The sight of Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Peter Thomson, chairing the General Assembly is yet another reminder that although Fiji is a relatively small country, it punches way above its weight. This week, Peter has been Acting President of the General Assembly, conducting the everyday business of the UN from the famous podium that has produced some of history’s most memorable images – from Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat waving his pistol to Soviet leader Nikita Kruschev banging his shoe. Along with hundreds of speeches from everyone from Che Guevara to Nelson Mandela, from the Queen to Frank Bainimarama.
It was especially apt that with Ambassador Thomson in the chair, the General Assembly considered reports about the financing of UN peacekeeping operations. This is what really makes Fiji an indispensable member of the club of nations – its ability and willingness to provide troops to wear the UN blue beret in some of the world’s toughest places. All Fijians owe a great debt to the men and women of the military who’ve given their unstinting service – and sometimes their lives – to improving the lives of ordinary people in the Middle East and elsewhere by protecting them from conflict. And for sending the money they earn home to help support their communities in Fiji.
It’s made heroes in the most unlikely places of tough but softly spoken people from island villages on the far side of the world. And it’s given a country of which many would otherwise never have heard gratitude and respect. Yes, Fiji gets an important source of revenue from its peacekeeping operations. But it remains one of the few nations able and willing to put its troops in the firing line to defend the UN ideal of collective responsibility for all the world’s people.
Peter Thomson is the latest in a long line of Fijians who’ve represented the country in New York, starting with the late Semesa Sikivou at the time of independence in 1970. He has had a remarkable personal and professional history. The son of Sir Ian Thomson– one of the most respected administrators of the colonial era who stayed on to head the sugar industry and Air Pacific – Peter began his career as a district officer in Fiji and was then a diplomat in Tokyo and Sydney. He was Permanent Secretary for Information when – with a pistol on the table – Sitiveni Rabuka forced him to write the formal announcement of the first coup of 1987. Then, after he became permanent secretary to the then governor-general, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, Peter became a target of ethno-nationalist extremists in the second coup of the same year. He was tracked down and thrown into a prison cell for several days before being forced to leave the country altogether.
Peter effectively spent more than 20 years in exile, first in New Zealand and then Australia, where he became a successful writer and authored Kava in the Blood, a compelling account of his life in Fiji. Then out of the blue three years ago came a call from Frank Bainimarama’s office. Would he agree to represent Fiji at the UN? Would he ever. Grubsheet – an old friend – recalls the immense satisfaction for Peter in being recalled to represent his country of birth. It was as if his life had come full circle, the lifting of a two-decade long punctuation mark in his career of service to Fiji.
In New York, Peter has worked tirelessly for the country’s interests, shifting the axis of its global relationships from its traditional western allies to a policy of being “a friend to all”. He has spearheaded the Bainimarama government’s Look North Policy, launched formal diplomatic relations with more than three dozen countries and organised its membership of the Non Aligned Movement. He has vigorously pursued Fiji’s interests in such areas as tackling global warming and rising sea levels, preserving the maritime environment and, of course, the peacekeeping operations that are so important to the country’s economy and prestige. And he has played a vital role in batting off attempts by Australia and New Zealand to have Fiji excluded from those operations as punishment for the 2006 coup.
Even more importantly, perhaps, Peter has taken steps to fundamentally lift Fiji’s status in the global community. He was a prime mover in the formation of the UN voting bloc known as the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), which gives Pacific nations a far bigger voice in global affairs by acting in concert. PSIDS has succeeded in joining the Asian Group at the UN, which is now officially known as the Asian and Pacific Small Island Developing States Group. This means countries like Fiji gain the benefit of lining up with some of the biggest players of the Asia Pacific region, the global powerhouse of the 21st century. And it has moved these countries out from under the skirts of their “big brothers” Australia and New Zealand, which belong to an entirely separate UN bloc – the Western European and Others Group.
The strategic importance of such a re-alignment cannot be overstated. It certainly underlines a fundamental truth about life in the global village for small nations like Fiji. They may not have the ability to project the same power and influence as their bigger neighbours. But in the UN system, it’s numbers, not brawn, that really counts, except for the five permanent members of the Security Council, who enjoy powers of veto. Every other nation gets just one vote. And that is certainly exercising the minds of the Australians right now as they mount a global campaign to get a temporary Security Council seat. Given Canberra’s present hostility towards Fiji, it certainly cannot expect to get Fiji’s support.
Peter Thomson, of course, is a cog in the wheel of Fiji’s international relationships, albeit a big one. His ultimate boss, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola has been a successful foreign minister and the two enjoy a close relationship as they work with other ambassadors and diplomatic staff to further Fiji’s international ties. And they, in turn, have the confidence of the Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, who’s become an effective advocate himself both for Fiji and the region in global forums – most recently at the environment summit in Brazil. However much the regime’s critics might decry Commodore Bainimarama’s penchant for globe-trotting, a small country’s loudest voice will always come from its leader and lower-level representation rarely has the same impact. It’s simply a fact of life that for Fiji to be heard, the Prime Minister needs to travel widely to properly put its case.
It was Bainimarama who hand picked Peter Thomson for the UN job. Their fathers had known each other in the 1960s when Thomson Senior was Commissioner Western and Bainimarama Senior was the region’s Supervisor of Prisons. Almost half a century on, Grubsheet is pleased to have played a minor part in re-establishing the connection when – after an interview with the Prime Minister- we talked about the old days in the West and I mentioned that Peter and I got together regularly in Sydney to talanoa about Fiji. Bainimarama’s eyes lit up and while he didn’t say so at the time, he evidently began mulling over the possibility of using Peter in some senior role. Soon afterwards, Peter began a private mission – financed by veteran Fiji businessmen Mark Johnson and Dick Smith – to try to bridge the gap between Fiji and its Australian and NZ critics. He went to Port Moresby to enlist the support of the PNG leader, Sir Michael Somare, and the initiative produced the first meeting of the respective parties for some time.
