Long-time readers of Grubsheet will recall that I came under withering attack in the aftermath of the 2022 election for suggesting that elements in the RFMF were extremely unhappy about some of the new government’s policies and conduct.
I came in for particular criticism for publishing (on my old Facebook page) a series of purported military intelligence reports that went so far as to urge an intervention to remove the government. It was always unclear precisely where these reports were coming from. While the RFMF Commander, Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, said they didn’t have his imprimatur, they had a definite ring of authenticity and were mostly leaked to me by more than one source. Which is why I took them seriously and decided, on balance, that the public had a right to see them.
There was inevitably a vicious backlash against me for allegedly destabilising the new government, some critics even suggesting that I had made them up or that they had been written by Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and/or his brother, Riyaz. Yet I was able to verify that those who leaked them to me were either in the military or said they were doing so on behalf of senior RFMF officers. And on that basis, I regarded them as legitimate. In the end, they stopped coming, which suggests that the Commander was able to neutralise those elements who were restive.
Suddenly, months later, comes confirmation that all was not well and from none other than the Home Affairs Minister, Pio Tikoduadua, who has been the Coalition’s principal conduit to Kalouniwai right from the star. It was clearly a tense time, as Tikoduadua recounted in a speech to the NFP Convention at the weekend.
So despite the denials, it turns out there was a problem. Yet this is not about Grubsheet being vindicated but why Pio Tikoduadua would be giving a public speech close to the two year anniversary of the government’s victory warning people not to “sway the RFMF”. It suggests that someone is doing so or the Home Affairs Minister wouldn’t be canvassing such a sensitive issue at a public forum. And “sway” in what direction?
Have the rumblings of last year resurfaced? Is there now serious pressure being brought to bear on the military to intervene to curb the Coalition’s excesses? We occasionally get comments here on Grubsheet urging the RFMF to step in to remove the government. But is that pressure now coming from serious quarters?
Are people of substance in politics or the wider establishment trying to “sway” the RFMF Commander to intervene? It’s a reasonable assumption to make when someone of the stature of the Home Affairs Minister raises it not as a casual aside but in a formal speech to a forum like the NFP Convention.
And what could have prompted this pressure? The removal of Francis Puleiwai, whose husband is in the military? The scandalous appointment of Barbara Malimali as FICAC Commissioner when she was under investigation for alleged abuse of office as chair of the Electoral Commission?
Or is the volcano finally rumbling over the release of George Speight and Shane Stevens, something Frank Bainimarama always said would never happen but that Jone Kalouniwai has allowed as part of his misguided dedication to “truth and reconciliation”?
Here’s one of the last emails I got back in March from someone I had already verified as a member of the military and had been a reliable source. Angry and to the point, accusing the Commander of betrayal.
QUOTE: “The Commander’s interview on Straight Talk: absolute crap. I and many other RFMF personnelle (sic) were there and saw with our own eyes and heard with our own ears when he sat next to former commander Bainimarama and assured him that he would not allow the mutineers and 2000 coup culprits to be released. He said he would remove the Government if he had to.
Turns out that was the sweet lie of the serpent to delay action. Now he has become the biggest Liumuri, going and claiming on Straight Talk that he was asked to remove people and didn’t act as if he is some kind of hero. He must be exposed for the snake he is: bought by the highest bidder.” UNQUOTE.
Such bitter sentiment doesn’t just dissipate. Is there still significant disaffection in the ranks of the RFMF? Why is the Home Affairs Minister going public urging unnamed figures against trying to “sway” the RFMF? You don’t say something like this lightly given Fiji’s turbulent history. So something has prompted these extraordinary comments. But what?
And a question that will inevitably be on the minds of many trying to read between the lines of Pio Tikoduadua’s speech. If the volcano is again rumbling, what is the risk that it will blow?
POSTSCRIPT:
More reaction this morning to Sitiveni Rabuka’s nauseating speech to the NFP convention portraying himself as protector of the minorities and champion of multiculturalism.
It was a PR disaster for both the Prime Minister and his enablers in the NFP. Credibility? Zero.
Wacol Inmate says
Understandly as an Indian, Nishant Singh of Lautoka is focussed only on promoting an Indian candidate for President. For him it has to be a two-way race between the i’taukei and the kai India.
Candidates from ethnic minority groups should also be considered.
