Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai has raised eyebrows in the military by choosing the day on which his predecessor as Commander, Frank Bainimarama, has had his fate sealed in the courts to meet with one of Bainimarama’s most implacable enemies, the former Land Forces Commander, Colonel ( Ret’d) Jone Baledrokadroka.
Wearing his hat as Chair of the Coalition’s review panel on the role of the Great Council of Chiefs, Baledrokadroka – now Dr RatuJone Baledrokadroka as a senior academic at the Australian National University – received full military honours and a traditional welcome when he had talks with Commander Kalouniwai at the RFMF’s Strategic Headquarters at Berkley Crescent in Suva.
The encounter is startling on a number of grounds.
1/ Jone Baledrokadroka has not been welcome at military HQ since he fell out with Frank Bainimarama at the time of the 2006 coup. The two men loathe each other and Baledrokadroka was forced out of the military and out of Fiji when the Bainimarama juggernaut engulfed the nation.
2/ The timing of Jone Baledrokadroka’s return to the RFMF as an honoured guest and the red carpet treatment Jone Kalouniwai afforded him is a massive slap in the face for Frank Bainimarama and Kalouniwai’s former main rival in the military, Sitiveni Qiliho, on the day that it has become clear that both men are going to jail.
3/ It is a highly provocative move for those in the RFMF and the police who remain loyal to the ousted prime minister and suspended Police Commissioner. Commander Kalouniwai has given them the two-finger salute and he must be extremely confident of his own position to have done do.
4/ The encounter again raises question’s about the RFMF Commander’s position in relation to the Constitution and the Great Council of Chiefs. As a chief himself – closely related to the Roko Tui Dreketi and SODELPA luminary, Ro Teimumu Kepa – there is naturally a perception that Ro Kalouniwai would support the restoration of the GCC.
5/ The RFMF Commander has underlined that perception by meeting with the Chair of the GCC Review Panel on the very day that the man who abolished the GCC, Frank Bainimarama, is staring down the barrel of a lengthy jail term.
6/ The RFMF Commander has shown a complete absence of political judgment in meeting so publicly with Jone Baledrokadroka when the GCC report he has produced is the subject of simmering controversy. While that controversy has yet to spill over into open debate in the mainstream media, Professor Wadan Narsey‘s critique of it in the Fiji Times last week is being avidly circulated and Grubsheet penned a similarly critical article before that.
7/ The criticism of the GCC Report is not only that it recommends that taxpayers as a whole should fund the GCC through a government grant. More seriously, it lays the blame for what it casts as the economic disadvantage of the iTaukei firmly at the feet of Fiji’s minorities. And it canvasses the prospect of legislation to place the control of traditional fishing grounds and other offshore resources back in the hands of the iTaukei – a nightmare prospect for the tourism industry in particular.
8/ Frank Bainimarama must rue the day that he chose Ro Jone Kalouniwai over Sitiveni Qiliho to be RFMF Commander. Grubsheet knows this story intimately having been at the heart of government at the time. Sitiveni Qiliho was slated to head the military but Bainimarama wanted someone he could trust in the role of police commissioner after the turbulence of his relationship with the South African, Ben Groenewald. Qiliho never wanted the police job. And even after he took it reluctantly, he was allowed to spend a year in Britain at the Royal College of Defence Studies in preparation for a return to the military.
9/ Jone Kalouniwai has managed to outwit both Bainimarama and Qiliho. Both now face the prospect of a term in Naboro when they are sentenced next Thursday ( May 9) and the RFMF Commander rubs their faces in it by meeting their implacable foe, who is also challenging the 2013 Constitution by raising the prospect of a review of its provisions, including specific reference to the Qoliqoli Bill that triggered the 2006 coup.
The Two Jonnies. It ain’t a comedy like its British counterpart of the 1970s. On the contrary, it is deadly serious. A high stakes power game is being played out behind the scenes with the rest of the nation in the middle. And a great deal rests on its eventual outcome.
NOTE: It is Baledrokadroka not “Baleidrokadroka” – as the Fiji Sun incorrectly spells it – and Berkley Crescent, not “Berkely” Crescent. Not a great start to celebrations for World Press Freedom Day at Gorrie Street.
No laughing matter like the original.
Oh the irony of “media freedom”, Fiji style.
“Everyone should make an effort to support local journalists”. No. You should make more of an effort to get your facts right, report without fear or favour and be more worthy of public support.
