TONGUE-TIED IN PARLIAMENT: We strongly believe in the freedom of speech but we also strongly feel that ENGLISH should be the only language spoken in Fiji's Parliament. In the old bad days, native Fijian MPs used to abuse Indo-Fijians, calling them kaisi bokola botobotos etc, etc, etc. Hi, Ram, we must not allow Indo-Fijian MPs to speak in Hindi. They will resort to babbling in Sudh Hindi (pure Indian Hindi), instead of Fiji Hindi, the language of the original Indian coolies. That is why we have always condemned the activities of the Indian High Commission in Fiji, and against their propaganda and freebies; they want to lure the Indo-Fijians away from their indentured roots, to look up to 'Mother India', and not FIJI!
'Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was in tears in parliament yesterday as he highlighted what his wife, Ela had to endure between 2014 and 2018. While speaking in parliament, Sayed-Khaiyum said his wife is very special and a very humble person who avoids public settings like a plague. However he says Ela is a person of tenacity and resolve. Sayed-Khaiyum says the past four years in particular in the lead up to the 2014 elections and this elections, personal and ethnic religious vilifications against him increased significantly. He says Ela was part of the team that was monitoring social media. An emotional Sayed-Khaiyum says Ela was personally and extremely upset by the comments but he did not want to acknowledge it at the time as he was focused on the general elections.' Fijivillage News, Friday, 30 November 2018
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SIX DAYS BEFORE FIJI WENT TO THE POLLS |
Bainimarama: Na Cava GDP $21,259 to your brother | Consecutive losses are as follows: 2010- $517K, 2011 - $1.1M 2012 - $7.1M 2013 - $5.6M 2014 - $3.9M 2015 - $3.6M Sashi Singh is Director HFC Bank, Telecom, FNFP, FNFP subsidiaries, Natadola, Fiji Ports Terminal Ltd and chairman FBC |
THE TWO BIRDS OF FEATHER FOOLING THE PUBLIC OF FIJI TOGETHER!!!
Sitiveni Rabuka says he is the right person to talk on Finance. Oh, REALLY?
"In my opinion the Prime Minister's (Rabuka's) action as regard the events leading up to the execution of the Deed [re Anthony Stephens] was not only improper but prima facie illegal" -
Justice Kermode, September 1992
Meanwhile, Anare Jale tells Parliament there are many experienced and qualified native Fijians that are working abroad and would return to Fiji given the opportunity - if SODLEPA had won or wins in four years. ISA, thousands upon thousands of Indo-Fijians were chased out of Fiji by Rabuka and his RACIST MOB, who lost everything, and still living abroad
FIJI ON RED ALERT: Listening and reading the speeches of SODELPA MPs, one can't but fear the future of Indo-Fijians, progressive native Fijians, and other non-Fijians, for these SODELPA MPs (with a few exceptions - Ro Kepa and Leawere) are a bunch of racist mob who harbour nothing but grand design to control Fiji and impose their demagogic chiefs, thieves, and others, on us - disguised as speaking up for the native Fijians.
No wonder, in 2006, they played right into the hands of Frank Bainimarama and his military, and if these SODELPA lot do not clip their tongues, and if by some weird quirk of fate, they win election, expect another COUP in four years. Dangerous Racist Demagogues!
What the election results for SODELPA reveal is that frightful curse - TRIBALISM. It is still rife and kicking, for most native Fijians voted for SODELPA on tribal lines in their provinces, EXCEPT FOR NFP!
That explains why SODELPA MPs got very high votes and
Sitiveni Rabuka got lesser votes than Frank Bainimarama.
After 1987, the only weapon that brought Rabuka to his knees and
gave him and his racist i-Taukeist mob sleepless nights was
'THE GUNS OF LAUTOKA'
'You want violence, we will give you violence. Choice: Peaceful co-existence with Indo-Fijians or violent co-annihilation. Stop your bulls*** about coup for indigenous rights, for we are having none of it'
TAMPERING WITH JUSTICE: Coming soon - How New Zealand businessman told Aiyaz Khaiyum to by-pass DDP and go straight to FICAC: "Asalam Wa alaikum, For your opposition get Sitiveni Rabuka charged against income tax charges at the very last minute so that he is not able to contest against you. Get him convicted by FICAC. Also, search for Biman Prasad's records at USP, he was involved in some corrupt practice...You are one of us and you will remain at your position to rule these people...May you have the grace of Allah in your life..."
Fijileaks: FFP was nearly out of the Pallah (Door) because of Khaiyum's arrogance and contempt for the voters; while he demanded Faiyaz Koya and other 'goslings' to tell voters to vote for Bainimarama, he went around telling voters to vote for him, hence raking over 17,000 votes, and the gullible liu muried Koya now staring from outside into Parliament
The unfairness of the Modified D’Hondt electoral system in Fiji
By Professor Wadan Narsey
FFP is entitled to 26.2 MPs,
SODELPA 20.9 MPs
NFP 3.9 MPs
There is little to quibble about SODELPA getting 21 seats (which is 20.9 rounded up to 21). But then why is the NFP entitlement of 3.9 not rounded up to 4. Why is FFP entitled to only 26.2 getting 27 seats when common sense (and any primary student) would know that the 26.2 should be “rounded down” to 26 as universally accepted
For years now, claims have been made that the electoral system in the 2013 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2014 is the best ever and the most proportional, where all votes have equal value.
While I have always argued that the massive 5% threshold has totally destroyed the value of a large numbers of votes which were cast for independents and small parties (some 27,000 votes in the 2014 Election and about 11,000 in the 2018 Election) even I was under the impression that the modified D’Hondt system used by the Fijian Elections Office under the Electoral Act was was still largely proportional.
But I have been proven wrong by the 2018 Election results declared by the Fijian Elections Office.
FFP (with 227,241 votes) has been awarded 27 seats, SODELPA (with 181,072 votes) has been awarded 21 seats and NFP with 33,515 votes, awarded 3 seats- all correctly according to the 2013 Constitution.
But I suggest here that it would have been much “fairer” by any sense of the word to award NFP one more seat and FFP one less, which would reduce the majority of FFP in Parliament to only 1- quite a decisive correction.
Indeed, NZ’s proportional system, internationally accepted, would have allocated FFP 26 seats (one seat less) and NFP 4 (one seat more than currently).
Even a primary school child can understand my arithmetic logic below.
All apparently lawful: according to the Modified D’Hondt system
Assuming that there are no substantial irregularities as claimed by the Opposition Parties, then the above results as declared by the FEO are indeed according to the electoral vote counting clauses in the Electoral Act under which all the parties contested the 2014 and 2018 Elections- the modified D’Hondt system.
The modified D’Hondt system is extremely difficult to explain to ordinary people, but let me give it a go, just using FFP and NFP in the example, to simply the calculations.
(a) there are 51 seats to allocate to parliament.
(b) divide each qualifying party’s total votes received by 1, 2, 3, etc. going down to 51.
(c) the Fijian Elections Office chooses the MPs from all the parties, with the highest average number of votes.
(d) So if only 1 FFP MP was elected, that MP would represent 227,241 voters.
if 2 were elected each MP would represent 113,621 each (or 227,241/2)
Keep dividing by increasing numbers of MPs until you get to 26.
if 26 were elected these FFP MPs would each represent 8740 votes each (or 227,241/26).
(e) Now if only 1 NFP MP was elected, that MP would represent 33,515
if only 3 NFP MPs were elected they would each represent on average 11,172 voters
(f) by now 21 SODELPA MPs have also been selected: so the total number of MPs already selected for parliament = 26 +21 + 3 = 50. One more to go.
(g) The FEO now has to select the 51st MP and the following are the average number of voters that each party would have, if one extra MP from that party was selected.
Average voters
27th FFP candidate: 8416
22nd SODELPA 8231
4th NFP candidate 8379
(h) You can see that the modified D’Hondt rule as in the Electoral Act requires the FEO to choose the next MP who would give his or her party the higher average number of voters our of these three parties.
Clearly, in this case, the 51st MP will come from the FFP, because the 27th FFP MP will give an overall average of 8416 voters, still higher than the other two parties’ candidates should they be selected.
So if the numbers of votes are correct as stated, then the FEO has followed the law as it stands in the Electoral Act 2014
But is it fair in the common sense of the word?
Especially when the Fiji voting public have been led to believe for five years that every vote should have equal value?
What if there was strict proportionality?
If one accepts the 5% threshold which eliminates the small parties, then the qualifying parties are as follows, with their strictly proportional share of votes and their ideal allocation of seats.
By strict proportionality,
FFP is entitled to 26.2 MPs,
SODELPA 20.9 MPs
and NFP 3.9 MPs.
While I have always argued that the massive 5% threshold has totally destroyed the value of a large numbers of votes which were cast for independents and small parties (some 27,000 votes in the 2014 Election and about 11,000 in the 2018 Election) even I was under the impression that the modified D’Hondt system used by the Fijian Elections Office under the Electoral Act was was still largely proportional.
But I have been proven wrong by the 2018 Election results declared by the Fijian Elections Office.
FFP (with 227,241 votes) has been awarded 27 seats, SODELPA (with 181,072 votes) has been awarded 21 seats and NFP with 33,515 votes, awarded 3 seats- all correctly according to the 2013 Constitution.
But I suggest here that it would have been much “fairer” by any sense of the word to award NFP one more seat and FFP one less, which would reduce the majority of FFP in Parliament to only 1- quite a decisive correction.
Indeed, NZ’s proportional system, internationally accepted, would have allocated FFP 26 seats (one seat less) and NFP 4 (one seat more than currently).
Even a primary school child can understand my arithmetic logic below.
All apparently lawful: according to the Modified D’Hondt system
Assuming that there are no substantial irregularities as claimed by the Opposition Parties, then the above results as declared by the FEO are indeed according to the electoral vote counting clauses in the Electoral Act under which all the parties contested the 2014 and 2018 Elections- the modified D’Hondt system.
The modified D’Hondt system is extremely difficult to explain to ordinary people, but let me give it a go, just using FFP and NFP in the example, to simply the calculations.
(a) there are 51 seats to allocate to parliament.
(b) divide each qualifying party’s total votes received by 1, 2, 3, etc. going down to 51.
(c) the Fijian Elections Office chooses the MPs from all the parties, with the highest average number of votes.
(d) So if only 1 FFP MP was elected, that MP would represent 227,241 voters.
if 2 were elected each MP would represent 113,621 each (or 227,241/2)
Keep dividing by increasing numbers of MPs until you get to 26.
if 26 were elected these FFP MPs would each represent 8740 votes each (or 227,241/26).
(e) Now if only 1 NFP MP was elected, that MP would represent 33,515
if only 3 NFP MPs were elected they would each represent on average 11,172 voters
(f) by now 21 SODELPA MPs have also been selected: so the total number of MPs already selected for parliament = 26 +21 + 3 = 50. One more to go.
(g) The FEO now has to select the 51st MP and the following are the average number of voters that each party would have, if one extra MP from that party was selected.
