CATHOLIC Analysis. Archbishop Peter Loy Chong: "Bainimarama may have removed a corrupt and racist Qarase government but he has maintained the old iTaukei patron-client politics"

12/9/2013

He has merely replaced the traditional chiefs with his military chiefs

"History shows that I Taukeis featured prominently in Fiji’s coups. All the coups except the 2000 coup involved the overthrow of an I Taukei-led government by either I Taukei militants or the I Taukei led military. Two I Taukei-dominated institutions, namely the Methodist Church and the RFMF, have played influential roles in the coups and moreover, I Taukei political actors and institutions have dominated Fiji’s political history."

"Bainimarama used the patron-client political strategy to gain support, particularly with the grassroots I Taukei. He consolidated power by replacing public servants and heads of governmental departments with military officers."

"How is the evolution of I Taukei power related to the coup culture? The perpetrators of the 1987 and 2000 argued that the coups were carried out to protect I Taukei interests. They were supported by the mainstream I Taukei political bloc (Chiefs, the Bose Vakaturaga, and the I Taukei political bloc). The mainstream I Taukei political bloc is a product of British colonial rule and the myth of cultural homogeneity. In other words they inherited the myth of cultural homogeneity from the colonial government. They represent a political view that is not I Taukei but rather British. We can further argue that although Fiji is an independent nation, it is yet to be decolonized and democratized. The myth of cultural homogeneity therefore offers a hermeneutical key to the understanding Fiji’s coup culture."

The Path Towards Democracy: "My investigation verified that patron-client politics defines the form of power of the mainstream I Taukei political establishment. I therefore argue that patron-client politics breeds the “coup culture” and the loss of democracy. Therefore, to resolve Fiji’s coup culture and facilitate the path towards democracy, politicians and political institutions must go beyond patron-client politics. I contend that without the displacement of patron-client politics there will be little hope of building a democratic Fiji. The patron client politics must be eradicated."

33 Comments

Child of Vanua

12/9/2013 10:42:01 am

Stupid Catholic fool. Stop insulting the Fijian vanua and by implication, the vast majority of Methodist Fijians. What a Marxist laden crap, all to appease dictator Bainimarama. Will the Catholic Church be subjected to the same treatment as the Methodist? Of course, NOT, for this Chinaman is Catholic Bainimarama's priest - the Catholic mafia in Fiji

12/9/2013 02:54:40 pm

My god, a lot of big fancy words that are supposed to make this racist argument sound like intellectual truth? Fijians are lucky the colonisers looked after their interests against foreigners.. what these lot have done is reverse all that. stop garbage bagging the British you ungrateful uninformed racist lot.

Kai Viti

12/9/2013 03:34:29 pm

First time I saw this guy I sensed arrogance. He should decide whether he wants to be a politics academic or priest. BOCI.

AVC

12/9/2013 07:34:16 pm

Mr Priest, No one is asking everyone to be taukei ni qele...all we asking is to respect our customs and traditions as taukei ni qele.
Stick to your preaching the bible and stay out of something you know nothing about and appreciate. what a sucker.

Also a child of the V A N U A.

12/9/2013 08:53:58 pm

Very courageous, words of wisdom from our Catholic Archbishop Peter Loy Chong. Vinaka vakalevu saka.

For the information of the "ignorant and ungrateful lost sheep": Catholicism and Marxism are incompatible. Or didn't you know that Pope (now Blessed) John Paul II played "a pivotal role" in the fall of Communism in Russia and Eastern Europe? tsk tsk...

Also a child of the V A N U A

12/9/2013 09:01:31 pm

@ kaviti & avc,

U're probably non-Christians? Do Fiji a favour and get yourselves a real quality A B C education, you half-schooled nitwits. Peace :)

chandu

12/9/2013 10:01:33 pm

you two no child of the vanua...just thieves.

