It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to identify the source of the leaked image of the newly-jailed disgraced Police Commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho, which surfaced on social media on Friday. It is clearly from a prison security camera, which tells us two things. The rotten apples violating Qiliho’s privacy are warders in the control room of the surveillance operation. And those rotten apples are clearly as dumb as some of the police officers who steal seized drugs with the cameras watching because they can so easily be “taken to task” – to use the common parlance that survives from colonial times.
Some people wondered whether it was really Sitiveni Qiliho but his gait in the photo is the same gait on display when he was led from the High Court in handcuffs on Thursday – a stoop that speaks of a man defeated, shamed and knowing there is worse to come. Qiliho will soon be the disgraced former police commissioner with reportedly more charges against him in the pipeline. But as with any prisoner, he deserves the dignity of being able to serve his sentence without falling victim to the prison paparazzi. (There’s evidently also a leaked image of the ousted PM which I haven’t seen.)
It has long been clear that many of Qiliho’s problems as Police Commissioner derived from a lack of appreciation of the independence of his role and excessive deference to his former commander in the military, Frank Bainimarama. His intense loyalty to Bainimarama – going back almost a quarter of a century to helping him quell the mutiny in the RFMF in 2000 – frequently got in the way of his judgment.
When he was instructed to halt the police investigation at USP, Qiliho’s instinct wasn’t to say, as he should have, “Prime Minister, this is wrong and I can’t do that” but to obey the order without question, which is what good soldiers do but not good police commissioners. Bainimarama’s decision to put his loyal lieutenant in the role has proven to be a disaster for both of them. Civilian policing and fighting wars are totally different skills. And let’s hope putting a military officer in as “COMPOL” never happens again.
But here’s a question. Were both Frank Bainimarama and Sitiveni Qiliho really responsible for what happened at USP? Yes, they gave the orders to cease the police investigation there but at whose instigation? It was a question in fertile minds when Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum popped up at a news conference immediately after both men were sentenced. What was his motivation for doing so? Was it guilt that they had carried the can for a collective decision on the part of the leadership that a police investigation at USP wasn’t in the interests of the then government?
Since when had Frank Bainimarama or Sitiveni Qiliho ever taken an interest in Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s war against USP and its Vice Chancellor? The then AG was waging that war personally or through his proxies – his “Uncle Mahmood” Khan or the veteran diplomat, Winston Thompson. Does anyone really think that Frank Bainimarama would have done anything in relation to USP without consulting Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum? He didn’t do it in relation to most things, let alone something Bainimarama knew nothing about. So this was a question exercising many minds long before the ousted PM and suspended Police Commissioner were cuffed and led off to prison. And Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum popping up like a jack-in-the-box almost immediately to extol his leader’s virtues merely underlined that suspicion.
His news conference was ill judged on a number of other fronts. The local media had every reason to ask him in what capacity he was giving it. He is no longer in the parliament and no longer general secretary of FijiFirst. So why weren’t we hearing from the Opposition leader in the parliament, Inia Seruiratu, or from Khaiyum’s successor as party general secretary, Faiyaz Koya?
With mounting petulance, the ousted AG said he was speaking as one of the three founding members of the FijiFirst. Does that mean that the PAP’s token kai valagi, Keith Watkins – a founding member of People’s Alliance – is entitled to hold a news conference on behalf of Sitiveni Rabuka? Of course not.
In PR terms, the ousted AG’s appearance was a disaster that merely underlined the continuing dysfunction in FijiFirst as Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum also faces the prospect of a jail term for abuse of office yet refuses to cede control of FijiFirst to its official office bearers. He is just making it that much harder for Inia Seruiratu to stamp his impression on the public mind as a viable leader and give the nation a viable alternative to the Coalition rabble whenever a fresh election is called.
Mind you, a lack of self awareness sometimes seems as common an affliction in Fiji as “kutu” or STDs. And as she gets older, the lack of self awareness of Shamima Ali – the head of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre – just seems to get worse. As if appearing in public with the Minister for Bonking and Weed and turning a blind eye to a domestic violence abuser as Education Minister isn’t enough, Saint Shamima of Ali appears to think that Australian and New Zealand taxpayers are paying for her to be the saviour of the Palestinian people.
Her claim that the police were harassing her and other pro-Palestinian protestors at their vigil during the week demonstrates that she has well and truly lost the plot. Did the police break up the demonstration? No. Did they angrily remonstrate with Shamima Ali for protesting about events in Gaza without acknowledging the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7? No. So what did they do that got her so upset? They kept watch over the proceedings and took videos of the protest.
Will those videos be used to harass people who took part in the demonstration? According to St Shamima and the rest of the women’s movement, the Coalition has ushered in a new era of “freedom” so surely not. Is there any sign of a violent pro-Israeli stance on the part of the police? Not that has been reported. So what is Shamima Ali’s beef? It isn’t clear. Except that Australian and New Zealand taxpayers are funding her to fight domestic violence in Fiji, not fight Israeli oppression in Palestine. And the sooner she starts doing so without compromise – including objecting to a domestic violence abuser in the education portfolio – the more seriously she will be taken.
