Grubsheet has again been wrestling in these columns with correspondents who claim – invariably without concrete evidence – that Frank Bainimarama and his regime are guilty of “torture” and widespread “human rights abuses”. There seems little doubt that some regime critics have been subjected to summary beatings in military custody and these are not excused. But the notion that human rights abuse is a leitmotif of Bainimarama’s “New Order” is risible. When asked to produce concrete advice, as opposed to rumour and hearsay, these critics invariably have to concede they can’t, lashing out instead at the supposed failure of the police or other authorities to investigate.
Fiji has always been a society in which order has been enforced by what’s called a “buturaki” – a beating. It’s how village authorities have traditionally maintained order in the vanua – indigenous society – and so it stands to reason that the practice also lends itself to use in the military and other areas of national life. It cannot be excused, not least because it sometimes results in serious injury or death, as in the case of the mutineers who tried to kill Frank Bainimarama in 2000 and were beaten to death. But it is not so much an instrument of state policy as a knee-jerk punishment for perceived misdemeanours, disrespect or, for that matter, any defiance of the established order.
It was ever thus and what happens today is a pale imitation of what occurred in Fijian society 150 years ago. Grubsheet has been reading the diary of the Reverend Thomas Williams, a Methodist missionary in Fiji from 1840 to 1853. It was a period of extreme violence in indigenous society and cannibalism was rife, so much so that Williams witnessed a number of cannibal feasts in the villages around him in the Lau group and Taveuni. His missionary colleague, The Reverend Richard Lyth, gives the following account in his journal of a routine village scene of monumental violence and cruelty:
“A Dreketi man, the murderer of two Soso women, had been captured and all the women of Soso were assembled to see him flayed alive in the rara or public area of their town on Mbau Island. The criminal was bound and then mutilated in the following manner: one eye was hooked out with a fish bone, and his nose was cut off; the hair of his head was burnt off, and a burning fire brand applied to the tips of his fingers. Then the fingers of both hands were cut off, grilled, portioned out and eaten before his eyes. His arms were then hacked off near the shoulders; then the legs, the toes having first been disposed of as were the fingers. Up to this time, there were signs of life. His insides were then opened; his head taken off and the whole body laid on the fire, grilled and eaten without further ceremony.”
Now that’s human rights abuse. Under the circumstances, surely even the regime’s sternest critics will concede that under Bainimarama’s “New Order”, things have improved.
A truly pathetic red herring of an argument Mr Davis. Argue the point about human rights abuses (or the lack of them) … but you disgrace yourself by such careless retreat to ignoratio elenchi: “your ancestors handed out worse so you’ve got nothing to complain about.”
It wasn’t an argument, merely an observation that violence as an instrument of social control among indigenous Fijians isn’t new, as it might be, say, among the Jains of India or the Amish of the US.
Loosen up.
We are making progress, Graham has at last admitted that beatings take place in Fiji.
“There seems little doubt that some regime critics have been subjected to summary beatings in military custody and these are not excused.”
What he still will not admit that Bainimarama is behind them.
If these beatings were isolated then we could accept a few wayward soldiers were behind the beatings, arson and destruction of property. However there have been many such instances starting in 2006 and ongoing. There has been a lot of publicity and debate about the beatings so no one can claim ignorance. The RFMF prides itself on its discipline and these beatings have done a lot to harm its reputation. If these beatings were not sanctioned from the top then there would have been investigations and disciplinary actions.
No soldier has been charged for beating a civilian in Fiji. So we know that these beatings must be sanctioned by the commander of the RFMF, Bainimarama.
So whether he landed the first punch or whether his soldiers did is irrelevant. Bainimarama uses systematic violence and thuggery as a means of keeping his opponents intimidated.
You claim to know Fiji well but you come out with comments such as this. “The ‘supposed’ failure of the police or other authorities to investigate.” There is nothing supposed about this failure. There has been no investigation into these beatings. That is a FAILURE on the part of the police to investigate.
When we get an independent police force and when we get an independent judiciary the evidence will be found to put Bainimarama and his thugs behind bars.
“State Sanctioned”, I have never denied that beatings have taken place in Fiji. But the thread of this discussion began when there was a specific allegation that Frank Bainimarama had personally beaten women. I asked for the evidence and it was not forthcoming. This is a typical tactic of anti-regime elements – make a general smear, grab a headline yet be unable to give chapter and verse of the alleged assaults.