Also a child of the V A N U A

12/9/2013 10:28:14 pm

Wrong number, what a bummer.

kai viti

12/9/2013 10:36:02 pm

also a luveniyali
is he a priest or politician ? or just grandstanding like yo previous leader. make up yo mind jugheads

Also a child of the V A N U A

12/9/2013 11:11:14 pm

Hmmm... not only a half-schooled nitwit but one with vested interests. Nothing new. Get ENLIGHTENED dimwit and come into the LIGHT. Peace:)

Raman Coke

12/9/2013 10:13:06 pm

Thought clerics were ordered to stay away from politics? I suppose it depends on which side of the opinion of govt the argument stands.

Also a child of the V A N U A

12/9/2013 11:00:50 pm

The principle of separation of religion and State in our Constitutions (so as to avoid theocracy as they have in Iran) does not necessarily translate to Fiji citizens including the residents not having an opinion on any matter, in particular matters of national interest.

If you understand Christian as a philosophy, you'll understand where Christian leadership is coming from and how imperative it is that followers understand CORRECTLY what their faith teaches not just in politics but in EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE - which can help them participate more effectively and responsibly towards nation-building, and towards serving the COMMON GOOD, esp. in a diverse society as Fiji.

As a Christian, I'm fully aware that I stand on very SOLID GROUND. More of us just need to appreciate this better...if they really knew their faith indepth esp. in a country where we're already the majority, the sky's the limit for us all, and not just for Christians.

Raman Coke

13/9/2013 04:20:10 am

Still dont get your point. Is it that you may have an opinion on politics just as long as the powers that be are happy it does not infringe on them?! The interim govt had once called the methodist church as being TOO political. I dont remember a vote being cast allowing the interim govt to decide on anones behalf as to what is and is not. Further, by what measure do they say what us TOO?

Raman

Theorist

12/9/2013 10:39:16 pm

This dickhead is repeating what the USP communists in the 1980s used to say........a out of date analysis not recognising the i taukei culture and dynamics,,,,,,,

The following describes him and his bosses in the photo. BOCIs.

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The size and prominence of the CEO’s name in company press releases. “One of the hallmarks of narcissism is the need to be seen as in charge,” says Hambrick.

Also a child of the V A N U A

12/9/2013 11:18:13 pm

U're sounding very desperate there 'theorist'. Just don't get consumed by your irrational hatred against the Catholic Church or Satan will be overjoyed to see you permanently in his camp for he fully knows and understands only too well from his evil doings that the Catholic Church is anything but the small-time 'boci' that you are..

childless

14/9/2013 03:13:47 pm

what happened to baini screaming that church is to stay out of politics??? does it only apply to the Methodists? are the catholics exempt from this prohibition??? just goes to show because you are a catholic and therefore have a self serving interest, you are blinded.

Also a child of the V A N U A

21/9/2013 07:19:32 am

Oilei @ childless. You're worse than childish since u're blinded by your irrational hatred against the Catholic Church. You need to direct your pressiing questions at the methodist F.Bainimarama.

13/9/2013 06:08:30 pm

What's taken out of the new decree called constitution?

Today marks six years since the United Nations General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

In a historic vote on September 13, 2007, 144 countries voted for the Declaration. It is the outcome of 25 years of hard negotiations. The rights spelled out in the document "constitute the minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the Indigenous Peoples of the world." The Declaration protects collective rights and individual rights of Indigenous Peoples in relation to self-government, land, education, employment, health and other areas.

Several countries have made steps towards aligning their policies with the standards enshrined in the Declaration, however, an implementation gap remains. There has been an increased international focus on Indigenous Peoples' right to participate in decision-making processes, especially on the states' duty to consult Indigenous Peoples to seek their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in regards to issues that will affect their lands, lives, and livelihoods.

As one UN Permanent Forum delegate stated, "The most important element of Indigenous Peoples' ability to claim the right of Free, Prior and Informed Consent is to have informed and organized communities." Access to information about the Declaration and FPIC is crucial.

