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A Fiji democratic mandate for the coup leader – what now for the media?

3/10/2014

28 Comments

 
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By PROFESSOR DAVID ROBIE

IN THE END, it was no real surprise. For 2006 coup leader Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, who retired recently as the military strongman with the rank of rear admiral, it was a foregone conclusion that he would emerge as the triumphant victor in Fiji’s first general election in almost eight years.


Just as it was inevitable in 1992, when the original coupster - who staged two coups in the same year, 1987 -  Brigadier-General Sitiveni Rabuka made the transition from military backed prime minister to civilian leader.

A major difference is that Rabuka was elected in 1992 on an indigenous supremacy platform of “Fiji for Fijians” while Bainimarama’s Fiji First party is pledged to a multiracial “Fiji for all Fijians”.

The hope is that Bainimarama’s authoritarian streak will gradually mellow and he will come to recognise as an elected leader the critical importance of a civil society discourse with a strong non-government organisation sector and an independent Fourth Estate.

The media was once a proud and feisty part of Fiji democracy. It can achieve that credible status again.

Fred Wesley, editor-in-chief of Fiji’s oldest and still most influential newspaper, The Fiji Times, founded in Levuka in 1869, said the election was not a surprise.

Commenting in an editorial about the “will of the people”, he wrote the majority of Fijians believed Bainimarama offered them hope:

'Leap into new era'

“Clearly the masses know what they want  … an endorsement by the voters of Mr Bainimarama's popularity and his party's policies …," he wrote.

“We are poised to take a leap into a new era. And that in itself is good for Fiji. What we have before us is a doorway to greater things.”

There were similar sentiments in Repúblika, the magazine that has set a new benchmark for independent journalism in Fiji.

"What do the results mean for Fiji? A clear majority of the population has embraced Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s vision and ideals for Fiji, rejecting discrimination and the 'politics of the past' to give him and his party a democratic mandate after nearly eight years of military-led rule," wrote editor Ricardo Morris.

If there had been any doubt about the winner of this week’s election, it vanished almost a fortnight ago with the release of 45 captive Fijian peacekeepers seized by the rebel Syrian Islamist group al-Nusra Front on August 28 and held hostage in a southern Syrian hideout for two weeks.

The freed captives were greeted as heroes. But Bainimarama was also perceived as a hero over the behind-the-scenes negotiations.

Whatever the truth of a US$20 million ransom by the Qatari government, as claimed by some credible Israeli news media, to have them freed, the coup leader was perceived as the man of the hour.

His undoubted popularity at home, in contrast to the “hated dictator” image constantly projected for years by a handful of rabid bloggers - with the exception of Victor Lal's investigative FijiLeaks - and influential but self-interested journalists, was reflected in his huge personal mandate in the election.

Bainimarama mustered some 202,459 votes (with counting not quite complete) – more than four times the total for his chief rival, SODELPA leader Ro Teimumu Kepa (49,485), and more than 70 percent of his own party’s total. But the political machine was manipulated in his favour.

With 59.2 percent of the total vote, his Fiji First party claimed 32 seats in the new 50-seat Parliament,  in contrast to SODELPA (15) and the National Federation Party (3).

Listening to the opposition

But now that he has been given the backing to govern as the elected leader, he now needs to share power with a democratic Parliament. And this means listening to the opposition and the voice of the people, civil society and the media.
Source: http://cafepacific.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/a-fiji-democratic-mandate-for-coup.html

Call for repeal of Fiji's Media Decree


Reporters without Borders and the New Zealand-based Pacific Media Centre have called for Fiji to repeal its Media Decree and introduce a Freedom of Information law.


A joint submission from both organisations will be made to the United Nations Human Rights Council when it monitors Fiji at its regular universal periodic review in Geneva next month (Fijileaks Editor: October).

