Sydney Fijians Call for Tougher Sanctions – Radio Australia News
Fijians living in Australia have called on the Federal Government to take tough action over the imposition of military rule in Fiji.
Fiji’s President Ratu Josefa Iloilo scrapped the constitution and sacked the judges last week and the country is now being run under emergency rule.
At a community meeting in Sydney last night, organisers say 200 people expressed their dismay at the political developments.
The meeting’s organiser Usaia Waqatairewa says the group resolved to lobby the Australian Government to do more.
“So the feeling and the emotion on the floor yesterday was that we have to do something we have to up the sanctions we have to hit them where it hurts most through financial means, through travel means, through travel bans – you know economic trade bans – no more smart bans – we have to give total sanctions,” he said.
Congratulations to the Sydney Kai Vitis that attended the meeting yesterday.
I have just finished watching ABC news and since the coup I have once again felt proud of my birth country. I felt that those of us that oppose the coup had the guts to stand up and fight for the return of democracy to our small island nation which we love so much.
Thank you to Jone Baledrokadroka, Joseph Raga, Litia Radekusa, Usaia Waqatairewa and those behind the scene that helped organise the gathering. It was a gusto performace and you did all of us proud. It was top news on ABC here in Townsville.
To those Kai Vitis living in Sydney that are afraid to show their disapproval, Fiji will never be the same until we get rid of Frank and his so called government. Get out there and support these good people/
I agree with Jone, “we need to hit them where it hurts the most.”
May the good Lord be with us all in our fight for freedom.
CONGRATULATIONS to the Fijians and others in Sydney.
Well done.
You were near the top of the 7pm news tonight and the segment lasted for at least 4 minutes [ almost as long as the football ].
What an impact you have made to Australian ‘thinking’ about going to Fiji for a holiday.
Okay , I’ve had to have a long think and happened to be watching Dateline , on SBS , coincidentally !
George Negus , a seasoned and highly regarded reporter , was talking about the upcoming South African Election and their Internal Affairs etc.
At the same time , I was speaking to my wife who had returned from the computer , having spent a couple of hours reading about Fiji’s situation and scouring S.V. and the many responses to the Yagoona meeting .
I was giving my view and my changed opinion of the sporting bans on Fiji when George happened to finish his report .
The lady he was interviewing , who happened to be from the ANC ( African National Congress ) , the incumbent Party . I believe she may have been the Secretary of the ANC and in closing , she thanked Australia for their support of South Africa over the many many years !
George confirmed that , yes , Australia and Australians , do support South Africa and then made the joke , ” except in sport ” !
She laughed .
It showed and confirmed for me , that the conversation I was having with my wife and my views were correct . And for those of you who are still reading , here they are .
===============================================
It’s my belief , which has slightly changed since last night’s meeting at Yagoona :-
That a complete ban on sporting events , may take more away from Fijians than we would be giving them , and that it may have the negative effect of isolating us from the very people from whom we need support , if we are to succeed in our endeavour to overthrow Frank and Co. and their illegal regime .
Apartheid is a very different matter to what is happening in Fiji and yes , the sanctions did work in time . But they were in place because no black man was allowed to represent South Africa , despite the fact that the majority of the population was black.
Fijians love their sport and they are respected because of their fair play and passion for it .
I don’t even follow rugby , I’m an Aussie Rules fan , but please , don’t stop reading my comments because of that !
As Religion and Politics don’t mix , I believe that neither should we Politicise Sports .
It’s the only release Fijians have at the moment , and it’s a healthy release .
To ban it , would in my view , do more harm than good .
I watched a game here in Sydney , Australia against Fiji or was it Fiji against Australia , I’m not sure .
It was Rugby League in late 2008 and though I’m not a Rugby fan , my heart really went out to those grown men who were playing , knowing what was happening in Fiji .
It was an emotional experience for me , I didn’t tell anyone , but I felt their pain and watched how they played with pride in their hearts and sorrow in their eyes .
It was sorrowful to see grown men putting on such a brave face in times of such adversity .