Cultural Survival's FPIC Initiative is strengthening Indigenous Peoples' capacity to implement FPIC by increasing awareness and understanding of this right through community media and community exchanges.

wayward children

13/9/2013 06:11:53 pm

some wayward children will just not learn what's right and what's wrong because they get absorbed in their own immature self righteousness.

Anonymous

13/9/2013 11:46:24 pm

The Archbishop Peter Loy Chong's analysis speech is founded on a NARROW marxist and neo-marxist model. The Leader goes onto recommend change through cultural awareness, cultural education and empowerment for the Fiji context in order to prevent coupes. But he also goes onto say that patron/client politics must be removed. This recommendation is to be challenged vigorously. Politics is numbers. Politics is people to whom governments account for their interventionist type policies. Politics is for public good. So patron client politics is a relationship upon which to reform and evolve, from Aristotle's zero sum game (one win the other must lose) to a "win win' relationship of the market economy that we live in today.
His narrow analysis reflects, lack of updated information and why the Roman Catholic Church cannot even solve it's own problems and issues of sexual abuse of the children entrusted to them by parents and the State.
Here is a case of the pot "calling the kettle black". Rather than enlightenment the people, the head of the RC church, supports the Regime to remove politics from the people and their leaders.
The assumption here is that you can surgically remove your DNA from your organ. An impossibility. But a style typical of this dictatorial regime - force, force and force. The people do not have any rights, choice or say.
The development model for the 21st Century moved in the 60's from the narrow marxist model to the "entrepreneurial model' in which innovation is key. The model uses information communication technology (ICT) and the Internet, where the technology uses data and we the people translate that data into information as capital in order to facilitate the move away from the old economic order of inefficiencies and wastage to the new order of efficiencies, productivity, education, training and cultural literacy (Skinner 2002, 2005 and his black box to bring about light in the brain). All these are built from human core values of trust, respect, honesty and authenticity based on patron/client relationships.
Leaders to be effective in the 21st century information economy, must build teams based on democratic positive patron/client relationships. To do otherwise will never sustain peace in Fiji, the Region nor the World.

elaborate please...

14/9/2013 04:01:14 pm

"from Aristotle's zero sum game (one win the other must lose) to a "win win' relationship of the market economy that we live in today."

Can you elaborate ?

Wasn't it the Dominican, Thomas Aquinas (the Angelic Doctor) who developed the idea of market economics (for instance, the question of interest on lending - which we take for granted today as being a key cornerstone of our modern economy - mortgages, bills of sale, hire purchase etc etc etc) - and didn't Aquinas use Aritistole's ideas on wealth (and wealth creation) as a reference point for his ideas on lending and usury ?

The key which unlocked the economy of the Christian West was given to the world by a Dominican Monk with a firm grounding in Hellenic and Latin thought, his heart in Christ.

addendum to that request for elaboration...

14/9/2013 04:20:50 pm

And just to clarify no this poster, seeking an explanation, is not a Catholic or indeed a Catholic priest.

Just a connoisseur of liberal thought and its history, of the philosophical and intellectual (and Christian) underpinnings which define the systems and institutions of the West.

They say ignorance is bliss, but I suppose in our case its more to do with deliberate distortions and misinterpretations of history (partly driven by ignorance but in the main perpetuated by the arrogance of those who have become wise in their own deceit).

And so could you be so kind as to elaborate and enlighten the rest of us on your sweeping assertion about Aristotle and market economics ?

