countries, but Professor Hodge told Pacific Beat’s Bruce Hill, that’s simply not true.

“First of all it’s a decree that purports to change fundamental rights and one would think that can only be done by statute,” Professor Hodge said.

“To say that it is consistant with parliamentary privilege is totally berserk, bananas, bizarre.

“Parliamentary privilege is designed to protect MPs in the house proceedings in parliament, not to protect executives in their personal capacity”.

Professor Hodge said the decree fails the very basic requirements of constitutional law.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in any parliamentary system porporting to be under the heading of parliamentary privilege”.

http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201202/3427126.htm?desktop

Fiji’s Labour Party has denounced a new decree from the interim government providing ministers immunity from prosecution over anything they say.

The military regime says the decree merely extends parliamentary privilege and will help the govermment communicate with the public more effectively in the lead up to elections in 2014.

But Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says it’s designed to give the interim government an unfair advantage in the polls and has nothing to do with parliamentary privilege.

“It is quite ridiculous claiming parliamentary privilege in respect of utterences they make about those they perceve as their political opponents. There’s no question about parliamentary privilege. We don’t have a parliament.”

http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201202/3427302.htm?desktop

By gdevreal

While in 1987 and 2000, democracy (in some form) was seen as the endgame, there is no evidence that anything like that was the case in 2006.
The charter was concocted by carpetbagger Samy as a propaganda document to fool the People, even in that document the role of the military was not clearly deliminated. Obviously Voreqe, having tasted military power over civilian government in 2000, was not going to let it go, and has always seen the institutions of democracy as some kind of foreign flower to be ignored when the power enables greed to run rampant. It is a regime run on implausible deniabiity. First it was race and corruption, then “they don’t want an election”. Somehow the  notion of People having a mandate to control their own destiny is completely lost on him, or he just doesn’t care, since it gets in the way of his robbery of the treasury.
Then there is Aye-ass, whose articulation of purpose is very much challenged these days, particularly on the issue of an illegal government being free to hire lawyers from a democratic nation.Any New Zealand citizen participating in the illegal activities of the regime should be held accountable under international and New Zealand law. New laws need to be formulated internationally to prosecute mercentaries who serve illegal, tyrannical, and human rights abusing governments the World over. US law should deal with the New York firm and Canadian law should deal with the Ottawa firm helping Voreqe to implement “1984″ (big brother is watching you) in Fiji. The Internationals should be able to do better for rogue states like Fiji than to just deny them arms to hold up and ransack their own citizens.

By realjack

Coup d’etat’s happen because of INDISCIPLINE.

INDISCIPLINED soldiers and POORLY DISCIPLINED ARMIES do coup d’etat’s.

its a poor reflection on the organisation and its officers when a coup d’etat or a mutiny or even an attempted mutiny happens because it shows that there is (a) lack of discipline - a professional standing army is defined by one thing, and that is DISCIPLINE – and discipline means (i) submitting to the lawful chain of command – and that lawful chain of command starts from Parliament within a Constitutional Democracy (ii) following lawful orders which come down the lawful Chain of command (iii) maintaining force coherence and unity- and that means officers within the organisation work as a cadre of professional soldiers – respect for fellow officers and professional men at arms (iv) rigid respect for the rule of law - to the millitary the rule of law is very important, because it has arms and an arsenal in its possession and control which places a HUGE RESPONSIBILITY and DUTY on it to ensure that those weapons and skills are NEVER USED IN ANY WAY against the State (as represented by the Parliament and the Constitution) or the people of the State for whose security it is entrusted to destabalise it, to conduct coup d’etat’s, or to use it against fellow soldiers (mutiny) or to put at risk or endanger the lives of the people of that State - the Millitary in a Parliamentary Democracy are the final guarantor of the rule of law and the stability of the State, which means that it is also its MOST ARDENT SERVANT. 

