tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2079376449656824192024-03-05T05:45:04.758-08:00Fiji PunditFiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.comBlogger229125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-37992890750628990242022-10-12T08:25:00.021-07:002022-10-12T08:47:03.810-07:00 FIJI SENIORS TAKE A LEAD IN UNITING FIJI INDIANS IN NZ <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">FIJI SENIORS TAKE A
LEAD IN UNITING FIJI INDIANS IN NZ</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">FIJI PUNDIT - Thakur
Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiji
Indians in general and Fiji Indian Seniors in particular in Auckland feel they
miss out on most resources available and recognition as Fiji Indians because
they appear to be a fragmented community. This weakness leads to them being
discriminated against when funding resources are allocated, as they lack a
united voice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzE7xlw26n2rEluL1P-2ERninz5wSYugC6Nw7W4PqP3VPwOcr7hc0mL0BWcdocKr9nL9Cvx4FPi37L49TnzzQls-WCbfukuWQ3RQxKF4zjf0rhIN98e4rKDt1xYCAZI3nvkRAkeqp_4d1cmmBKxQAvYeHnkDsRspNCsWjmpfuQrgQR34_pm8WGqiN-Q/s1432/GIRMIT%20DAY%20-2014-2.0%20SKIPTON.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1432" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzE7xlw26n2rEluL1P-2ERninz5wSYugC6Nw7W4PqP3VPwOcr7hc0mL0BWcdocKr9nL9Cvx4FPi37L49TnzzQls-WCbfukuWQ3RQxKF4zjf0rhIN98e4rKDt1xYCAZI3nvkRAkeqp_4d1cmmBKxQAvYeHnkDsRspNCsWjmpfuQrgQR34_pm8WGqiN-Q/w640-h344/GIRMIT%20DAY%20-2014-2.0%20SKIPTON.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ, since it inception in 2012, has focussed on recognition of its Seniors/Elders. Pictured here are some elders over 80 who were recognised with Girmit medals in 2014, and three in the photo are no longer with us today. Om Satgati to them.</span></b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Some
Fiji Indian organisations have complained of being denied funding when</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> compared to
sister Indian organisations, where funding appears to be handled by vested
interests. To improve this poor state of treatment and image, Fiji Indian
Seniors are organising the first ever event where its Seniors scattered around
Auckland will come together to celebrate themselves in collaboration and
cooperation to mark <b>INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR ELDER PEOPLE,</b> and seek their identity. <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">This
is at <b>A1 Event Centre in Papatoetoe, Auckland on Sunday 16 October, 2022 from
11 am to 3pm.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiji
Indians have been coming to New Zealand from early 1960 when they came here to
cut gorse (scrub) to clear the land for farming. Some stayed back, others came
in larger numbers since 1987 coup when David Lange allowed free entry and
others through skills category like this author.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqofAbqz1tu0tt4ISAfRHt36Z2Su7coiz8zYRxju7TSm0oWG-otsJvqiCbH_qdu_w_IBCz_q5XQpP5ors_InqhZNnWa-mpTvJE7bLyY68lJekzBtD34G7B8KLgem3WNEkYYt5to5XV21s4myQbJqS5v8P8ko9W5ViTjucAxCcFLas_uFT19kjCAygpw/s1192/COVER%20PHOTO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="1192" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqofAbqz1tu0tt4ISAfRHt36Z2Su7coiz8zYRxju7TSm0oWG-otsJvqiCbH_qdu_w_IBCz_q5XQpP5ors_InqhZNnWa-mpTvJE7bLyY68lJekzBtD34G7B8KLgem3WNEkYYt5to5XV21s4myQbJqS5v8P8ko9W5ViTjucAxCcFLas_uFT19kjCAygpw/w640-h456/COVER%20PHOTO.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While
there have been no separate record keeping of Fiji Indians, it is estimated
that of the 300,000 Indians claimed to be in New Zealand, at least 40% are
Pacifica Indians from Fiji, hence they number at least 100,000 if not more, and
are not Indians in the real sense of the word. Many Fiji Indians feel that when
it comes to statistics, Indians count them in, but when it comes to their
recognition in other areas, including funding, they are ignored as aliens. They
hope to unite to stop this anomaly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
problem of getting correct numbers is because of conflicting, confusing and their
muddled-up identity, where Fiji Indians are either classed as Indians, Asians,
South Asians or others. They claim they are none of these but a distinct
ancestry of Fiji Indians who rose from cane farms of Fiji over fourteen decades
ago with a distinct culture, religious practices, language and as Pacifica
identity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To
address this identity confusion the community is having talks with New Zealand
government in general, and its Census team in particular to ensure they are
properly recorded in the next census as FIJI INDIANS, a distinct Pacifica
people. They make second largest Pacifica people in Aotearoa after Samoans, but
have no separate category as Fiji Indians to identify their ancestry or
ethnicity as a category in any official documents despite their large numbers. Even
some students are denied scholarships reserved for Pacifica people, as they are
wrongly classed as “Indians”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9Dzgz0FsaWfz_htEDccCEASJW1uJlGULz9EIdRUDSBJDgZBqILc1ryfZ8z1DoGxJK60vjH5J3mbf3l1-bKnsScjKWyJJJwo5egGKz1IWDJ5Fv0ievUJVejiJ6GwXXm1LTD_7avo3yFSo4SyL-fO0-o4OJcu9AUjs6ablP1nwKd6vfW2LxzTk9_MgpA/s1253/SNIPPED%2014%20JPG%20-SHIU-THAKUR-GOLIAN..JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1253" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9Dzgz0FsaWfz_htEDccCEASJW1uJlGULz9EIdRUDSBJDgZBqILc1ryfZ8z1DoGxJK60vjH5J3mbf3l1-bKnsScjKWyJJJwo5egGKz1IWDJ5Fv0ievUJVejiJ6GwXXm1LTD_7avo3yFSo4SyL-fO0-o4OJcu9AUjs6ablP1nwKd6vfW2LxzTk9_MgpA/w640-h397/SNIPPED%2014%20JPG%20-SHIU-THAKUR-GOLIAN..JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Three of the visionary founding Trustees of FIJI GITMIT FOUNDATION NZ. L-R: Thakur Ranjit Singh, Master Shiu Charan and Sardar Harnam Singh Golian. Masterji and Sardarji have now been elevated as Life members of the Foundation. The other three Founding Trustees are Krish Naidu and Author Rajendra Prasad, and Pundit Devakar Prasad (Deceased)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While
individually Fiji Indians in Aotearoa have done well, they have failed to unite
under one banner. There are multitudes of Mandirs, (temples) Mandalis, (religious
groups), pocket Senior and other groups, but they rarely showed unity among
themselves. Many are celebrated academics, lawyers, doctors, professionals in
high positions, one has been a former Governor General, another is a High Court
judge, one had been former MP, many successful businesses, there are many
millionaires with huge property portfolio, doing very well. Yes, the community
did and performed very well individually, but collectively, they have never
been united as one people or never had any leadership or organisation which
could unite them under one banner.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This
was until 2012, when some six visionary Fiji Indian leaders got together and initiated
FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ, which after ten years of its existence, has made its
presence felt, and is taking the argument of their identity forward and their recognition
as Pacifica people. The term Girmit itself denotes them as Fiji Indians without
mentioning any race, as their forebears came as Indentured Indian labourers
over 143 years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Rrj083dbcwHvBPzcDgH3txRV46zohtjv7aDePepu42ZBaMdGoN7IB6sojJP9gvekMuwPPfDURW7H6r6y1iRqGCygEOl2mMJVvExwv2ZxFwqNBjE8YIfBZZ03nRnK4Da6i48EhpYAEu5b8HNijN5CxhSSlRkMCOWlYbHfp-ze3sjLZM3Jib0SThiwhA/s2048/SAM%20ACHARY.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Rrj083dbcwHvBPzcDgH3txRV46zohtjv7aDePepu42ZBaMdGoN7IB6sojJP9gvekMuwPPfDURW7H6r6y1iRqGCygEOl2mMJVvExwv2ZxFwqNBjE8YIfBZZ03nRnK4Da6i48EhpYAEu5b8HNijN5CxhSSlRkMCOWlYbHfp-ze3sjLZM3Jib0SThiwhA/w640-h426/SAM%20ACHARY.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;">The Chairperson of FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ, Sam Achary, presenting Girmit Recognition Award and Girmit Medal to 101 year old </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 18.6667px;">recipient</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> at Girmit Anniversary in Auckland in May, 2022. The Foundation always emphasised on recognition and respect of its elders</span></span></b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
Foundation had already taken leadership position to unite Fiji Indians in NZ.
Once again it showed leadership by initiating unity among separate Fiji Indian
Seniors in collecting them together to mark International Day of Elder persons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">National
Senior Citizens Day falls in August each year, and last August Fiji Indians
Seniors had planned to come together at Shri Ram Mandir. However, they were
halted by the lockdown a week before the event after everything had been
planned and finalised. Since then and even after clearance from Covid, this
initiative was placed on the backburner and was forgotten.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioup3-dSS--KvgED6ua-MT-Y31_82ZBWE_XjHMcY3xR8Jrb0qSt53fwn-fSBFgoYhoOMiJ90LwsItB-n-SyGrHf7qajrpVF8ipWE02LZOykU31N4tONaaghehgdSRp2khDkWbg-bfMl-NvcjVfC98HJg3AwIFDpd-ybxZ5OloulBcoG9d1OZz12jQKoQ/s1439/SNIPPED%2031%20JPG.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="1439" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioup3-dSS--KvgED6ua-MT-Y31_82ZBWE_XjHMcY3xR8Jrb0qSt53fwn-fSBFgoYhoOMiJ90LwsItB-n-SyGrHf7qajrpVF8ipWE02LZOykU31N4tONaaghehgdSRp2khDkWbg-bfMl-NvcjVfC98HJg3AwIFDpd-ybxZ5OloulBcoG9d1OZz12jQKoQ/w640-h344/SNIPPED%2031%20JPG.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>The recipients of Fiji Girmit Recognition Award for elders with Life Members of FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ, Harnam Singh Golian and Shiu Charan during 140 th Anniversary in May 2019.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It
would have remained so, however, Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ, together with Waitakere
Seniors Association, and three other Fiji Indian Seniors came together to complete
the unfinished business and mark International Day of Elders, and work
collectively and collaboratively. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 14pt;">International Day for Older Persons, with emphasis
on elder</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> abuse awareness falls in October every
year with the underlying theme of </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124; font-size: 14pt;">Building Strong
Support for Elders. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiji Indian Seniors have organised this jointly with the intention of
three-pronged (trishul/trident) approach, (1) with a view to celebrating
International Day for Seniors, (2) marking Fiji Day and (3) holding discussion
on a possible future formation of an umbrella body, uniting as one group of Fiji
Seniors, to get noticed and recognised. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2lZ1bfeGqqxtRl4WGCuSNXv4Ky3ysh8hQcEWPsPG0Hagh8oMUBPYIwAVCWSOBPL7JvRkaVsRO-Cgw0RX1VVzuzf1CuCLmZ4k3lUVrF89_ZecpDzxbZBtcX6zUAkW97-crbHhp2HJWQd9wOI0g1pnr8B6dSkZZKB0GbI_kGHQjJh2WKarEHVQ9T3yag/s2048/CROWD%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2lZ1bfeGqqxtRl4WGCuSNXv4Ky3ysh8hQcEWPsPG0Hagh8oMUBPYIwAVCWSOBPL7JvRkaVsRO-Cgw0RX1VVzuzf1CuCLmZ4k3lUVrF89_ZecpDzxbZBtcX6zUAkW97-crbHhp2HJWQd9wOI0g1pnr8B6dSkZZKB0GbI_kGHQjJh2WKarEHVQ9T3yag/w640-h426/CROWD%201.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A group of Fiji Indian Seniors in Fiji Girmit anniversary function in May, 2022 in Auckland</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hence, FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ, together with Auckland Fiji Indian
Senior Citizens Association, South Auckland Senior Citizens Association and
Waitakere Senior Association, has taken the ball up to unite Fiji Indians in
Auckland. Some other Seniors from West and South Auckland were invited but they
opted out and it is hoped they will join later. However, their members
individually are attending and other Fiji Indian seniors are attending as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The International Day for Elders on Sunday 16<sup>th</sup> October, 2022
at A1 Event Centre in Papatoetoe is meant as a day for the Elders, by the elder
and of the elders where they will mix and mingle, have information sharing,
sharing refreshment and lunch, sharing talks on health, mental, Seniors
Wellbeing, and most important, singing, dancing and entertainment. Even Thakur
and Thakuraain are performing a dance item, with other Waitakere Seniors on the
1959 Dalip Kumar/Vaijantimala song, “ure jab jab julfein teri.” Another Senior
group is reported to be preparing a Fijian (Itaukei) song, the famous ..”Chulu
lulu..” to mark Fiji Day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomVO9xQpz0nrGX8ottsGZzn3CbHQfpgkzDOK-KjH1C1N8rsMWlex7J_nra8hJA5VOUzPFKtb5hHuxSjC4xVDQiI-SmbEin-viBqEE6yqrDkWOoqACeZueqNrXCK7M2RDsQkE6U32wWjoyH-vFRbd3qLW3cwFezuYaZdI-J036KfM6Zgnzx4uwtQRREQ/s1917/GIRMIT%20DAY%202015%20-3.0%20WITH%20KUBOUBOLA.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1917" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomVO9xQpz0nrGX8ottsGZzn3CbHQfpgkzDOK-KjH1C1N8rsMWlex7J_nra8hJA5VOUzPFKtb5hHuxSjC4xVDQiI-SmbEin-viBqEE6yqrDkWOoqACeZueqNrXCK7M2RDsQkE6U32wWjoyH-vFRbd3qLW3cwFezuYaZdI-J036KfM6Zgnzx4uwtQRREQ/w640-h320/GIRMIT%20DAY%202015%20-3.0%20WITH%20KUBOUBOLA.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A reflection to 2015 Girmit Anniversary in May, 2015 in Auckland when the Chief Guest was the then Foreign Affairs Minister of Fiji, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola (Centre), who is now the Fiji High Commissioner to New Zealand. Flanking him are the Founding Trustee of the Foundation, Author Rajendra Prasad (left) and Life Member, Sardar Harnam Singh Golian (right)</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Indeed, it is meant as a historical day where Fiji Indians in general
and their Elders in particular, will put a stamp on their unity and identity,
and seek resources and recognition that they have been missing on by pledging
to work in cooperation and collaboration.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Happy International Day for Elder Persons in general, and Fiji Indian
Seniors in particular.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">[About
the author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist and media commentator who
operates his blog FIJI PUNDIT. He is a community worker within Fiji Indian Community
in New Zealand and passionate about improving the wellbeing of his people who
are fighting for their true identity and resources they deserve with their
large numbers]<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></b></p>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX</span></span><span face=""Tahoma",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">XXXXXXXXXX</span>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-47671303795250679122022-04-21T12:59:00.093-07:002022-05-23T17:46:07.052-07:00CELEBRATING GIRMIT: SOME ARTIFACTS, EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS OF GIRMIT AND PIONEER INDIANS IN FIJI<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">CELEBRATING GIRMIT: SOME ARTIFACTS, EQUIPMENT AND</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> TOOLS OF </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">GIRMIT AND PIONEER INDIANS IN FIJI</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Thakur Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The greatest Fiji Historian
and Girmit son, Professor Brij Lal said our Girmitiyas were </span><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">ordinary people who did extraordinary things in
extraordinary circumstances. We have inherited their trait to never give
up and we never compromise. There is a kind of dignity within us, where did it
come from? It comes from people who travelled thousands of miles in difficult
circumstances, but never gave up. This is the legacy of Girmit that I think we
are celebrating, not those horrible things we read in books many years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">And in doing so, they developed and used
items before the modernisation to make their living-the artifacts, tools and
equipment to make their living. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">This article illustrated and explains some of
them. They are not exhaustive, but includes many.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b><u>Dhenki</u> </b>(pronounced as “dharki” as well)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDcYsOBJYE9nyAFdbzrM05ZJrhO9EpC_P5N3Rw-JJX_6Dap9eXw0cNvwX6panAyooHkVC8JEAT-oJ1xiGX1HxBIGJatmim4NE_r0lI5JeDF3qJ0CG5FarpQEzoliTdvcXFwThrz4KtSjZhyFffQHkVNSaall6LxqABrwQQap5GIq80Ve0PNHGNWknpA/s895/DHENKI.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="895" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDcYsOBJYE9nyAFdbzrM05ZJrhO9EpC_P5N3Rw-JJX_6Dap9eXw0cNvwX6panAyooHkVC8JEAT-oJ1xiGX1HxBIGJatmim4NE_r0lI5JeDF3qJ0CG5FarpQEzoliTdvcXFwThrz4KtSjZhyFffQHkVNSaall6LxqABrwQQap5GIq80Ve0PNHGNWknpA/w640-h552/DHENKI.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0ZibkMqozFXKcf32DI_Isnss8IpCzlwLK0eM6rwBWrMBVb9sBW-xbRNIfQQxLJAC1cHQueDIMmziHUAvF3mBS7uopV7l3N35MJJkXzd6bd2cEVm7SGo2ZaM8cSmzWJESO4typtiA_waBwi9oW9wCWaKa3iN4fcpqIaBxP23E1xYRP8OQEcnSAM46oA/s892/DHENKI%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="892" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0ZibkMqozFXKcf32DI_Isnss8IpCzlwLK0eM6rwBWrMBVb9sBW-xbRNIfQQxLJAC1cHQueDIMmziHUAvF3mBS7uopV7l3N35MJJkXzd6bd2cEVm7SGo2ZaM8cSmzWJESO4typtiA_waBwi9oW9wCWaKa3iN4fcpqIaBxP23E1xYRP8OQEcnSAM46oA/w400-h246/DHENKI%202.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">This traditional rice husker was constructed
using a wooden beam and a stone bowl. To work this machine one had to step on
the rear end of the beam, which had crude cuts to provide some grip. Once
stepped on, the beam was then released, allowing the front of the beam to fall
into the stone bowl containing the grains of rice. This process was repeated
until all the grains were husked and ready to be separated from the chaff using
the soop. Length: 2.3m.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b><u>Soop</u></b></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SAnRi_F_jbh8bDqlUPzpUIhf-yNYRQpOHSty90_VKzBYfO_unIoW05X62CDtuTmESnUv0hdpdwQPiRD6Q3sR-BOEN0SjWryf7iGtXjXQG6l5EdRBwRC9nYTNtkg_LzZGUe-_a9oX7Hbydk3_rjYEkKzs2UCUgpx-4Gz0ht5X9Q8GYMuKEWswlvxTqA/s919/SOOP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="919" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SAnRi_F_jbh8bDqlUPzpUIhf-yNYRQpOHSty90_VKzBYfO_unIoW05X62CDtuTmESnUv0hdpdwQPiRD6Q3sR-BOEN0SjWryf7iGtXjXQG6l5EdRBwRC9nYTNtkg_LzZGUe-_a9oX7Hbydk3_rjYEkKzs2UCUgpx-4Gz0ht5X9Q8GYMuKEWswlvxTqA/w640-h400/SOOP.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></b></div><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><u><br /></u></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Originally known as the kula in India, this type of basket was woven
from strips of bamboo and was brought to Fiji by the Girmitiyas who later
called it 'soop' in Fiji Hindi. After the rice </span><span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">was separated from the stalks
(threshing) and husked using the dhenki (rice husker), women used the soop to
shake and toss the rice so that only the grain was left as the chaff blew away
into the air.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b><u>Hasua</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYZmjr6NlCzyQeXLcMsio9MypGvAAs64MKf6S01FRbECsg90AT9YdQLzPENYHOjilaO_c0akdILEECeKmlnqdDOO7ZSCF15UsfFgzaXhdl3qfcYpVIFAffRFRUwnIWtqZCYQwmEzFbT7rPQnNH_inPzK4SghvQw11hSlrhVRrRm9UqYfXtSKFyD_taQ/s891/HASUA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="891" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYZmjr6NlCzyQeXLcMsio9MypGvAAs64MKf6S01FRbECsg90AT9YdQLzPENYHOjilaO_c0akdILEECeKmlnqdDOO7ZSCF15UsfFgzaXhdl3qfcYpVIFAffRFRUwnIWtqZCYQwmEzFbT7rPQnNH_inPzK4SghvQw11hSlrhVRrRm9UqYfXtSKFyD_taQ/w640-h428/HASUA.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></b></div><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><u><br /></u></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Fiji Indians
call this agricultural tool the hasua. There were two variants of this sickle.