Kawa

14/9/2013 05:28:13 pm

The stupid catholic priest is confused..somebody please ask him to add up VICARUS FILIDEI..add up the numbers in roman numerals and it adds up to 666..Mark of the beast..so its a wonder why he wants to rear its ugly head in politics all the time..if I was this chinaman I would stick to reading the real Bible and not some verses only and stop dictating verses to your cngregation..

anonymous

14/9/2013 08:00:57 pm

In reply to "elaborate please" and "addendum to elaborate please", the Christian
world view did not support "usury" Deuteronomy 23: 19-20. It was the Jews that moved into that area for the "the ascendancy of money and man". The roman numerals were not conducive to working out interest rates so the Jews (Shylock) in Paris (the centre of trade in the early days found the Hindu & Islamic numerals more beneficial in accounting for interest rates from many different currencies). This position changed from the beginning of globalization with the Reformation when academic business writers could not agree on he definition of entrepreneurship. Economic Classicist say it is about “buying and selling”, balance or equilibrium, or agents of change. Labour Market Economists say it is about informed choices and about choosing to be an Employee or Employer. Sociologists saw it another way again as a learning process, rooted in history, that started with our first teacher or mother linked to the transformation of Protestantism linked to western Capitalism as defined by Weber, (1904) in his Protestant Work Ethic to link in psychology and motive. Here, hard work is a ‘calling’, and accumulation of capital is a sign of salvation where self-supervision of one’s own state of grace is equated to moral behavior in entrepreneurial activity.
The insurance came from two Scottish Clergymen who were concerned by the rising poverty Clergymen’s wives and their families that led them to compute of premiums a formula that is still used by the industry today.
Just from the evolution and explanation above, a development model that is researched and designed to succeed, is not a simple relationship as defined by the Archbishop, but a complex one requiring a holistic framework that accommodates diversity of markets, diversity of needs for the public good and freedom of choice (A Divine law) in order to move away from the outdated Aristotle’s “zero sum game” to the modern entrepreneurial model. This modern model uses innovation with the ICT and Internet, or the technology of the 21st century, to reform from the old to the new order. This requires new thinking, new systems, new processes, new knowledge, new training methods and training processes, not Guns or force, as is being promoted since the events of December 5th 2006 an now their B/K Constitution 2013.
Power to the people for a lasting political relationship!

confused...

14/9/2013 08:58:10 pm

"the Christian world view did not support "usury" Deuteronomy 23: 19-20. It was the Jews that moved into that area for the "the ascendancy of money and man".

Deuteronomy is one of the 5 books of the Jewish Torah. It is the Law of Moses as handed to the Jews.

Christianity emerged 450 years after the last book in the series of books of which Deuteronomy is a part. The books of Judaism.

Christianity emerged in Antioch in what is today modern Syria. Amongst the Gentiles to whom St Paul was ministering.

The "Christian Bible" New Testament of the Gentiles was only compiled 350 years after St Paul left Antioch for Rome - and there is nothing about prohibiting the imposition of "interest" in the New Testament.

The first person in Europe to accept and be baptised by Paul in the message of Christ was a lady named Lydia, a Greek woman in the city of Phillipi. She was a trader in textiles - high value, high quality purple textiles of the Roman elite and nobles. She was a wealthy woman from a wealthy and cosmopolitan Hellenic city of the Roman empire. A trader. A businesswoman.

The feast day of St Lydia is remembered in the Roman Catholic Church as well as the Orthodox Churches of the East, as well as in the Lutheran Churches of Western Europe.

In the US her feast day is commemorated in the Lutheran Church and Episcopal Church.

That businesswoman, who traded in expensive textiles, and used interest in her business dealings was a Woman of Faith.

One of the first recognised as a Saint in the Church.

more confused....

14/9/2013 09:14:08 pm

"This position changed from the beginning of globalization with the Reformation when academic business writers could not agree on he definition of entrepreneurship. "

The "Reformation" was a socio economic event in the history of the Christian Church. It was also a seminal moment in the course of western liberal thought and society.

To understand the reformation you go back to Erasmus of Rotterdam (the same Erasmus whom the EU have named the Erasmus award scholarships program after).

At a time when the rest of the world was illiterate, this Catholic priest called for a reformation within the Church so that the common people could get access to the Bible, and therefore gain literacy.

His ideas were taken up by Luther, and that champion of Protestantism and the Reformation ushered in theological and philosophical change to the history of western thought and civilisation which set the West apart.

