Archive for the ‘Fiji indigenous affairs’ Category
August 1, 2014
It’s years since Bainimarama promised iTaukei villages that they could have by-laws to regulate life in villages according to their own customs and values. By-laws were drafted and sent to the iTaukei Affairs Board for approval, but nothing happened. Roko Tui Lomaiviti, Penijimani Velitokaduadua, has now felt strong enough to ask: what happened? Everybody else knows they’ve been sent to Khaiyum for his approval and that has not been forthcoming, so Bai needs to come clean. If he doesn’t support by-laws let him say so. His hypocrisy has been exposed. He never meant it. He lied when he made this promise, just as he did when he promised to hold elections in 2009.
Fiji Times July 31, 2014 By-law execution difficult
Posted in Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Bainimarama's hypocrisy, Fiji indigenous affairs | 1 Comment »
October 30, 2013
According to the Fiji Sun, before the changes made by Bainimarama to the distribution of the iTaukei land rents, Sawani Savai of Veisaru in Ba lived in poverty. After the changes he’s rolling in wealth. He “owns a tractor, a carrier van, a house, a 10-acre farm which he owns and plants sugarcane on and another 14-acre farm where he does share farming with the landowner.” The Sun doesn’t explain why he’s share farming with the landowner, when he IS a landowner. Nor does it explain how much rent is received by the mataqali and how much land it owns, or how many other landowners share the rent received. In short: no facts, just pure BS.
Fiji Sun October 28, 2013 PM’s land policy success
http://www.fijisun.com.fj/?p=184355
Posted in Bainimarama's hypocrisy, Fiji indigenous affairs, land issues | Leave a Comment »
October 28, 2013
How many times have we been told that in Frank’s Fiji we are all Fijians and we are all equal. If an NGO wants to visit some Fijians, however, it seems they have to have the permission of Government officials. According to iTaukei Affairs Board provincial services division manager Timoci Namotu, any NGO wanting to visit an iTaukei Village must seek approval from the relevant Provincial Council. So it seems that iTaukei are the Natives, some protected species that the Government must protect from foreigners.
Fiji Times October 28, 2013 Council must approve NGO village visits
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=249454
Posted in Bainimarama's hypocrisy, Fiji indigenous affairs, Fiji's isolation | Leave a Comment »
September 18, 2013
Freedom blog site Fiji Leaks exposed changes that were made to the 22 August draft of the new constitution when it was finally signed off by the President. Khaiyum said nothing about this on the day the Constitution was signed but exposure on Fiji Leaks has forced him to admit the truth. Changes were made to the Section 29 covering iTaukei land. He claims the changes increase protection but if that was true why did he not declare this on the day. And what is the difference? Why is there more protection? If legal experts advised him that the changes increased protection why doesn’t he show us what they said to justify the change.
Fijilive September 17, 2013 There are changes, says AG
http://fijilive.com/news/2013/09/there-are-changes-says-ag/55061.Fijilive
Posted in Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Fiji indigenous affairs, land issues | 2 Comments »
September 12, 2013
Radio Fiji is spruiking the latest round of iTaukei Affairs Board scholarships and a lot of people are asking why we still have them? Isn’t everything race-free these days? Bainimarama is always delivering sermons on racism directed at his political rivals but he hasn’t dared to abolish the race-based scholarships handed out by the iTAB. Does his new constitution allow such scholarships to be reserved for members of one race?
Radio Fiji Sep 11, 2013 FAB Scholarships
http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/13618/fab-scholarships
Posted in Bainimarama's hypocrisy, Fiji indigenous affairs, Restore democracy | 3 Comments »
August 5, 2013

Apakuki Kurusiga, the man appointed by Bainimarama to carry our the Khaiyum mission of consigning iTaukei culture to the rubbish bin of history, has declared that “Good leaders are made, not born”. According to the Bainikhaiyum plan, chiefs have to be systematically removed from power. But if good leaders are made, not born, who takes responsibility for Mosese Tikoitoga becoming the Land Force Commander? This potted-bellied, cardiac case couldn’t lead anything more than a charge to the Buffet table. He’s a joke with real military officers.Z
Fiji Sun August 4, 2013 Leadership training for chiefs: Kurusiga
http://www.fijisun.com.fj/2013/08/04/leadership-training-for-chiefs-kurusiga/
Posted in Bainimarama regime nepotism, Fiji indigenous affairs, Restore democracy, RFMF | 1 Comment »