Momentous events in Suva as Fiji’s deposed prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, is found guilty on all nine charges in his corruption trial. Here’s a link to the story from the Fiji Village website. The three assessors took just two hours to return their verdict and High Court judge Justice Priyantha Fernando will give his judgement tomorrow. Under Fijian law, the assessors give their recommendation on the case but the judge is not bound to accept it. However, if Justice Fernando does endorse the verdict, Qarase – the head of the SDL party – will be prevented from standing for the 2014 election. He’ll be barred from political office for ten years.
Graham
I am sure he popped champagne at the verdict – celebrate but we will not forget Laisenia Qarase’s party at the polls – if and when it takes place
I meant you popped champagne and Thakur Ranjit Singh
“Voter”, it is not cause for celebration. It might surprise you to know that I personally would have preferred for Laisenia Qarase to have stood in the 2014 election and faced the judgement of the people rather than the judgement of a court. And in any event, it’s a real shame that any Fijian national leader is indicted for acting corruptly because it brings the country into disrepute.
What a farce. Bainimarama’s regime is making sure the 2014 elections (if they ever take place) will be doctored.
You seem to be writing from inside a tube, Petelo. FB has done a whole lot more in 6 years than any past government. Tell me, speaking of the i-Taukei, which other PM ever visited the people of Namosi? But they did enjoy the votes, didn’t they?
Well said, Graham.
i am gona enjoy my VB today, people think they are untouchable but your karma catches up to you.
oh!! yah.
🙂 Ironic that VB also stands for Voreqe Bainimarama….hehe
The great masquerader, mahen ‘Fiji ke Robin Hood’ chaudhry, who pretended to be poor man’s champion but robbed them off funds meant for them, should be next for raising money under false pretences, all $3m of it, for his personal kitty and for his family rather than the poor people whose name he used.
How about Chorwa Atma Maichood? I will put your ck in yr arse……how do you feel now santa maichood?
Graham
I am happy to know of your thoughts. As for Vinny (possibly Chand) and others it just shows the vile hatred these Indo-Fijians have of Qarase and others – but as an Indo-Fijian let me tell you all, if Qarase is convicted by the judge, SDL will be the winner – it would be interesting to know why Frank Bainimarama has never declared his salaries – he seems to be also collecting salary as army commander as well as Prime Minister. I salute Qarase for facing the music unlike Frank and others who want immunity before they will be holding elections – if ever
It’s true, Qarase will be seen as a martyr by Fijians. It’s the same with Mahen chaudhry supporters – in their eyes he can do no wrong.
It is because of our naivety that leaders like Qarase and Mahen are able to hoodwink us and laugh all the way to the bank.
Or maybe their supporters are looking at the bigger picture, and are willing to turn a build eye to their actions?
Mahen styled himself as champion of Indo-Fijians by standing up to Speight. The attitude seems to be, ‘so what if he crooks a few million?’ Same for Qarase, who is seen as champion of indigenous causes and regarded as a victim of the regime.
My view is that it was a calculated career move by these two to pose as champions of their racial groups, knowing throughout that it strengthened the opportunity to feather their own nests. Risk of a backlash was minimised because majority of the supporters would consider the ‘greater good’ they had done for their respective community.
We really need to become wise in the ways of our politicians, including why they use nationalist rhetoric.
Every move by Qarase and Mahen was carefully calculated. While ‘championing’ their community, they were also thinking of how to benefit from it politically and financially – this is how political careers and wealth is built in our country.
To think these men ‘championed’ the people of the goodness of their hearts would be silly on out part – there was benefit in it for them also.
I am not a fan of backpay king Bainimarama, but if not for the coup, both Qarase and Mahen would have gotten away scot free.
@ Voter,
Your’e not an Indo Fijian but an identity-less coward.
His trial has nothing to do with Indo Fijian or i-taukei but the deception and fraud on all peoples of Fiji. Pity that you don’t understand the verdict and seem only to see through the specs of racism and thank GOD that you belong to the other side.