One was constructed from a curved metal blade attached to a wooden handle and
the other was forged entirely out of metal. The hasua was generally used by
Girmitiyas to harvest crops like rice and wheat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><u>Chakki</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjO1xcJQ1RhGVPG5uQypEjK3nw9Di4RRu1-W4cHDc_XoNEhDrgMKT_b4TlrVfv8DkrUcDVLja4GeOjAb0kL5BTvD_AcAf8hmjSgp1NbCEXgNgkKMCa8h21X0xq9NKyRWePSZX8MKnDXTbiXqEYcQUUamWvXOUnZr24-f4QZkswUnaQMvvOSeaYCEAEA/s739/CHAKKI.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="601" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjO1xcJQ1RhGVPG5uQypEjK3nw9Di4RRu1-W4cHDc_XoNEhDrgMKT_b4TlrVfv8DkrUcDVLja4GeOjAb0kL5BTvD_AcAf8hmjSgp1NbCEXgNgkKMCa8h21X0xq9NKyRWePSZX8MKnDXTbiXqEYcQUUamWvXOUnZr24-f4QZkswUnaQMvvOSeaYCEAEA/w520-h640/CHAKKI.jpg" width="520" /></span></a></b></div><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDBNQkZusQikW2RhEUnbqH5QEA527zTrUZpoACDxet02TwwHu9sHXz6y_ajAwnzFdN0R4dCn0wauxsoSz8IgOqYkHrwU446uCcDHXPZzr2OrZ0k2FbCQho3F5J8AArz0oQzwkomgOaoq5kLkgB1ynAhsOA91sUD9dHix4CDTFqk58bJRE2ECcQhiOiA/s480/CHAKKI%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDBNQkZusQikW2RhEUnbqH5QEA527zTrUZpoACDxet02TwwHu9sHXz6y_ajAwnzFdN0R4dCn0wauxsoSz8IgOqYkHrwU446uCcDHXPZzr2OrZ0k2FbCQho3F5J8AArz0oQzwkomgOaoq5kLkgB1ynAhsOA91sUD9dHix4CDTFqk58bJRE2ECcQhiOiA/s320/CHAKKI%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><u><br /></u></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">The
chakki is a grinding tool made from naturally occurring stones with rough
surfaces and was used to grind spices and grains. It consists of a stationary
stone disk on the bottom, upon which another stone disk is rotated using an
attached wooden handle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b><u>Crosscut saw</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk00LS_hI4zc6xe5BxVPHmgcmOM-DRaTTf6289zYyh6S3LLXR7WBoL07eNdyfGD_aiv4iam5EChIKIdG1sdtoPDl-UxZWF_dbTcOQkJ2lH14ygMgMeaD2VxC_MStyHRfC7MOiDIuc_mcFX1BLn-kd5dUMuGjyEAOtCYQmHn3s5axH2pFx_yb2ZysBhQ/s805/CROSS%20SAW%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="805" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk00LS_hI4zc6xe5BxVPHmgcmOM-DRaTTf6289zYyh6S3LLXR7WBoL07eNdyfGD_aiv4iam5EChIKIdG1sdtoPDl-UxZWF_dbTcOQkJ2lH14ygMgMeaD2VxC_MStyHRfC7MOiDIuc_mcFX1BLn-kd5dUMuGjyEAOtCYQmHn3s5axH2pFx_yb2ZysBhQ/w640-h476/CROSS%20SAW%201.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></b></div><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><u><br /></u></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sELKgNCNOB28w8SLwpXveR-Vzr0ePhEhosYMfb8xGDFcWmoefdEjqBMVcovAaoMUB7wQzamKow4leYzF89mNuO6KbDm9xrbzv19-i9hdzBs0QVEHprjrSA5BErgGTGd8_J2XfI6Q8OtEueDCarrTl53FV6nijHzPZJTY9_YQD15YnSd92YQKIjxOHQ/s802/CROSS%20SAW%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="802" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sELKgNCNOB28w8SLwpXveR-Vzr0ePhEhosYMfb8xGDFcWmoefdEjqBMVcovAaoMUB7wQzamKow4leYzF89mNuO6KbDm9xrbzv19-i9hdzBs0QVEHprjrSA5BErgGTGd8_J2XfI6Q8OtEueDCarrTl53FV6nijHzPZJTY9_YQD15YnSd92YQKIjxOHQ/s320/CROSS%20SAW%202.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">There was
more than one type of crosscut saw used during indenture. This two-person
crosscut saw was symmetrical and had a peg-tooth design which ran the entire
length of the saw. The tooth side of the saw was slightly crescent-shaped. The
attached wooden handles allowed labourers to each pull on their end and thus
accomplish the task of sawing timber.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b><u>Hand rice pounder</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TCS8EsEo3i6GLOnp6kYN9elHMWq1-ffhLwQqpLVLcQAJh668qunR08823hLS8McpsCQBKFSARC1jJg8_xDPpf_Q4iOaeTuNL32r357n1GubXlT9RMRJhRLmHIhCkfuiJ_G2aleXEQXYfe_621bIoaO02clAZovEhua1v7ubsPtIk7uUutUtyPw1BJw/s901/HAND%20POUNDER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="901" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TCS8EsEo3i6GLOnp6kYN9elHMWq1-ffhLwQqpLVLcQAJh668qunR08823hLS8McpsCQBKFSARC1jJg8_xDPpf_Q4iOaeTuNL32r357n1GubXlT9RMRJhRLmHIhCkfuiJ_G2aleXEQXYfe_621bIoaO02clAZovEhua1v7ubsPtIk7uUutUtyPw1BJw/w640-h542/HAND%20POUNDER.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></b></div><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><u><br /></u></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Although
it required more labour than when using the dhenki, this simple but carefully
designed tool was also used to husk rice. It basically works like a mortar and
pestle. The object shown is the pestle, while the mortar part of the pounder
(not shown) is generally a stone cylinder, but in some countries in Asia it is
also wooden. The thicker part with a metal ring on the end is what goes into
the rice-filled mortar. The narrow section closer to the top of the pounder is
where women would hold it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b><u>Kurpi</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WsBh_kIyYomlzv2rq24X3sMKRIoL3KEk7uGHG2OwoO_85W0Se942iOkrpNyrdhwqpmGa35NO_XYoEt7xtEtZD23kSsITFFlo9jSOUS3OwnI6QFM1rQq-Mnbc8diGGGI_FpyuaUKMVY3ZhI9Eo2fbdiotcH_qiz6mpRFXFfnJ8iSV2wO1iYCFHbn93Q/s904/KURPI.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="904" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WsBh_kIyYomlzv2rq24X3sMKRIoL3KEk7uGHG2OwoO_85W0Se942iOkrpNyrdhwqpmGa35NO_XYoEt7xtEtZD23kSsITFFlo9jSOUS3OwnI6QFM1rQq-Mnbc8diGGGI_FpyuaUKMVY3ZhI9Eo2fbdiotcH_qiz6mpRFXFfnJ8iSV2wO1iYCFHbn93Q/w640-h424/KURPI.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></b></div><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><u><br /></u></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">The Kurpi was fashioned out of tin and steel
with a curved wooden handle attached to it. When not using their bare hands,
women would squat in fields using this type of traditional hand hoe to clear
the weeds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b><u>Wood planer</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzuNsVpezzwJpb91EKXW3h_qrBIcF_uknyRrK-JW_9UYiwLKQA7qE68j05CCrs9w2mU7NQu_lhLj3utcKNsHzPhr-EzOj5rXWMACbAPuvh63NvmJA4hhhjscSb9LOHQ0WXgJrcqzun2Ibkh7rFntqULrGIKXs61dDrOS45ZA6x-LT955qCRjOaQWq3w/s906/HAND%20PLANER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="906" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzuNsVpezzwJpb91EKXW3h_qrBIcF_uknyRrK-JW_9UYiwLKQA7qE68j05CCrs9w2mU7NQu_lhLj3utcKNsHzPhr-EzOj5rXWMACbAPuvh63NvmJA4hhhjscSb9LOHQ0WXgJrcqzun2Ibkh7rFntqULrGIKXs61dDrOS45ZA6x-LT955qCRjOaQWq3w/w640-h424/HAND%20PLANER.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></b></div><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><u><br /></u></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">This type
of wood planer from the Girmit era has been used throughout the centuries across
many cultures. It is a woodworking tool which was simply used to smooth out
rough or uneven wooden surfaces.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(248, 241, 220); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><b><u>Sil-Lohra</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFnrhEdxcn4CRTrNtCFddszX1YjNeLliLeRT0J94vgeoVLtDBn5ZV1KQq0Ph9FAqdsSF3--qg2oMRdbttqd-LuJs2QlrWYA_ONuz1tAXZ9Uv--ap-jmhJUqm5zYMUtnHzA1EHnNxMRDRXv4JFKPZ2YvgQHfOfUHy9l03I2SpWFcohK41j8h793VdNNQ/s500/SIL-LOHRA%20ONLY.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFnrhEdxcn4CRTrNtCFddszX1YjNeLliLeRT0J94vgeoVLtDBn5ZV1KQq0Ph9FAqdsSF3--qg2oMRdbttqd-LuJs2QlrWYA_ONuz1tAXZ9Uv--ap-jmhJUqm5zYMUtnHzA1EHnNxMRDRXv4JFKPZ2YvgQHfOfUHy9l03I2SpWFcohK41j8h793VdNNQ/w640-h480/SIL-LOHRA%20ONLY.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></b></div><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqScARwhFvKQ5vuaFkQ2YVKQFa5IQpb_A_v3CzGwGMZL87ZGw7V3dYoStJeMojyik4ABgYAvOpQc5Xje3Lq93iV7xkgoOTX-xnj-lUZmFLUWzj0fIsypegSAAYRKlpIjk2eEnYzCM52GuwniXPDOe4gbpiZknOKjgUsm8DqhBomBf60BmzgMwZFZYEA/s388/SIL%20-LOHRA%20-KARAHI%20-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="343" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqScARwhFvKQ5vuaFkQ2YVKQFa5IQpb_A_v3CzGwGMZL87ZGw7V3dYoStJeMojyik4ABgYAvOpQc5Xje3Lq93iV7xkgoOTX-xnj-lUZmFLUWzj0fIsypegSAAYRKlpIjk2eEnYzCM52GuwniXPDOe4gbpiZknOKjgUsm8DqhBomBf60BmzgMwZFZYEA/w566-h640/SIL%20-LOHRA%20-KARAHI%20-2.jpg" width="566" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sil -Lohra and Karahi</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><u><br /></u></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Sil is only useful with a lorha.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">An East Indian utensil made of stone and
is used to grind seasonings and spices. The sil is the flat stone where the
seasonings or spices are placed on top of. The Lorha grinds the
seasonings on top of the sil. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Their union is so essential that even in Hindu weddings, the bride and groom have to touch their foot to sil - lorha when going round the fire in "bhawar" to symbolise that one is useless without the other.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b>Karahi</b> <b>and Channa</b>- (Puri waala -Above Sil-Lohra in the photo above)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">The black Karahi or what Chinese call a wok, is used for deep-frying/making Puri during weddings and other functions. Puri is taken out from the boiling oil/Ghee with the help of channa, a metal scoop with holes , that collects puri, but lets the oil dring back into the Karahi. A Chimta may also be used.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b><u>Mathni</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTQJJnRXbHr5AiLwAsGy0JhZmBxtkf5jqndCrCkLXNdJA9Pbm381fAmeRIrR8KcUDuwI1Ybsu0ajWaofhlLfy3nlWP9foJbmq1d-kY6R8DbxDlo6CzjtfGHRvy9vKcodHyvvRecE8C7TNPr_QPhHmP5-1n40uxwzARtYLRMbGiCqRG8HbEUUd6olW2Q/s259/MATHNI%203%20png.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTQJJnRXbHr5AiLwAsGy0JhZmBxtkf5jqndCrCkLXNdJA9Pbm381fAmeRIrR8KcUDuwI1Ybsu0ajWaofhlLfy3nlWP9foJbmq1d-kY6R8DbxDlo6CzjtfGHRvy9vKcodHyvvRecE8C7TNPr_QPhHmP5-1n40uxwzARtYLRMbGiCqRG8HbEUUd6olW2Q/w479-h640/MATHNI%203%20png.png" width="479" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNejWZ8fAPxuY5TaLX1p3LOJ6woKwlofLzlfbf1vrp1OXK9k8wiPudtdGoBciqN8gJpgpHHh-ugI29L25Ly60_--dTr6S2L3Z83bKaxvIFiOaQxp-ryzMRBZDd0fQX1e6cbEHSNUNv6YpwCwH5dxc4KYUz7Ux-WuowNPt5fR6sG74ljE7chWt0E2v2cQ/s480/MATHNI%20-JPG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNejWZ8fAPxuY5TaLX1p3LOJ6woKwlofLzlfbf1vrp1OXK9k8wiPudtdGoBciqN8gJpgpHHh-ugI29L25Ly60_--dTr6S2L3Z83bKaxvIFiOaQxp-ryzMRBZDd0fQX1e6cbEHSNUNv6YpwCwH5dxc4KYUz7Ux-WuowNPt5fR6sG74ljE7chWt0E2v2cQ/w640-h480/MATHNI%20-JPG.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4OuJtw9t40qgBm86-GoBcR5yZLk0n1zscUHtbtr4_3tzyY9on7dTrP6Ad5FeTjj6ygLqiztDy4HUOV_e8HPyoPM97pyIZvXxm9sA77uA0C9axa3-1qbWw8axE4__x9bTjkk5OH07XswlQiJsmUJzCE6sw2aGiCnz6hqqd32Rz5TS0GCAg2iko5mcvg/s520/MATHNI%202%20JPEG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="520" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4OuJtw9t40qgBm86-GoBcR5yZLk0n1zscUHtbtr4_3tzyY9on7dTrP6Ad5FeTjj6ygLqiztDy4HUOV_e8HPyoPM97pyIZvXxm9sA77uA0C9axa3-1qbWw8axE4__x9bTjkk5OH07XswlQiJsmUJzCE6sw2aGiCnz6hqqd32Rz5TS0GCAg2iko5mcvg/w640-h428/MATHNI%202%20JPEG.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: white; color: #0f1419; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Churning of milk-dahi to extract butter
and then by product Matha-buttermilk -used for making lassi and other drinks.</span><span style="color: #222222; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><b><u>Coal-Iron</u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(252, 252, 252); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #0f1419; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8-NL54ZNg4iPGtmsaOAmWaiifKA3A2PSdjuFFbmsHuioB01FetkVzUctaW2O3wF80wq6vFerM9aifmATFoVKTKNB9-NJh6Jzcf3ukur56WWFTfaNJvAUQoEel_ybZTI6fRH-A2wWgWgt44L_oGZSpI5GSJxyLDFQw63KodrRBZFSf66fHoWtsdc8RQ/s1066/OLD%20IRON.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1066" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8-NL54ZNg4iPGtmsaOAmWaiifKA3A2PSdjuFFbmsHuioB01FetkVzUctaW2O3wF80wq6vFerM9aifmATFoVKTKNB9-NJh6Jzcf3ukur56WWFTfaNJvAUQoEel_ybZTI6fRH-A2wWgWgt44L_oGZSpI5GSJxyLDFQw63KodrRBZFSf66fHoWtsdc8RQ/w640-h480/OLD%20IRON.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><u> Hurricane Lamp</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><b></b></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86uaAXEr7fKMXLUCZhk72zH1c84mEhxh3IuqRAu-nDPAjsp68mV4fP1PE73kI0pbjvlfdUYjI373PcOjyGDqEOwUC2fFcu-llT_a-ISpSoDYj19poCpryFZCLw21XO2i_HCNbXYHACIgoHI04qfW7yve1XYFL8W4vLyotGYFzo2mlLcc_bvKSwPxW5A/s879/OLD%20LANTERN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="370" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86uaAXEr7fKMXLUCZhk72zH1c84mEhxh3IuqRAu-nDPAjsp68mV4fP1PE73kI0pbjvlfdUYjI373PcOjyGDqEOwUC2fFcu-llT_a-ISpSoDYj19poCpryFZCLw21XO2i_HCNbXYHACIgoHI04qfW7yve1XYFL8W4vLyotGYFzo2mlLcc_bvKSwPxW5A/w270-h640/OLD%20LANTERN.jpg" width="270" /></span></a></b></div><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><u><br /></u></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b><u>Hand-pushed grass -cutter</u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdICkY6-SMN0yHkfWZE2Etjd5uPlAV5HOY7rYpJ7wFF6jdkqx6YPqy-XtE3P_Oiuj76Bj3SJpCmDvALOrbfX-3QlFJWtcUbjDsvFFKaiMy8yxWW961Xw2EhD-hmzzWSJEro0Ta9CwFbB2lBiswv10EaTMKziM0pJ73escDQIKcldZM9SACDvQTGjMwg/s800/OLD%20GRASS%20CUTTER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdICkY6-SMN0yHkfWZE2Etjd5uPlAV5HOY7rYpJ7wFF6jdkqx6YPqy-XtE3P_Oiuj76Bj3SJpCmDvALOrbfX-3QlFJWtcUbjDsvFFKaiMy8yxWW961Xw2EhD-hmzzWSJEro0Ta9CwFbB2lBiswv10EaTMKziM0pJ73escDQIKcldZM9SACDvQTGjMwg/w640-h426/OLD%20GRASS%20CUTTER.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></b></div><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><u><br />Benzine/kerosene light</u></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Gw4fSWZ5gcUas-bdyY3qPRRt2Drn5Jw3q_gH5ZitMGSx5s4pLQr_1Gd_lF5r7_W-IwE9WS7llHadLNeF5EDHV7Rw8igC_buLo0ZTsaziaNxwdWGLhH7hwHemHF-qXcd_adcNBw_v_RSkba9TBDYv7han2I4XqyndO7-XSrufLmxhZe6UUckvmi6Q2Q/s736/OLD%20BENZINE%20LIGHT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="736" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Gw4fSWZ5gcUas-bdyY3qPRRt2Drn5Jw3q_gH5ZitMGSx5s4pLQr_1Gd_lF5r7_W-IwE9WS7llHadLNeF5EDHV7Rw8igC_buLo0ZTsaziaNxwdWGLhH7hwHemHF-qXcd_adcNBw_v_RSkba9TBDYv7han2I4XqyndO7-XSrufLmxhZe6UUckvmi6Q2Q/w640-h586/OLD%20BENZINE%20LIGHT.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></b></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /><u><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></u></b><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><b>Cane-top, grass -chopper</b></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Normally cane tops are chopped, and mixed with molasses and fed to cattle<br /><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWo7IF6yK6q4V_j_1EUSdZBME_ioCGVfFyJa95w365F-aRNH4gJoQ8zzGrLQivfE1LoHIw6BxC30WtG2lOUjiaPqIaptgIPHdFpNrm-qgMsUdB2y8fA_ZuHa3s0rIZPGuIilet85hBx9j9Ig6VKfmeDrnuwAW0Z4YP4T1Ghp1Mw_UZdJN80omU1jjr3Q/s900/GRASS-CANE%20TOP%20CUTTER%202%20JPEG.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="675" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWo7IF6yK6q4V_j_1EUSdZBME_ioCGVfFyJa95w365F-aRNH4gJoQ8zzGrLQivfE1LoHIw6BxC30WtG2lOUjiaPqIaptgIPHdFpNrm-qgMsUdB2y8fA_ZuHa3s0rIZPGuIilet85hBx9j9Ig6VKfmeDrnuwAW0Z4YP4T1Ghp1Mw_UZdJN80omU1jjr3Q/w480-h640/GRASS-CANE%20TOP%20CUTTER%202%20JPEG.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtr0Eu2QUBRwkvhaACojcmpSB3_Nbx-HalIT9tytse0cs-93UnJCMxCCctC0N9tLjopHTQHCOjPbYWIqkGhPYmXcZGZBqp7vDRaEE0nKOd6QlnpHdrsyDsvaOSDF4xqSywIKaRQaa8pt4I4yczW2lY9IHr33ta6-C1DAdKLut_QcUVFesi_woNxkb95g/s1300/GRASS-CANE%20TOP%20CUTTER.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1300" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtr0Eu2QUBRwkvhaACojcmpSB3_Nbx-HalIT9tytse0cs-93UnJCMxCCctC0N9tLjopHTQHCOjPbYWIqkGhPYmXcZGZBqp7vDRaEE0nKOd6QlnpHdrsyDsvaOSDF4xqSywIKaRQaa8pt4I4yczW2lY9IHr33ta6-C1DAdKLut_QcUVFesi_woNxkb95g/s320/GRASS-CANE%20TOP%20CUTTER.webp" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Coconut Scraper</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Used for scraping coconut to make into sweets or squeeze for coconut milk</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTcCcoyuFaVVN-5ZS4brZ405zizEg05HM5avNx6LSm4h3iLk6XtrT1HieDLUR-BJ_BerfU5F4yRGmF0di9SyimtaZaZhrtBXf0-bh1jus8KIhjYd3eGu-grsz7ojcU6udR5Ath5GuR8e4V29pqRlBukZBHQanWtyXLE-tuRZYV8sB0_em70wTVyb-pw/s300/coconut%20scaper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTcCcoyuFaVVN-5ZS4brZ405zizEg05HM5avNx6LSm4h3iLk6XtrT1HieDLUR-BJ_BerfU5F4yRGmF0di9SyimtaZaZhrtBXf0-bh1jus8KIhjYd3eGu-grsz7ojcU6udR5Ath5GuR8e4V29pqRlBukZBHQanWtyXLE-tuRZYV8sB0_em70wTVyb-pw/s1600/coconut%20scaper.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Kerosene Primus</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Used for cooking food</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrL8X6TBGPGuesNVz8ew5_8PEOrlokmOxtAJd0Ty4TIwHVHTNprj_Qm5cRkSZzrIJIDFDpELd47WMe8MPej4m7SJuZy8xShKkvQ80Mn6VNlKZrxo0LcV8BNub9SYCO236iSYKUFNbxkbI8Wzoazh2sXlV2urV0f71tcxl0KgIa4C5fE2_V-3szxrNjw/s5184/girmit_3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrL8X6TBGPGuesNVz8ew5_8PEOrlokmOxtAJd0Ty4TIwHVHTNprj_Qm5cRkSZzrIJIDFDpELd47WMe8MPej4m7SJuZy8xShKkvQ80Mn6VNlKZrxo0LcV8BNub9SYCO236iSYKUFNbxkbI8Wzoazh2sXlV2urV0f71tcxl0KgIa4C5fE2_V-3szxrNjw/s320/girmit_3.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Grog Pounder</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Either made of iron, or wood, used for pounding Kava, yagona</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlc06x2TmF31Xw7-cGnONJ3GltYea4aHKVVKF7TXRDdDSLsQ_t7pZINikNK5ZNz9KKzVsC_IUnBkdTZr3Fn61eqd5zCNIF0R2oaznpfYrpirNDx11dntNyZ2vnnDEa8bojFW_q-y2ZNFHcZZtfebmUuefJ32brXUKGRrM-HkOTpKkeP2-KDsMuJAKIQ/s480/grog-pounder%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlc06x2TmF31Xw7-cGnONJ3GltYea4aHKVVKF7TXRDdDSLsQ_t7pZINikNK5ZNz9KKzVsC_IUnBkdTZr3Fn61eqd5zCNIF0R2oaznpfYrpirNDx11dntNyZ2vnnDEa8bojFW_q-y2ZNFHcZZtfebmUuefJ32brXUKGRrM-HkOTpKkeP2-KDsMuJAKIQ/s320/grog-pounder%201.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Lentil Mincer</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Used to mince lentils, dhal and other grains to be used to make into other food. May also be used to mince meat.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4aS6WAFADS6UjoQy6m52NFTB1PLESvoo5KniOuikuGLzH7MfvJzZp6sf8nM0SdXVsKEJ1c7j-a5StgOq-adSvoEb4CxXcTCoa6pMWnF9jEJQPjDOMG31aWe89LRFMdi5u4IEKMf7uu2cafmI7FuOJV33S5H2msUCD-Xl9uCphVReTOJYUe6Fjvcvtw/s765/HAND%20-OPERATED%20LENTIL%20GRINDER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="765" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4aS6WAFADS6UjoQy6m52NFTB1PLESvoo5KniOuikuGLzH7MfvJzZp6sf8nM0SdXVsKEJ1c7j-a5StgOq-adSvoEb4CxXcTCoa6pMWnF9jEJQPjDOMG31aWe89LRFMdi5u4IEKMf7uu2cafmI7FuOJV33S5H2msUCD-Xl9uCphVReTOJYUe6Fjvcvtw/s320/HAND%20-OPERATED%20LENTIL%20GRINDER.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">"Negro" Cast Iron pots</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Used for boiling milk and other food items</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKhmoR8h09OIC55Jqg6nyZvwClInAiX8A7UjjHbzRAMzfgFVb35ksnFwA6y0fvNhxBX-SiZfkiWGBA-Tgj7eqiVv0ZSEKanHhHqNMvQ8vgCt483F1ReLcIxHydSp2BRQtjiUwQsNgw3Kz5rc_K3r5fGKG6AahfAssl6ch-njrog_XP0fNN50uZ_yczw/s960/NEGRO%20POT%20FOR%20MILK.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKhmoR8h09OIC55Jqg6nyZvwClInAiX8A7UjjHbzRAMzfgFVb35ksnFwA6y0fvNhxBX-SiZfkiWGBA-Tgj7eqiVv0ZSEKanHhHqNMvQ8vgCt483F1ReLcIxHydSp2BRQtjiUwQsNgw3Kz5rc_K3r5fGKG6AahfAssl6ch-njrog_XP0fNN50uZ_yczw/s320/NEGRO%20POT%20FOR%20MILK.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Mohar (Mohur)</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Mohur is a gold coin that was formerly minted by several governments, including British India.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It used to be worn in thick black thread around neck of women and were passed down the generations during weddings. Like a new bride gets one or some from the woman leader of the family. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Qyf7XZBu1jitWWqv9wDskn5kuwDDfHGp20o80kf_e4zBQvNBYXSIfBgYPiU5Hn0IrvHQEAB-qP-QUjNExcHG4btLasTbc9BRawp-sz0FdPbxOSl1sIsPhBK0nZLVddp1qyKoOrd4zeQiTqqXNnfoN213K9kRZ2lE76qwal65iZP3BJPZgv4e-fQ67Q/s1338/MOHAR1.1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1338" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Qyf7XZBu1jitWWqv9wDskn5kuwDDfHGp20o80kf_e4zBQvNBYXSIfBgYPiU5Hn0IrvHQEAB-qP-QUjNExcHG4btLasTbc9BRawp-sz0FdPbxOSl1sIsPhBK0nZLVddp1qyKoOrd4zeQiTqqXNnfoN213K9kRZ2lE76qwal65iZP3BJPZgv4e-fQ67Q/s320/MOHAR1.1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUm_S23YAMrBHP8z6MXDLmP4v5ltw2NSh738xA89s4IS3qxu0HLkk4gubrEGG6vajlYT8wB3pcoccMLzh9cbLMP-ly8K4X51-DvvKIcNffQ96KyLEDWDM5HgeyX5OqoT9NQOoGarflrtuxmaQfRHzZ8rAQvKpdkcBWwX-5UkAyqAoY8vIT98manl_jg/s939/MOHAR%202.2jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="939" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUm_S23YAMrBHP8z6MXDLmP4v5ltw2NSh738xA89s4IS3qxu0HLkk4gubrEGG6vajlYT8wB3pcoccMLzh9cbLMP-ly8K4X51-DvvKIcNffQ96KyLEDWDM5HgeyX5OqoT9NQOoGarflrtuxmaQfRHzZ8rAQvKpdkcBWwX-5UkAyqAoY8vIT98manl_jg/w640-h624/MOHAR%202.2jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Assorted Displays </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgk-JfMNbbjv3JXoUSUUvfPMJ6j6-pfV2j6HbSdiWps9i2p_MaVB1gc7fT1fBqcqhM1lQYbWciSe0mQzfAvsX2haYpYUuyS7HQTzYB1CnQuBRiQpdqlSgaVR0ie0T_ABk4PB6wTaMjxbt9SE5ZpIEE_ZtPwvFVNDc5HiMOw968JnARK7XUP47vkuW4A/s5152/DSC00329.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgk-JfMNbbjv3JXoUSUUvfPMJ6j6-pfV2j6HbSdiWps9i2p_MaVB1gc7fT1fBqcqhM1lQYbWciSe0mQzfAvsX2haYpYUuyS7HQTzYB1CnQuBRiQpdqlSgaVR0ie0T_ABk4PB6wTaMjxbt9SE5ZpIEE_ZtPwvFVNDc5HiMOw968JnARK7XUP47vkuW4A/w640-h480/DSC00329.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpdOcPF9kujrlMao0bYQ8c5VCj3_7YISYqwDPuAj4pExtkpNtvUnb2PefKUx_JpnHLK7zLz6K6P97f7Rpt0A0snw1qUc-GuF1P1Nm1hGv1fdTKcSPPY2UkuLY5Y-pYqgOTc65GEHuBmXaXJ6mdQM24Oc4I_9jJg6n0gvp01uvjhiToddFVzLU2RPLpg/s5152/DSC00330.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpdOcPF9kujrlMao0bYQ8c5VCj3_7YISYqwDPuAj4pExtkpNtvUnb2PefKUx_JpnHLK7zLz6K6P97f7Rpt0A0snw1qUc-GuF1P1Nm1hGv1fdTKcSPPY2UkuLY5Y-pYqgOTc65GEHuBmXaXJ6mdQM24Oc4I_9jJg6n0gvp01uvjhiToddFVzLU2RPLpg/w640-h480/DSC00330.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiiGrVRBw3ZHPPPTn7SSz0EJwjQwpScDWn8aCM4owo4BwhBmAE6aL60gYH3V6jHa8PGh-gw93g-O4GIi9s-pmUjrpStbBhiZSEU7Eod869GkuU7SjNRi44Awh_DknKK6Nn0dtxObnuCsR_cDyo0_569uVAIiqrOsbvjelAowNW_fPG8qnDd3lxRP3sg/s5152/DSC00331.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiiGrVRBw3ZHPPPTn7SSz0EJwjQwpScDWn8aCM4owo4BwhBmAE6aL60gYH3V6jHa8PGh-gw93g-O4GIi9s-pmUjrpStbBhiZSEU7Eod869GkuU7SjNRi44Awh_DknKK6Nn0dtxObnuCsR_cDyo0_569uVAIiqrOsbvjelAowNW_fPG8qnDd3lxRP3sg/w640-h480/DSC00331.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDbY4lVT4Yqola9g6DmmTS87F1YR14dHDaBRq6bg36jUBsMTJ92Hh7VeKVthmFYca81p9OrY_rPUqLtXgzJLSYe-odxxBqoTwDzM8iTVvteVpsftdcKK6aQuJeZhRYq6S9QW0IhdXBIvJAskSipW613y3ucuqabKyJ-WB8i9y2tMIq1VDsVrk6Vdgqw/s5152/DSC00332.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDbY4lVT4Yqola9g6DmmTS87F1YR14dHDaBRq6bg36jUBsMTJ92Hh7VeKVthmFYca81p9OrY_rPUqLtXgzJLSYe-odxxBqoTwDzM8iTVvteVpsftdcKK6aQuJeZhRYq6S9QW0IhdXBIvJAskSipW613y3ucuqabKyJ-WB8i9y2tMIq1VDsVrk6Vdgqw/w640-h480/DSC00332.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-16Nquj0s5w6QXjNyxyO1FIlp2DX8_XfkzQQwFXV8TYpAGRBF_T3SvZ5fmX18pZIrgo2M3dLsyK5SuNX79P4TGj7w7S1Ya3ceowWHhw34qEGg92ZpNuef6bMZZYOi0LEAdGfHTeLO4mngOp7F1ABlT7U2lrGXw6qdK65gVf7ZWUAGFS57HSIEdXAxA/s2592/DSC07319.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-16Nquj0s5w6QXjNyxyO1FIlp2DX8_XfkzQQwFXV8TYpAGRBF_T3SvZ5fmX18pZIrgo2M3dLsyK5SuNX79P4TGj7w7S1Ya3ceowWHhw34qEGg92ZpNuef6bMZZYOi0LEAdGfHTeLO4mngOp7F1ABlT7U2lrGXw6qdK65gVf7ZWUAGFS57HSIEdXAxA/w640-h480/DSC07319.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><u>Conclusion</u></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The above has been an illustration and explanation on the early tools and equipment used by the pioneer Indians in Fiji.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This would give good exposure and information, especially to many in the new generation in Fiji Indian Diaspora, who may not have used or seen these items. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Once again, a salute to those Girmitiyas.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-33134454040501048942022-02-20T23:01:00.020-08:002022-11-22T10:35:48.636-08:00PART 4: FIJI MEDICAL CARE -WHAT A TERTIARY HOSPITAL WOULD DELIVER TO FIJI<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PART 4: FIJI
MEDICAL CARE – WHAT A TERTIARY HOSPITAL WOULD DELIVER TO FIJI<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><b>Thakur Ranjit Singh</b></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Synopsis of Parts 1-3<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Part 1<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After 4 coups and approval by four Prime Ministers, the tertiary health
project seems to be stuck now with Fiji First government which seems to
frustrate this development by going into a PPP - a public, private partnership
with an Australian company ASPEN, which is not suited to what is proposed by
