Sunday, February 28, 2010

Fiji National Examination

by Professor Wadan Narsey
Fiji Times - Saturday, February 27, 2010

THE education authorities are planning to phase out a whole series of national examinations and switching over to internal examinations by schools.

The stated objective is to ensure that children are not "failed" by these examinations and then pushed out of the education system.

Of course, it is a good objective to try and keep school age children in school, hopefully right up to Form 6.

But one does not need to phase out the national examinations in order to achieve that.

Just do not use national examinations to fail and filter students. Use them as valuable and irreplaceable diagnostic tools to assist schools, teachers, students, and their parents. Parents should note that there are very serious disadvantages, especially for rural school children, if national examinations are phased out.

The Ministry of Education is in serious danger of destroying the excellent capacity that has been built up over the last forty years, in the implementation of national examinations and the processing of the results.
If the national examinations are phased out, we will be throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Rural backwardness
For decades, the examinations statistics have shown (rarely publicized) that schoolchildren in rural schools have a much higher failure rate than children in urban schools.

Good teachers tend not to go to rural schools which are usually severely handicapped in terms of resources such as libraries and laboratories.

Rural school management and principals often have problems keeping teachers to tight discipline, with kava abuse increasing in recent years.

Moreover, rural children suffer from a whole host of disadvantages which urban children do not: walking long distances to and from school, lack of electricity at home, poor nutrition, use of school time for non-academic duties, to mention just a few.

"Failing" rural school children are then pushed out by the schools.

But they do not need to be pushed out.

Internal examinations not the answer
It is being proposed that the national examinations will increasingly be replaced by internal assessments.

No doubt this will not make much differences to all the good schools throughout Fiji which have good teachers and school management.

However that is not the case throughout Fiji, and especially in the rural areas.

Regardless of how much training is given them, if teachers are left to their own devices, the logical result will be a mish mash of internal examinations, some good, some average, and some absolutely bad. It will also be natural that schools and teachers, who are in personal contact with parents, will have great reluctance in devising tough objective examinations which may result in large proportions of children appearing not to do well.

The natural consequence will be that children will progress from year to year up the system, with no real objective assessment of how well they are doing.

Until they reach the stage where to enter tertiary institutions like USP, or FNU, they will have to sit some national examination.

At that stage, large proportions of our students will suddenly have to face the bitter truth: that they have not acquired the minimum required standards in numeracy, literacy, science and social science.

By then it will be too late, to take any remedial action.

Examinations processing capacity
The Ministry of Education can rightly be proud of the extremely efficient examinations processing capacity that has been built up over forty years at many levels, ranging from primary school (Year 6 and 8) to secondary school (Fiji Junior, FSLC and Form 7).

Examinations papers are set reasonably well, moderated, and implemented throughout the country.

Hundreds of thousands of examination papers are marked, and the results processed and analyzed by computer software, within a short span of time. Nearly always, the results are released well in time for them to be used by schools throughout Fiji.

Achieving all this is a massive exercise, but quite successfully done, year after year.

And the Ministry of Education has managed to build up the required skilled human resource capacity at their head quarters, despite salary levels which are not as attractive as those offered by regional CROP organisations for comparable skills.

All this human resource capacity is in danger of being needlessly dissipated if the national examinations are steadily phased out as is currently envisaged.

This would be an educational tragedy, difficult to reverse.

Better national examinations
We all agree that the national examinations should not be used to filter out the students. Instead, they can be significantly improved as diagnostic tests which advises students where they are strong and where they are weak and need improvement.

Currently, the results of national examinations are simply released as aggregate marks for each subject.

Students have no idea why they did well or poorly, and what their performance was like in all the different learning outcomes expected within each subject.

Surely, what ought to happen is that for each subject, there should be disaggregated results given so that schools, teachers, students and parents can be told: the student's performance was this and that in all the different aspects of the learning process and learning outcomes.

For instance in English, the students could be given a score card which tells them how well they did in comprehension, writing, grammar, spelling etc. so they could work on their weak areas in the future.

This is increasingly being done in many other countries, where students effectively can compare the examinations results year after year, to see whether they are making any progress in the various learning outcomes.

