No wonder Sitiveni Rabuka wants to replace the Attorney General, Siromi Turaga, as soon as possible. It isn’t just the complaints from the President down about Turaga’s grave mishandling – before he became AG – of the divorce proceedings of a senior military officer that has resulted in the man’s wife committing bigamy in the US. Now Turaga has launched yet another attack on the 2013 Constitution, saying there is nothing to stop anyone from challenging its immunity provisions in the courts.
The problem is that the chief law officer of the state doesn’t seem to realise that those immunity provisions cover not only Frank Bainimarama, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and anyone else who took part in the coup of 2006 but also his own Prime Minister’s conduct in the coups of 1987. It’s all there in the extracts from the Constitution below – that the 2013 Constitution continues the immunity provisions in the 1990 Constitution that protect Sitiveni Rabuka from prosecution to this day.
What game is Siromi Turaga playing to publicly suggest that not only can Bainimarama and Khaiyum can be brought to account with a court challenge to the immunity provisions but his own leader? Your eyes are not deceiving you, Fiji. A Peoples Alliance Minister is actually suggesting that the avenue exists for the PAP leader and Prime Minister to lose his immunity and be held to account for his conduct in 1987. Is he mad or what, as we used to say in Viti Makawa?
Has Siromi Turaga made a genuine howler by appearing not to realise he is holding out the prospect of his own Prime Minister being brought to justice for his treasonous conduct 37 years ago? Or is this part of some wider attempt by the Attorney General to undermine Sitiveni Rabuka’s authority as punishment for the PM’s less-than-enthusiastic endorsement of Turaga continuing in the role of AG?
Either way, it is an astonishing development and a spectacular political own goal that will increase the existing tension between the two men and make it a lot more likely that Rabuka will move on Turaga. For more than three decades, the Prime Minister has slept soundly in the knowledge that he has immunity for his actions in 1987 and now his own Attorney General publicly calls that into question. Seriously. What planet is this guy living on?
Aside from the assault on Rabuka’s position, Siromi Turaga’s comments represent yet another assault on the 2013 Constitution, which specifically prohibits anyone calling into question the immunity provisions, whether relating to events before 1990 or before 2013. Once again, the Attorney General is violating the supreme law on top of his existing violations relating to illegal appointments to the offices of state.
There are two possibilities. Either he is genuinely stupid or he is doing it all deliberately to undermine the Constitution and, with this latest violation, undermine the Prime Minister. Grubsheet is tending to the view that he is genuinely stupid anyway. Why? Because of an entirely separate story over the weekend in which Siromi Turaga gave the local media his interpretation of the so-called glorious new era of media freedom in Fiji.
The AG told the assembled hacks that “before they run a story, at least capture the government’s view”. I beg your pardon. Why? The media is there to represent the public – the so-called “fourth estate” to keep the bastards honest. They are there to hold the government to account on behalf of those who elected it, not “capture its view”.
So let’s just cut to the chase here. Is the Fijian media genuinely free or is it still under an obligation to reflect the views of the government of the day? Because it it is the latter, that’s not media freedom at all. Siromi Turaga seems to have no idea of the proper practice of journalism, just as he seems to have no idea about keeping his Prime Minister sweet. Suggesting that Sitiveni Rabuka can still be brought to justice 37 years on is an astonishing move for someone who values their political career.
Once again the Coalition is all over the place. Last week, Filimoni Vosarogo – the man Sitiveni Rabuka wanted to replace Siromi Turaga in the AG’s job until he was thwarted – said the government intended to obey the provisions of the Constitution. Now, the AG is questioning a fundamental provision of that Constitution and in doing so, undermining the government’s position and his own leader.
As I have said before, a rabble who deserve to be shown the door at the first opportunity.
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The astonishing story in Monday’s Fiji Times:
What the 2013 Constitution says about the events pre-1990 that protect Sitiveni Rabuka for his actions in 1987, as well as protecting Frank Bainimarama for his actions in 2006.
And Siromi Turaga again violates the supreme law by suggesting that it can be changed when that is specifically prohibited.
The AG’s idea of media freedom, as reported by CFL-Fiji Village. You are free to cover what the government wants.