the two doctors. Agreements with them (Aspen) were signed over 3 years ago to
run Ba and Lautoka hospitals, but little progress to date, except broken promises.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The whole series of articles suggest and
plead to people of Fiji to change the government if they wish to see changes to
the trend of dying people in our sick and run-down hospitals, and where a
40-year project is now hindered by the Fiji First Government.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Part 2<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We defined levels of hospital services: primary, secondary and
tertiary. We have primary and secondary services which are acutely run down,
and despite claims from ASPEN, Lautoka Hospital cannot be redesigned to work as
a tertiary facility where they can hardly afford toilet papers and basic needs,
with buildings and facilities falling apart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">An advantage of the new tertiary institution is the synergy of support from
a highly educated Fiji Indian Diaspora in medical services around the world,
and their contacts with medical fraternity who could help in this project. In
addition, retired Fijian Diaspora, Fiji people who left because of deficient
health services may wish to come back. Hence this project brings great deal of
economic, social, tourism, patriotic, agricultural and other associated
benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Both Bainimarama and Khaiyum would have been treated here in Fiji with
top-class international medical care and facilities if this project was allowed
to proceed when they took charge to clean Fiji up over 15 years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ggm-voS1ls7SfSjen4G4Ne747i8FNX9bqGFT6i06iAeXsuGGgEGRdbBC3sek_yHh6n6plDDQwtF08H_Y-SqFJy8zGbS2EQZ9KioHelr47sqBldCWZq486R5NiRcZoH5RdLBcObN9YpwbYgUNOtQ83JbPMSw63mlPWV6-3BLcIveMkZBf-eSSNMPdwQ/s225/OLD%20RABUKA%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ggm-voS1ls7SfSjen4G4Ne747i8FNX9bqGFT6i06iAeXsuGGgEGRdbBC3sek_yHh6n6plDDQwtF08H_Y-SqFJy8zGbS2EQZ9KioHelr47sqBldCWZq486R5NiRcZoH5RdLBcObN9YpwbYgUNOtQ83JbPMSw63mlPWV6-3BLcIveMkZBf-eSSNMPdwQ/w640-h640/OLD%20RABUKA%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">SITIVENI RABUKA - The leader of Peoples Alliance Party (PAP), commanding the lead in polls in Fiji election is likely to be a mover and shaker in the next government. He is a supporter of the Tertiary institution, and like Mahendra Chaudhry, remains the other former PM of Fiji who has given their blessings to this development in Fiji and still support South Pacific Hospitals in Fiji. Therefore this project will proceed if he becomes the next Prime Minister of Fiji, or a key decision-maker in the next government.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>FIJIANS NEED TO VOTE FOR A CHANGE IF THEY DESIRE TO HAVE THESE TERTIARY FACILITIES IN FIJI.<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Part 3<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Financial viability is through insurance coverage by FNPF, Civil
servants, FSC for cane farmers, Land Owners via ILTB, Fiji care and all other institutions with
medical coverage for their employees or members.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This facility would further enhance regional cooperation with treatment
and training facilities for Pacific countries lacking tertiary hospitals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lautoka hospital which is now politically projected by Fiji First for
tertiary facility is ill-equipped to do that with basic facilities and support
missing. It could be a good recuperating and healing facility after a thorough
renovation and cleansing. A secondary hospital, with Asbestos which cannot
provide toilet papers and Panadol cannot be expected to be turned into a 24/7
heart by-pass facility overnight. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now let’s see why and what a brand-new tertiary facility looks like,
especially for those who think a rusty 737 (Lautoka Hospital) can be repainted
and converted to a Jumbo 747. (Tertiary Hospital). No, we need a new one which
delivers reliable facility. Please read why and what….<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXMpANpfpvl6nbHWlyXPM1Tr9XFfurp4x2P-_P5plYa_vRI4nUm13yxwemzfo43OHAxQyoTFlIcK4E1_akWiaGzBxTQw4WU77JFFFsj_-XYMc4ENeGBGZI-kFmDiAhr75ieYKMlFxv_KFKlOc00hGj63iZ0bTFv2uUXhunTI6Al_qOyfaKcjc0PnguCA=s1280" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXMpANpfpvl6nbHWlyXPM1Tr9XFfurp4x2P-_P5plYa_vRI4nUm13yxwemzfo43OHAxQyoTFlIcK4E1_akWiaGzBxTQw4WU77JFFFsj_-XYMc4ENeGBGZI-kFmDiAhr75ieYKMlFxv_KFKlOc00hGj63iZ0bTFv2uUXhunTI6Al_qOyfaKcjc0PnguCA=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">LAUTOKA HOSPITAL - A secondary hospital, with asbestos, and grossly run-down, lacking basis amenities like toilet paper, Panadol and pillows, is now used as an election gimmick by the Government to provide 24/7 heart bypass tertiary hospital. First it needs to be renovated to provide the services for which it was originally built than to be falsely, mischievously and politically elevated to a higher level it cannot medically do. No surgeon worth his salt would wish to operate in this junk which lack of vision and underfunding has degenerated it into.</span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"></span></span></span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></div></b></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Current State of Fiji Healthcare<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The South Pacific Islands region is one of the very few frontiers in
the world where there is limited tertiary care facilities available to the
citizens. This affects growth in many industries including tourism. The current
hospital structure is struggling to provide services in accordance with the demand.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With underfunding and lack of successive visionary medical leaders in
Fiji governments, hospital facilities are grossly rundown.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiji has a high rate of diabetes and hypertension with kidney damage.
Basic services such as haemodialysis are not readily available. Current
treatments for Cardiovascular, Neurological and Kidney diseases are not readily
available in Fiji. Many people migrate because of lack of good health care.
Currently patients travel abroad to India, New Zealand or Australia if they can
overcome stringent Visa requirements.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports show that up to 82% of the
population will succumb to NCD (Non-communicable diseases) in the region and
hence tertiary health care services are critical to address this plague.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Non-communicable diseases are
chronic health conditions that are not contagious to others. The main
types of NCD are <b>cardiovascular diseases</b> (such as heart attacks and
stroke), <b>cancers, chronic respiratory diseases</b> (such as chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and <b>diabetes<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A study by Asian Development Bank (ADB) identified that tertiary health
care facility is very important for economic development of the region as well.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What will the proposed hospital provide:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">A healing
environment that incorporates advanced technology and full spectrum of advanced
tertiary health care. The high site of the facility with exotic unhindered sea
view is classed as a great healing balm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">A
world-class specialty health care facility at affordable cost. No relocating
cost overseas, no visa-issue, and cost-effective healing accommodation at a renovated
Lautoka hospital, with specialist care facility next door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">The
facility will also provide the development of postgraduate training programs
for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals for Fiji and the entire
South Pacific Region. This would enhance regional cooperation raptured by a
myopic USP Vice Chancellor saga of the Fiji First Government.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Facilities in the proposed
hospital<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">120 – 200
beds, with a provision to go up, depending on the demand. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Specialised
Operating Theatres<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Dialysis chairs/machines
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Extensive
Diagnostics capabilities <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Very
Comprehensive Medical Laboratories.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Pharmacy<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Specialist
doctors in various different areas of medicine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Clinical Profile:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">▪ Accident & Emergency ▪ Critical Care Medicine ▪ Day Surgery Unit
▪ Outpatient ▪ Diagnostics Centre ▪ Education Centre ▪ Neurology Unit ▪
Cardiology Unit ▪ Gynaecology Unit ▪ Orthopaedics Unit ▪ Nephrology Unit ▪
Oncology Unit ▪ Rehabilitation Unit <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgp6Wunc_8wHG-6NNTZpkdDC5-TzT9m_H6quW8yMumqq2NwN0CaMqkaJVbWr5zmjm9H-vHuWqGSSwyyhVIeTjNeNxIRy0h-QJmx7rqylSOB17NSgQO9HurSsandmwQCDYc0c2DhDJ6Fv9JJg6Vz0UyiD5U5nQf79cR5akDWgn2MiaJXLeewgEjKFKQgkg=s850" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="850" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgp6Wunc_8wHG-6NNTZpkdDC5-TzT9m_H6quW8yMumqq2NwN0CaMqkaJVbWr5zmjm9H-vHuWqGSSwyyhVIeTjNeNxIRy0h-QJmx7rqylSOB17NSgQO9HurSsandmwQCDYc0c2DhDJ6Fv9JJg6Vz0UyiD5U5nQf79cR5akDWgn2MiaJXLeewgEjKFKQgkg=w640-h380" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">SOUTH PACIFIC HOSPITA, as proposed by Prime Health South Pacific would provide state of art facilities, as detailed in this article. This has been a dream in making for the last four decades, and can only become a reality in Fiji if there is a change of Government. The Fiji First Government is not giving approval for these facilities which Fiji acutely deserves.</span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">State-of-the-Art Technology <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">▪ The latest MRI and CT scanners. MRI is <b>magnetic<span class="sdzsvb"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> resonance
imaging</span></span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">. It determines the extent of injury, and whether the person
needs surgery. CT scan is a <b>computerized tomography</b> (CT) scan which
combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles around your body.
CT scan images provide more-detailed information than plain X-rays do.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">▪ Dual head gamma camera ▪ Third generation operating rooms ▪ Referral
laboratory ▪ Fully equipped ambulance<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Key benefits<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">South Pacific Hospital (SPH) is to provide low
cost, high-powered <b>tertiary healthcare</b>, to the people of Fiji and the
South Pacific region. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Stimulate improvement in healthcare generally in
other government and private hospitals around Fiji and the Pacific.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Boosts tourism potential and promote <b>medical
tourism</b> to the region. As already stated, there is huge potential of this
with huge tourism facilities in Fiji.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Stop the tremendous loss of foreign exchange from
Fiji when patients seek expensive tertiary healthcare overseas. Furthermore, it
can potentially earn significant foreign exchange once we develop world class
health tourism. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Traditionally, Fiji has depended on Australia, New
Zealand and India for its tertiary healthcare. This has added to the vulnerability
of the nation as restrictions have been put on Fijian lives. This dependency
will cease<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Target markets<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Local Fijians</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> ▪
Emergence of the Empowered Consumer ▪ Increasing Accessibility to Health
Insurance. Insurance for FNPF members, Cane Farmers, Civil Servants, Teachers,
Land Owners through ILTB and those already covered by specialist medical cover.
No need to travel overseas, costs and visa issues.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">General Tourists -</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> Tourism
has seen a boom in entire South Pacific region. This will prevent exodus of
such tourists needing medical attention to overseas. Medical tourism is a
multi-billion income worldwide and Fiji can tap into this market as a low-cost
centre in exotic tourist location with tourism infrastructure like Thailand.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">South Pacific Islanders -</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Aims to
develop a HUB and Spoke Model, with hub being the advanced Tertiary care
hospital in Fiji supported by Secondary care facilities in neighbouring
countries, like Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga and others.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">D.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Medical Tourists</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> ▪ Better
quality care ▪ Improved patient experience ▪ Excluded treatments ▪ Speciality
treatments ▪ Shorter waiting periods.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 72pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -36pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">E.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">South Pacific Diaspora</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> -There
exists a large proportion of South Pacific Diaspora in Australia, New Zealand
and West Coast of US and Canada that will travel to Fiji in order to access the
affordable and quality healthcare facilities.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></o:p></span></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMG0NNjQid7sPI9CXERZ2eP6XZEKIRi6h3CaVvEW-sTzEhtP_pMJgVW8Gki-uk3hAmvYTuzRKtQ7f-OrjMeNbURFFXSGS7_SmEmLJExd73FeCCrpY71ajVS-9I3kFiimRR-mrsjK3moQEB_YuJEoF7aZDnSX1GTUk9-MuPL0CqcsZo5NoZb7uN1dJq1w=s800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMG0NNjQid7sPI9CXERZ2eP6XZEKIRi6h3CaVvEW-sTzEhtP_pMJgVW8Gki-uk3hAmvYTuzRKtQ7f-OrjMeNbURFFXSGS7_SmEmLJExd73FeCCrpY71ajVS-9I3kFiimRR-mrsjK3moQEB_YuJEoF7aZDnSX1GTUk9-MuPL0CqcsZo5NoZb7uN1dJq1w=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">BA HOSPITAL - This white elephant has been sitting idle for some four years while Ba people have been dying in large numbers in a very deficient and run-down Ba Mission Hospital. Fiji First, to frustrate South Pacific Hospital project has gone into a partnership with Aspen three years ago but little has eventuated. The only way for people of Fiji to improve health services is to see a change of government with visionary leaders.</span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Strategic Partner -VAMED<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">VAMED is a global provider for hospitals and other
facilities in the healthcare sector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The VAMED portfolio ranges from project
development, planning and turnkey construction via maintenance, technical,
commercial and infrastructure services to the total facility management of
healthcare facilities. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">With its range of services, VAMED covers all areas
of healthcare, from prevention and wellness to acute care, rehabilitation and
nursing. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">VAMED is also the leading private provider of
rehabilitation services and, in health tourism, with VAMED Vitality World, the
largest operator of thermal spas and health resorts in Austria.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Unlike ASPEN, the choice of Fiji First which is an
outsourcing operation, VAMED provided full support from the scratch to the end.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq9pbLdL92LtwQjh0WLrJufqfgSIdG-E6QV3iC2iT6g62LqKCJCgHyhnV-lveWmoSnebq2eRrDi7q3ia_bO3jnqBbF6UWjQq6EZ4cbGMlIIk6VCdDdB9dbDxxSL4-ie6osgL01xn24CJUARNRzVo96OUy0psck3a8IeVHAE2AVpoxEFJIjOKggSI3WHA=s800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgq9pbLdL92LtwQjh0WLrJufqfgSIdG-E6QV3iC2iT6g62LqKCJCgHyhnV-lveWmoSnebq2eRrDi7q3ia_bO3jnqBbF6UWjQq6EZ4cbGMlIIk6VCdDdB9dbDxxSL4-ie6osgL01xn24CJUARNRzVo96OUy0psck3a8IeVHAE2AVpoxEFJIjOKggSI3WHA=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">CWM HOSPITAL -this has been a pride of Fiji in its prime, but sadly, like Lautoka Hospital, it has been run down and so severely deteriorated that it stinks of human faeces (s***) as one goes to visit their loved ones. With a Tertiary health services proposed by South Pacific Hospital, it will help uplift the capabilities, capacities and speciality services provided by this </b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>secondary</b></span><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> facility, which also lacks very basic amenities and facilities. Only a change of government and vision can change this sad state of affairs.</b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></b></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Discussion<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Election Gimmick<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiji First has gone in the election mode and
started misleading people with information on medical services that defies
logic and reality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">They claim to have 24/7 heart bypass facility
at Lautoka Hospital, which is infested with asbestos materials, and can hardly
provide toilet paper, Panadol and pillows for its patients. When and how it can
be converted to a tertiary facility defies logic. It is an election gimmick.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiji government signed PPP (Public Private
Partnership) with Aspen over three years ago and no movements are seen at
either Lautoka or Ba hospitals to date.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiji First Government preventing
this development <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As already mentioned earlier, this project
had been approved by four previous Prime Ministers stretching over 40 years but
prevented due to various reasons, especially political instability. Two former PMs, <b>Sitiveni Rabuka</b> and <b>Mahendra Chaudhry
</b>are still there, standing in the upcoming election, and they wholeheartedly
support this project<b>.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, Fiji First Government is denying
approval for this project, which VAMED would only commence, with approval from
Fiji Government. One wonders who is so medically qualified and medically astute
amongst Fiji First advisors to deny this facility to Fiji people, and under
what rationale?</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Aspen cannot provide the requirements as provided by VAMED
partnership, and it has been utter failure in the last three years. In the meantime,
common Vili and Ramu are dying in run down hospitals, while Fiji leaders are
airlifted to Singapore and Australia for their medical treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSMV0XBlPhgzhBbXKdbX_marl1dFJQcgH-JpQ8Cek89Drjps_Kx5jirWFd97P1S5NCabQxKPXqpvd2D207ijpm9xBmD_f-ptgSZ_35KksGkoRDFnDLRduI347Kv9b5NYu9CXgnszIavyCEXWShBCFEt4C_PaQOJYRIqdyp5WO2q4J5Yajt4woN2zUIDA=s225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="224" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiSMV0XBlPhgzhBbXKdbX_marl1dFJQcgH-JpQ8Cek89Drjps_Kx5jirWFd97P1S5NCabQxKPXqpvd2D207ijpm9xBmD_f-ptgSZ_35KksGkoRDFnDLRduI347Kv9b5NYu9CXgnszIavyCEXWShBCFEt4C_PaQOJYRIqdyp5WO2q4J5Yajt4woN2zUIDA=w637-h640" width="637" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>SITIVENI RABUKA - The leader of Peoples Alliance Party (PAP), commanding the lead in polls in Fiji election is likely to be a mover and shaker in the next government. He is a supporter of the Tertiary institution, and like Mahendra Chaudhry, remains the other former PM of Fiji who has given their blessings to this development in Fiji and still support South Pacific Hospitals in Fiji. Therefore this project will proceed if he becomes the next Prime Minister of Fiji, or a key decision-maker in the next government.</b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></b></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Choice for Fiji People<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The only way Fiji will have the facility
outlined above is to have visionary, thinking, accommodating, compassionate and
visionary leaders, which it lacks now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">THE ONLY WAY THIS WILL BECOME A
REALITY IS TO HAVE A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">FIJI PUNDIT now rests his case. The ball now is
in the court of the voters of Fiji.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh
is former Publisher of Fiji’s Daily Post newspaper. Thakur was fired and removed from positions by two diametrically
opposed Prime Ministers: Chaudhry and Qarase for speaking the truth frankly,
without fear or favour. This series of articles reflect this trait. He is a
media commentator, a journalist and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT. Thakur is a
Post Graduate in Journalism (with honours) from Auckland University of
Technology, (AUT), NZ.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">E-mail: </span></b><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/u/1/blog/post/edit/207937644965682419/8116248458947358799"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;">thakurjifj@gmail.com</span></b></a><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">]</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-77035134703428619672022-02-14T12:47:00.048-08:002022-11-17T19:39:55.116-08:00PART 3: FIJI MEDICAL CARE -THE TERTIARY HOSPITAL - NEED FOR FIJI TO HAVE VISIONARY LEADERS FOR THIS PROJECT TO PROCEED<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PART 3:
FIJI MEDICAL CARE- TERTIARY HOSPITAL, SUPPORTED BY VISIONARY POLITICIANS PROMOTES DEVELOPMENT IN FIJI<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thakur
Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Synopsis of PART 2:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We defined levels of hospital services: primary, secondary and
tertiary. We have primary and secondary services which are acutely run down,
and despite claim from ASPEN, Lautoka Hospital cannot be redesigned to work as
a tertiary facility where they can hardly afford toilet papers and basic needs,
with buildings and facilities falling apart. Despite signing outsourcing
agreement over 3 years ago, little progress has been made either in Lautoka or at a long time white elephant, Ba Hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">An advantage of the new tertiary institution is the synergy of support
from a highly educated Fiji Indian Diaspora in medical services around the
world, and their contacts with medical fraternity who could help in this
project. In addition, retired Fijian Diaspora, all Fiji people who left Fiji
because of deficient health services would come back. Hence this project brings
great deal of economic, social, tourism, agricultural and other associated
benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Both Bainimarama and Khaiyum would have been treated here in Fiji with
top-class international medical care and facilities if this project was allowed
to proceed. We continue….<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE HOSPITAL PROJECT - SYNERGY OF ASSOCIATED
DEVELOPMENTS ENHANCING WELLBEING OF ALL FIJIANS<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Financial Viability <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiji would reap multi-advantages from this very ambitious long-overdue
project. Firstly, tourists coming to Fiji on medical insurance would be assured
of <b>international medical facilities when in Fiji,</b> and would not have to be
evacuated for any care. Their insurance would take care of that. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Secondly, like
Bangkok, Fiji could develop and expand into <b>medical tourism hub of the Pacific</b>,
and tourists would be enticed to seek specialist international-standard treatment
while enjoying our facilities and hospitality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was some talk previously of Japan wishing to relocate its expanding
elderly rich people from winter of Japan to the warmth of a tropical Fiji.