This evolution has not taken place in Islam (which is why you have women being enslaved in mud houses somewhere in Timbuktoo and illiterate Mullahs presiding over Sharia courts in Afghanistan to cut off hands and that sort of thing happening today in the 21st century as poverty wrecks Karachi and crime and terrorism plagues the rest of the Middle East).

The evolution which the Reformation brought in were seminal in that (i) it led to the acceptance that literacy was a right of every person (ii) that each person was entitled to exercise his conscience and make decisions based on his intellect (as opposed to what a pulpit bashing semiliterate priest or mullah wanted to bash into him/her) and reason (iii) that the enlightenment means socio economic change to the human condition to allow and enable the message of Christ to have true meaning i.e that he came to set the captives free and to bring life abundantly - hence we couldn't have slaves in the Southern United States and Carribean and slave ships taking cargo out of the Ports in West Africa and Southern India etc etc etc

So what is the definition of entrepreneurship ? Isn't that somewhere in the Dictionary ?

Anonymous

15/9/2013 03:06:35 am

To "confused and more confused" it is your world view that won't accept my explanation which is very simple and I repeat. The negative relationship as described by Archbishop Peter Loy Choy's model of development (one win and the other loses) cannot move to a modern 21st century entrepreneurial model of development, has been explained in the context and meanings in my previous reply. The latter has global success for patron/client "win win relationships" or the service industry as we know it today in the form of small to medium business. If you don't accept it then google the subject to improve your knowledge base and maturity to debate. Don't rant on about Christianity, which is not the issue. The question is for a modern model of development that is strategic, appropriate, productive and flexible for the people of Fiji to solve their own problems at personal, community and national levels. In the new model, team-building Leadership can be decentralized away from big organizations (like the "holier than thou" RC Church and its power base in support for the Interim Regime) to solve our own poverty, educational, health, economic, financial, technical, political, moral, spiritual and information problems. This decentralization, allows the rise of the "middle class" and the benefits from that entrepreneurial social order.

Reparation

17/9/2013 04:12:56 pm

Catholics believe in apology and reparation as seen with misbehaviour from some priests.

New constitution is un-catholic as it does not allow to compensation by the state thus is unchristain in this sense at least.

It also allows for any potential crime to be committed by the employees of the state until next parliament sitting to not only go uncompensated to the victims of it, but those actions cannot be challenged in the courts.

Absolutely un-Christain and un-Catholic but reward only self interests.

Semi Meo

17/9/2013 05:43:56 pm

Ok..ok...hold one!..all we wanna know is why the Fiji Catholic Priests remain unmarried...well...have a family wife and children!

Some Catholic priests in other Diocese now have a family of their own. We believe that may give more credence to the priest family counselling session instead of just quoting from the a sigmund freud text.

All we're saying is may be time for present Archbishop and other retired Archbishop may consider having a family of their own...of course they will not loose their calling and ultimate salvation!

Now where were we?..oh..yes..you see...if the Methodist Church of Fii is courting the SDL then is surely deemed to be an illegal affair!

The fact that the Vatican flirts with the Vice Admirals regime make it legal.

Simple...case closed,..now next topic?

The Irrelevant, Foolish, Old Scumbag that is Semi Meo

21/9/2013 07:45:27 am

Speak for yourself as you don't represent anyone, Semi Meo.

The younger generation have nothing positive to learn at all from damaged former citizens like you. Do you feel irrelevant in Australia? Case closed..

Ratu Semi Kuboutawa Maisala Meo

21/9/2013 02:50:34 pm

How ironic for this tiny wee no body blogging from a cold corner of a smelly internet café to persecute the rest of us as “irrelevant, foolish..and whatever else he/she froths about.