However , having said that , I do agree that the peacekeeping should be stopped immediately , because to keep it operating is an insult to those Countries , their Soldiers and Police who are supporting Democracy and Freedom under the United Nations banner and because the earnings from it , are keeping the Regime financed enough to allow them to continue unabated .
Should Air Pacific be banned from flying into Australia and New Zealand ?
I’m unsure about this , but I do believe that Tourists should be discouraged from travelling to Fiji .
As some at the meeting said last night , hit them in the bread basket , hit them where it hurts .
It’s thought and been said , that the tourist operators may be partially to blame for this latest coup d’tate and that they supported Frank’s efforts because they didn’t like the Qoli Qoli bill for fear of having to pay recompense to the traditional owners of the fishing grounds and waterways surrounding the Hotels etc.
Well if that’s correct , then tourism should be brought to it’s knees so that they reverse their support of Frank and Co.
As well as the owners of the tourist operations , the Soldiers who are supporting Frank , should also have their livelihoods threatened by stopping the peacekeeping .
By the way , the expression is , hit them in the hip pocket , not hit them in the breadbasket.
One final comment for tonight , reference was made to a protest outside the Prime Ministers Residence at Kirribilli here in Sydney , where a Tamil Tiger supporter had collapse while on a hunger strike .
I thought to myself , if the Fijians did the same thing , a hunger strike , we could be waiting another 6 months before the effects are felt .
The speaker happened to make a remark as well , to the delight of the audience .
Mark to the rescue as usual – Thanks Mark, you have stood fast and strong for the cause.
I think it is also about time SWM thanked your understanding wife for allowing you all the computer time.
@Mark
I think the speaker said it tongue in cheek to drive home his point because Fijians often think from their stomach and the adage “a hungry man is an angry man” is so so true when it comes to Fijian and no money means no chow
You have made some good points here tonight and it would be a good thing to raise at the proposed inaugural general meeting.
I think most of those thing said were made because the people came in emotionally charged up. I would not envy Mr Waqatairewa’s position last night as he tried to put a lid on things and control emotions.
By the way, I was only testing you out on how was the food because I enjoyed it myself.
Pity I did not bring a videocam but did you know that guy who was recording the event with his videocam. I really would like to have a copy because last night was history man.
anyway cheer man
Admin2
Thanks , but unfortunately , she is taking over from me on the computer and I now have to make her cups of tea and do the dishes etc.
But it’s good to see that she is so incensed at what Frank and Co. are doing to Fiji and it’s people , that she has joined in the fight with such passion .
To our Indian friends out there , 1st. of all , I’d like to say , I enjoyed Slumdog Millionaire !
I pray that Fiji doesn’t become a cast system like India or full of slums because of social injustice and poverty etc.
We must not let Frank and Co. hide behind the Saris of the Indian women of Fiji and turn this into an Ethnic war , because it is not an Ethnic war and must not become one .
All Fijians must stand united for their sakes and their children’s sake .
As was quite rightly pointed out last night , and I hope this will be communicated on S.V. and elsewhere in the future , the Constitution , which no one person can legally abrogate , has the rights of all Fijians enshrined in it .
The Republic of Fiji Island’s Constitution :-
http://www.appf.org.pe/countries/fiji/constitu/index.htm
Frank’s excuse for the coup is unacceptable and untrue :-
http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090419/FOREIGN/471410591/1002
The claim in the 3rd. paragraph that it was a bloodless coup , are incorrect , as we all know , there have been several murders , illegal detentions , tortures and sexual assaults of Fijian and Indian women , children and men .
The very Citizens , the Miltiary is sworn to protect .
Celua
thanks for advising me of the intended meaning , yes , it was lost on me , but does make more sense now .
I must say , I had a bit of a giggle at all the big bellied men standing at the table by the window , so I get your meaning now !
I have decided , that if a man is proposing to go on a diet , that he should never marry a Fijian woman !
The food was absolutely wonderful and i really wanted seconds but must lose weight as my blood pressure is slowly going up as was my weight .
My Father died from obesity and diabetes or diabetes from being obese rather , he was 20 stone by the way .
And I don’t want to go down the same road .