While escaping the cold Japanese winter, they would also have access to international-standard
medical care which would be less than half hour from five-star hotel facilities
of Fiji. This would be a <b>good boost to tourism industry </b>and the facilities
where money has been blindly poured into only partly-used hotels, which could
be gainfully utilised by giving approval for such a facility in Fiji.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It would
cost a third the price of Fiji Airways A 350 Aircraft costing over US $300m. With
an investment of US $100m, with a tertiary hospital, we could open the doors of
Fiji to huge tourism-and other associated economic boom, which, as you will see
later, even Rabuka can envision. But for that to eventuate, you need leaders and a government
with a vision for Fiji and its people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0khjGmXy8EqF9Fju3IWKYoL9Bn3wdYSlYOSgU3NHFnI5HgYm98COJf57mK-CjNhxUf5SNwjS9HigVSFXGSQjTaqBGP2rb_jGs8Tk04jGZGyhplDbeJzSUA_RprJG6Gl8ubbUy0ECPJhIiK_w9oWRVrklb_f5LOUgzwg6n6f5qdT4nFX-qiAJrEW3-AQ=s850" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="850" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0khjGmXy8EqF9Fju3IWKYoL9Bn3wdYSlYOSgU3NHFnI5HgYm98COJf57mK-CjNhxUf5SNwjS9HigVSFXGSQjTaqBGP2rb_jGs8Tk04jGZGyhplDbeJzSUA_RprJG6Gl8ubbUy0ECPJhIiK_w9oWRVrklb_f5LOUgzwg6n6f5qdT4nFX-qiAJrEW3-AQ=w640-h380" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This is an artist's impression of how the tertiary hospital complex atop Lautoka Golf Course in Tavakubu would look like. It will have modern state-of-art medical, other facilities and support services attached to it. More about this in the concluding Part 4.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Of course, these services will not be free and will not come cheap.
There are many rich people who can afford the international costs of
first-class medical treatments, and many people would not hesitate to pitch in
to help their relatives get first-class treatment. Huge rich business community
will be able to pay and have services in Fiji. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>The FNPF members</b> could be
covered by their insurance cover. The insurance now handled by Fiji Care and
the likes would not have to seek overseas evacuation and have the services
given here at home. For cane farmers, FSC, once properly structured and
managed, could have a long-shelved saving and insurance scheme to cover <b>the
farmers,</b> their families and <b>the landowners.</b> The cover for <b>Members of Itaukei
Mataqali</b> (land owning units) would be covered by insurance scheme from Itaukei
Land Trust Board (ILTB). </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For other people who fall from the hole, government
could have a subsidized scheme for them, with partnership from public secondary
hospital facilities like in Lautoka, but seeking specialist facilities from
this hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As the leader of People’s Alliance Party (PAP), <b>Sitiveni Rabuka has
mooted, Fiji needs to have a National Health Scheme,</b> in association with <b>FNPF, ILTB,
FSC, Fiji Care and others </b>who care. Funds from FNPF, FSC and land rent money
from ILTB could divert part of members contribution as premium for the
insurance scheme and medical services provided locally in Tavakubu, and
recuperating at a well-renovated and properly equipped Lautoka Hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ55sJGv8oIW3aDf0CkgNGqdz27u9Vozhl6pcdJnBQej4ddBRviHnIM7IVX_raOc70ACZQYQlFLHBgaDnlydk1boRjKGuMAOdJQ-pq9bYVm7j-BsCJYZkWnWTmjk_rSg3_o8MLHEtMX_qq8_m-nfRHgubla1ZNIXHCGV3cXNzHZjBy6BBedsEHGt8_8Q=s225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJ55sJGv8oIW3aDf0CkgNGqdz27u9Vozhl6pcdJnBQej4ddBRviHnIM7IVX_raOc70ACZQYQlFLHBgaDnlydk1boRjKGuMAOdJQ-pq9bYVm7j-BsCJYZkWnWTmjk_rSg3_o8MLHEtMX_qq8_m-nfRHgubla1ZNIXHCGV3cXNzHZjBy6BBedsEHGt8_8Q=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Sitiveni Rabuka, the person many Fiji Indians still find hard to forgive, seems to be the only hope to rid Fiji of the extremely poor governance under the Fiji First Government. The only way the new tertiary facility can become reality is for Fijians to have a change of Government and have visionary leaders running the country. Rabuka in the past, and still supports such a medical </b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>development</b></span><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> in Fiji.</b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></b></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Regionalism and tertiary education<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Regionalism was given boots in the guts by Fiji First through shameful
midnight deportation of the Vice Chancellor of USP, Pal Ahluwalia. USP is the
largest and most successful example of regionalism which has been grossly
adulterated by the blinkered vision of Fiji First Government. Pacific medical
education, which was once a sign of regional cooperation with the Central
Medical School in Tamavua could be revived into a thriving hub of medical
education, with a tertiary facility in Lautoka.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With a change in government, and with visionary leaders, the tertiary
hospital project could resume stalled talks with the <b>National Provident Fund of
Solomon Island,</b> and its government, to have the main facilities in Lautoka,
with feeder regional facilities in Honiara. Similar arrangement could be made
with Apia, Nukualofa, Port Moresby and other Pacific countries lacking tertiary
facilities. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Medical education</b> throughout Fiji in other scattered institutions and
Fiji School of Medicine would link with expertise and facilities to provide world-class
exposure and medical education in Fiji. It would also be a springboard of
promoting enhancement of medical education in the wider Pacific Forum
countries. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiji School of Medicine (FSM) had initially commenced as a regional cooperation
teaching institution over half a century ago, but like this tertiary hospital
project was also a victim of political instability in Fiji. This new facility
could revive the half-a century old shattered dream of developing a regional
training facility back in Fiji. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This facility and opportunity cannot be initiated, envisioned and provided
by foreign-thinking overseas companies and their money-minded Sahebs, foreigners.
<b>We need our home-grown sons, like Doctors Karam Singh and Dr Michael Chandra
</b>who know what is best for Fiji, are passionate about their place of birth,
still loyal to Fiji and wish to gift this facility to their country of birth,
as it has been their long-term dream, running over 40 years and through
approval of four Prime Ministers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The underhand dealings of Fiji First government in general, and Khaiyum
in particular to frustrate and block this project smells of improper motives
and is more the reason why Fiji has to be rid of the curse of such blinkered
leadership which has caused huge massacre in our run-down hospitals, which have
been converted to morgues rather than houses of healing, with tens of thousands
of untimely and preventable deaths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">The
abhorrence of Fiji First leadership to intellectuals after their treatment of
Professor Brij Lal and Pal Ahluwalia indicates that Fiji needs to be urgently
freed from obscenity of such blinkered leaders who are vindictive, blatantly
nepotist, extremely ethnocentric (towards their belief), bereft of compassion
and grossly lacking in vision. That is where the current political support is
very encouraging from past two Prime Ministers who are still around to grant
that vision a reality and </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">provide support
to the project which they had backed while they were </span><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">respective Prime Ministers
- Sitiveni Rabuka and Mahendra Pal Chaudhry.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHAYHGce18gvN2Z4YtWVblKb7-o4I8wmguhZEa_Gr2ON4TzEzrmcHz1MJEwKhKw5aZqiyezR0oNtxa612ciubAJLv61fr_HkYhka0FBzkW3P4-Pa5foSnL9zCLnDlZDu6nTlwhQqaEZvdtqZ1GsdrtimWZeene9iHpSSmIlBPfrKoHfv2wjYT_j4BN7A=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHAYHGce18gvN2Z4YtWVblKb7-o4I8wmguhZEa_Gr2ON4TzEzrmcHz1MJEwKhKw5aZqiyezR0oNtxa612ciubAJLv61fr_HkYhka0FBzkW3P4-Pa5foSnL9zCLnDlZDu6nTlwhQqaEZvdtqZ1GsdrtimWZeene9iHpSSmIlBPfrKoHfv2wjYT_j4BN7A=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Pathologist DR KARAM SINGH, whose laboratory in Suva was burnt during political terrorism of 1987, and he relocated to Sydney and established a very successful Laboratory chain there. He has been trying for 40 years to establish a tertiary medical facility in Fiji. Despite that , he is not vindictive, very forgiving, and wishes to gift Fiji a world-class tertiary medical facilities.</b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The continued Political Support from Sitiveni Rabuka<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As stated earlier, this project had already been blessed by four Prime
Minters going back four decades. They were Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Sitiveni
Rabuka, Mahendra Chaudhry and Laisenia Qarase. Thankfully two are still around,
and supporting the project. It seems it is only objected by the current
surrogate Prime Minister of Fiji, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What qualification and credentials
has he got to grant contract to an outsourcing Australian ASPEN, who after
signing the agreement over 3 years ago delayed their project, while our people
keep on dying in run-down hospitals which cannot even provide Panadol’s or
toilet papers. As I had questioned before,<span style="background: white; color: #050505;"> Khaiyum, has never been a respectable practising
successful lawyer within his own profession, so therefore how can he be granted
authority to decide on what medical facilities are needed and deserved by the people
of Fiji?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: #050505;"><br /></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The only light that we can see at the
end of 40 year long tunnel is that <b>Sitiveni Rabuka, the leader People’s
Alliance Party (PAP),</b> and who seems most likely to be the next PM of Fiji, has
already given his full support to this project. In a self-explanatory letter to
Dr Karam Singh, he said, among others:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span><strong><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">The
establishment of an internationally -accredited health facility in the country
will not only provide better and cost-effective services, it will also be a
“catalyst” to other sectors of our economy in generating investment and
creating employment opportunities in other sectors, particularly in our growing
tourism industry and its direct linkage to other sectors, such as agriculture.”<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rabuka further assured that PAP would
work very closely with them in mobilising of the required local financial
resources so that they could collectively realise the vision and dream of the
establishment of an internationally recognised tertiary medial facility in
Lautoka. Rabuka added that he and his party would provide full cooperation so
that we all could realise this dream and initiative together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_9wqUB9jsJm_ENg_mxhPMwHlmZcKX3clLkkWxpSAfVPEW-GAm3hfRAl76tX_D40fbxcQPGv3BOO7iJTTw5M02vtkTOzohsnBDsbiqExBSxHnLY7ayVBpa038TwV6fw1ISaoJYLYzdiYhTffZxKLjT3KTtHuRgFoxy7xudvKJdxThDYkCulwDsVERL3g=s1280" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_9wqUB9jsJm_ENg_mxhPMwHlmZcKX3clLkkWxpSAfVPEW-GAm3hfRAl76tX_D40fbxcQPGv3BOO7iJTTw5M02vtkTOzohsnBDsbiqExBSxHnLY7ayVBpa038TwV6fw1ISaoJYLYzdiYhTffZxKLjT3KTtHuRgFoxy7xudvKJdxThDYkCulwDsVERL3g=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Cardiologist DR MICHAEL SUSHIL CHANDRA is a world-renowned international medical professional, based in Iowa, USA. He with Dr Karam Singh has been relentlessly trying to bring this tertiary institution in Fiji and still have not given up after 40 years. They both plan to relocate to Fiji once the project gets green light from Fiji Government.</span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One wonders which part of the dream and
advantage the Fiji First Government cannot understand, and why is one man
single-handadly trying to stall this project which had been blessed by previous
four Prime Ministers. The only hope for Fiji is to change the government to
grant an opportunity to compassionate, engaging and visionary leaders to lead
the nation out of the current doldrums and sad medical conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mahendra Chaudhry, who is leader of Fiji
Labour Party is also coming strongly in the upcoming election, and like Rabuka,
his initial support as the then Prime Minister decades ago still stands in
support of this extremely beneficial, ambitious and long over-due project.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lautoka Hospital<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lautoka Hospital has a massive multi-storey run-down infrastructure, degenerated
so by underfunding of successive governments which had the eyes of leaders
dazzled with five start golf-courses, international five-star hotels and
shining Airbus and Boeing planes. By proper attention, priorities, renovations and
equipping, this hospital (together with CWM and Labasa Hospitals) can come back
to its past glory to provide free and subsidized health services to Fijian
people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, it cannot be converted to provide an international type tertiary
facility for Fiji which needs to be custom and purpose-built with all advanced
medical facilities built-into the building to provide continuous, reliable and
dependable services. Lautoka hospital is not good for that purpose. Yes,
second-hand equipment donated by Australia and NZ can be used to equip this and
other hospital to provide basic services. But they cannot be relied on to
provide specialist tertiary services, and no surgeon worth his salt will wish
to operate in an unreliable facility that may fall apart any moment. A tertiary
hospital has to be built from scratch, as is required by this project.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQtmCp8QFKq-8gjI1d9fnyTJv-2Z05czx7bsVkqIKs25lpq-JCnO4lbCw1fbfJ1xbzS4iN8RHB4DO1WeAcc_jSyP1N7YzmoqlzijXjKTvf__bihtLjBso7b88ZU3mSpVne7uL3L0UMeS0iWHIOhXVR8v03uQ6jMxhkQnPjUytol0DNemZ6kIJtvHkj7Q=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQtmCp8QFKq-8gjI1d9fnyTJv-2Z05czx7bsVkqIKs25lpq-JCnO4lbCw1fbfJ1xbzS4iN8RHB4DO1WeAcc_jSyP1N7YzmoqlzijXjKTvf__bihtLjBso7b88ZU3mSpVne7uL3L0UMeS0iWHIOhXVR8v03uQ6jMxhkQnPjUytol0DNemZ6kIJtvHkj7Q=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Dr. Karam Singh's $150,000 Medical Laboratory of Fiji Limited complex was deliberately set alight by political thugs on 16 September, 1987. It was located at St. Forte Street near CWM Hospital. It was rated as the best medical laboratories in the Pacific, apart from those in Australia and NZ. It could do AIDS and other complex tests not available anywhere else in the region. Despite that, he is not vindictive and still wishes to help his country of birth get back more than what it lost in the 1987 arson. And this time, a changed, matured and </b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>repented</b></span><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> Rabuka is with him, providing him all the support. </b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To make Lautoka hospital into a world-class tertiary facility is like
converting a piper (propeller-driven) aircraft into a Jumbo Jet 747, or
picking up a rusty 737 from Arizona desert and painting it up and trying to
convert it to a Dreamliner aircraft or A380. Hence the current run-down hospitals
in Fiji need to be renovated to provide proper primary and secondary health
care, for which they were initially built. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Most are today converted to morgues
as they have degenerated into because of lack of funding, vision of medical
Ministry, pathetic services, overall poor governance due to political
instability and blinkered vision-less leadership as Fiji currently has. As
stated, they could be feeder hospitals for the specialist recuperation, but as
erroneously suggested, cannot be reliably converted as tertiary facilities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiji in the past, like foreign-based governance system, had been failed
by the western concept of democracy, especially when we had blinkered, selfish
and greedy leaders as happened in 1987. Hence, we need home-grown solution from
Fiji people who appreciate and understand our problems. Therefore, Fiji no
longer needs foreigners on holidays, recommending to provide band aid health
services, but our Fiji born specialists who can understand and appreciate our
systems, problems, are passionate about correcting our sick health system, and
are nationalistic about medical development in the country.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That is where the Maestro Pathologist <b>Dr Karam Singh and Internationally
renowned Cardiologist Dr Michael Sushil Chandra</b> come in. Dr Karam is not
vindictive, but still has a heart for Fiji. His laboratory in 1987 was burnt by
Taukei movement thugs, and he relocated to Australia and started and built
reputable health services. He is very forgiving, and despite his mistreatment,
has been trying relentlessly for 40 years with Cardiologist Dr Michael Sushil
Chandra to give Fiji what Fiji really deserves from its children. It is the
last gift which these retired Qaselevu (wise elders) or Bujurg (respected
Senior citizens) wish to give to Fiji before they depart this world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hope the new government we will have before end of this year can fulfil
that dream. Good Luck<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">PART 4:</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> The international - standard
medical facilities for Fiji to be provided by this Prime Health South Pacific
(PHSP) project.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh
is former Publisher of Fiji’s Daily Post newspaper. Thakur was fired and removed from positions by two diametrically
opposed Prime Ministers: Chaudhry and Qarase. This was for speaking the truth
and being too frank and not mincing his words, as he is doing so here again. He
is a media commentator, a journalist and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT. Thakur is
a Post Graduate in Journalism (with honours) from Auckland University of
Technology, (AUT), NZ.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">E-mail: </span></b><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/u/1/blog/post/edit/207937644965682419/8116248458947358799"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;">thakurjifj@gmail.com</span></b></a><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">]</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-14415701281420802882022-02-09T07:48:00.100-08:002022-11-15T10:02:34.790-08:00PART 2: FIJI MEDICAL CARE - PROJECT BLESSED BY PAST 4 PRIME MINISTERS NOW DERAILED BY FIJI FIRST GOVERNMENT<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PART 2: FIJI MEDICAL CARE- PROJECT BLESSED BY PAST 4 PRIME MINISTERS NOW DERAILED BY FIJI FIRST GOVERNMENT.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thakur
Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Synopsis of PART 1<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">You already read: After 4 coups and approval of 4 Prime Ministers, the tertiary
health project seems to be stuck with one person in Fiji – Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum,
who seems to have gone into a PPP - a public, private partnership with an
Australian company ASPEN, which is not suited to what is proposed by the two
doctors. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Agreements with them (Aspen) were signed over 3 years ago to run Ba
and Lautoka hospitals, but for some mysterious reasons, they started very late. It appears this was a unilateral reason without wider
expert consultation, just with an objective to keep this tertiary project out
of Fiji, and showcase before the election.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk95294329"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Khaiyum,
for somebody who has never been a respectable practising successful lawyer
within his own profession cannot be granted authority to decide on what medical
facilities are needed and deserved by people of Fiji.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk95294329;"></span>
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The whole series of articles suggest and
plead to people of Fiji to change the government if they wish to see changes to
the trend of dying people in our sick and run-down hospitals, and where a
40-year project in hindered by just one person in Fiji - Khaiyum. Fiji’s
Attorney General, who is its surrogate Prime Minister, has little and scant
knowledge, pride and understanding of his own profession, let alone about
world-class tertiary hospital facility for a Third World Fiji, with collapsed
primary and secondary health services.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"></span></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKPLFkXRbW9X6IcjNTM33S8TizTservi5JKP_Wb4SVyRlzAmhhGqTlYS4HuxZDwCE_kp8NAOfKY3ySvQmTg9LLKyOxEZcTls26qrUp-sZ3BOMySQwddGpzs1Nbc_jWTQeCOBD5e3KVVVVkp3Ow6jj4GvY-aeBrvKiWBC5w1iYypgVmc23J3L2TwXUgsg=s1149" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="1149" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKPLFkXRbW9X6IcjNTM33S8TizTservi5JKP_Wb4SVyRlzAmhhGqTlYS4HuxZDwCE_kp8NAOfKY3ySvQmTg9LLKyOxEZcTls26qrUp-sZ3BOMySQwddGpzs1Nbc_jWTQeCOBD5e3KVVVVkp3Ow6jj4GvY-aeBrvKiWBC5w1iYypgVmc23J3L2TwXUgsg=w640-h352" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The tertiary hospital project that commenced in 1982 was blessed by 4 former Fiji PMs: first blessed by Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, then Sitiveni Rabuka, then Mahendra Chaudhry and finally by Laisenia Qarase. But now it is derailed by the surrogate PM of Fiji, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.</span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PART 2- the urgency and need for such a facility
in Fiji- and the benefits<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">To get an appreciation of what Fiji needs, we will educate on the <b>different
levels of health care. </b>This is for the benefit of the non-medical community
(especially for an ignorant Khaiyum) so that there is very clear understanding
of the differences. Basically, there are three levels of health care:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>1. Primary Health Care, 2. Secondary Health
Care and 3. Tertiary Health Care.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span><b style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span lang="EN-US">PRIMARY
HEALTH CARE.</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Primary health care consists of care given to
patients in the private GP offices, outpatient clinics and dispensaries and
small community or rural hospitals staffed by general practitioners. An example
in Fiji would be <b>Savusavu, Navua, Tavua or the former Ba Mission Hospital, now Ba Aspen</b> hospital staffed by
general practitioners, nurses and medical assistants. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Analogy - a piper sigle-engined propellor
airplane, good for local island-hopping only.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <b>2</b></span></o:p></span><b><span style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: -18pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SECONDARY
HEALTH CARE CENTERS.</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These are regional hospitals with facilities
for x-ray, labs etc. and have full time staff of specialists in general
surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology.</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Examples of
these in Fiji are the <b>CWM Hospital, Lautoka Hospital </b>and the <b>Labasa
Hospital</b>. These centers get referrals from the primary care centers and are
capable of handling general surgical procedures, internal medicine diagnosis
and treatment and pediatrics and ob-gyn cases.</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These centers would then refer
complicated cases requiring super specialized diagnosis and treatment to
tertiary institutions like presently being done in Fiji for cardiac, neurological
and cancer cases to India, Australia and New Zealand. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Analogy-A Boeing 737 or Airbus a-320, suitable
for domestic services only.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC6-1ftnJTR882CIncmUIugFddf6ROOd75hm8N-e1GD8lIFZfIC-bAXUbqto44BCChMtg3Rdf69IlAT0zfmypyRBzxA7eSfZNq_Yh2P_ccqImWEWZVpDROPzgspLWmW6MDpkR4TMpev1xOBdcsypqI-Wco4Dy5zKF5s_ivYcTa0YjRyqDOBAtzIlcSlg=s660" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="660" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC6-1ftnJTR882CIncmUIugFddf6ROOd75hm8N-e1GD8lIFZfIC-bAXUbqto44BCChMtg3Rdf69IlAT0zfmypyRBzxA7eSfZNq_Yh2P_ccqImWEWZVpDROPzgspLWmW6MDpkR4TMpev1xOBdcsypqI-Wco4Dy5zKF5s_ivYcTa0YjRyqDOBAtzIlcSlg=w640-h242" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;">Lautoka Hospital is a secondary hospital, badly run down, hardly able to provide toilet papers, Panadol, clean sheets etc, is expected to commence heart surgery by Khaiyum-chosen medical outsourcing company, ASPEN. Agreement was signed over three years ago, but no show till strategically -timed just before the election. Such delipidated hospital cannot be renovated as a tertiary facility with second-hand equipment. No medical specialist worth his salt would wish to work in an ill-designed and ill-equipped neglected hospital, </b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>masquerading</b></span><b style="color: red; font-size: large;"> as a tertiary hospital.</b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></b><div><div style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> <b>3) </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><b>TERTIARY HEALTH CARE
INSTITUTIONS</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: bold;">.</span></span></span></span></div><div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These facilities are the most advanced and
have full time specialists and subspecialists in all facets of medicine and
surgery disciplines to offer comprehensive tertiary care to the patients. These
centers have the full capabilities of handling cardiac, neurological, cancer,
orthopedics, trauma and all the other subspecialty cases in medicine and
surgical disciplines. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;">There is no tertiary hospital in Fiji and the
surrounding South Pacific Island countries at this time</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">. Examples
of tertiary hospitals would be <b>Auckland Public Hospital, Auckland Mercy
Hospital, St. Vincent</b>, <b>St George Hospitals in Sydney, and Batra and the
Apollo Hospital in India,. among others,</b> where most of the Fiji people are going for this
level of care. There are certain International Standards required of these
hospitals in building designs and the complement of subspecialty physicians by
different Accreditation Agencies for approval and recognition as world class
facilities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Analogy - a Boeing Jumbo 747, a Dreamliner, or an Airbus A 350 or A380 for going around the world, and world-class.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In order to provide world class tertiary care in Fiji, one virtually <b>has
to design and build a facility with all these capabilities</b>; otherwise, it
would be very difficult to recruit the specialist doctors and the staff which
are in big demand worldwide. To upgrade and convert one of the existing
secondary facilities to tertiary level would be a mountainous task and may not
be feasible to accommodate the latest technologies.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As analogy has been given
of converting a piper plane to a 737, or to a Jumbo plane. Therefore, Lautoka
Hospital is not seen suitable to convert to a tertiary hospital, as its
original design and purpose lacked the requirement of such sophisticated
facilities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Therefore, Fiji’s questionable deal with an outsourcing group from
Australia, ASPEN, and their claim for a tertiary facility at Lautoka Hospital
is highly debatable when placed under microscope of those who have decades of
experience in such facilities. I have already written about the charade of a heart bypass in Lautoka hospital as an election gimmick<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Suva Private Hospital remains a primary-care
hospital<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Before I proceed any further, I wish to clarify a misconception people
have of <b>Suva Private Hospital</b>. It was started by some GPs and hence remains a
primary - care hospital. It is not a secondary like CWM Hospital, as it locums
the specialists from there on a part-time basis. Having few medical machines
run by specialist outsourced from other facilities do not make them into a
Secondary. Just because it charges more, is well kept, very clean, provides
personalised services by mostly same doctors, GPs and specialists in secondary
hospital or in private facilities, t<b>hey do not become into a secondary
facility.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8A_sfxUnWQj4bY1UDAa0EMh7EVBBk6bet0qLVeo4AeJ1fg46j18PVwKns6kHLeDsGGYUYVpnDxIhKGQbik_L58MJFbNVw_8ux6npNam6WRKY4ijkm-2v6qr-WhQEPQ6JhWafc8CspWWBUu8BSsuLruDrsIcf7odOKLcSfuaST8bLSMDzPcgP-z-KYbA=s850" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="850" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8A_sfxUnWQj4bY1UDAa0EMh7EVBBk6bet0qLVeo4AeJ1fg46j18PVwKns6kHLeDsGGYUYVpnDxIhKGQbik_L58MJFbNVw_8ux6npNam6WRKY4ijkm-2v6qr-WhQEPQ6JhWafc8CspWWBUu8BSsuLruDrsIcf7odOKLcSfuaST8bLSMDzPcgP-z-KYbA=w640-h380" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This is the concept of custom and purpose designed and built tertiary hospital complex in Tavakubu, Lautoka, Fiji. It has been 40 years in planning with approval from 4 Prime Ministers but stuck now with the Fiji First Government. Te only chance of it going ahead is a change in government.</b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A Tertiary Hospital with perfect synergy and
collaboration with Medical, economic and tourism development in Fiji.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The hospital project is very ambitious and long overdue - some forty
years since initiated in 1982. There is a 40-acre land sitting atop Lautoka
Golf Club in Tavakubu, Lautoka, ready for the project. This site is only 5
minutes from Lautoka Hospital, which could be renovated as a secondary service
hospital, and can become a feeder hospital for <b>Prime Health South Pacific
(PHSP)</b> to be a suitable site to support low-cost recuperation facility with
abundance of beds. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">This would be for common citizens of Fiji, and others, who
could have specialised treatment at the tertiary hospital and then transferred
to Lautoka Hospital to recuperate at a reduced cost, but still have access to specialists
from the nearby PHSP facility to provide necessary after-care consultation. With
an in-house ambulance service, there would be no strain on this scarce public
services.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Advantages from the Fiji Indian Diaspora<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiji Indians who have migrated worldwide, mostly to Australia, NZ,
Canada and USA have produced multitude of doctors and medical health specialists
excelling around the world. Many are well-connected with their other colleagues
in USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, who are prepared to help if Fiji has proper access to specialist facilities as proposed by Doctor Karam Singh and
Doctor Chandra. They also have contacts with so many doctors who are more than
happy to help, provided Fiji has world-class facilities, welcoming
compassionate leaders and good democratic governance. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">No accredited medical
practitioner would like to work in a run-down Lautoka Hospital with band-aid
repairs and second-hand equipment which became obsolete in advanced countries.
