Reflection on the year past and the challenges of 2015 The year that was 2014 We will tonight bid farewell to 2014, a year which meant different things to different people. It was a notable year, albeit for notoriety, rather than anything else in Fiji. It was a year of manipulation by the Bainimarama regime to hang onto power by way of a rigged election, which was criticized by all opposition parties locally and credible international monitor groups. *Elections The elections were overseen by the unqualified Mohammed Saneem, a Khaiyum lackey, who was reporting to Khaiyum on election matters rather than act independently. Electoral Commission chairman Chen Bunn Young was another regime puppet who failed to act fairly on the legitimate complaints of political parties and candidates. Rather than maintain oversight on the SOE, the EC was a party to the complicity in the manipulation of the electoral process. The unaccounted ballot papers, the transportation of ballot papers in Tappoos vehicles, the massive discrepancy in the vote count and the decrease in votes from provisional results to final results all demonstrate serious discrepancies that would negate any claim of free and fair elections. I must congratulate all political parties who contested the elections and those candidates who were sworn as members of parliament, especially all opposition members given the efforts of Bainimarama and Khaiyum to have a parliament without any opposition. *Absolute contempt of Parliament A week before Parliament was to convene, Bainimarama awarded, by decree, himself and Khaiyum $50,000 salary increases to take them to $328,000 and $278,000 respectively. Why wasn’t such salary issues left to be debated and approved by Parliament is of much concern and ought to be raised in Parliament in 2015. During the almost entire session of Parliament, Bainimarama was gallivanting the globe to England, Dubai, and Australia. Whilst in Parliament Khaiyum was exposed by his own Finance ministry officials as having provided inaccurate figures to Parliament. This serious issue, when raised by the opposition was summarily dismissed by the Speaker, herself being anything but independent. The fiasco over the Public Accounts Committee further reinforced opposition and public misgivings about the sincerity of the regime to be open and transparent. *Economy The economy continues to be sluggish and not helped by huge government borrowings to finance debt obligations. The current tax structure is iniquitous and further disadvantages those in the lower and middle classes. From business houses there is the growing concern over FIRCA failing to refund taxes as owed to them and to carry such refunds to the next tax year. This is a further indicator of a cash strapped regime that will find it very difficult to meet its electoral promises of: - Free education; - Free water; - Free education; - Free bus fare; and - Free milk to name a few. The economy is not pinned to firm structural principles and decisions are hastily without much thought to long term consequences. The interference by the regime in private contractual arrangements is a harbinger of more such interference by an incompetent and insecure regime looking to control more particularly the communications and media industries. The recent further 6 month extension of the Fiji TV license is yet another example of a vindictive regime which seeks to penalize a Fijian owned entity, to prop up the ailing Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Agriculture, long the bastion of the economy has seen serious decline in sugar production (to the extent that Fiji actually imports sugar from India) to fifty percent of what it used to be six years ago from 3.2 million tonnes of cane to 1.6 million tonnes of cane in 2013. Given that close to 170,000 people depend directly or indirectly on the sugar industry the decline in production will clearly impact not only these 170,000 persons but the whole of the population given the employment and income that the industry provides. Unemployment and poverty, the consequences of absolute mismanagement of the economy are both at an all time high. Tertiary graduates who manage to enter the workforce often start on $80/week and this is hardly enough to meet their transportation and lunch costs, let alone leaving any money for savings. The severely contracting economy has also seen a sharp resurgence of crime and prostitution. The Land Use Decree 2010 has seen many land owning units have their land deposited into the Land Bank without their knowledge and development on their land by Asians. These LOUs cannot challenge the land transactions in court as the LUD 2010 specifically prohibits any such challenges. What this means is that the rural population living on and producing on native land will not be able to provide for themselves and sell their produce to earn a living. This will result in rural poverty and associated social consequences. *The 2013 Constitution This was foisted on the people by the illegal Bainimarama regime. It is a repressive document and one that makes a mockery of Parliament as the voice of the people and makes any changes to it a mundane and cost prohibitive process. This prescription usurps the right of elected parliamentarians from being the representatives of the people. The immunity provisions for the RFMF and coup aiders and abettors are again a reprehensible provision which seeks to undermine the rule of law and reward treasonists and their supporters. The appointments to judicial office is also an area of concern given that such appointment no longer have the sanction or oversight of parliamentary process as in past constitutions. *The challenges for 2015 Pressure must be mounted on all fronts It is imperative that 2015 is a year of intensifying the challenge to the regime on all fronts. This means that the pressure must be kept up in Parliament by the Opposition. This means filing motions and parliamentary questions on an almost daily basis to seek answers to pressing issues that affect the people. On the ground, the various political parties must continue to inform and educate the electorate on national issues. Broken promises, extravagant spending and an abuse of powers on matters of governance must all be highlighted such as the current FNU saga as well as the favourable treatment meted out to regime ministers and members of parliament who are facing serious criminal charges as well investigation of corruption allegations respectively. Need for parliamentary inquiries The Opposition must also call for a parliamentary inquiry into the prisoner torture and deaths of civilians in police custody (Vilikesa Soko) and the assault of Josefa Bilitaki by Bainimarama’s goons. *A comprehensive examination must also be made of the Police and Military forces, their roles, duties and funding by taxpayers. The issues surrounding Rewa Dairy and the write-off of $17m in debts owed by the RD before it was “sold” off to CJ Patel interests for a pittance must be raised in Parliament, as well as the involvement of Nur Bano