Reporters Without Borders' Asia-Pacific director Benjamin Ismail says it was regrettable that the media decree had resulted in a 48 hour blackout on media coverage of last week's elections. He says press freedom in an electoral period and during the elections has been under attack, and more media coverage and press freedom could have decreased the risk of fraud.

The Pacific Media Centre's Director, Professor David Robie, told Bruce Hill that the media decree is inappropriate in a country which has returned to democracy.

Presenter: Bruce Hill

Speaker: Professor David Robie, Director of the Pacific Media Centre in Auckland

Listen here:
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/call-for-repeal-of-fijis-media-decree/1371497



28 Comments
Fiji Journalism Student
2/10/2014 05:30:38 pm

Thanks Fijileaks!

I totally agree with Professor David Robie

Reply
optimism or ostrichism link
2/10/2014 06:33:45 pm

People can take their pick on how to take Professor David Robbie's analysis : a case of optimism or a case of ostrichism.

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wrong start link
2/10/2014 06:46:58 pm

Professor Robbie's starting point is that Frank Bainimarama obtained an overwheming mandate in the elections. He takes no account of how that mandate was obtained? How through 8 years of DICTATORIAL RULE the cards were staked in his favour - and the media decree which he now wants repealed helped the Dictator gain an unfair advantage. No the media decree is not "inappropriate in a country which has returned to democracy": it was inappropriate although. But it was put in place for a particular purpose. To hound the democratic opposition in Fiji and silence them so that the Dictator had an open field to get his "mandate".
How about some critical analysis Professor Robbie?

Reply
mellow link
2/10/2014 06:51:57 pm

Is the abduction and beating of citizen Bilitaki an example of the mellowing of Bainimarama's authoritarian streak?
I don't know about Bainimarama going mellow but I see some journalist still remaining yellow.

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same tune link
3/10/2014 01:34:45 am

In his article Graham davis also talked about Bainimarama shedding his angry abusive man image . not a coincidence. these regime apologists and propagandist have been singing the same tune and continue in the same vein.

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democratic mandate link
2/10/2014 07:19:28 pm

Mugabe too has a democratic mandate - he's been getting that for a long long time courtesy of the work his military backers have been doing ( and not always behind the scene!). But that has not stopped him from being the fascist thug he is, has it?
Professor Robbie shows a naive understanding of history with his misplaced optimistism of the Fijian dictator, now that he has got a " democratic mandate".

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Snuka for democracy
2/10/2014 07:33:34 pm

what a load of crap! Robie talks as if the fiji elections were all free and fair - it wasn't So the results do not reflect the peoples will!

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election result link
3/10/2014 01:54:17 am

no the election result does NOT reflect the true will of the people, it reflects an elitist interest ( which could buy influence among the masses). David Robbie, like other regime apologista and propagandist, aligned himself to this elitist interest ( which include the Kaivalagi hotel and tourism gang, the developers, his elitist kailoma friends in Fiji, etc) but all the while pretending to be a neutral observer and commentator on the Bainimarama regime.
You fool no one Professor. Not you, not Professor Nandone. Not Professor Crosbie Walsh.

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the truth link
3/10/2014 11:48:48 pm

Can Professor Robie deny it that a good many of the big names who have supported the Bainimarama regime and its blueprint for Fiji are his good buddies? He shares their ideological view and has used his position as a media man to advance that ideological view under the pretense of being a neutral outside observer.

all? link
2/10/2014 08:43:45 pm

the dictator has pledged a Fiji for ALL Fijians and Professor Robbie has accepted that wholesale. ( how many other things did the dictator pledge since 2006 when he grabbed power?) I don't know of any dictator who has ruled for ALL. I know of many who have ruled for ONE : themselves ( and their cronies of course ) with the masses getting thrown some crumbs from the banquet table. what the masses do get is a lot of circus to keep them entertained and away from serious political engagement. Bainimarama's "democratic" Fiji having a lot of that - Bollyhood, fashion shows, town carnivals, military parade ( now with South Korean canon guns as well)...

