What Fiji Needs - A Response
Editor,
Contrary to the claims of the expatriate Australian Graham Davis - the self-style "independent" journalist who is
working as a paid propagandist for the Fiji Military Regime - Fiji will not have a "genuine democracy" if the Fiji
Military continues to have its arbitrary and dictatorial rule by decree way. ( Graham's letter 'what Fiji needs' the
Australian 14/1).
This is the view even of some erstwhile staunch supporters of military regime and its purported plans to build a "
better Fiji " and a "true democracy".The six unchallenged years of its arbitrary rule show very little evidence of that.
Instead there is now a widespread conviction that the military rulers are entrenching themselves in power and merely
paying lip service to returning the country to democratic rule. Most independent observers and fact finding missions to
Fiji have drawn this conclusion. (This is why subsequent fact finding missions have been denied entry into the country).
Graham Davis clearly does not qualify as an independent observer. His views are predictable. He is on the regime's
payroll.
His praise for the Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr is misplaced. He wants us to believe it's to Mr Carr's "credit
that he appears willing to listen to his Fijian counterpart's explanation" on the trashing of international constitution
law expert Professor Yash Ghai's draft constitution..I would contend Mr Carr has a duty to listen to the voice of the
opposition and the voice of the people of Fiji to get a proper explanation on things. Listening to his "Fijian
counterpart" is tantamount to behaving in the way third world African and Arabian leaders have dealt with the dictators
in their midst. Their behaviour almost invariably did more harm then good because it helped to prop up the dictators.
How is the situation in Fiji different?
Is Fiji still not under a military dictatorship six years after the takeover to create a "genuine democracy"?
Graham Davis is trying to sell us "castles in the air" with his talk about "first genuine democracy in Fiji's history".
People with their feet firmly on the ground will not buy what Graham's selling.
It's counterfeit .
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu
Sydney
ENDS