Whether it’s Siromi as AG or Vosorogo, they’re both incredibly dense ethnonationalists. The only way for this country to cure the madness is to have a fresh election. Those on the ground are seeing what has happened in Frank’s case. Rabuka had promised Leba Qarase during coalition discussions with SODELPA that he would put Frank away. He has achieved this. Chaudry and Qarase’s cases cannot be compared to Frank and Qiliho’s. Every single person inside and outside the courtroom knew what the government is up to. Siromi was telling the country that Qiliho’s Tribunal proceedings would not begin because the government would wait for sentence to be issued. Qiliho was acquitted. On appeal he was convicted and discharged during sentencing. He was convicted and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment on appeal. All of this was done to remove him from the position of Compol. The moment this Government came in, Pio and Rabuka had been calling for his resignation. With Qiliho and Frank now jailed, Rabuka is reposting Qarase’s funeral photos and Facebook posts about his death. People’s Alliance is doing the same on its Facebook page. What is the point? They’ve avenged Qarase? A man who was convicted for obtaining a financial gain? Facebook pages about Qarase’s book have been activated again. Mai TV has done a video interview, almost advertisement like, of the son of a former CRW solider who has lodged a criminal complaint for the investigation of his father’s death during 2 November 2000. The media has reported that CID is investigating Frank. They do not seem to realise the can of worms that this will open.
The other ‘lawyer’ mentioned here as possible ag; wasn’t he also charge for malpractice: In a signed media statement, society president Wylie Clarke said it is a matter of public record that Vosarogo – as a legal practitioner – pleaded guilty in a number of disciplinary proceedings before the Independent Legal Services Commission. End.
Source: https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/500287/fiji-law-society-registers-strong-objection-to-attorney-general-appointment.
I realize the willy FLS is now neutered and will no longer ‘object’ leave alone ‘challenging any appoints in our fully transparent, independent, fair and impartial,up standing courts. Too much to loose.
Too many of our present day ‘leaders’
serve for their own purposes and interests and unashamedly worship money. That’s what you get for sacrificing your dignity and freedom on the altar of racism and bigotry. The two traits unashamedly revered and worshiped by the 70% of Fiji.
“Mama always said, life’s like a box of chocolates Forest, you never know what you gonna get”
Till few years ago the rest of the Pacific admired Fiji and mentioned how smart is Fiji’s AG. They were sharp as at conferences. They spoke facts and economic growth. And I sat in few of those conferences to hear some of the presenters. Great awareness of the subject and the speech was clear.
Then came these lot. No intelligence. No ability to speak with clarity. Doped. The basics is lost. Very poor articulation of any topic and you are left gobsmacked when they open their mouths to talk. Straight from the bush kaicolos.
Dear Kaicolo
Former AG was a big conman
He had answers for everything ,that’s how conman do their tricks
He thought people were fools by his fancy talk
Everyone were scared with his body guards with loaded guns
Go and visit the CWM hospital toilet ,where mums give birth and old are admitted
Toilets in those conference centre’s are flash so you wouldn’t know
Everything looked rosy in front of foreigners
My mum was admitted at CWM, she had to eat watery dhal and rice or canned fish and potatoes
This will tell you the the story of former government of where the borrowed funds had gone
They flew out on special flights for best hospitals
People of Fiji don’t deserve this
Yes ofcourse this government is neither good but hopefully they can get better soon
Public services (health, education, police, immigration etc.), judiciary integrity and independence etc. have deteriorated under the Coalition, particularly public sector appointments locally and abroad too. And sadly still no signs of a turnaround despite all the pre-election promises. At least 2 Cabinet colleagues maro-ing each other, weeding, modelling to our youth and children, and yet receive the PM’s blessings. Will our water woes be addressed? No! Corruption, sure! Blaming the previous gang is stale news. The current lot are not getting better but building their own empires before they face the music in 2026 or sooner. Only wished the judiciary’s recent efficiencies were extended to other pressing public services. Isa, o keda, Jone!
Well, his cons have yet to be proven. If it wasn’t for the former AG’s decisiveness during COVID, Fiji would’ve been doomed. Thankfully, the current lot of buffoons was not in charge during COVID, else debt would’ve increased (as has happened in the past 19 months) and the citizens left to fight their own battle.
Don’t forget when you’re talking about debt that the value of debt increased primarily during the COVID years to support ordinary citizens like you and I.
Now the former AG had his deficiencies without a doubt and so did the former PM and so do each and every other individual, but if I was to choose them vs current lot, I would select them without blinking.