Fiji needs to be supported to stand on its feet and not be a dumping ground for
used equipment, as it is a matter of life and death, and not merely used as a
dump for laptops and computers to be used by accounts clerks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7KpPXiHGvhmh6CsU0xEgf5CAINglnGCMi9eRNefPEac6kYJ2fKoeboAVCXuS7krfqlic1_VZKiS1cgCojaEZvPEAFj_CqlaXUz0GT3z8GqYmNX9Sw0ORqVsFXMNhhisX4VSF8YNrR70U_2F1WmvNu4zGGkIr0Krm6CjRGC_0GN5hL7ruGrIWC0oqQNw=s614" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="614" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7KpPXiHGvhmh6CsU0xEgf5CAINglnGCMi9eRNefPEac6kYJ2fKoeboAVCXuS7krfqlic1_VZKiS1cgCojaEZvPEAFj_CqlaXUz0GT3z8GqYmNX9Sw0ORqVsFXMNhhisX4VSF8YNrR70U_2F1WmvNu4zGGkIr0Krm6CjRGC_0GN5hL7ruGrIWC0oqQNw=w640-h408" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Patients waiting at Tavua Health Centre in Tavua, Fiji. Most health services in Fiji are badly run-down , unable to afford Panadol, toilet paper and basic facilities with acute underfunding and poor management by the medical services in Fiji, where many people are dying. All this while our leaders who neglect such hospitals get first -class treatment overseas.</b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiji Indians in the diaspora have multitudes of second and third-generation Fiji
Indian doctors and other medical health specialists with their umbilical cord already
linked to their motherland, or that of their parents. Many would be able to
shift back, or even come for holidays, while providing services in the tourism
hub of Nadi-Lautoka. These people, with links in Fiji have a soft-spot for Fiji
and would be willing to provide health services if Fiji has facilities which
can provide respect and validity to their international training.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fiji has so many retired doctor sons and daughters, who would be more
than willing to help as they visit Fiji regularly, if the country has a
reputable respected compassionate government and a well-managed tertiary medical
and health facilities, and of course visionary leaders and good governance.
Many of these medical specialists see Fiji as an exotic holiday location, and
they could be urged to come on work and balance with their holiday visits with
free accommodation build on the site with magnificent sea views of Yasawas, and
they would be happy to share their expertise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many in Fiji Indian Diaspora living worldwide, including me, have left
Fiji to live longer in developed countries with better medical facilities,
because of poor medical services in Fiji. If I was in Fiji, I would have died a
decade ago. And if many of our dead relatives were in developed countries, they
would still be alive today, including my parents, elder brother and many
friends and relatives in Ba, and throughout Fiji. Like me, many people we meet
in developed countries would tell they also would have died long time ago if they
were in Fiji with myopic leaders and equally sick hospitals. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With advanced tertiary
facilities proposed by these two doctors, those who left Fiji would be prompted
to return to help in economic development, and in other ways. Many of us still
have farms and homes in Fiji and retired people would feel comfortable spending
winter months in Fiji with a tertiary world-class medical facilities, covered
by insurance, and many with ability to pay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF5hf4UZHLc_GlC28jY1Zr_CL8ZWG7rZpGDkVsEwjKxnrC-ux8AHu6AIJ4x9d5f7rvdajcasfCS3B_2HykJ2ZwOLqssinLDZ_yvOijiv79GibTmuy_21RqrvsJbCfar086isb8p3B_5ftCTA1094PhPIqB-VGiiiw2FTaQNWeq8DiD1unNO-46SWS6fQ=s800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgF5hf4UZHLc_GlC28jY1Zr_CL8ZWG7rZpGDkVsEwjKxnrC-ux8AHu6AIJ4x9d5f7rvdajcasfCS3B_2HykJ2ZwOLqssinLDZ_yvOijiv79GibTmuy_21RqrvsJbCfar086isb8p3B_5ftCTA1094PhPIqB-VGiiiw2FTaQNWeq8DiD1unNO-46SWS6fQ=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Newly built Ba Hospital which is supposed to have replaced the Ba Mission Hospital. Outsourcing and management agreement was signed with ASPEN over 3 years ago, but this white elephant remained so for some 3 years, and just commenced recently.</b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The present-run down facilities by successive governments is the reason
for massive brain drain of qualified people as well as qualified doctors who
cannot fly jet planes in piper propellor aircrafts, because of collapsing
medical facilities.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One major problem of poor health services is misplaced
priority by blinkered leaders to pour money on international golf -courses,
aeroplanes and five star -hotels, ignoring health services. And these selfish
unworthy and heartless leaders then fly overseas for their first-class medical treatment to
Singapore or Australia, while our poor Ram Singh and Viliame die in
faeces-stinking medical services in Fiji. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The case in question is recent overseas treatment for Khaiyum and
Bainimarama. If the 40-year request had been made into a reality today, both
Khaiyum and Bai could have been treated by world-class doctors, with world
class facilities, services and care in Tavakubu, Lautoka. The FNPF funds
commandeered by Khaiyum to buy Airbus planes cannot give lives - tertiary
hospital can.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The only way Fiji can have these facilities is to change the
government, and have more visionary, caring and compassionate leaders to lead
Fiji.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A TIME TO VOTE FIJI FIRST OUT <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5JfB3gHaobGz3L4nt6SvrUoktJv4bMHGNI3DwALygqWxR_gX5yhfnug4jwXhpFy_WtwcN_jwUMtBnyxcipYqEIQtZABQ2q0gZHhqWNG2RrmBQx41QOHNeWyby3wsSsLbvm1GYqdyE-JUAvGe6IzlNf9KmfeOw45uGg2SBvF_Bd6gOfjQPKFIChlIWFg=s400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="400" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5JfB3gHaobGz3L4nt6SvrUoktJv4bMHGNI3DwALygqWxR_gX5yhfnug4jwXhpFy_WtwcN_jwUMtBnyxcipYqEIQtZABQ2q0gZHhqWNG2RrmBQx41QOHNeWyby3wsSsLbvm1GYqdyE-JUAvGe6IzlNf9KmfeOw45uGg2SBvF_Bd6gOfjQPKFIChlIWFg=w640-h420" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Ba Methodist Mission Hospital where yours truly (Thakur) was born nearly seven decades ago. It has been providing magnificent services to the people of Ba over that time, with some Government support. Lack of vision and support by government has turned it into a morgue and a dying house, while the replacement Ba Hospital remains a white elephant for over 3 years. And Fiji First government is stopping a new tertiary institution in Lautoka. The only way to change the dying hospital services in Fiji is to change the Fiji First government.</b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">TO BE CONTINUED:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">PART 3:</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> The tertiary hospital: Financial
viability, regionalism, political support and why Lautoka Hospital is unsuitable
for tertiary project.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">PART 4:</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> The international - standard
medical facilities for Fiji to be provided by Prime Health South Pacific (PHSP)
project, and why Fiji needs it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh
is former Publisher of Fiji’s Daily Post newspaper. Thakur was fired and removed from positions by two diametrically
opposed Prime Ministers: Chaudhry and Qarase. This was for speaking the truth
and being too frank and not mincing his words, as he is doing so here again. He
is a media commentator, a journalist and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT. Thakur is
a Post Graduate in Journalism (with honours) from Auckland University of
Technology, (AUT), NZ.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">E-mail: </span></b><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/u/1/blog/post/edit/207937644965682419/8116248458947358799"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;">thakurjifj@gmail.com</span></b></a><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">]</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p></div></div>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-81162484589473587992022-02-07T00:02:00.043-08:002022-11-13T07:48:31.227-08:00PART 1: FIJI MEDICAL CARE -THE CONTINUING STRUGGLE TO BRING WORLD CLASS TERTIARY HOSPITAL HEALTH TO FIJI<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PART 1: FIJI MEDICAL CARE - THE
CONTINUING STRUGGLE TO BRING WORLD CLASS TERTIARY HOSPITAL HEALTH CARE TO FIJI<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thakur
Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><u>A HISTORY</u> <u><o:p></o:p></u></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The concept and the initial idea for a <a name="_Hlk95029269">tertiary specialty hospital for F</a>iji was formed in 1982
when three prominent people from Fiji went for their cardiac care to heart cardiovascular
physician/cardiologist, Dr Michael Sushil Chandra (originally from Yalalevu,
Ba) to Iowa, USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dr Chandra visited Fiji in 1982 and met Dr.
Karam Singh, who was the President of the Fiji Medical Association at that time
and discussed with him the hospital concept. That developed into the now
pending <b>PRIME HEALTH SOUTH PACIFIC (PHSP) project.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here are the excellent intellectual sons of
Fiji, still having their hearts in Fiji, with their outstanding internationally-recognised
credentials:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhImckGZKNBRtqMCVHlGPVAG5n5GO5BfGPaO6vbfA4sbMg3CxhM_VV4UEOhLQ-0nTfChunXTnzacuRf2A3JMhUmSnJP9JqQTm0gVJUQPRAzWvO55OWIKKNT6IvClsPLE5jN0kuT_ZbtXw2xaOFJx3GiF8VkweVRsco0ttkLyD2VqnOu5UPzPV5R29W-7w=s1114" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="1114" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhImckGZKNBRtqMCVHlGPVAG5n5GO5BfGPaO6vbfA4sbMg3CxhM_VV4UEOhLQ-0nTfChunXTnzacuRf2A3JMhUmSnJP9JqQTm0gVJUQPRAzWvO55OWIKKNT6IvClsPLE5jN0kuT_ZbtXw2xaOFJx3GiF8VkweVRsco0ttkLyD2VqnOu5UPzPV5R29W-7w=w640-h364" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The image of how the brand-new tertiary hospital building would sit atop Lautoka Golf Course in Tavakubu, Lautoka, with modern state-of- the-art medical facilities and equipment.</span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold;">Cardiologist Dr Michael Sushil Chandra:</u></div></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Diplomate of the American Board of Internal
Medicine, and also Subspecialty Board of Cardiovascular Diseases. Born in Ba, Fiji,
graduated with distinction from Fiji School of Medicine, trained in India and
USA, Internal Medicine at Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska
and National Institute of Health (NIH) Fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at
the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. 40 years of experience in
cardiovascular medicine in the USA, academics and clinical practice. Instrumental
in training many cardiovascular specialists in the USA. Pioneer and developed a
comprehensive cardiovascular program including CV Surgery de novo (from
scratch, initiator) in 1976 in a city of 90,000 population in Iowa. This has
become one of the largest and very successful programs in the State of Iowa.
Present focus to develop comprehensive tertiary health care in the South Pacific.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9IFIim8EvmtB4Nl6qyCqjx2sYMhc53G35pBFpM-bdwdFREXtpyW1x-gLmlFjaOFBIYFP8t3QWgA9L8-HgEIlVx0cbb0Sdo1QWwxqj3oNv03TYXSbbeDW1vF8i7XDypUXn9aobKwrMI7kGLphi07qAekAvXquUcw9yzE39NA3qdXMb66omzogwNSpCYw=s1280" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9IFIim8EvmtB4Nl6qyCqjx2sYMhc53G35pBFpM-bdwdFREXtpyW1x-gLmlFjaOFBIYFP8t3QWgA9L8-HgEIlVx0cbb0Sdo1QWwxqj3oNv03TYXSbbeDW1vF8i7XDypUXn9aobKwrMI7kGLphi07qAekAvXquUcw9yzE39NA3qdXMb66omzogwNSpCYw=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Cardiologist DR MICHAEL SUSHIL CHANDRA of Iowa, USA</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table> <span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pathologist Dr Karam Singh<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Born in Fiji, descendant of a retired First
World War Indian soldier. Graduated as the dux of Fiji School of Medicine in
1969. Post-graduate training at Otago University, New Zealand. First graduate
outside Australasia to obtain Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists
of Australasia. Extensive experience in Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.
Established the first private pathology laboratory in Fiji which was burnt in
arson attack during political instability in 1987. Moved to Australia in 1987.
Founder of Medical Laboratory Australia which employs over 500 staff today.