Yes , I pity peter too and as for the video man , I believe that may have been SBS , ABC and NZTVone !
If you google them , get the contact us number and ring them , I’m sure if you explain who you are that they will ask you to send in a blank tape with a return stamped envelope that they will oblige you with the full coverage .
That has been my experience in the past anyway .
Let me know how you go .
And I just want to thank the ladies again who prepared those wonderful meals , vinaka vakalevu .
I told them that the meals were equalled only by the beauty of the cook .
@ MM – Fijians on hunger strike? Methinks perhaps you might not know us Fijians as well as you think … Does anyone else recall Fred Caine announcing, back in the 80s I think, very publicly announcing that he was going on hunger strike? And then he was found chowing down in some tea shop when he thought no one was watching? And there was another fella around 2003, similar thing, told all the media he was going on hunger strike for some cause. I don’t think he lasted even 1 day.
(Perhaps this is why the Methodist Fast is such a powerful thing. Because food is so important to us Fijians, denying ourselves food in daylight hours is a real test of faith.)
While I congratulate the Sydney Fijians on their amazing progress, I must ask them to consider Smart Sanctions, which hurt the illegal regime but empower We The People, instead of total sanctions (which, as we see from Burma and Zimbabwe, will cripple the people but empower the corrupt regime).
Thank you Sydney Fijians for your faith and your courage and may you inspire us to reclaim our right to free and fair elections under the 1997 Constitution.
God bless Fiji
THIS, is how coups are stopped, when the PEOPLE say so and actually take tangible actions to fulfill it. I believe the people of Fiji the world over has finally come to the place called, “enough is enough.”
We must show our support and solidarity that we will NOT put up anymore with coups in our beloved Fiji. Let’s put our money where our mouth is.
Carpe diem!
NZ would consider sending troops to Fiji – Key
Monday Apr 20, 2009
New Zealand would consider sending armed forces troops into Fiji if they were needed to stabilise peace as part of a multi-lateral action, Prime Minister John Key said.
The Government was not “sitting here planning today to do that” but would consider it if the need arose, he told TV One’s Breakfast show.
“If it was part of a multi-lateral effort to stabilise peace in a dangerous situation in Fiji of course New Zealand would consider that (sending in troops),” he said.
“It’s very concerning in Fiji … I think it’s tragic actually.”
He said there was always the threat of a fight back from the Fijian people.
Fight back from the Fijian people? I doubt it. I think the Kiwi soldiers will be welcomed by the people with the traditional vakawela, their landing craft will be submitted to the welcoming custom of cere and the Fijian people will even swim out to the invading force to perform the qaloqalovi before they land.
Its this kind of statement by Key that will get people in Fiji, or even from within the military, to stand up and create a situation where outside intervention is warranted.
R, if it is possible, can someone feed that news clip here?
Reading the Sydney Declaration passed at the weekend, I believe the tolks in Sydney missed out on one vital strategy.
What happened to all that talk on this blog site about taking Frank to the International Court of Justice in the Hague? The ICC was created specifically for situations like Fiji where cases of human rights abuses have no chance of being dealt with under national jurisdiction.
The murder of the 5 CRW soldiers is a classic case in point. It was said that former Police Commissioner Anthony Hughes had collected all the necessary evidence to charge Frank B and a few of his henchmen for the murder of the CRW soldiers.
Thats why Frank had to do his coup. To prevent the investigation taking its course.
Waqatairewa as a former deputy in the Fiji Human Rights Commission should be able to lay his hands on some of this evidence to pursue the matter in the ICC.
Action in the ICC can be initiated by any member state. Since the regime will not do anything to convict its leadership, there is nothing to stop NZ, Australia and any other member state of the ICC to file an action against Frank in the ICC.
That clearly should be one line of action that the group in Sydney can pursue.
Maybe they can add the name of Iloilo for his actions in condoning the traversty of justice through his support for Frank and for his actions in abrogating the Constitution. He will become the second head of state after the Sudanese President to be charged by the ICC.
It means the minute either he or Frank steps foot outside of Fiji they will be arrested by Interpol and hauled off to the Hague.