1.I’ve posted my full name just to rub it in to the face of this anonymous freighted rabbit like you , who forever more blogs from under the "sulu i ra" and 'shari"….yep…fearfully “irrelevant and foolish”..low life!
2.It is not uncommon to attend mass in modern Catholicism officiated by married Priest!! These are men who during their married life have converted to Catholicism and taken up Priesthood and Priests converting from the Anglican Church. Of course, the Vatican does NOT decree that these Priests relinquish their respective married life …Never!
3.I reiterate that it seems when the mighty Methodist Church was using it’s pulpit to promote SDL was deemed evil and racist union by some in Catholic Church and others
4.Conversely however, when the mighty Catholic Church was frolicking with the Vice Admiral post 2006,…lo and behold was deemed a divine union according to the leaders of the Catholics; probably including the present Head of the Fiji Catholic Church.
5.Oh…I am no Catholic and no Methodist…in fact, I was on the brute end of the Alliance Party/ Methodist Church “union of early 1980 elections. (The exodus from away from these churches in droves is another matter)
6.Don’t tell anyone, but I am still a Fiji Citizen and I am voting in the next Fiji National election…we are not sure about faceless and nameless irrelevant nobodies like you!!

Don’t you worry about Fiji’s younger generation…Methodists, Catholics…one thing we know though they are NOT gonna be ducking around anonymously with the mistaken belief they may anonymously assist rebuild Fiji to sanity and Parliamentary democracy….uh…like some people littering this blog!…

Lastly, I challenge you that we each have a Saturday night each to hire the Vodaphone Gym, Laucala bay…and see whether each of us could gather “followings”…this is my email [email protected]. ..if you cannot take it up…then shut your freaking mouth!!

Now...case IS closed!!

Anonymous

18/9/2013 11:14:15 pm

Reparation and Semi Meo you both make valid points to improve the Patron/Client relationship where the benefits and risks are processed.
This model can apply to any relationship (political, social, financial, technical, economic, spiritual, moral, cultural, education, health, etc. But lets focus on the political, as this is the issue brought up by AB Loy, Chong). When either Patron or Client in the relationship abuses the relationship he apologizes, changes behavior, learns and moves on with life that improves the impact and success of that relationship. For Meo's solution when a natural urge occurs (as the purpose of human beings is procreation) in a patron/client relationship, the RC Church should respond to this fundamental need and shift the Church's beliefs systems and values to allow their Priests to marry and go home at nights and the W/E's. This shift should improve the numbers of world wide sexual abuse of children in the care of RC Priests. This wakeup call from "openness, transparency and accountability" should have be addressed many years ago, but they covered up.
The denial by the "Patron" (Priest and the RC Church) to evolve out of this indefensible situation shows the Patron is in disconnect with his client (not listening and talking) therefore cannot learn in order to evolve and make the Patron/Client relationship safe for both concerned. There is nothing wrong with the political Patron/Client model. However, what is wrong is the refusal of the Patron Priest and RC to change and reform the balance of power from the Aristotle's old order where the Priest or Church wins (sexual gratification) and the client or children loosing in no say on the matter.
AB Loy Chong's denial in the abuse of power by Priests, RC and by extension the Chiefly system yet go onto "intangibly" support the Patron/Client politics of the MilitaryJunta that fills State Leadership gap with the same abusive power and corruption. The Interim Regime Constitution (2013) is a classic example of this Patron/Client politics that he is talking about. May God Help Fiji.

Colonial chiefly system of Fiji EXPOSED

21/9/2013 07:36:48 am

hahahaha............ @ the unebelieveably stupid rant above.

1. The Roman Catholic Church is not the same as as the MAN-MADE-UP chiefly system in Fiji of which you have an obvious vested interest in. Fiji's so-called chiefly system is a COLONIAL CONSTRUCT - one that that suited the British colonial govt style in better controlling the masses.

2. So what is the stats (not the conjured one in your mind) on the sexual abuse of children by RC priests compared to the world wide sexual abuse of children?

3.Where do get that (false) story about Archbishop Peter Loy Chong 'denying some abuse of power by priests'?

CATHOLIC Analysis. Archbishop Peter Loy Chong: "Bainimarama may have removed a corrupt and racist Qarase government but he has maintained the old iTaukei patron-client politics"

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