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FLAGGING UP NATIONALISM: It is bloody time SODELPA, especially their advisers, wake up and accept Indo-Fijians are native as native Fijians and STOP making every issue into a RACE ISSUE - Fiji for ALL!  

10/3/2015

33 Comments

 

Fijileaks: Did Great Britain or Mother Britannia rush to help free native Fijians and Others from the clutches of Bainimarama? NO!
We say, throw their bloody flag off from the Fiji flag! White Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders have ethnic sentiments to keep flying the British flag in their own respective flags!

BOYCOTTING ISSUES OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE MAKES MANY UNFIT TO BE SITTING IN PARLIAMENT AND COLLECTING FAT PAY CHEQUES

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Bainimarama surprised by opposition boycott of panel for new flag

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said he was surprised when he returned from Geneva on Friday to find that the Opposition is boycotting the national panel of citizens that is being set up to choose a new design for our flag from the ideas being put forward by ordinary Fijians.

Bainimarama said he does not understand why the Opposition wants Fiji to continue to honour the symbols of the colonial power that has gone from Fiji for 45 years.

He said Fiji is a young nation in every sense.

He said most of our population is young people who have no recollection of colonial times beyond what they read in the history books.

He added they deserve to honour symbols we can all relate to as Fijians - genuinely, authentically and proudly Fijian. Source: Fijivillage News


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Ro Teimumu Kepa calls for a truce with Bainimarama and invites him to work together with the Opposition to give Fiji’s New Democracy a chance

[40/3/2015]

Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa said today that Prime Minister Bainimarama’s ‘tantrum’ over her position on his flag committee was ‘childish’.

Ro Teimumu said that for the Prime Minister to express ‘surprise’ at our position on the flag given our protests in Parliament during his Ministerial Statement on the flag as well as the Petition that was tabled by Hon Gavoka calling for a referendum from the people on whether they want the flag changed or not, suggests he is either in a state of denial, or is simply uninterested in what anyone has to say about the flag.

A recent poll by Fiji live concluded that 60% of the people did not want to change the flag, at the recent Vegas Sevens protestors showed placards against a flag change, and in social media, young people are expressing disagreement to a change in the flag. And even in New Zealand, Prime Minister Key’s desire to change their flag got a resounding 84% NO vote from the New Zealand citizens.

Like the recent Shirley Park Parliamentary hearings that the AG tried to scuttle and interfere with, the Prime Minister’s Flag Committee is a duplicate of the Standing Committee on Justice, Law & Human Rights. His nominee for Chair of the Flag Committee Hon Iliesa Delana sits on this committee and Hon Ashneel Sudhakar is the Chair.

The Parliament Standing Committee has the same powers as a High Court and they must submit a report to Parliament to consider. The Prime Minister’s party has the majority seats in the House and can defeat the recommendations of the committee if he wishes.

Given that the Speaker on behalf of Parliament has assigned the Petition to a Standing Committee on Justice, and that Parliament is the highest law making body in the land, the Committee must proceed to do its job and travel around the country and let the people have their say.

Ro Teimumu Kepa said that although she and many of her Parliamentary colleagues wanted the Fiji flag retained, if the majority of the people submit to the Standing Committee for Justice, Law and Human Right that they want change, then so be it.

Ro Teimumu called for a truce between her and the Prime Minister Bainimarama and asked him to hang up his boxing gloves and join her and all members of Parliament to try working together on this issue and give Fiji’s fledgling democracy a chance by allowing the democratic processes established by the Parliament to do what it was designed to do and give power to and respect for our people and let them decide.

Authorized By                           
Ro Teimumu Kepa



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The Fiji Flag Furor: Let The People Decide!

"Only a national referendum can justify a change of flag, as the Leader of the National Federation Party has suggested
."

By
Professor Wadan Narsey


A very good case can be made for Bainimarama’s proposal to change Fiji’s flag, as well as against it.

The public have expressed very strong views on both sides, with reason and emotion mixed in varying proportions.

In addition to examining Bainimarama’s justification, the public could also think more about the following:

* Why do only a few former British colonies include Union Jacks on their flags, and why do some of even this small number, also want to change today?

* Why did Fiji include the Union Jack not just after independence in 1874, but even after becoming a republic in 1987 and breaking away definitively from the British Crown?

* What difference will the national flag (unique or otherwise) make to our people’s everyday lives in terms of their “bread and butter” issues, in a rapidly globalizing world where national boundaries matter less and less?

* Are there far more important issues which our people should be debating and making truly democratic decisions on, such as the 2013 Constitution, the Electoral system, and the 2010 Media Decree?

Bainimarama’s view

Bainimarama wants to replace the British colonial symbols with “others that are indigenous and truly Fijian”.

