The Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, had the normally hard-bitten Australian media eating out of his hand at his National Press Club appearance in Canberra yesterday by saying “no” to Chinese bases in the region and offering to fill the current shortfall of 5000 troops in the Australian military with Fijians.
Grubsheet was again struck by the fact that Australian media interest in Fiji doesn’t go much beyond the Chinese threat, climate change and rugby. There were no questions at all about domestic issues in Fiji, let alone the high-level corruption in politics and the judiciary unmasked by the Ashton-Lewis Commission of Inquiry into the Malimali affair.
I know from a lifetime of professional experience in the Australian media that Fiji is generally regarded as a backyard holiday playground and unless there is a coup, a devastating cyclone or Fiji is getting into bed with the Chinese, those who call the shots in the media – editors and executive producers – don’t really care what happens in Fiji.
Sitiveni Rabuka himself is something of a curiosity only because people remember him for his coups of 1987, which plunged relations into the deep freeze. But no-one much cares about democracy in Fiji these days so long as whoever is in power keeps us out of the clutches of the Chinese. And true to form, that was the main emphasis in those sections of the Australian media that even bothered to cover the Prime Minister’s address (see below).
To Fijian ears – and I watched the whole performance – the most striking part was about half an hour in when Sitiveni Rabuka dropped his guard and undid all of the work he has done in recent years trying to mend fences with Fiji’s minorities over what he did in 1987, which triggered a mass exodus that is being repeated today – tens of thousands of the nation’s best and brightest giving up on Fiji and leaving altogether.
Here’s what he said in answer to a question from a reporter for the Nine Network, for which Grubsheet reported the coups of 1987 and subsequent upheavals after that.
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Rabuka: “I crashed into leadership in 87, realised how wrong it was, realised how many people we had hurt, realised who had turned away from us and who stayed with us and conducted our subsequent relationship from 1987 according to what we saw.“
Reporter: “You don’t regret what you did in 1987 though?
Rabuka: “It had to be done, it was a preemptive strike”.
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So get this, Fiji. Rabuka’s coup 38 years ago was a “preemptive strike” that “had to be done” . A preemptive strike against what and why?
- The democratically-elected Labour government of an indigenous prime minister, Dr Timoci Bavadra, to keep the existing order of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara in power?
- To satisfy Rabuka’s narrative that the Bavadra government was dominated by “Indians”?
- An armed intervention to deliberately trigger a mass exodus of “Indians” from Fiji to reverse the population balance, in which “Indians” at that time outnumbered indigenous Fijians”?
Rabuka didn’t say why it “had to be done” and the reporter didn’t ask. But this was clearly the Prime Minister justifying what he did – plainly and unapologetically – which is a far cry from the expressions of regret he has made in recent years to persuade everyone that Rambo realises what he did in 1987 was wrong.
Talk about the “Snake” letting his knickers slip. Labasa! (as we used to say in Viti Makawa). Sitiveni Rabuka hasn’t changed at all. This wasn’t “sorry”. 1987 was a deliberate “preemptive strike”. And he doesn’t regret it at all.
And presumably he also doesn’t regret the second exodus that is now taking place – an estimated 110,000 Fijians and counting – because of his racist policies. Because if he did, he would do something about it.
There wasn’t a single “Indian” in the ministerial delegation Sitiveni Rabuka took with him to Australia this week. And in another striking feature that passed over the heads of the Aussie media, they were mostly ex-military men like himself – Pio Tikoduadua, Viliame Naupoto, Ioane Naivalurua.
Yet another example that the more things change in Fiji, the more they stay the same. And proof conclusive that the much-trumpeted Truth and Reconciliation Commission – which is costing the country millions – is a deliberate diversion from the Coalition’s chronic dysfunction and window-dressing of the most cynical kind.
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“A preemptive strike with no regrets”. Which makes all of the following one big lasulasi-jhoot. A lie to trick the minorities into supporting him.
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But what is the Prime Minister saying now? Precisely what he said in 1987.
But at least he told the Australian government and the Australian media what they wanted to hear:
It’s the Fijian way, of course. Which means nothing can be taken at face value. Just like Rabuka’s “apologies” for 1987.
Think about it. Is he telling the “great leader”, Xi Jinping, what he wants to hear too?
The entire National Press Club address:
All of the delegation members played a direct role in 1987 except Mr Yauvoli who was sacked at least twice by Frank but keeps serving the country. What a dedicated servant he is!