Bula Jone,
It may surprise you, but dhal is a soup. It’s meant to be watery.
The reality of the matter was, that what he presented in those conferences was far different from what he did on the ground.
I admired the way he presented himself in Parliament and public speaking, however, he had a bad heart and, a devious attitude. His profession matched his career, never heard of him winning any serious case in court.
You mentioned ‘kaicolo’, the most shameful PM in the Pacific is Bainimarama. He can’t even converse effectively with people, most of the time he is reading speeches, in the world broadcast with other leaders he has a tablet reading the answers typed by someone in his team, and that the how Fiji is portrayed to the whole world. So, you just support him not because he is intelligent but because he favors your clan. A long line of cases is waiting for him, he will spend the whole of his life left in prison.
Well,the 2013 constitution can be challenged
Similar to the Chandrika Prasad case
Highly likely if someone does ,will win outright
You know Graham, I, like many others, had placed a lot of hope on this coalition govt.
I now sit and reflect and the only conclusion I can draw is that my hope was greatly misplaced.
The only thing that has changed in my view is the adherence to human and workers rights where critics of this current govt are not rounded up and taken in.
On other matters, things have either remained the same or even gotten worse.
My 2 cents!
Siromi Turaga was the wrong choice for this position. SLR may have selected him as a poke-in-the-eye to ASK for side-lining him as a magistrate. That move has backfired spectacularly. ST needs to be removed, like yesterday, and replaced with someone with more common sense.
Agreed. Siromi was a poor choice from the beginning. He showed that pretty quickly and Rabuka should have moved him right then and there. But sadly Rabuka has proven to be a toothless tiger with ant reshuffle or sacking and it is he who is to blame for the current mess as a very poor leader. Kamikamica should have been given a chance to lead very soon after the election.
Sitiveni Rabuka is a very clever Fijian.
He is riding on his immunity, which no one can touch.
Comes back as a prime minister with a single vote.
Courts even didn’t find him guilty when he was tried after 2000 coup
Then goes to visit the King after execution of his coup and removing them as heads of state of our nation.
Don’t be mistaken, he will be PM for some time unless otherwise.
Siromi – the caged lion and asssassin waiting for his moment. Siromi’s ego demands he be the PM and Rabuka knows this all too well. He has been looking for a suitable replacement not because he’s tired of Siromi’s mistakes; rather he knows Siromi is like a shark who is circling his prey slowly.
Removing Siromi will be near impossible because he has the backing of ethno-nationalists who see him as the “solution” to clearing out other races from senior government roles and other areas. Any attempts to move him out is going to be met with resistance and threats of the coalition falling apart.
As I said earlier, he is a shark circling his prey quietly, plotting his next move in the background and it is not a matter of “if” he will strike, it is “when.”
To my fellow Fijians, run from Fiji if you can. Be you Itaukei or Fijian of any other origin, this government only knows 1 thing….to preach hatred.
Get your kids away from these bad characters and role models. Educate them so they are not dumb like this lot in government.
Talking of own goals, many in the current coalition have scored own goals.
But none bigger than Biman and Kiran from NFP…what a mess for Girmit. Indians asking forgiveness…to who and for what. How dumb is Kiran?
I cant wait for next elections. I know many Fijians are as eager to bury this coalition for ever.
Most incompetent AG in Fiji’s history. This guy is out of touch of the modern world. Coalition govt is doomed and has taken Fiji back 10-15 years with racist thugs and supporters running the show with ethnic cleansing in civil service and judiciary. No wonder all the best Indo Fijian brains has left the country to pursue better career and equal opportunities abroad whilst the incompetent iTaukei being appointed to positions beyond their comprehension.
These are all Third World leaders and a perfect fit for a Third World country.
The Third World people of this country thoroughly deserve these politicians.
Why else would they vote for them, unless their heads are full of shit.
And there is no doubt in my mind that the grog doped people of Fiji are full of shit.
One can tell when one talks to them. What is more, they are proud and entitled people full of shit.
And therein lies the whole problem.
Oh hell yeah. That’s a mother of an own goal. A bicycle kick from his own 18 yard box.
Executive chair of fijipine sworn in as illegal ag in 2000 coup is to replace current ag prior to speight release
The face Siromi makes when pulling shear bullshit out of his a$$hole.