His call that the flag should truly reflect the “current Fiji” naturally gives anti-Regime creative artists a field day, especially critical of the lack of genuine democracy in Fiji and the draconian media laws.

Bainimarama requests citizens to send in their ideas for a flag  that would serve Fijians in the “decades and centuries ahead”, a bit of a hyperbole.

A National Panel of Citizens, selected by the Bainimarama Government upon consultation with the Opposition, would then “work with the Parliament” to make a selection on which “all Fijians could then have a say”.

Similar sentiments are being expressed in Australia and NZ where it is accepted that citizens will ultimately make the decision via referenda.

Bainimarama gives many arguments supporting his proposal.

He wants to break away from the colonial past and British symbols on our flag prevents that.

But as many critics have pointed out, the British have also bequeathed the English language (which the Bainimarama Government insists on being the language of our Parliament, even excluding the genuinely indigenous Fijian language), and also Christianity, which is also now the bed-rock of indigenous Fijian culture and tradition.

In more mundane matters, Bainimarama asserts that Fiji’s permanent secretaries do not have to be Fijians but may be expatriates (but not apparently Prime Ministers and ministers), as also may be our national sevens rugby coach .

Bainimarama claims that our citizens would be more committed and passionate about waving our national flag had it been unique with our own indigenous symbols on, and without the Union Jack.

This claim is patently without substance, when we observe the passionate flag waving that goes on at any international rugby sevens event, as even currently.

How sincere is Bainimarama’s claim that he would always value Fiji’s historical links to Britain and the British Crown, and what they left behind, including “the magnificent site of our new Parliament … our Westminster system of Parliament and our independent system of justice.”

The facts are that after the 2014 elections, Bainimarama rejected Fiji’s own indigenous Parliamentary complex in Draiba to return to the old “colonial parliament”.

The facts are that repeated military coups have trashed the Westminster system of Government.

The facts are that Bainimarama’s judicial system is a far cry from what the British left Fiji at independence.

Other flags with Union Jacks

Those interested might look at this interesting website (http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/flags/uklike.shtml) which shows  that there are several other countries with Union Jacks as well, like Bermuda and Niue, and even states within independent countries like British Columbia and Manitoba (in Canada), and Hawaii (in United States).

But the salient point is that former white settler colonies (like Australia and NZ) which have Union Jacks in their flags were not oppressed by Britain.

They were allowed much greater independence (both economic and political) and allowed by Britain to peacefully evolve without any use of force by Britain to keep them under tight control, as they did with other non-white colonies.

A fascinating 2009 academic article by Olivier Accomonotti et al (“Black man’s burden, white man’s welfare: control, devolution and development in the British Empire, 1880–1914” asks why white settler colonies fared much better than colonies with largely non-white people.

It establishes using solid economic analysis that the underlying fundamental difference was the prevailing racism in Britain (and Europe in general) that allowed violence to be used to subjugate non-white colonies and discourage their institutional development.

This violence could not be used against colonial white settlers (such as in Australia and NZ) who were “kith and kin” of the British, and who would have declared total independence from the British Crown, as did colonial United States in 1774.

[It would be a mistake to view British colonialism as a purely white and black affair which it may have largely been during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  Some historians know that the earliest colonialism and just as vicious was by white English colonialists against white Irish, Scottish and Welsh people, many of whose older generations have little love for the English to this day.]

But white settler colonies like Australia and NZ valued their links to their British “kith and kin” and understandably at independence, included the Union Jack in their flags.

Those colonies (including countries as diverse as United States, Kenya and India) which struggled for independence from Britain, and most of whom suffered economically, rejected the Union Jack as a symbol of their colonial oppression.

But Australia and NZ have now become far more multiracial through the immigration of non-whites (both Asians and Pacific Islanders), and their indigenous populations are being given proper national recognition, instead of  being threatened by genocide, as was the practice in the old colonial days.

It is no surprise that their younger generations with few linkages to Old England, and forward looking politicians, want new national flags.

Interestingly, the Union Jack in Britain may change if Scotland (represented by the white diagonal cross of St Andrew on a blue background) were to leave the British union.  Some conjecture this might give space to acknowledge Wales, whose flag has a red dragon on a white and green background

Fiji’s mixed links to Britain

Most historians of colonial Fiji conclude that Fiji suffered economically because its resources were used for imperial objectives (which included that of Australian giant Colonial Sugar Refining Company) and “benign neglect” by the imperial power (to put it mildly).

Indigenous Fijians did not suffer much in the colonial period, with Indian indentured laborers bearing the largest burdens of colonialism.

Most indigenous Fijians believe in their “special relationship” to Britain, believing that their  chiefs voluntarily ceded Fiji in 1974 to the British Crown who promised them protection in return.

They point to one tangible benefit: the protection of their communally owned land, declared inalienable under law during the colonial days, after some choice parcels had been made freehold.