Ali in the review and related matters at RD before its sale. The financing of FBC by the Fiji Development Bank must also be reviewed by Parliament and questions asked on how FDB is meeting its debt obligations given its paltry earnings and whether the regime did and is continuing to bail it out at tax payer expense. *Cronyism Cronyism in board appointments must also be questioned, especially that of Solicitor General Sharvada Sharma to the board of Fiji Airways when the conflict in his appointment is so obvious. Similarly, Faiz Khan’s appointments to numerous boards must also be questioned in light of glaring conflicts in such appointments with him also being in practice as a solicitor and said to retainers from persons who are employed by the companies that he is on the board of. Guarding against theft/ sale of native land and ensuring native land is controlled by the Fijian people It must be the duty of every citizen, especially the Fijian peoples, to guard against any further exploitation or theft of native land. As a matter of principle Fijian land owning units must resist all approaches by the regime to put any land into the Land Bank and to not lease any native land for more than 20 years. Residential and agricultural tenancies on native land must also be reviewed and more control of native land must be given to the Fijian LOUs. It is about time the Fijian people became more business oriented in land dealings and not let the goodness of their heart cloud the intention of the mind to secure their precious asset, land. Restoration of media freedom and removal of Media Industry Development Authority and other regulatory controls. As a matter of principle, all citizens must seek the restoration of media freedom and to dismantle the oppressive MIDA . A free media is essential to the functioning of any democracy as poignantly put by Christopher Dodd thus: “When the publics right to know is threatened, and when the rights of free speech and free press are at risk, all of the other liberties we hold dear are endangered.” Hugo Black puts perspective on the need for a free press by saying: “Paramount among the responsibilities of a free press is the duty to prevent any part of the government from deceiving the people …..” It was Atifete Jahjaga who said: “Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions. When there is no sharing of power, no rule of law, no accountability, there is abuse, corruption, subjugation and indignation.” We must therefore keep up the pressure on the Bainimarama regime to be accountable to the people in every respect and the media must be a part of this process of requiring transparency and not be complicit with the regime in suppressing the truth. Social media and blogs made and continue to make a difference As with this year and the next it is important to acknowledge the efforts of all persons on Facebook and blogs such as FijiLeaks, Coup 4.5 and Fiji Today, who have been courageous to ask the hard questions and to post informative information for a information starved Fiji public. Further, persons such as Josefa Raga (with his admirable stand on the absolute application of rule of law); Pita Waqavonovono for his courage and determination; Jese Sikivou with his sublime use of the English and vernacular languages to awaken the masses; Sainiana Radrodro for her no bullshit approach to the dictatorship; Tia Roko and Usaia Waqatirewa and the FDFM movement for their efforts in getting the message across to the greater Fijian community in Australia and elsewhere; Suliasi Daunitutu for his dogged and unyielding fight for the restoration of true democracy; Shailendra Raju for his remarkable work in analysing and producing solid stats and articles critiquing the regime’s lies; the likes of Tevita Korodrau and the US Democracy movement, Sakiasi Ditoka, Roger E Wilson, Rajeshwar Kumar, Nikhil Singh for his unwavering support for the cause of democracy, Sharmila and Cameron McManus and all others who I may not have acknowledged here for standing up to dictatorship in the face of those who supported and still support the treasonous, murderous and thieving dictator for personal gain or benefit. The various opposition political parties, its leaderships and members must also be recognized for opposing the Bainimarama regime. *Our fight will not be in vain Our fight and those of like minded persons will not be in vain. Remember dictatorships never last forever. As Gandhi said: “Remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS.” The late Timoci Bavadra, FLP leader and Prime Minister also said it quite rightly on the success of our political battles. He said: “Our fight is political, yes – but it is more. It is just and is fair. Do not be afraid. Many have faced times more trying than this. What are we if we cannot stand up for what is right and work for what is fair? There must be the basic standards of good we set ourselves – and if we follow them we cannot falter. In the end, we will prevail”. Our fight is just and fair and we will prevail. *Friends remembered I also wish to acknowledge Rusiate Tubunaruarua and Sereana Ravusou-Lesavi and the rest of the 1500 arbitrarily sacked PWD group of workers who have stood their ground against a repressive regime and today hold their head up high. It would also be remiss of me not to mention the likes of Tanya Waqanika and Tevita Gonelevu for their strident stand against Khaiyum even if it came at great personal and financial cost to them. I wish to remember my good friend Kini Marawai who passed on late this year. Kini was a great humanitarian whose contribution to his profession, politics and his people will not be forgotten. *Family It was a rough year for the Chaudhry family with Mahendra Chaudhry’s persecution by Khaiyum though the courts. With the grace of God we overcame that rough passage in 2014. I must also give thanks to my parents for their support during the year. *Reflection and thanks There is still much to reflect on for 2014 and this will be done in my own time over the next few hours and days. I give thanks to the Lord for helping me survive and overcome the challenges in 2014 and in doing so quote Psalms 30:1-12 as reflection: “I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my enemies rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me. O LORD, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit.” I will again seek His blessings and guidance for 2015. *2015 2015 holds to be a year of promise. It will be a year of further change. The will of the people will not be denied. We must all play our part in ensuring that we are part of the process that returns Fiji to true constitutional and parliamentary democracy for we owe it as much to ourselves as to our future generations. On the eve of 2015 I quote the words of Mary Kay Ash as an inspiration for 2015: “Dont limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.” Happy 2015 to everybody! Rajendra Chaudhry 2014
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 01:06:05 +0000
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