Where Fiji has stood

Fiji as most of you will probably know (hopefully for humour’s sake) was a British Colony. Fijians have fought and died under the Union Jack. We were once part of that power the British Empire. A fair proportion of Indians (not all of course) have always despised the British Empire and what it stood for. Granted it wasn’t the best people to be ruled by and they did do some bad things in their time.

It has been always back to the Indian struggle before they gained independence. The Raj for many Indians was a symbol of oppression. But Indians in Fiji cannot claim they have any linkage with what happened over there. What happened there was different to Fiji. But their long hatred for Britain goes back to that fact.

They disliked the British to no end right up until Fiji’s independence in 1970. They hated the way they were being ruled and the fact the Fijians were given special rights accorded to them as the Vanua. Few Indians in Fiji served overseas and this was seen to be a slur on their loyalty to Fiji and the Empire.

But of course they cried when the coup happened in 1987. They wanted the protection and support from Britain to ensure they were not marginalised.

You cannot just ask for help when you feel like. Mutual respect is an important part of life.

Fiji has always stood close to her neighbours Australia and New Zealand. She has stood less closer but in equal importance with countries such as the United States, Canada and of course Britain. The Western Alliance was Fiji’s protection during the Cold War. We have been fortunate to stand by close with these countries during the trying times and the good times. Remember India was not going to the rescue of Fiji during the Cold War. She would have to relied on the Australians and the New Zealanders to put their hand up as in years gone by.

Our connections with these countries are important. Our families live there. We watch and play rugby in these countries. Most of our trade is done with these countries and they sit on major air routes which feed Fiji’s tourism industry. They are English speaking and we have reasonably good access to them. They have been the major parties who have donated aid and support to Fiji.

We’re coming to a stage where the relations with the countries that have stood with Fiji for a long time are being strained to a permanently damaged state. Fiji is now sliding towards relationships with countries that it has never known. Countries who’s relationships come with a price tag (i.e. Fiji does not just get something for free). If Fiji was to get into major strife, do you think countries such as China and India would come full steam to help? I don’t think so.

We have stood with our traditional allies through so much. Its not worth damaging that so the ego’s of the RFMF and interim government can be stroked.

A grim future…

I had a listen to the pure vitriol that Bainimarama spouted out at today’s press conference. Of course he has hasn’t the intelligence or the ability to write or conjure something like that. But the intent and power tripping was there.

The sad thing is that like every other thing that comes this way, everyone gets blamed or is under the pump. They are perfect and we are not. Over the next few days we may see numerous people being taken in for ‘questioning’ and mass arrests around the place. Who knows? All sorts of people will be done in to deflect the issue at hand. Just like the assassination plot. Look to see the assassination plot accused, chiefs and high ranking Fijians to be bought in. All in the name of hiding the crimes perpetrated by the junta.

The most important thing to come out is that Chaudhry is innocent. He is pure according to the boss. The evidence is right there blatantly standing there. I feel sorry for the poor people who blew the whistle and now going to be intimidated and harassed. Their lives are going to be made a living hell because they did the right thing. They stood up and spoke out when nobody else did.

I have a copy of the tax file and it does not look pretty reading at all. I have legal training in tax investigation and I have been poring over this for the last few weeks. The evidence is brutal and a stunning indictment on Chaudhry. Sadly that taxation amnesty may have been the legal loophole he was looking for. But the worse thing is the information I have regarding the donations that provided the backbone of the $1.6 million that has been noted.

People probably with no known connection to Fiji have donated willingly in the name of the ‘Indian’ cause. He has deliberately pocketed it and no one is the wiser. I have read some of the vitriol that Chaudhry has spouted off against the Fijians while he was in India. You almost shed a tear reading the stuff that has been passed on to me. It really is sickening and the Vanua is been openly mocked and ridiculed. If I was to distribute it to the villagers, they would break down in tears (yes, even grown men).

Our future is been dictated by this lot. It is grim.

Praying will do us no good. Its time for us to make a stand.