Always desired to establish a world class, high-tech, low-cost tertiary
healthcare for the people of the South Pacific.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxa8uFyc-XL_AKig_XJqX_xkyJVJGZseOtR72TR6z5u7P9vm_FbYcF9Dy2NpoyfA0PxxqIQtBnIjbWPS5cH-ruQpELhjs4rmOE4M450KTfW4JUjjG4EvaZy27wsTePo5AqIAJeSOnp28V37ohi_bGSndxEnZlvaVJbYc-u2kcl0t1i92ajI2VAd6NBVQ=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxa8uFyc-XL_AKig_XJqX_xkyJVJGZseOtR72TR6z5u7P9vm_FbYcF9Dy2NpoyfA0PxxqIQtBnIjbWPS5cH-ruQpELhjs4rmOE4M450KTfW4JUjjG4EvaZy27wsTePo5AqIAJeSOnp28V37ohi_bGSndxEnZlvaVJbYc-u2kcl0t1i92ajI2VAd6NBVQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Pathologist, DR KARAM SINGH of Sydney, Australia.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">Here are two celebrated sons of Fiji, who
have been relentlessly trying for the last 40 years for somebody to hear them
out and share their vision of a comprehensive tertiary health care in Fiji -
and still doing so.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">When approached by Dr Chandra in 1982, Dr
Karam was thrilled with the idea and very quickly was able to organize a
steering committee of prominent people in Fiji to drive the project. Dr Chandra
was able to convince the Sisters of Mercy Health Corporation of Farmington
Hills, Michigan, USA to partner with them in this project. A feasibility study
indicated such a facility was needed and viable.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The then Prime Minister of
Fiji, <b>Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara</b> blessed the project and offered to donate
10 acres of land adjacent to the National Stadium called Pony Park for the
Hospital site. (Now, reportedly, it has been given for children’s
heart hospital project.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">HOW COUPS KILLED THE PROJECT<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The project was first killed by the coup of
1987.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, when <b>Rabuka</b> government came
in, this project was revived in 1992. A Delaware corporation was formed in
1997, a 40-acre Crown land with 99-year lease in Tavakubu, Lautoka, adjacent to
Lautoka Golf course was identified, bought and the project commenced. But
Rabuka lost the election in 1999.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinpHrbMQG9aGFtAh-T4TeXmhTilts1CQ0KaqR2JjOgWgXuGQ9uFIWRBXy0JOMMH47u2ET8joM8CWPhrjf98SGpipQGqPp9GqLVJLn9Ty2tg85AfrArNqu6LCBuk3H9D7R65BqgpnDf-6IAdJFdwLx4Mqfi_cMYIIHWcaFV7c6lunQ0w7rfLnYWuSPpXw=s960" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEinpHrbMQG9aGFtAh-T4TeXmhTilts1CQ0KaqR2JjOgWgXuGQ9uFIWRBXy0JOMMH47u2ET8joM8CWPhrjf98SGpipQGqPp9GqLVJLn9Ty2tg85AfrArNqu6LCBuk3H9D7R65BqgpnDf-6IAdJFdwLx4Mqfi_cMYIIHWcaFV7c6lunQ0w7rfLnYWuSPpXw=w640-h360" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Ba Hospital, built some 4 years and now started after many stalled dates. There are many unanswered questions. Is it leaking? Is it poorly designed, and hence seen unsuitable by the chosen ASPEN group to be used as a hospital? Has government come our with any explanation? The agreement with ASPEN was signed over 3 years ago? And it seems it is operation now.</b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the year 2000 <b>Mahendra Chaudhry</b>
became the Prime Minister of Fiji and he endorsed the project. Dr Chandra, with
the project manager from USA met Chaudhry in New York when he visited the
United Nations and he promised to have FNPF finance the project and be a
partner in it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lo and behold, another coup happened in May,
2000 and Mahendra Chaudhry was out and hence the project stopped<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In early 2005, Mahendra Chaudhry approached Dr
Chandra to revive the hospital project. He indicated the desperate need in Fiji
for the tertiary specialty hospital in consultation with Dr Karam Singh. While
discussion was taking place, they were drawn to a recent Wall Street Journal
article, describing the Apollo Health Systems of India and how Dr. Pratap Reddy
had developed this powerful world-class low-cost tertiary healthcare system in
India and now recognized by the Americans. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dr Reddy’s expertise, experience, dreams and
achievements were very similar to what Doctors Karam and Chandra had desired
for Fiji. They both possessed the expertise, courage and experience to develop
a similar system for Fiji. Both of them were highly trained and established
tertiary level physicians. Dr Karam had de novo (initiated and designed from
the beginning), developed the Medlabs of Australia which is now the largest private
pathology labs in that country whereas Dr Chandra had de novo (from scratch)
and developed a comprehensive cardiovascular system in Sioux, a large city in
Iowa, USA.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The plans were finalized to sign an agreement
with Apollo, whose Dr Reddy consented to support the Fiji project. Both Dr
Karam and Dr Chandra agreed to fold their projects in their respective
countries and shift to Fiji. The feasibility study showed that a tertiary
hospital in Fiji was needed and economically viable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqCzyUN7ByWvkcuUwG4nsNcN6K2a5_E_SlD8YbM5RVxA_ULqgFJ0Ovo1mkkPIDTvBc2XyhgDaewF5cB6tIAzvfWT61kdR32qwRp5ojyadvibs4_kdPyesyS4tTC0QOUW_r-eWDeGgsEkGn9LXqcwvB9jVd25oM01emjtFEvOFja9_bfaLo1G1mwag0-g=s563" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="563" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqCzyUN7ByWvkcuUwG4nsNcN6K2a5_E_SlD8YbM5RVxA_ULqgFJ0Ovo1mkkPIDTvBc2XyhgDaewF5cB6tIAzvfWT61kdR32qwRp5ojyadvibs4_kdPyesyS4tTC0QOUW_r-eWDeGgsEkGn9LXqcwvB9jVd25oM01emjtFEvOFja9_bfaLo1G1mwag0-g=w640-h454" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The 40 acre land already acquired for the project, lying on top of Lautoka Gold Course, sitting at a very strategic location in Tavakubu, Lautoka ,with stunning and breath-taking unhindered sea view.</span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Things started to move - land for the hospital
was already acquired, and Mahendra Chaudhry got the blessings from PM <b>Laisenia
Qarase</b> for the project. When two Doctors were in Delhi to sign to project,
they received another bad news in 2006.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lo and behold, another coup, Bainimarama coup
of 2006 again halted the project. No agreement was signed and it was the end of
the third attempt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">HOW THE PROJECT RECOMMENCED UNDER
BAINIMARAMA’S RULE – BUT KHAIYUM USED FNPF FUNDS TO BUY AEROPLANES INSTEAD<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mahendra Chaudhry, who was the Finance Minister
for a short while in the Military government, approached the doctors again to
restart the project. This was especially around 2007-2009 when FNPF started
thinking about health insurance plans for its members. Another feasibility
study cost the two doctors personal funds for Apollo Health System, and the
study again confirmed the need and viability of the facility.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, FNPF backed out as reportedly the
funds destined for the Hospital were used to finance the new Airbus planes. The
<b>Bainimarama</b> Government, namely the surrogate PM, <b>Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum</b>
told them there was no money for the project in Fiji and that they had to get
financing from abroad if they wanted to pursue further. Hence an international
finance consultant was hired who advised that this was very difficult because
Fiji did not have a democratic government but a military rule at that time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Several business leaders and prominent people were
approached to participate in the project, but without any success. The doctors were
very disappointed because no one showed any interest citing that they had permanent
residency to Australia and New Zealand and could easily get medical treatment
in those countries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Therefore, the project was dropped for the
umpteenth time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">KHAIYUM THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE IN PROGRESS
OF THE PROJECT<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The two Doctors did not sit idle, and while in
Fiji in 2013 to teach at the Fiji School of Medicine at the request of the
Minister of Health, they had discussions with Solomon Island Provident Fund for
a shared facility in Fiji and Honiara. They proceeded with discussion with the
Solomon Islands National Provident Fund who became very interested to invest in
the proposed tertiary hospital in Fiji and also building a sister secondary
hospital in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Hence in 2015 they revisited discussion
with the Medanta Group, Apollo Group and the Narayana Group in India. They
chose Narayana which fizzled out once it became a public company and its new
owners were not keen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">They never gave up, and <b>Vamed</b> was
brought into the picture. Vamed is an Austrian company based in Vienna. It is
the world’s largest builder and manager of hospitals and other health care
facilities. It has built over 800 hospitals so far all over the world. Vamed is
a division of the medical behemoth Fresenius, the world’s largest producer of
kidney dialysis machines with the annual revenues of about 32 billion euros.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Vamed
was ready to proceed with the project but got hindered by the announcement of
the PPP (Private, Public Partnership) by the Fiji Government with <b>Aspen
Group</b> to renovate and convert Lautoka Hospital to a tertiary health care
facility. As we will show in later articles, this sounds unusual, as Aspen is
not geared for PPP which is generally meant for Design/ Build facilities, while
Aspen only specializes in outsourcing health and medical facilities in
disasters.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw3CubneXTZADxgYcPN9hdNWQGAoL3JLI9EUJXTZrhe6TQpr06A3-Rp4z2UzFG4vgngoD8-WBsT80V45i_aWVajhLilwwvqvHqGSQXZwI2p56Y9LWyJt1adkJ32zuweDbKYAEB14fVXU4-0XXQIcqeFCbxQPbunFsIuxDXd7LEW8RirTG7TNTKDJh02A=s2200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="2200" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiw3CubneXTZADxgYcPN9hdNWQGAoL3JLI9EUJXTZrhe6TQpr06A3-Rp4z2UzFG4vgngoD8-WBsT80V45i_aWVajhLilwwvqvHqGSQXZwI2p56Y9LWyJt1adkJ32zuweDbKYAEB14fVXU4-0XXQIcqeFCbxQPbunFsIuxDXd7LEW8RirTG7TNTKDJh02A=w640-h428" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Fijian Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Hon. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Aspen Medical Group CEO Bruce Armstrong at PPP contract signing in Suva on 17 January, 2019 to renovate and run Ba and Lautoka hospitals. We have just passed 3 years of the signing, and Ba hospital was lying idle for 3 years, and there was no activity at Lautoka Hospital. What process was used in granting contract, was it transparent? Do the </b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Minister</b></span><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> of Health and the Permanebt Secretary know about this? Is this an exclusive arrangement, meant to prevent Prime Health South Pacific bid?</b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Agreed, Khaiyum may have Operation and Maintenance (O&M)
arrangement to deter two intellectuals from entering Fiji with their project. O
& M arrangement by Khaiyum with Aspen is like converting a one-engine piper
propellor, used for island-hopping into an Airbus A 380 jet, flying to Los
Angeles.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The whole PPP seems suspicious and will be raised in the coming
articles, with details of the chosen one, Aspen, delays with Ba Hospital and
why the project looks doomed and far from tertiary medical services, only
providing primary care like Mission Hospital in Ba. Watch the space for more
revelations on this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">DOES KHAIYUM HATE BRIGHT, EDUCATED INTELLECTUALS?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One word that best explains Fiji’s surrogate
PM, Khaiyum is <b>Narcissistic</b> - somebody who seems deeply engrossed in self-love,
self-importance, is egoistic and despises anybody else brighter than him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">His unceremonial deportation and treatment of
greatest Fiji Historian, <b>Professor Brij Lal</b>, the midnight deportation and
humiliation of regional Vice Chancellor, <b>Professor</b><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><b> Pal Ahluwalia</b>, the unconstitutional dismissal of Solicitor
General <b>Sharvada Sharma</b>, sexual framing of a <b>business executive</b> whose treatment
by police and the prosecutions was rebuked by the magistrate, and bullying into
resigning of former Lands Minister, <b>Ashneel Sudhakar</b>, (coming in future articles) are just some of the many
misdemeanors of this person.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">His continued
mistreatment of the two of Fiji greatest international medical minds and
extremely qualified doctors shows what Fiji is made to be deprived of and
suffer under Fiji First which seems to be ignoring the health services, and
tertiary medical teachings in Fiji. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">It seems Bainimarama is in the dark, while
the prospective Prime Minister, <b>Sitiveni Rabuka</b> of Peoples Alliance Party seems
to have a vision of better medical facilities in Fiji. Rabuka would be more
accommodating once there is a change of government and vision for tertiary
medical services in Fiji -not the primary care outsourced with Aspen.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This move by Khaiyum is myopic and smells of
improper advice, as two of the most qualified medical practitioners have been
trying and struggling to help Fiji for the last four decades. They are still
waiting the outcome of the PPP Project and support of the Government of Fiji.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On December 10, 2020 they had written to the Attorney General and Minister for
Economy, Civil Service and Communications for Licensing Approval. They are yet
to receive a response in spite of sending reminders.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The proposed tertiary hospital had received
approval from previous successive Fijian Governments, went through approval of <b>four
Fiji Prime Ministers</b>, and is now stuck with the fifth one, <b>Khaiyum</b>, the
surrogate PM. Despite this obstacle, the two medical warriors are continuing
with the struggle that began four decades ago. Because of their love for the
country of their birth, they have not given up hope.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">TO BE CONTINUED:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">PART 2:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> Why
the need for a tertiary specialty hospital for Fiji built from scratch, the
advantages and the benefits to Fiji.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">PART 3:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
international - standard medical facilities for Fiji to be provided by Prime
Health South Pacific (PHSP) project.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>PART 4: </b>Concluding part and why Fiji needs this, and a change in government.</span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is
former Publisher of Fiji’s Daily Post newspaper. Thakur was fired and removed from positions by two diametrically
opposed Prime Ministers: Chaudhry and Qarase. This was for speaking the truth
and being too frank and not mincing his words, as he is doing so here again. He
is a media commentator, a journalist and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT. Thakur is a Post Graduate in Journalism (with honours) from Auckland University of Technology, (AUT), NZ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">E-mail: </span></b><span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:thakurjifj@gmail.com"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">thakurjifj@gmail.com</span></b></a></span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">]</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><span face=""Tahoma",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span face=""Tahoma",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span face=""Tahoma",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span face=""Tahoma",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-71697357622221974842022-02-02T00:16:00.000-08:002022-02-02T00:16:31.506-08:00PART 4: THE FINAL CHOICE FOR FIJI - BETWEEN THE GOOD GODZILLA RABUKA OVER THE EVIL ONE<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">PART 4:THE FINAL CHOICE FOR FIJI – BETWEEN THE GOOD
GODZILLA RABUKA OVER THE EVIL ONE</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Thakur Ranjit Singh</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">A Synopsis of Parts 1-3:</span></u></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">I gave reasons as to why I changed camps after being disillusioned with
Bainimarama (Bai) after he abdicated his position to Khaiyum who seems to have
been running Fiji, and running it down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bai
does not seem to be in control of Fiji - or himself, as he is manipulated by
his Deputy.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">In Part 3, you saw how the thugs in suits, both Bai and Khaiyum bullied
their way, removed and punished people through hook or crook, abuse of powers,
threats, blackmail and shaming what is supposed to be a democracy. It seems to
have been degenerated into a two-men dictatorship.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">We continue with the justification to rescue Fiji from this rot. And <b>Sitiveni
Rabuka</b> seems to be the reformed man standing who is our only hope to rescue
what is left of Fiji.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">The final Part 4 concludes with details of raping of governments
machineries and a terminally ill system our hospitals have become which the
leaders avoid by escaping overseas from a dying medical system in Fiji they
failed to fund and improve for the common citizens of Fiji. And I conclude with
some quotes and comparison why Fiji needs to be rescued by a good Godzilla or
dinosaur from Jurassic World, where only good monster can beat the bad ones of its
type and species - two former coup-makers of Fiji, Commanders of Military and
Government leaders. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">And that is a battle between a good <b>Rabuka</b> and an evil-harboring
Bainimarama, who in realty is Khaiyum in surrogate. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">And here is my concluding plea to people of Fiji.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Part 4</span></u></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rape of Government Machineries
<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Where are the investigative journalists
of Fiji to report on such blatant, shameful and gross abuse of power as I
detailed in my three previous articles? But I appreciate they have all been
bullied, gagged and muzzled by passage of shady and questionable Media laws,
and control over other government machineries to oppress and intimidate them to
enable the regime to continue with clowning the nation. FIJI HAS NO MEDIA
FREEDOM – LAPDOGS IN FIJI SUN AND FBC ARE REGIME PROPAGANDA MACHINES.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKqCogJOrDB3FaHXJEOTcylyCZkIElvV0A7V80sS-PhltK8T9n82XUffqNm1UMt8D1neuLV_v20_4tMuzRozpw2XJxHhS9DipVuinPzKiAwD83xaZCFSHOWxS9P2qWFjopa3zazQqyl3Br8_5Yytngsei5jnJ1nfmNIPI8tC5BuEQAz_h4ZnhsdG7bzg=s225" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKqCogJOrDB3FaHXJEOTcylyCZkIElvV0A7V80sS-PhltK8T9n82XUffqNm1UMt8D1neuLV_v20_4tMuzRozpw2XJxHhS9DipVuinPzKiAwD83xaZCFSHOWxS9P2qWFjopa3zazQqyl3Br8_5Yytngsei5jnJ1nfmNIPI8tC5BuEQAz_h4ZnhsdG7bzg=w640-h640" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Sitiveni Rabuka is the hope Fiji is seeking to rescue it from the evils which have engulfed it under the Fiji First Government. According to the latest polls, Rabuka's Peoples Coalition Party (PAP) would get the largest number of votes in the next election. Fiji hopes to welcome a change for the better.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Under
the AG, Fiji has been rendered as a dictatorial state, masquerading as a
democracy. All this while Bainimarama naps. Government institutions are abused,
misused and used cunningly to hurt the opponents. And in this process, this contaminates
and adulterates the epitome and the majestic principles of democracy: the fairness,
impartiality and neutrality of the three arms of the government: <b>JUD</b></span><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">ICIARY, LEGISLATURE and
EXECUTIVE</span></b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">They should not only be
independent of each other, but most importantly, also seen to be such. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sacking of Ashneel Sudhakar
with threats of framed-up jailing, the shameful framed up case at Nadi Airport
on a respected business executive, passage of special laws to benefit cronies
of the regime, sacking of Solicitor General Sharvada Sharma, deportation of USP
Vice Chancellor, continued banning of Professor Brij Lal and his innocent
family to the country of their birth, and appointment of a politically-aligned
President against the grain of the Constitution. These are only a few of the
multitudes of misdemeanour and abuse of power by the Fiji First Government,
supposedly under Bai, which would shame any respectable and civilised democracy.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Shockingly, now you can hardly
say which arm of government is which, as they appear to have been compromised,
and rendered as mistress of the Attorney General, while Bai doesn’t seem to
know what is happening. Water seems to have been grossly muddied, while
Bainimarama enjoys the benefits that come with the leadership, with his string
of relatives in lucrative positions, together with the AG’s. Fiji has indeed gone
so much down the tube since Bainimarama promised to clean it that his lies have
now become very obvious now. Fiji seems to have become many times dirtier than
when he removed SDL and Qarase in 2006 with the supposed objective of cleaning
it. Government machineries and those tasked to be watchdog of democracy are now
commandeered by the AG, who seems to have unabated control over them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Do the good citizens of Fiji wish
to see our beloved nation in this state? Do caring Fijians wish to leave such a
Fiji to our next generation? They will question our inertia and impotence in
time to come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWsARYoL2YEFHYyKXiBUJ5ye8uvqlN3KOWteBXxm94s60NlYdG-2S8FvikcXMc0OsXQRiKJ9v52WTk_UaRFcl-d8YPC1aTAUQuyvtnaLBj0REk7kkR27faxSwo95erRWIaLg60fyfJOtM1EqdGYcVsnCdgQlOifvXQEkGYMPt1FJyCqLdsnmVVPcT3ZA=s634" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="634" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWsARYoL2YEFHYyKXiBUJ5ye8uvqlN3KOWteBXxm94s60NlYdG-2S8FvikcXMc0OsXQRiKJ9v52WTk_UaRFcl-d8YPC1aTAUQuyvtnaLBj0REk7kkR27faxSwo95erRWIaLg60fyfJOtM1EqdGYcVsnCdgQlOifvXQEkGYMPt1FJyCqLdsnmVVPcT3ZA=w640-h328" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;">The two coup-makers who some refer to </b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>as "monsters</b></span><b style="color: red; font-size: large;">" who have hopes of getting the largest number of seats. Fiji has been shamed as a democracy under the rule of Fiji First. People seek a change which seems very difficult. But the argument put forward is that like in the fantasy movie Godzilla and Jurassic World, people have to depend on the good one to defeat the evil one. Fiji is hoping for the same : Rabuka's Peoples Alliance Party (PAP) to defeat Bainimarama's Fiji First.</b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Medical and Health Facilities<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The latest issue is with the health
of Fiji hospitals. We have an acutely deteriorating health service in the
country, while the top leaders (read Khaiyum and Bai) are flown to Australia or
Singapore for first class medical treatment, as our common people are left to die
in poorly - equipped and grossly-neglected medical services here. People are now
questioning whether Fiji Airways is used as personal transport for some
leaders. There are many people who are crying and grieving today because their
loved ones met untimely deaths in pathetically neglected Fiji hospitals, which
have gone to dogs, with lack of medicines, bed-sheets, basic equipment and care
and general run-down of the infrastructure under Fiji First.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm50fcYXjQCQaAzbtTxHqYdf83YOcut_PlZUKELlR5RdKQjIpIqZdZ7-2R1BWeLEjLp3JCHqlQ13LOvcACfSGi6IO2Hd_wI6Igr0WsPmh_qySoP9c4fDUHl5VqSkz_OkqI_aRHUkRZJHpE6SwqAI7xltHqguwyBucPAym_cD4VTyFnvmpDBkKWoqPhBg=s918" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="918" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgm50fcYXjQCQaAzbtTxHqYdf83YOcut_PlZUKELlR5RdKQjIpIqZdZ7-2R1BWeLEjLp3JCHqlQ13LOvcACfSGi6IO2Hd_wI6Igr0WsPmh_qySoP9c4fDUHl5VqSkz_OkqI_aRHUkRZJHpE6SwqAI7xltHqguwyBucPAym_cD4VTyFnvmpDBkKWoqPhBg=w640-h370" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">The two "monsters" of Jurassic World. In the end, the caged Good one was unleashed to fight over the evil one which was causing devastation and havoc for people. Same is the analogy in Fiji where we need the good one to defeat the evil one, and reclaim what is left of Fiji. Rabuka is compared with the good one. </span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have personally received
complains from many Fiji people in Auckland, lamenting at numerous untimely deaths
of their loved ones in grossly neglected Fiji hospitals, with me losing some
relatives this way as well where facilities and services in hospitals are criminally
pathetic, grossly underfunded and neglected while aid funds from overseas are
misused or corruptly converted to other less-prioritised facilities.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">I am told that CWM, once
well-equipped and a pride of Fiji now stinks of sewer as one goes to visit sick
relatives. Our common people die in neglected Fiji hospitals while the leaders
get first class treatment overseas.</span><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Shamima Ali, the bold critic of the regime has slammed Aiyaz Khaiyum and
Frank Bainimarama for getting their hearts fixed overseas while cardiac
patients in FIJI are left to fend for themselves with cardiac equipment at CWM
not working or inadequate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And in many cases, relatives
are denied viewing and access to the bodies because non-Covid deaths are
suddenly classed as Covid deaths and the bodies sealed at the whim of medical
offices and police. There are numerous cases like this, and it is a crying shame.
Many people I meet in New Zealand are so pleased to be here as they would have
died long time ago in Fiji because of their run-down health services. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While Fiji First has been
sleeping for the last 15 years, Rabuka of Peoples Coalition Party (PAP) has
pledged that they would set up a permanent cardiac service facility and look at
National Health Scheme. They would ask Doctor Vijay Kapadia, who is a Fiji-born
General and Intervention Cardiologist based at the Gold Coast University
Hospital in Australia, to help with the setting up at the CWM Hospital a
permanent, well-equipped cardiac service facility, staffed by top local
professionals. There are other former Fiji medical experts wishing to lend a
hand but the neglect by Fiji First, their corrupt practices <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and overbearing attitudes have made them
reluctant to help.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #050505;"> </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #050505; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjgPxR86B2nIeSV7LJGmAGbUUmV2YOTdsO2Plg3FzitdWXxiaU49JM31FarN2-68wLajJSIwG9q4uhZxXNzjZWPuy4LQFRhEvXmcS0mROzffaScqkvEppcLmw8AHHklq9Zh1BKvlN_E4Is06xpBzHYV2AiEnVOyYIhoODS4gj4aSoIx6RAymB1gcD9iQ=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjgPxR86B2nIeSV7LJGmAGbUUmV2YOTdsO2Plg3FzitdWXxiaU49JM31FarN2-68wLajJSIwG9q4uhZxXNzjZWPuy4LQFRhEvXmcS0mROzffaScqkvEppcLmw8AHHklq9Zh1BKvlN_E4Is06xpBzHYV2AiEnVOyYIhoODS4gj4aSoIx6RAymB1gcD9iQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">As has been revealed in the chain of articles, Bainimarama seems asleep while Khaiyum (left) is considered the real mover and shaker, and the PM of Fiji. A vote for Fiji First means a vote for Khaiyum, and the continuation of the rot and the same evil in Fiji for the next 5 years.</span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have been told that
presently the best medical facilities, and neat and clean hospital in Fiji is
Wainibokasi Hospital, in a dusty, rustic, rural district of Rewa. This is
because it is left in care of some private citizens and not dependent on
services and management by a very wanting medical department and Ministry
headed by Minister who may nor know the difference or similarity between
Panadol, Tylenol and Paracetamol, despite a qualified doctor MP who could have
been a better Minister of Health. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">How long will our people keep
on dying and blame their fate, rather than the undeserving, careless and
heartless leaders who are flown overseas (by Fiji Airways?) for their heart
treatment? Isn’t it time to honour the memories of those who were “murdered’, untimely
died at dying hospital services and neglected health system, honour their
memories and change the leaders - AND THE GOVERNMENT?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A call to good, caring people
to change the Government<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have said a great deal -
much of it unsaid by any Fijian journalist not because of their lack of guts,
but because media in Fiji have also been rendered as lap dogs, or paltu kutta
of Fiji First. Specially-designed draconian media laws and other institutions
infiltrated with other pooch discourage any journalist to stand up to the regime.
My heart is crying out for Fiji, my country, a country which my Girmitiya
forebears worked to make into a paradise. But it seems to be a paradise lost - unless
we do something positive to reclaim it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVgyQVS0--e8T20yszrRRNW5cABzjKHKH8yWQpnp9w9GngAxWMdNX7GxZZ5NV4WyVahRRev-bovsfLMzsWqC1twFGQQsgiBwiL86_BWDt0iIrdDEiYjzRW386TQ5TGohFsdI1sbFAooRxZXE_ydsbshXCkkh4-pBThe9EVfd1JOHmaRpFZ0k-LzHa-ig=s285" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="285" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVgyQVS0--e8T20yszrRRNW5cABzjKHKH8yWQpnp9w9GngAxWMdNX7GxZZ5NV4WyVahRRev-bovsfLMzsWqC1twFGQQsgiBwiL86_BWDt0iIrdDEiYjzRW386TQ5TGohFsdI1sbFAooRxZXE_ydsbshXCkkh4-pBThe9EVfd1JOHmaRpFZ0k-LzHa-ig=w640-h397" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>CWM Hospital, once a pride of Fiji is now in a rotten state and smells of faeces and sewerage. The poor care, underfunding, neglect, incompetency of the Minister, the Health Ministry and Fiji First government's lack of priority on medical services have been causing untimely death of people without receiving basic care and </b><b>facilities</b><b>. All these while the leaders fly overseas for medical care as common people die in sick hospitals.</b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With such a depressing state
of Fiji, I am reminded of two well said quotations by great people:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">FOR EVEIL TO TRIUPH, IT ONLY
TAKES GOOD PEOPLE TO DO NOTHING. </span></b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">And the second one is:<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE HOTTEST PLACE IN HELL IS
RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN NEUTRAL IN TIMES OF GREAT MORAL CONFLICT.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I rest my case. But yours is
still pending. Please choose wisely for the sake of our beloved Fiji - <b>and
do not remain neutral.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Therefore, for the sake of my
birthplace and the country I love, I have to make a choice between two leaders,
and for the sake of future generations in Fiji, <b>I WILL VOTE FOR A CHANGE – I
WILL VOTE FOR A REFORMED SITIVENI RABUKA.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The good GODZILLA against an
evil one<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">People question why I am
supporting Rabuka, another coup maker. My answer is that I am being pragmatic,
realistic, logical and practical. What choice have we got? There is no hope for
any “clean” newcomers, most hardly scraping above 5% threshold. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that enough to rid Fiji
of the curse of Khaiyum and Fiji First? NO.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br />
<br />
We will take refuge in recent fantasy movies on evils we had: GODZILLA -THE
MONSTER KING, and JURASSIC WORLD. In them, there was a bigger threat from a
bigger evil, but the help came from the same type, same species, but more
loving, compassionate and likeable creature to win the day for humanity, in
getting rid of that evil</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br />
<br />
Fiji needs the same. It has a manipulated evil monster leading Fiji First,
which in reality is in the clutches of Khaiyum. As outlined in my series of
articles, they are causing devastation, suffering and shame in Fiji. Our only
hope lies in unleashing the kinder of that kind, a reformed “monster”, the
original coup-maker who has reformed and repented, a compassionate leader,
wishing to listen and redeem his sins of 1987, to rescue Fiji from the doldrums
and the current crisis.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgGPY--jdvj6i09bJGbV_60s_vrtRaOHJiag1IrnnEhkCkeolDbVkku1GdwScEIdlYPcMCQhKgKNXtMaDYgRyQ1N4M-VDQS0tuur7pzYl6WdppvSA5hgSbl3VKYZbSFgoCP_4fKESFdw-OqUauhCcwTDhf4WailJ70NbvaaaH0mTShGhQEc0HuyjMAKw=s1500" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1184" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjgGPY--jdvj6i09bJGbV_60s_vrtRaOHJiag1IrnnEhkCkeolDbVkku1GdwScEIdlYPcMCQhKgKNXtMaDYgRyQ1N4M-VDQS0tuur7pzYl6WdppvSA5hgSbl3VKYZbSFgoCP_4fKESFdw-OqUauhCcwTDhf4WailJ70NbvaaaH0mTShGhQEc0HuyjMAKw=w506-h640" width="506" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>When two monsters are there, and it is beyond common people to defeat them, it is best to depend on the good one of this creature to beat the evil one. This was the case in the movie Godzilla where the good one saves the day. Similar is the case in Fiji and we depend on the good one, Rabuka to come to our rescue.</b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">And that is </span><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">Sitiveni Rabuka</b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">, the good one.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">
<br />
So, that is the choice, between the evil and the good. If you are unable to
forgive, then keep on being sour, vindictive and unforgiving, while the same
evil takes over Fiji for the next five years. Do you want that? Vindictiveness
and being unforgiving is a lazy form of grieving for the wrongs done in the
past. Wake up Fiji, especially Fiji Indians, be pragmatic, as seek refuge in
the good Godzilla</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br />
<br />
The choice is yours.</span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes, once I thought Rabuka was
evil, later lesser evil as most of unforgiving Fiji Indian community may think,
but I now completely believe he is the best alternative to rescue Fiji from the
gutters. So much that, if situation were different and I was able to fulfil the
requirements, I would have applied for a seat in Rabuka’s Peoples Alliance
Party (PAP) and fought the election. That may happen in the following election
in 2027 when I would be the age Rabuka is now. Or help my beloved Fiji reclaim
its lost glory in other ways - certainly as a better speech-writer than Khaiyum
is to Bai.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I would urge my Fiji Indian
voters to pragmatically look where we have gone. Do you wish your relatives to
continue dying in rotting and ill-equipped Ba Mission Hospital, Lautoka, Sigatoka,
Nadi, Labasa, Navua and other hospitals, most importantly at CWM, once the icon
of service and quality, but now degraded to a morgue and sewer smelling ghetto?