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Yep link
2/10/2014 10:51:47 pm

Yep, In the end it was indeed no surprise to see the dictator emerge the victor in the first election he organised after 8 years of dictatorial rule . No surprise because by the time the election was held the dictator had organised everything on the ground through his right hand man the Minister for Elections Khaiyum to see to THAT result.
There was NO LEVEL PLAYING FIELD to ensure the election was free and fair.

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no major difference link
2/10/2014 11:06:22 pm

there is no major difference between the Rabuka coup and the Bainimarama coup. their respective coups merely brought about a circulation of the ruling elite and a fair bit of recirculation of the ruling elite. Different players same game : power politics. Give the masses what they want to hear and they give the "mandate" for your stay in power. Rabuka said he did it for the native Fijians. And, Bainimarama CLAIMS he did it for all the Fijians. Both did it for themselves.
Where was Bainimarama when Rabuka did his Fiji for the Fijians coup? Was he part of the pro- democracy and multiracial Fiji movement then?
This "multiracial" thing has just become a good political mantra for the dictator to gain "democratic" respectability and legitimacy.
But of course he was very multiracial when it came to receiving election donations: he took it from ALL races!!

Reply
Media and the Monster
3/10/2014 03:13:27 am

Fiji’s media giant is the regime / govt. itself.

With a strategic injection of $22 Million plus setup of FBC’s TV stations and also the upgrade of its Six radio stations into a very ‘vibrant status’. It’s has been (for a while) Fiji Government which leads the competition. Any challenge from the ‘private’ media to the regime / govt. / Dictatorship is controlled by draconian decrees – with hefty fines -and with MIDA as watchdogs.

The government also with a very efficient / no-nonsense Ministry of Propaganda headed by Sharon Stone, was able to effectively feed all the govt’s BS propaganda to the people, 24/7, through FBC’s technologically suave networks – in your face- voice and visual media.

Media is ultimately about MONEY and not NEWS.

In print media – manipulative (nationalization) laws forced Fiji Times into selling. The Buyer (Mahen Patel), already a victim, fall victim once more with a $10,000-00 Fine (for an anti regime story) – thereafter it consciously choose timidity. Fiji Sun was enticed into submissions, with exclusive government business. We remember the print details of 430,000 plus members of the Chor party.

The regime spent large on Spin doctors, enhancing its image or more particularly the image of its rouge Dictator. This is how the ‘Monster’, the Beast Bainimarama is today, in the Lead.

Fiji’s Media went through a self-imposed ‘black-out’, whilst the ‘un-counting’ of the election votes were happening behind the curtains. [that is minus-ing of everyone else’s votes and adding it to Bainimarama]. The media looked the other way exactly whilst the RIGGING was happening – and so did MOG.

So is it now, our democratic duty to congratulate the Monster. Well Professor Robie has!

Reply
and Don't Forget...
4/10/2014 03:22:08 am

The "Nepotism" (junior brother of the Aiyaz CEO of FBC)... so off-course - all pro-regime BS;

and "Cronyism" (Madame Bhanji Bhatnagar) -known to her but undisclosed to the rest of the world - FijiTheft Candidate - at the time of interviewing Prasad with Khaiyum -pretending neutrality when there was non - this glaring "conflict of interest' LOST to non but them....Professor any comments Sir,

Reply
Frank is also racist but caught out as good in Indians eyes
3/10/2014 03:43:05 am

Rabuka's coup was anti Indian coup. Fijian Coup.

Frank's coup plot spoilt by Speight group was anti Indian coup - anti Chaudhry coup.

Duvuloco jumped into it after finding CRW were handed arms and were going to do a coup. So Speight coup was anti Indian and anti Chaudhry.

Then came cheating by Frank to take revenge from Speight as Shane revealed to pretend guns were missing to punish Speight for failng to force Frank to return power back to President. Tarakinikini revealed Frank wanted it ALL to himself.

Then came revenge to remove Frank for cheating by way of failed mutiny.