We should remember that our national examinations provide objective national standards by which all our students, teachers, and schools can assess their performance. There is no need to fail any student using these examinations. And there is no need to eliminate the national examinations. That would be throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Or as Joni Mitchell once sang in the sixties "you don't know what you have got till it is gone".

* Wadan Narsey is a professor based at the School of Economics at the University of the South Pacific. The views expressed are his own and not necessarily that of the organisation he is employed by nor the Fiji Times.

Media Muzzling in Fiji Today - A Visit from Mr Bland

By Disillusioned Cub Reporter
28 February 2010

By 5pm the days news work is ready to be assessed. Those of us new to the game have written our hearts out about the social and moral dilemmas facing us today in Fiji. Three years at USP gave us enthusiasm and drive. The older hands have rewritten the press releases of various Government Departments, added the odd bit for Mr Bland to play with and sat on their hands for the afternoon.

Mr Bland is the nickname for the censors. Their job is to bland out reports so that their boss, who has a heart condition, doesn’t keel over if he ever reads some bad news.

The caliber of the censorship is humorous. A story of a house burning down, because there was no water in the nearby hydrant for the firefighters, was killed as negative but we could report the house burnt down. This was not apparently negative although I believe the owners thought otherwise.

We printed a similar story last month without a problem.

Mr Bland, depending on his/her temperament either kills the news outright or plays with a magic marker crossing out all contentious comments. He blands the article until it is so insipid that the editor often pulls it as being of no value. I often work for a week without getting a tick in my success box.

A body found in the Rewa River was not allowed to be reported as a murder even though the police officer on the scene said it was and cane knife cuts could be seen. The censor was unable to confirm with police headquarters that it was a murder so it wasn’t. We even had the name and title of the police officer but this was not good enough. It was merely reported as a drowning. His family was distraught as they knew better. We were unable to find any information of an ongoing police investigation. If a reporter calls the police they are redirected to the Police News Unit and they are professionals at the big No Comment.

A home invasion in Nasouri is finally reported as a break in. We have yet to find out why a break in is less offensive than a home invasion. The fact that cane knives were waved around and women and children were involved was magic marked. The fact that the police arrived two hours after they were called also magically disappeared. Another big No Comment when a followup is sought.

Don’t get me started on court reporting. The reporter lowest on the food chain gets the joys of the court. It is a no-win posting. If you report the truth you face both the censors and the Judiciary. I have been warned twice about contempt of court both time for articles submitted to Mr Band that were never published.

We are all professionals. Professional what? This is the question often asked at the ever longer coffee breaks. It is demoralizing to work all day for Mr Bland to shake his head.

It is even more demoralizing to have your name attributed to a piece of news that you know is untrue.

The newsroom has degenerated into gallows humor with articles written to provoke Mr Blands’ Magic Marker. Bets are taken on the number of words left. The news is no longer sacrosanct.

My recommendation is to join the news crew in treating our output for what it is……Crap.

Military Harassment of Innocent Civilians Continues

Report from Fiji Confirming Military Harassment of Innocent Civilians Continues

Posted on Matavuvale.com - 28 February 2010


Bula all,

Notice that Jack is still stalking me at about 10pm Saturday 27/2/10. After I rang Tikoinasau on the storming incident at SDL Office, Jack was really jittery as my mobile rang about 6 times, I heard Tikonasau talk on the other end, but he did not know that we were connected. When I saw Jack number on my screen as well, I text Tikoinasau quickly to switch his mobile off. I hope to see him tomorrow.

By the way I can only do what I can to get this info out to the respective governments and their diplomatic offices. I think you are in a better position to forward the information that this Illegal Interim Regime is a thug regime

Today I was informed by a very reliable source that VB mid last week called together the Army intelligence and asked why they missed picking up the plans of the political parties, NGOs, Civil Societies and Democratic Movements globally organizing their 640,000 petition to him and his government to have an election this year.

This is a big plus because the political parties represent the people and 640,000 is a lot of people.

Suli do you have a copy of the signatures from the respective Parties. You should keep it in CD form as well for all and one each for the signatories and one each for the Democracy Movement Chapters, globally.

This will make a good film for a case on democracy and power back to the people.