Graham Davis says
That is a presumption on your part. It is about the head of state being chosen irrespective of ethnic background and not always being iTaukei ( Or Rotuman in the case of Jioji Konrote)
Happy mongoose says
Hey, kool-aid drinking wacolo wacko man–how’s about a presidenti of Chinese heritage?
There’s an excellent candidate if you ask vasu the ginger bread man. Or, how’s about the king ping fella in flagstaff?
The poor bastards of the slave trade from Solomons and Vanuatu are out as they are detested if you ask the child molester speaker.
Better still, how’s about a woman presidenti? The Kuini of Tarti? Shashi crying kiran? No
Shame-ima Ali?
Wacol wacko man, a right royal flucker, you are. Drink more kool-aid juice of hate.
Graham Davis says
You do have a way with words. Vinaka 🙂
Anonymous 2 says
Pio was reflecting on the early days of change of Government after the elections Dec 2022 when elements within the defeated Fiji First party cooked up stories of ethnic conflict to justify the President declaring a state of emergency thus ensuring a continuation of the Bai-Kai dictatorship. Fortunately good sense prevailed and democracy was allowed to take its course.
The military in Fiji is firmly behind their Commander who has the backing of the political leadership including the Opposition and other minority parties. He also has the backing of the GCC. In fact, the whole country is behind him as they are sick of coups and seek a safe, secure and prosperous Fiji. Any fool with half a brain can see that.
What Pio is saying is that the Army is united under the Commander who now realises that the social and econonic problems in Fiji cannot be resolved by military means.
Graham Davis says
A nice try at spin. But he actually warned unnamed people not to “sway the RFMF”. Which suggests it is happening or why say it?
Getting private messages to say the RFMF is not happy about what has happened at FICAC and is in touch with Francis Puleiwai. So if that is true, it is not exactly the rosy picture you are trying to paint.
Anonymous 2 says
I am in Fiji and am in contact with some fairly senior RFMF officers who think Puleiwai did a ‘runner’ to get her Ozzie papers for herself and her family. So opinions are divided and the issue is certainly not sufficeint justification for the military to kick out the current government, no matter how strident insurgent voices try to portray it otherwise.
Graham Davis says
She “did a runner” because after she had detained Barbara Malimali, Malimali reported her to the police for abuse of office and she just managed to avoid a “stop departure” order against her and flee the country. We know from Pio Tikoduadua, the Home Affairs Minister, that it was Barbara Malimali who issued that “stop departure” order, not him.
She was the deputy commissioner of FICAC, or God’s sake. Why would she want to “do a runner” to get Australian papers if the investigation into MaliMali and the charging of Biman Prasad had taken its course, as it should have? So the notion that she fled as a premeditated act to “get Ozzie papers for herself and her family” is nonsense. She had no other choice or she would now be facing trial in Fiji at the hands of these crooks.
This is just typical of the bullshit propaganda, always from anonymous sources, to smear individuals like Francis Puleiwai. She was able to flee to Australia and beat the “stop departure” order only because she has a multiple entry visa for Australia, presumably because she was working in Nauru before Siromi Turaga brought her back to take over at FICAC.
Under the circumstances now, she has every right to seek a Temporary Protection visa in Australia and assistance for her family to join her. What has happened is an absolute scandal and the formal inquiry signalled by the Prime Minister must proceed or he too is party to the corruption.
Anonymous says
Irrespective of what happened to Francis Pulewai in Fiji, she will need more than “slashed tyres” to warrant a temporary protection visa, methinks?
Graham Davis says
No. There is more than enough cause for her to argue for asylum and against the Australians sending her back to Fiji.
There would be an uproar if they even tried.
Anonymous 2 says
Dont forget it was Pulewai who authorised the Gestapo-style raid on Malimali’s home. Many here in Fiji do think she ‘did a runner’. Many in Fiji including the military guys I have spoken to, wish her well in her new life in Oz.
Fools galore says
Many there in Fiji need to get their brains checked.
You guys are next level stupid and nothing else.
Nevermind the illegally appointed people in the DPPs off and Malimali but stupids are hellbent in trying to justify their existence. Grow up.
Wacol Inmate says
@ Fools galore
I can only conclude you are a kai India. Your uncomplimentary comments about the i’taukei says a lot about the quality of your upbringing. Put your dhoti on and bugger off back to India. Kulina.
Anonymous says
Wacol Inmate
Fools galore’s comment says nothing about race. He is talking about the actions made by the people he is referring to and the publics reaction to it.