Note mutiny was not anti Indian or anti Chaudhry, but anti Frank for lying about missing guns to take revenge against Speight. Now Fijian -vs- Fijian began.

Then Frank was in trouble with enemy within against him. He used his position to commandeer a plot to remove Qarase, his plotted Racist PM of 2000 who was now in bad books for not saving him against the CAMV group.

At the outset ALL groups were anti Indian, anti Chaudhry.

Then the real fun began and continues today.

Frank removed the constitution and imposed his racist 2013 constitution where the results confirm Anti -Indian constitution. He achieves his May 29th 2000 plot finally.

But in doing so he was also fighting I-Taukei for his own survival after Liu muri from 2000.

In that process he beat up criminals and killed a few to deter rebellion against his post 2006 order. I-Taukei stopped going into rural lease holders property asking for handouts as Frank suddenly wanted Chaudhry's support so Indian support. since Fijians were his own enemy that he was running away from... Lamu Sona.

Then Indians started having peace for less home invasions as guns in the butt were not their best friend. For just a little peace, little tax drop, little flood grant, all added up for the Indians to vote for Frank although he took their political rights away.

Where to for Indians after Frank dies? By then the anti Indian 2013 constitution will be well entrenched.

SODELPA wants to give 1997 Constitution back to return Indians their political dignity and to give GCC their rightful place.

But Frank did another coup by RIGGING ballot boxes /papers to show he got majority support.

But he got only 59% in total so no outright to entrench illegal racist 2013 constitution and racist against both Fijians and Indians.

Time for both Qarase and Chaudhry to go under the coconut tree and plot another coup!!! Chaudhry will fund it from $1million.








Reply
no major difference link
3/10/2014 05:17:25 am

No major difference between the Rabuka coup and the Bainimarama coup. They were both military coups. The military was cynically manipulated and used by both Rabuka and Baini to serve their agenda.In Rabuka's case to return power to his chiefs - the mob in the democratically defeated Alliance Party of Ratu Mara. In Baini's case to save his backside. It's as simple and straightforward as that. What they claim was their reason for the coup is pure rubbish. Race was never an issue. Not in the Rabuka coup- although it was a handy scapegoat. And, not in the Baini coup. His claim about his coup being for ALL races is bullshit. The coup was for him and his cronies profited from it.

Reply
professor toppie link
3/10/2014 01:48:50 pm

Can professor robie tell us why a " handful of rabid bloggers" might have viewed Bainimarama as a "hated dictator"? Qarase was an elected PM but he was "hated" by many for the policies he pursued (the way he ruled). Why should a ruthless dictator - with an appalling human rights violations record - not be hated by some?
But I know a Dear Leader must be loved by ALL. And that is the image the dictator wanted to project of himself and that is the image people like Professor Robie, Professor Nandone, Professor Cozbie Walsh obliging projected of him. And the Fiji Sun was embarked on that projection - full time.
The problem with people like Professor Robie is that they are not prepared to call a spade a spade. Thankfully there are others who have the spin and the professional integrity to do that and they were not "rabid bloggers".
Professor Robie please look up what a spin doctor means. that is what you lot have become for the dictator.

Reply
tualeita
3/10/2014 05:02:37 pm

Indigenous Fijians supported Rabuka's and Speight's coup. Indo Fijians now support Bainimarama's coup. Both ethnicities are finding out that all these coups are detrimental to all of us as a whole.

We will yearn for prosperity in these coup, but we will never find it.

Reply
so link
4/10/2014 12:04:15 am

So will everyone now be equal and all that in the new Fiji designed by Bainimarama where there is no "politics of the past"?
Or, will we continue to have equality Animal Farm style?
Will the law apply equally to everyone - including the military men who terrorized retired teacher Josefa Bilitaki? Or, will they be sent off for UN peacekeeping in Syria?