Apparently VB was livid. So his toilet paper remark about the petition is not what it seems. He is very worried that he does not have the people behind him and also in his very own back yard the RFMF. The only people that he has are the low intelligent goons.

Kai Macuata.

Comment by Suliasi Daunitutu

- So much for the brave talk, when deep inside there is a genuine fear. I know that he has doubt about his own officers now, and so he should, because I have a few more emails here that came from officers of the RFMF who are contemplating leaving because of shame and embarrassment, of facing the people about where they have taken the country and the lies they keep telling to prop Bainimarama.

The officers who have emailed me go to work in the morning hoping that one day soon this will all end and Fiji get back to how we always were. They might be older soldiers, but they know that Bainimarama has taken them on a road that they will regret for the rest of their lives.

Response to Abusive Pro-Regime Bloggers

Suliasi Daunitutu Responding to Abusive Pro-Regime Bloggers
Posted on Matavuvale.com - 28 February 2010

Friends,

I did'nt actually read Timoci Taukei's verbal abuse directed at me, but judging from the way you all responded I think Taukei Timoci must have realised that he cannot stop the Democracy train that has left the station, and he wasn't on it.

The past few days has seen the abuse of people in Fiji intensify to a level that can only be explained as paranoia and a level of insecurity that is making Bainimarama very uneasy.

We can't change anything Taukei Timoci, the 680,000 signatures speak for themselves, you can torture people, you can line them up in two or six files, the truth won't change, they want a democratically elected government.

The break in at Vilisi's residence in Caubati, just to look for my phone number, the constant hassling of Dr. Samisoni with rude phone calls, and now the detainment of ex elected parlimentarian shows that you do believe us. What's there not to believe ?

Like I said, the second part of our plan is on its way Timoci and Bainimarama, there is only a few people to contact and a few little things to be in place before we serve up the second slice of the cake that will make you and your government know, you don't have the support you claim you have.

When Bainimarama grills his officers and tell them “how could you miss this petition with 600,00 signatures” it tells me that it is eating him and his confidence in his own propaganda has left him to stand alone in the face a democratical tysunami, which will also collect him and dump in the highlands unceremoniously.

People's anguish, anxiety and suffering should not be unattended, especially if you want to be a leader, because your popularity amongst the populace or lack of it, can be the making of your downfall. You can build a million raods, hundreds of bridges, or scores of fishponds, but at the end of the day, the family needs to pay bills, send kids to schools, put food on the table and make sure that they are all draped.

The affects of the petition has now being realised in Fiji, and, for our compatriots. Bainimarama is livid and cannot fathom how such a major move went under his nose undetected, but it wasn't hidden, it was always posted here and all other blogs, and soldiers like Vula Tabuadua were even mocking me about it. I guess they are not laughing now.

I want to tell those soldiers, when I say that this movement is going to deliver something, they should take heed because it is impossible for the network of pro democracy believers to abandon our fellow Fijians, and second, this fight is far more important than the regime will ever grasp in their devious and over inflated brains.

As for you Timoci, I really don't want to waste my time on you, as Waqatairewa said, we shouldn't even waste our breadth or time trying to respond to such garbage, because what we have to achieve here, is about a whole country, not a few people who can see that their livelihood will soon be taken away from them, when an elected government returns to run our country. Where is your posting anyway ?

What Taukei can do is tell Bainimarama about our next move, so he can be awake to it, tell him it will also be hand delivered and his reaction is not really important to us. What is important that he knows we the people of Fiji will not rest until we have our own government and people can say their mind without fear of intimidation or vilification.

The 1997 Constitution has to be restored, and all your law by decrees find their way to the tip where they belong, those laws already exist in the Constitution anyway.

All those Sri Lankan are to be deported, Gates taken to task with the whole illegal government and your supporters, that includes you Timoci. All sacked workers will be reinstated and retire at 60 or when they chose to retire. The cane farmers will brought back their own little luxury that they always enjoyed, and pay will be eventually adjusted to noramal rates.

In the meantime, you can abuse me all you can, it will not change anything about the way this fight is going to be taken to Bainimarama, and we will see who prevails, or we'll see who is the last man standing.