Quite supportive of the inclusion of the Union were the politically powerful and elite Fijian chiefs for whom having a “lineage” with the British Crown (the foremost “chief of Fiji”) helped to legitimize their own authority over the indigenous Fijian people.

One aspect of this “royal aura” was continued in the independent era with the use of the knighthood to recognize “exemplary citizens”, bestowed on the elite chiefs and many Europeans, but miraculously and largely excluding those of Indo-Fijian and Chinese origins, or commoner Fijians.

Did Britain reciprocate?

The jury is still out on whether Britain ever truly reciprocated these sentiments for all the Fijian people.

Most indigenous Fijians also faced discrimination in the colonial era, even the most influential high chief in Fiji’s history, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, was not allowed to join the British army during World War I as a qualified officer so he proved his patriotism by joining the French army, and was duly recognized with their highest honor for bravery.

For most of the colonial period, the ordinary commoner Fijians were also denied basic services such as education and infrastructure, while no effort was made to enhance their economic development, except in so far as they could raise taxes for the colonial administration.

Nevertheless, indigenous Fijians pretty well followed the leadership provided by their chiefs when it came to their total respect for the British Crown and their willingness to sacrifice their lives in the imperial cause, whether in World War II or the Malayan war against the Communist movement for their independence.

The British High Commissioner to Fiji has diplomatically stated that the flag issue was one for the Fiji people and government to decide and Britain cherished its links with Fiji.

But the British Crown also has a checkered history with respect to its own commitment to Fiji’s Westminster system of government and constitutional law that she supposedly bequeathed Fiji, which might have vaguely justified the Union Jack’s presence on our flag.

The British Crown refused to meet with Fiji’s lawfully elected Prime Minister, Dr Bavadra, after he was deposed by the 1987 coup, yet readily met with indigenous Fijian leaders who formed the new republican government (including Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and Sitiveni Rabuka and the Queen’s former Fiji Governor who became the new President, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau).

Many Indo-Fijian intellectuals then believed that the treatment of Dr Bavadra was all to do with the British Crown having a special relationship only with Fiji’s  indigenous Fijians, who through the 1987 coup, were supposedly regaining political control from the Indo-Fijian based Fiji Labor Party.

But that pet theory should now be put to rest with the British Government readily recognizing the Bainimarama military government after the 2006 coup which removed the lawfully elected indigenous Fijian government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, the leader of the Fijian SDL Party.

It might seem after all, that the British Crown’s real valued link with Fiji has been, and still is, with the Fiji military, who were used by Britain to quell the 1950s Communist-led independence movement in Malaya, as well as to facilitate the nuclear testing in Christmas Island (while denying them compensation). It is also relevant that there continues to be a significant number of Fijians serving in the British Army despite its recent downsizing.

The bottom line is that with the colonial whites and pro-British high chiefs being most influential at Fiji’s independence, it should be no surprise that the Union Jack was included in the Fiji flag, rejecting other indigenous designs such as old pre-Cession flag of the Cakobau Government.

Most Indo-Fijians have no such attachment to the Union Jack, remembering the oppression of their forefathers in the  indenture period and the reluctance of Britain to give them equal status to Fiji’s Europeans, during the colonial period.

Some Indo-Fijians with strong times to India, recall the oppression of the Indian people and the struggles for Indian independence by revered leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose.

It is no surprise that most Indo-Fijians support Bainimarama’s plan to remove the Union Jack from Fiji’s flag.

This support is even coming from those Indo-Fijians who have already emigrated to other lands, clearly indicating that they believe that the protection of other flags are more beneficial for their families and themselves, than the Fiji they proclaim their love for.

A Fiji flag in a future world order

While Bainimarama wants the Fiji flag that will be relevant for “decades and centuries”, I suspect that the speed with which the world is globalizing will make the national flag rather irrelevant within a few decades.

A national flag essentially declares “we are a unique country, different from all others, in serving the basic needs of our citizens”.

The jingoistic flag-waving by Britain, France, Germany, Japan, USA etc. during World War I and World War II, which past generations thought was necessary to protect their livelihoods, is hopefully a thing of the past.

The rallying cry of many political leaders, accompanied by much flag waving, was “sacrifice your lives for God, country and your flag”.

But some historians know that at the heart of the world wars have been economic and financial interests that selfishly used nationalistic flag-waving to obtain territorial gains for their investments through extension of empires, even if it meant sacrificing millions of lives, on both sides.

Today, national boundaries are slowly but surely dissolving and former bitter enemies have integrated into regional blocs like the European Union or ASEAN or NAFTA.

This is a tendency extending throughout the world, encouraged by Free Trade Area agreements and the binding rules of World Trade Organization.