That was in 2009. Three years on and Ambassador Thomson is chairing the United Nations General Assembly. It’s a triumphant personal story, the Kai Valagi (European) civil servant removed at gunpoint and forced to leave Fiji now sitting as moderator and adjudicator at the pinnacle of global affairs. But it’s also one of the triumphs of Bainimarama’s determination to use the best people- irrespective of race – to present Fiji’s face to the world. To see my old mate sitting there on the UN podium – Fiji Water bottle by his side – fills me with pride, as it surely must others who hope that Fiji’s best days as a united, prosperous, multiracial nation lie ahead.
Peter Thompson is a stain on his fathers and families memory.
His two most immediate bosses have both committed treason.
Bainimarama removed Labour Party and its PM Chaudhry in 2000 Coup. Mara, was also removed as President of Fiji. Qarase was installed by him, to be latter removed by him, and finally he removed the Constitution. Frank has been Dictating for a long time.
Inoke Kubuabola needs no need of an introduction! His fame as most longlived coupster will live for ever. Put his statue up right up alongside Rt Sakuna, but make his taller, evil overules Good in Fiji.
The UN is a forum for every Nation on the planet, even mongerels.
Now what if “one person, one vote” , equal representation were applied.lol.
Mongrels RULE!
Mongrel, you are both wrong and a bad speller. You don’t rule anything except the contents of your fetid little head.
@ Mongrel
Mongrel by name, mongrel by nature.
Wot you smoking bro? Its too early on a Saturday morning to be having a puff on all that heavy stuff from the bushes in Kadavu.
What have you done for Fiji?
The World according to Davis is so very black and white.
If you are Bainimarama or you support Bainimarama you are good and not a bad word can be said about you.
You are selfless
You always put your country first.
You are responsible for everything that goes well
You are responsible for nothing that goes wrong
You always are telling the truth even when you lie
You are not corrupt even though you are growing much richer than your salary
You new found wealth has nothing to do with your role in Government
You are a friend of Graham Davis
You are the recipient of Gushing PR Pieces in the Fiji Sun
You are welcomed in countries established Democracies such as North Korea
If you are not a Bainimarama supporter
You are a racist
You are Corrupt even though you have never been convicted
You are a troublemaker.
You are selfish
You are responsible for all that is wrong in Fiji
You put personal advancement ahead of your country
You are welcomed in Satan’s own country Australia
You are vilified by Davis in the Fiji Sun
Thank you Graham – Succinct and balanced capture of what Peter is! Nothing in it for him except a chance to contribute to Fiji’s rebuilding – what exactly is wrong with that Mongrel and Zebra? Perhaps you folks need to be asking yourselves as to how you and the likes of you can contribute too! Even from the narrow corners of your existence!
@ Mongrel and Zebra
You get what you ask for.
I’m not sure who is riding on who but suppose, they’re both are riding each other and what do we get..a Zongrel.
Someone once rightly said that when there is a systematic bias to distort the perception of reality and that distorted perception becomes the fodder for zebra,mongrel,tui,terry and petelo (aka tutepe) the outcome is a zongrel.
And what do we do to zongrels…entertaintment.
Come on zongrels..we need more…no kidding we do
Graham, I was there, at that Australia Fiji business summit with you, when Peter Thompson, almost lost in a career vacuum, proposed a privately funded assault on the Australian Government to change their attitude to Fiji, That has not happened, but what Peter has achieved for Fiji in the UN is remarkable. He has delivered in spades for Fiji. He has combined his skills as an orator, diplomat and passionate Fijian to out smart many who seek to discredit Fiji. This saga has yet to play out but in time Australia will find, Peter Thompson has outsmarted, surrounded and discredited them in the Pacific. No small achievement!
Thanks, Peter. Coming, as you do, from a family that also has a history of contributing to Fiji’s development, you will know what motivates Peter T. It is not ego or personal gain but a deep sense of trying to complete the task his own father worked for. We all grew up with a deep sense of Fiji’s potential but it has been thwarted by racial division and a failure of leadership. We all hope that cycle can be broken.
Good on all you Fijians who have done so much and still thinking about Fiji. Everybody could go about living their life here in aus/nz etc because we all are ok , but we genuinely have a place in our hearts for the place of our birth . We don’t want to see Fiji ending up like Zimbabwe where in the name of etho nationalist ideas have made once the best country in Africa into the condition it is know.
May god bless you all and Fiji.
I could not agree more with Graham Davis and Grubsheet, Peter Thomson has done a fantastic job. He must be very proud and have a huge sense of accomplishment.
He obviously believes in Bainimarama and his stated mission.
What will he feel when he discovers Bainimarama is a sham and nothing but a tin pot dictator?
What will he feel when he discovers Bainimarama is a renowned liar and will say whatever is convenient at the time.
What will he feel when he realizes that all those cozy chats with the dictator were nothing more than a charade?
What will he feel when he realizes the Fiji he dreams of is not the same one the Dictator will give him?
Lie 1 – We will uphold the Constitution.
Lie 2 – We will have elections in 2009
Lie 3 – We will end PER as soon as the Media Decree is in place
Lie 4 – No one involved in the coup will gain from it
Lie 5 – No One in the Interim Government will stand for elections (Still waiting on this one but Davis, the dictator’s confidante, is confident Bainimarama will run for election)
Lie 6 – There was widespread corruption in the Qarase government. We are still waiting for a minister to be charged.