Average voters
27th FFP candidate: 8416
22nd SODELPA 8231
4th NFP candidate 8379
(h) You can see that the modified D’Hondt rule as in the Electoral Act requires the FEO to choose the next MP who would give his or her party the higher average number of voters our of these three parties.
Clearly, in this case, the 51st MP will come from the FFP, because the 27th FFP MP will give an overall average of 8416 voters, still higher than the other two parties’ candidates should they be selected.
So if the numbers of votes are correct as stated, then the FEO has followed the law as it stands in the Electoral Act 2014
But is it fair in the common sense of the word?
Especially when the Fiji voting public have been led to believe for five years that every vote should have equal value?
What if there was strict proportionality?
If one accepts the 5% threshold which eliminates the small parties, then the qualifying parties are as follows, with their strictly proportional share of votes and their ideal allocation of seats.
By strict proportionality,
FFP is entitled to 26.2 MPs,
SODELPA 20.9 MPs
and NFP 3.9 MPs.
Click to read more:
narseyonfiji.wordpress.com/2018/11/24/the-unfairness-of-the-modified-dhondt-electoral-system-in-fiji-ft-24-11-2018/
Fiji Sun headline should have screamed: FFP loses five seats, scrapes past 50% threshold by mere 147 votes; Electoral System robs NFP of Coalition Government by 152 votes, and THIRTEEN (13) FFP MPs got
less than 1,000 votes each from voters
Over 170,000 Fijian voters did not turn up to vote. Election result reveal Fiji still racially divided society. Both Indo-Fijian and native Fijian voters chose Freebies and not Freedom. FFP and SODELPA played crude RACE CARD. The only MPs that can go into Parliament with their heads high are from NFP who did not resort to race based politics. One declared seat (NFP had 4) and one more likely seat were taken away from NFP to prevent the formation of a Coalition Government (NFP needed 5 MPs). We wonder if Faiyaz Koya who failed to get enough votes will be brought in through the back door - whether as Speaker or the new Attorney-General? Coupists will face each other in Parliament - Coups pay in Fiji. How can there be a fair result if those who did not vote for FFP, SODELPA and NFP now find their combined votes have been given to FFP by FEC and FEO? The 2013 Constitution deliberately forbids coalition before election and the odd number of seats (51) was designed to ensure FFP win! Security nightmare: Sodelpa's nationalist win means Fiji must remain vigilant for future native Fijian uprising against FFP government.
The Multinational Observer Group (MOG):
"FFP government ministers and senior officials had conducted a range of high profile activities, such as concluding commercial contracts, opening buildings and dispensing government grants and funds during the campaign."
THIRTEEN FFP MPs don't even have over 1,000 votes. ALL Opposition MPs have over 2,000 votes each compared to those on the Government side - result of the skewed D'Hondt Voting System - GANDER taking the Goslings into Parliament, some will even become Ministers with 755 votes to their name! Its like handing the control of Fiji Airways Boeing 737 jumbo jets to pilots who failed their flying tests. Welcome to Fiji!!!
The 27 FijiFirst candidates are : 1. Bainimarama, Josaia Voreqe | 167732 votes 2. Sayed‑Khaiyum, Aiyaz | 17271 votes 3. Nagata, Alipate Tuicolo | 6876 votes 4. Bala, Parveen Kumar | 5063 votes 5. Nath, Vijay | 2256 votes 6. Reddy, Mahendra | 2081 votes 7. Kumar, Premila Devi | 1379 votes 8. Nand, Joseph Nitya | 1349 votes 9. Pillay, Viam | 1280 votes 10. Seruiratu, Inia Batikoto | 1251 votes 11. Vuniwaqa, Mereseini Rakuita | 1167 votes 12. Kirpal, Sanjay Salend | 1147 votes 13. Naiqamu, Osea | 1129 votes 14. Maharaj, Alvick Avhikrit | 1019 votes 15. Vegnathan, George | 944 votes 16. Koroilavesau, Semi Tuleca | 888 votes 17. Usamate, Jone | 849 votes 18. Sharma, Rohit Ritesh | 821 votes 19. Sudhakar, Ashneel | 755 votes 20. Waqainabete, Ifereimi | 743 votes 21. Adimaitoga, Selai | 718 votes 22. Akbar, Rosy Sofia | 705 votes 23. Sigarara, Jale | 697 votes 24. Prakash, Vijendra | 596 votes 25. Bhatnagar, Veena Kumar | 577 votes 26. O'Connor, Alexander David | 572 votes 27. Govind, Salik Ram | 559 votes | The 21 SODELPA candidates are 1. Rabuka, Sitiveni Ligamamada | 77040 votes 2. Tabuya, Lynda Diseru | 8795 votes 3. Kepa, Ro Teimumu Vuikaba | 6036 votes 4. Bulitavu, Mosese Drecala | 5342 votes 5. Nawaikula, Niko | 5187 votes 6. Lalabalavu, Atonio Rabici | 5016 votes 7. Jale, Anare | 4287 votes 8. Vosanibola, Peceli Waqairatu | 3730 votes 9. Gavoka, Viliame Rogoibulu | 3536 votes 10. Saukuru, Jese | 3299 votes 11. Rasova, Simione Rokomalo | 3286 votes 12. Matanitobua, Ratu Suliano | 3279 votes 13. Bulanauca, Mitieli | 3031 votes 14. Tuisawau, Ro Filipe | 2835 votes 15. Kuridrani, Inosi | 2724 votes 16. Leawere, Mikaele Rokosova | 2354 votes 17. Radrodro, Aseri Masivou | 2312 votes 18. Radrodro, Salote Vuibureta | 2235 votes 19. Qionibaravi, Adi Litia | 2195 votes 20. Lalabalavu, Ratu Naiqama | 2165 votes 21. Navurelevu, Tevita | 2010 votes The 3 NFP candidates going to Parliament are : 1. Prasad, Biman Chand | 12,137 votes 2. Tikoduadua, Pio | 2684 votes 3. Qereqeretabua, Lenora Salusalu | 1811 votes |
KHAIYUMS 2013 CONSTITUTION IS A JOKE
FROM GRAHAM LEUNG, FIJIAN LAWYER AND NOW SECRETARY TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IN NAURU.
Fiji' electoral system gives democracy a bad name. The 5% rule means as an example, someone who gets 5000 votes but does not meet the threshold loses, and someone with 800 votes in a party that does, gets into Parliament - and might even become a Minister.
As an example, in the 2014 elections:
Filimone Vosarogo = 2788 votes (not elected);
Faiyaz Koya - 875 votes, elected MP and appointed Minister for Trade.
In 2018: Savenaca Narube, former Governor of the Reserve Bank got 2811 votes (not elected).
By comparison, Salik Govind FFP got elected to Parliament with 559 votes.
You will never convince me this is a fair or democratic system. Change the Constitution.
My other gripe is the abolition of local constituencies.
How can an MP who lives in Suva but has never stepped foot in rural Macuata understand the 'local' issues of a cane farmer who has trouble taking his cane to the Labasa mill in time?
How can a Nadi based MP who has never been to Lomaiviti (let alone visited Nacamaki or Nasau) understand the maritime transport problems of Koro island grog farmers?
In the past people typically went to their 'local' MP for help.
This is what happens when you have an imposed Constitution which does not reflect the will of the people.
You do things to suit yourself.
Fiji people are long suffering. $2.68 an hour won't even buy you a number 10 Crest chicken.
Wake up Fiji!
FROM GRAHAM LEUNG, FIJIAN LAWYER AND NOW SECRETARY TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IN NAURU.
Fiji' electoral system gives democracy a bad name. The 5% rule means as an example, someone who gets 5000 votes but does not meet the threshold loses, and someone with 800 votes in a party that does, gets into Parliament - and might even become a Minister.
As an example, in the 2014 elections:
Filimone Vosarogo = 2788 votes (not elected);
Faiyaz Koya - 875 votes, elected MP and appointed Minister for Trade.
In 2018: Savenaca Narube, former Governor of the Reserve Bank got 2811 votes (not elected).
By comparison, Salik Govind FFP got elected to Parliament with 559 votes.
You will never convince me this is a fair or democratic system. Change the Constitution.
My other gripe is the abolition of local constituencies.
How can an MP who lives in Suva but has never stepped foot in rural Macuata understand the 'local' issues of a cane farmer who has trouble taking his cane to the Labasa mill in time?
How can a Nadi based MP who has never been to Lomaiviti (let alone visited Nacamaki or Nasau) understand the maritime transport problems of Koro island grog farmers?
In the past people typically went to their 'local' MP for help.
This is what happens when you have an imposed Constitution which does not reflect the will of the people.
You do things to suit yourself.
Fiji people are long suffering. $2.68 an hour won't even buy you a number 10 Crest chicken.
Wake up Fiji!
RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION?: Most of the remaining voters who are told they should vote on Saturday are in rural areas, and mostly Seventh Day Adventist followers, who are discriminated against by Saturday poll; also they know the results so far - they could change minds for parties
SUN fails to shine for SODELPA: Solely focusing on Khaiyum's so-called 'Sunset Clause', anti-Muslim bashings, dumping Ro Teimumu Kepa, promising to snatch land back and to bring back the dreaded Great Council of Chiefs in the next 100 days frightened Indo-Fijians, forcing them to close ranks and VOTE for FijiFirst Party. And, thousands of native Fijian voters joined them to keep SODELPA out of power.
We kept pointing out that Niko Nawaikula was coming across as a very dangerous racist demagogue, reminding Indo-Fijian voters of
Rabuka's violent I-Taukeists from 1987 who raped their way to power. Now, nearly 20 years later, the coupist is writhing back into Parliament
In another country, lawyers would have come forward to mount legal challenges on behalf of voters who have been denied their right to vote. This voter whose Voter Card has Suva address told to go to Rakiraki
NOVEMBER: Even Fiji Tourism Board informs tourists its RAINY Season, so who decided that 2018 general election should be held in November
BEN RYAN BLACKLISTED FROM FIJI OVER RUBGY BOOK
Now, Ryan blacklisted from Fiji after his book reveals all on Bainimarama, his daughter, and the convicted murder Francis Kean
* There would never be a meeting I would have with Frank Bainimarama when I wouldn't leave thinking, Ben, be careful. I knew I would have to watch every public step, every word I said. I would find out that he took things personally, that he held grudges, that he made things happen. I would see the hidden ruthlessness emerge, and I would see it work for me: a problem of mine he would hear about, met with one comment - Don't worry, I'll sort those sons of bitches out - and terminated with one phone call.
*Olympics. Frank arrived in style. His motorcade was bigger than that of the Chinese premier. He had brought his own water from Fiji, so concerned about the risk of being poisoned that he advised me to do the same. I thought he was joking.
He was deadly serious.
*Franks Daughter: I was glad I found out who Latiana was before my first trip there, before I sat down to complain my missing salary or that Frank's brother-in-law on the rugby board was being a pain in the backside..anything I said to anyone could find its way back to Frank on the coconut wires...I would see someone surprising getting a plum job and slowly out out that there was a a cousin in common somewhere along the line, or that the conditions of the post included guaranteeing a certain number of votes when the time was right.