Meat Dust for Human Consumption - Father Barr

Posted on Matavuvale.com

27 February 2010

"whilst the Ministry of Finance is waiting for the 1 billion Fijian dollar bailout from the IMF, Father Barr now brings to the fore an issue which is unfortuately too real and growing.
  • if you go around to supermarkets and butchers in the Suva area to buy meat dust (i.e the waste material from the butchers) for feeding the dogs at home you will have found over the last few months that its increasingly scarce - the reason ? its now being purchased for human consumption by families who cannot afford to otherwise buy meat.
  • at 25 cents to 50 cets a kg its the cheapest (and unsuitable for human) source of meat available - the dust from meat processing is gathered up from the cutting floor by the supermarkets/butchers and normally sold for dog feed.
  • every week i go looking around for meat dust from the Suva butchers - and its getting increasingly harder and harder to find because its being purcased by families as a source of cheap protein.
  • I was surprised to be told at a supermarket here in Suva that its being purchased for human consumption - and is in demand.
  • this is the unfortunate reality of an economy which is not growing and creating wealth for its people.
  • President Clinton said it in 1993 - its the economy, stupid.
  • that's the centre piece of any developmetal model - a sustainable and durable economic framework.
  • and we won't get that sorted out by seeking 1 billion dollar bailouts from the IMF without first resolving our own serious and significant systematic issues."

Saturday, February 27, 2010

New, young faces for 2014 elections: PM

Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has urged Fiji's young generation to be more involved in politics as his government welcomes new faces in the political arena ahead of the 2014 elections.

Speaking to FijiLive, Bainimarama urged the younger generation not to shy away from politics but rather be a part of it.

“What we want is young people to be involved in the Forum and be part of the government,” he said.

“They need to change their mentality about leaving the country in the hands of older politicians. We want young people with new ideas involved in running of the country,” the PM stated.

This comes after earlier comments by the PM that no members from the Fiji Labour Party, National Federation Party or the SDL will be allowed to run for elections in 2014.

“We want new faces with new ideas to be running the government and this is something we have learnt from the past,” Bainimarama added.

He also said they are currently going over the names of people who had applied to be a part of the National Dialogue Forum.

The Forum was expected to begin on February 1, but according to Bainimarama, it has been delayed following numerous applications from former politicians.

On the issues to be discussed in the forum, Bainimarama said they will discuss anything and everything there was to from People’s Charter to elections.

Bainimarama's LIES to Adrian Stevanon

Posted by Tears for Fiji
Saturday, February 27, 2010

On Wednesday April 15, 2009, Adrian Stevanon (AS) of ONE News spoke with Frank Bainimarama (FB), the self-appointed PM of Fiji. Here are snippets of that interview to jolt Bainimarama's mind of his lies, which are clearly documented for future use.

AS: Do you think you have the support of your people?

FB: I certainly have the support of the people, yes.

AS: How do you know that?

FB: Well, no one has come up and opposed it, Adrian.
(YEAH RIGHT. THEY DIDN'T COME UP TO OPPOSE YOU PHYSICALLY, AS IN A PEACEFUL PROTEST MARCH BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T ALLOW THEM TO WITH YOUR PER. BUT NOW A NON-VIOLENT WAY IN THE FORM OF A PETITION HAS REACHED YOU. DO YOU NOW SEE THE OPPOSITION YOU TRIED TO MUZZLE?)

AS: But there have been people who have been speaking out in the media and they have ended up being locked up.

FB: Adrian. The people who have been speaking out, I can count them on the fingers of one hand, I'm not saying there's five of them, but there are few of them. But we have banded together on this campaign of change that we need to bring about to Fiji so that we can have a better Fiji.
AS: What does a better Fiji look like?
FB: Hopefully when we finish this exercise, we would have a Fiji without any racist policies, that's one thing. The reforms that we are going to come up with, including electoral reform, it will be a non-communal base of voting... so we will get rid of the race issue. And we will try and get rid of the corruption issues that have been rife in Fiji.

AS: Ok, Commodore, why couldn't you accept the ruling from the Appeal Court that found your government illegal?