Despite the occasional hiccup and territorial disintegration, there will eventually be some kind of a global economy where nation states and their flags will matter less and less in the daily lives of our people.

For Fiji similarly, the future lies in closer economic and political relations with Australia and NZ (if PACER ever become a reality) or some other international economic grouping that satisfies our “bread and butter” needs.

Nationalism and flag waving will remain largely confined to sports events, which all know to be a crude peace time substitute for battles and wars, with “crossing the opponent’s line or goal” associated with victory, just as in military battles and wars.

The challenge for all people in Fiji (and elsewhere in the world) is to recognize that the people who are “good positive influences” for their lives and families’ livelihoods,  are not defined by citizenship and the flags they wave around: they can be locals or foreigners, black or white, Christian or Hindus or Muslims.  Likewise, the “bad” influences can also be locals or foreigners.  Flags of allegiance just do not matter.

 Nevertheless, everywhere in the world, some callous politician will come along trying to exploit popular “nationalistic” sentiment for their own selfish ends,  giving substance to Samuel Johnson’s well known dictum “patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels”  (however inconsistent Samuel Johnson himself was with his own popular saying).

Are there more pressing issues?

The public should ask themselves why they are so willing to engage in heated debate about a mere symbolic “national flag” when they have been totally quiet about far more fundamental and important changes in their national lives, such as the unilateral imposition of the 2013 Constitution and the electoral system, the FNPF decrees and the 2010 Media Industry Decree, not to forget the force change of name of “Fijians” to “iTaukei” and all others to “Fijian” (with some strange side effects).

But, rather than being cynical about the whole exercise as many seem to be, the public should play along.

This Bainimarama initiative is a small opportunity to strengthen democracy in a corner of national decision-making, whatever the outcome, for or against the flag change.

How to decide?

It is unfortunately not reassuring that the Commander of the RFMF has publicly weighed in with his support of Bainimarama’s proposal, and even encouraged a competition among his soldiers for the design of the flag.  With his previous declaration that the RFMF would back the 2013 Constitution and Bainimarama, is the public to expect some military symbol on the future national flag?

The public should not and cannot accept a parliamentary vote as a decision-making mechanism, as the elections for parliament were fought and won for all kinds of other bread and butter issues, nothing to do with the national flag, and the fact that Fiji First parliamentarians almost certainly will feel obliged to vote in a block to support their Great Leaders.

Given the deep national polarization and in keeping with international practice on such matters, only a national referendum can justify a change of flag, as the Leader of the National Federation Party has suggested.

Rejection of a referendum by the Bainimarama Government and imposition of their choice of a new flag through some “managed” National Panel of Citizens (like the aborted People’s Assembly originally envisaged for the Yash Ghai Draft Constitution) would only prove to cynics that the 2014 elections have not brought back real democracy to Fiji at all, and that the Bainimarama Government is simply continuing their dictatorship of the previous seven years under the guise of parliamentary democracy.

Bainimarama and his cabal of advisers might have just woken up a large sleeping dog.

https://narseyonfiji.wordpress.com/2015/02/15/furor-over-national-flag-how-to-decide-significantly-edited-version-in-the-fiji-times-14-feb-2015/


33 Comments
Peter Waqavonovono
10/3/2015 01:54:03 am

does it even matter victor, so are you suggesting that majority of Indo-Fijians want the flag changed and majority of Indigenous Fijians think otherwise.

MR LAL I take offense that you call yourself a journalist, but choose to publish ridiculous articles like this that do not met the standing facts.

1. Opposition is not participating in this panel for a reason, it is illegal! The Flag and it's supposed change in currently before a committee in parliament. to move to change it anyway is a breach of the parliamentary standing orders.
2. In all other instances where the Opposition have walked out or boycotted, they were to do with parliamentary breaches and illegal activities that are in breach of the Constitution and Standing orders.
3. A real journalist would see the mask of nationalism and racism been held up to hide the real desire to rewrite by force, the history of FIJI ...

Many times, even by the belittling of ones culture, or trying to silence indigenous voices will look racist. And for a blog such as this, flagging pro-democracy thinkers and politicians for their race above the rationale or argument, is indeed RACIST

Reply
Get Back to Basics Peter...
10/3/2015 02:54:16 pm

Flag is a small but significant issue. However, SODELPA did not boycott from 2014 Elections because the 2013 Costitution was illegal. Were they dreaming that with chor Chaudhary they will have majority votes to govern, therefore participation is illegally and politically justified?

Note - If Victor was racist then he would not have exposed Fiji's $2m daaku that led to indegenous Indo-Fijians out voting FLP who enjoyed their vote for 19 long years.

Would SODELPA be RACIST by supporting illegal review of Constitution to one man one vote "for Indian votes to have no value" that they still support because it helps get rid of Indians from winning constituency seats?