* Francis Kean: Everyone knew Francis Kean in Fiji...At his trial he was tried for murder. A lack of witnesses saw him instead plead guilty to manslaughter. He was released from prison after a week. One morning Kean came to the gym in Suva where I was training the boys..A soldier on either side of him, both in uniform. Ben, these two men are in your next training squad. I knew I could not face him down but I could not step back either...A shot back from me. An email to World Rugby: one of your national unions is about to appoint a chairman who has served time for manslaughter. This is the man who you''ll be paying to fly over for the England vs Fiji match, where he'll have the best seats at Twickenham and a five-star hotel that you will also be paying for. He'll be the man you deal with for the next four years whenever you deal with rugby in Fiji. The reply from World Rubgy: this is an internal matter. Kean couldn't go in the end, a travel ban still in place from his conviction. He sent two board members instead. That was Fiji.
‘Blacklisted’ ex-Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan urges Fijians to vote in general election; politician vows to ‘free’ Englishman
https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/fifteens/article/2172869/blacklisted-ex-fiji-sevens-coach-ben-ryan-urges-fijians-vote?fbclid=IwAR30irAwr03InSQ7Tv_7zL01YMEzb2ZXmZ8tgH_RNjaQQHVZaKwtgZrG4JQ
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sevens-Heaven-Beautiful-Chaos-Olympic/dp/1474608256/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540812150&sr=8-1&keywords=sevens+heaven+ben+ryan
"What is at stake in this election is the liberty of those who wish to work for
good of Fiji, to do so without being frustrated by evildoers and hound dogs."
THE PROSECUTION'S LEGAL DEBRIS results in acquittal "Had a conviction been entered it would have had to be quashed upon appeal. As I have said the duplicity of the charges was fatal to the prosecution's case and essential elements were not proved. The appeal fails and must be dismissed." CJ Gates; in 1987 to 1997, Rabuka denied justice to opponents of his coups |
CHIEF JUSTICE GATES: "... It could have put to rest the contentious issues of the registration of SODELPA and of the status of Mr. Rabuka as a relevant office holder. The certificate could have covered the following facts and been tailored relevantly for this case as follows:
"I certify that having determined that the SODELPA as a political party should be registered, the said party was registered on the [date of registration inserted ............ ] as a political party pursuant to section 10 of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding; and Disclosures) Act 2013. I certify that SODELPA was still so registered on 29th December 2017, and that it remains on the register."
20th May 2018, Signed: Mohammed Saneem Registrar of Political Parties
To this certificate should be attached a certified extract or copy of the register showing the relevant entry.
A similar kind of certificate could be devised showing acceptance by the Registrar that the person providing the declaration is accepted by the Registrar for the purpose of complying with section 24(1A) in the office of party leader as an office holder pursuant to section 2, After all it is the Registrar whose duty it is to ensure there is compliance by the political parties and their office-holders with their obligations under the Act.
In these circumstances, and for the breach of the essential constitutional requirement, a fair trial was not obtained. Had a conviction been entered it would have had to be quashed upon appeal. As I have said the duplicity of the charges was fatal to the prosecution's case and essential elements were not proved. The appeal fails and must be dismissed. This appeal was a complex matter requiring a great deal of hard work in preparation and because of the time constraints, no doubt all other work would have had to have been put aside. Pursuant to section 254(2) of the CPA there will be an order for $4,000 costs summarily assessed payable to the Respondent within 14 days. " -
Chief Justice Anthony Gates
Fijileaks: Legal irony! In 1987, Coupist Rabuka had dismissed Gates, then a Magistrate, for refusing to support the racist nature of the coup, forcing Gates out of Fiji. Later, Bainimarama, Rabuka, Qarase, and the President refused to restore Chaudhry as PM and the 1997 Constitution of Fiji. Gates had ruled in Chandrika Prasad v. Att-Gen of Fiji [2000] 2 FLR 89; Prasad v. Republic of Fiji & Another [2001] 1 LRC 665; [2001] NZAR 21 that the Constitution of Fiji had not been abrogated by the military intervention in 2000, and that the Constitution continued to be the law of the land.His decision was upheld by Fiji’s Court of Appeal, in February 2001.
However, the decision which should have led to the restoration of the Parliament suspended by the coup of 2000 was not obeyed by the Interim Qarase government at that time, the Government instead choosing to call for a general election in 2001.
We say to Supervisor of Election Saneem: RESIGN! We also maintain that the acquittal does not absolve the coupist snake Rabuka from his LIE that he was penniless, and was now picking BOTTLES to survive. As court documents reveal, he had thousands of dollars in local and overseas accounts, which was the centre of his recent case.
Read Chief Justice Gates below:
IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI AT SUVA
BETWEEN:
FIJI INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION FICAC
AND:
SITIVENI LIGAMAMADA RABUKA
Coram: Gates CJ
Date of Hearing: 8th November 2018
Date of Judement: 12th November 2018
JUDGMENT
Introduction
[ I] This appeal concerns duties of financial disclosure (at pre-election stage)
imposed on office-holders of registered political parties.
[2] On 26'h October 2018, before a Resident Magistrate sitting at Suva, Mr. Rabuka, the Respondent, was acquitted of a single count charge of Providing False Declaration of assets, income and liabilities, contrary to sections 24(1A) and 24(5) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding, and Disclosures) Act [No. 4 of 2013]. He had pleaded not guilty and after trial had been acquitted.
[3] A timely petition of appeal was filed by the prosecution in the registry of the High Court on 26th October 2018. This was amended within the appeal period on 30th October 2018. The amendment had been foreshadowed by Petitioner's counsel at court on the first mention of this case.
Need to expedite Electoral Cases
- At the first call on 30'h October 2018 I had said the court would expedite the hearing of this appeal for two reasons.
- First the Electoral Act 2014 specifically demands a prompt decision by the court on charges for election related offences. Section 18A states:
[6] When there is an application to the Court of Disputed Returns to inquire into the rightfulness of a member occupying a seat in Parliament and seeking a declaration as to whether the seat has become vacant, such
decision has to be delivered by the court within 21 days [Constitution sections 63(1) and 63(5)]. The validity of elections also must be determined within 21 days.
[7] These provisions are adopted in many jurisdictions because of the need for certainty and for a swift conclusion of the issues as to the validity of elections.
[8] In the instant case the consequences of a conviction are severe. The penalty provision for a conviction under sections 24(1A) and 24(5) provides for a tine not exceeding $50,000 or for a term of imprisonment to be imposed not exceeding 10 years or to both.
[9] Section 56(2) of the Constitution provides that a person may be a candidate for election to Parliament only if the person --
"(g) has not, at any time during the 8 years immediately before being nominated, been convicted of any offence under any law for which the maximum penalty is a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more; and
(h) has not been found guilty of any offence under a law relating to elections, registration of political parties or registration of voters."
[10] Even if convicted of a lesser offence under the election laws generally, a person so convicted would appear to suffer a life time penalty of disqualification from standing for Parliament.
A conviction for the charge under consideration — sections 24(IA) and 24(5) — besides the imposition of a sentence of substance, would also carry a life disqualification from standing for Parliament.
[11] The Electoral Act 2014 repeats those provisions of the Constitution at Section 23(4).
[12] Unfortunately this case comes to the High Court at a time when the Writ for the General Elections has already been issued. Indeed some pre-poll voting has commenced and other voters will cast their vote at polling booths on Wednesday 14th November 2018.
[13] In this case, with the above time constraints, the courts can grant access to a litigant only as far as to the High Court. Appeal is possible beyond to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. But those two courts would be unlikely to provide access prior to the impending Election.
[14] This appeal was set down therefore for 1" call with less than the usual notice. The Respondent was served with the Petition of Appeal and Notice of Hearing (first call) on 29'h October 2018 (affidavit of service not specifying time) at Vuinadi Village, Cakaudrove. His solicitors were served on the same day at 3.42pm. The I q mention was fixed for 3.30pm the following day Tuesday 30''' October 2018.
[15] The Respondent himself was attending to his business away from Suva. He was served on 29`h October 2018 at approximately 6.17pm to appear in court the next day at 3.30prn.
S [16] Adverse comment was made of FICAC for assisting with service on the Respondent away on Vanua Levu. But it was necessary to move fast with the process to allow the parties the maximum time within the limited window for preparation, a hearing, and a decision on the appeal. No criticism should properly be levelled against that Commission for its
- assistance to the Court in serving the Respondent.
[18] The court was mindful that if the Magistrates Court instead of acquitting Mr. Rabuka had convicted him, his counsel would have asked the High Court, quite properly, to grant his or her client access for an urgent appeal so that a decision could be made prior to Election Day with the same constraints. The court must do its best and be even-handed.
[19] In future. election related cases brought through the Magistrates Court, should proceed with greater speed and case management control. Magistrates must bear in mind either party may wish to take the Magistrate's decision upon appeal. The exhortation made to the courts for expedition means full disclosures need to be made early on, and counsel engaged who are available for court trial dates. Where time is short, an election case cannot be put off for 3 months to suit Senior Counsel's diary. The right to counsel of choice is for a. choice to be made from amongst counsel who are available to do the case on the trial dates.
[20] Mr. Vosarogo urged a narrower interpretation of section 18A as to what extent the courts were to make a prompt decision in these cases. He limited it to the court of first instance, the trial court.
- The heading above section 18A in the Electoral Act reads: "Court to finalise decisions"
[23] The second reason for striving, for expedition is in following the philosophy of a line of Indian Supreme Court decisions, culminating in Public Interest Foundation v Union of India [2018] INSC 822 25°' September 2018. Those cases covered a wider field than necessarily election matters, extending to political corruption, which is not the gravity of allegation here. Various reports were referred to including the World Bank Review Vol. 5 2014 and the Law Commission of India --Report on Expeditious Investigation and Trial of Criminal Cases Against Influential Public Persons No. 2391 March 2012; and Law Commission of India Report on Electoral Disqualifications INo. 244[ February 2014.
[24] The Public Interest Foundation case upholds the principle that criminal trials involving public officials or persons in political life need to be proceeded with expeditiously. The case was concerned with electoral disqualifications. That said, persons in public life are not to be hounded or harassed. These cases are concerned with delays where it might be felt the matter is not proceeding to trial, or that special treatment was being accorded to. the Accused. Ultimately the aim must be for equality of treatment, a protection afforded by section 26 of the Fiji Constitution, see too Batiratu [2012] FJHC 864; HAR001.2012 (13 February 2012), where it was said:
"[33] Celebrity status may involve many facets. The person in question might be rich, famous, notorious, highly popular, a foreign dignitary, prominent in politics, an aristocrat or member of a royal household, or a star of film, television or the sporting world. It is essential that the courts treat such persons no differently from the ordinary person in the street. Before the law no more can be expected of them than from others. They do not come to the courts with a handicap nor with an edge on others. They are not to be penalised for their fame, nor given greater leniency for their importance and standing in the community."
Appealing an Acquittal: Is the Sanction of the Deputy Commissioner required?
- Counsel for FICAC flagged the issue of the sanction of the Deputy Commissioner of FICAC. Section 246(2) of the Criminal Procedure. Act under the Heading "Part XV — Appeals from the Magistrates Courts" provides that "no appeal shall lie against an order of acquittal except by, or with the sanction in writing of the Director of Public Prosecutions or of the Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption."
