Robin Nair claims that he left the Fijian government because of interference in the conduct of his duties. Yet his correspondence with Bainimarama shows that when he was Ambassador to the UAE, he had no compunction whatsoever about going over the heads of both his permanent secretary at the time, Esala Nayasi, and his minister at the time, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, to contact Bainimarama directly and urge him to embrace a particularly contentious course of action against Australia and New Zealand - he had no authority to meddle from UAE
"Sir, we had a brief discussion but I think a timely and important discussion, touching on our presence at the PIF Summit next week. I had briefly discussed with you my concern with the speed with which we are normalizing our relations with ANZ [Australia and New Zealand], as if nothing happened in the last 8 years and that they can pick up their relationship with us where they left us in 2006. We are doing this at the expense of your deeply felt grievance against ANZ at how they treated us with contempt, at how they tried to strangle Fiji and annihilate you from 2006 until most recently when Julie Bishop initiated her cleverly orchestrated charm offensive to woo Fiji back into their fold. She did this because ANZ were frightened by what Fiji had been able to achieve, under your leadership, without them. They believe that the South Pacific Ocean is their lake and no-one else should usurp their leadership and control of the region. They resented that your revolution had succeeded both domestically and regionally and internationally."
Robin Nair to Frank Bainimarama, 4 September 2015
NAIR was brought in by Bainimarama to reform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) but has left a terrible mess behind as he was ordered to "fly out of the messy nest". Incidentally, the ingratiating, obsequious tone of his correspondence published below was a feature of Nair's correspondence with Bainimarama right up to the time he was terminated. He repeatedly adopted a grovelling posture and kept telling Bainimarama that he (Bainimarama) presided over the best government in Fiji's history. What a difference a day makes! Moreover, in his correspondence, Nair is urging a foreign leader (Bainimarama) to adopt a much tougher line against Australia and especially in relation to Fiji's re-engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum. It is, many Australians would claim, a startling betrayal of his duty to Australia as a citizen and a retired diplomat on an Australian Government pension
Fijileaks:
1. Robin Nair claims that he left the Fijian government because of interference in the conduct of his duties. Yet this correspondence below shows that when he was Ambassador to the UAE, he had no compunction whatsoever about going over the heads of both his permanent secretary at the time, Esala Nayasi, and his minister at the time, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, to contact Prime Minister Bainimarama directly and urge him to embrace a particularly contentious course of action against Australia and New Zealand that they would not have supported.
2. In this correspondence, Nair is advocating a much tougher line against Australia and New Zealand than even Bainimarama had contemplated and certainly Kubuabola, who had established a good working relationship with the then Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, and was trying to mend fences and improve the relationship between Fiji and Australia. As this correspondence demonstrates, this effort was being undermined from within by Nair.
3. Robin Nair is an Australian citizen and a long-standing former member of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The following is his DFAT career according to his own LinkedIn entry:
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
Dates Employed Aug 1985 – Mar 2008 Employment Duration 22 yrs 7 mos
Location Canberra, Australia
Diplomatic and International Relations at Headquarters in Canberra, including Director of Tasmanian State Office of DFAT (2000-2004); Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1996 to 2000); Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in Ankara, Turkey (1988-1991).
Yet in this correspondence, Nair is urging a foreign leader (Bainimarama) to adopt a much tougher line against Australia and especially in relation to Fiji's re-engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum. It is a startling betrayal of his duty to Australia as a citizen and a retired diplomat on an Australian Government pension.
4. This constitutes clear evidence of disloyalty, even treasonous behaviour, against Australia - where Nair still lives - on top of the disloyalty he has shown to his former patron, Bainimarama, but turning against him after Bainimarama decided in April that Nair could no longer be trusted because he was undermining him as PM and Foreign Minister and asked the Chair of the Public Service Commission, Vishnu Mohan, to remove him. Nair continues to falsely claim that he resigned voluntarily yet has since asked the PSC to pay out the full term of his contract.