Please make your choice, and do not then blame others. Ignore the voices and ill-conceived
support of Sanatan Pratinidhi Sabha, Muslim League, Arya Samaj and others to
the evils in Fiji. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">YOU DECIDE, IT IS FUTURE OF
YOUR LOVED ONES. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I plead Fiji Indians and
others supporting Fiji First to review their positions in light of the
quotations above. It is no longer sensible to blame your fate. People of Fiji
need to become angry - so angry that they replace undesirable leaders, and
bring a change. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rabuka is that change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfM9kDB_XagIOPmB9zKhzjRFgQ8y_n8kvOrgmKI87eX5Ge8eJLtJJ-Z02JL8_Ge6hAJJFi1FP21RXZTJBxs5th93aOaN6KDRhcgnWyAowDcKP1zfZsmrC-vfWOXYnudjrDAm8YzwOSLUxU2NHwbn7RGC7pmwFFlmzaw2XSsBzrPmoSdAmUVr0OHuQ5qw=s225" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="224" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfM9kDB_XagIOPmB9zKhzjRFgQ8y_n8kvOrgmKI87eX5Ge8eJLtJJ-Z02JL8_Ge6hAJJFi1FP21RXZTJBxs5th93aOaN6KDRhcgnWyAowDcKP1zfZsmrC-vfWOXYnudjrDAm8YzwOSLUxU2NHwbn7RGC7pmwFFlmzaw2XSsBzrPmoSdAmUVr0OHuQ5qw=w637-h640" width="637" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;">SITIVENI RABUKA - the hope Fijians have to rescue them from the clutches of Fiji First which is run by Khaiyum, who is the surrogate PM of Fiji. A vote for Bainimarama is a vote for Khaiyum, and the continuing devastation of Fiji for the next 5 years.</b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A vote for Bainimarama or Fiji
First is a vote for Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, and same hell for the next 5 years. Do
you want that? You decide what the country deserves - and vote from your heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">I will vote for Rabuka</span></b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">, for the sake of Fiji, and
vote for the one who can give us<b> democracy that delivers social justice and
equality for all - and I honestly believe, Rabuka is that man standing now.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Go ahead, make my day –<b> </b>VOTE
FOR A CHANGE – VOTE IN A MORE DESERVING AND CHANGED MAN- <b>RABUKA.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let the good GODZILLA or the good
dinosaur from JURRASIC WORLD help us rescue and save what is left of Fiji.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk94129437"><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is former Publisher of
Fiji’s Daily Post newspaper, which Qarase and SDL regime ordered shut. Thakur
was fired and removed from positions by two diametrically opposed Prime
Ministers: Chaudhry and Qarase. This was for speaking the truth and being too
frank and not mincing his words, as he is doing so here again. He is a media
commentator, a journalist and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT. </span></span></b></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">E-mail: </span></b></span><a href="mailto:thakurjifj@gmail.com" style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">thakurjifj@gmail.com</span></b></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">]</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94129437;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94129437;"></span>
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F0F2F5; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-1544578585166025692022-01-27T03:29:00.004-08:002022-01-27T12:51:03.679-08:00PART 3: THE THUGS OF FIJI: THE NEED TO VOTE OUT THE BRUTES FROM FIJI GOVERNMENT<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">THE THUGS OF FIJI: THE NEED TO VOTE FOR A CHANGE
TO REMOVE THE BRUTES FROM FIJI GOVERNMENT</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Thakur Ranjit Singh</span></b><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">A Summary of Parts 1 and 2:</span></u></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">I gave reasons as to why, after being an ardent supporter of
Bainimarama, I started supporting Rabuka, who I saw as a reformed man after he
repented his sins of 1987. Now he has matured, apologized and is a changed man
who seems to be a distant shadow of his young 1987 soldier who blindly heeded
calls of his Chiefs. Now he seems to listen to his conscience, is in control of
himself and not a puppet of somebody else. Fiji now needs him to rescue what is
left of it.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">On the other hand, Bainimarama was seen as good man until he was
manipulated and badly influenced by Khaiyum. It would appear Bainimarama has
abdicated his position of PM to Khaiyum, who had adulterated and abused most of
Fiji’s institutions, which seem to be his prostitutes and mistresses - he can
use and abuse them to achieve anything. Good governance and respect for the
once august institutions have gone down the rabbit hole, Fiji has gone to the dogs,
and needs rescuing. After reading Part 3, you will realize Fiji is ruled by
bullying thugs, and why we need a change. We continue with the justification to
rescue Fiji from this rot. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnz4RlS4ZA1fmbGYC6Awq480oLBqZLb9HMFTSDRU3U-wnKxSqM0-SRUGJrcCI29L13DMmhIZTEAxd2S1y8sv-Ps35UBKywrsg3Ha2Fa0k6b--1Xly6nmta-TYJtAVXeYSKSdUbaDGpCKQp-UKNDK6zRG3aj7Quj8yDe65qdusBP7ylI-BsQ4giFR8Nwg=s313" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="313" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnz4RlS4ZA1fmbGYC6Awq480oLBqZLb9HMFTSDRU3U-wnKxSqM0-SRUGJrcCI29L13DMmhIZTEAxd2S1y8sv-Ps35UBKywrsg3Ha2Fa0k6b--1Xly6nmta-TYJtAVXeYSKSdUbaDGpCKQp-UKNDK6zRG3aj7Quj8yDe65qdusBP7ylI-BsQ4giFR8Nwg=w640-h329" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Khaiyum and Bainimarama - together they have formed a partnership that has sunk the nation to the lowest level where Fiji needs to be rescued from the rabbit-hole, and Rabuka seems to be that person standing now.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">I intended to conclude with Part 3, but there was so much to say that I
was urged to conclude this series of article with an additional Part. Therefore,
here is Part 3, to be concluded with Part 4, coming later.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Part 3</span></u></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">We mentioned trolls of Khaiyum and Fiji First. Reportedly this is run by
<b>Vatis </b>whose director is reported to be <b>Arnold Chanel</b>. The other
prominent shareholder of Vatis is reportedly <b>Damian Whippy</b>. I am not
sure which one is Max Ram - he appears to be one of them or another close
relative of Khaiyum. Max may wish to clear his illegitimacy by showing his face
and prove, how, like Professor Brij Lal, armed with a pen, this Thakur can be a
threat to Fiji’s democracy, (if you can call it that), protected by almost 100%
Itaukei soldiers armed with deadly weapons? Maybe it is time for Fiji First to
employ more intelligent trolls and spin doctor than University kids like this
Max Ram impostor, and the other crowd at Vatis.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">It also seems Fiji First has learnt from James
Bond movies and</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"> </span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">call on honey
– traps, the women who lure and “hook” their targets. The “enemies “are framed
on sexual harassment cases as a way to remove them from the way or convict
them. This is where, as in Bond movies, easy-going, easily-led and submissive questionable
females are used to “hook”, falsely frame and distract the victims, until his
demise. Are Ashneel Sudhakar and a prominent respected business executive victims
of this? Please read below:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">ENEMY 1 – Ashneel Sudhakar, former
Lands Minister– “Honey Trap” 1 - the Pakistani connection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">I am going to reveal the real
reason why a Minister (Ashneel Sudhakar) was forced to resign and a Senior
Business Executive was wrongfully charged for indecently annoying a person
through viber messages which was fabricated and had no substance which resulted
in his acquittal in probably the fastest trial ever in Fijian history.</span><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMDcc-7UCpGF9W9LazgYee77R2SjKVLr-decq1fX1KDoGW_7q-NxuwBgLXbsFsOvQ2cKBw0WTv_Ngkfdx2571Xchfb4NU7RFeX7raiy_mMQ08IPgjXmAwpkkPkekVle0_9-5P9KwJFaB-iuvXPL3KC2Cy49xtIDNh7-3AuhcIfqqZdWSGPAzSJh7TuTw=s750" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="750" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMDcc-7UCpGF9W9LazgYee77R2SjKVLr-decq1fX1KDoGW_7q-NxuwBgLXbsFsOvQ2cKBw0WTv_Ngkfdx2571Xchfb4NU7RFeX7raiy_mMQ08IPgjXmAwpkkPkekVle0_9-5P9KwJFaB-iuvXPL3KC2Cy49xtIDNh7-3AuhcIfqqZdWSGPAzSJh7TuTw=w640-h344" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Ashneel Sudhakar, former Minister of Lands who became Enemy Number 1 for Khaiyum as he became an obstacle in questionable land dealings by friends and cronies of the Attorney General, and needed to be removed by hook or crook - or thuggery.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></b><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Enemy 1, Ashneel Sudhakar’s
story will come up in greater detail in FIJI PUNDIT later, but the synopsis is
that this was an orchestrated move to remove an honest Minister who was seen as
an obstacle in the scheme of AG Khaiyum from granting special favours in
rewarding his cronies by allocating land in not such a legal manner, mostly to
people of his own belief. But the bigger reason was that the next AG’s man, standing
in the queue to be rewarded, was Faiyaz Koya who had already packed his bags at
his land development office to shift in as a Fiji First MP even before
“dismissal” of Sudhakar. People need to realise that Faiyaz's brother Faizal Koya, who stood under NFP banner received more votes than Khaiyum's Minister friend in Fiji First.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hence it was important for AG to
bully, intimidate and frame Sudhakar to “resign” which really was a dismissal
over a framed-up matter, to make way for his friend, and quest to populate the
government with his people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background: rgb(228, 230, 235); color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The shocking reality, but not surprising is that Khaiyum had him
dismissed by Bainimarama from the Lands Minister post. Bai issued a dismissal
letter. Khaiyum then forced Ashneel to resign from Fiji First Party very
fittingly and appropriately, which suited his decorum and demeanour. He appears
to have virtually stolen a script from a Bollywood movie, the dialogue of the
villain or the bad fella, like Amjad Khan. Khaiyum mouths the dialogue of such
a character from Bollywood, by reportedly threatening Sudhakar as a Gabbar
Singh that "<b><i>if you are arrested and detained then anything can
happen to your mother who stays alone on the farm"...</i></b>These
reportedly were Khaiyum’ s exact words. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background: rgb(228, 230, 235); color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYMyiWpGXLRWdszIGNHBH_eKuAChaizE5xqPRc3VBlozn7JXLBFafGoH3GJ9k-YUXuyeobFA6zH8PLMOUkq-M7Uk5JpCJH0AWcmLdskL3zpp1P3zY6SmOrrOAzpwefXKJL6m-1u3aevGHwXXMKD9OttsXeAnIJKYVj5i84msI7Svd3Ma3rDGt6Gztexg=s960" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYMyiWpGXLRWdszIGNHBH_eKuAChaizE5xqPRc3VBlozn7JXLBFafGoH3GJ9k-YUXuyeobFA6zH8PLMOUkq-M7Uk5JpCJH0AWcmLdskL3zpp1P3zY6SmOrrOAzpwefXKJL6m-1u3aevGHwXXMKD9OttsXeAnIJKYVj5i84msI7Svd3Ma3rDGt6Gztexg=w640-h360" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">When two thugs of Fiji, Khaiyum and Bainimarama had to get rid of their Lands Minister, Ashneel (extreme left) for ulterior motives because he was too honest for sneaky deals of the Fiji First Government. He had to be removed. Bainimarama sacked him from Cabinet while Khaiyum bullied him by threating his mother, and forced him to resign from Fiji First, hence vacating his seat and making way for Faiyaz Koya. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background: rgb(228, 230, 235); color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">People of Fiji need to know the types of thugs running Fiji First. I
know Ashneel’ s mother for over five decades, she is my friend’s elder sister,
and hence mine as well. She stays in my locality near Rarawai, Dam, Ba Fiji.
She is wife of a prominent teacher and stalwart of Arya Samaj and Fiji Labour
Party in Ba. I implore people of Ba to get angry, and show some spine. The Arya
Samaj and Sanatan should stop being Fiji First lapdogs, feeding on Khaiyum’ s
crumps. Have some self-respect, if not for yourselves, then at least for those saints
and sages who started your respective organisations. Stop prostituting your
once respected organisations. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background: rgb(228, 230, 235); color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: rgb(228, 230, 235); color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Will people of Ba stand idle to see their mother, sister and daughter
being used as an item of blackmail and threat by Fiji’s Attorney General, Aiyaz
Sayed Khaiyum? She was subject of threat with harm if her son does not resign
from Fiji First, thus losing his seat to be gifted to his friend, Faiyaz Koya?
So, now you know who is the bigger evil and who not to vote for. Go ahead, make
my day, remove the undesirables from the government. In doing so,, and bring in
Rabuka who has become a <i>Sadhu</i> (Saintly) while a once supposedly good
person, Bai and Fiji First, have become <i>shaitaan,</i> the devils and thugs,
threatening our mothers and sisters to achieve their ulterior motives.</span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And as in Bond and Bollywood
movies, you need a woman on the side of the villain, and Bai needed a reason to
sack Ashneel. Here, Khaiyum presented a Pakistani woman as the “bait”, reportedly
well-connected with Koya, who had most to gain from Ashneel’ s departure. This
complaint of a framed-up sexual harassment case was never challenged or proven
in a credible court of law. Surprise, surprise- she works for the law firm
handling AG’s personal cases and which “inappropriately” has been gifted
lucrative government cases. In a wider context, this was use of “honey-trap” to
make way for AG’s close friend, Faiyaz Koya, who was reportedly shoulder-tapped
by AG to stand for Fiji First. Hence, he was obliged to reward him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another related issue here is
that after unceremonious dumping of the Solicitor General, Sharvada Sharma, and
lack of qualified lawyers at that office, this same favoured law firm where the
Pakistani complainant works, was given government jobs without any usual
transparent tendering process. More light on Sudhakar case will be shed once it
hits the Courts, but FIJI PUNDIT will do a preview. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcZnmXLk5SGPqgatz3A9rUlNAw4tn9LJfmiFPQyXkif1nPMNtH12WjRsuOXKQjwesBCSkOUZDvOOwx8WM_3TSWoyHtlIZtb3kXUB4DUy4hTPdOAQ945lRbmXDTb8sgtewbVRomD4Mk-i2A7VO0JDNk-qG-DgseUI33bUMEUs-LzEthtlReDpn7gXsNoQ=s225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcZnmXLk5SGPqgatz3A9rUlNAw4tn9LJfmiFPQyXkif1nPMNtH12WjRsuOXKQjwesBCSkOUZDvOOwx8WM_3TSWoyHtlIZtb3kXUB4DUy4hTPdOAQ945lRbmXDTb8sgtewbVRomD4Mk-i2A7VO0JDNk-qG-DgseUI33bUMEUs-LzEthtlReDpn7gXsNoQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The only man standing who is a real competition to the current regime, with all hopes of rescuing Fiji from thuggery of Fiji First, as revealed by this article. Rabuka appears to be the only possible hope to rid Fiji of the evils of those who have commandeered Government machineries for their personal benefits. Best wishes and my vote goes to Rabuka.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Shocked? Take a break and now
let’s go to Enemy 2 and the second ‘honey -trap.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a name="_Hlk94025383"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Enemy 2 – A well-respected business executive – “Honey Trap” 2 - the
Fiji Indian-the Labasa connection<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94025383;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94025383;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Reportedly,
the second enemy of Faiyaz Koya and Ananth Reddy was the Chairman of Denarau
Island, a well-respected business executive who held significant positions in
the private sector. Reddy is owner of Denarau Waters and a Fiji First financial
supporter, who also shared enmity with Ashneel because the honest Lands
Minister was an obstacle in his dubious land deals. This is when Koya turned to
Aiyaz Khaiyum’ s aunty for assistance. Aiyaz’s aunt is running an Accounting
practice in a prominent building in the heart of the city. It is believed that
her constantly not paying her landlord rent always resulted in demands and
eviction notices. The representative of the landlord was the enemy number 2 of
Koya and Ananth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94025383;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94025383;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
plot and conspiracy of framing charges against the enemy number 2 widened where
a major shareholder of Fiji Care got involved as this individual was evicted
from a shareholding in a hospital business with the same landlord as Aiyaz’s
aunty. The conspiracy resulted in the hiring of a former female employee of the
hospital who was terminated for serious malpractice and unethical behaviour.
The lady from Labasa was assured employment by the Fiji Care executive in
exchange for making false accusations against enemy number 2. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94025383;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94025383;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Enemy
2 was apprehended in Nadi as he was leaving on his scheduled trips to New
Zealand by the Police in the early hours of the morning. Charges were laid and
the two magistrates that heard the case were appalled by the lack of merit,
statute of limitations and generally the manner the case was handled. Enemy 2’s
case was acquitted. The Magistrate had given the prosecution a real ear-bashing
and expressed her disappointment in the manner the matter was handled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94025383;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94025383;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Enemy
2 is understood to have retired from his roles and migrated. The irony of the
matter is that the lady complainant is now an employee of the Fiji Care
executive and is also given a fully furnished rental apartment as a reward; certainly,
a bundle of cash was part of the deal. Aiyaz was so annoyed that in Parliament
he expressed his disappointment that the Executive got away! Aiyaz as the AG
should be looking at the inhuman behaviour of the Police who wrongfully charged
the Executive rather than behaving like a child who lost his marbles! <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94025383;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOVveVVQoLeYkRafPUmmj-BOonHeppyfdrUc5dVqZqDLhO3yjSHaRoUps2hhIn4QaaSJFLhCwhoZDAVGdrO6u41XDrihME4btnUKF4MDqxVGiS-R_0dmhvebj3HWo9OabJe0nJm-DOZxFztYwvD0igNU7544WDsIIovDyJ7KJXcjBT66PumhCyoLko0g=s299" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOVveVVQoLeYkRafPUmmj-BOonHeppyfdrUc5dVqZqDLhO3yjSHaRoUps2hhIn4QaaSJFLhCwhoZDAVGdrO6u41XDrihME4btnUKF4MDqxVGiS-R_0dmhvebj3HWo9OabJe0nJm-DOZxFztYwvD0igNU7544WDsIIovDyJ7KJXcjBT66PumhCyoLko0g=w640-h360" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Faiyaz Koya, a close friend of Aiyaz Khaiyum. He was shoulder-tapped to stand for Fiji First in election but did not make it to the parliament in the last election. Hence, a way had to be found to make space for him. The convenient way was to frame Ashneel Sudhakar on a trumped -up sexual harassment charge, and bully him to resign. Hurray, and Faiyaz is now a Minister, thanks to his close mate, the other rhymingly named friend, Aiyaz - AG, the real PM of Fiji.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94025383;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
irony of this is that anyone being charged is innocent until proven guilty.