No more overseas medical check ups for both Frank and Iloilo
Thank you Ropate for reminding everyone!
It is a course of action that should be looked into, especially now Fiji is effectively a military dictatorship.
okay
so let’s forget about a hunger strike , Fijians could survive for 6 months before any difference is noticed or there is any effect !
As for New Zealand and Australian troops fighting Fijian soldiers , I know that’s why John Howard wouldn’t entertain intervention in December 2006 when Mr. Qarase reportedly asked him , what would the Australian Government do .
John Howard confirmed that he wouldn’t want to see our troops fighting our Fijian friends .
But the Court of Appeal has confirmed that Mr. Qarase and his Cabinet are the legal Government and that the President didn’t have the Authority to appoint Frank as interim Prime Minister .
Therefore , the GCC is still the legitimate body and should sack the president on the grounds that he is unable to function effectively , re appoint a New President and Vice President and have the New President , as Commander in Chief of the Military , de commission Frank and re commission a new Commander and have Frank and his supporters arrested for treason etc.
It’s that simple , but by the time the GCC find their testicles , it will be too late to act .
The wives of the Chiefs of the GCC should lobby their impotent men to get off their arses and have them put a stop to all of this nonsense now , or just refuse their advances until the coup is over !
Hi Katalina
I think I have managed to get the news clip that has had a great impact on the people of Australia.
I received numerous phone calls and emails from those that viewed the ABC news last night and all they could say to me is; “It is good to see that a group of Fijians are taking a positive action to get rid of Frank and his self appointed government.”
Like me they will not visit Fiji until the country has consitutional law. I am afraid I will miss out on my old school’s (LPS) 130 years reunion on principle.
It is such a shame that Mrs Clark, a New Zealand school teacher at LPS in the 60′s is celebrating her 80th birthday in Levuka while the reunion is on during a period of political instability.
Students that she taught have joined together and have organised a big birthday bash for her. One of her students is our birth country’s now illegal VP and am wondering whether he will attend with his wife.
I think if he had any sense he would stay away as his presence would only spoil it for Mrs Clark and the law abiding ex LPS students who understand fully well that coups are an act of treason.
Here is the news clip.
A newly formed Fijian community group says it’ll lobby the Australian Government to take action, to help restore democracy in Fiji.
Fiji is being run under military rule, after President Ratu Josefa Iloilo scrapped the constitution and sacked the judges.
Local and foreign media are also facing tight restrictions on political coverage.
Around 200 people from Australia’s Fijian community gathered in Sydney last night demanding stronger economic and trade sanctions be imposed on the country.
The organiser of the meeting Usaia Waqatairewa said the group will campaign to raise awaremess of Fiji’s current political situation.
“We’ve got to form a united front and lobby the Government, demonstrate and create exposure so that the people really know what’s happening in Fiji,” he said.
Katalina
I have no idea what I did but somehow I missed out this bit.
Movement for Democracy in Fiji launched in SydneyLast Updated: 20 hours 6 minutes ago
The Fiji community in Sydney has condemned the abrogration of Fiji’s constitution and launched an international campaign to restore democracy in their homeland.
A highly charged meeting of the Fiji community issued what it calls the Sydney Declaration condemning the abrogration of the 1997 constitution and calling on coup leader Frank Bainimarama to respect the Court of Appeal’s recommendation that a neutral government be appointed to take Fiji to immediate elections.
Fiji’s former Land Forces Commander Jone Baledrokadroka said the Bainimarama regime is illegal.
“We tell Bainimarama your day is up,” he said to applause. “The writing is on the wall.”
The former land forces chief said non-violent action and tougher sanctions are needed to bring the Fiji government to its knees.
The Sydney meeting endorsed a plan to set up an overseas movement for democracy.
The movement plans to establish branches in other Australian cities and in New Zealand, Britain and the United States.
Rosalind the man is a selfish no brainer so is not capable of sensible caring thinking.
He only thinks of himself and lets hope the LPS gang ignore him and his wife if they decide to attend the reunion.
Then again they may welcome the illegal VP’s presence and forget about poor Mrs Clark. Give him the traditional Fijian welcome etc!