it shows that (b) the officers have no conception of the Constitutional role of the millitary within the context of a Civilian democratic State - and thats a reflection on their training and their intellectual grounding. this is one of the things which distinguishes a professional standing army from other militia and organisations – a professional standing army is made up of officers who are cogniscant of their role within the State – and understand their role within those parameters – they have intellectual grounding which enables them to THINK on that conceptual level and to UNDERSTAND the various political and economic tensions which are at play within the State, to KNOW what their role is within that framework and MAINTAIN their discipline. 

officers who have no conception of those fundamentals get drawn into the political arena because they have no control over their mind and their passions – no mental or self discipline – they are easily swayed into taking political positions and then easily drawn into taking active participation within the political framework by breaking that discipline - they are unable to contextualise their role within the broader framework of a democratic state – and thats why they cannot resist the urge to step into that arena – they become driven by their passions, not their cool professionalism and discipline - and that goes back to discipline and training – as an officer in a professional standing army, you must never be driven by your passions or your political views into entering the political arena as a player – your political views are your personal views, and whilst you are a member of the standing army of that State the whys and wherefores is not for you to decide – that is the role of Parliament – soldiers who want to engage in the politics should resign their commission and go and join a political party.

these are basic fundamentals. Force structure, Force coherence, Force unity – all those things are strategic millitary concepts but they all come down to two things DISCIPLINE and the RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW.

thats what distinguishes professional standing armies from the rest.

a professional and well trained and well grounded soldier understands and knows those boundries – and disciplines himself to maintain them.  

tactical proficiencies in the profession of arms is just a part of that overall makeup of a professional standing army – any militia organisation can get tactical proficiency – but the difference between a professional standing army and a militia is that a Professional standing army is disciplined by a Chain of command and a command structure which comes down from a Parliament which is defined in a Constitution and over which there is a RULE OF LAW

once that discipline is broken down, you lose Force coherence – you will have internal bickering (e.g Driti and Roko Ului) and officers “falling out” – thats the sort of thing which does not happen in Professional standing army where there are rules and regulations governing conduct and where those rules are respected and where the officers have professional respect for eachother and understand their lawful duties in terms of the Chain of command – thats whats called FORCE MORALE. there is coherence in the structure which is founded on that discipline.

but really there’s no point discussing these things – at the end of the day this is an organisation which has cost this country very heavily in terms of development – it should have been an organisation which added value to the country (and it did in the past with the old guys) - but thats no longer the case today – and it can seen in whats now happening

the return from Lebanon is a case in point of how indiscipline has affected things – involvement in smuggling and blackmarketeering and improper associations with the local populace eventually led to the review of that deployment – and that all goes back to INDISCIPLINE. 

now Ghanabatt runs that area of operations.

and i think its unfortunate – but is merely a reflection of the decline which has also led to the ongoing instability in this country and the coup d’etats and everything associated with that.

and that dynamic is being analysed and realised regionally and internationally – its no longer a professional standing army beholden to Parliament and the Constitution but a militia. in 1987 it was Rambo’s militia and today its Bainimarama’s militia – tommorow somebody else comes along and it becomes his militia – thats the cycle now playing out.

and which is why the gradual restrictions and sanctions on millitary hardware and equipment will invariably be increased 

the same happened in the Solomons – there were sanctions and restrictions put in place to restrict the supply of arms and weapons to the Solomons Government – because the arms and ammunition of the State had been misused after the Police Force over there stopped following the lawful chain of command from Parliament and the Constitution and proceeded to use the State armoury to pursue its own political agenda – thats how the Solomons was eventually stabalised – they restricted access of arms to the State Security apparatus in the Solomons whilst they strengthened the Police structures and law ad order.

it took time, but eventually its led to a situation where the Security apparatus is no longer in a position to enact coup d’etat’s or putchses against the Parliament over there – and so now they can focus on socio economic and political development – and the results are showing – they are growing exponentially as an economy – and in turn that has had its own stabalising effect on their country – because the growth has created opportunities to spread out the wealth amongst the various communities over there – reducing the distortions and areas of societal conflict

nothing new – same dynamic.

