UPDATE: BILITAKI BREAKS SILENCE - SAYS HE WAS BEATEN BY MILITARY OFFICERS - READ HERE
Fijileaks Editor: C4/5 is still down - both pro-democracy blogs (Fijileaks and C4/5 had been victims of 'hacking attempts recently'
FIJI SUN silent on controversy surrounding beating of Bilitaki. Instead attacks FIJILEAKS via COCONUT WIRELESS for being out of touch!
Fijileaks Editor: Aseri Radrodro wasn't the Minister for Elections!
Bilitaki assault will not go away October 3, 2014
Commissioner Groenewald has denied the allegations of brutality made on blogsite Coup 4.5. but blogsite Fiji Leaks has now shown photographs of the swollen mouth of Joseva Bilitaki. Groenewald said Bilitaki was arrested by “a task team”. He did not say whether this meant police or military but his statement added that “interference of military personnel in policing issues is unacceptable”, which makes it look like the arrest was made by military personnel. Is an arrest of a civilian “unacceptable” or is it illegal? Groenewald said he will discuss this with “the relevant authority”. What relevant authority? Who has authority for the exercise of police powers other than the Police Commissioner? When Parliament meets all of these questions will have to be answered. They will not go away.
Commissioner Groenewald has denied the allegations of brutality made on blogsite Coup 4.5. but blogsite Fiji Leaks has now shown photographs of the swollen mouth of Joseva Bilitaki. Groenewald said Bilitaki was arrested by “a task team”. He did not say whether this meant police or military but his statement added that “interference of military personnel in policing issues is unacceptable”, which makes it look like the arrest was made by military personnel. Is an arrest of a civilian “unacceptable” or is it illegal? Groenewald said he will discuss this with “the relevant authority”. What relevant authority? Who has authority for the exercise of police powers other than the Police Commissioner? When Parliament meets all of these questions will have to be answered. They will not go away.
WHO IS THE EX-JOURNALIST FIJI SUN CLAIMS IS OUT OF TOUCH AND RUNNING THE 'DISCREDITED' FIJILEAKS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD?
Fijileaks Editor: IS IT VICTOR LAL? Well, if it is him, then HE DID (and still continues to do) A BLOODY FANTASTIC JOB TELLING FIJIANS AND THE WORLD ABOUT WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING INSIDE FIJI; HE ALSO TOLD US ABOUT CHAUDHRY'S SECRET TWO MILLION DOLLARS WHILE FIJI JOURNALISTS INSIDE THE COUNTRY WERE POST 2006 COUP EITHER SLEEPING ON THE JOB OR SLEEPING WITH THE REGIME:
TOP GUNS: Lal and Hunter We are the best: Fiji Sun
9/22/2008
The Fiji Sun was the receiver of the Robert Keith-Reid Award for Outstanding Journalism
Below is the citation:
“This year’s Robert Keith-Reid Award for Outstanding Journalism is multi-faceted. It goes to two people who are not present tonight, and involves more than one publication.
The main recipients are Russell Hunter, former editor-in-chief and publisher of the Fiji Sun, and Victor Lal, the newspaper’s UK-based investigative reporter.
“To them and the Fiji Sun goes a joint and well-earned accolade. They receive this for reportage on highly controversial taxation, and other matters associated with overseas bank accounts of the former interim finance minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
Mr Hunter’s leadership and support for Mr Lal and the Sun’s editorial team provided the professional context for what is arguably the best example of investigative journalism in the history of the Fiji media.
“Mr Hunter knew that in the current climate he was putting himself at risk. But this did not deter him from pursuing the great cause of the public’s right to know,
“Along with Mr Lal, he acted in the best traditions of crusading journalism. Mr Hunter and his newspaper paid a heavy price when he was virtually abducted from his home at night and summarily deported.
“Victor Lal displayed extraordinary persistence and skill in developing and uncovering the story in a series of articles over several months. His was a fine example of research and analysis based on documentation made available to him by sources who were also prepared to take a risk. The topic was complex requiring meticulous attention to detail in accomplishing and presenting the facts.
“To the Fiji Times and its editor Netani Rika, the judges give a special commendation for first publication of the name of the person at the centre of the controversy. It was not long after that the Fiji Times’ publisher Evan Hannah was also deported.
“The judges wish to acknowledge the work of all journalists who have been threatened or intimidated during a perilous time for the media and yet have continued to stand by the principles of their craft in defending media freedom and the people’s right to be informed.”
9/22/2008
The Fiji Sun was the receiver of the Robert Keith-Reid Award for Outstanding Journalism
Below is the citation:
“This year’s Robert Keith-Reid Award for Outstanding Journalism is multi-faceted. It goes to two people who are not present tonight, and involves more than one publication.
The main recipients are Russell Hunter, former editor-in-chief and publisher of the Fiji Sun, and Victor Lal, the newspaper’s UK-based investigative reporter.
“To them and the Fiji Sun goes a joint and well-earned accolade. They receive this for reportage on highly controversial taxation, and other matters associated with overseas bank accounts of the former interim finance minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
Mr Hunter’s leadership and support for Mr Lal and the Sun’s editorial team provided the professional context for what is arguably the best example of investigative journalism in the history of the Fiji media.
“Mr Hunter knew that in the current climate he was putting himself at risk. But this did not deter him from pursuing the great cause of the public’s right to know,
“Along with Mr Lal, he acted in the best traditions of crusading journalism. Mr Hunter and his newspaper paid a heavy price when he was virtually abducted from his home at night and summarily deported.
“Victor Lal displayed extraordinary persistence and skill in developing and uncovering the story in a series of articles over several months. His was a fine example of research and analysis based on documentation made available to him by sources who were also prepared to take a risk. The topic was complex requiring meticulous attention to detail in accomplishing and presenting the facts.
“To the Fiji Times and its editor Netani Rika, the judges give a special commendation for first publication of the name of the person at the centre of the controversy. It was not long after that the Fiji Times’ publisher Evan Hannah was also deported.
“The judges wish to acknowledge the work of all journalists who have been threatened or intimidated during a perilous time for the media and yet have continued to stand by the principles of their craft in defending media freedom and the people’s right to be informed.”
Civil disobedience becomes a sacred duty when the state has become lawless or corrupt. And a citizen who barters with such a state
shares in its corruption and lawlessness
Freedom of the press is a precious privilege that no country can forgo!
M. K. Gandhi
3 October 2014: As Fiji SUN remembered Mahatma Gandhi, Fijileaks reminds us that Gandhi stood up for TRUTH, and even went to prison, first in South Africa in 1909:
Gandhi's letter to his wife from prison in South Africa. This is a copy of the original letter (written in Gujarati) in Victor Lal's possession, and included in his forthcoming book: The Rule of Law in the Making of the Mahatma: Gandhi as a Lawyer and Journalist in South Africa, 1893-1914.
A signed copy in Victor Lal's possession; Gandhi's fight for political rights for South African Indians in 1895; the two documents and scores of other originals formed part of 'Gandhi Exhibition', organized by Lal to reflect upon aspects of Gandhi's life and legacy. Hopefully, the public of Fiji will be able to participate in a similar exhibition when the present dictatorship ruling Fiji for the next four years is toppled one day!