Allow me to explain something in non-racial politics. Any vulnerable community will vote for what's in it for me and that includes I-Taukei.

Would Indigenous community be considered RACIST for outvoting Rabuka in 1999 by voting for FAP, PANU, so to throw out Rabuka's government in new Fiji. They could not possibly do it alone so gave preferred votes to FLP as their only hope to topple indigenous political govt of coupist Rabuka.

Many indegenous also voted VLV and even an independent Kaitani thrashed SVT, VLV and FAP in his constituency.

Supporters of 2000 coup therefore was to silence indigenous voices called - INTERNAL RACISM to favour 'what's in it for me'...and then used Indian domination of Government as excuse to cut your foot to spite your face to try to create a desire to re-write by force.

There is no heroism in maligning Victor who has nothing to gain.

Go and advise your SODELPA that because they as SDL went ahead to 'silence indigenous voices for self gain' by handing out millions what is known as agriculture scam ($15m +) and by buying off Chiefs by w/off $20m Provincial loan for FHL = INTERNAL RACISM to silence indigenous voices.

Now they were the ones to illegally work on silence of ones culture and working against breaching the 1997 constitution from equal rights to pray for all ie circular state to trying to make it Christian State.

It is not Victor but SDL/SODELPA have put Bainimarama to power by having a narrow band of policies that dis not suit majority voters. Now crying fowl for his dictatorial ways to change the Flag and going to boycott and march out showing how democratic the party is... is naive.

Peter you must learn that the illegal constitution has put Indians as floating voters who will support any party that shows 'whats in it for me'. So any sitting govt will try to look after them so they can count on their votes to continue to rule.

Even Fijian votes will no longer be freely available to SODELPA as they do not control the cash till any more... but Fiji First does!!!

So INTERNAL RACISM is the real issue here and stop blaming Indian Nationalism of "my Fiji too"... and thank Victor for having this Blog where SODELPA has a voice.

Reply
simpson
10/3/2015 05:41:35 pm

very wrong. we do not have a choice over the 2013 constitution. Frank Bainimarama forced it upon all of us.

SODELPA and NFP engaged in the elections under the dictatorial decrees and constitution. NOW that we are in 'democracy' I understand where SODELPA is coming from. They are not participating in anything illegal in this 'democracy' and they will not participate in anything that will legitimize the return of the dictatorial rule.
I dont understand why people like victor lal chose to attack SODELPA - especially in instances where it is uncalled for, like this article by Voreqe Bainimarama, where talks nationalism, racism etc, but the opposition were talking about parliamentary rules and the law.

Institutional advantage - Final bastian of law.
10/3/2015 10:05:46 pm

Simpson I see what you saying. No offence.

You must be forgetting when Bainimarama in 2007 claimed of changing constitution to one man one vote it was Qarase who jumped at it saying SDL welcomes it but parliament has to be reconvened so that this can be adopted by the parliament.

At that time constitution was not abbrogated and it was SDL that supported this illegal move. So now saying 2013 constitution is forced down your throat and therefore forget past but issues under this democracy... and this is why in Fiji 2 plus 2 will never come to 4.

Actually what SDL was to respond to against regime in 2007 was to say somewhat in context... SDL has made some serious judgment and apologises to the people of Fiji for breaching the constitution all along and RFMF is the final bastian of law in Fiji under the 1997 Constitution. That SDL will close the party so that people have a choice of another candidates from the 700K odd population to choose from to allow a quick return to democratic rule.

Therefore when as political party you break the law it is not o.k. But when RFMF comes to add to it than you look in the mirror and not hide behind forced democracy which SDL were forcing unlawfully for 6 years....

Prasiclla McGoon
11/3/2015 08:47:25 pm

PETER has every right to set record straight. good job young man

No Referendums Please
12/3/2015 05:17:25 am

Referendums for a flag? seriously is it that important a national issue , can't that same 10 million be spent on major upgrade of CWM hospital and increase in salary of nurses.

Opposition just participate in the new flag design and complain if your contributions are undermined and if people are not happy with the new flag than keep waving the old one, surely this won't be considered seditious!!!

I see people waving two different types of flag in Australia, nobody really minds.

iTaukei
10/3/2015 03:00:29 pm

Well said ~ Totally Agree!!!

Reply
vinay
10/3/2015 02:56:22 am

hi victor, I had you writing a book about the coup in Fiji and who was behind it, please please , start from 1987 , every character names and details to 2006 coup. I want to know who were wearing the balaclava in 1987 , please give us a book . I will pay any hundreds to know , all business characters etc.
thanks

Reply
Let' the chiefs Decide
10/3/2015 04:47:50 am

Fiji was ceded to the British because the high chief and king feared Invasion by Tongan Maafu.