Lie 7 – He will end nepotism
Lie 8 – He will have a transparent Government
Lie 9 – There will be Good Governance
Lie 10 – There will be an independent judiciary
Oh dear, they’re playing that broken record again. What a bore. Nothing new
Vincent, in answer to the points you raise:
Lie 1 – We will uphold the Constitution: Bainimarama tried hard not to abrogate the 1997 constitution and did so only after the Court of Appeal decision that arguably left him with no alternative. A new constitution is in the process of being prepared which will be fairer in introducing equal votes of equal value.
Lie 2 – We will have elections in 2009: Bainimarama says he felt obliged to make this undertaking through a desire to please his Tongan hosts at the time and it was an off-the-cuff commitment that he didn’t regard as “being written in stone”. I think he shouldn’t have made it and, I suspect, neither does he given the rod it made for his own back.
Lie 3 – We will end PER as soon as the Media Decree is in place: Another undertaking that shouldn’t have been made but no longer an issue.
Lie 4 – No one involved in the coup will gain from it: It depends what is meant by gain. If you regard taking government a ‘gain”, then the military gained. But you could equally cast this as assuming a responsibility. Civilian government will eventually be restored.
Lie 5 – No-one in the Interim Government will stand for elections (Still waiting on this one but Davis, the dictator’s confidante, is confident Bainimarama will run for election): Yes, this is clearly an undertaking that will be breached if Bainimarama or his ministers stand for office in 2014 but circumstances change. Julia Gillard said there would never be a carbon tax under any government she leads. As soon as she gained office, that undertaking was broken. The point is that it happens in democracies too.
Lie 6 – There was widespread corruption in the Qarase government. We are still waiting for a minister to be charged: Laisenia Qarase goes on trial in two weeks on charges that amount to precisely that. If he is convicted, Bainimarama’s claims will surely be validated.
Lie 7 – He will end nepotism: Nepotism is in the eye of the beholder. If Bainimarama brings his military officers into government, is that nepotism? When Mahendra Chaudhry brought his own son into government, that was clearly nepotism. Has Bainimarama done the same? Again, it’s routine in Australia and NZ for governments of any hue to hire “their mates” from within the party and give them taxpayer funded positions.
Lie 8 – He will have a transparent Government: Yes it hasn’t been as transparent as it might have been. But is any government in the advanced democracies either? Precisely the same charge is laid there.
Lie 9 – There will be Good Governance: Standards of governance have clearly improved, especially when it comes to service delivery. This is almost universally acknowledged in the Vanua and forms the basis of the government’s popularity, such as it is.
Lie 10 – There will be an independent judiciary: The is no concrete evidence that I can see that the judiciary has been corrupted, even though the government’s critics say the courts have been used to hound its opponents. Indeed, several high profile government opponents have been cleared of the charges against them.
By any measure, the “lies” you cite are not world-class porkies, nor exceptional in politics anywhere. They certainly don’t warrant your central assertion that people like Peter Thomson are aiding and abetting a corrupt or unworthy process. Politics is the art of the possible and Bainimarama has had to adjust to changed circumstances like any other leader. Sometimes undertakings sincerely made have to be broken. That’s life.
I love the contortions you go through to justify Bainimarama’s lies. It is funny and very revealing.
Once upon a time Grubsheet castigated Julia Gillard for lying – ARRIVEDERCI ROMA (AND “JU-LIAR” ) and now he uses that same incident to justify a dictator’s lies. Hypcritical or what.
But look at the other justifications.
Bainimarama wanted to please his hosts. What a polite guest, he told a lie to all the leaders of the Pacific so as not to upset his hosts. Don’t forget earlier that same year Khaiyum told the same lie to the European Commission in Brussells – He wanted to get $350m sugar money. As an excuse it must be the weakest on record for a man claiming to be Prime Minister.
Bainimarama said no one will gain from the coup. He gave himself $180,000, which someone on average pay in Fiji would need to work for 12 years to get. Clearly a lie and I did not understand a word of your justification for this point.
Your excuse for nepotism was very convoluted but look at Baijnimarama’s record.
Francis Keane, a murdering Brother in Law, gets early release from prison. NEPOTISM
He remains an officer of the Fiji navy even though officers cannot have criminal convictions. NEPOTISM
He was promoted to the role of Commander of the navy. NEPOTISM
He was made a Permanent Secretary. NEPOTISM
Meli, a brother with a drinking problem, with no diplomatic experience is offered the post of High Commissioner to the UK. The UK rejects him, but his brother still sends him off to Malaysia as High Comm. NEPOTISM
Meanwhile Frank, the leader you respect so much, will not allow the new British High Comm to Fiji to enter the country. PETTINESS.
Litiana, Daughter, is made CEO of Fiji Sports Council. NEPOTISM
You say Fiji is no worse than anyone else when it comes to transparency. Yet it scored ZERO out of 100 in Transparency International’s Open budget survey. I think a few other countries have done better than that.
As for the rule of law, there is none when it concerns this regime. The Court of appeal ruled the coup was illegal. So they ignored it and abrogated the constitution. Since then because they know many of their decrees would be illegal if challenged in the courts, they decreed it is illegal to challenge decrees. I cannot see any respect for the rule of law in these decisions.
At the end of the day we all know Bainimarama is a liar. In your view it is fine for him to lie because you know he is telling the truth when he says we will have free and fair elections and real democracy in Fiji in 2014.
In my view Bainimarama will say anything to keep himself in power.
I would say facts backs my hypothesis whereas yours is based on blind faith.