5. Nair has begun to play a role in domestic Fijian politics, to the extent of issuing his own media releases. He has indicated his interest in contesting a seat in the Fijian Parliament on behalf of the NFP. But Fijian voters have every right to ask him where his true allegiances lie. This correspondence constitutes conclusive proof not only of an obsequious relationship with Bainimarama when he saw that there was an advantage in currying favour with him but of undermining the interests of his country of adoption - Australia - and actively working to cruel any rapprochement between Fiji and Australia after the difficulties in the relationship in the wake of 2006.
1. Robin Nair claims that he left the Fijian government because of interference in the conduct of his duties. Yet this correspondence below shows that when he was Ambassador to the UAE, he had no compunction whatsoever about going over the heads of both his permanent secretary at the time, Esala Nayasi, and his minister at the time, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, to contact Prime Minister Bainimarama directly and urge him to embrace a particularly contentious course of action against Australia and New Zealand that they would not have supported.
2. In this correspondence, Nair is advocating a much tougher line against Australia and New Zealand than even Bainimarama had contemplated and certainly Kubuabola, who had established a good working relationship with the then Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, and was trying to mend fences and improve the relationship between Fiji and Australia. As this correspondence demonstrates, this effort was being undermined from within by Nair.
3. Robin Nair is an Australian citizen and a long-standing former member of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The following is his DFAT career according to his own LinkedIn entry:
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
Dates Employed Aug 1985 – Mar 2008 Employment Duration 22 yrs 7 mos
Location Canberra, Australia
Diplomatic and International Relations at Headquarters in Canberra, including Director of Tasmanian State Office of DFAT (2000-2004); Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1996 to 2000); Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in Ankara, Turkey (1988-1991).
Yet in this correspondence, Nair is urging a foreign leader (Bainimarama) to adopt a much tougher line against Australia and especially in relation to Fiji's re-engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum. It is a startling betrayal of his duty to Australia as a citizen and a retired diplomat on an Australian Government pension.
4. This constitutes clear evidence of disloyalty, even treasonous behaviour, against Australia - where Nair still lives - on top of the disloyalty he has shown to his former patron, Bainimarama, but turning against him after Bainimarama decided in April that Nair could no longer be trusted because he was undermining him as PM and Foreign Minister and asked the Chair of the Public Service Commission, Vishnu Mohan, to remove him. Nair continues to falsely claim that he resigned voluntarily yet has since asked the PSC to pay out the full term of his contract.
5. Nair has begun to play a role in domestic Fijian politics, to the extent of issuing his own media releases. He has indicated his interest in contesting a seat in the Fijian Parliament on behalf of the NFP. But Fijian voters have every right to ask him where his true allegiances lie. This correspondence constitutes conclusive proof not only of an obsequious relationship with Bainimarama when he saw that there was an advantage in currying favour with him but of undermining the interests of his country of adoption - Australia - and actively working to cruel any rapprochement between Fiji and Australia after the difficulties in the relationship in the wake of 2006.
From: "Robin Nair" <_____________.com>
Date: 4 Sep 2015 5:13 pm
Subject: PIF
To: "frank josaia" <______________.com>
Sir, we had a brief discussion but i think a timely and important discussion, touching on our presence at the PIF Summit next week.
I had briefly discussed with you my concern with the speed with which we are normalizing our relations with ANZ, as if nothing happened in the last 8 years and that they can pick up their relationship with us where they left us in 2006. We are doing this at the expense of your deeply felt grievance against ANZ at how they treated us with contempt, at how they tried to strangle Fiji and annihilate you from 2006 until most recently when Julie Bishop initiated her cleverly orchestrated charm offensive to woo Fiji back into their fold. She did this because ANZ were frightened by what Fiji had been able to achieve, under your leadership, without them. They believe that the South Pacific Ocean is their lake and no-one else should usurp their leadership and control of the region. They resented that your revolution had succeeded both domestically and regionally and internationally.
I attach a short document that I prepared arguing why we should not be at the PIF at the level that we will be represented for now. ANZ believe they have already achieved 95 in wooing Fiji back to their noose or trap of their colonialist institution of the PIF. They believe that it is matter of short time only when you will be personally back into the fold, with your attendance at the next Leaders Meeting or soon afterwards, without ANZ conceding anything nor showing any regrets for how offensively they had treated us.