[27] Goundar JA said [para 16]:
...... The rationale for the written sanction is to prevent frivolous or vexatious appeals against acquittals. To impute the requirement for sanction in an appeal by the DPP or FICAC is indeed absurd."
and at para 17:
"If FICAC or the. DPP files an appeal against acquittal by the Magistrates' Court in compliance with their statutory right, then there is a presumption that the official decision to prosecute an appeal is made in a principled manner. In those circumstances, there is no logic in requiring a written sanction to validate your own appeal. Written sanction is only required if an appeal against acquittal is brought in the High Court by a person or institution other than FICAC or the DPP. Based on these reasons, we hold that the High Court erred in law in dismissing FICAC's appeal for want of written sanction."
Electoral Offences — Civil or Criminal Jurisdiction
[28] Electoral offences are properly classified as criminal. Though Electoral Legislation has long been regarded as a special jurisdiction, the heavy penalties •and disqualification provided in the legislation mean that the charge brought, indeed both limbs of section 24(5), is not an administrative or quasi-civil matter. Rather it can be regarded as "quasi-criminal" or indeed a straightforward "criminal" charge: Engel and Others v Netherlands European Court of Human Rights No. 5100/71 8th June 1976; Surinder Singh v Hardial Singh & Ors [1984] INSC 201.
[29] It follows that the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act apply to the conduct of these proceedings, so far as it is applicable.
[30] The onus of proof lies upon the prosecution to prove its case to the standard beyond reasonable doubt: Surinder Singh (supra)
The Facts
[31] Certain obligations of financial disclosure are placed upon office holders or registered officers of registered political parties. On 29th December 2017 the Respondent visited the Office of the Supervisor of Elections and lodged a declaration document providing details to the Registrar of his financial circumstances as required under section 24(1A). The last part of the required details provided was incomplete. It lacked specific details of liabilities incurred or which had been discharged during 2017. There were 4 items omitted as set out in the charges. They were:
1. A tax liability with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Services of $316,956-50.
- Investment and interest income with Raghwan Constructions Ltd. in the sum of $200,000 [investment].
- and $16,000 [income].
- and a liability with Raghwan Constructions Ltd. of $120,000.
Position held in political party: Party Leader
Date of Appointment: 24 June 2016
[33] There was a section headed "Particulars of Liabilities in Fiji or Abroad [Loans, Creditors, Debts, etc]." Mr. Rabuka had tilled in the details which did not include the 4 items mentioned in the charge.
[34] On 24th May 2018 Mr. Rabuka was interviewed under caution by the Manager Investigations for FICAC, Mr. Wakanivesi. The interview was video recorded, and at the trial at the defence request, the video was played in full before the court. Its contents and conduct were not in dispute. Mr. Rabuka had been able to speak to his counsel before going ahead with the interview.
- In the course of the interview he was asked about the 4 missing items from the Liabilities Column of the declaration. He gave his explanation.
[36] He admitted these items had not been included in the declaration. At various points in the interview he explained:
"I think it was an oversight."
"It may be an oversight in my annual returns."
"I see that as an unfortunate accident, I did not delivered (sic), it was not to default anyone. I just did not feel 1 need to do that ..."
[37] Mr. Rabuka said he prepared the declaration himself. He had not received any assistance.
[38] Evidence was led concerning the registration of the political party — SODELPA — and the fact of Mr. Rabuka being the party leader. That evidence and the registration was not accepted by the defence. Counsel asked for these facts or elements of the offence to be formally proved. The Supervisor of Elections, the second prosecution witness, gave his evidence in relation to these two elements of the offence. The Supervisor Elections by virtue of his office is also the Registrar of Political Parties under the Electoral Legislation and for the purposes of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act.
[39] Mr. Rabuka elected not to give evidence. That is his right as a suspect or an Accused person and no adverse inference can be drawn from the exercise of that right. His explanation in the video interview addresses
the question of the omission of the required information in the declaration and the likely reasons for the error.
Agreed Facts
[40] Unfortunately though there was consent to certain matters, there were no formal Agreed Facts filed. This case would have benefitted greatly from such a document.
[41] The provision for Agreed Facts is set out in section 135 of the Criminal Procedure Act [the CPD]:
"135. (1) An accused person, or his or her lawyer, may in any criminal proceedings admit any fact or element of an offence, and such an admission will constitute sufficient proof of that fact or element.
(2) Every admission made under this section must be in writing and signed by the person making the admission or by his or her lawyer, and --
- by the prosecutor; and
- by the judge or magistrate.
[42] At an early stage in the Magistrates Court there were moves to obtain pretrial orders pursuant to sections 289-292 of the CPD.• But these were largely aimed at discovering the source of the original complaint. Unfortunately whatever were the discussions between the parties, nothing of significance was agreed until the last minute, on the first day of the trial.
[43] The objectives of the pre-trial procedures are set out in section 289. They are to:
(a) improve case management in the courts exercising criminal jurisdiction;
(b) apply procedures at an appropriate stage before the trial of a criminal case, which aim to --
- clarify the triable issues in each criminal proceeding;
- confirm the charges that are to proceed to trial;
(iv) determine the length of the trial, and explore means by which its hearing may be facilitated by the application of any appropriate procedure.
(c) otherwise enhance the efficiency of the courts in determining criminal proceedings in any just manner.
[44] Possible orders are listed in the following section. The clarification of exactly what was disputed in this case was paramount here. It is often forgotten that the Agreed Facts provision can also list legal elements of the charge that are admitted. All too rarely are legal elements which are accepted and agreed actually so specified in the Agreed Facts document. Sometimes of six elements of an offence requiring proof, possibly only two are in dispute. These will constitute the litigation issues to be contested by the parties. They should be clearly set out in the Agreed Facts document.
Appellant's Grounds of Appeal
[45] There were 15 grounds lodged, but I would summarise these to be, that the learned Magistrate -
(i) incorrectly referred to section 27(4) of the Act as relevant to this charge.
(ii) wrongfully disregarded Mr. Mohammed Saneem's evidence (the Supervisor of Elections, and thus the Registrar] as hearsay in testifying as to the fact that both SODELPA was a registered party and that Mr. Rabuka was a registered party leader of the same.
(iii) failed to recognise that the defence raised amounted to an ignorance of law.
(iv) failed to consider the direct and circumstantial evidence proving the fault element and thus the intent of the Respondent.
(v) wrongly accepted that the conduct and co-operation of the Respondent during the investigation established his defence of honest mistake.
(vi) wrongly stating the prosecution had conceded to the good character of the defendant.
(viii) wrongly considering good character in the absence of cogent evidence in support of that conclusion, and accorded good character undue weight.
The Elements of the Offence Requiring Proof
[46] These. may be tabulated as .follows,:
Offence S.24(51
Legal elements required to be proved.
LIMB 1 — failing to comply
I. Any person
- who fails to comply with the requirements of subsections. (1), (IA), (1B), or (2) of section 24 [see obligations below]
- with intent (query)
OR
- Any person
- who proYides any information [see obligations belOw]
- that is FALSE,
- with intent.
Obligations of Office Holders or Registered Officers
[s.24(1A) & s.24 (5)] Political Parties (Registration, Conduct,
Funding, and Disclosures) Act 2013
- A person who is appointed as an office holder or a registered officer [see definition in Section 2 of Act]
- After 30 June 2014
- of a political party registered under this Act
- shall within 30 days of the date of his or her appointment and thereafter, on or before 31 December of each year, provide to the Registrar a Statement
- containing the following information in respect of that person and his or her spouse and any children --
[47] I now come on to consider the summarised grounds of appeal and other arguments raised by both counsel in the course of the appeal hearing and submissions.
The Defence suggested in section 27(4)
[36] This matter was not raised by either counsel in the trial. It was raised towards the end of the learned Magistrate's judgment. The Magistrate said "because from the defence case it appears that this section may apply to the defendant."
[37] Section 27 appears to be a General Provision section to deal with others associated with a political party who fail to furnish information required under the Act.
[50] Section 27(4) provides a defence as follows:
"(4) A person does not commit an offence under subsection (1) or (2) if that person proves to the satisfaction of the court that he or she exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of that act as he or she ought to have exercised, having regard to all the circumstances."
[51] That defence is not repeated in other sections for other classes of bodies or persons who fail to furnish information as required, such as in section 24(1A), relevant to this case. Section 24(1A) only applies to persons
appointed after 30 June 2014 as an office holder. Section 27 applies to other persons without the appointment date requirement. The Respondent was not charged under this section, and so the defence does not apply to his case. The Magistrate's finding in this regard is mistaken and must be disregarded.
Was Registrar's oral testimony hearsay and inadmissible?
[52] The short answer is, it is not to be regarded as hearsay or inadmissible. The better question is whether in terms of proof, the evidence was of sufficient quality, and whether it addressed the necessary legal elements and facts requiring proof
[53] The defence insisted on strict proof of the facts of:
(a) the registration of the political party — namely SODELPA, and of
(b) Mr. Rabuka being the "party leader", and thereby "an office holder" under section 2 of the Act.
[54] First it must be considered whether as "party leader" Mr. Rabuka was "an office holder" and thus required to make an annual declaration of his assets and liabilities. The defence made it clear they required proof that he was the party leader, and secondly disputed that he was included in the meaning of office holder. But it was not for the defence to prove that he was neither.
[55] Section 2 of the Act provides:
"office holder in relation to a political party means any person who is elected or appointed by the members of the political party to hold office in that political party, and shall include the president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary and the registered officer of the political party."
[56] In interpreting the section I note the definition refers first to those persons "elected or appointed by the members." There is then a comma followed by examples of who those persons might be:
"and shall include the president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and the registered officer of the political party."
[57] It does not specially list "party leader" as an office holder. However it anticipates other officials being included who may bear different titles. The phrase "and shall include" does not exclude other officials who may qualify as "office holders."
[58] Mr. Vosarogo referred to an amending bill, in fact now already an Act —the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2017 — in which the party list for the nomination of candidates must be lodged in writing and signed by the "President" and the "registered officer of the political party. Formerly it was to be signed by the "leader" and the "secretary." That is some indication, but not conclusive. Here the task is to interpret a separate stand alone piece of legislation.
[59] The Explanatory Note to the Bill gave as reasons for the change of office holders:
"This is to align the terms with the terms used in the Political Parties (Registrat'i'on, Conduct, Funding, and Disclosures) Act 2013."
[60] In interpreting definitions of this kind the ejusdem generis rule is often resorted to. Of that rule it was said, "It is not a rule of law, but merely a rule of construction to aid the courts to find out the true intention of the legislature" : Jage Ram & Oth. v State of Haryana & Ors. [1971] INSC 68.
[61] The rule had been stated in this way:
"Where in a statute there are general words following particular and specific words, the usneral words must be confined to things of the same kind as those specified, although this, as a rule of construction, must be applied with caution, subject to the primary rule that statutes are to be construed in accordance with the intention of Parliament. For the ejusdem rule to apply, the specific words must constitute a category, class or genus; if they do constitute such a category, class or genus, then only things which belongs to that category, class or genus fall within the general words ..."