Thus the British saved fiji being enslaved by the Tongans and thus by greater extent saved it's culture and identity. So Fijians are indebted to Britain in some ways and the little bit of Union Jackets on our flag does no harm.

Maybe Frank did not know this bit of history,but iam sure the incumbent President does,after all he is the descendent of Rt Seru Cakabau right?

So let's ask him of his views on this matter of National Importance.

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Ma'alo
10/3/2015 01:45:50 pm

Sorry mate but you are wrong about the Brits saving Fijians from the Tongans...the Brits saved the Fijian chief Cakobau from being taken to America and locked up for the burning of the American "ambassador" residence on Nukilau Island. Maafu had already conquered Fiji basically. Indeed if Maafu did not sign the Deed of Cession, Fiji would probably had not been ceeded to Britain and probably would have been an American colony.

Rush
11/3/2015 01:27:57 pm

For us who went to school, Fiji was ceded to the Brits, so that the Brits can fork out the money and pay for the damages done by Rt Seru Cakobau to the Americans.

And Ma'afu did not conquer Fiji. He couldn't even conquer some islands in the Lau group, which had only 80-100natives at the time.

As for the flag, let them change the flag. I will still fly the flag that my grandfather fought for, my father played for, and the one I knew once I still had my diapers. The one I took overseas with me to hang on my wall and flew in my car to tell the others that I am a Fijian. The one I had flown every Fiji Day, at every sevens game and the public holidays that follows a big win.

illegal
10/3/2015 04:38:55 am

I find it surprising that after stealing the Fiji First name and then bastardizing the flag as the Fiji First call sign the FF Government turns around and tells the flag "We lied; we never really liked you but we used your magnetism to get us voted in and avoid Naboro"....but as Pinochet of Chile found out its not over until you are six feet under. If you are a traitor to the Independent Fiji Flag your turn at Naboro awaits you - Rabuka to Bainimarama take note!

Reply
Fijian Nationalists
10/3/2015 05:03:25 am

Victor Lal and Wadan Narsey are staunch opponents of coups in Fiji but they are also violently nationalistic Indo-Fijians always standing up for their peoples' rights, and others.

For me, all these issues about flag etc would have not come up and there would have been no FFP majority in Parliament if Sodelpa had just taken FFP on bread and butter issues

But no, too much focus on indigenous right - if these rights are so precious, why didn't they take Bainimarama and Fijian military head-on - no sign of them for eight long years!

Reply
Rp
10/3/2015 04:53:47 pm

Is there anything wrong with standing for their peoples rights. If for anything, these two gentlemen have for a very long-long time bravely standing for everyone's right. It's just that al lot of people did not come to the party. Fools in Paradise.

Reply
epeli
10/3/2015 11:43:01 am

I cannot hold my self to reply to peter waqavonovono. Bro u dont realise that it is coz of sodelpa's idealogies and their so called old fashioned manifesto with issues like putting christian principles and no secular state has put fiji first into govt. U like it or not.....ppl of fiji in 2014 elections has picked lesser of the evil. Come 2018 they will do the same...cmon bro sodelpa needs a common manifesto for all the ppl of fiji....ppl of fiji need to compare apple with apple come election.....wake up

Reply
Simpson
10/3/2015 05:42:57 pm

you cant bring yourself to respond - but you responded anyway

Reply
Timoci and Rachel
10/3/2015 11:53:15 am

Isa

Pita, you attacking one of the most powerful voice against the dictatorship speaks volume; Victor Lal was one person who provided Fijileaks for Sodelpa to by-pass media censorship

Its bloody time you and others listened to the likes of Victor - is is the likes of him who can deliver election results

Reply
Simpson
10/3/2015 02:39:38 pm

BUT peter is correct here. opposition will not participate in illegal activities forced upon them by the majority FFP. this is why the opposition parties have not accepted the khaiyum funding arrangements of their offices, because it is illegal.
I dont understand why people like victor lal chose to attack SODELPA - especially in instances where it is uncalled for, like this article by Voreqe Bainimarama, where talks nationalism, racism etc, but the opposition were talking about parliamentary rules and the law.

I expect a certain calibre of leader, especially when they start exercising the office of Prime Minister. When the PM starts dictating what we must do, I dont think I would take that lying down. SO good on you Pita and SODELPA

Reply
Gagaj
10/3/2015 01:27:15 pm

this Indian/Fijian issue has been a lame identity issue until Fijian was decreed and it became a crisis. i told my mum that from now on by law you will be called Fijian and she replied that i can become a Fijian if i wanted to, but she was too old now for that kind of s**t; go ask the real Fijians if it was ok with them. And then this flag issue; go ask the people if they want a change.