My thesis, sir, is that we have moved too fast rather than through a considered and progressive path, achieving our own objectives and national interests, and with the dignity earned over the past 8 years. It is still not too late to send a token delegation to PIF Summit next week because we are members. But we will be betraying your revolution if we were to be present at the level of the Foreign Minister, to almost fully be part and parcel of PIF in such a short period.
I hope you will find time to read the brief document attached with issues raised for your consideration.
I will prepare another fuller paper on how we should be re-engaging with ANZ.
with much respect
Robin Nair
Ambassador
Embassy of the Republic of Fiji
Abu Dhabi
Tel: +971 2 681 3002
Mob:+971 50 224 6888
Date: 4 Sep 2015 5:13 pm
Subject: PIF
To: "frank josaia" <______________.com>
Sir, we had a brief discussion but i think a timely and important discussion, touching on our presence at the PIF Summit next week.
I had briefly discussed with you my concern with the speed with which we are normalizing our relations with ANZ, as if nothing happened in the last 8 years and that they can pick up their relationship with us where they left us in 2006. We are doing this at the expense of your deeply felt grievance against ANZ at how they treated us with contempt, at how they tried to strangle Fiji and annihilate you from 2006 until most recently when Julie Bishop initiated her cleverly orchestrated charm offensive to woo Fiji back into their fold. She did this because ANZ were frightened by what Fiji had been able to achieve, under your leadership, without them. They believe that the South Pacific Ocean is their lake and no-one else should usurp their leadership and control of the region. They resented that your revolution had succeeded both domestically and regionally and internationally.
I attach a short document that I prepared arguing why we should not be at the PIF at the level that we will be represented for now. ANZ believe they have already achieved 95 in wooing Fiji back to their noose or trap of their colonialist institution of the PIF. They believe that it is matter of short time only when you will be personally back into the fold, with your attendance at the next Leaders Meeting or soon afterwards, without ANZ conceding anything nor showing any regrets for how offensively they had treated us.
My thesis, sir, is that we have moved too fast rather than through a considered and progressive path, achieving our own objectives and national interests, and with the dignity earned over the past 8 years. It is still not too late to send a token delegation to PIF Summit next week because we are members. But we will be betraying your revolution if we were to be present at the level of the Foreign Minister, to almost fully be part and parcel of PIF in such a short period.
I hope you will find time to read the brief document attached with issues raised for your consideration.
I will prepare another fuller paper on how we should be re-engaging with ANZ.
with much respect
Robin Nair
Ambassador
Embassy of the Republic of Fiji
Abu Dhabi
Tel: +971 2 681 3002
Mob:+971 50 224 6888
Sir,
I briefly discussed with you this morning my concern with the speed with which we are normalising the relations with ANZ and the PIF, as if nothing happened in the last 8 years and that they can pick up with us where they left us in 2006. We are doing this at the expense of your deeply felt grievance against ANZ at how they tried to strangle Fiji and annihilate you from 2006 until most recently when Julie Bishop initiated a cleverly orchestrated charm offensive to woo Fiji back, by saying the right words and throwing money at us, as they do with other PSIDS. She did this because they were frightened by what Fiji had been able to achieve without them, so much so that their position as the vice-Sherriff of the South Pacific region was being eroded by Fiji’s smart diplomacy. They have always believed that the South Pacific is their lake.
During the course of our experience post 2006, we had grown and matured because of the attempts by ANZ to isolate us and make us a Pariah State. You resisted and persisted on your planned path to full sovereignty. During that time we realised that PIF had been an instrument of colonisation. We agreed internally that when the time came for ANZ to realise that you had succeeded in your revolution, any normalisation of relations will not be automatic as if the last 8 years did not happen. We agreed that any normalisation of relations with ANZ will be done in progressive steps and one within a context of agreed/negotiated set of principles, recognising Fiji as an equal partner and not a subservient and submissive partner. We had agreed and said it publicly many times that we did not need PIF as it was presently constituted and we will not join it unless PIF became a true voice of the Pacific Islands again. We showed ANZ and PSIDS that we were serious and we showed them the way through the launching of your PIDF initiative.