For you, I care less of your opinion….and neither do I care if you are an Indo-Fijian or whatever..but one thing is quite certain; you are like a twisted pigs tail that is only fit to keep flies away from its arse.
You see revenge, I see justice. You see hatred but I see compassion and love and justice for all. You see doom and I see hope.
Having said that my Indian boy you’re quite welcome to kiss my arse.
I would go for the ‘Like’ button if this was facebook..haha
Voter, Qarase, as a human being, would definitely be a good person. He has a family, probably looks after his children and must be liked by so many indo Fijians. However, when it comes to politics, his corrupt practices, his one-sided government, etc left the non i-taukeis with little option other than to dislike his political character
Salute Qarase when he is at naboro if convicted.
I am not hiding my feelings I, hate the faker.
I had many of my reloss displaced from their land under his watch.
so there it goes.
Chand you are a twisted chap. Chand, you go and ask Mahend – Qarase told him lets solve this land problem – of course the chowra was never going to do it – for that was his vote bank – land lease, land lease, land lease – yes, you lost land but that millions was for the likes of you from Indian government but chowra hid the cash for him an his family in Australian bank account
This is nothing but Bainimarama’s regime getting rid of dangerous opponents before the 2014 election. Sweeping away politicians who he knows could win at the ballot box. lol
Isn’t that “Politics”?
No, it is called corruption.
Your uncle Frank can add it to the other word he has hanging over his door – treason.
Hi folks,
We in Fiji are a better judge than Chand and Vinny (if they live abroad) – these charges have been dug up from 1990s when Qarase was nowhere near politics – Chaudhry should reveal how he had come to signing away a cheque of over $185,000 of alleged back-pay to Frank. Whatever befalls on Qarase, the charges are tainted, full stop!
@ Voter
Listen you dumbwit and nameless coward Qarase licker, go get a job and don’t wag your twisted tail everywhere.
Be it Qarase, Chaudhry or whoever, justice will be done…..whether it be an Indo-Fijian or an i-Taukei…..do you get this you moron.
We don’t talk about ethnicity here…we talk about crime comitted against all the peoples of Fiji and make no mistake, when it comes to money laundering, Indo-Fijians are the biggest culprits and it’s just a matter of time before a lot of them will be brought to justice…now get this, I don’t support Indo-Fijians. I support all peoples of Fiji seeking justice and fair play.
If you are one of those who benefitted (which I think you are) from the previous regimes and their so called policies/croynism/elitism then of course you have a reason to worry my coming and living/assisting in Fiji.
I have every right to contribute (monetory/intelligence/intellect/physical etc) to the welfare of all peoples of Fiji and persons like your self will certainly have a reason to fear.
So me says, leave all this racist talks and come join hands clean up…you will see the difference. You and I can make positive changes in peoples life
You will realise that most of us indentured Indo-fijians are not bad people.
What says Petelo
Petelo says that the Court has no authority outside of the constitution.
Petelo further says that when the new government is elected (under UN observation) in 2014, all judgments made by Bainimarama’s kangaroo courts be declared ‘ultra vires’ and all lawyers and judges who participated in such kangaroo courts disbarred from the Fijian and overseas legal bars that they come from.
Finally, Petelo says that when the new government comes to power, all those who participated in the coup, and all those where evidence has been brought (including Qarase) of corruption are to be brought to trial under a special court of non-reconciliation headed by pacific judges and ex-judges of International Criminal Courts, with the two Samoan judges to preside.
The rule of law has to return to Fiji. Not the rule of the military or Chand’s Indo-Fijian Liberation Army.
God bless Fiji.
Ok Petelo, good one.
I can now see that it is not you who is catching up to common man’s education but education is trying to catch up with you.
It is not the Indo Fijian Liberation army but the Fijian Liberation army Petelo. Yes liberation from the clutches of croynism, abuse of office and the chiefly system. It is the common mans liberation whose arms are arms and hands and the gift of freedom.
And above all the struggle that brings respect to the country and its people and we can proudly say that we withstood bullying and did not bite the carrot.
You like carrot Petelo??
And I hope this liberation will follow through in other Pacific Islands…….
What says Petelo