FB: Well, the Excellency has made up his mind. He has abrogated the constitution because the ruling would have forced us to go to elections, elections in the old system, which we don't like. We don't want to go down that path again, we don't want an election based on communal voting. (THERE YOU GO AGAIN VOREQE, TRYING TO PASS THE BUCK TO AN INCOMPETENT PRESIDENT WHO CLEARLY DIDN'T HAVE THE TWO BOBS UP THERE TO MAKE UP HIS MIND; YOU AND YOUR MILITARY COUNCIL DID THAT FOR HIM.)

We don't want an election based on race. We want to move away from that. I'm sure all the Kiwis wouldn't want to go down that path too, so and we don't want to go down that path. If we were to accept the decision, we would have gone down that path. (YOU SHOULD HAVE ACCEPTED THE (DECISION VOREQE BECAUSE YOU AND YOUR GOONS ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW!)

Adrian, you should do me a favour and find out from the three judges how is that they came up with a 52-page judgment in 24 hours? We thought it was going to take them three weeks to sit together and come up with this judgement. I think it's quite clear this judgement was written long before they got here. They made up their minds before they got here.
(HUH! SO YOU WANT TO ALSO DO THE JUDGES' JOB? YOUR WISHFUL THINKING FOR BUYING TIME DIDN'T ACTUALLY PAN-OUT HUH. SO, START WORKING ON BUYING TIME BECAUSE SOON AND VERY SOON WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC FIJI WE HAVE ALWAYS WANTED, MINUS YOUR GUNS!)

AS: You spoke this morning about a survey that was done. Can you explain how you know you have the support of the people?

FB: We have the charter process. The charter process came up with a 64% majority for the changes we have put forward to them to endorse. So on that note, we know what they want.
(YEAH RIGHT! YOU MEAN THE COERCED 64%. NOW YOU KNOW THAT 640, 000+ PEOPLE OF FIJI AT HOME AND ABROAD WERE DEFINITELY NOT THE ONES THAT ENDORSED YOUR CHARTER LIKE YOU HAVE LIED ABOUT HERE.)

(AND ISN'T IT IRONIC THAT BAINIMARAMA'S 64% HAS TO HAVE A CONNECTION TO THE 640, 000+ NAMES ON THE PETITION IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER 64? HMMMMM... WHATEVER GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND VOREQE...AND YOUR 64 IS ALMOST UP!)


A NEW FIJI IN 2014

SREALFIJINEWS - 27 February 2010


  • Lets state the obvious, that the key to Fiji's development and prosperity is a democratic and accountable civilian government. That our peoples' cannot prosper when a bunch of thugs exploit our common property. Right?

    Maybe for us and only if we still lie to ourselves that the junta have the peoples best interest at heart. You see when the junta says they want to clean up and reform and move Fiji forward what they really mean is that they wish to clear the way to build a NEW FIJI. Sounds like going down the beaten path, but what exactly is this NEW FIJI?


    The Bitter Truth is that unless we unite and act as one NOW to demand our inalienable right to choose our leaders, we need to stop dreaming about democracy, the rule of law and human rights,if we want things to revert to the FIJI that was is and can be.

    Bananarama has presented us with a truly opportune moment to unite since all major political parties which comprise 97% of the population are unable to participate in a non existent 2014 election, so perhaps the only party that would qualify would be the Islamic League, $50 Eveli and Bananarama.

    We are on a path towards great suffering and oppression that will explode into total chaos with the imposition of permanent martial law and the total dissolution of the past and present systems, institutions and mechanisms of western democratic government, bureaucracy and international diplomacy as we have known it, in short a 'radical change' into slavery and dependence on the junta.

    Our Nation has and is moving into a new paradigm of change. It has gone too far down this path of destruction, but it is a necessary destruction that seeks in the end to achieve their ultimate purpose. We are at the dawn of a cataclysmic tragedy and nobody will be there to pick up the pieces for us.

    All public services and governance systems including the entire civil service, judiciary, ministries and departments and public utilities that we see before us pretending to be working will cease to exist, because the military junta would not need it to exist to survive, to rule, to oppress and to enslave any more. Summary judgment on the spot will be the order of the day.

    Such is the lust for power, the power of greed and the personification of evil. The junta will abandon the people as intimated by its puppet. They will not have the ability, capacity or need to pretend to govern. The erosion has been gradual and consistent and they know how to divert attention with multiple big bangs when we hit the heart of the real problems. But these problems are not insurmountable, in fact they are just utilizing every single opportunity to use the present international financial architecture so long as they buy more time, but what exactly are they waiting for?

