Ashwin Raj branded the USP journalism pair (Pat Craddock and Matt Thomspon) as: “Ill-informed, self aggrandizing, self-selected moral entrepreneurs. It is all too easy, in this context, for foreign academics having barely spent any significant time in Fiji, to drum up dialectics of freedom and un-freedom.”
Crosbie Walsh: "Dr Thompson has been in Fiji for three months. Far too short a time to speak out so confidentially on local issues. Putting it bluntly, as far as local customs, behaviour and events are concerned, he is wet behind the ears. It could be argued that three months is long enough when civil rights abuses are concerned, but he has no direct knowledge of the alleged abuses. He has relied on what others have told him, which raises questions about the knowledge, biases and agenda of his informants...And if he is deported for breaking conditions in his working permit or for some other reason will he then retire to Brisbane with enough new material to add a disparaging deportation chapter to a new book, tentatively titled Tortures in Paradise" - Walsh - Blowing on the Embers of Old Fires: Media and Academic Freedom and Responsibility, reproduced by Fiji Sun, 29 June 2014
Thompson on Delaibatiki (Facebook): "Comedy gold!Today things took an even whackier turn when a newspaper editor rang to ask about "Torture in Paradise", a book or possible chapter of a book he said I'm rumoured to be writing under the cover of being an academic. If you read about this mythical tome in tomorrow's paper, remember you heard about it here first - only slightly after me, given I'd never heard of it until I picked up the phone this afternoon!
HARD TRUTH - Delaibatiki on Delaibatiki:
FIJI SUN: You had a successful career in New Zealand – what has brought you back to Fiji? 26 October 2013:
"I first went to New Zealand after the 1987 military coups. The old Fiji Sun of which I was the last editor closed. In 1991 we returned to Fiji to take up a position as editor of the Fiji Daily Post and returned to New Zealand in 1996. I had a young family then. I always believe that everything in life happens with a purpose. When we moved to Hamilton, Asenaca, my wife and I had one big priority, to ensure our 11 children received the best education we could afford. The plan was that once they received their university degrees, got qualified, secured jobs and started their own families that we, as a couple, would return to Fiji and spend the rest our lives in the land of our birth. We have no more children living with us now. So in a way, we are free. They are all independent now doing their own thing. So everything we have planned for has come to pass. The process of relocating to Fiji has already started. We have a property and other assets in New Zealand that we need to dispose of. We also have a small Sydney-based news website business catering for Fiji people living overseas that we are developing. But Fiji is our passion. We love Fiji. How can we forget our roots? We want to put back something into the country. I accepted the Fiji SUN offer to train its young journalists because this is a wonderful opportunity for me to share my experiences and train them to become better journalists. They have exciting talents."
WE ARE THE BEST: FIJI SUN; Yes Once Upon A Time:
RUSSELL HUNTER and VICTOR LAL E-mail Exchange, 10 August 2007:
“Here is what I think. We publish, pointing out that these files were received before the coup. We don't name the daaku - at least not yet. We hand over copies of the documents to FICAC - and say so - and also to the RBF intelligence unit but don't say so. We challenge FICAC to launch an inquiry naming the person being investigated - as it has done in the past. It won't do it, of course. But we can keep on badgering them about it. When the boot boys come down here demanding all our information we can put our hands on our hearts and say FICAC already has it. At least someone is acting in the public interest here.” Victor Lal agreed to the strategy, commenting: “Ok. The end game is to name him and I am sure we will get there.”
RUSSELL HUNTER to VICTOR LAL E-mail Exchange, 23 February 2008:
“Daaku is saying he'll sue the FT on Monday - but he obviously doesn't know what's going to hit him tomorrow. I still think our publication strategy was the best under the circs...”
RUSSELL HUNTER to VICTOR LAL E-mail Exchange, 24 February 2008:
“Well, Victor, your bombshell has exploded with devastating effect. The whole country is stunned. The M[ilitary] C[ouncil] sat till 11pm last night and failed to reach a verdict on the daaku. F[rank] is still defending him saying it's all just newspaper articles with no definite proof! I wonder what he'll say today. Both he and daaku have promised press conferences this afternoon.”
