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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 5, 2006 17:16:44 GMT 12
This may be an unpopuolar view, and of course the current coup in Fiji is regrettable, but I cannot help thinking that the Commodore Frank Bainimarama (sp?) is right in almost all the issues he raised.
I've raised this with others and they agree with me. Do you agree?
His main beefs were, as far as I could read it:
- trying to stop a racist piece of legislation giving rights to some and not other Fijians.
- trying to stop a ludicrous piece of legislation that'd let George Speight and all his mates out of prison early with pardons
- wanting to ditch an Australian police chief who was shirking in his duties to bring other previous coup leaders to justice.
I think his attitudes and intentions were right, and I feel it a great shame he has been forced to do the very same thing that Speight did in order to enforce his points, because as far as I can see the Fijian Government were a bunch of idiots - and our's are too for supporting the wrong side.
Any thoughts?
Up Commodore Bainimarama for El Presidente in a true Bananarama replublic!
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Post by steve on Dec 5, 2006 19:30:07 GMT 12
I believe that the commordore has a point but he is using it as the excuse and not the reason for his actions. Power play...somply...In this matter I feel PM Clarke is correct...The overthrow of an elected government just cannot be tolerated and we should keep out and only get involved to rescue NZ?aussie nationals. Frankie should put it to the voters in the next elections...joke..
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 5, 2006 19:31:35 GMT 12
Most of the issues raised by the participants in this on-going disaster are a cover for the one deep underlying problem - race.
The Fijiian natives despise the Fijiian Indian community.
In my view, the problem is insoluable, and will destroy the country.
Most of Fiji's infrastructure is maintained by Fjiian Indian technicians such as plumbers, electricians, accountants, nurses and engineers.
The Fijiian Fijiians are largely employed in the military, police and government.
If you are a Fijiian technician, you do not need to stay there and take this attitude - you are in demand in NZ, Australia, Canada and elsewhere. Therefore these people are leaving, and the country is falling into disrepair.
The Fijiian natives own the land, and no matter how successful an Indian businessman becomes, he will always be paying rent to a Fijiian.
Whenever any attempt is made to resolve this matter, the military will move in and block the change.
A few years ago I was in Suva with a spare half a day, and decided to visit the site of the old flying boat base at Lauthala Bay. I found a taxi driver who knew where it was, and away we went. The site is now part of the University of the South Pacific, and is the Maritime Studies campus. We arrived, finding the site surrounded by a high fence. I told the taxi driver to wait, and went exploring on foot. Finding a gate, I went in, to be challenged by a couple of the staff. I explained my mission, and they replied "Who is he?" pointing at the taxi driver.
"My driver" I explained.
That was OK with them, and they then went out of their way to show me around.
However, if I had said that the fellow was a friend or a relation I would have been turned away.
The reason? The taxi driver was a Fijiian Indian.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 5, 2006 20:30:11 GMT 12
Thanks for that insight guys. It's a confusing issue to try to follow in the news. My impression was the Government were trying to secure foreshore rights just for the Fijian natives, where the Army says it has to be for all. Is that right? That's basically what the TV news said a few weeks back. If it is the case, the Commodore is taking the same stance Labour did against foreshore rights for one race only - the right stance!
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Post by steve on Dec 5, 2006 20:54:40 GMT 12
My brothers wife's family are all fijian indians...i think your insight is right on the mark...Lauthala Bay..was there about three sunderland stationed there...An old mate of mine was stationed there in his early years in the RNZAF for rescue missions...How large is the place?
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Post by phil82 on Dec 5, 2006 21:03:18 GMT 12
Lathala Bay, the former RNZAF Base, is now the University of the South Pacific. It covers quite a bit of ground, but wasn't huge by any means.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 5, 2006 21:17:33 GMT 12
You don't need a lot of land for a flying boat base  I have seen an aerial photo of Lauthala Bay at its prime somewhere, if I find it I'll post it. Fiji will, I suspect, end up in a nasty civil war (Bougainville all over again). I have travelled to quite a number of the PI countries. When I am there, I do try and find out what makes the place tick and what the locals think. I saw the problems in Fiji looming some time ago (Remember the Ihug boys? When they sold out, they were going to invest heavily in Fiji despite what I said). Almost all of the Islands have deep-seated problems, and thankfully it is not up to me to find their solution. If I was forced to go and live and invest in one of these 'island paradises' my only choice would be Independent Samoa (aka Western Samoa). Sure there are some problems there (we all have problems) but I would say that the Samoans have a better than even chance of working their way through them. The rest? - nice to visit, but I would not invest a single dollar. |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Dec 6, 2006 9:01:04 GMT 12
While I tend to agree with Dave's thoughts (and therefore also Commodore banana man), I do not agree with the method he is using to conduct his argument. He is now, in the eyes of the world, as bad as Speight. As for Clark, waving the paper sword and her 'cant we all just be friends' slant is a joke.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 6, 2006 11:56:05 GMT 12
I have seen an aerial photo of Lauthala Bay at its prime somewhere, if I find it I'll post it.   |
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Post by twilight on Dec 6, 2006 20:01:57 GMT 12
Air New Zealand announced a few weeks ago that they were making some of their callcentre staff redundant, as they were shifting the operation to Fiji where costs were lower.
I wonder what has happened to that idea now?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 6, 2006 20:16:27 GMT 12
Good point Twilight. They'll probably move their cheap Fijian staff here!
I also noticed on Monday a sign outside the travel agent trying to hawk cheap fares to Fiji. I really think that's unwise when the Government has issued a travel warning to that country. Don't the TAANZ have any standards in such matters? Is it all sell,sell, sell and who cares what happens to the punters?
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