Within a month of its return, Grubsheet Feejee has already become a significant contributor to the national debate in Fiji, with a surprisingly high number of visitors for a small country with relatively limited Internet access. On Friday alone, we attracted 6,705 views for our exclusive on the Military Council’s blueprint for the future and our tally on any day runs into the thousands. Yet it’s also clear that we have become a threat to some very powerful interests because an equally surprising amount of effort is going into discrediting our influence. And clearly by people with experience in setting up fake Internet sites and Facebook pages.
A fake blog site called Grubshit has been established and a fake Facebook page, Grubsheit, is peddling the same material, which suggests that they are the creation of the same person/people. Readers of the real thing, Grubsheet Feejee, may have already become aware of this exercise in crude propaganda. They have stolen my identity and purport to be me, with photographs taken from the real thing. And while to anyone of discernment, they are crude facsimiles and obvious fakes, nonetheless they are literate and appear to be written by someone with media experience or training.
Among the first postings on both outlets is a scurrilous piece in which I purport to give an account of being plied with wine and raped by Ashwin Raj, the Director of the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission. The allegation is false – a lie – and I have already expressed my regret that Ashwin Raj – with whom I have always enjoyed a friendly and respectful relationship – has been tainted by this vicious smear.
It has its amusing side in that I am known to be about three times bigger than Ashwin, which makes his alleged assault on me highly improbable in any circumstances. Anyone who knows me would also smell a rat because of the alleged instrument of my “violation” – seven glasses of Pacific Peak Merlot. Not only would take a lot more than seven glasses to render me immobilised, I can imagine no circumstances in which Pacific Peak Merlot would ever pass my lips. It is an ultra- cheap Californian wine that is not to my taste nor, I’d imagine, Ashwin Raj’s either. So if they are striving for genuine authenticity, these trolls need to do a lot better. (Maybe an American wrote the posting).
Nonetheless, it is also clear that some people are credulous enough to believe that it is a genuine account by the real Graham Davis of an event that actually happened. How? Because of the number of “likes” on the Facebook posting and even one or two desultory comments. Stealing someone’s identity on social media and the Internet is an offence under Fijian law but that doesn’t seem to worry whoever is trying to discredit me. Poor Ashwin Raj just seems to have been collateral damage.
Someone is clearly very keen to try to counter the impact Grubsheet is already having. I make no assertion that these sites are linked to the person or persons who allegedly created other fake sites during the Fiji First election campaign in 2018. As the fictional Francis Urqhuart says in House of Cards: “You may say that, I couldn’t possibly comment”. Yet I’m also mindful of the overriding question that underpins the legal system: Cui bono? Who benefits? Who stands to gain? And the answer to that I leave to you, Dear Reader.
There’s little I can do aside from trying to get Facebook to remove the fake page and alert as many readers as possible to this crude and rather sad effort to muddy the waters and create a parallel truth. But that doesn’t mean I can’t do something about the personal abuse that has started to be directed towards me in these columns.
I have always believed in free expression and the right of anyone to criticise my opinions. But henceforth, no comment will be permitted to remain on Grubsheet unless it is accompanied by an email address which, of course, is never published. Email addresses have been removed on a great many of these offending comments, which gives rise to the imputation – to coin another legal phrase – that they may be the work of the same person or persons who have created the fake Internet and Facebook pages. But that is the new arrangement on Grubsheet and if anyone doesn’t like it, they can post their abusive comments in some fetid corner of cyberspace where they belong.
As I’ve said, the last post on the Military Council calling for a fundamental overall of the Fijian government has drawn many views – nearly 12,000 by midnight on Sunday. And don’t miss Grubsheet this week when we reveal something equally compelling – Frank Bainimarama’s designated successor. It’ll appear from midnight Thursday, Fiji time.
Bula vinaka Mr Davis,
Vinaka vakalevu na vakadrakai.
God bless you and blessings continue with your work.
Kind regards
Ofa
Vinaka vakalevu, Ofa. Your sentiments are very much appreciated.
Keep on speaking truth to power Graham, honesty always triumphs and you are doing a great service to the people of Fiji with your truthful assessment and factual commentary on past events and the implications for the future
Keep up the good work.
Also very much appreciated, Rajiv. Thank you.
Talofa Graham Davis
The mission work never ends and the strong legacy of pioneers and forefathers continue. Long may it endure to spread honesty and Good Governance among the evil forces in our neighborhoods.