- Lord Scannan in Quazi v. Quazi (1979)3 All ER 897 had stated:
[63] For a party leader not to come within the category "office holder" would seem odd in view of the importance of such a position in any party. If the party leader is later nominated to be a candidate in the elections he will have to make a similar declaration eg: section 24(2). But as the matter stands with the definition of office holder I find it is sufficiently wide to include "party leader."
[64] But where was the evidence to prove that Mr. Rabuka had been elected or appointed by the members as "party leader." He had so described himself in the declaration form when lodging his financial details. This was a preliminary fact to be formally proved. If the prosecution could not prove the matter, he would have no reason to comply with the requirements of section 24( I A). His own description does not prove the matter for the prosecution. They must produce confirmatory evidence to attain proof beyond reasonable doubt. As will be seen fbrther on, this evidence would not have been difficult to obtain — if it existed.
1651 A certified true copy of the amended Constitution of SODELPA had been exhibited. It states on its front page: "Adopted at the Special General Assembly meeting held at the Epworth Hall, on Thursday 10th September 2015.
[66] The Constitution provides for a party structure consisting of:
- General Assembly
- Management Board
- Constituency/Province; and
- Chapters/Branch.
[67] Under the heading "Management Board" it states:
(a) The Management Board shall be the governing body of the Party and shall be constituted as follows:
- The Party President;
- Three (3) Vice-Presidents;
- Party Leader;
- Parliamentary Leader;
vi) Twenty Eight (28) representatives of the Constituency Councils as shown at Annex B;
vii) Three (3) Women's Forum representatives:
viii) Three (3) Youth Forum representatives.
(b) The General Secretary shall be the Secretary to the management board
(c) The Board shall meet at least once quarterly. The quorum shall be fifty one percent (51%) of the total number of members of the Board and shall include one of the Vice-Presidents.
[68] On one view all members of the Management Board could come within the definition of "office holders." A narrower view of the directing mind of the party, "the brains" at the heart of its business, might reduce the
office holders down to "President, Vice-President, Party Leader, Parliamentary Leader, Treasurer, Secretary and the registered officer of the Party."
[69] However amongst the exhibits in this case and in the record of the oral testimony I can find no mention of any internal documents of the party
evidencing the "election or appointment" of Mr. Rabuka as "Party Leader."
[70] The Registrar is equipped with plenary powers to obtain any information reasonably required. Under section 18(1) the Registrar may issue a
written notice to the registered officer of a political party to furnish for
inspection by the Registrar, the records required to be maintained under section 17, or such other information as is reasonably required by the Registrar to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act.
- By virtue of section 18(2) the Registrar may make copies of or take extracts from any records or other information furnished to the Registrar under this section. The registered officer of the party must comply [section 18(3)], or he or she commits an offence with a $10,000 fine or a term of imprisonment up to. 5 years or both as penalties. Under section 26A(1) the Registrar is given all the powers necessary to carry out its functions under this Act.
- As I have said earlier, there was no evidence submitted of the office holders of SODELPA appointed or elected under the Amended Constitution Of the party, giving rise to a statutory obligation upon Mr. Rabuka to provide to the Registrar his financial details pursuant to section
24(1A). The foundations giving rise to an obligation to provide must be properly proved by evidence.
- At Common Law the courts accepted certificates issued by public officials. Sometimes statutes carried special evidentiary sections stating that the certificate of the Registrar shall be accepted for all purposes as proof of the matters covered in the certificate.
[75] A certified copy of any entry in a register or register book signed and sealed by the Registrar or a divisional registrar, as the case may be, shall be received in all courts as evidence of the birth, death or marriage to which the same relates and of the particulars therein recorded without further proof of such matters and every certificate of the Registrar that every register of births, deaths or marriages for any specified period is lost or destroyed shall be received in;any court as conclusive evidence of the facts [section 26 Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act].
[76] A certificate of registration given by the Registrar of Companies in respect of any company shall be conclusive evidence that all requirements of the Companies Act in respect of registration and of matters of precedent and incidental thereto have been complied with, that the company is authorised to be registered and duly registered under the Act and that company has the company name specified in the certificate of registration.
[77] There is no such enabling certificate section in the instant Act in this case. However this need not have deterred the Registrar from issuing an authoritative certificate. It could have put to rest the contentious issues of the registration of SODELPA and of the status of Mr. Rabuka as a relevant office holder.
[78] The certificate could have covered the following facts and been tailored relevantly for this case as follows:
"I certify that having determined that the SODELPA as a political party should be registered, the said party was registered on the [date of registration inserted ............ ] as a political party pursuant to section 10 of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding; and Disclosures) Act 2013.
1 certify that SODELPA was still so registered on 29th December 2017, and that it remains on the register."
20' May 2018
Signed: Mohammed Saneem Registrar of Political Parties
To this certificate should be attached a certified extract or copy of the register showing the relevant entry.
[79] A similar kind of certificate could be devised showing acceptance by the Registrar that the person providing the declaration is accepted by the Registrar for the purpose of complying with section 24(1A) in the office of party leader as an office holder pursuant to section 2, After all it is the Registrar whose duty it is to ensure there is compliance by the political parties and their office-holders with their obligations under the Act.
[80] There were two other ways in which the information recorded in the Register could be adduced in evidence. The first is under the Public Documents Act 1884. Certified copies of documents in the custody of public officers are made admissible as evidence, and certified copies of doeuments can be issued on application. Section 2 of the Act provides:
"2. Whenever any person is entitled to adduce proof in any court of justice or before any person now or hereafter having by law or consent of parties authority to hear, receive and examine evidence of the contents of any book or document in any public office or in the official charge of any public officer, it shall be sufficient if such person produce a copy of such book or document or extract therefrom signed and certified to be correct by the officer to whose custody the original is entrusted, and such copy or extract shall be admissible in evidence in such court or before such person in place of the original, ..."
[81] A judge may decide whether any book or document, the original, should be produced. If the judge considers it necessary for the purposes of justice, he or she may specially order its production in a court of law. Generally speaking in the modem world with digital storage few would claim the necessity of producing the original register.
[82] I said there were no provisions: within the Act for certificates to be issued. However there is another form of authoritative record available for production in court. Throughout the Act a duty is imposed on the Registrar to publish information furnished. For instance when an application for registration or a political party is lodged the Registrar is obliged to publish in the Gazette and in the media a notice of the application [section 9(1)]. Once the Registrar has determined the application and decided to register the party he or she must also publish the registration in the Gazette and in the media. Similarly any changes in the registration [section 11(4)] must be so published, and the various financial declarations also must be placed in the Gazette and the media [section 24(4)].
- The Magistrate could have been handed a copy of the relevant Gazette with the information so placed by the Registrar.
"[INT 631 Gazette to be evidence of matters therein 63. All printed copies of the Gazette, purporting to be printed by the Government Printer. shall be admitted in evidence by all courts and in all legal proceedings whatsoever without any proof being given that such copies were so published and printed and shall be taken and accepted as evidence of the written law, appointments, notices and other publications, therein printed and of the matters and things contained in such written law, appointments, notices and publications respectively."
[85] The requirement to publish information in the Gazette and the media is not only a transparent and open procedure, it is also a means by which the information can be adduced as admissible evidence.
[86] What was the evidence then on these issues available to the court from the testimony of Mr. Saneem, the Registrar? His written statement was tendered by consent. In it he stated "Mr. Sitiveni Rabuka holds the position of Leader for the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA)." He says nothing else by way of proof of this fact. Nor was there anything about the registration of SODELPA.
[87] In his evidence in court he said:
"Mr. Aslam: And can you confirm to the court SODELPA, Social Democratic Liberal Party, is a registered political party?
Mr. Saneem: Social Democratic Liberal Party is a registered political party.
Mr. Aslam: And within your course of duty would you know the party leader is?
Mr. Saneem: The party leader for Social Democratic Liberal Party is Mr. Sitiveni Rabuka."
[88] The Registrar did not testify --
(i) as to the date when he determined that SODELPA was accepted for registration.
(ii) that SODELPA was still on the register on 29th December 2017 [the date in the charge alleging the non-compliance or the provision of information that was false].
(iii) and that SODELPA remained on the register at the time of his giving evidence [this last was not strictly relevant to the charge].
[89] Even if the Registrar was to give oral testimony without any other supporting evidence, documentary or otherwise, significantly he failed to confirm SODELPA was registered on the date alleged in the charge. As such, the quality of evidence on this element of the charge was low, and it is hardly surprising. the Magistrate reached his conclusion that SODELPA had not been proved beyond reasonable doubt to be a registered political party, nor Mr. Rabuka an office holder required to make the financial declaration.
Did the prosecution have to prove an intent for either limb of the offence?
[90] Both counsel submitted these two limbs of the offence under section 24(5) required proof of an intent.
[91] The first limb relevantly says:
"any person who fails to comply with the requirements of subsection (1A) ... commits an offence."
[92] The penalties for the lesser offence [Limb 1] are the same as for providing information that is false [Limb 2], a more serious charge where intent is clearly an element to be proved. Though the legislature might have distinguished the two limbs and provided for a lesser penalty on the failing to comply offence, judicial officers can exercise within that band a sentencing discretion to reflect the lesser offence.
[93] No indication of intent is provided within the section. This is to be compared with the Crimes Act offence of Giving False Information to a Public Servant contrary to section 201. That section is worded as follows:
"201. If a person (the first person) gives to any person employed in the public service any information which he or she knows or believes to be false, and intending to cause, or knowing it to be likely that the first person will cause the person employed in the public service --
(a) to do or omit anything which such person employed in the public service ought not to do or omit if the true state of facts respecting which such information is given were known to him; or
(b) to use the lawful power of such person employed in the public service to the injury or annoyance of any person --
the first person commits a summary offence.
Penalty — Imprisonment for 5 years." [emphasis added]
[94] It is abundantly clear what the prosecution must prove by way of intent in order to succeed. No such words are included in either limb of section 24(5) however.
- Under section 27 a similar offence is set out as follows: "27 (t) A person who --
(b) makes a statement which he or she knows to be false or which he or she has no reason to believe to be true; or
(c) recklessly makes a false statement under this Act,
commits an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both."
This categorisation is much clearer than section 24(5). (a) appears to be a strict liability offence, (b) includes proof of an intent namely knowledge of falsity and (c) requires proof of a reckless statement.
[96] The failing to comply limb in section 24(5) involves no corrupt intent. It simply alleges a failure to comply simpliciter. This is therefore not one of those cases where there is a requirement for the Accused to prove that he or she had no corrupt intention: Arnold v. Harris (1993) 107 DLR (e) 88.
[97] In R v Sault Ste Marie (City), (1978) 85 DLR (3d) 161, 40 CCC (2d) 353, [1978] 2 SCR 1299 Dickson J speaking for he court said the following at pp 181-2:
"1 conclude, for the reasons which 1 have sought to express, that there are compelling grounds for the recognition of three categories of offences rather than the traditional two:
1. Offences in which mem rea, consisting of some positive state of mind such as intent, knowledge, or recklessness, must be proved by the prosecution either as an inference from the nature of the act committed, or by additional evidence.