Partner in Crime: While refusing to sack Chaudhry as Interim Finance Minister, dictator Bainimarama had summoned a press conference after the "Haryana Millions" to launch a scathing attack on VICTOR LAL and conspired to
ABDUCT, DETAIN and DEPORT Fiji Sun publisher RUSSELL HUNTER out of FIJI:
"“We also have the recent case of an opinion columnist [Victor Lal] in the Fiji Sun masquerading as a regular correspondent...writing front page stories. So blatant has been the Fiji Sun’s disregard for ethics that these lead stories have explicit opinions contained within the article. These little tricks are getting out of hand and that is the reason why we have called everyone here to explain to you in detail once and for all the truth..."
RUSSELL HUNTER to VICTOR LAL E-mail Exchange, 23 February 2008:
“They won't charge me. But they may deport me. Of course all that will do is make the story truly international. They're too dumb or too desperate (or both) to see it. Anyway, I'm not worried about it.” Hunter was deported out of Fiji on 25 February 2008. A statement from the office of Defence and Immigration Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau said an investigation had shown that Hunter was conducting himself in “a manner prejudicial to the peace, defence, public safety, security and stability of the sovereign state of the Fiji Islands”.The Fiji Human Rights Commission, on the other hand, while justifying Hunter’s deportation, called for Victor Lal’s arrest if and when he entered the Fiji Islands. The Commission claimed that Lal had violated Chaudhry’s human rights by obtaining and publishing his tax records.
Reserve Bank of Fiji had failed to act upon Victor Lal’s 2007 submission
We have already stated that in an e-mail dated 10 August 2007 Mr Hunter had advised Victor Lal to provide Mr Chaudhry’s tax documents to the RBF Intelligence Unit. Victor Lal duly obliged and submitted his own legal opinion to the RBF that Mr Chaudhry might have breached various provisions of the Exchange Control Act and the Proceeds of Crime Act. Like FICAC, the Prime Minister’s Office, and Mr Chaudhry himself, the RBF neither replied nor acknowledged Victor Lal’s letter or the tax documents.
ANAND SINGH, FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry's lawyer to VICTOR LAL, 21 February 2008:
"The question that comes to mind is as to why he did not transfer the funds to FLP? He belonged to FLP at the time and must report any funds to FLP and transfer it to it. I believe that Daaku's outburst in parliament and the argument should be used against him. You would have to read the Hansard alongside my comments to fully follow what I am saying. Eventually I come to the conclusion the the funds were raised fro [for] the community that he has converted to his own use. Incidentally, that story abt the daughter [getting $50,000 as gift from Chaudhry] was very successful. It has got samdhi sahida very quiet. i was looking for Rani's picture and Juniors' that could be published with proper notation as unintended beneficiaries. Perhaps my mind is racing off too much?... For the moment dont you think u should repeat the story with specific details of the Bank transactions. In another unrelated story have a detaied piece on the explanation he gave to Parliamnet and which will be priveleged. The reaaders will read both and know the real culprit and see for themselves the lie that Daaku said in Parliamnent. The facts as disclosed prima facie indicate he lied to Parliamnet and the people of Fiji. If he lied and as we know he did by not telling the complete story as Q had asked him to, he would have been liable to be referred to the Priveleges Committee of Parliament for a serious breach of privilege. In the absence of Parliamnet, the matter has to be dealt with publically thru th media. Daaku was on TV last nite on other issues. He had the artificial smile all over his face. He is pretending nothing has happened or is getting ready to attack everyone else but himself. thsi man is so shameless and ruthless. I dnt think he has any scruples abt taking the money belonging to the people of Fiji. ____ met with Indian high Commissioner yesterday. He has his head buried in sand. Says the money could not have been paid into the Bank by the Consulate General. he was very dismissive.and indirectly casting doubt on the authenticity of the story. I feel it is important to get a statement or verification from Harbajan before Daaku clams up. The admission from Harbajan is enough to hang Daaku politically and will go a long way as a legal defence. Just my thoughts...[The late] Dalpat [Rathod, FLP treasurer] told me that in India Daaku would go in to see the PM by himself and leave Dalpat behind. I have had a similar experience with daaku too. Daaku will forever curse himself for having left the money in au [Australia]. He must regret not putting it in Honk Kong."
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