    Once our new renewable energy sources have been fully commissioned, prepare for the arbitrary acquisition of private and communal property without compensation. And no we are not talking about sugar, Frank is after much more valuable resources then some in-arable weed infested parched farm land, resources that even landowners do not know exist but which will be compulsorily acquired and exploited by the junta. Yes most of you will laugh this off, fortunately we are a very rich Nation, unfortunately the people will never know of their mineral wealth until it has been acquired and commercially exploited solely by the junta in their personal capacity with imported human resources and technology.

    That is why they must wait for the main island of Viti Levu to be 100% self reliant in terms of our energy security which although the FEA have pledged would be ready by 2011 is highly unlikely but surely achievable in the next 3 years if the finances pull through for the R&D of this relatively new technology. We must never forget we are surrounded by Ocean and will be transformed into the renewable energy grid for the entire South Pacific.

    In terms of our food security as advised last year the processes are in motion to introduce terminator technology and to wean our farmers off their organic seeds with GMO replacement.

    In short, it is the ultimate control of energy, water and food that will lead to the peoples acceptance of the junta out of necessity, unless we bring this to an end NOW.

    And if you think they have not prepared for total isolation from the International Community, in terms of economic sanctions, think again, they have been stockpiling arms, ammunition, food, medicine, and fuel for some time now and when they do run out then guess what your house is their house.

    Our largest trading partners together with their private citizens investment in our country have a lot to lose, and the day will arrive when they will all have to leave everything behind and take a one way flight out of coup coup land, that is the political economic and investment risk that we have harped about all along.

    What of the people you ask, well the people will be enslaved to the military owned and operated farm lands, to feed you know who.

Bainimarama: SDL, NFP and FLP won't return to power

coupfourpointfive

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2010


Fiji's interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama says he will make sure that politicians from the SDL, Fiji Labour and NFP who are behind a claimed 600,000 signature petition do not return to power after the 2014 elections.

Bainimarama has labelled their plans as rubbish and says he knows that some secret meetings have taken place at the SDL and NFP offices.

Sources have told Coupfourpointfive that a promiment member of the National Federation Party was last week hauled into the Queen Elizabeth Barracks and warned not to speak against the regime or have meetings at the NFP office.

Bainimarama says he will also ban these leaders from attending the upcoming National Dialogue Forum.

Voreqe - You Are Not Fiji's Solution! Far from It!

Posted on Matavuvale.com

27 February 2010

Good work Suli. Just a change of pace.This is sad but we must turn this around and rebuke it. Let the people be the judge. Not by force but by free will.

Our world is full of deep endless trenches and tough natural test pieces not human or inhuman acts as in our case. Now, here comes a dictator who thinks he has the solution for everything for Fiji. He thinks he'll make our country crime free, non-racist, coup free, corruption free, indigenious free and methodist free with lawless action.

The fact is we dont need any idiot to tell us what we have and what we dont have. We dont need any form of force to talk for thousands of good reasons. We are the 21st century generation who condones human dignity. Everyone has the right to voice their opinion right or wrong. We dont need a coup idiocracy to tell us that his coup will stop all coups. This is unwarranted, baseless, senseless and aimless argument that doesn't need one single applause. Shame that some still do but wait until you gets older, wiser, lose your job, have no gun and live long to appreciate the beauty of the world as it is.

All we need is someone who has patients, leadership quality, positive atitude, elected by the people with the right tools to fix these problems. A person who is not surrounded by criminals and lack of understanding or full of misunderstanding. Not a 'yes' man but someone who has a wide vision and makes wiser decision. Someone who protect human values.

The fact is regardless of what points Voreqe is arguing his execution and the end results are what people looked at. Not someone who sets a dangerous precedent. Not someone who is a criminal suspect. Not someone who continue to lie to the world. Not someone who believes in the 7th century Sharia laws. Not someone who have no respect of human value and rights. Not someone who goes around beating, hauling and killing people. Not someone who uses race card as an excuse.Not someone who likes to overide another religion through accusation and false prophecy.Not someone who blames corruption to right his wrong. Our Indigenious has come a long way and deserves to be treated as such with respect and due recognition. Not treated as criminal with sinful illegal acts.