But what do we see now, post 12 September 2014. Our relationship with ANZ has been rushed by your advisers (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and no different from what it was pre2006, because we fell for their charm offensive, not realising that is exactly where the ANZ want us to be. They considered our tough talk of the past as mere rhetoric, when you in fact were determined and serious and showed how rhetoric can be made into real action and gain for our national interest.
Now, I see our membership with PIF is almost normal. Overnight we have been sucked into all the organs and bodies of the PIF and we participate fully in these Fora. We are even going to be present at the first PIF Summit Meeting after the elections of September 2014, less than a year ago, and with a high level delegation led by our Foreign Minister. ANZ see your principled stand of not attending the PIF Summit as a token protest at best. They see this as a face saving measure after your 8 years of showing deep resentment and antagonism towards ANZ for treating us like naughty children and not a sovereign nation. ANZ believe they have already achieved 95 in wooing Fiji back to their noose or trap of their colonialist institution of the PIF. They believe that it is matter of short time only when you will be personally back into the fold, with your attendance at the next Leaders Meeting or soon thereafter, without ANZ conceding anything nor showing any regrets for how offensively they had treated us, by trying to starve us out of all the regional and international organisations.
My thesis, sir, is that we have moved too fast rather than through a considered and progressive path, achieving our own objectives and national interests, rather than to do this progressively and with the dignity earned over the past 8 years. It is still not too late to send a token delegation to PIF Summit next week because we are members. But we will be betraying your revolution to almost fully be part and parcel of PIF in such a short period.
As for the argument that our lack of presence would upset Island Leaders, I think it is a very cruel and ill-considered argument, one to justify capitulation. These Island leaders never gave us a second thought when they so unashamedly kicked us out of the PIF, with offensive and demeaning rhetoric of some of these leaders towards you and Fiji. Some of these leaders only reluctantly and in a lukewarm showed support for your “Engaging of the Pacific Islands” initiative, with lower levels of representations, to the amusement of the ANZ. Even now, they speak with forked tongues about PIDF. Not many Leaders want to be seen at the opening ceremonies of PIDF, so graciously hosted by us every year.
Your PIDF initiative is now being seen and accepted by many in the broader international community, especially amongst our “new” friends as an emerging premier organisation of the Pacific Islands voice, by sending observers and indicating public support. Some have sent very high level representations, including last year with the presence of the President of Indonesia. The PSIDS are beginning to realise and quietly embrace the PIDF, slowly but surely. Our less than full participation in the PIF will not upset leaders but show the leaders a way to achieve meaningful sovereignty. We want to keep on this path rather than get seduced into the PIF. ANZ is already considering adopting our model of the tripartite body for PIF or, at least to start with, in some organs of PIF. This is to dilute our argument of PIDF being tripartite and grass roots. We are on a winner, sir, with the PIDF and let us concentrate on that.
Our relations with ANZ should not be through any regional mechanism such as PIF. where their habit of dominance will not mellow. We should retain our pride and our sovereignty by dealing with Australia and New Zealand on a bilateral basis, as equals, a mature relationship between two sovereign countries: Fiji and Australia and separately Fiji and NZ. But even this should be built progressively on the basis of a set of principles.
As promised to you this morning, I will do a Paper for you on re-engaging with ANZ.
Sir, you sent us out to make new friends in the world. You have been successful. We have many more friends than we had pre 2006. We have found a new sense of freedom and sovereignty.
Robin Nair
I briefly discussed with you this morning my concern with the speed with which we are normalising the relations with ANZ and the PIF, as if nothing happened in the last 8 years and that they can pick up with us where they left us in 2006. We are doing this at the expense of your deeply felt grievance against ANZ at how they tried to strangle Fiji and annihilate you from 2006 until most recently when Julie Bishop initiated a cleverly orchestrated charm offensive to woo Fiji back, by saying the right words and throwing money at us, as they do with other PSIDS. She did this because they were frightened by what Fiji had been able to achieve without them, so much so that their position as the vice-Sherriff of the South Pacific region was being eroded by Fiji’s smart diplomacy. They have always believed that the South Pacific is their lake.