Good job
Someone highly educated and with experience visiting the commander
This commander is a rightfully choice
His been in combat field
Done piece keeping duties
Unlike other commander ,who was a sailor, eating free fish and palm beef
Fought a election not war,than lost with only 300 people voting him
Went back and became commander again
Pathetic
JK is the man to lead and get back some dignity fir RFMF
His come through the ranks and knows what his doing
He needs support to tidy up things
Toso viti
Amena, Where did Kalouniwai see combat. As a combat veteran myself I laugh at your comments.
And where did you see combat… was it from chasing a bunch of cavemen?
B Zulu, Since you ask me where I saw Combat, 3 tours Afghanistan and 1 tour Iraq. Retired Master Sergeant US ARMY 82nd airborne division. Yes we did Chase some cavemen in the mountains of Tora Bora.
I doubt you and Kalouniwai were ever involved in one except UN peacekeeping.
GT, we were dealing with terrorists in Lebanon way back before the term was coined with limited armoury, risks was much greater. You invaded Iraq and Afghanistan with everything but withdrew with your tails between your legs. I let you discern who is a better soldier Master Sergeant.
QEB barracks of course
Didn’t you see instability while on Peace keeping dutites in Middle East
Which military you come from
Or is it kana loto at barracks and katena hanging out
Watch greedy Chiefs ruin the tourism industry at a time when interest rates and inflation are already pushing Fiji’s tourism costs to and beyond consumer limits. So far Fiji’s tourism has been riding on a wave of post-pandemic pent up demand. As that slips, and Asian destinations are stand outs for affordability, Fiji’s tourism is already in a precarious position, even more so with the positive spin and lack of forethought around global winds of change. Once those chiefs put their hands out Tourism in Fiji will really suffer.
Now that the military has joined the crying and whining ranks ranks of why the itaukei are poor and the vulangis are rich, it will definitely make every fijian rich in no time.
The land will spill gold and the people just have to collect the money growing on trees. Everyone will have bundles of dollars when they go shopping. Mark my words that if the trend of the current government continues, fiji will have to print money just as Minister of Bonking once suggested, but those dollars will be worth the money in trees.
Fijians should be very scared of the GCC report and its implementation.
I have said this before and say again – Rabuka was not Commander of the RFMF when he overthrew the FLP in 1987. He removed the then Commander and took over the role.
Just because the pansy Kalouniwai refuses to remove his blindfold and save the constitution/nation doesnt mean others are as blind as he is and won’t step in the save the nation.
Baledrokadroka was a traitor and he is still a traitor in the eyes of the sane people in the military. All of Baledrokadroka’s analysis lacks any fundamentals and he frequently resorts to quoting his own materials given there is nothing else for him to rely on to backup his works, i.e., its a case of a snake eating his own tail.
Allowing a traitor such as him onto the base is a clear indication that the old ways of nepotism, cronyism and horse-trading is well and truly back in Fiji. It is only a matter of time before things fall apart.
Real kick in the family jewels of Frankie and Qiliho indeed, and its not surprising that the main drawback of the GCC was limiting the iTaukei potential to get involved in business ventures through use of their own lands and resources. And same old Fiji Snub showing their piss poor ignorance of grammatical errors yet again as always in every article they write.
Early days though on the GCC so we’ll see if either old habits die hard, or they start anew all over again but “better.”
The RFMF is split. Always was and always will be.
2026 Elections will be RIGGED, Baiman will be thrown out GCC will rule, Foreign And Local Investors will flee, Fiji will be ruined with massive debts. Wait and see
Absolutely spot on, this is all part of the bigger plan.
Biman is useless and Rabuka knows this very well.
He is only using him and his friends until the next elections. If Biman is lucky he will be out of the country on the first outbound flight before 2026.
Honestly, majority of the Indians actually screwed themselves thinking change was the answer only to realize real change was worse than what reality itself.
Baledrokadroka and his henchman Leung…
As we can see from the Baledrokadroka-Leung report which must send shivers down the spine of all other races and foreign investors, China’s gain was Fiji’s loss when its biggest idiot left. What better example of idiocy to put his name to a report calling for himself to understand and accept he should give his money to Itaukei. Let’s see him do that or does the threat only apply to others, meaning Fijians of Indian descent?
Well before he was taking the AUD in exchange for Australia’s illegal detention centers so he has AUD to give away when he fully accepts and understand.
What an IDIOT. Makes the Fiscal Irresponsibility Committee only look like half idiots with there crazy tax giveaway to billionaires and put VAT up to punish poor.
Kalouniwai has failed to protect the constitution and the ordinary people of Fiji, who are at the hands of a brutal & careless government.
If Bainimarama goes to jail, Fiji will be reduced to a banana republic. We are better than locking up our political rivals because we can’t beat them with logical ideas and policies.
