They don't call Sitiveni Rabuka "The Snake" for nothing. Apart from arguably being the most Machiavellian* politician in Fijian history, the Prime Minister slithers around in his public positions so much that it is sometimes impossible to discern what he stands for from one moment to the next. This reptilian dexterity means that he often runs … [Read more...] about # WHAT GAME IS RABUKA PLAYING? AND WHAT CHANGES ARE BEING MADE TO THE CRC DRAFT CONSTITUTION BY THE CABINET SUBCOMMITTEE WORKING TO HIS DIRECTION?
# NEVER MIND WHAT’S IN THE SUGGESTED DRAFT CONSTITUTION, ROLEX RAMBO CONFIRMS WE’LL GET WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS
Just as Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum rejected the Yash Ghai draft for the 2013 Constitution, Sitiveni Rabuka has indicated that the Coalition may also reject portions of the draft constitution suggested by the Constitution Review Commission. He's made it clear that it will be what the government wants - or more particularly what the … [Read more...] about # NEVER MIND WHAT’S IN THE SUGGESTED DRAFT CONSTITUTION, ROLEX RAMBO CONFIRMS WE’LL GET WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS
# THE NEW DRAFT CONSTITUTION. SO FAR SO GOOD (MOSTLY). BUT WILL THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OR IMPOSE ITS OWN VERSION?
The worst fears of the minorities that their principal rights under the 2013 Constitution would be terminated or tampered with in the new draft of a supreme law recommended by the Constitution Review Commission appear to have been misplaced. To a point. The common and equal citizenry - equal rights and equal opportunities for all irrespective of … [Read more...] about # THE NEW DRAFT CONSTITUTION. SO FAR SO GOOD (MOSTLY). BUT WILL THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OR IMPOSE ITS OWN VERSION?
# THE SUPERCILIOUS GRIN GIVES WAY TO A LOOK OF FEAR AS RICHARD NAIDU FAILS TO DERAIL BIMAN PRASAD’S TRIAL (UPDATED)
Lawyer Richard Naidu has resorted to every possible legal means to prevent the corruption trial of the NFP leader, BIman Prasad, from going ahead. But he has failed. And the stakes of having done so couldn't be higher. For Biman Prasad, it is a calamity. Because if he continues to resist the notion of stepping down until he is cleared of the … [Read more...] about # THE SUPERCILIOUS GRIN GIVES WAY TO A LOOK OF FEAR AS RICHARD NAIDU FAILS TO DERAIL BIMAN PRASAD’S TRIAL (UPDATED)
# WELCOME TO FIJI, PACIFIC DEFENCE MINISTERS. WHERE OUR MILITARY STILL GETS AWAY WITH TORTURE AND MURDER
Poor Pio Tikoduadua won't like to confront the fact but the ghost of Jone Vakarisi hovers over this week's gathering of South Pacific defence ministers as an example of what not to do in our celebrated "ocean of peace". See, it has now been more than five months since the accused drug dealer was killed while in the custody of the RFMF at the … [Read more...] about # WELCOME TO FIJI, PACIFIC DEFENCE MINISTERS. WHERE OUR MILITARY STILL GETS AWAY WITH TORTURE AND MURDER
# COALITION OF THE UNWILLING. THE PRIME MINISTER’S PLAN FOR A “KIRISIMASI CONSTITUTION” TRIGGERS A MASS COMMUNITY REVOLT
The Rabuka government enters the week of the special parliamentary sitting on Tuesday to table its new draft constitution facing almost universal opposition to its plan to rush it into force on Christmas Eve. A range of political parties including the formal Opposition in the parliament and the government's own coalition partner - the NFP - … [Read more...] about # COALITION OF THE UNWILLING. THE PRIME MINISTER’S PLAN FOR A “KIRISIMASI CONSTITUTION” TRIGGERS A MASS COMMUNITY REVOLT