Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai has raised eyebrows in the military by choosing the day on which his predecessor as Commander, Frank Bainimarama, has had his fate sealed in the courts to meet with one of Bainimarama's most implacable enemies, the former Land Forces Commander, Colonel ( Ret'd) Jone Baledrokadroka. Wearing his hat as Chair of … [Read more...] about # THE TWO JONES. THE RFMF COMMANDER SENDS A POTENT MESSAGE
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# FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS, FIJI. WE’RE IN FOR A BUMPY RIDE (UPDATED)
Despite being demonstrably biased and pre-judging the appeal case against Frank Bainimarama and Sitiveni Qiliho, the Acting Chief Justice, Salesi Temo, refused to stand aside from the case on Thursday and he will re-sentence the pair next Thursday, May 9, at 11.00am. The stage is now set for both men to go to jail, which has all sorts of … [Read more...] about # FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS, FIJI. WE’RE IN FOR A BUMPY RIDE (UPDATED)
# WHAT’S IN A NAME? AIYAZ SAYED HYPHEN SILLYSAUSAGE HYPHEN KHAIYUM
The FijiFirst Opposition has been missing in action for so long that it seems the only time it makes the news is when its principals are before the courts – something party head Frank Bainimarama will do again today (Thursday) when he and Sitiveni Qiliho appear in the High Court before Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo. As we’ve reported before, … [Read more...] about # WHAT’S IN A NAME? AIYAZ SAYED HYPHEN SILLYSAUSAGE HYPHEN KHAIYUM
# THE OTHER LYNDA. A TRAGIC STORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic violence is not just a big issue in Fiji. In Australia, debate has been raging for days about a wave of recent cases of women murdered by their partners and demands by women's rights advocates for a Royal Commission to uncover the extent of a truly alarming crisis. For Fijian women, there is a great deal of resonance in the Australian … [Read more...] about # THE OTHER LYNDA. A TRAGIC STORY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
# THE ONLY DIFFERENCE? ONE WOMAN DIED, THE OTHER DIDN’T
Strange old world, isn't it? One man is charged with killing his partner in a domestic violence incident and if convicted, will spend much of the rest of his life behind bars. The other bashed his wife to within an inch of her life but her father, the Prime Minister, managed to find her in the nick of time and save her. And now her attacker, Aseri … [Read more...] about # THE ONLY DIFFERENCE? ONE WOMAN DIED, THE OTHER DIDN’T
# CHINA’S BIG PACIFIC SETBACK
China has lost its strongest regional supporter with the Solomons leader, Manasseh Sogavare, being forced to stand aside after failing to gain a majority in the country's election. After dominating Solomons politics for four decades, Sogavare 's governing party won just 15 seats, well short of the 26 seats needed to form government . Last year, … [Read more...] about # CHINA’S BIG PACIFIC SETBACK