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Change or Not?
10/3/2015 02:03:50 pm

I have mixed feelings about the current flag. On one hand, it is part of Fiji's identity and Fiji's links to the British which go back centuries. But at the same time is a constant reminder of the British cruelty inflicted upon the Girmitiyas and some Fijians during their time in Fiji. And yet we continue to honour and salute the same flag. It just doesn't seem right.

Reply
Kavita
10/3/2015 04:26:14 pm

Point taken. So isn't it right to follow proper processes to decide as a nation to change or not change the flag? The opposition parties are simply pointing that out. Shoudn't all the processes that support democracy be upheld so that any outcome has the neccessary ownership and pride from the citizens? The national flag is a symbol of unity - the approach taken to do anything with it has to be a unified one so that it gets its legitimacy.

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Kavita Ji - this is for you
11/3/2015 05:04:34 pm

All the processes that support democracy has not been upheld so that any outcome is void of that legal process. There is no ownership and pride from the citizens except their votes after all illegal processes?

Flag is just another one but SODELPA loves to retain one man one vote but condemns the rest of the new constitution as illegal.

There is no heroism in these double standard talks and priding ownership when the process to parliament itself is dictatorial.

osea malamalanitabua link
10/3/2015 04:36:58 pm

The flag is made up of a piece of cloth like wise money is made up of paper when torn into pieces it looses its entire value. Since 2006 the Fijian Dollar is loosing its value,change currency by loosing the British Monarch Head,another drop in value.Now we pursue the change of our current Flag,some more drop and soon be like the currency in a Banana Republic adding more zero and soon worthless for trade in terms of paying our National Borrowing Debt which run into millions.There are other important things we have to consider which is the life of the ordinary people on the street who struggle to make a living day in day out year in year out since Coups.By an large the people on the street mostly farmers,labourers and semi-skilled workers who are poorly paid.On the other hand the PM and his Cabinet Members had a huge increase in their salaries and allowed the hardworking people a wage which is equivalent for paying peanuts for the monkeys.The changing of Fiji Flag is not as important as the life of those who really matters people on the streets for they deserve a decent wage,may be $3 50 an hour,Yes we can if only we stop the wastage since 2006.

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Saul
10/3/2015 05:42:22 pm

Most things being said and done and discussions,curses thrown at each other brings hatred & bitterness which to you if you disagree with something unless you just read thru and not let it dictate your thoughts ...be careful people...whetever people do,we will all be answer to God the Creator....Pro_14:10 Your joy is your own; your bitterness is your own. No one can share them with you.
Eph 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort.
Eph 4:32 Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.
...To the 1st people and i Taukei Kaivit Fijians,love those who live with you....to Indo-Fijians,respect the 1st people and their God...there ONLY will peace be in Fiji.To the Government/Opposition and Leaders in Fiji,whatever your motive is will not be hidden from GOD.One day every knee shall bow and confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD....it will be late for those who do not believe in JESUS because HELL and ETERNAL MISERY AWAITS...REPENT NOW...

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well i be
10/3/2015 05:44:24 pm

let the people decide if they want a new flag - give the people a referendum

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Referandum
11/3/2015 02:12:15 am

There is a much greater need to review, revise and have the constitution passed through a referendum, as this has a more far reaching effect on all citizens of Fiji, than holding a refendum on changing of the flag, the effect of which would largely be symbolic.

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Gagaj
11/3/2015 12:51:08 pm

The flag issue has started the calls for a Referendum and many other issues will soon follow the same trend. People now want to be heard en-masse in this new democracy we have so it's time vital national issues are referred to the people for decisions. To lay the first most solid foundation available to this Nation, let's put the current 2013 Constitution to a Referendum and test its acceptability - anything else will neatly fall into place. Being idealistic? No, just realistic!!

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Rp
11/3/2015 03:17:24 pm

So Fiji has democracy. So FFP claims to have won the elections fair and square. So the Electoral system was not biased towards the party which implemented it. So the papers were not biased and saying the right things all along. So the ruling party has the majority support. WOW, if I was the PM, I would have been RARING to go for a national referendum, to consolidate my position, and to overwhelming crush any perceptions that may exist currently. I would be RARING to conduct a referendum on the 2013 Constitution. I would be RARING to conduct an Electoral Commission enquiry.I would be RARING to conduct the Municipal and the Sugar Elections. AND if you are so sure of your support base, do it through an independent body, not an Electoral Commission, which does not have an ounce of credibility. PROOF IT.

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back to basics Fijileaks
11/3/2015 08:52:18 pm

WAIT HERE A MINUTE . The Opposition pulls out because she thinks it is a duplication and breach of Parliaments Standing orders. Bainimarama doesn't care. and FijiLeaks is calling SODELPA racist.
Blind blogging happening here.
Vinaka to Peter for putting this blog in it's place. regardless of the source, if the journalist is out of line, you demand they stick to proper reporting standards.