Which brings us to the final discombobulating jotting of the week – Sitiveni Rabuka with King Charles at Buckingham Palace as his nemesis – Frank Bainimarama – was being handcuffed and sent to prison. For “Rambo”, it must have been the sweetest moment – “Bai” behind bars and he in the company of the man who handed Fiji its instruments of independence 24 years ago and who has evidently forgiven him for throttling democracy in 1987 and insulting his late mother by removing her as Queen of Fiji without asking her or a single Fijian whether it was OK with them.
Of course, as a constitutional monarch, King Charles has very little say in who the British government tells him to meet. It is all strategic – part of the global campaign by the democracies to keep Fiji and other nations on the inside of their tent pissing out instead of being on the outside with the Chinese pissing in ( to paraphrase the famous Lyndon Johnson quote). In Fiji’s case, they are prepared to turn a blind eye to almost any domestic excess such as the Coalition’s blatant workplace ethnic cleansing as long as the “Snake” doesn’t slither in the direction of Beijing.
For Britain and the Commonwealth, 2024 is also a very important year in the Pacific as the 56 Commonwealth nations gather in Samoa for their heads of government meeting in October, which King Charles is still hoping to attend despite being treated for cancer. It’s a gathering that Fiji tried and failed to secure ourselves back in 2018 but we are still a bigger player in the region than Samoa and a greater strategic prize. So whatever his personal feelings about the man in front of him who committed treason against the Crown in 1987, Charles Philip Arthur George – King Charles III – just had to grin and bear it.
To all mothers, Happy Mother’s Day!
I hope some Fijian Sherlock will uncover Qiliho’s alleged corruption in relation to the ice pandemic in Fiji. He is alleged to have allowed it to spread to this level for his own personal enrichment and that of a set of corrupt officials over a number of years. He’s scum and it’s impossible not to feel that he’s right where he belongs, though not, I agree, for the USP debacle.
Shouldn’t that be “alleged” scum? I have allowed this comment because of Qiliho’s links with the alleged drug trafficker, Zhao Fugang, and in the knowledge that Qiliho is currently being investigated for unexplained wealth. But let’s at least try to stick to the principle that any accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence until they are found guilty in the courts.
Thank you for the Sunday sermon, Your Holy Sanctimoniousness
You can take it or leave it. But at least it doesn’t involve any fasting.
Find out how much assets Qiliho has
Beach front mansion at Fantasy island is one.
And Australia. All of them. And what happens when they get out of jail. Not if, when? Aren’t the assets made from criminal activities supposed to be seized?
Let’s put it into raising the minimum wage though I’m fed up with being told this won’t and can’t happen. Usually by business owners. Question-if we can pay $20 an hour albeit part time -then why can’t the minimum wage be raised past $6 an hour?
In regards to Qliho’s photo being released I’m very much against this.
Careful, you never know who is next. You are not the final judge nor jury.
I find these images sad for Fiji.
Vinaka Graham, for this splendid Sunday breakfast reading.
One of the latest all-iTaukei COC appointments, Dr Nakarawa, has to begin his work first in Jerusalemi as they say. The leadership and strategic vision that yesterday’s Sun says he brings to the Corrections Commissioner’ post, should be used to eradicate the lack of professionalism, among others, with his officers. Qiliho’s leaked photo would be just the tip of the iceberg. The new Commissioner should then assist and share lessons with his Police counterpart to help address his own issues, especially in-house drug disappearances, peddling and consumption.
On ASK, the ongoing FF scenario particularly the apparent gagging of Seruiratu will continue as long as he is free outside prison.
Shamima, “shameful and unacceptable” too (as FBC puts it in relation to Police response to your protest) is your deafening silence on, and thus support for, Lynda’s bonking and weeding as well as on Aseri’s domestic violence offences. Isa, our dear children’s future.
On the elusive and untruthful Rambo, if only he was a guest of the BBC’s Hard Talk program while in London. Who would forget Tim Sebastian’s direct questions and debate with the then PM Chaudhry on, among other issues, his appointment of his own son, Lawyer Rajen to be his secretary at the PM’s office? It would have been good training for our “now free” media, especially for Vijay to up his Fiji Village hard talk game.
Totally agree with Anonymous.
You’ve excelled with your comment re lack of self awareness in Fiji being as common as kutus and STDs…that should do more for your credentials as a kai viti botoboto than any of your protestations to date….
Frank has given standing orders to have the party deregistered if it is evident that FijiFirst MPs are not adhering to the core values, objectives and vision enshrined in the FijiFirst Constitution. He had several meetings with the party and the executive committee to keep MPs in check. There are ethnic factions within FijiFirst. Frank will not allow the party to continue if MPs cannot or do not want to carry through his vision for a united Fiji. He will form a new party if he needs to. ASK was instructed to hold the press conference immediately after Frank’s sentencing and announce that Frank remains Leader. Frank knew what was coming, he had instructed his lawyers to handle his legal affairs long before he walked into court.