The overseas media has been complicit in this, trumpeting allegations of “torture” and “human rights abuses” without asking for any details, let alone attempting to verify the precise claims. Amnesty International has done the same, with no acknowledgment that the author of its reports on Fiji – Apolosi Bose – isn’t an independent investigator but a protagonist, an anti-regime agitator. It has sorely damaged the credibility of AI to make a pronouncement on any human rights abuse anywhere in the world.
I am not contending that Frank Bainimarama hasn’t beaten anyone. I don’t know and have asked those making the allegations to provide the details. They don’t, which suggests they can’t, which suggests that it hasn’t happened. No reasonable person can conclude otherwise. So now, someone like you says “oh, but he’s the commander and has to be held responsible when his troops assault others”. Yes, but only up to a point. This is to ensure that there are processes to deal with violations on the part of his subordinates. You say that hasn’t happened. But again, give us the evidence, not only of the assault but the troops involved getting off scot free because Bainimarama has wilfully turned his back on the process.
We have seen far too many instances of disinformation and outright lies on the part of the anti-regime forces, rooted in pure hatred for Bainimarama for depriving them of their privileges in 2006. He’s variously reported as being dead, seriously ill, under arrest, squirrelling millions into foreign bank accounts, selling Fiji to the Chinese, to the Indians and – no doubt – engaging in witchcraft and eating babies. So forgive me for being skeptical and requiring any allegations to meet a basic test – show us the evidence, chapter and verse.
You seem to like cannibalism, support raping of financial institutions, feeding the elites, hiding behind being indigenous to be pitied upon and so forth,
Have you ever thought, that if it wasnt for Frank you would have starved by now… those people who got FNPF assistance would never have got if it wasnt gfor Frank,
I can totally understand what you rave about being independant, being being independent does not mean you have the rights to live freely, but also you have to let others live freely.
Can you let others Live freely? Can you let others own a piece of land and build a home and call it their home for the rest of their lives? Can you let others own farms that they can toil on the rest of their lives? Can you ? Can you? Can you???????
If you can, I challenge you make a speech on this at albert park. I bet Frank wont say anything to you… cos he likes people who can share… share for prosperity, for individuals and also the nation.
What Graham tried to explain was the extent of abuse inflicted on an offender with Fijian Law, seems to be a full sized Human Rights Abuse is considered to be a valid judgement of 1840’s, now would be a Human Rights Abuse. Because our judicial system gives more power to thieves and thugs, then to the victims.
I would vote for no elected government of any country.. let the military rule for all.. cos they are the ones protecting the countries and not the politicians.
Human Rights gives empowerment to politicians to abuse , human rights gives power to bank managers and executives to buy shares under their name from provincial organisations.. from loan obtained from their own banks they worked for never to be paid back.
Grow UP you all!!
I know you say you do not have the intimacy with Bainimarama to call him your friend. In all your articles on Fiji your loyalty and steadfast support for this dictator shine through. You truly are his very best friend.
It is clear to everyone in Fiji that Bainimarama is responsible for the beatings of the RFMF. He has total control of that institution and total loyalty of the troops. So for you to say he is not responsible is strange.
To help me and your readers understand your thinking please let me know whether you agree or disagree with the statements below
1- Soldiers of the RFMF have beaten up a number of civilians since the coup in 2006.
2- This violence against unarmed civilians has caused damage to the reputation of the RFMF.
3- There has been a lot of publicity about these beatings, even in the main stream press before censorship was imposed.
4- Bainimarama is commander of the RFMF.
5- Bainimarama is in complete control of the RFMF and has the loyalty of the troops.
6- Bainimarama would have knowledge that these beatings took place.
7- Bainimarama has done nothing to investigate these beatings or bring the military thugs to justice.
8- If he had taken the steps in point 6 he would have announced it publicly
9- Bainimarama has been happy to allow these beatings to continue otherwise he would have ordered them to stop
Thank you in advance.
“State Sanctioned”, I have given you my views on this and will not be dragged into a blow by blow tussle with an anonymous contributor who refuses to present the necessary evidence to make his/her case. I’m not in the business of wrestling with shadows.