We know no body is a saint when they are in power, but for the time being nothing matters till the new constitution is place and a fair election is held. India the largest democracy in the world and has corruption coming from every hole it has. The core of the thing is Bainimarama gives security to everybody in Fiji. There is no such thing as NOQU VANUA NOQU KALAU. Everybody has equal rights. No politician post Fiji independence has ever done this. So counting all other things which look negative does not matter in the grand scheme.
Here we go again, same old arguements by recycled identities…oh dear.
Graham posts the article and makes every effort to provide an enlightened and logical explanation to views expressed by other bloggers.
Me nah…I’d like to call a mongrel a mongrel and the stripped animal as a frigin mongrel riding zebra.
Vincent, Identify yourself as an i-taukei, Indian and or other than the debate becomes more interesting. You don’t have to reveal yourself but an identity as above will make a telling response.
Vincent is your counting limited to 10 only…..
Oh jeez where do we start with this guy….oh my myy
Oh GOD how about this: Bush about WMD. Julia….carbon tax. John Howard ….baby overboard
Remember Hillary Clinton “mis-spoke” about an issue re: Obama….listen mate your brain is too narrow to provide you with history lesson. You probably won’t get it…frankely.
What I’m trying to say is WHO BLODDY CARES. Go and look for your flat world somewhere else..oh try Samoa.
Hi guys how about this: What would happen if we put all these guys in Samoa with tuitepe..I mean what would we get? You guessed it right…Pacific’s Largest Begging Bowl.
Terry, you there..congrats.
@Davis, Chand and Vinny
We are making progress.
Everyone on this site agrees with me Bainimarama tells lies. We are agreed he has told some pretty big ones and he is equally at home lying to world leaders as he is to the people of Fiji.
In his defense you say:
“Well other leaders lie so that makes it ok for Bainimarama to lie”
“He was under pressure and backed into a corner so that makes it ok for him to lie”
So the question I have for you all is how do you know he is telling the truth now?
How do you know there will be elections in 2014?
Are you sure he was not under pressure or did not want to upset his hosts when he announced the roadmap in 2009? Don’t forget the people of Fiji had to wait for over 2 years before they saw the roadmap. It was obviously created after he made the announcement.
How do you know Bainimarama will accept the election results?
Are you sure he won’t treat it the same way as the Court of Appeal. If I get the right result I will accept it but if the vote goes the wrong way I will just cancel the election.
We will probably have Davis writing on Grubsheet that the voters of Fiji by rejecting Bainimarama left him no option but to carry on as dictator.
We all know Bainimarama is a liar. Davis, Chand and Vinny all have some special power that lets them know when Bainimarama is telling the truth.
Please share, tell me how you know Bainimarama for once has told the truth and 2014 will bring us true democracy?
Vincent,
I will speak for myself….Lets accept some truths:
Since Independance in 1970 and to date, the country has been ruled by the majority i-taukei leadership- cum Alliance governments…say for approximately 40 of the 42 years.
And guess who benefitted from the so called democracy then…
Oh boy I did mention earlier that your brain is too small to grasp history and I don’t intend to make this column a history lesson for you…
You sound like a half baked brain hoping to gain some mileage about who said what and who did what….like a little child suddenly let free during playtime and hoping to create some mischief and when the heat is turned on him, runs to the teacher. In the afternoon he would then brag to the neighbouring children of his “heroics”, little known to the children that what a pathetic soul he is…..sound familiar…this is you.
My hope is that Bainimarama continues telling “lies” and there is no election…
I can understand how you feel, after living on handouts for so long its a hard life now….eh Vincent.
Oh yea he is telling lies, go tell your neighbour, write a petition to Bob Carr….better still live on hope that some how the 1997 constitution will be in place and you will be sitting somewhere up there and rubbing your hands with glee…keep on hoping. If it makes you feel better….yea why not ….really keep on hoping.
I suggest you write more than 10 points so your people will take you seriously….no kidding..at least they will think you can count beyond 10…and 40+ years of chief rule will have borne some fruit. Go ride a Zebra with the mongrel by your side…give him a ride as well…have a conversation with tuitepe.
Oh I forgot….living on hope is the wisdom of a fool….
Bula vinaka Mr Davis, congratulations to Peter Thomson, “what goes around comes around in spades” I am so grateful for his presence in Washington as a “kai viti” I know exactly how he feels about our beloved country – his passion and committment to his father’s vision, continues to live on in his son. I wish Peter and Marijcke all the very best wishes for the work they continue to do for our beloved country. May they continue to stay blessed, Vinaka
I have met Mr. Peter Thompson in various government engagements/negotiations & no doubt about his credibility – he comes across as a man who is genuinely passionate and deeply commited about development issues in Fiji.
The Fiji government is indeed blessed to secure his services in this challenging period.
Graham,
You described Bainimarama’s lies as “not world-class porkies”
How can you say “We will have elections in 2009. Oh no wait a minute I did not mean that and did not want to upset my Tongan hosts, we will have elections 5 years later” is not a world class porkie.
As a result of that gross lie Bainimarama will be our dictator for 8 years. The same as a 2 term elected US President.
He is now saying the exact same thing. We will have elections in 2014. Why are you so convinced Bainimarama is telling the truth this time?
Then we have the Fiji Court of Appeal ruling in 2009 which you say forced him to abrogate the constitution. He did not like the decision of the court and so he just made their ruling irrelevant. Why are you so convinced Bainimarama will accept the election result? What if the people vote for Qarase or a Qarase Chaudhry coalition? Will you be writing that the people left him with no alternative to overthrowing parliament and continuing on as dictator?
You have staked your reputation on Bainimarama. You have written dozens of articles in support and you have overlooked his obvious faults as being inconsequential. Please I want to understand why you believe Frank is a man of honor and what he is doing is all for the good of Fiji.
