Plotting and scheming

(Image courtesy realfijinews)

In what has become a formidable journalistic duo, Victor Lal and Russell Hunter have revealed more intrigue on the part of Frank Bainimarama and his quest for power. As the pair documents in their latest joint article, a series of documents smuggled out of Fiji show that Bainimarama not only wanted to rule the country but had tried three times before his December 2006 coup to seize control of the nation. His first attempt occurred during the negotiations to end the George Speight hostage crisis in August 2000 when he declared that the military should lead the nation “for the next five, 10 or 50 years”. Further attempts came in January 2004 and December 2005.

New Zealand Herald 26 February 2012      Smuggled papers show Bainimarama’s lust for power

The biggest single obstacle to investment: AS-K

The Fiji Times has highlighted one part of the International Monetary Fund report on our battered economy which Sayed-Khaiyum will not like. They’ve noted that “the Essential National Industries Decree” cooked up by Khaiyum and Air Pacific boss David Pflieger “could lead to a perception of a worsening investment climate and a fall-off in demand facing some of Fiji’s key industries.” Khaiyum won’t like to see this in print, but perhaps someone in the civil service or military can get this simple idea through Bainimarama’s thick skull: Khaiyum is killing the economy.

Fiji Times 25 February 2012     IMF warns of worsening investment perception

The EU is still on Frank’s case

We’re grateful to Fiji freedom blog, realfijinews, for unearthing recent correspondence from the European Union in which it has reconfirmed the series of broken promises by Frank Bainimarama on the question of elections and non-observance of the provisions of the Cotonou Agreement. We think historians will one day judge that one of the main factors contributing to the economic collapse of Fiji under the Bainimarama was the dictator’s stubborn refusal to relinquish power in order to release the EU’s promised multi-million dollar sugar reconstruction package.

realfijinews 24 February 2012     European Union reconfirm trail of broken promises and lies by Frank Bainimarama

In your dreams Mason Smith

Yet again Military agricultural expert Mason Smith has vowed to expand rice production. Could someone in our new free media ask this ‘expert’ how he explains the fact that before the coup we regularly used to produce around 15,000 tonnes of paddy a year but in 2010 (the latest year for Fiji Bureau fo Statistics data) we managed only 7684 tonnes. Check it out on the link to Bureau of Statistics. And Mason Smith claims “the money which is used for importing rice can instead be used for health and education infrastructures”. How does this work? There is no money saved, only foreign currency. Rice is paid for with the money of the families who buy it, not the government. When can we get rid of these military buffoons who think they are top civil service material?

Fiji Live 25 February 2012     Local-grown rice to save $40m in imports

Fiji Bureau of Stats Agricultural Production
http://www.statsfiji.gov.fj/Key%20Stats/Business%20Activity/3.3_Agricultural%20Production.pdf

Humour hurts

One of the most enjoyable experiences to be had in following the Fiji freedom blogs is to encounter the humour of a blogger calling themselves “Sharon S”. For example, there was this comment on Fiji Today’s log in a discussion about the Yellow Ribbon Project: “Stop calling the Honorable Kean a murderer. He whacked a Whippy, ok, but how many of us want to do exactly this? Moreover, the Hon Kean is a good friend of our beloved PM. And everybody knows how principled the PM is if it comes to legal matters: ‘For my friends anything – for my enemies – the law”‘

Fiji island fire sale

A tourism market report has revealed that 14 private islands with a total value of almost $100 million are for sale on the international market. It looks like a lot of people are looking to leave the sinking ship and hoping that there are people out there in places far from Fiji who haven’t heard of Commodore Bainimarama who is at the helm of our ship. The owners selling these islands will also have to hope that the regime will let them take their money away in real money. Their first inquiry should be to the Reserve Bank of Fiji where they should get a promise signed by Khaiyum that they’ll be allowed to convert their Fiji dollars to foreign currency. (Promises by Bainimarama are not enough.)

Fiji Times 25 February 2012     Islands for sale

How good is this?

With tongue planted firmly in check, the wizards at Fiji freedom blog, realfijinews, have come up with the 20 “founding principles of Frank Bainimarama’s military government.” As you will see, the result is a case of satire being uncomfortably close to the truth. Indeed, the amount of truth in some of the more hilarious “principles” is quite incredible. We think you will enjoy!

realfijinews 25 February 2012     Founding Principles of Frank Bainimarama’s Military Government

“My way or the highway”

It’s now clear that the dictator, Voreqe Bainimarama, will pursue his customary “my way or the highway” option in his dealings with Namosi landowners who are objecting to the environmental impact of copper exploration and proposed mining activity. Bainimarama has approved a rehabilitation action plan for the Namosi copper project, meaning the rehabilitation works could start immediately. Bainimarama inserted himself into negotiations between the mining companies and landowners because he was not happy with the coverage the indigenous Namosi villagers were getting for their efforts to stop copper mining on their land. Having unilaterally approved a rehabilitation plan the dictator is on track to deliver on his publicly stated aim for mine development to start by mid-year, the strong objections of landowners notwithstanding.

Fijilive 24 February 2012     PM approves Namosi rehabilitation plan

Too hot in the kitchen, Jone?

If the dictatorship’s newly appointed “Minister for Labour” Jone Usumate is in the habit of reading the popular Fiji freedom blog, Coup Four And A Half, he might already be regretting his decision to take up his appointment. The reaction of bloggers has not been positive! For example: “I used to have a lot of respect for Jone Usumate but now he is just another illegal unit of this dictatorship. What would Jone call this Regime which grabbed power through the barrel of the gun? Sorry Jone, you’re now just another power grabbing, money stealing thief who is stealing public funds! Nothing you say or do would change this new picture of you!”

Coup Four And A Half 24 February 2012     FTUC: Usumate must ‘abandon’ labour baggage

The secret plan for Air Pacific

A speech by Bainimarama promising more changes for Air Pacific is a strong sign that the speculation that Khaiyum and Pflieger are plotting to engineer a private equity buy-out of Air Pacific is accurate. Bainimarama can be relied upon to read out anything that Khaiyum puts in front of him, so he doesn’t need to be in on the plan, but this speech ropes him into changes. Khaiyum will remind of this when he needs to get him to have the so-called Cabinet approve the plans to sell-off Air Pacific.If this doesn’t work, a few free first class tickets for the Bainimarama fake first family will do the trick. The heavy-handed Employment Relations bill hatched by Khaiyum and Pflieger must have some purpose and it looks like it might be to encourage private equity owners to take over and start firing people (about the only plan they ever have).

Fiji Sun February 25, 2012    ‘Expect more from Air Pac’