By Dakuwaqa

“Lawmakers often must strike a balance between liberty and justice. Except in Fiji, where they have already dispensed with both.

“Pryde is not a man but a misnomer, for what is a man who has no pride? He is a disgrace to his profession, prostituting himself even as he prostitutes the truth, to perpetuate an unjust regime that disenfranchises and indeed holds captive a kind and once proud people.

“Pryde and his co-accomplice, Aiyaz, have floated the canard for years that Fiji’s judiciary remains independent. All the while, they ignored the high court ruling on the illegality of their regime. Then they imposed on Fiji a plethora of decrees they had taken months to prepare in order to abrogate Fiji’s constitution. They dismissed Fiji’s entire judiciary and then changed the licensing rules so that they need only hire back those who would bend to their will. They brought in mercenary magistrates from abroad and sifted through them, dismissing or driving out any who ruled in ways adverse to their interests. They replaced most of DPP. They used the levers of justice to harrass and persecute Imrana Jalal, Ro Teimumu Kepa and other people of conscience. They prevented fact-finding missions by international jurists. They gave the regime immunity from prosecution and denied due process to torture victims, defrauded pensioners, and others.

“I don’t know whether they commited the arson that destroyed the Fiji Law society office, but if so, that would be among the least of their crimes.

“Gates is the chief injustice of them all. He overlooked the whole thrust of the development of Western jurisprudence since the Magna Carta’s signing at Runnymede in 1215 and instead chose to cherry-pick only those arcane rulings that he could misinterpret and misapply in his attempt to justify Bainimarama’s naked usurpation of power.

“Such injustice cannot be sustained indefinitely. For, as Seneca reminds us: ‘authority founded on injustice is never of long duration’. We who serve a just God know that His justice will not be denied forever.”

Fiji has been stripped of the Oceania Olympic qualifying football tournament which will now be hosted in Taupo next month.

The move comes amid problems the Oceania Football Confederation secretary general, Tai Nicholas, could have entering Fiji following comments he made about the country’s judicial system.

The Fiji government has threatened to charge Nicholas with contempt of court.

Transfering the tournament to Taupo improves the New Zealand Under 23 men’s teams chances of qualifying, says coach Neil Emblen.

Emblen says conditions in Fiji would’ve been testing with high humidity and temperatures 30 degrees plus.

Emblen’s squad for the eight nation event will be made up of local based players as the five current All Whites who meet the age criteria Chris Wood, Tommy Smith, Kosta Barbarouses, Marco Rojas and Jake Gleeson are still only outside chances to be available.

The participating are New Zealand, Fiji, American Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu with the winner qualifying for London.

Copyright © 2012, Radio New Zealand

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/sport/97755/fiji-stripped-of-olympic-football-qualifying-tournament

The Reserve Bank of Fiji has predicted weaker economic growth this year.

In its economic review for January, the central bank says growth prospects are expected to be affected by a possible weakening in demand from Fiji’s trading partners.

Professor Biman Prasad, the Head of Faculty Business and Economics at the University of South Pacific, has told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat the recent floods will also have an impact.

“The damage it has caused on the western part of Viti Levu, the main island, but also I think significant damage that’s been done to crops and particularly is (sic) going to have an effect in the other island, Vanua Levu, as well,” he said.

Professor Prasad says that despite tourist areas in the Western Division being affected by floods, particularly in Nadi, Fiji’s tourism industry is likely to pick up in the next few months.

He says Fiji’s economic situation will be clearer after the first quarter of the year, when the impact of recent natural disasters and weakening demand from foreign trading partners is assessed.

http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201202/3424947.htm?desktop

RFN says - More rain forecasted in Fiji is turning out to be Frank and Co.’s biggest nightmare. Fiji’s junta have been accumulating increasing debt levels since their December 2006 coup, often borrowing from China, India, Malaysia and other Asian countries to finance their infrastructural works like bridges and roads.