In my view the evidence points the other way but I will keep an open mind.
Your Excellency, Peter Thomson, if you read your mate’s Grubsheet, perhaps you could also reply as well. You too have staked your reputation on Bainimarama and believe he is doing the right thing. What convinced you he will keep his word and lead Fiji to a true democracy?
@ Vincent
No one is taking their reputation on Bainimarama! Dont be so silly.
People like Peter Thomson are loyal Fiji citizens who want to give something back to the land of their birth, to help steer Fiji back onto the right path; a path that went awry with the Qarase government’s policy of marginalising ethnic minorities and of maintaining close relations with those ethno-nationlist thugs who raped and pillaged in the aftermath of the 200 coup.
Qarase was even going to visist the Patron of the SDL party in prison (the Qaranivalu) to take policy directions from him, a prisoner proffering advice to the PM of a country!!!!
Then the Qoliqoli meant that people like you could not go down to the Nasese sea wall to cast your line without getting the paid permission of the chief at Suvavou. people of Waiqanake village were intercepting boaters and recreational anglers out near namuka passage and demanding payment for using their ‘qoliqoli’.
You are quick to point out the faults of the Bainimarama government but you conveniently choose to ignore the transgressions of the people he replaced.
Your problem is one of ‘selective recall’.
Lets face it Vincent, Qarase as PM failed to provide a unifying vision for Fiji. At least Frank is abolishing all the racists barriers that Qarase and his government flourished under. Frank is creating a level playing field. Dont you like that?
You must be an ardent ethno-nationalist masquaerading under the name Vincent.
People like Peter Thomson dont have to respond to your drivel. They have much more important things to worry about than engaging you in some petty childish debate. Their reputation is none of your business. In Peter’s case he is an award winning author, a loyal civil servant who has served Fiji well and continues to do so on the international stage. His reputation remains intact, despite who he worked or works for, be it the previous Mara government, the former GG in Fiji (Ganilau) and the current Fiji government under Bainimarama.
You dont seem to understand that he is a professional civil servant. They dont stake their reputations on a personality, but on the quality of their performance in whatever role they are assigned to fulfil.
And Peter is doing that in spades.
@Pious,
I was just a s critical of Qarase as I am of Bainimarama. At the time I thought he was the worst PM in Fiji’s history, but then Bainimarama has come along and is far far worse. And no I am not an ethno nationalist.
I was a staunch Alliance supporter and I believed in Ratu Mara’s view of a multi racial Fiji. Fiji has to be multi racial but dictatorship is not the answer.
Peter Thomson will damage his reputation if Bainimarama does not keep his commitments. He is not just any loyal civil servant. He had not worked in Fiji for over 20 years and if we are to believe Grubsheet he took up this post at the personal request of Bainimarama. In so doing he has shown he believes Bainimarama is doing the right thing. Now if Bainimarama reneges on elections or refuses to accept the result of the elections then Thomson will look the fool. All the ambassadors and world leaders that he has persuaded that Bainimarama is doing the right thing will look at him and think he either knowingly lied to them or he was as big a fool as they were.
Let us hope for all our sakes Bainimarama keep his word about 2014, but on past performance Bainimarama finds it easier to lie than to keep his word.
@ Vincent
I have problems following your reasoning.
How can the repuattion of Peter Thomson’s (and other Fiji diplomatic reps overseas) be damaged by Frank not holding trus to his words? If Frank tells a porky then surely it is Frank’s reputation that wil be damaged, not others!
When Bill Clinton was impeached for lying for not having sex with ‘that woman’, the damge was to his reputation and not all of those who were US amabassdaors etc at the time! Reputation is a personal asset that you either build up or destroy it yourself by your own behaviour.
And what’s this about Peter not having worked in Fiji for 20 years? So what? Many Fiji born professionals have gone overseas for many years and are now coming back to settle now that we have the dual citizenship facility in place. In Peter’s case he was kicked out by your hero Rabuka. Peter did not have a choice as he had no employment in Fiji. How was he to feed his family?
And what is wrong with accepting Frank’s call for help? Your hero Mara did the same thing when Rabuka called him. Mara went onto to justify his siding with Rabuka saying that he could not just stand idly by hile his house was burning. So why cant Peter, and many other ex Fiji citizens do the same?
Peter is doing it for Fiji! He is not doing it for Frank, Kubuabola, Khaiyum or Bole etc. You are personalising issues too much and expect Peter to hold to a greater standard than any others before him had ever reached, including your hero Mara. Are you not being unreasonable in your judgement?
Not only have you personalised issues, you are trivialising the issue by raising silly hypothetical scenarios eg what if Frank does not do this, or do that, then what?
Stop worrying about people looking like fools. Its none of your business that they choose to. Its their problem not yours.
You just stay grounded and take things one at a time. Rome was not built in a day. Just stay positive and do what you can to ensure a just future for all.
Oh my God…..when it was time for me to have some garam garam bhajia, here comes another burnt out pakora.
Oh Jeez, where is Terry and his sidekick… man….seriously.
I can now understand gods own tortureuos plan for this blog:
Terry then petelo then mongrel then zebra then wilson and wilson then vincent then Terry…..ok Lord I understand your parichay….in order to reap the wonderful fruits of labour, we the chosen ones will have to toil and weed out them likes above…and you said do it with joy.
And so I will……
And lord methinks it was vincent (Caps deliberately ommitted…even Terry deserves a Capital T)who was in possession of the RED FILE to advantage the Alliance Party to victory in the 70’s/80’s. But he was a supporter of Ratu Mara and his so called multi-cultural vision. Yeah ok so what if Alliance was 98% ethnic with support from Indian business community (who by the way were not indentured labourers kins but fly by night money grabbing opportunists, remember Wadan Narsey). They had support from the General Electors and the lone Rotuma stamp.