Reply
no more link
4/10/2014 02:29:45 am

Will there be no more rich and powerful in the new Fiji constructed by Bainimarama the "benevolent" dictator turned democratic PM? With there be no more people with special interest and special privilege?
Will there be no more " elites"?
Just what new society has Bainimarama constructed which the likes of Professor robie praise to high heaven?
Or, is it all just a mirage?

Reply
dictator's end link
4/10/2014 02:49:21 pm

Editor,
Just heard on ABC News 24 that Baby Doc Duvalier the hated Haitian dictator renown for his repression and human rights abuses has died.
Yes, in the end even once powerful dictators die - just like other mere mortals.
We must always see a person as just another fellow human being and judge him on the basis of how he or she conducts himself or herself with others: how he or she treats others; does he/she accord others the right to human dignity and freedom they are entitled to by virtue of their species being?
We must NOT get carried away by people's titles or the arbitrary power they exercise. That is here today gone tomorrow.
sincerely,
Rajend Naidu
sydney

Reply
information control link
5/10/2014 02:29:49 pm

Secrecy, information control and manipulation is the way a dictatorship operates ( increasingly even democracies are adopting this in the name of national security or national interest). This is what the Bainimarama dictatorship did quite effectively through its media decree and MIDA and having its people in strategic positions in the mainstream media to act as the regime mouthpiece and propagandists. The upshot of this is " our information is government propaganda" (letter writer The Age 6/10). It is this political environment that in large part produced the election result in favour of the dictator and his cronies.
Thankfully in Bilitaki's beating case we don't have to rely on government proganda for our information. The truth has been revealed by other sources like FijiLeaks.

Reply
living in a democracy link
5/10/2014 03:31:34 pm

Editor,
Ashwin Singh tells us in his letter to the Fiji Sun (6/10) that " We live in a democratic society and not in a military base". I wonder if retired teacher Josefa Bilitaki felt he was living in a democratic society with the norms of the rule of law in place when he was taken away from his home by military men Gestapo style?
A country hasn't become democratic just because it has held a stage-managed election, has it?
sincerely,
Rajend Naidu
sydney

Reply
bold journalism link
6/10/2014 02:16:26 am

You have a bold journalist like Masha Gessen the author of The Man Without a Face: The Rise and Rule of vladimir Putin who in keeping with the true journalistic tradition of telling it like it is, gives us a true account of this latter day Soviet style leader.
You have on the other hand a journalism professor who looks at Fiji's dictator frank Bainimarama with rose coloured glasses!!

Reply
pathetic journalism link
6/10/2014 02:46:42 pm

This piece by Professor Robie is just a pathetic attempt to prop by the erstwhile dictator of Fiji. It is a mediocre attempt to rationalise his "transition" from a dictator to a democratically elected PM.

Reply
fighting tyrany link
7/10/2014 05:08:13 am

Professor David Robie would you say the blogger Alexei Navalny who has has become the leader of the democratic opposition uprising against Putin's dictatorial rule is a "rabid blogger"?
The united democratic opposition he leads accusses Putin of electoral fraud and corruption. (SBS Dateline 7/10). You would no doubt be aware Professor Robie that it is not uncommon for dictaor's to be accused of that. The greed for power and the greed to amass wealth are the two things that drive dictators to hold onto power by hook and crook.

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legacy link
8/10/2014 12:42:08 am

IN THE END a man is remembered only by the good he has done for his fellow men. Such man are remembered with fondness and admiration long after they are dead and gone. Military dictators, tyrants who oppressed their own people, are despised long after they are gone. See how the Statues of dictators and tyrants are destroyed years after their deaths.

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dissident link
9/10/2014 12:41:11 am

Ai Weiwei is the most vocal critic of the Chinese State (PBS Newshour 8/10). He is fearless to expose the misrule and repression of the Chinese authorities even after constant persecution, harassment, and arbitrary detention and imprisonment. He is the conscience of Chinese society. But I suppose for you Professor Robie he must be merely a rabid nutcase, right?

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