Graham I did not expect you to answer because if you did you would be forced to admit that Bainimarama is behind the violence against civilians in Fiji. Everyone in the country knows this is the case.
One question for you. You are an award winning investigative journalist perhaps you could give me some pointers on how to gather the evidence you demand?
I obviously can’t go to the police because their Commissioner is a soldier under the direct command of Bainimarama and won’t open an investigation into his superior.
There has been no investigative journalism in Fiji since 2009. So I can’t go the media route.
So please how as a private individual can I go about gathering the evidence. I also need to be careful whilst gathering evidence, I do not wish to write an eye witness account of State sanctioned brutality.
Graham,you are asking the wrong people for the evidence.Ask the Fiji police.They have all the evidence but the world knows that even the Fiji police are toothless.The army is effectively in control full stop.
Alter ego,State Sanctioned beatings are Wrong , State Sanctioned Brutality , Wilson and those who may follow your path, where were you guys from 1987 to 2006 when the Indo Fijian population were subjected to human right abuses, both physically and otherwise? Have you guys been subjected to such humiliation? Well I am an Indo Fijian and I have. We couldn’t even go out of our homes without threats of violence..where were u guys then and why were you all condoning such thuggery then. There were a lot of very good I-Taukei, even strangers who would often come to our assistance from such mindless thuggery and often beatings. Where were you guys then?
And quite frankly its very easy to find out as to who benefitted from such thuggery and the very same people are crying foul knowing very well that those days of free loading may now be over.
Nobody justifies human rights abuses but disruptive elements in the society need to be dealt with.
@Terrior RC
Again that hackneyed old argument; if you don’t support Bainimarama you must have supported the previous coups.
There are a great many people who have been against every coup in this country and I am one of them. I was against 1987, 2000, 2006 and 2009. Where was I in 1987 well I was still in school so I would not have been much help to you when the army came and intimidated you. In 2000 we ended up having an Indian friend and his family stay with us for over 2 months before he felt it was safe for him and his family to return home.
But even you must realize that past injustices do not make current ones acceptable. If it was wrong in 1987 it is still wrong now even if the boot is on the other foot.
“ disruptive elements in society need to be dealt with” is a sentiment shared by every dictator and human rights abuser. Why should I get taken up to the camp for having a different opinion to Khaiyum?
@ Dinner O’Booze,
I for one do not have a slightest doubt about you and your family helping out the unfortunate victims of past violence against Indians. A lot of the times pens and words canot describe what we feel in our hearts for great people like you and your family and pray that you continue with the good work through GOD’s grace.
What I believe is that democracy for the sake of democracy just does not work in a lot of countries and Fiji is one of them. I have grown up with the independance of Fiji on the 10th of October 1970 and the Fijian dominated Alliance Government has been in power for much of the time. It was more of a chiefly based structure and till today I have not seen any improvement in the lives of the common Fijians (i-Taukei). This despite the positive descrimination policy. It is common knowledge as to who benefitted most from this policy.
I am an indentured son. My grand parents toiled on the land of this country. But there were fly-by-night Indians who with the rulers of the country, corrupted the whole system. I’m glad justice has finally caught up with one of them and is in jail right now.
Believe me, in the so called democratic system, the subject person thrived and would have continued to do so. There were i-Taukei beneficiaries of his empire as well and these are the people afraid of the changes being brought about the military regime.
I am the one who should be complaining about 98% of the current ministers being i-Taukei.
I am the one who should be complaining about 98% of the current appointments to the leading institutions being i-Taukei.
I am the one who should be complaining about reservations/ priority of residential lots at Tacirua being for i-Taukei.
I am the one who should be complaining about 98% of the current housing loan being written off are for i-Taukei.
I don’t my brother. It brings joy to my heart and to thousands of indians as well to see that finally something constructive is being done about the i-Taukeis….things that democracy could not provide to them.
Finally the common man had been freed from the clutches of the “bigger dictators”, the so called chiefs and of course no dictator likes to be dethroned.
My humble pranam to those chiefs who had the best intentions for the general wellbeing of all peoples of Fiji. To you Sir/Madam please accept my grandest salute.
Dinner O’Booze, hopefully our destiny is the same but from different directions.