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Alex waitoga link
19/3/2015 03:01:07 am

all this unnessesary argusations is not going to move FIJI forward although fiji is advancing in mordern technology much more faster than those of the pacific one thing fiji dont have is COOPERATION AND CONSIDERATION between the government and thee opposition before I jump into any accusation I would like to thank both parties of where fiji is at now and all there hard work and contribution to this country the FIJI ISLANDS
like to also rise a point I would like to state before the two parties make a decision:
firstly they should take a second check on there ideas, will this move fiji forward.
secondly will this help the citizens of fiji because what you say will have to follow.
so the point is think of us the citizens because if it wasnt for us there wouldnt be an goverment or an institution.
alex waikoto.......

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jone link
29/5/2015 07:38:34 am

The coup of 1987, 2000 and 2006 were all geared up to the platform of the new world order of globalization which the Vatican wanted since the council of Trent to counter the Protestants and later democracy of Protestant governments of which Qarase was forcefully removed and to weaken the political will of the Methodist church in Fiji. The Jesuits are at work in Fiji that have used of domestic political affairs to suit universal religion of Rome and not of Christ with her tarandisio, theology, theosophy, and psychology to craft her philosophy into the charter of the United Nation, the People's Chart of Fiji to be the guiding principle of our new constitution which is the bases of other constitution of which Kaiyum was used. The change of our our flag should not be news to us ofr it is the end game plan of the Vatican of which our Prime Minister should the hand of the Jesuit Pope to meet the desires of Rome. It is a sabotage, willing or not like it or not we the natives of Fiji are being forced into this 666 system of Revelation 13 which is the enemy of Christ.
Why was a Muslim used, because in Islam and Roman Catholicism, religion and politics do mix. Christ stated that my kingdom is not of this world, but Roman Catholicism misinterpreted the lords prayer by making this world politics and religion to be won to Christ in a literal sense.
Islam and Roman Catholicism believe that the freedom of individuals is a delegated responsibility of a kingdom system of how to run a nation, by mixing politics and religion. That is why the world has Islamic States and the Vatican state, just like Egypt of the Pheros during Moses and the Exodus, the leader of the nation was also the head priest parallel to Roman Catholics. Well there are faithful Roman Catholics devotees of which Christ will save, it is the people at the top and the K2 lodge of the Vatican knows and the secrets of which other Jesuits have exposed.
So do not be afraid Fiji is the first by the Fiji First to change our flag after the Jesuit Pope opens the meeting in the House of Congress in September 2015 and in October in Fiji the Flag change. Secret is hidden in plain sight, the end justify the means. The Jesuits overhauls the system of government and are advices to Prime Ministers, Presidents, they can be professors in any fill in Universities and they study our languages like Paula Qereti and influence government policies for the good of Rome of which we use the term "common good". Sa dri yani.

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Jone link
31/5/2015 06:04:12 am

Read the Keys of this Blood, Fifty Years in the Church of Rome, the United States and the Catholic power, the biography of John Paul the Second, the secret history of the Jesuits, they will tell you why we have to change our flag. The Keys of this Blood has already stated the change of flags, systems of government to change, currencies to change, culture and way of life to change and to be controlled by the one behind the scene of the United Nations, from the Holy See in Rome of Revelation 13. It's an old war, we are part of it, to regain her lost glory and she will speak politics and peace to the whole world and will merge with any heathen tradition and even Islam, ask father Barr. They will lie in Protestant courts even under oath for the Bible alone is not their supreme authority, for they claim it came out of them, which is a lie.Why did Bainimarama want a flag to symbolize the future?, because it is globalization which traces back to the council of Trent.
The hidden curriculum of Marist High School has its influence on how they run this nation (Khayum, Bainimarama and Nailatikau), ask the archbishop.

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Jone link
1/6/2015 04:02:34 am

Read the Keys of this Blood, Fifty Years in the Church of Rome, the United States and the Catholic power, the biography of John Paul the Second, the secret history of the Jesuits, they will tell you why we have to change our flag. The Keys of this Blood has already stated the change of flags, systems of government to change, currencies to change, culture and way of life to change and to be controlled by the one behind the scene of the United Nations, from the Holy See in Rome of Revelation 13. It's an old war, we are part of it, to regain her lost glory and she will speak politics and peace to the whole world and will merge with any heathen tradition and even Islam, ask father Barr. They will lie in Protestant courts even under oath for the Bible alone is not their supreme authority, for they claim it came out of them, which is a lie.Why did Bainimarama want a flag to symbolize the future?, because it is globalization which traces back to the council of Trent.
The hidden curriculum of Marist High School has its influence on how they run this nation (Khayum, Bainimarama and Nailatikau), ask the archbishop.

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