If this is true then it is Frank who is living in cloud cuckoo land. To instruct ASK to hold a news conference to say that Frank remains leader and bypass Inia Seruiratu as the parliamentary leader is political madness. It certainly blew up in their faces on the day. ASK was completely inept. The man is going to jail and his political career is over. And everyone knows it except Aiyaz and Frank. Bib and Bub. Not prepared to stick it out on the opposition benches and reinvent themselves to be more competitive next time but still wanting to call the shots from behind the scenes.The Fijian people aren’t that stupid.
It is high time FFP gives Inia and Naupoto the limelight. Naupoto is a very humble and honest person I have ever known. A decorated Commander in leadership skills.
I see Naupoto as Fiji’s next PM and Inia being his assistant. FFP will thrive with Naupoto. While I am sad for Bainimarama and Qiliho. FFP supporters need to throw them votes at Naupoto and Inia in 2026.
FFP will succeed with a change at its helm. With Bai and soon Kai will go to jail. Their political career is over and dusted. Same goes for Rambuka. He won’t be fit enough to lead for another term.
Potential PM three way battle will be Inia, Naupoto and Kamikamica. NFP will not win any seats in the next elections. The Girmit celebration says it all about NFP and its decline. More Indians are staying away from Politics now.
Naupoto for future PM. An inclusive politician he’ll be great.
Kamikamica without his surname is a non-entity, an average accountant.
Inia has been a failure.
All this while Bimaan and Sashi Kiran of NFP on the receiving end of public buturaki for a publicity stunt this Girmit day.
Fijians of Indian origin seeking forgiveness. For what??
If any end of Bimaans political coffin was still un-nailed, this has nailed it and applied super glue on it. We will not let voters forget this story come next elections.
What a horror show NFP has become. If Jai Ram reddy, AD Patel could be brought back to life, i bet they’d give Binam a personal boot on his bum. All while Richard Naidu is asleep or busy explaining Fijis voting line at the UN…big dumbo.
Naupoto is the same former Commander who couldn’t comprehend what 131 obligations are under the Constitution. This was revealed during the debate on the Privileges Committee Report shortly before Frank was suspended from Parliament. Frank and ASK are the only ones who knew how to manage FijiFirst and how be an effective Government/Opposition. Without them in active positions, the party is a disaster. Whatever led to their exit from Parliament/Government/political life is irrelevant. The fact that they are not running the party or Opposition is apparent. Opposition MPs cannot call themselves alternate Government when they’re constantly making a fool of themselves or quiet on issues that should be talked about. Frank and ASK are and have always been FijiFirst. Opposition MPs should resign and become independents or walk over to Govt side. They’re shameful as an Opposition party. Whatever they say about ASK, he is a fighter. He isn’t scared. With the number of legal challenges they’re mounting on him, he doesn’t hide in some little corner. He’s out there carrying out Frank’s mandate. More power to him. The worst thing you can do to a political opponent is to jail him. Frank and ASK are gaining more support every single day.
Absolutely agree. GD has misjudged this completely. He’d previously said ASK would abscond to Australia and stay put, but people who know him are acutely aware that ASK is a fighter. Fiji First are the largest political party in Fiji. Rabuka is bereft of ideas, so sling mud, hope something sticks, lock them up. When you help people in Fiji, this is what you get – jail. I’m appalled. See it for what it is, a witch hunt. Doh!
I actually said he would be best advised to stay in Australia because they intend to jail him. He is the next cab off the rank. If he was a fighter, why did he leave the parliament? Why did he resign as FFP general secretary? Now he wonders why his credibility is shot.
The world is aghast with the slaughter of Palestinians by Israel.
May 14 is an important date for apartheid Israel. It’s their “independence” date.
May 14 1987 is an important date in Fiji’s history as well. It’s the date when Rabuka destroyed democracy in Fiji. It’s the date when the Girmityas arrived in Fiji in 1879. Apparently Rabuka has previously said that it was no coincidence but an appropriate day to stage his military coup.
No word from Rabuka and the other SODELPA Bible bangers about the genocide in Gaza apparently because of their support of Israel.
Their silence is deafening.
Graham, I think Ash is right. Please use your expertise to determine the image is fake. Close inspection suggests Qiliho’s head, particularly at the left neck line isn’t aligned and perhaps is the head shot of him leaving court?
Be good for us to get an answer as your story makes many inferences.
Definitely appreciate your journalistic prowess and insider perspective but….
It has already been confirmed by the Commissioner for Corrective Services that someone in the system is facing disciplinary charges for leaking the images of both Sitiveni Qiliho and Frank Bainimarama. So the image is authentic.
This pic seems like a Photoshop job gone wrong. I see dead giveaways of overzealous editing. I stand to be corrected.