What makes you think he is a kaindia?
I am a kaiviti and totally agree with him.
You are the one that needs to check about the quality of your upbringing because you are being blatantly racist.
Who gave you the right to chase anyone away from Fiji?
All Fiji citizens have the right to live in Fiji, irrespective of their ethnic background.
And calling him kulina (uncircumcised) is an indication of your level of your mentality.
So you think because you are circumcised makes you superior than someone who is not?
Its native Fijians like you who promote racism and hatred in Fiji. You are an embarrassment to the rest of us.
I am sure you are a good Christian person as well who goes to church every sunday where love is preached, yet you spew out vile.
You may be the one that needs some soul searching.
Ika Vuka says
The girls at delai nabua should be the last ones to call anyone out forb’ doing the runner.’
Case in point: Fugitive in Tonga. UN pinhead in NY. The drokadrola gcc “consultant” living the life in OZ, who reported ‘blame the indians.’ Yeah, right.
The now GCC chairman ran for cover for the land of the long white cloud.
Many many more of your tinsel buttons/medals and comical beret wearing kith and kin have abconded over time. Doing the runner.
Rfmf’s cup do runneth over.
Abu Jamin says
Rumors of internal rumblings are not generally good for Fiji. Our immediate past has proven that these pieces gradually ossify into reality. Additionally, as history dictates, the activation switch to give shape to its final renderings is the money package from business that have them and have commercial proposal to solve their commercial interest politically. The biggest losers are always people. As an aside, it seems after all, some good use can be found of that weird empowering provision in the Constitution for the military, where it acts as a grievance redress mechanism for those with means.
Andrew says
The best way to stop rumblings would be to avoid bad governance and conflicts of interest. I am hoping the government has learned some important lessons over the last 2 years and putting good governance into practice is the way to show that they have.
Uluiqalau says
Problem is the best available talent are not available for government service. Only the compromised and inefficient dickheads with a poor sense of ethics, are available. What to do?
Neel NITESH says
GD idle minds are a devils playground. Stop with your gossips and lies. There is no rumblings etc as you claimed.
Graham Davis says
What the hell would you know? A racist, knee-jerk Coalition propagandist living in New Zealand. Your attacks on me for being “white” should bar you from having NZ citizenship or residency. But that’s how far the Kiwis have fallen. Bugger off.
Neel says
Now did I hit a raw nerve by saying “idle minds are the devil’s playground”. Because that is all you do. Sitting in Sydney and spewing venom against Fiji and its people everyday. Regular people have jobs and work to do. What are you doing? Retired and on the piss everyday. Just spewing garbage and venom and calling everything that’s moves in Fiji to be racists. You seem to have this ego that what you say or preach is what other people must live by. Who the fcuk are you. You don’t contribute a single cent to Fiji or its people. Only you are cheered on by other racists and idle minds who have nothing better to do. I have NZ citizenship and yes it is not a white country. You want white country fcuk off to Europe. People in this part of the world don’t need lessons on ethics, morality, law etc etc from your likes. Come to speak of it most of the most heinous crimes and atrocities have been committed by your people the white people. So you are not in a position to give sermons to others. I dare you to post my reply.
Graham Davis says
You always underestimate me. I don’t have a raw nerve. But you have breathed your last in these columns. Not because I give a toss about what you say about me but because you have absolutely nothing intelligent to add to anything.
Still going on about white people. A racist coolie with a chip on your shoulder and a complete waste of space. Bugger off.
Black and White.. hmmm says
There are people like Neel as such: They will blow hot air against, vilify the English or other Caucasians or Europeans or generally what he calls white people. However they have no issue with finding these hated countries attractive places to migrate to, rather than migrating to a non white country say India if that’s where his roots trace back to.
And should the much hated British send him an invite for afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace, no faster can you say Jack be nimble, people like him will be on the first British Airways flight to Heathrow to show up to meet the King in London! And you can bet the selfies with their happy smiling show off faces will soon be on Facebook! Look at moi, look at moi, I’m at Buckingham Palace. (With other 500 invited guests from the commonwealth!)They may even look for an opportunity to take a selfie alongside their dream car , a HRH spec Range Rover Vogue. The best of British eh! Shameless hypocrites these Neels are….even when they Anglicise their Indian names to sound more ‘ white’. That’s enough for now. Bye Neel.