His supporters goes on to argue that he has done more then the previous government but the argument is again lack of comparision. How do you compare a dead corpse to a live person. We cann't because who knows what a killed government could have done if they were still around. The only thing we could compare is one was peaceful and one is miserable.

At the end Voreqe the people whom you call the toilet paper will judge your fate when your day of reckoning arrives. And their judgement will based on what you do and what you say.

Fiji Regime Hits Out at SDL Supporters

Regime Thugs Abuse SDL Supporters

27 February 2010

Reports received from Fiji revealed that last night at about 8.45 pm a squad made up of soldiers and police officers, stormed the SDL head office in Suva and detained a group of supporters who were there. The group included former MPs Ragiagia and Tikoinasau.

The groups were made to form two lines and manhandled while verbally abused as they were bundled into military vehicles. The arresting party was led by Maciu Vulaono a relative of the leader of Fiji's revivalist group closely associated with the Police Commissioner.

The group was taken to the Military camp where they were detained. The two former parliamentarians were released at around midnight and the rest at the crack of dawn.

It would appear the illegal Fiji regime is now very nervous since the delivery and publicity of the 600,000 signature petition calling for return to democracy via elections later this year. Regime leaders seem paranoid and are hitting out at opponents. They are arresting and terrorizing people who have no weapons but the 600,000 signature petition that was supposed to be only good for toilet paper, according to illegal PM, Bainimarama.

Regime bloggers are now also targeting petition organiser, Suliasi Daunitutu and petition deliverer Vilisi Nadaku, with abusive posts and harassing calls.

All this after regime figures downplayed the extent of human rights abuse and violation at the UN Periodic Review of Human Rights on Fiji in Geneva.

It clearly confirms the determination of the illegal regime to shut out any opposition to its rule and deny opposition voice in any form even after the ongoing extension of the PER.

What you are seeing is a regime that also recognizes that as its rule increasingly comes under attack, it will hit out even harder out of desperation. This is typical of all regimes at their last breath.

If only they realise that only a minority support them, such that the longer they hang on to power, the worse will be the consequences for Fiji and its people, and worse most for them.

There is no question Fiji will return to democratic rule. It is just how long before it happens. 600,000 people are saying right now, while Bainimarama and his supporters would like to delay it as long as possible so they can continue to profit from their illegal rule.

Greater effort must be directed at revealing these reports of abuse and human rights violation to overseas governments, UN and other democratic states to expose the mad state of affairs in Fiji and the power hungry appetite of the illegal regime leaders.


Friday, February 26, 2010

Military Intelligence Ignored Rules


Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, February 26, 2010


Work undertaken by officers of the Military Intelligence Unit, did not have any legal mandate, nor did officers follow universally accepted intelligence gathering rules and guidelines, the Suva High Court has heard.

Former Fiji Intelligence Service director Colonel Metuisela Mua made the statement while testifying in the trial of eight men accused of plotting to kill the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama in 2007.

Mua, who is one of the accused, said the information gathered by military intelligence officer Peniasi Kuli was not independently verified and neither was there any proper analysis of his information.

Mua says the notes of the 14 meetings Kuli allegedly had with former CRW soldiers were not properly graded and neither was there any continuity of notes between meetings.

He says the military intelligence report on the movements of the alleged assassins was full of inconsistencies, prepared in retrospect, full of fabrication and indicated that someone was lying somewhere.

Mua says the covert operation undertaken by Major Isireli Narawa to meet with Ratu Inoke Takiveikata at the Sofitel Hotel in Nadi was flawed.

He says Major Narawa didn’t provide a cover for himself and for his organization and that since he was the director and an analyst of military intelligence, he shouldn’t have been going undercover.

Apart from this Mua said there was nothing in the Military Act or any other laws of Fiji that allows the Military to carry out intelligence work.

He said Police were the only organization allowed to carry out intelligence work under the Police Act and through a Cabinet Charter.

Under cross examination, Mua denied that he briefed the former CRW soldiers at Ballu Khan’s house in 2007 and also denied that he met Kuli to discuss issues concerning the alleged plot.