Oh no..no..Motibhai had tendered for the airport shops and so what if he was friends with Ratu Mara.
And what about Yatu Lau Investments…meant only for the Lauans…..oh no..no..you cant say that…it was vincent’s democratic Fiji….its ok
What about putting some guy named Qarese as head of the Fiji Development Bank …oh no..no it was all above board….you see Fiji is vincent’s democracy.
Umm the bank that offered $100,000 loan in lieu of a guitar….I’m only interested to what happened to the guiter…at least that’s what I deserve from vincent’s Democracy.
You know vincent, too bad that you are driving on the other side of the road now….as far as I know you are a spectator in this changing world…..a spectator like in a boxing match, sitting in the stadium and shadow boxing the head of the guy in front of you during the bout….matau…mawi
Oh Jeez
@ Vincent
Some good advice there from Pious. Please reflect on it deeply. Vinaka Pious (totoka na nomu vakamacala = great comeback)
Vincent, you obviously dont like Frank and his idea of equal citizenship, level playing field etc. Clearly you are therefore Frank’s anti-hero.
So who then are your heroes? Lets explore that question using simple deductive reasoning.
If Frank and his commitment to the ‘equality’ or ‘equal citizenship’ paradigm is your antithesis (he is your anti-hero), then it is clear that your heroes must be those who advocate the opposite i.e. those who ascribe to the ‘hegemonic paradigm.- viz, Butadroka, Speight, Rabuka, Qarase etc.
That is not to say that you are wrong. But it does help explain your biases that is clear from your postings.
My only request is that you tone down the anti-Frank hyperbole. It does not add to the quality of your argument.
You are falling into the same trap as Wilson who has allowed his emotions to get the better of him as exemplified by his aggresive and thuggish threats to shoot and beat people up on the streets etc.
Now that is totally uncalled for and he deserves to be thrown out of the house to go wash his mouth out, and return only when he can meet the minimum standards of decency and decorum we expect of an educated and enlightend person.
Sa koya ga oya (that is all)
Maras government was not real multicultural may a token one. All the MASI Polo indo Fijians in alliance party had a motive to get their business dealings reach great heights with maras help for some kickbacks. Good that mahend patel was put in prison. He was the leader of MASI polos. What is happening know is real change for equality.Every citizen is equal. One man one vote. Let the etho nationalist bark as much as they want The army will do what is right even if they have to be in power for a long time. I don’t have any problems with it.
The question I am hoping to get an answer for is: Why do you believe Bainimarama, a habitual liar, when he says we will have elections in 2014?
So far not one person has tried to answer that question.
The answers to date have been.
Making excuses for his lies
Slagging off the previous political leaders in Fiji
Insulting me and my brain capacity
Calling me a racist
Accusing me of begging for Government handouts.
There has not been one coherent response and Davis himself has gone particularly quiet on the issue. Perhaps he realizes that giving a false election date to regional leaders is more than just a small porkie.
Davis and Thomson’s reputations they are in danger. They have allied themselves very closely to a dictator. They have only pushed the Fiji issue since Bainimarama has come to power. They are seen as his allies first and pro Fiji second.
I am sure they are both supporting him for the right reasons. However, their credibility and reputation is beholden on him keeping his word and delivering true democracy and then accepting the result.
If he fails then so do their reputations. If you look at this blog Davis claims to have an insight on Fiji that possessed by no other journalist. If Bainimarama fails to deliver then that insight will be seen by all as gullibility. Being known as gullible is the end for a respected journalist.
In Thomson’s case he accepted the job at the personal request of a dictator. He has told lies to world leaders and fellow ambassadors on the orders of a dictator. If the dictator does not deliver then Thomson’s credibility at the UN is no more.
vincent..vincent,
You are a coward and a boofhead hiding behind vincentia facade and why should anybody care for what you believe or think is the truth…..or not for that matter. If dear Bob and Mcully does not matter why should you….. boy go take a break.
Some bug hiding in his little dark corner trying to determine the credibility of others. Boy if you did not understand what Pious, Komai have said in the earlier blogs, I don’t think you will ever understand.
Like I said you’re on the other side of the road shadow boxing all the time…aimless.
Some slimey grime on the credibility of others…..hey boy, go and help those guys out in Fiji….go and contribute, do something you moron.
And I wish Graham does not respond to this identity-less grub. Man I have so much respect for Terry…at least we know who he is.
My name is Chand and I am an Indo Fijian (and a Fijian by the new definition) and my mission is to assist in the development of the nation in a positive way so tomorrow every one of its citizens (and hopefully you 2) can stand up shoulder to shoulder, proud and tell the world once again “This is the way the world should be”….not by words by deeds. A nation of peoples who do not rely on charities and handouts but proudly Fijian. I would also embrace i-Taukeis as the first peoples of the land that deserve better, much better than what the previous regimes and so called vincents democracy could not provide……..for all i-taukeis…
What will you do vincent? This is what I and a lot of the bloggers want to know. What are your plans and aspirations for Fiji? What do you want….
Vincent, me going quiet doesn’t indicate anything other than I’ve been out of email range for a couple of days and have more pressing things to do than wait breathlessly for every contribution of yours. I answered you in detail at the start and you’ve chosen to keep harping on about the same issues. I don’t do repetition if I can avoid it, sorry. But you’re welcome to your own views and always welcome here. You may be sometimes infuriating but you seem like a decent bloke.