Salesi Temo will have blood on his hands. Fiji will fall to its knees. This is not the change people called for. We need fresh elections now. The coalition has crash-landed the plane in the banana field and now the country is burning. Shame Rabuka Shame!
Give them bread and circuses, and they will never revolt….someone once said.
Exactly what the coalition is doing to the people of Fiji. And many Fijians are too poor to see past the scrap of bread that coalition is dangling in front of them. The breads also probably stale.
Let the GCC report start its implementation and see how the vulagis flee, if they are not doing that already. With them will fly investors and the money too.
I say to anyone capable enough. Leave Fiji now, its going to get nasty there in the years to come. Educate your children in courses that allow easy migration. It may not be appealing now but in time to come, it will become the wings your children need to escape unfairness.
Lets wait for what Bimaan offers in next budget…to his friends that is. He only offers more vat to poor Fijians.
As a younger Fijian who is an academic I am deeply offended by the Baledrokadroka/Leung GCC report because its basic assumption is indigenous Fijians need a handout. What too stupid to make it in reality? WTAF? That’s some tired ass sh*t from some broke ass neocolonial stains.
Indigenous Fijians don’t need more handouts and what’s more we can see old colonial hangovers at play.
We are not stupid like Leung thinks and writing a report that concentrates power to an unelected by birthright few while pointing fingers at the most disadvantaged is scurrilous and putrid. What exactly is wrong with this guy and why does he think he knows anything when he’s like 80 and runs away every time his latest dipshit plan blows up in his face?
Leung should be ashamed because he’s out of touch and a blunt tool for the ultra privileged. The dictionary definition of a useful idiot.
He thinks common Fijians can’t see it as we’re too stupid but he’s wrong, so so wrong.
Bravo Joppy! Its clear that old farts like Baledrokadroka and Fijian Chiefs by luck of birthright, are past their due date.
Fiji needs young, smart citizens like you to step up, call out the overfed and useless and bring hope back to the disillusioned.
Fiji has changed rapidly from the days hucksters and grifters like Leung plied their trade. Back in their day mimicking a British accent in the hope of appealing to colonizing masters was a common occurrence to garner attention and prestige amongst indigenous Fijians who they thought could be easily manipulated. Trying to ride the wave of Itaukei ethno nationalism was the next common move, but one that can only pay dividends if you attach yourself to a small elite group like a Kutu.
The problem is in the intervening 60 odd years everyone including indigenous Fijians are more educated. Even under the much hated but more competent at governance Fiji First education levels and equal access to money improved.
Herein lies the difficulty for the old farts who have built their careers and identities as being “advisors and whisperers” to the elite – those elite are not trusted by the people anymore. The people have gained more education, want more and ask more questions. Critical thinking is the norm not the exception.
So backing a return of a corrupted elite now requires the apportionment of blame and a little trick of distraction. Then the little wannabe advisor asks, what used to work in the old days? We used to blame Fijians of Indian descent. They don’t like me and aren’t important because they laugh at my pomposity and fake accent and don’t take me seriously.
The grave error is to think what worked then will work now. Critical thinkers see thru this BS.
The GCC report is a stain on Fiji and all Fijians, the authors should feel ashamed of themselves. There is nothing academic about it. Just a grubby bunch of irrelevant grifters asking for more attention and importance. Zero mana in begging.
Haven’t read the report but your comment says it all Joppy, neocolonialism at work here as seen with FFP selling out to China and even the Coalition unfortunately is seemingly following suite towards Australia and New Zealand again.
If only the iTaukei learned from the Indo-Fijians and work together for a common goal instead of such petty racial bullcrap mindset clouding their judgement as seen with the oldies in charge who can’t seem to change like dinosaurs. At least MGM High School is breaking the mold offering opportunities to iTaukei students both athletically and academically which won them the Cokes Girls Division just recently.
Pretty much proves something I’ve been thinking about for so long where the country is fine and the people are alright but the government of the day is messed up as seen with other countries.
It so funny, what goes round comes round. Wadan Narsey must be ruing the day he pleaded with his brother in law the late Dr Brij Lal to take Jone Baledrokadroka in as a scholarship student at the Australian National University.
I wonder what Dr Brij Lal, Baledrokadroka’s Phd supervisor, would have said about his student blaming minority races in Fiji for the relative poverty indigenous Fijians find themselves in after half a century of independence?
But Narsey is right to call out Baledrokadroka for what basically is a dishonest report. There is a rich literature on the socio economic status of the itaukei going back to colonial times up until the present, for a person to ignore all this, plus the mountain of data available at the Bureau of Statistics in Suva and cite his own writings throws into question his credibility as an academic.
That report should be discarded into the dustbin of history.