 STATEMENT ONE: [No 5 /2014], [JAN 20 2014] The UFDF says while it sympathizes with the plight of the people of West Papua, the MSG members only have themselves to blame for the alleged acceptance of $500,000 from Indonesia by their Chairman Frank Bainimarama in exchange for betraying an MSG commitment to the West Papua people. The UFDF said this interference by Indonesia is not unexpected as it has also occurred in Fiji with the outgoing Indonesian Ambassador Aidil Chandra Salim stating in an interview with the regime’s Fiji Sun on Dec 8th 2013 that quote ‘Commodore was a strong and transparent leader, urging Fijians to vote for a strong leader, saying Fiji was lucky to have a leader like the Commodore’ unquote In the same interview Ambassador Aidil Chandra Salim also said that the ‘Indonesian government was totally behind Commodore Bainimarama’s bid to become Fiji’s elected Prime Minister’ and that Bainimarama’s Pacific Islands Development Forum [PIDF] was stronger than the Pacific Island Forum, even though the PIDF is still being set up. The UFDF said that while such utterances from a Head of Mission is in contravention of the norms of diplomatic protocols, it is does demonstrate a consistent pattern of interference by Indonesia to try and influence and ‘buy’ its way with the MSG and others so as to avoid facing the issue of the West Papuan’s Campaign for independence. The UFDF said the call for Independence of West Papua is a matter that not only the MSG group should take up and support, but the Pacific Island Forum members including Australia and New Zealand should unite and support the West Papua’s people’s call for independence, just as we all sought our Independence from colonial rule many decades ago. The UFDF says the West Papua people must realize that the Commodore is Prime Minister in name only and his support base comes from his use of the military to intimidate and threaten his own people, just as the Indonesian government is doing to the West Papua people. He does not represent the Chiefs and people of Fiji The UFDF says it members, who include 2 former legally elected Prime Minister’s and other legal representatives of the people will lodge a formal protest against the Indonesian Government interference in Fiji’s domestic politics as well as in the MSG. The UFDF says it sympathizes with the people of West Papua and is confident that after the 2014 elections, the new government elected by the people will develop a supportive and more engaging policy towards the West Papuan people’s quest for Independence. |  STATEMENT TWO: [No 6 /2014], [JAN 20 2014] RUGBY HOUSE FINANCIAL MESS UFDF says that the problems at Rugby House must be thoroughly investigated with the view to prosecuting those involved in the mismanagement of FRU affairs. The United Front for a Democratic Fiji (UFDF) says that the suspension of all direct funding support to the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) by the International Rugby Board (IRB) has come as a national shame not only to rugby followers but to the people of Fiji. UFDF says that the problems at Rugby House must be thoroughly investigated with the view to prosecuting those involved in the mismanagement of FRU affairs. It has been seven years since the illegal Fiji Regime placed its stooges in leadership roles at Rugby House. The objective, we were told, was to improve and transform rugby and its administration in Fiji. Instead, from what we can gather from the IRB statement, the IRB audit report would suggest serious flaws in the management of funds and in the administration of rugby in Fiji. This state of affairs is totally unacceptable and must be rejected by the people of Fiji. The current FRU Board is quick to disassociate itself from the IRB audit outcomes. This may be justified but the Board must now take decisive actions to hunt down those responsible for the mess and bring them to justice without delay. UFDF says that the debacle at Rugby House is not surprising. Similar problems have surfaced in all areas where the illegal Regime has interfered in their management and activities. The problems at FRU are mere extensions of the illegal Regime’s mismanagement of the nation’s affairs which has resulted in our critical financial position, weak economy, high unemployment, low income, extremely high poverty level, high inflation, rampant corruption, nepotism and rising crime rate. UFDF has urged the Regime to ensure that a thorough and independent investigation is carried out immediately at Rugby House and that all those responsible for misdeeds are brought to account for their actions before the law. Fijileaks Update: Digicel Matches Offer Digicel Fiji has announced that it has matched a competitive offer for sponsorship of Fiji Rugby’s properties and submitted the required documents to FRU House. Digicel Fiji CEO Maurice McCarthy said that Digicel has invested over $15 million in the past 7 years, and as such retains a contractual right referred to as an ‘Option to Match’. This option was exercised by Digicel yesterday. |