Vincent has fixed views that Frank is a liar and that he will not change. He has obviously not studied politics which is based on the idea of ‘everything is possible’ as exemplified by the backflips by politicians eg John Howard and his ‘core’ and ‘non core’ promises, Kevin Rudd turning his back on greenhouse emmissions, Julia Gillard with her carbon tax etc
At least he is not abusing and threatening to shoot people and beat them up on the streets like that other cyberthug who you have dismissed.
@Graham
Glad you are back on your own site. Chand and Tomu have not done a good job in your absence and their arguments seem to be lacking either coherence or a point.
You did reply and basically excused Bainimarama’s catalogue of lies.
But the question I have for you is how you know he is telling the truth now? He lied once about elections how do you know he is not lying again?
He did not like the verdict of a court so he abrogated the constitution. How do you know he won’t like the verdict of the electorate and take over again as dictator?
You are obviously convinced that he will keep his word this time round. Why?
Vincent, I don’t have a crystal ball and don’t know whether the PM is lying or not. The proof of the purini will be in the eating, so to speak. That said, I firmly believe that they have all done an extraordinary job in government given the forces ranged against them.
The great untold story is how effective provincial government by many of the most talented military officers in Fiji has transformed the delivery of services to ordinary people. I believe this will be the bedrock of Frank Bainimarama’s transformation from military to civilian leader in 2014.
If he can govern effectively, not yield to corruption and fulfil the undertakings he’s made, I think he’ll be rewarded at the polls. Because his defining achievement is to level the playing field for all citizens and give everyone a sense of belonging by pronouncing us all Fijians. Call me stupid, call me naive but who else is offering a similar blueprint?
I just hope you are right but I doubt it.
If he is a man of honor you will be proved right.
But in my book he has no honor and the future is all about him first and Fiji second.
I’ll tell all you gang a little something. Before you decide to think like an estabilished certified grammatician, I’ll have you know that I’m being grammatically horrible by choice in support of PT and his “Fijian Patoirs”. If you ask me, this government has done more than all its predecessors have collectively because it chooses to talk after the work has been done and not before as is typical politician practice. So, we could just walk the old ‘I support the cause but not the means’ line or be grateful for what they’ve done.
Yes, it seems to have a few of the iTaukei nationalist fullahs that had a hand in waking PT up that night in Musket Cove but they’ve obviously matured and now have nothing but the greater good on their agendas … or maybe JFB just runs a tight ship and is doing a good job of keeping them in line.
However, there is no better choice for our man in the Big Apple HQ of the UN than PT … Which brings me to Mongrel’s outburst, bro, whachu trying to prove, bringing the fullah’s dead father into this?
I don’t know whether you were in the picture by then or not in ’87 but PT sacrificed his well-being as well as of those dear to him by staying true to the then-Governor-General, Turaga na Tui Caka Sa Bale, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau. You try doing that for 3 days, then we can seriously consider your views over one jug at O’s ….
Take a rest mate…I think you deserve one and please keep your book safely (no pun intended) in case we need to compare notes in future.
Really you deserve a break
Chand
You make no point other than to say I am stupid and you are a Fijian. Good for you, I am a Fijian too.
I imagine we both want the same thing.
A Multi Racial Fiji
An Economically Strong Fiji
Good Governance and transparency from the Government of the day
Elections every 4-5 years
No Corruption
Great education
Improved Healthcare
Better infrastructure
NO POTHOLES
You get my point.
I do not believe Bainimarama is the man to deliver what I want. He is making an attempt at a multi racial Fiji but he is failing deliver on every other front.
But unfortunately Frank has little sense of the truth and even less sense of reality and so Fiji is going nowhere.
He has broken every one of his promises he made to the country in 2006 – Except stopping the Qoliqoli bill, the reconciliation bill and the Indigenous Fijian laws – and he expects us to believe that he will keep his promise for free and fair elections. I am sorry that seems so unlikely.
Chand please name any dictators that have willingly given up power. It just does not happen.
Do you get my point now?
vincent,
oh boy….your point being bai is a liar and my point being…WHO BLODDY CARES.
Me thinks like this…let the mongrel bark and bark and bark…..it will tire itself out. The sun will still rise from the east, the zebra will retain its stripe and the sun will set in the west. Then the mongrell will bark again and again and again until it will tire itself out…and the sun will……
And thus the cycle will continue……and the rat will eventually retreat into its hole and feed on its dropping.
The rats and the mongrels and the zebras will not change the course of history…they merely become spectators and commentators in the ever changing scape of this nation……need I say more to you vincent.
Vincent
you are just farting in the wind boy.
Vinaka Tomu, u just said it in 8 words that I have been trying for a while..some people just don’t get it.
Chand,
The Voters will BLOODY CARE
Now it is proven the Permanent Secretary for Information lies on air.
Bainimarama not content with lying himself has hired an Australian to lie to her fellow countrymen.
The military Junta is made up of all the biggest liars in Fiji.
Fiji TV is still waiting for their License.
As of 9.00 am on Wednesday 27th June, Fiji TV is still waiting for their new license to be issued by the Minister of Communications Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum.
Fiji TV was assured in writing by the minister in October of last year that their license will be renewed. However, they have been waiting ever since for the license. The staff of the ministry had completed all their approvals early this year and the only thing holding up the issuing of the license is the signature of the minister.
It needs to be noted that last month during a meeting between the Minister and the Chairman of Fiji TV a discussion took place over Fiji TV’s news coverage. It was made plain to the Chairman that Fiji TV needed to reduce its coverage of 2 elected prime ministers of Fiji, both of whom were overthrown in coups involving personnel from the Fiji Military.
