Fijileaks to Police Commissioner Ben Groenewald: "We hope you will speak to us, instead of telling us you don't give comments to blogs; take a leaf out of Nair who has set the precedent by returning our phone call."
"Robin Nair returned the phone call when contacted by Fijileaks after his comments on the story about his absence from Fiji during the UAE Foreign Minister's recent visit. This was unusual. We may well disagree with him but he has set an example to others in power, authority or influence, to also show courtesy to those who feel voiceless, however well or ill conceived. It is a courtesy to thousands of our Fijian readers, Fijian taxpayers and ordinary folks who are all our people and not necessarily rebels. It is accountability that is being clamored for. The Prime Minister is very strong in his condemnation of old elites and we applaud that. He should be as vocal against the new or emerging elites as well as against self appointed re-cycled people but elites nevertheless. Elitism in our small society has no place. It is the powerful mocking the weak. Elitism is an enemy of the poor, the disadvantaged and the little people.
Fijileaks has given a voice to thousands. It also routinely and directly asks questions and seeks responses to simple questions, asking those in power to be accountable. It gives a chance to those suspected to refute, deny or explain. So, Fijileaks is also a voice for those who may feel unjustly persecuted. If they believe in their integrity, they should respond to any unfair criticism or complaint.
Blogs are also part of the democratic process in action in this new age of modern technology. We all have to live with it. We cannot close our eyes, ears and mouths, believing it would disappear. Nair has obviously acknowledged this. He was understandably defensive of the Government and the Foreign Minister that he serves but he spoke to questions raised by his compatriots. He appeared to genuinely believe that there is a "new and better Fiji" for all emerging. He also said that he will defend " truth, fairness, equity, proper processes, equality of all races", all tenets of good governance at all cost, even at the price of his job. He said he returned to Fiji believing it was on the same path as his vision for Fiji. He believed that Government of the day was striving to change Fiji and to achieve good governance after decades of rule by the elites.
He said that there will be cowards, opportunists and sycophants who can walk on both sides of the street simultaneously but the Government should not held responsible for these; the Government's message is clear, either shape up or ship out. Nair might be completely disillusioned or an optimist but Fijileaks will continue in its quest for accountability in Government and answers to the questions raised everyday by a sizeable number Fijian people because we know that is what our readers are asking for. We work from the most reliable sources as seen from the information we share with our readers and our stories are checked thoroughly. There is a place in democracy for whistle blowers. Fijileaks is there as your voice, composed of people who work for you as volunteers for a just cause. Thank you Nair, disillusioned or otherwise, for setting an example."
Fijileaks has given a voice to thousands. It also routinely and directly asks questions and seeks responses to simple questions, asking those in power to be accountable. It gives a chance to those suspected to refute, deny or explain. So, Fijileaks is also a voice for those who may feel unjustly persecuted. If they believe in their integrity, they should respond to any unfair criticism or complaint.
Blogs are also part of the democratic process in action in this new age of modern technology. We all have to live with it. We cannot close our eyes, ears and mouths, believing it would disappear. Nair has obviously acknowledged this. He was understandably defensive of the Government and the Foreign Minister that he serves but he spoke to questions raised by his compatriots. He appeared to genuinely believe that there is a "new and better Fiji" for all emerging. He also said that he will defend " truth, fairness, equity, proper processes, equality of all races", all tenets of good governance at all cost, even at the price of his job. He said he returned to Fiji believing it was on the same path as his vision for Fiji. He believed that Government of the day was striving to change Fiji and to achieve good governance after decades of rule by the elites.
He said that there will be cowards, opportunists and sycophants who can walk on both sides of the street simultaneously but the Government should not held responsible for these; the Government's message is clear, either shape up or ship out. Nair might be completely disillusioned or an optimist but Fijileaks will continue in its quest for accountability in Government and answers to the questions raised everyday by a sizeable number Fijian people because we know that is what our readers are asking for. We work from the most reliable sources as seen from the information we share with our readers and our stories are checked thoroughly. There is a place in democracy for whistle blowers. Fijileaks is there as your voice, composed of people who work for you as volunteers for a just cause. Thank you Nair, disillusioned or otherwise, for setting an example."