But with the recent act of God flooding and even washing away many of these low quality Asian made bridges and roads, team Frank will have to borrow more to repair them to allow his future voters access to towns, health centers, schools and other services.

No significant flood relief grant has been donated by any country to team Frank to help them rehabilitate important public infrastructure because these rich countries know any cash donation to Frank’s junta will end up in other peoples pockets it was least intended for.

It’s the insignificant Home Finance $5,000 flood donation and the Fiji Military $10,000 from Fiji’s taxpayers’ coffers that is attracting much attention in flooded Fiji, not enough to pay Frank’s family’s next rugby sevens overseas trip.

A number of roads and bridges in the North are under water following continuous heavy rain.

In Labasa – the Urata bridge is under water and closed to all traffic The Nakama bridge under 10 feet water and Closed to all traffic.

The Sarara and Vunimoli roads are under 8 feet water and closed totraffic Tabialagi bridge is alo under water and closed.

There is a power black-out in Wainikoro.

The Waiqele Irish Crossing has been washed away.

Close to 300 hundred families live in this area and most of the houses are located near the Waiqele River.

Advisory Councilor – Chandra Shandil is urging the residents to move to higher grounds as the water level in the river is rising. 

“At the moment it is rainng very heavily, with winds blowing very hard and the water in the Waiqele river has risen. I would like to urge the parents and the children not to cross the river because the situation is very bad.”

Meanwhile – along the Wairiki Road Irish crossing, the approach has been washed away and underwater and it is closed to all traffic.

The Nakama low level crossing alomg Naduna road had its approach washed away towards Waiqele Road. It is now closed to all traffic.

The Nasaqa Road crossing is under water and closed to all traffic.

The Waidamudamu crossing along Korotari Road is under water and closed to all traffic.

And the Nasivara Road crossing is under water and also closed to all traffic.

In Seqaqa – the Buavou crossing and Savulutu road are under water and closed to all traffic.

Nabouwalu – the Nanono bridge is under four feet water and closed to traffic.

At Solevu in – Bua- the bridge is under water and Closed to all traffic

The Nadenu, Rauba and Sidney settlement- are all experiencing heavy rain with strong winds.

Villagers have been advised to move to Luke Secondary School as it has been turned into an evacuation center.

The people of Tukavesi in Cakaudrove have been experiencing strong winds for past few hours.

The Station Officer at the Tukavesi Police Station Kemueli Baledrokadroka told FBC News the strong winds are accompanied by heavy rain and is felt by all villages.

Baledrokadroka says the weather was good in the morning but it changed suddenly after midday.

Another Tukavesi villager Aisake Senikarawa told FBC News – their village is now under water.

Breadfruits are strewn all over the village and big trees have fallen down.

A police boat was swept away by the currents.

Savusavu is still experiencing strong winds – but rain has eased.

A town resident Kenani Tadulala told FBC News – they had rain from late yesterday until this morning.

The winds have just started to hit them. Tadulala says – even small yachts and boats are docked and no one is travelling by sea.

Reports coming in say that the Bagata bridge is under 1.5 meters of water and closed to all traffic.

There is a power failure in Savusavu town.

Vunivesi, Varativa and Naloaloa areas are experiencing a rise in the water level

http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=43474

RFN says – For once, Christopher Pryde is feeling rejected and let down by his own country, New Zealand’s legal fraternity. For someone who has been instrumental in oiling Frank and Co.’s many injustices in Fiji as its Solicitor General and Director Public Prosecution, Pyrde should by now get the message that he’s been disowned by the law-abiding members of the NZ Law Society and that he may have kissed his NZ legal practice certificate goodbye.

And he sure will lose his NZ practising certificate when the people of Fiji hunt him down to serve his time behind bars with team Frank.

And we say, good move by the NZ Law Society for setting the precedence in refusing to allow dictatorial regimes penetrate into their system in their deceitful maneuvre to try and legitimise their autrocious illegal history by trying to piggy back on NZ Law Society Law Talk’s integrity.

