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POLICING THOUGHT: NFP files complaint of inciting communal hatred against FIJI SUN, stemming from a letter printed in the paper calling on the NFP to "Stop claiming that you have the plight of Hindus at heart..."

12/10/2017

13 Comments

 

"We have stopped thinking along those lines"

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We fully sympathize with the knee-jerk reaction of the National Federation Party and the potential damaging impact [if any] the above letter in the Fiji Sun could have on the party's standing among the non-Hindu voters. But we, equally, strongly believe that running to the Police over a "Letter to the Editor" in the press from a member of the public borders on trying to 'police thought' in Fiji. We are on record of taking a similar editorial position regarding the charges that were laid against the Fiji Times executives and the letter writer [still pending before the Fiji High Court]. For the very same reasons, we condemn the NFP's response. Ideally, the NFP should have written a corrective and sent it to the Fiji Sun for publication. The party could have demanded the letter writer Parmesh Prasad (if its his real name) to provide evidence to support his claims. And, if the paper declined to publish it, then the NFP could have taken it to another level. The party should be reminded of what Amnesty International wrote [30 March 2017] after learning of the charges against the Fiji Times executives and the letter writer to Nai Lalakai:
"The dark days when official censors roamed Fijian newsrooms, telling them what they can and cannot print, are best left in the past. The letter contained controversial views about Muslims. It was not written by any member of The Fiji Times Limited, but by a member of the public and published in the readers’ letters section, without the newspaper endorsing the views contained in it. The letter was distasteful, but its author has a right to their views, as long as they do not incite violence.”
(See AI's full statement at the end of this posting)

Let me make one thing very clear to NFP. No matter how many millions the FFP government pours into the Fiji Sun's coffers, the reading public's perception of that paper as a regime mouthpiece means that those millions will not translate into FFP votes. The danger to FFP is the enemy within - a diehard clutch of FFP Hindu MPs - who are backstabbing Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum because of his religious beliefs. There are those who keep accusing me that I have an ambivalent relationship with the current Fiji Sun because it is under the stewardship of my former journalist colleagues - Peter Lomas and Nemani Delaibatiki - who, like me, were victims of the Rabuka coups, resulting in the winding up of the old Fiji Sun of the same name, and most of us were sent packing into exile. During our golden hey days of journalism, whenever a politician or a party threatened us, we retorted:
"GO, TAKE A RUNNING JUMP". I have not kept in touch with Lomas and Delaibatiki but my only fervent wish is that the two rekindle that old spirit of crusading journalism - without fear or favour. However, its the NFP's right to file a Police complaint, as it states below:
 

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CORRECTION: Dear All, Due to a typographical error, Kamal Iyer in the NFP's letter of complaint to Police against Fiji Sun for inciting communal antagonism is listed as the Party's General Secretary. The General Secretary of NFP is Jagannath Sami while Kamal Iyer is the Administrative Officer of NFP. - KAMAL IYER
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Fijileaks: The draconian MEDIA and Election Decrees mean that Fiji will never read such controversial statements in the 2018 general election. These advertisements were placed by Ratu Mara's Alliance Party against the National Federation Party during the 1982 general election, pointing out the bitter Hindu-Muslim (Dove v Flower) faction infighting after NFP had failed to form a government in 1977; cited in our
Founding Editor-in-Chief Victor Lal's
Fiji: Coups in Paradise - Race, Politics and Military Intervention

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The firebrand Fijian Nationalist Party leader Sakiasi Butadroka wanted Ratu Mara's Alliance Party to be defeated in the 1977 elections, and he got his wish but NFP failed to form new government, and the party split along Hindu-Muslim line, a shameful episode in its history


The Alliance Party's newspaper campaign against NFP in 1982 election, reminding the voters of the fractious infighting after the 1977 election:

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And NFP's attack on Alliance Party in the 1982 general election:

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NFP's founding father A D Patel
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Drop 'politically-motivated' sedition case against Fiji Times, says Josef Benedict, Amnesty International’s deputy director for
Southeast Asia and the Pacific, 30 March 2017:

"The letter contained controversial views about Muslims. It was not written by any member of The Fiji Times Limited, but by a member of the public and published in the readers’ letters section, without the newspaper endorsing the views contained in it. The letter was distasteful, but its author has a right to their views, as long as they do not incite violence. The authorities are failing on their obligation to respect the right to freedom of expression under international law. It is the job of a newspaper to be a forum for different views, even if it may cause some offence. The fact that the authorities have seized on this one letter to bring charges against editors and publisher who did not write it, makes clear that the case is politically-motivated. The Fiji Times has a strong record of journalistic independence, a tradition that is now imperilled by these charges.”

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13 Comments
Bahuki
12/10/2017 10:03:00 am

The Fiji Snub straddling the lap of the regime is nothing new but to the least very annoying where they're most fond of doing that of which even their "idol" Ayarse often accuses the Fiji Times for: "sensationalizing" of news.

Freedom of the media being muzzled is quite sad yet very prevalent that one newspaper has to be a real rear-kisser to Frankie and his boyfriend Khaiyum while the other suffers repercussions for just doing its job which is a real farce.

Its like the editors of the "Pro-government Sun" (since ASK loves referring to FT as the "Opposition Times") have nothing better to do than overlook FFP's flaws and often dwells too much on the past of the other parties in constant comparison like people actually care in addition to FijiFirst supporters.

Funny thing is though, is that the Snub often has primary school errors in spelling and grammar in some of their articles which I often cringe at due to constant over-editing that they stuff up the basics.

In NFP's case though, what they intend to do does border on policing thought when the country itself is already a police state where the cops are Gestapos and the army are like bodyguards to Frankie the lackey and Ayarse the Minister for Everything.

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Dekho
12/10/2017 08:46:21 pm

It's just too good the way you have presented what's rotten in the banana state of fidji. A spot on reading of the reality in the " new Fiji " of BaiKhum.

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Chiku
12/10/2017 10:17:40 am

Don't stop doing what you are doing you good people in the NFP. Show the people of Fiji you have the plight of the Hindus at heart; the plight of the Christians at heart, the plight of the Muslims at heart and the plight of all ordinary Fijian people and workers at heart through your actions. Your detractors, the Fiji First chamchas, will crawl back into the holes from which they emerge.

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Welcome Home
12/10/2017 12:21:31 pm

The publishers of daily newspapers in Fiji, the owners and boards of directors in Fiji of radio and television stations have a great culpability and moral responsability for the situation that Fiji now faces. Not one individual appears to possess the guts, the moral fibre, the 'cojones' or the inner instinct to see what is now required of them. Listening to investigative journalist Ronan Farrow who wrote the frank, harrowing and revelatory article in latest The New Yorker magazine concerning the Harvey Weinstein headlong fall into global reputational disintegration and disgrace it is not difficult to appreciate how ill-served the entire Nation of Fiji has been. Farrow is the son of Mia Farrow, a Hollywood actor and activist since the Roman Polanski film 'Rosemary's Baby' was released. Ronan Farrow is quite clear about his mission for revealing Truth in order to Protect the Defenceless in the face of impunity: against gross violations of privacy, sexual assault, intimate aggression and allegedly rape over at least twenty-five years. No one has yet dared breath 'attempted murder'? Yet in Fiji attempted murder has featured within the vacuum of A Rule of Law encouraged by serial immunities. Perhaps this is merely trivial in the scheme of things Fijian? However, in the scheme of things universal and cosmological they need to be reminded yet again: 'The Arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards Justice. (Dr Martin Luther King).

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Refugee
12/10/2017 08:56:16 pm

If Pramesh Prasad has the galls to stand by his claims with some substance then he is well within his rights to freedom of expression and NFP’s over-reaction is mind policing.

What is also well within my freedom of expression is to state the FACT the NFP’s President is a former arse-licker of the COUPIST Dictator Bainimarama and as such is an instigator of atrocities against citizens. A coupist is a coupist !! Let’s make no mistake about that FACT –otherwise we are all blooming hypocrites.