Offences in which there is no necessity for the prosecution to prove the existence or mem rea; the doing of the prohibited act prima facie imports the offence, leaving it open to the accused to avoid liability by proving that he took all reasonable care. This involves consideration of what a reasonable man would have done in the circumstances. The defence will be available if the accused reasonably believed in a mistaken set of facts which, if true, would render the act or omission innocent, or if he took all reasonable steps to avoid the particular event. These offences may properly be called offences of strict liability. Mr. Justice Estey so referred to them in Hickey's case.
Offences of absolute liability where it is not open to the accused to exculpate himself by showing that he was free of fault.
Offences which are criminal in the true sense fall in the first category. Public welfare offences would, prima facie, be in the second category. They are not subject to the presumption of full mew rea. An offence of this type would fall in the first category only if such words as "wilfully", "with intent", "knowingly", or "intentionally" are contained in the statutory provision creating the offence."
[98] This case has been cited and approved in Fiji courts as well as in New Zealand. In the Court of Appeal, Fiji in Regina v. Cava (Construction) PO Ltd (unreported) Cr. App. No. 73 of 1982, the court approved the approach as in Sault Ste. The case concerned the mishandling of explosives at the Monasavu Dam. As an industrial safety matter it was held to be an absolute liability offence, with no defence available.
[99] For strict liability there is no requirement to prove a fault element. The Accused will not be guilty if he or she acted under an honest and reasonable mistake of facts. Although the state of mind of the offender may not be relevant to the determination of guilt, it may be relevant to the question of sentence. Care should be taken on sentence to ensure the penalty imposed does not cause the offender to shoulder unfairly the burden of community education. With new legislation,. changing society's approach to public conduct, the raising of governance standards, it will not at first be necessary to express disapproval by harsh penalties.
[100] Offences that are criminal in nature are more likely to be interpreted according to the general presumption of intent. Regulatory legislation, where offences are created to regulate social or industrial conditions, public safety, safety at sea or in the air, or to protect revenue, are more easily regarded as imposing strict or absolute liability. Increasingly within that group will be regulations governing clean air, pollution, litter, disposal of industrial waste, protection of reefs, fishing zones, forests and wildlife, indeed flora, fauna, and the environment. R v Cummins [1979] 3 WWR 593, 3 WCI3 255; State v Hong Kuo Hui and Anor. HAC40.2004, 2nd May 2005 [where the court found fishing without a licence inside Fiji's waters to be an absolute offence]. Ignorance of the law would not be a. defence [section 36 Crimes Act].
[101] Whilst failing to comply is likely to be a strict liability regulatory offence, it would seem obvious that the providing information which is false is a more straightforward criminal offence requiring proof of both the falsity of the information and the accused's knowledge that it is so false.
[102] The appellant is correct in submitting ignorance of the law, and of the obligation to submit details of his debts, investments and discharged liabilities would not constitute a defence [section 36 Crimes Act]. The defence accepted in that regard at para 57 of the Magistrate's judgment is not therefore accurately expressed.
Duplicity
[103] The charge brought reads as follows:
Statement of Offence
PROVIDING FALSE DECLARATION OF ASSETS INCOME AND LIABILITIES: Contrary to section 24(1A) and 24(5) of the Political Parties (Registration,, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act No. 4 of 2013.
Particulars of the Offence
SITIVENI LIGAMAMADA RABUKA on or about 29 December 2017, at Suva in the Central Division, as the Leader of a registered Political Party namely the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), provided a false declaration of assets and liabilities to the Supervisor of Elections by failing to provide information namely, the tax liability with FIJI REVENUE AND CUSTOMS SERVICES in the amount of 5316,956.20, the Investment and interest income with RAGWAN CONSTRUCTIONS LTD in the amount of $200,000 and $16,000'respectively and the liability with said RAGHWAN CONSTRUCTIONS LTD in the amount of $120,000, contrary to sections 24(1A) and 24(5) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.
- The offence in section 24(5) is worded:
[105] In the charge as drafted both limbs of section 24(5) are included. It was no surprise therefore that leading defence counsel should protest about its duplicity. Two offences have been merged into one charge, and as can be seen with significantly two different elements of proof. One is strict and the other requires proof of knowledge of the falsity of the information.
[106]. These are not alternative ways of committing the same offence, which would be permissible: Amos v DPP [1988] RTR 198. These are two discrete offences, one more serious than the other.
[1.07] It is an essential of criminal law and procedure for an Accused person to be informed of the charge against him or her [section 14(2)(b) Constitution]. There must be no confusion in the. charge.
[108] This is a fundamental protection. Nor is this a case where there is merely a slip in the charge or section numbering where everything else is clear, such as the Statement of Offence and the Particulars of Offence. In such circumstances if the court finds that the Accused and his counsel were able to make their defence without embarrassment or prejudice and they were not misled as to what they had to answer, the defective charge will not be held to be bad in law: Skipper v. R [1979] FJC 6; Shekar and Shankar v. State Cr. App. AAU0056 of 2004, Mudaliar v. State Cr. App. AAU0032.2006.
[109] This confusion could have affected whether or not Mr. Lloyd would decide to call his client as' a defence witness. The confusion was there and the defence were understandably prejudiced in the conduct of their case. In these circumstances, and for the breach of the essential constitutional requirement, a fair trial was not obtained. Had a conviction been entered it would have had to be quashed upon appeal.
[110] The learned Magistrate was correct at arriving at his conclusion that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. It is futile to speculate further.
[111] There was a limited concession on good character by the prosecution, perhaps not as far as the Magistrate had noted. Good character had not been put fully in issue. It was the caution interview that the prosecution relied on to establish knowledge of falsehood. Undoubtedly there was co-operation by a busy person with the investigative agency. The Magistrate wrote:
"The defendant's conduct is definitely not of someone intending to flout the law. The defendant has maintained throughout his caution interview that he did not think it was necessary and that it was an honest mistake."
There was variance in some answers as to whether inadvertence, old age, led to the mistake or it was mistake as to the requirement to reveal what had been left out, a mistake of law.
[112] The interview for FICAC left many answers unprobed or unclarified. Such interviews should always be conducted on the basis that reliance may have to be made solely on that procedure. The Accused submitted himself voluntarily to being, questioned on the reasons for his conduct. He need not have said anything. He did. But further clarifications would have been needed to establish proof beyond reasonable doubt of wrongdoing within the charge.
[113] As I have said the duplicity of the charges was fatal to the prosecution's case and essential elements were not proved. The appeal fails and must be dismissed.
[114] This appeal was a complex matter requiring a great deal of hard work in preparation and because of the time constraints, no doubt all other work would have had to have been put aside. Pursuant to section 254(2) of the CPA there will be an order for $4,000 costs summarily assessed payable to the Respondent within 14 days.
AHCT Gates
Chief Justice
Fijileaks: We must not forget that this coupist snake is contesting election under the sulu of IMMUNITY that he gave himself and others in the 1990 Constitution, and which still carries on in the 2013 Constitution. He smashed up the Judiciary to fulfil his violent, brutal, racist COUPS
Deposed PM Bavadra: “It is a military government in a civilian cloak.”
Except from Victor Lal, Fiji Sun, 29 December 2006.
Rabuka's 1987 Terror regime: A WARNING
The first casualty was the media when Mr Rabuka launched his coup on 14 May 1987. In an editorial on 15 May, the old Fiji Sun asked: “What right has a third-ranking officer to attack the scared institutions of Parliament? To presume he knows how best this country shall be governed for the good of all? The answer is: NONE. The people must decide their own future: not self-promoting dictators and not a Council appointed by and presided over by Lieutenant-Colonel Rabuka. But was he encouraged by others to act? And if so, who were they?”
We now know who they were, and many of those are still around, in positions of influence and authority. Most of them were prominent paramount chiefs, civil servants, church leaders, lawyers, magistrates, judges, and fallen politicians. They were indigenous Fijians, some of whom, and their offspring, are today hiding from the military in a great game of hide and seek following the 5 December coup. The former governor-general and Mr Rabuka’s paramount chief Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, made it easier for Mr Rabuka to crush civil disobedience by warning that the civilian-cum military regime would not hesitate to use emergency powers it had under martial law.
On 15 May 1987, shortly after the Fiji Sun editorial, the Ministry of Information directed the Fiji Times and Fiji Sun to cease publication. The RFMF occupied Radio Fiji. The same day armed soldiers’ ejected staff of both the two newspapers from their offices, and foreign journalists were questioned by the RFMF. In a sickening spectacle, the raid on the Times office was led by one of its own reporters and army reservist E.T. Volavola in full combat gear carrying a rifle and backed up by a squad of troops.
Mr Rabuka announced a Council of Ministers (COM), which was dominated by ex-Alliance Party Ministers (including Ratu Mara who had lost the election to Dr Timoci Bavadra). Mr Rabuka said his military regime was in full control and the people had accepted the coup, and called on the international community to recognize his regime. He said he had abrogated the Constitution and the regime would govern Fiji by decree. He brushed aside the demands of the Council of Churches “in the name of Christianity” to release the MPs he had kidnapped and was holding as hostages, and “surrender to the sovereign authority of the land”, and restore “our duly elected government”.
He instead moved into deposed Prime Minister Dr Bavadra’s office. But when the Fiji Sun questioned Mr Rabuka’s right to occupy high office, he threw the general manager and one of the directors, who was also President of the Fiji Law Society, in the same prison cell as that occupied by Dr Bavadra. The Sun was singled out for severe maltreatment. Sadly, most of the harassment and intimidation was carried out against the Indo-Fijian journalists, for after all, Mr Rabuka had executed the coup to give Fijians the control of Fiji.
Some Fijian journalists, therefore, switched sides, and became Mr Rabuka’s propagandists, reporting on their Indo-Fijian colleagues and their families. In the end, the Fiji Times agreed to operate under partial military censorship, while the old Fiji Sun was forced to cease operations in the country after it published allegations that Mr Rabuka had bought a house in Suva favoured by wealthy Indo-Fijians and expatriates, on a 100% mortgage from a prominent Alliance politician. In the end, some of Fiji’s best Indo-Fijian journalists were forced to emigrate or seek political asylum abroad. Some of us were not only on Mr Rabuka’s hit list but even had our passports confiscated, ending up overnight from being citizens to wandering international refugees.
The next group that Mr Rabuka and his cronies targeted were his political opponents. Shortly before the coup the taukeists firebombed the law offices of Jai Ram Reddy, now an International Criminal Court judge. The late Sir Vijay Singh was detained and his passport seized, prompting him to ask: “What kind of normalcy is [Ganilau] thinking about when things like this happen.”
Dr Bavadra’s spokesman and current Suva lawyer Richard Naidu was arrested and detained on different occasions. He was chased and beaten up by Taukeists, and finally had his Fiji nationality revoked, and ordered to leave the country for New Zealand. Another legal adviser of Dr Bavadra, John Cameron, had his work permit withdrawn after he filed civil suit against dissolution of Parliament, and had also filed claim with the Supreme Court on behalf of a client harassed by the RFMF, seeking a declaration that State of Emergency and 1987 Emergency Regulations were unconstitutional.