Footnote – this is not defending GD because he is very capable of it himself. But nevertheless in solidarity with reason and civility in human conduct. And in disgust at people like the Neels that I personally know and even more that are on the outer circle of society.
Swamp Harrier says
Bit confused there Neel. NZ is “not a white country”? The last census revealed that 68% of NZ’s populstion is European, ie. white.
Yet, they graciously allowed you take up residence despite your obvious problem with white people.
Too many monkeys says
If monkeys and donkeys were not appointed to these postions by fellow monkeys and donkeys, we would not be having these conversations at all.
Sad Observer Scared for Fiji says
And Fiji’s neighbours are taking a “not my circus, not my monkeys” approach to the insidious situation.
Ashwin Bahadur says
The govt needs to be disposed via coup or dissolution. Voices of people of fiji needs to be heard.
Anonymous 3 says
@ Bahadur
Get the vulagi Indians to try the coup you asking for. You will soon find yourself back in the Sentinal Islands.. or in a lovo. Lol
Anonymous says
GD, there have been rumblings within the RFMF since before the 2022 GE results came out. Those who think Aiyaz or Riyaz are behind these attempts are clearly obsessed with the brothers and give them for too much credit. RFMF intel unit shouldn’t be disregarded when it comes to such matters. The papers you had released were not written by wannabe or failed lawyers and journalists.
Betrayal says
Those of us who had been watching from the camp saw how Frank patiently waited for the vote on the floor in Parliament and hoped Gavoka would do the right thing. Gavoka betrayed Fiji when he voted in favour of Rabuka. He betrayed his own daughter, his grandchildren. He doesn’t have to care much about his son-in-law Aiyaz, but he was consumed by his own ambitions of being a Deputy Prime Minister and Minister, and hold the very same portfolios that Aiyaaz was holding.
Since taking office he has done little to look after his daughter and her young family. He has been an absolute shitshow of a grandfather, father-in-law and father to his daughter. We do not see Gavoka visiting his son-in-law or even his daughter. He is zooming through Nadi and Suva in his Ministerial vehicle with his wife who does nothing more than collect gifts given to the family by poor villagers each time Gavoka goes for some Ministerial stunt.
I have never been a Fiji First supporter but Gavoka carries a large part of blame for the mess we are in. Being an iTaukei, he could see clearly. He knew what Rabuka was really like when they were in leadership battles in SODELPA. He should have chosen wisely. But again, for a man who can put his daughter and grandchildren in this situation, he would not give 2 hoots about the country and the rest of us. It’s all about the money and status for him. Enjoy it while it lasts grandpa.
Idiots everywhere says
Gavoka is the most useless person not only in this government but in the country.
Have you seen him speak? He talks shit ALL the time in his whining fcuked voice. He thinks he made Fiji Airways what it is, he is taking credit for establishing the Fiji Airways Academy. He was the first one to call for the closure of Fiji Airways during the pandemic and the return of all the planes. The man has no vision, is financially illiterate (in fact they all are), case in point is his disastrous pigrimage to the Feast of the Tebanacle last year which was a big failure and Fiji Airways will be paying for it, he does not know whether he is an Isrealite of a Christian, has achived nothing, his own party has voted him out of the leadership position, he is just riding out the next two years and basking in glory.
He is a waste of space and of taxpayers money. He is a blood sucking fcuking leech.
Anonymous says
God forbid that Gavoka ( and others) takes the path from Parliament to Pulpit. These are two misunderstood professions in Fiji – and pathways to money, power and glory. Instead of serving the constituents or congregation it’s the opposite – it’s a money grab opportunity for the parliamentarian and (some) preachers. Getting into parliament for the perks is the goal, that’s it. And when we grasp that it makes sense of what’s going on.
Vaka says
Pio had to talk up the role he supposedly played in dampening the genetic disposition of the Fiji military to destabilise a newly elected government. If you remove the RFMF talking point Pio will have nothing to boast about, as his contribution at nights. has been zilch. Despite his promises no Nr Big has been arrested in connection with the container of drugs uncovered in Nadi; Fiji is still without a Police Commissioner and Suva is still an unsafe place to walk on Friday or Saturday night.
As for Gavoka, I agree he is totally useless. He can’t even read a written speech properly. It amazes me how people like Colonel Vasu and Captain Serenaia Tuiteci can find pleasure in supporting this man gor a leadership role in SODELPA.
He is an embarrassment for western people.