We dare NFP or its Coupist President to deny this FACT –and or to make a police report against me ‘refugee’ and Fijileaks for inciting the TRUTH against NFP”S COUPIST President Pio.

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Rajend Naidu
12/10/2017 09:45:07 pm

Editor,
Political Persecution Pure And Simple.
I am not at all surprised that Amnesty International's deputy director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Josef Benedict has described the sedition charge against the Fiji Times media men as being a " politically- motivated " case ( Fijileaks ).
It is political persecution pure and simple of a newspaper that is routinely called " opposition Times " by Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum the man behind this persecution; the man who it is purported is the real ruler in post coup Fiji.
Like a true dictatorial ruler Aiyaz has demonstrated disdain and intolerance of any opposition and criticism.
He presents himself as the Emperor in the Golden Garment who is supposed to be loved and venerated by all in his kingdom.
Referring to his country Australia letter writer Rhys Stanley writes " this lack-lustre country ruled by feeble, low-quality politicians " who are " short supplied " on " progressive ideas " ( Canberra Times 12/10 ).
It's a good thing Rhys Stanley is not in Fiji. The ruling mob there would go ballistic if someone described them as " feeble, low- quality politicians ", which some clearly are.
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

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Samjoe
13/10/2017 04:45:43 am

Who is this Parmess Parsad Laand telling NFP to stop doing this or doing that? Never heard of him in politics or in any public forum . Whose goli is he?

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Anon
14/10/2017 12:55:32 am

One of the obvious ass licker vying for a spot on 2018 election.

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Chiku
13/10/2017 07:29:42 am

Has the Fiji Sun post coup 2006 won any award for bold, independent journalism ?
What kind of journalism is the Fiji Sun associated with post coup?

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Chiku
13/10/2017 07:44:50 am

Is the Fiji Sun the Number One newspaper in Fiji or is that fake news?

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Raju
14/10/2017 03:44:15 am

Parmesh Prasad is Joti Prabhas (of fiji sun,) older brother. He is a staff of Fiji Human Rights And Anti Discrimination Commission. If you notice, he is a regular writer.

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Welcome Home
14/10/2017 07:49:15 am

Fiji Sun reporters and Nadi staff were approached on multiple occasions and repeatedly informed of the details of serious crimes including murders, sexual assaults on tourists and local civilians during Home Invasions. The details were accessed during many hours spent in both Nadi Magistrates Court and then in Lautoka High Court. These reporters were conspicuous by their absence in court from 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Organised Crime was behind the serial murders of Nadi businessmen and threats of murder to a Nadi business woman whose daughter required private protection at attend school for eighteen months. Both then were advised to leave for Australia for their future safety. The conduct of the Media in Fiji has been not only cowardly but tantamount to complicity in orchestrated violence, rape and murder. Is Qorvis also implicated in the suppression of reporting from the courts? Magistrate Haroon Shah was found guilty of years of corrupt conduct in Labasa as well as Nadi. Sitting in court in 2008 and 2009 it was obvious to any half-intelligent or concerned person that serious efforts were afoot to obstruct Justice and also to harass/pester and intimidate witnesses: particularly female witnesses. British actor Emma Thompson in her remarkable interview with Emily Maitlis on BBC's Newsnight says that 'pestering' is a term her late mother (also an accomplished actor in her day) would use to refer to sexual aggression or assault. Home Invasions in the Western Division were being orchestrated from INSIDE prisons. In extreme cases, rapes took place and the Police failed to take complaints. And the Fiji SUN and the Fiji Times Offices chose to remain uninformed, absent from the relevant crime scenes? No Duty to Inform; No Duty to Protect. What might be termed "A Complete Dead Loss"!

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Welcome Home
14/10/2017 07:57:34 am

Correction: the Resident Nadi Magistrate found guilty of Corruption in Labasa and Nadi was Syed Mukhtar Shah. Lawyer Haroon Ali Shah was also disbarred for similar cause. Too many Shahs for our own good?

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