Among judges arrested included Justices Kishore Govind and Rooney, including Chief Magistrate Howard Morrison. Even the Police Commissioner, an Indo-Fijian Pramesh Raman, whose job Mr Rabuka had applied a week before the coup, was taken into custody. Several Indo-Fijian lawyers and academics were also taken into custody, mostly on legal advice of some Fijian lawyers.
Although the vast majority of victims were Indo-Fijians, some prominent Fijians like Amelia Rokotuivanua and Dr Steven Ratuva came in for rough treatment. The two were “lectured” by Lieutenant Pio Wong on how to be “true Fijians” and Dr Ratuva had spells in detention, and at one point the military allegedly tried to poison him with the prepared food it had brought to his house. In 1986 he had claimed in a paper that the RFMF’s only function lay in internal repression or as a conduit for chiefly advancement. He had also suggested that “intermarriages between the sons and daughters of chiefs (including the chiefly officers in the army) helps to consolidate the chiefly comprador clique which ensures the perpetuation of nepotism and inequality in Fijian society”.
On 25 September Mr Rabuka carried out his second coup. Violence and intimidation was encouraged, and a group of escaped prisoners were escorted by the military to march to the Government House to demand pardons. When the GCC refused to recognise Mr Rabuka as president, he declared Fiji a republic, declared himself the head of state and no longer recognised the GCC as such. However, on 5 December he agreed to hand over power to the new President Ratu Penaia and the Prime Minister Ratu Mara. Mr Rabuka took charge of Home Affairs, the CJ returned to the bench, Sailosi Kepa was recalled as High Commissioner from London to take over as Minister for Justice and A-G, and Berenado Vunibobo became Minister of Trade and Commerce.
Dr Bavadra retorted: “It is a military government in a civilian cloak.”
The international community resumed trade and diplomatic links with Fiji. Australia conferred Mr Rabuka legitimacy by announcing that it was recognizing Fiji as a state rather than the government of Fiji. Ratu Penaia granted Mr Rabuka and his close circle of oppressors, questionable amnesty, and the Fijians introduced apartheid against the Indo-Fijians. Ratu Penaia also formally signed new Internal Security Decree, giving army power to shoot to kill anyone found with illegal arms that resisted arrests.
As Minister for Internal Security, Mr Rabuka had extraordinary range of powers, which violated international standards of human rights, including the detention of any person for two years; order restriction of movement, freedom of expression, employment, residence or activity; prohibit the printing, publication, sale, issue, circulation or possession of any written material, and prohibit its communication through word of mouth etc.
And yet Mr Rabuka was free to publish his book “No Other Way”. But no criticism of his book was permitted, and one USP Indo-Fijian lecturer who dared to criticise it, was detained and severely beaten up. My own critical counter-book Fiji: Coups in Paradise was banished from the bookshelves of Fiji. As Mr Rabuka plunged the economy into a decline, he was offered $50,000 from an Australian publishing company as a retainer for his book and a TV documentary. The RFMF, commenting on brief detentions and harassment said, “Due to the current conditions everyone is suspect until proven innocent”. Mr Rabuka went on to become the Prime Minister and chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs on the bandwagon of nationalist and racist ideology, an ideology which Commodore Bainimarama claims he wants to stamp out once and for all.
If that is so, let us hope that he will not follow in the footsteps of Mr Rabuka, for many of my own family members still bear the scars of Mr Rabuka’s storm troopers on their chests, and so do many other citizens from the 1987 and 2000 coups.
The Indo-Fijians, in 1987, were beaten, forced to stand in sewage pools, and subjected to other forms of humiliating punishments.
The vast majority of Fijians remained silent to the oppression and racism in their midst. In fact, many joined in its continuation for the next ten years. But freedom, as former military strongman Mr Rabuka found out only very recently (after he was successfully defended by the President of the Fiji Law Society, Mr Sharma, on inciting mutiny), is a cherished and inviolable right.
Rabuka's 1987 Terror regime: A WARNING
The first casualty was the media when Mr Rabuka launched his coup on 14 May 1987. In an editorial on 15 May, the old Fiji Sun asked: “What right has a third-ranking officer to attack the scared institutions of Parliament? To presume he knows how best this country shall be governed for the good of all? The answer is: NONE. The people must decide their own future: not self-promoting dictators and not a Council appointed by and presided over by Lieutenant-Colonel Rabuka. But was he encouraged by others to act? And if so, who were they?”
We now know who they were, and many of those are still around, in positions of influence and authority. Most of them were prominent paramount chiefs, civil servants, church leaders, lawyers, magistrates, judges, and fallen politicians. They were indigenous Fijians, some of whom, and their offspring, are today hiding from the military in a great game of hide and seek following the 5 December coup. The former governor-general and Mr Rabuka’s paramount chief Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, made it easier for Mr Rabuka to crush civil disobedience by warning that the civilian-cum military regime would not hesitate to use emergency powers it had under martial law.
On 15 May 1987, shortly after the Fiji Sun editorial, the Ministry of Information directed the Fiji Times and Fiji Sun to cease publication. The RFMF occupied Radio Fiji. The same day armed soldiers’ ejected staff of both the two newspapers from their offices, and foreign journalists were questioned by the RFMF. In a sickening spectacle, the raid on the Times office was led by one of its own reporters and army reservist E.T. Volavola in full combat gear carrying a rifle and backed up by a squad of troops.
Mr Rabuka announced a Council of Ministers (COM), which was dominated by ex-Alliance Party Ministers (including Ratu Mara who had lost the election to Dr Timoci Bavadra). Mr Rabuka said his military regime was in full control and the people had accepted the coup, and called on the international community to recognize his regime. He said he had abrogated the Constitution and the regime would govern Fiji by decree. He brushed aside the demands of the Council of Churches “in the name of Christianity” to release the MPs he had kidnapped and was holding as hostages, and “surrender to the sovereign authority of the land”, and restore “our duly elected government”.
He instead moved into deposed Prime Minister Dr Bavadra’s office. But when the Fiji Sun questioned Mr Rabuka’s right to occupy high office, he threw the general manager and one of the directors, who was also President of the Fiji Law Society, in the same prison cell as that occupied by Dr Bavadra. The Sun was singled out for severe maltreatment. Sadly, most of the harassment and intimidation was carried out against the Indo-Fijian journalists, for after all, Mr Rabuka had executed the coup to give Fijians the control of Fiji.
Some Fijian journalists, therefore, switched sides, and became Mr Rabuka’s propagandists, reporting on their Indo-Fijian colleagues and their families. In the end, the Fiji Times agreed to operate under partial military censorship, while the old Fiji Sun was forced to cease operations in the country after it published allegations that Mr Rabuka had bought a house in Suva favoured by wealthy Indo-Fijians and expatriates, on a 100% mortgage from a prominent Alliance politician. In the end, some of Fiji’s best Indo-Fijian journalists were forced to emigrate or seek political asylum abroad. Some of us were not only on Mr Rabuka’s hit list but even had our passports confiscated, ending up overnight from being citizens to wandering international refugees.
The next group that Mr Rabuka and his cronies targeted were his political opponents. Shortly before the coup the taukeists firebombed the law offices of Jai Ram Reddy, now an International Criminal Court judge. The late Sir Vijay Singh was detained and his passport seized, prompting him to ask: “What kind of normalcy is [Ganilau] thinking about when things like this happen.”
Dr Bavadra’s spokesman and current Suva lawyer Richard Naidu was arrested and detained on different occasions. He was chased and beaten up by Taukeists, and finally had his Fiji nationality revoked, and ordered to leave the country for New Zealand. Another legal adviser of Dr Bavadra, John Cameron, had his work permit withdrawn after he filed civil suit against dissolution of Parliament, and had also filed claim with the Supreme Court on behalf of a client harassed by the RFMF, seeking a declaration that State of Emergency and 1987 Emergency Regulations were unconstitutional.
Among judges arrested included Justices Kishore Govind and Rooney, including Chief Magistrate Howard Morrison. Even the Police Commissioner, an Indo-Fijian Pramesh Raman, whose job Mr Rabuka had applied a week before the coup, was taken into custody. Several Indo-Fijian lawyers and academics were also taken into custody, mostly on legal advice of some Fijian lawyers.
Although the vast majority of victims were Indo-Fijians, some prominent Fijians like Amelia Rokotuivanua and Dr Steven Ratuva came in for rough treatment. The two were “lectured” by Lieutenant Pio Wong on how to be “true Fijians” and Dr Ratuva had spells in detention, and at one point the military allegedly tried to poison him with the prepared food it had brought to his house. In 1986 he had claimed in a paper that the RFMF’s only function lay in internal repression or as a conduit for chiefly advancement. He had also suggested that “intermarriages between the sons and daughters of chiefs (including the chiefly officers in the army) helps to consolidate the chiefly comprador clique which ensures the perpetuation of nepotism and inequality in Fijian society”.
On 25 September Mr Rabuka carried out his second coup. Violence and intimidation was encouraged, and a group of escaped prisoners were escorted by the military to march to the Government House to demand pardons. When the GCC refused to recognise Mr Rabuka as president, he declared Fiji a republic, declared himself the head of state and no longer recognised the GCC as such. However, on 5 December he agreed to hand over power to the new President Ratu Penaia and the Prime Minister Ratu Mara. Mr Rabuka took charge of Home Affairs, the CJ returned to the bench, Sailosi Kepa was recalled as High Commissioner from London to take over as Minister for Justice and A-G, and Berenado Vunibobo became Minister of Trade and Commerce.
Dr Bavadra retorted: “It is a military government in a civilian cloak.”
The international community resumed trade and diplomatic links with Fiji. Australia conferred Mr Rabuka legitimacy by announcing that it was recognizing Fiji as a state rather than the government of Fiji. Ratu Penaia granted Mr Rabuka and his close circle of oppressors, questionable amnesty, and the Fijians introduced apartheid against the Indo-Fijians. Ratu Penaia also formally signed new Internal Security Decree, giving army power to shoot to kill anyone found with illegal arms that resisted arrests.
As Minister for Internal Security, Mr Rabuka had extraordinary range of powers, which violated international standards of human rights, including the detention of any person for two years; order restriction of movement, freedom of expression, employment, residence or activity; prohibit the printing, publication, sale, issue, circulation or possession of any written material, and prohibit its communication through word of mouth etc.
And yet Mr Rabuka was free to publish his book “No Other Way”. But no criticism of his book was permitted, and one USP Indo-Fijian lecturer who dared to criticise it, was detained and severely beaten up. My own critical counter-book Fiji: Coups in Paradise was banished from the bookshelves of Fiji. As Mr Rabuka plunged the economy into a decline, he was offered $50,000 from an Australian publishing company as a retainer for his book and a TV documentary. The RFMF, commenting on brief detentions and harassment said, “Due to the current conditions everyone is suspect until proven innocent”. Mr Rabuka went on to become the Prime Minister and chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs on the bandwagon of nationalist and racist ideology, an ideology which Commodore Bainimarama claims he wants to stamp out once and for all.