Here is a report by Radio Australia.

New Zealand’s Law Society has defended its decision to ban ads for legal positions in Fiji in its magazine Law Talk.

Last week, the office of Fiji’s Director of Public Prosecutions, had a number of ads for vacancies refused, with an email explaining that the Society would not promote jobs under the current interim military government.

Fiji’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde – who is from New Zealand – maintains his office is independent.

But, the president of the New Zealand Law Society, Johnathan Temms, told Radio Australia they have evidence to the contrary.

“For the most part, everyone recognises that the judiciary up there have had their independence long since circumscribed and so people aren’t talking about it every day,” he said.

“We’re just aware that they’ve had to buy in a number of judges and the judicial system there is under heavy pressure”.

Mr Temms was adament his law society wouldn’t help the Bainimarama regime.

“The New Zealand Law Society will not advertise military legal positions in Fiji under the current regime,” he said.

But Mr Pryde criticised that stance.

“It’s really up to New Zealand lawyers to decide for themselves if they want to work in Fiji or not,” he said.

http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201202/3424187.htm?desktop

By gdevreal

Affirmative Action is designed to bring people into economic activity who might otherwise be effectively denied entry, for any of a number of reasons, education, access to capital, outright discrimination (the Indian myth that all Fijians are lazy) cultural reasons, etc. Any modern economy needs affirmative action. You can’t tell me that Australia does not give affirmative action to its aborigenees, and there is an economy you have been applauding. You have to think long term. In the long term you want ALL your human resources to be maximally productive and that means giving a little extra help to who need it, if only for cultural reasons.
Qarase was a simple village boy who made it on his own merit. He came to QVS and beat out all those chiefly boys for Dux. From there he got scholarships and studied overseas. He may not have had the best leadership skills, but he is hard working and smart.
Voreqe wanted to compete with him but was no match from the word go. Like most idiots who try to compete with smart and talented people, he became bitter when he could not compete. He could not compete on a level playing field, so he used guns and took Fiji back into the dark ages.

By Real Jack

Reported by RealJack

Qarase grew the economy from 1.6 billion in 2001 to 3.1 billion in 2006

that is the strongest sustained performance ever in Fiji’s economic history – in effect the Fijian economy basically grew 100% in those 6 years under Qarase – it doubled in size.

thats an undeniable fact - Qarase holds the record for the sharpest and strongest periods of growth in Fiji’s history

its stands up favourably with the record Kamikamica set – although Kamikamica was around for only 4 years he managed to grow the economy by 25% from 1.1 billion in 1988 to 1.5318 billion in 1992

Qarase’s record is the best ever in the history of Fiji – only one other Prime Minister in the history of Fiji has achieved a doubling of the size of the economy and that was Rt Mara

but the growth Qarase created was done in a shorter timeframe and from a higher base – which is made Qarase’s result all the more spectacular. Qarase’s was sharper and faster and aggressive – Rt Mara’s was more gradual and smooth. 

you have to admire what Qarase achieved – but i still don’t agree with his affirmative action policies because i believe they are inefficient over the medium to longterm – and in fact by 2005 that growth was starting to level off as the fiscal tensions created by the distorted affirmative actions programs began to show – it eventually levelled off in 2008 (three years later) – and then we had the massive drop in GDP down to 2.82 billion

FB and these guys are only living off the foundation Qarase set in the first six years of the last decade – but they are now running out of road – just as Rambo did back in 1996/ 1997 after he stole Kamikamica’s horse

Advertising of legal positions in the magazine Law Talk by the Fijian Director of Public Prosecutions has been refused by the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS).

The Office of the DPP has been informed by email that under the interim military regime, the New Zealand Law Society will not accept advertisements for legal positions.

Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde said it is unfortunate that the NZLS was involving itself in politics and preventing New Zealand lawyers from hearing about job vacancies in Fiji.