Sashi Kiran could have represented the Indian community as well as women but of course she is vulagi.
5,000 youths joining the Australian Defence Force will firstly, further consolidate remittances as an industry (besides tourism, and forget agriculture) and secondly drive the recruitment of foreign nationals as well as outward remittances. Crisis now and ahead!
True to his original self. The king of backflips.
Someone once said, “The only consistent thing about Rabuka is his inconsistencies”.
We all knew the TRC was a farce. You have to be lacking basic cognitive skills if you believed in that.
The truth about Fijians leaving Fiji today is that it’s not just Indo Fijians that are migrating. A large number of indigenous people are leaving because they are unhappy with the ethno-nationalist direction Fiji is heading towards. This is apart from economic reasons.
If government does not change its course, the economic consequences will be dire and this affects everyone.
I foresee anarchy at some stage down the line and god forbid another military intervention.
I wonder who we will blame then. Cannot make the Indians the scapegoat again. They are not in power.
We need to make sure we vote this corrupt, immoral and racist government out.
We need a fresh start and a new direction.
Which politician has been honest these days.
If we had honest ones,the world would have been a paradise to live on GD.
It’s not their manifesto but it’s many false hope.
Kana vundi,gunu wai.
Sashi Kiran representing the Indian community?
So what about the other ethnic minority groups in Fiji?
Do they not need separate representation too?
Or is it only the Indians who deserve equal citizenship?
Or is it only the Indians who deserve equal citizenship?
Great question wd50.
To be clear, you’re agreeing Indo-Fijians deserve equal citizenry?
Or are you saying Indo-Fijians should not have equal citizenry and other minorities must have equal citizenry.
Which is it?
Shashi “weeping” Kiran was mentioned as she is part of government. Could’ve been any the other sell-outs if not Chutney.
Such as Ferriswheel Agni, Sugar Bulldozer Choran Singh, or Baiman.
Humpty Humphrey? WTF. Simply to watch rugby at tax-payers expense all of them.
One can only imagine how much tax-payer money will be blown in RWC2027 in Australia.
Fiji is Australia and NZ’s strategic centrepiece for managing China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region especially grey zone tensions. Both these countries will look the other way on all the systemic and human rights issues within Fiji and grease greedy politicians to keep China at bay. The only person i see asking tough questions is in Australian Parliament…a senator of Pakistani descent.
Looking further afield, it appears USA has no interest after Trump administration cut its aid program.
India, another rising power, appears to follow Australia’s principle too in order to exert its influence in the Pacific.
So Rabuka and Bainimarama before him knew how to play the game with Australia. We criticise Fiji’s journalists but there were decent journalists in the room but it seems they were there for a good feed and a light day. There were no hard hitting questions by Australian journalists.
I understand that Alex F lives in Australia. As she keeps writing to Fijian government on issues, was this a missed opportunity for her not to get a table and eyeball the PM?
You have to be a member of the National Press Club and accredited. Or I would have been there. 🙂
Are you sure? I think you just have to buy tickets for each event. The only difference is members of the press club get discounted tickets …Information & FAQ – National Press Club of Australia https://share.google/cAu70Q3S0g6KznYOj
The room was fairly empty meaning that listening to Fijian PM was not an attraction.
Do you honestly think I would pay to be there when I can watch it for free? 😉
I think most people felt the same as you. Air fare to Canberra in winter is not appealing plus high cost of tickets for press club.
Who wants to waste that money for someone who can’t control their speaking notes that became stuck🤭.
If you compare attendance with other speakers, for this event there were less tables put out and it was mostly an empty room. My point was that those who are eminent scrutineers of Fiji Government may have given the journalists in attendance some food for thought with probing questions about the conduct of government and better still, if 1987 was pre-emptive strike for what and why repent?
Bula GD, vinaka vaka levu sara for the outstanding work you do keeping your readers and those that honestly seek to make Fiji better a place to live in peace and prosperity informed.
You have a thankless task ahead of you still.
The Snake did not drop his guard in Canberra. He just reiterated his true supremacists entho-nationalist agenda from 1985 which culminated in the horrible events of 1987. The vile actions of this vilest excuse of a man tore this once most promising nation apart.
Repercussions are still ongoing 40 years later, forever changing the course of a nation that once was the envy of the world.