Sharon Smith Johns, the permanent secretary for the Ministry of information, lied on air in an interview with Bruce Hill of the Pacific Beat. She said on the 14th June “At the end of the day the story was not true, and it’s been proven not true and I am not going to go into the details of the meeting or the story behind it, we know that a license has been given to Fiji TV, end of story”
We now know that what Smith Johns said is not true, it has been proven to be not true and Fiji TV is still waiting for their license
Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, the Minister of communications, is the brother of Riyaz Khaiyum the CEO of FBC. FBC recently launched a free to air TV service in opposition to Fiji TV. The cost of $22m was funded by a Government guaranteed loan organized by the Aiyaz Khaiyum for the benefit of his brother’s company.
Fiji TV is currently making contingency plans to end their service at midnight on Saturday 30th June when their current license expires. If they are forced off air it will lead to hundreds of people losing their jobs. This will be another massive blow to the livelihoods of many families and force more below the poverty line.
In addition it will leave the only broadcaster of TV news in Fiji in the hands of the brother of Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum who holds 8 ministerial portfolios in the military Junta.
On Thursday 20th June the new Television Amendment Decree was gazette by the president. One clause of the decree is as follows:
“The Television Decree 1992 is also amended with the inclusion that no court, tribunal, commission or any other adjudicating body shall have the jurisdiction to accept, hear, determine or in any other way entertain any challenges by any person or body which question any decision by the Minister, the validity of the process of the issuance of any license and any condition imposed by the Minister in granting a license.”
This gives Khaiyum total control to revoke Fiji TV’s license at any time allowing him to continue to pressure the company to provided news favorable to the military Junta and unfavorable for the groups pressing for a return of democracy in Fiji.
aare vincent, your point being?????
Vincent
Looks like you are lying to yourself!!
vincent, boy here is the link where you could lodge your concerns to:
Level 1, Government Building FMFMII
ELEELE-FOU
Samoa
Email: info@savalinews.com
Phone: 26938 or 63222
Fax: 21339
The person to address your concerns is:Editor
Name: Tupuola Terry Tavita Leupolu or otherwise known as “Double Matai” or “Big Ciief Plenty Shit”, or Plenty Opinion Big Shit” Any of these calls will definately get you to him.
Tell him Chand aka Terrior RC sent you.
Ps..he may also let you stay at his place…I know Petelo resides there…..oh and try to stay there. I think you will love that democracy….now go on boy….
vincent
Dont forget to visit PM tuitepe while you are there
Peter Thomson, for you fathers sake, your families sake, give it up.
It will all turn to sand in your mouth.
Vincent has articulated the sentiments of the family .
Mason Smith was an exceptional administrator, and he is a loss to agriculture in Fiji, but ultimately, I can only be happy for him. He has saved his reputation.
Peter, you work for ruthless, sociopathic bosses involved in corruption so deep and criminal, that employees of FiCAC fear for their lives for knowing.
Mongrel, don’t you have anywhere else to cock your leg and drop your daily load? I really enjoy some of the interaction here with sane people who are anti-regime. But this kind of intervention just leaves me cold. “For your father’s sake?” Give us a break. Thomson Senior would have been very proud of his son for coming back to assist Fiji, and especially to advance its cause on the world stage.
Looney tune ethno-nationalists like Wilson Tamanikaira play the same squalid game with me. ” Isa, your father would be rolling in his grave if he knew what you were doing”. Yes, at the shameless audacity of idiots like you resorting to emotional blackmail to try to score your cheap political points.
@ Mongrel,
I have a cross breed aptly named Pirate because he had a black patch on his right eye. In your Qarase cum – Vincent’s 1997 constitutional democratic system he would be classified as Beddoes General/Other and would be pissing and shitting and barking anywhere as he pleased, a “priviledge” he would have enjoyed as a mongrel would.
Why.????
Fast Forward…
Not my Pirate…oh no.no..he has lost his patch though, disciplined and well behaved…never lived on handouts and earned his daily meal ….yea thats right.
Nobody describes him as across breed…oh no..no. Though small in stature he is regarded as equal amongst all other breeds….put him in a field with others, he has a natural attraction to make friend…..he earned it though.
Not the Mongrel…he continues to bark and bark and bark as there is no tomorrow. While all other including my Pirate enjoys and plays together, the mongrel is usually tied up, or within the confines of his old boundry fence, continues to bark. What a pitiful site.
And to rub it all, my Pirate would go and piss near his fence to spite him….I had to descipline him though….but eventually a dog is a dog.
Get it.
For the majority of us who live here in Fiji, we have endured for one generation now.
1987 – 2012 25 years.
First it was Rabuka, Army General turns Political Leader.
Rabuka – 1997 Constitution – the great redemption
…………………………….
Labour Party – 1999
…………………………….
Labour deposed by Bainimarama Coup (aka Speight coup) Treason Count No.1.
( facts unknown to general populace, but to the inner circle, Bainimarama is seen to endorse nationalist agenda)
Qarase installed by Bainimarama
Qarase is the incumbent with resources of the State at his disposal wins election in coalition.
Nationalists emboldened by Bainimarama 2000 Coup given enough oxygen to become coalition government for 5 years.
2005 Qarase takes wind out of nationalists sails and buys election with public funds.
2006 Bainimarama stages his 2nd.Coup . Treason Count No.2
2009 Bainimarama abrogates 1997 Constitution. Treason Count No.3
Boil it down,
1987 -1998 Rabuka
1999 Chaudhry
2000- 2014 Bainimarama (Qarase-Bale, Bainimarama-Khaiyum – bad>worse)
2014 – Bainimarama or else, ……..!
Thank you Grubsheet and C4.5 for entertaining the Lunatic fringe.
Bow-wow
the “lunatic” fringe for one generation now.
“Hoot”, you’ve been excised for obscenity and poor taste. Do it again and I’ll block you permanently. That was totally unacceptable. Why do it?