During the course of our experience post 2006, we had grown and matured because of the attempts by ANZ to isolate us and make us a Pariah State. You resisted and persisted on your planned path to full sovereignty. During that time we realised that PIF had been an instrument of colonisation. We agreed internally that when the time came for ANZ to realise that you had succeeded in your revolution, any normalisation of relations will not be automatic as if the last 8 years did not happen. We agreed that any normalisation of relations with ANZ will be done in progressive steps and one within a context of agreed/negotiated set of principles, recognising Fiji as an equal partner and not a subservient and submissive partner. We had agreed and said it publicly many times that we did not need PIF as it was presently constituted and we will not join it unless PIF became a true voice of the Pacific Islands again. We showed ANZ and PSIDS that we were serious and we showed them the way through the launching of your PIDF initiative.
But what do we see now, post 12 September 2014. Our relationship with ANZ has been rushed by your advisers (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and no different from what it was pre2006, because we fell for their charm offensive, not realising that is exactly where the ANZ want us to be. They considered our tough talk of the past as mere rhetoric, when you in fact were determined and serious and showed how rhetoric can be made into real action and gain for our national interest.
Now, I see our membership with PIF is almost normal. Overnight we have been sucked into all the organs and bodies of the PIF and we participate fully in these Fora. We are even going to be present at the first PIF Summit Meeting after the elections of September 2014, less than a year ago, and with a high level delegation led by our Foreign Minister. ANZ see your principled stand of not attending the PIF Summit as a token protest at best. They see this as a face saving measure after your 8 years of showing deep resentment and antagonism towards ANZ for treating us like naughty children and not a sovereign nation. ANZ believe they have already achieved 95 in wooing Fiji back to their noose or trap of their colonialist institution of the PIF. They believe that it is matter of short time only when you will be personally back into the fold, with your attendance at the next Leaders Meeting or soon thereafter, without ANZ conceding anything nor showing any regrets for how offensively they had treated us, by trying to starve us out of all the regional and international organisations.
My thesis, sir, is that we have moved too fast rather than through a considered and progressive path, achieving our own objectives and national interests, rather than to do this progressively and with the dignity earned over the past 8 years. It is still not too late to send a token delegation to PIF Summit next week because we are members. But we will be betraying your revolution to almost fully be part and parcel of PIF in such a short period.
As for the argument that our lack of presence would upset Island Leaders, I think it is a very cruel and ill-considered argument, one to justify capitulation. These Island leaders never gave us a second thought when they so unashamedly kicked us out of the PIF, with offensive and demeaning rhetoric of some of these leaders towards you and Fiji. Some of these leaders only reluctantly and in a lukewarm showed support for your “Engaging of the Pacific Islands” initiative, with lower levels of representations, to the amusement of the ANZ. Even now, they speak with forked tongues about PIDF. Not many Leaders want to be seen at the opening ceremonies of PIDF, so graciously hosted by us every year.
Your PIDF initiative is now being seen and accepted by many in the broader international community, especially amongst our “new” friends as an emerging premier organisation of the Pacific Islands voice, by sending observers and indicating public support. Some have sent very high level representations, including last year with the presence of the President of Indonesia. The PSIDS are beginning to realise and quietly embrace the PIDF, slowly but surely. Our less than full participation in the PIF will not upset leaders but show the leaders a way to achieve meaningful sovereignty. We want to keep on this path rather than get seduced into the PIF. ANZ is already considering adopting our model of the tripartite body for PIF or, at least to start with, in some organs of PIF. This is to dilute our argument of PIDF being tripartite and grass roots. We are on a winner, sir, with the PIDF and let us concentrate on that.
Our relations with ANZ should not be through any regional mechanism such as PIF. where their habit of dominance will not mellow. We should retain our pride and our sovereignty by dealing with Australia and New Zealand on a bilateral basis, as equals, a mature relationship between two sovereign countries: Fiji and Australia and separately Fiji and NZ. But even this should be built progressively on the basis of a set of principles.
As promised to you this morning, I will do a Paper for you on re-engaging with ANZ.
Sir, you sent us out to make new friends in the world. You have been successful. We have many more friends than we had pre 2006. We have found a new sense of freedom and sovereignty.
Robin Nair
How TRUTHFORFIJI cartoonist saw Robin Nair's departure from MOFA!