He added the Officer of the DPP is independent, non-political and that the DPP has the sole responsibility for criminal prosecutions in Fiji without recourse to any Government minister, including the Attorney General.

Pryde said his invitation to the NZLS still stands and they are welcome to visit Fiji to meet and talk to anyone without restriction so that they can obtain for themselves a first hand appraisal of things in Fiji.

http://fijivillage.com/?mod=story&id=050212067f97b1bc2a971e2e7b59ac

In another desperate credibility-seeking agenda by Fiji’s regime, it’s Director of Public Prosecution New Zealander boss, Christopher Pyrde, is looking to his own homeland to try and convince some of his own kind to join him prosecute anti-coup and anti-regime individuals.

An advertisement has been published on NZ dailies and websites calling out for those lawyers interested to work for Frank’s illegal and murderous regime.

But the New Zealand Law Society have released a statement warning its members of the fallacy in Pyrdes advertisement and to keep clear from getting themselves involved in dictator Frank’s treasonous coup appointed government.

Regime apologist, Crosbie Walz turned to Facebook as he beg Sharon Smith-Johns for more bull dung to patch up Frank & Co’s crumbling empire.

Here is his post to Sharon.

FacebookSharon, I know you and just about everyone else of importance have been fully occupied with the floods, but is it possible for someone to:

(1) provide me with information to refute or qualify Dezy Dez’s accusations that are shared by many, and are used as constant arguments against the government (see below), and

(2) explain the nature of the Constitution Awareness meetings that started in Lami last week. I need to know who is involved; what is said (there seems to be a mix of promoting the government’s accomplishments and education on the constitution, which some would see as a conflct of intentions); what sort of coverage the meetings will have across Fiji; and how the Awareness meetings “fit in” to the Consitution Dialogue to start soon.

I would also welcome a direct link to Serulagilagi’s office. I need to be fully informed on Dialogue so that I can refute the anti- comments that are sure to come.

Just waiting to see Fiji v. South Africa. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Best wishes as usual,

Croz

By realjack

the single biggest item of expenditure in the Fiji budget over the last twelve years since 2000 has been the millitary – 3500 guys have eaten up $1.2 billion over a ten year period between 2000 and 2010 (and its currently ongoing – it hasn’t ended).  

as a proportion of their contribution to the GDP of this country – you can also check their yearly contribution, its negligible – next to zero when stood up against what they eat out of the national budget – the returns on peacekeeping over the last twelve years comes nowhere near even 10% of what they have eaten out of the national budget in that same period, and its even eroded further when you consider that the millitary has been at the forefront of every destabalising and unlawful removal of a civilian govt in the history of this country – either in the form of rogue units who have broke rank discipline (indiscipline) or officers who have decided to remove lawful Govts at gunpoint via coup d’etat

the only things they have been ”contributing” to this country in the last 24 years is consuming the biggest chunk of the countries budget for eating, sleeping and once in a while marching around on public occassions furling and unfurling flags at Albert Park and doing coup d’etats and destabalising the country every so often – otherwise they now contribute nothing meaningful or of value to the nations economy

the RFMF was formed in World War 2 because it was to fight in a war which was being conducted in Melanesia and which was threatening Fiji, and other countries in this region – there was value and purpose at that time. they were engaged in Malaya because it had geopolitical value for the broader Asia Pacific region in so far as the issues of the extending commnunism were concerned

but today it has no meaningful role – so all they have been basically doing is eat up the biggest chunk of the national budget and have their officers plan coup d’etats - lately they have taken on new habits of kidnapping and tourturing and terrorising Fiji citizen civilians and even non Fiji citizens – and they have also engaged in civilian murders since 2006

its abundantly evident that they create no value for the nation today – they only create instability – the fact is that all the millitary and political instability in this country in the last twenty four years has emanated from the millitary, either through rogue units or through the officer corp assuming for themselves, at the barrel of the gun, the leadership of the country.

its sad, but its true.

thats whats happening in this country