Fiji is an important Australian trading partner & any sanction policy must not adversely affect Australian trading especially @ this time when the world is getting into a deep recession.(Australia would prefer to keep every trading opportunity open). It is very unlikely therefore that Aust. people must carely study and select the best way to do this – remeber the pareto optimality principle 80/20 rule- hence smart sanctions. IMO Sydney people bettero form think tanks and strategise on what needs to be done about this etc.
Sorry above should read thus:
Fiji is an important Australian trading partner & any sanction policy must not adversely affect Australian trading especially @ this time when the world is getting into a deep recession.(Australia would prefer to keep every trading opportunity open). It is very unlikely therefore that Aust. will go for anything else other than what they are doing now. However, I believe that Sydney Fijian people must carely study and select the best way to do this – remember the pareto optimality principle 80/20 rule- hence smart sanctions. IMO Sydney people can form think tanks and strategise on what needs to be done about this etc
Samy:
as an old LPS scholars myself we should completely STOP the re-union and donate money to the children of Fiji.I dont want to see anyone from the pretend gov anyway.ESPECILAY THE PRETEND VICE PRESIDENT
If the ex LPS students want to do something to help the cause they should boycott the reunion in Levuka and for their 80 year teacher’s birthday celebrations should change the venue to NZ.
Fijians all over the world can get together and organise functions Fijian style as if it is being held in Fiji.
It will save everyone the uncomfortable situation of having to come face to face with the illegal VP if he decides to attend as he is banned from travelling anywhere except India, China and Tonga.
@ Orion …..If things continue as they are in Fiji, Australia will be trading with China NOT Fiji!!!!! Maybe it will be Fijian Taipei then!!!!
Democracy needs to be restored as soon as possible.
I believe the sanctions should be tightened on all those accepting positions by this illegal regime. from board members to Mission heads overseas – hitting them weher it hurts matters most. the nacewa case is a good example.
Hi Rosalind,
Concur with all views BUT for one
And that is the reliance on negotiations travel ban and embargo will restore democracy. I am not knocking those three avenues. Just want to remind you and JB that The time for talking alone is over.
Hit them in the very place they dread — PEOPLE MARCH DOWN THE STREETS OF SUVA
People aren’t armed. Soldiers will have to decide if they raise their guns or allow the march its course. Digital cameras abound getting pictures across to the world
The soldiers won’t shoot if the people march down peacefully without sticks and stones but a candle each to culminate in front of Nasese House — light the candle in broad daylight .. sing your song of plea
Either way they loose. The thing is the people need to crack this nut. One single move will do it.
They must.
And accept whatever follows as the natural consequences for their plea for Fiji’s future generations.
Shiregal:
Appreciate your point. Just want to be realistic here. I am of the opinion that Australia will not likely to do more than what they are doing, without hurting themselves in the process. I Believe Australia has got some $300+ million or exports to Fiji every year that they will not want to loose. China & the world markets are contracting due to the current world economic crisis and even Australia is fillingthe contraction of the chinese economy as demands for Aust iron ore etc are falling. & contrary to what main stream media is toting, this depression will get worse and will last for 15 to 20 years no matter what the G20 countries and Obama do. The overseas markets are shrinking worldwide and Australia given the circumstances, will not want to close up markets via sanctions, as it will hurt its busdinesses & people directly who rely on these exports and services to and from Fiji. I need not explain more as Australia (or any other country for that matter) just does not have the luxury of switching markets as & when it suits. Alot of their people will suffer and their economy will be further affected than it is. Because of these, I am of the opinion that its better to strategise and sting the iIG where its hurts the most as it has to be very selective with surgical precision ie concetrate on the 20% that will give 80% of the desired result as I have mentioned. But its just a suggestion to the Fijian Sydneysiders
@ Frida my vision is for the respective countries to send them packing as a sign of support for democracy; and it will come if and
When the Fijians care enough about what is at stake here for them and show the world their resistance in the thousands and peacefully
If the soldiers shoot unarmed civilians
The UN will step in to defend the people from Fiji’s soldiers …