If that is so, let us hope that he will not follow in the footsteps of Mr Rabuka, for many of my own family members still bear the scars of Mr Rabuka’s storm troopers on their chests, and so do many other citizens from the 1987 and 2000 coups.
The Indo-Fijians, in 1987, were beaten, forced to stand in sewage pools, and subjected to other forms of humiliating punishments.
The vast majority of Fijians remained silent to the oppression and racism in their midst. In fact, many joined in its continuation for the next ten years. But freedom, as former military strongman Mr Rabuka found out only very recently (after he was successfully defended by the President of the Fiji Law Society, Mr Sharma, on inciting mutiny), is a cherished and inviolable right.
www.fijileaks.com/home/gazette-proof-aiyaz-khaiyum-and-frank-bainimarama-stole-the-party-name-fiji-first-party-from-anit-singh-and-others
www.fijileaks.com/home/no-honour-among-thieves-regime-appointed-supervisor-of-elections-registers-khaiyumbainimaramas-proposed-fiji-first-party
FFP BANNERS STILL FLUTTERING IN VIOLATION OF BLACK OUT:
Sent to us via Viber. FFP banners still up at Lovu, Lautoka and other centres
WILL FIJI POLICE AND ELECTION SUPERVISOR ARREST AND CHARGE FFP CANDIDATE VEENA BHATNAGAR? SHE POSTED THIS AFTER THE BLACK OUT KICKED INTO FORCE. 'Authroised by FijiFirst General Secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, 50 Vunakece Rd, Namadi, Suva':
READ HER TIMELINE: 12.57 AM
And Praveen Bala, under the guise of informal talks, to campaign for FFP
In an age of internet, Whats-Up, Viber, Social Media, and other sophisticated electronic gadgets, the idea of 24-hour campaign silence before polling is an anachronism. Campaign silence was meant to spare voters the intimidating hurly-burly of contact campaigning, in the pre-electronic age, for a day, to let them vote in peace on the day of polling. It is time to junk it in the garbage bin. A gag on the media 48 hours before polls harms democracy and lets conman, and crooked candidates contest election. Just imagine if FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry's $2million in the Australian bank account was unearthed during the 48 hour blackout period, he might still be contesting election in 2018. In 1992 the Supreme Court in the United States in the case Burson v. Freeman ruled that on the day of voting the conduct of electioneering is only prohibited in the polling station and within a walking distance (100 feet) from it. The 'Election Silence' is violation of freedom of speech, the right to reply, and hold the corrupt contesting the election, to account. As long as we continue to use law for outright censorship lasting 48 hours, we will never do justice to a truly democratic process of conducting an election in Fiji
TRUTH FOR FIJI: Former Fijian Ambassador to the Middle East Robin Nair, reveals two dirty deals by Fiji’s corrupt AG and Minister of Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum:
FROM TRUTH FOR FIJI website, November 2018 Former Fijian Ambassador to the Middle East Robin Nair, reveals two dirty deals by Fiji’s corrupt AG and Minister of Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum: 1. How khaiyum used Fiji loans to receive millions in kick-backs for himself 2. The Establishment of Islamic Banking In Fiji. 1. Khaiyun accepted a much higher loan interest rate of 8% from Singapore financial sources over the more concessional rate of 1% offered by Middle East banks. This is like saying that he wants to pay $8 instead of $1. How stupid is that? Khaiyum also turned down a less costly but more sensible loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), says Prof Wadan Narsey in 2012, because the IMF would also have required them to reduce their on-going spending down to manageable levels. But why would anyone want to choose a higher interest rate? First off it’s not Khaiyum’s money, it’s the people of Fiji’s money which he has deliberately mismanaged instead of negotiating for the best deal. Secondly, says Nair, and more importantly for Khaiyum, is that it’s a bigger commission for him for choosing the higher interest rate which equates to tens of millions, and thirdly Prof Narsey says Khaiyum has passed the buck on to future generations to repay! The Singapore loan was brokered by Wilson form the ANZ bank and Khaiyum’s close friend and associate, Vishnu Mohan, a Sri Lankan who was at that time the CEO of ANZ Bank's South Pacific operations based in Suva, says Nair. Mohan is a rather secretive looking gentleman, continued Nair, with wide contacts in the financial world. Soon after resigning from the ANZ, Vishnu Mohan was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Fiji Sugar Corporation. He was also appointed Chairman of the Public Service Commission and Chairman of the Board of Fiji Aitken Spence Operations (a Sri Lankan Company) the majority owners of the Suva Port. Vishnu Mohan, says Nair, lives in luxury in Toronto, Canada but commutes from Toronto to Fiji regularly. | According to Nair negotiations with the Arab Bank was suddenly terminated without formally informing the Arab Bank. When the Bank could not get any feedback from Khaiyum they contacted the Fijian Ambassador to the Middle East, Robin Nair. Nair then contacted Khaiyum about the bank’s inquiry but Khaiyum orders Nair in an angry tone not to involve himself with the Bank. Nair claims that sources within the Arab Bank revealed that a far larger commission was offered to Khaiyum by the Singapore entity. The Arabs had regarded their concessional interest rates would have been an attractive deal to the Fijian public but Khaiyum cut all communications with them because they could not match the commission offered. So now Fiji is burdened with tens of millions in extra interest payments while providing millions in kick-backs to Khaiyum. The second deal is the Establishment of an Islamic Banking system in Fiji, which Nair contends was being arranged by Khaiyum. See pictures of email messages discussing the Islamic banking system. |
Robin Nair to Fijileaks, 10 November 2018:
"Thank you for brunging [bringing] my attention to this piece.
It could be my former staffs or the like and others having access to some past emails who has been doing this. I saw another posting in a blogspot quoting me extensively, using this article. I was merely shown this piece and asked to comment and I just sent it back and only confirmed that I was aware of some information contained in it from my time as Ambassador but
could not confirm much."
Who is Who on the alleged LIST *The Unknown Hotel Owner, USA. Is he JAY SINGH, who bid for Momi Bay during auction of the Momi project? Singh also owns substantial property for resort development in Wailoaloa, where both Khaiyum and Bainimarama owned plots of land. He is reportedly a good buddy of Bainimarama. *Pandey Investments. Currently NZ based hoteliers and developers (originally from Malaysia).They allegedly used Fiji Development Bank (FDB) loans for hotel project on Naisoso Island. Bob Lowres, owner of Relcorp (Fiji) allegedly did the same; he used Aiyaz Khaiyum and former FDB chairman John Prasad to obtain $23.8miilion from FDB for Naisoso development. Re Pandey: Is it legal for non-residents to donate $500,000 to FFP? Accumulated Below: FFP fund raisers include Hemant Mehsuria, Nadi/Brisbane based architect. Ajay Raniga: Budget Pharmacy, Kavita Raniga, member, Election Commission Sanjay Patel: Design Hut Architect, Nausori based, NFPF Nadi complex architec, Khaiyum's Vunakece residence Fiaz Khan and family: Service station, FSC haulage contractors, sugar and molasses; Sher Khan family. Akbar Bus company family. Punjas, Lautoka: Manufacturers, flour, biscuits, rice milelr, oil, milk packaging, tea and other consumables. No business link to FMF Hari Punja Group. Rajesh Punja chairman of Fiji Airways, Yogesh Punja, Ambassador to India Permal Construction: Suva based firm, awarded FFP government contracts, Cyclone Winston school construction, contracts worth $15million | Sanjay Kaba: FFP chief fund-raiser and also member of Constitutional Commission, FRA, member, FNPF Board member; Partner, HKJacobs, etc, etc, etc. Allegedly decides on awarding of contracts, engineers, architects, etc to donors. Conflict of Interest. His uncle Jay Lal, FFP Nadi fundraiser Ajay Rangia's wife, both members of the Fiji Electoral Commission. *United Apparel: Owned by Ramesh Solanki, based overseas. Mahesh Patel, general manager operations. Largest garment factory in Nadawa, Nasinu. *Shashi Singh, CDP: He is CDP director and chairman of FBC, run by Khaiyum's brother Riyaz Khaiyum. CDP courier and logistics *Janty Kanavan: Kanavan papers, Bondwell Computers. Special legislation in Khaiyum's Budget to protect Janty Kanavan's CD's with increased duty on importers. *Satish Patel: FFP fundraiser. Service engineer - Edison Consulting (operates from HLKJacobs office, Vanua House. Major services engineer with FNPF and Government contracts. *Wella Pillay: Geckos Trucking, Mobil Fiji cartage of fuel, sea barges, construction and equipment hire ltd, water cartage contracts to islands, Fiji Pine Bua contract logging and cartage to Lautoka, Directorship, FDB *Kartika Construction: Awarded FNU Labasa contract, $40m. *Shailesh Patel: IT professional based in Australia. Operates from HLKJacobs and FFP Office. Daniem Garments: Lautoka: Major high end garment factory in western division, Director, Nilesh Jamnadas |
Others well-known. Sri Lankan community: They are involved in garment factories, restaurants, import and export, professionals heading most large businesses in Fiji. Ajit Godagoda, FNPF, Vodafone, ATH, Fintel, HFC Bank, FRCA, Constitutional Commission; and CJPatel, owners of Fiji Sun
DESPICABLY, both Bainimarama and Khaiyum resort to playing RACE CARD, instilling FEAR into the Indo-Fijians and protecting Businessmen; and SODELPA have taken refuge where they are at best - nationalism!
Fijileaks: We have no stake in this election but FIJI's future is at STAKE
FFP = CORRUPTION AND CRONYISM; SODELPA = CHAOS; UNITY, HOPE and FLP votes mean vote for FFP. But we have a THIRD WAY - and that way is a truly multi-racial and formidable NFP TEAM, READY to give
FFP, Khaiyum and Bainimarama, a BIG BLACK EYE
Fijileaks: Bainimarama and Khaiyum tell Indo-Fijians that FFP is the only party that will PROTECT them, with the backing of the GUNS. But one fled through the CASSAVA patch, leaving his troops to die at the hands of rebel soldiers, and the other fled to Australia in 1987 to do 'DRAMA', leaving others to fight for Indo-Fijian rights that Rabuka had robbed at the point of a gun. Moreover, Bainimarama, as a young soldier was assigned to guard, on behalf of Rabuka, Indo-Fijian and other activists locked up at the Suva Central Police Station in 1987. A FFP MP Ashneel Sudhakar told a rally that Frank Bainimarama is a MESSIAH; No, Bainimarama is a MEGALOMANIAC playing politics of race card now. Branding him Messiah reminds us of Sitiveni Rabuka,
whom GOD had sent as Messiah in 1987.
FIJI does not need
BLOOD SUCKING MESSIAHS but MESSENGERS to uplift all Fijians
NATIVE FIJIAN VOTERS AT NFP RALLY: They don't want to hear the two COUP SNAKES 'fanging' each other; nor they believe snake charmer Khaiyum : in 2014 he said 0% Vat, now it will be 9% in FFP Manifesto.
Voters, just study the salary rises of these FAT CATS since 2006 coup
editor@fijileaks.com
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