This ever corrupt bastard has hated Indo-Fijians his entire sorry ass half educated life. Only knows how to live with racism and the barrel of a gun. And yet throughout his life, in his lowest and leanest period, he has lived off the wealth and charity of the same Indo Fijian businesses and that community at large.
All his attempts at pretend apologies in Fiji have just been that. As fake and disingenuous as it gets.
GD you are absolutely right about Rabuka. We can see he is no longer a snake identified by Frank Bainimarama. He has developed into a python people should very much afraid of.
Time for Rambo to move on and a true leader take over, Fiji needs Hon. Kamikamica to step up and step in – no need for this silent coup, just push the old bastard aside and move in. Military backs Manoa, Fijians back Manoa, Businesses back Manoa and the international community backs Manoa – I guess you Grub and Kai’s supporters are the odd ones out. It’s good to have balanced reporting and accountability but the reality is that this page, its author and its contributors are lone sheeps waiting for the inevitable. God is with those that believe in him, the rest will burn in hell – Amen
Step Up Manoa
I guess you haven’t read the allegations against DPM Manoa in the COI Report.
The only correct thing you have said is that the current PM needs to go. Everything else you have said is debatable or incorrect.
You talk about balanced reporting and accountability yet your one-eyed view lacks objectivity.
I don’t support Khaiyum and yet don’t agree with you.
And I’m not sure what God and burning in hell has to do with the topic.
Fijians are already feeling the economic consequences. That’s why people are leaving and migrating in droves.
Also see the snake in his photo when he delivered that apology he was wearing white all over.
The way he then talks now like saying that ” preemptive strike ” he might as well wear yellow lol !!
Is there one iota of self respect left in this itaukei supremacist lot? Any self pride? Wasn’t Bai always decried for going to rugby games overseas, but this guy also taking 3 of his fellow coupists.
The leader of a so called “proud” country appears at a Press Club in Australia on live television and justifies his anti democratic coup, proudly exclaiming the joys of sitting at home and drinking a ‘Fijian red’ sourced from the Barossa, living on remittances from his relatives overseas and lending 5000 ‘warriors’ to fight someone else’s wars. And don’t forget the rugby.
Hello world, give me more money, send us more of your hard earned wages, because we are what the world should be. Corrupt rugby warriors and grogged up layabouts who are too lazy to utilise 90% of the land.
A leader? Well, a mere simpleton, promoting drink, rugby, and soldiers whilst holding a begging bowl. Bravo.
Hopefully journalists can now dig deep to find out what the threat was for the military madman to stage the military coups in 1987 as a preemptive strike.
And usurping a democratically- elected government.
If you are looking to the mainstream media in Fiji to do so, forget it.
https://www.fijileaks.com/home/collaborators-by-omission-fiji-medias-complicity-in-illegal-appointment-of-malimali-as-ficac-commissioner-when-future-generations-ask-how-this-was-allowed-to-fester-in-plain-sight-the-watchdogs-chose-to-sleep
Agree Graham.
The Fiji media has no integrity.
He’s busy talking at the National Press Club and fobbing off the COI issues recommendations in Fiji like he’s fobbed all the other issues of national importance to Fiji! Embarrassing lack of depth in his presentation and begging for jobs despite his government complaining of the brain drain! He truly is unaware of anything happening in Fiji!
His delegation of former Military officers and not one of them could help him deliver meaningful and forward-looking ways that take full account of the pressing issues now facing us all – leadership (or the lack thereof), climate crisis, economic crisis etc except to go begging for jobs instead of creating jobs for our people! An Admiral, Major General, Major and Lt. Col and this what they come up with?? Incompetence just like their days in the RFMF! Vakaloloma qai vakasisila!
In Australia, you get punished for making a false declaration. In Fiji, Biman gets to enter politics and become a Minister. Fiji relies so much on Australia, maybe one day we could incorporate their legal standards as well? But good thing is that our useless media don’t have a spine to question Biman.
https://www.nacc.gov.au/news-and-media/former-abf-officer-sentenced-following-guilty-plea
GD, you are correct. Australia has no desire to upset Fijian government as long as Oz can have influence over Fijian Government. Penny Wong and others will not raise any issues about human rights, etc and will keep throwing money at the Fijian Government.
Rabuka and his cabal should watch and learn from this 34 year old who is running his country for his people and not for his and his cohorts:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=roeebQ4vKNE&si=TWhUdpRk4VKNwqcI