Malo.
Morgan Tuimalealiifano
Talofa Morgan, and faafetai. Or is it malo ‘aupito.
” …it’s also clear that we have become a threat to some very powerful interests… ”
Who are the ” we “?
And, who are the ” very powerful interests ” that feel threatened ?
And, threatened by what?
The truth?
What kind of people feel threatened by the truth?
Rajend,
“We” as in Grubsheet ( me and those who assist me).
The rest is conjecture. Use your imagination. 🙂
Using my imagination could that be the rogue rulers and unscrupulous business wallahs and their crooked deals which they want hidden from the people of Fiji?
Some people until recently kept company with that mob in Fiji … That’s another significant truth.
I figured you would hit a nerve with pro government trolls and the simpletons currently in power and who support Khaiyum.
And I didn’t even need to read whatever rubbish that troll page put out. They’re not so different from the Fiji Sun and their primary school journos.
Do your thing GD, I’m sure being trolled is the least of your concerns since it won’t stop you from publishing the truth about why FFP needs a makeover.
What makes you think FFP merely ” needs a makeover ” after 14 long years of rogue rule?
Frankie growing a spine for once and prove he’s not a lackey to Khaiyum, and more intellectuals in the party by merit and not nepotism.
Easier said than done IMO, especially with the so-called “military council” planning something like in the last article.
But no surprise if FFP lose out the next elections like they nearly did last time. The party is one thing but the individuals are another in terms of it being a “one-man show” in particular ruled by an egoistic man that almost everyone hates…and is mostly known as the Minister for Everything.
Just my thoughts anyways.
How do you makeover a governing political party like the FFP?
The latest is the revelation by CoupFourpointfive ( re : Truth for Fiji ).
It ” posted on its Facebook page leaked Fiji First bank statements that show a list of regular donors who were not disclosed by the FFParty.
It says information was leaked in response to Fiji’s conniving Megalomaniac AG Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum’s increased efforts to remove the NFP from contesting the next general elections. The source of the information describes it as the tip of the ice-berg. Which means more is yet to come says C4.5 .
Anyone who reckons the Fiji First mob need a ” makeover ” are naive. The people of Fiji deserve better governance.
Rajend, my apologies but I have been obliged to edit your posting for legal reasons to remove any allegation of corruption against specific individuals. It is defamatory and the individual/ individuals involved have a record of suing.
I accept that completely.
Applaud you Graham Davis for your investment in doing this. May it be rewarded with the good you desire from it.
Vinaka, Akuila. Also much appreciated.
Lately, Grubsheet & NFP have been taking huge flak due to their consistent airing of FFP facts.So all this heat you’re attracting, as well as NFP, only inflates your credibility and adds more weight to your insight & articles. Keep em coming Graham #Tabusoro
Apparently the FFP inbreds can’t handle the truth and are merely making both NFP and Grubby a lot more relevant. The more trolling, the more it just proves Grubsheet’s point as well as NFP.
Wasn’t me.
That’s because you’re irrelevant Marc.
” Driven off the edge : Journalism Professor Marc Edge departs USP and Fiji after repeated complaints from Sharon Smith-Johns, Graham Davis and Crosbie Walsh over hard-hitting blogs and joke at Qorvis expense at Journalism award ceremony”.
Was Marc Edge hounded out of USP and Fiji because he exposed the truth about the sheninagans of the post coup ruling mob and their apologists?
Yes, undoubtedly so, Rajend. Cue Marc Edge 🙂
Nick Schifrin : You’re criticizing the regime. We are keeping you anonymous. How dangerous is it to use some of the words that you are saying and talk to us about the extend of the problem?
Man ( through translator ) : Any criticism of the regime, whether it’s about public health, or any other issue, risks detention or death. Why I am talking? Because somebody must talk. There is always a need for someone to be a voice of truth.
( ‘ Despite spiralling coronavirus crisis, Syria’s government is not concerned at all ‘ PBS NewsHour 14 September).
Yes, there is indeed always a need for someone to be a voice of truth.
All of the above works for Pasefikans. Switch the light on.
While this act is cowardly and pathetic on the trolls who executed it sadly it has worked. The biggest and perhaps only major debate happening right now is on how Ashwin Raj has raped somebody at every grog session you vist…
https://grubshitt.blogspot.com/2020/09/grubshit-article-most-viewed-in-fiji.html