Aiyaz ranted away in a manner that the Executive was guilty when his own
judiciary acquitted the Executive. In Hinduism it is widely believed that if
you mess with the innocent Brahmans and God-fearing individuals, you pay a
price. The Solicitor General, Sharvada Sharma, the Senior Executive and the
former late Solicitor General, Nainendra Nand are all God fearing and highly
respected. The PM and AG are living a miserable life now with all their
ailments; it could be the Brahman curse!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94025383;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94025383;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As
they say, Karma is a bitch and will ultimately bite the ass. Fiji today is
crying because thugs seem to be in control of the paradise which we seem to
have lost.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94025383;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk94025383;"></span>
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cry beloved Fiji – the good
Fiji people need to wipe off tears of the country by bringing in the change
that Fiji deserves. Vote for Rabuka - I will.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">See you in equally shocking,
concluding PART 4 - coming shortly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">[About
the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is former Publisher of Fiji’s Daily Post
newspaper, which Qarase and SDL regime ordered shut. Thakur was fired and
removed from positions by two diametrically opposed Prime Ministers: Chaudhry
and Qarase. This was for speaking the truth and being too frank and not mincing
his words, and he is doing so here again. He is a media commentator, a
journalist and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT. E-mail: <a href="mailto:thakurjifj@gmail.com">thakurjifj@gmail.com</a> ]<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-61143788925655680502022-01-22T02:21:00.000-08:002022-01-22T02:21:16.015-08:00PART 2: WHEN BAINIMARAMA ABDICATES HIS PM POSITION TO KHAIYUM<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PART 2: WHEN BAINIMARAMA ABDICATES
HIS PM POSITION TO KHAIYUM<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thakur Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><u><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A Summary of Part 1: <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In Part 1, we told of the two
choices between Rabuka and Bainimarama for the upcoming election, and how
Rabuka reformed into a gentleman after apologising and repenting his sins of
1987. On the other hand, Bainimarama was a good noble man when he removed Qarase
in 2006, promising to clean up Fiji. Then I was his ardent supporter for the
good things he promised. However, Bainimarama started changing and I changed my
views on him since Khaiyum came on board and Bainimarama started to change for
the worse through bad advice, bad direction and bad influence. The story
continues in Part 2….<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><u><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PART 2<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since Bainimarama’s abdication
of Prime Ministership seat of the country to his Attorney General (AG), Aiyaz
Sayed-Khaiyum, Fiji has really gone to the dogs and became a country of shame,
abusing its democratic principles under one-man rule. Democratic institutions
were raped. Special laws were passed either to reward cronies or punish or
remove opponents. This is unheard of in any civilised democracy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5g4EPJOJI2RRhiZljiv26YGAfgxv92wy7tC0T1asKKzKT1XdTb1cIabmRwTSnNEiXTwT9xx_K97wAqJs8Z_5Ff2BQE8jRuaQAZlkqqTbNBiYctMgUUM0pz7ghDXRp-CQFTra6hcNIHcQJtvIjqlrpOzlIo2ZbvvLNp1bVZjTnFNfB6E0lcd_Ol-4bCA=s1600" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5g4EPJOJI2RRhiZljiv26YGAfgxv92wy7tC0T1asKKzKT1XdTb1cIabmRwTSnNEiXTwT9xx_K97wAqJs8Z_5Ff2BQE8jRuaQAZlkqqTbNBiYctMgUUM0pz7ghDXRp-CQFTra6hcNIHcQJtvIjqlrpOzlIo2ZbvvLNp1bVZjTnFNfB6E0lcd_Ol-4bCA=w640-h640" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Welcome to the real Prime Minister of Fiji, Khaiyum (left) while Bainimarama (right) seems to have abdicated his position and power, and lost control of Fiji. Khaiyum seems to make all the decisions, and institutions of the country seem to have become his personal man-servants which bow down to him. The neutrality and the independence of the JUCIARY, LEGISLATURE and EXECUTIVE no longer exists, as all are at the disposal of the real mover and shaker, commandeered for his use - and abuse. Read this article to see how.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Fiji needs to be rescued – we
owe it to our new generation. I don’t have to enumerate the list of nepotism,
nepotist corruption, bad practices, rape of democratic principles and other
issues </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">when some media also appear to have become AG’s lapdogs - paltu kutta.</span><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> Propaganda Model, the theory of media I studied in media school became
reality where media that benefit from government suck up to the regime and
become its marketing machine, and hence spread propaganda for its leaders and turn
into a weapon for the opponents. Under the Propaganda Model of media, some
media benefitting from a government degenerate as cheerleader of them and
renders into a mere business where journalism becomes a prostitute of those in
power.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Fiji now has unprecedented levels of poverty, decaying infrastructure as
evidenced by frequent water cuts and power outages, assault on human rights, silenced
and bullied media, extraordinarily high levels of external debt, blatant
nepotism, religious- skewed favours and mismanagement at all levels. And some
media do not report the bare facts. Others are gagged with designed legislation
and other threats. Media freedom, apart from other freedoms, have also become
mistress of the regime. Fiji had never descended so low.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">I seem
to have angered a group of Facebook imposters, led by a faceless Max Ram and
joined by other trolls from Fiji First, who have gone dirty, involving my
family in the equation. It can only come from a certain group of people associated
with Fiji First and those close to them. My intelligence tells me this is from
a group of young University people earning very lucrative money by doing public
relations (PR) jobs facilitated by Fiji First, made up of some USP dropouts and
associates and friends of the regime. And that includes some relatives of those
nearer to the power as well, and your guess is as good as mine, as to who they
are. It reflects on the level of dirtiness to which Bainimarama’s Party has
degenerated into, and more the reason why they have to be removed. And now they
are accusing me of being an Anti-Muslim.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">This
so-called Max Ram names me as a “</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">new player, a strong critic of Bainimarama government residing in NZ,
anti-Islamic, on Fijis stop departure joins the growing list of insurgents
trying to overthrow a democratic elected govt of Fiji.” What a joke.</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">It appears these people create fake Facebook accounts and accuse and
hound anybody who is seen as a threat to AG or the Fiji First, or who dare to
comment about nepotism related to the Muslim equation. They are doing this to
me personally, and wish to silence me through intimidation, accusing me of
religion-bashing. Because of this bullying, many are scared from speaking about
the Islamic factor in Fiji since Bainimarama has abdicated his position to his
deputy who has unashamedly favored people of his faith. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipki_agVpvoK6lFqGMZs26n-oRCTvYOKWIfVIO5pqerTMHd2Dcubwh5WGGM7ADSDTZ8wTpT-xLVpNs5fg4ERJJWUYpuHEpHCDbyEsUysd5ys87MfKi1ShZYnIaaJRE9OR5L94sPYBKx78cY8NXbBiczxOJigBC7mEbSXrPhTdn5xQx3SDgqzzPmGFAbw=s225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipki_agVpvoK6lFqGMZs26n-oRCTvYOKWIfVIO5pqerTMHd2Dcubwh5WGGM7ADSDTZ8wTpT-xLVpNs5fg4ERJJWUYpuHEpHCDbyEsUysd5ys87MfKi1ShZYnIaaJRE9OR5L94sPYBKx78cY8NXbBiczxOJigBC7mEbSXrPhTdn5xQx3SDgqzzPmGFAbw=w400-h400" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>"Don't worry, Sir, I will take care of Fiji while you are overseas," says Khaiyum. And Bainimarama has been spending much time overseas, earning healthy per diems, while Khaiyum is free to run Fiji at his whims.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></b></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">The latest Bollywood Akshay Kumar blockbuster, “Sooryavanshi” has
revealed how potential terrorists from Pakistan infiltrate India as sleeping
cells, coming in guise of cricket players and supporters, assume profiles as
Hindus, marry their women, settle down, as they look the same, speak the
language and hide as Hindus until called in for terror actions against the host
country. Somewhat similar seems to be the fate of Fiji when it seems some
Muslims have adopted fake Facebook Hindu names, namely this Max Ram, who then
try to discredit any critics and go dirty as expected, and try to tarnish name
and drag the family as well. Fiji was never been this low.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Little do these puppies of Fiji First realize that this Thakur survived
despise, punishment and hatred of two diametrically opposed Prime Ministers of
Fiji between 2000 and 2003, who today are lying on scrap heaps of Fiji’s
political history. (You guess who they are). Let the third one and his greaser
boys try.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmF-LYj_xIqlS77XH5rn_9Pm0DTKZ4pdOeZio89jqImziHRbcpTpXbYZOOnAIKKYGzkO00QRzHg_Y0HcWLDIJy6n792ZZRvxwAkYAZGw1FZPUgjzd3VQhvRv9JoD8OawcN2T4wvEhalVMids9LWzWi2Au-AUzeCpH89h64uNuT7gGyTA71Rgd1aMnOXw=s240" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmF-LYj_xIqlS77XH5rn_9Pm0DTKZ4pdOeZio89jqImziHRbcpTpXbYZOOnAIKKYGzkO00QRzHg_Y0HcWLDIJy6n792ZZRvxwAkYAZGw1FZPUgjzd3VQhvRv9JoD8OawcN2T4wvEhalVMids9LWzWi2Au-AUzeCpH89h64uNuT7gGyTA71Rgd1aMnOXw=w400-h400" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>"Look here, I removed the corrupt leader to clean up Fiji, and no Army Officer will gain out of this removal" he promised in 2006, when he removed Qarase. However in the last 15 years, Fiji seems to be in deeper dirt and depth now than it was in 2006. He seems to have forgotten his promise, started enjoying the baubles and benefits of the office and seems to have abdicated his office to his deputy. </b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Another matter of concern on this regime is adulteration of our
Immigration department which would need urgent enquiry and cleansing once Fiji
is rescued from Fiji First abuse. And like the plot of “Sooryavanshi”, we concerned
Fiji born citizens need to ask, how many Bangladeshis and Pakistanis have been
allowed to enter Fiji, assume Fiji Indian identity, run businesses, have Fiji
passports and vote for Fiji First? When last year a murder took place in my
village in Rarawai, Ba where a Bangladeshi killed two of his countrymen, only then
did we realized they have been living among us as our village people.
Reportedly many are settled in the Western division and some run businesses, do
farming and have market stalls in Ba, Lautoka and other markets in the Western
division. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">I was talking to a friend of mine in Ba and he mentioned he saw some
people on the street who looked Indian, he spoke and found the accent unusual.
Upon enquiry, he was told that this guy was from ‘Bangladesh” and my friend
thought he was from such a named settlement near Yalalevu, in Ba, Fiji. No,
said this guy, “me from country of Bangladesh, former West Pakistan, near
India.” Similar stories are also in Lautoka, Nadi and other areas in the West
as well. I wonder how many of such “foreigners” have been fast-tracked as Fiji
citizens who will undoubtedly vote Fiji First in the election. What an
immigration scandal we have on our hands, with Khaiyum in the driver’s seat while
Bainimarama naps.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkch1xWZrT3jOSlfbKv3mXM1yqKP5J7vGVMUwPgg_m0O6GBYqNBRaU7HcdqAxjvINlRe7TeB_iEbl2VkF0uA4lg-48GhDY9JWzVKvddbhpmVsgI2bc9yLLaMQm_XhzoIGSH7nBkz9xZUwzWh6dm4Wi0gYTbveZpMcKSUYIuZikpMdj3GvinNnkqh-Dzw=s230" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="206" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkch1xWZrT3jOSlfbKv3mXM1yqKP5J7vGVMUwPgg_m0O6GBYqNBRaU7HcdqAxjvINlRe7TeB_iEbl2VkF0uA4lg-48GhDY9JWzVKvddbhpmVsgI2bc9yLLaMQm_XhzoIGSH7nBkz9xZUwzWh6dm4Wi0gYTbveZpMcKSUYIuZikpMdj3GvinNnkqh-Dzw=w358-h400" width="358" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">"<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>I had no other way, but follow the wishes of my Chiefs in denying Bavadra Government a smooth transition of power, as per wishes of the people and democracy" admitted a young Rabuka in 1987, when he initiated the coup culture in Fiji. However, since then, he appears to have grown, matured, apologised and repented the sins of 1987. Hence , he deserves a second chance to redeem his sins and rescue Fiji from the rabbit -hole.</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">This fake Max Ram, acting as a Mongrel (jungli kutta, dog) of Fiji First
has been barking at me, with false accusation of me being anti-Islamic, their
usual tactic to distract people from discussing the Islamic factor under
Bainimarama. I am not anti-Islamic, nor I hate any religion. I belong to a
religion which believes in the concept of <b><i>Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, </i></b>meaning
all the world is a family, we are children of one God, and not like some
religions which believe that there is only one God and all non-believers are
infidels, Kafirs, worthy of hatred. Therefore, I as a Hindu don’t hate my
Muslim brothers who have been living peacefully amongst us from the days of
Girmit when they shared brotherhood as “Jahajis” - travelling companion in the same
Girmit ships. We all had brotherly relationships until infiltration of Fiji by
Mullahs (priests) from overseas, especially Islamic nations, who radicalize Fiji
Muslims into treating non-believers as infidels and Kafir. But my Hinduism treats
the whole world as a huge family.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">And as Hindus, we have an upbringing that teaches us to love all as
children of one God and hate nobody for their beliefs. Only we chant in our
temples, Mandirs...” <i>Eeswar Allah tere naam</i>…” (Ram, Bhagwan and Allah are
one). However, as a journalist, I will not allow a Muslim politician who
regards Fiji as his personal property, seems to have hoodwinked Bainimarama,
and abuses his position of power while the real PM seems to be under a spell. As
part of this manipulation, he is trying to “Islamize” Fiji under guise of equality
for “all Fijians” where every man and his dog in most top Fiji positions belong
to his religion. Only 5% of population in Fiji now seem to control over 90% of
top influential positions. Even statistics of Girmit reveals that Muslim
Girmitiyas were only around 10%, majority being Hindus. </span><span lang="EN" style="color: red; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">A matter of shame for Hindus is that the largest Hindu organisation,
Shri Sanatan Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji seems to have become a lapdog, a paltu
kutta of the Fiji First Government, with some top officials reportedly minting
money. (Disclaimer - I did not speak about any printing press!) Perhaps this
shows the reason why India was in shackles of Moghuls and the British for a
thousand years because of betrayal and disunity in their own people. This is
happening to Sanatani Hindus in Fiji who are misled by their opportunist leaders.
Indeed, a shame for Hindus to be so gullible under a wanting leadership of
their organisation.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhptMp1iDXgIsX_9DqCA-uWMnTCLYpTTRi376FuTs1i69oZvuDgj5ptgiLralSpmkGCoFrnV6lrdFrclcTtedwtu3vp156_PGL9lK4-9DmVXPoEt0fjetiFjGiXY17ELYx-1QB0A5svHXTCIq-bmrG_6ittYkvuZsQU0mFmliMEFf7B_SNQh5yZ0R0RBw=s800" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhptMp1iDXgIsX_9DqCA-uWMnTCLYpTTRi376FuTs1i69oZvuDgj5ptgiLralSpmkGCoFrnV6lrdFrclcTtedwtu3vp156_PGL9lK4-9DmVXPoEt0fjetiFjGiXY17ELYx-1QB0A5svHXTCIq-bmrG_6ittYkvuZsQU0mFmliMEFf7B_SNQh5yZ0R0RBw=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Rabuka (left) and Bainimarama - the two former army commanders and coup-makers are getting the highest poll results for the upcoming election. Both the leaders have changed, Rabuka for the better, and Bainimarama, for the worse, after giving powers of PM to his deputy, and allowing Fiji to go down to the dogs, as detailed in these three part articles.</span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">While racial inequality existed in Fiji since colonial days, religious
inequality is a new phenomenon, which only came in since Khaiyum entered
politics and teamed with Bainimarama. This sort of religious-based inequality
had never existed in history of Fiji. One may ask, since when people belonging
to a certain religion have overnight acquired such extraordinary skills and IQ
to beat Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and others of Fiji for most top positions? It
never happened in Fiji’s history. And particularly, never since Fiji
independence in 1970 in Ratu Mara's Alliance, Rabuka's SVT, Qarase's SDL and
Chaudhry 's People's Coalition. How come it started under Fiji First’s
Bainimarama when Khaiyum usurped the PM's position to commit religious
cleansing of Hindus, Sikhs and Christians from top positions to be replaced by people
and relatives of his religion?</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Why is this allowed to happen under guise of democracy? My stand is
against injustice in Fiji and dictatorship masquerading as democracy, not
against Islam or Muslims. It is nothing about being anti any religion. This is
my journalistic ethics crying out against injustice committed to people of
Fiji, disguised as democracy.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere. Bainimarama forgot
his pledge to clean up Fiji, which has now sunk in deeper dirt than when he
removed Qarase. People are asking, where is that noble (and slimmer) Bainimarama
of 2006? Now he appears to have become a mere puppet of Khaiyum. That is most
worrying for Fiji and those who wish to vote him back in power just because
once he was a noble man. Now he appears to be under a big spell, and some claim
it may be some sort of voodoo or Ojha’s (witchdoctor’s) work. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">But in time to come, if Fiji First remains in power, any racial tensons of
Itaukei will not be only with Indians, but Pakistanis and Bangladeshis will
also come into the equation if the current reported floodgates at the Immigration
department continues unabated.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><a name="_Hlk93586187">[<b>To be continued in Part 3 </b>- a shocking
revelation rarely spoken before…see this space]</a></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">[Continued </span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">in the final third part,
revealing further notoriety and villainy of Fiji First under Khaiyum. and the
choice left for people of Fiji to salvage it from hell] </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">[About
the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is former Publisher of Fiji’s Daily Post
newspaper, which Qarase and SDL regime ordered shut. Thakur was fired and
removed from the positions by two diametrically opposed Prime Ministers: Chaudhry
and Qarase. This was for speaking the truth and being too frank and not mincing
his words, and he is doing so here again. He is a media commentator, a journalist
and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT.]<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(240, 242, 245); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: middle;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-69329028475020070452021-11-29T00:36:00.000-08:002021-11-29T00:36:28.595-08:00WHY INDO-FIJIANS DID NOT JOIN FIJI ARMY DURING THE WARS: THE UNTOLD HISTORY ALL NEED TO KNOW<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-outline-level: 4; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why Indo-Fijians did not join Fiji Army
During the Wars: The Untold History all need to know<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt; text-align: center;">Thakur Ranjit Singh</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last month, in
November, we marked Remembrance Day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month,</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"> Fiji marks a memorable day. That is Remembrance Day on 11<sup>th</sup>
November each year. Americans call it Veteran’s Day.</span><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Remembrance Day</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"> (also known as <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Poppy Day</span> or </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day" title="Armistice Day"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none;">Armistice Day</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">) is a </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial" title="Memorial"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none;">memorial</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"> day observed in </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations" title="Commonwealth of Nations"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none;">Commonwealth</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"> countries since the end of </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I" title="World War I"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none;">World War
I</span></a></span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"> to remember the members of
their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Historically, arguments have raged since the wars
on the reasons why Indo-Fijians (Fiji Indians, descendants of Girmitiyas) did
not join the army in numbers. Since Fiji’s history fails to tell this,
descendants of Girmitiyas (indentured labourers) need to reclaim the stolen
history and restore facts that need to be told as to why their forbears
did not join Fiji Army for World War I and II. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuOUfybTldUz1k8nnvC9sox2SHd_QI8qCAN0dFKuBq4Y_8V6ilraYSRxFP5OYK5JucxycK30jlfurRdJfnru4qnfioDIybT4EA1gK1IkqRMaHRctewG7QK2rZxhOOy4awCGM4roSgb2OQ/s1075/S4+-SUKUNA.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="971" data-original-width="1075" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuOUfybTldUz1k8nnvC9sox2SHd_QI8qCAN0dFKuBq4Y_8V6ilraYSRxFP5OYK5JucxycK30jlfurRdJfnru4qnfioDIybT4EA1gK1IkqRMaHRctewG7QK2rZxhOOy4awCGM4roSgb2OQ/w640-h578/S4+-SUKUNA.png" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna is a celebrated Itaukei Chief who had been a beneficiary of British favours. Hence, as a payback, he helped in recruitment of mostly unemployed Itaukei in villages in Military for the wars. He, together with the British and other Chiefs had shown resistance to recruitment of Fiji Indians in the Army. Like Mahatma Gandhi, while some celebrated Chiefs may have high standing overseas amongst academics and Europeans, back home they may not be that favourably regarded when judged in the light of equality, fairness, honesty and compassion for all the people.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">Every now and then Itaukei
(Native Fijian) leaders, commentators, ethnonationalists, politicians and even ignorant
Fiji Indians in all sizes and shapes have levelled accusation at Indo-Fijians
for being disloyal to Fiji by not joining the army during the world wars. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">Among
others, a Fijian (this term refers to Itaukei, Natives) nationalist academic
who was behind the racist 1990 constitution, late Dr Asesela Ravuvu had accused
Indo-Fijians of not being interested to fight for the maintenance of democratic
rule in the world and were selfish while Itaukei gave their lives for this
cause. He accused Indo-Fijians of demanding more pay and special protection for
their families and property. It was such non-cooperation, according to him,
that partly contributed to difficulties in acquiring trust and acceptance of
the Itaukei Fijians as good neighbours and countrymen.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">Professor Brij Lal,
Fiji’s greatest celebrated Historian, an Indo-Fijian academic and one of the
Commissioners behind the 1997 constitution gave clarifications and wrote about
the reasons why this happened. I take liberty to borrow his thoughts and quote
him to inform the world who deserved to know this untold story - an untold history, a long time ago.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">It is agreed that, to some extent, government’s refusal to grant Indo-Fijians the same
conditions of service provided to European soldiers is one of the reasons for
them not being in the military. However, there are others which need to be
clarified to counteract accusations of Fijian nationalists who castigate a
whole race for something they were not guilty of.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The reasons why Indo-Fijians
did not join in the World Wars in the Fiji army are the following, among
others:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">1) </span><b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">Recruitment for
Fijians was well-organised </span></b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">and even supported by chiefs, including Ratu Sukuna
in his military uniform. His support and efforts perhaps was because, he was a
beneficiary of the things that came from Britain, hence the need to protect
them. Furthermore, by recruiting greater number of Fijians, there was an
intention to display Fijian loyalty to the British to win their support for the
Fijian community, as pressures were being exerted by the Indo-Fijian community
for more say in the government.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVwTo5n695Oldvoy8JtFLsT0t20_0QsmPbpIG5c0j3j3QQpyJhly24P942qE3Qliefqz-1Kuo-_TUCWHQa-16BgTrBtf5jimVeEi-WapsYVX2JiiLpff2_nqU5E9GDK8tzibqUbWAkA1X/s640/S+2+-RATU+SIR+LALA+SUKUNA.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="530" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVwTo5n695Oldvoy8JtFLsT0t20_0QsmPbpIG5c0j3j3QQpyJhly24P942qE3Qliefqz-1Kuo-_TUCWHQa-16BgTrBtf5jimVeEi-WapsYVX2JiiLpff2_nqU5E9GDK8tzibqUbWAkA1X/w530-h640/S+2+-RATU+SIR+LALA+SUKUNA.png" width="530" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: red; line-height: 107%;">RATU
SIR LALA SUKUNA: </span></b><b><span style="color: red; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: red; line-height: 107%;">Recruitment
for Fijians was well-organised and even supported by chiefs, including Ratu
Sukuna in his military uniform. INDIANS WERE DISCOURAGED FROM
RECRUITMENT THROUGH OBJECTIONS FROM FIJIANS AND EUROPEANS</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -18pt;">2) </span><b style="font-family: verdana; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">Easier access</span></b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> to Fijian
villagers to recruit, as they lived in stratified structure collectively and
were more easily accessible than scattered Indo- Fijians in cane farms.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">3) </span><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">While Indo-Fijians
said they would fight if Fiji was attacked, they refused to fight for the
empire in the other parts of the world unless government acknowledged the <b>principle
of equality</b> between European and non-European soldiers. What they said was
that an Indo-Fijian life should be valued same as a European life. <b>What they
effectively asked for was that Brown/Black lives also matter - not only the
White ones.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLkigplmGA20nLihGGQhnfFPb7cbl4yAmE_6y5gLPFTCmgK90KIFDB7a2tAxUzULvSzntlx8JbdW6VHKHM6Huu2iQmeFxtLdDdMC-M7aAgDvSAeGb5dZLovAXGppGKlDZNRB0FScNTT-4/s1541/S+3MILITARY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="1541" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLkigplmGA20nLihGGQhnfFPb7cbl4yAmE_6y5gLPFTCmgK90KIFDB7a2tAxUzULvSzntlx8JbdW6VHKHM6Huu2iQmeFxtLdDdMC-M7aAgDvSAeGb5dZLovAXGppGKlDZNRB0FScNTT-4/w640-h362/S+3MILITARY.png" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Prior to Military's involvement in interfering with democracy in Fiji in 1987, Fiji Military Forces worldwide was best known for its very colourful and melodious Band and peacekeeping duties in the Middle East.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">4) </span><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">The government was
reluctant to recruit Indo-Fijians because of <b>objections from Fijians and
Europeans,</b> as they did not wish them to be equipped with this skill. There
have been instances where Indo-Fijians were requesting their sons to be recruited
but were refused. One Indo-Fijian is reported to have gone to New Zealand to
enlist in the Maori regiments because the Fiji army was not taking in
Indo-Fijians.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">5) </span><b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">Europeans were
fearful of Indo-Fijians </span></b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">because of Gandhi’s ’Quit- India’ campaign and
Subhash Chandra Bose’s collaboration with the Japanese. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">6) </span><b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">There was
reluctance by CSR </span></b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">(sugar millers) <b>to grant leave</b> for the farmers to fight the war,
as they needed to meet their contractual arrangements on the cane farms.
Indo-Fijians were not unemployed and “free” like most of the Itaukei villagers
who were not fully utilised and were available for military services without
any constraints elsewhere. Indo-Fijians had a difficult choice of selecting
between enlisting for the war and keeping their farms. Fijians on the other
hand did not have the difficulty of such a choice, as they had no farming
obligations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">7) </span><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">The government
proclaimed that the most important contributions the Indo-Fijians could make
were <b>to increase the production of foodstuffs and maintenance of essential
agricultural interests. </b>This had been their contribution to the war as
soldiers on the farm, as soldiers in war cannot fight on hungry stomachs. <b>In other words,
Indo-Fijians were effectively fighting an economic war for Fiji.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijANCju2GxPwq6YKAUs8YlY3JNj5fc3meikm0_py2Fv35F12iQnuBBYpVDMVqywBAkWJpZUZ18EN1J1Xm0Zr0hpH9V_c69EZzvdsJW8iOm72eW-kQUYHKvA2bvk8de2duPRaQVstpJWccZ/s1556/S5+-THAKUR-BRIJ.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="1556" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijANCju2GxPwq6YKAUs8YlY3JNj5fc3meikm0_py2Fv35F12iQnuBBYpVDMVqywBAkWJpZUZ18EN1J1Xm0Zr0hpH9V_c69EZzvdsJW8iOm72eW-kQUYHKvA2bvk8de2duPRaQVstpJWccZ/w640-h397/S5+-THAKUR-BRIJ.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a name="_Hlk89096903"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Fiji's proud son, PROFESSOR BRIJ V. LAL,
(right) who filled the vacuum on Indo-Fijian and Girmit history that British
and Australian CSR Colonialists stole from History books of Fiji. This
clarification on mis-information on Indians not joining the army is from him.
These were lies perpetuated by British, who, together with Fijian
Chiefs objected to Indians joining the army. He is pictured here with
your truly, Thakur Ranjit Singh, (left) author of this blog site, FIJI PUNDIT
and Secretary of Trustees of Fiji Girmit Foundation of New Zealand, during
Fiji Girmit Remembrance Day in Auckland in May 2014 where Professor Lal (with
Dr Padma Lal) was the Chief Guest and the Keynote Speaker. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />8) </span><b style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">Membership in the
British Empire was no badge of honour for the Indo- Fijians.</span></b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"> Local Europeans
owed their power and prestige to British colonialism, and Fijian chiefs were
grateful for the security, handouts and privilege they and their people enjoyed
as a result of British policies. On the other hand, the Indo-Fijians had been
subjected to most inhuman racial humiliations and denigrations on a daily basis
during indenture (Girmit). Therefore, fighting a war for the British would have
meant a fight for the preservation of a system that was oppressive and humiliating.
<b>And for Indo-Fijians, a British war medal was not considered a badge of
honour, but a sign of exploitation and oppression.</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The conclusion by Professor Brij Lal in analysis of the above is
that the <b>Indo-Fijians were neither seditious nor disloyal</b>. <b>It was the
European propaganda and the exuberance, liveliness, and excitement of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>war efforts of the Fijians that made them
appear so.</b> It was concluded that there was no evidence of any opposition to
the war by Indo-Fijians who had displayed full loyalty for the government with
a fervent hope for the victory of the Allied Nations. It is obvious that a
vacuum in the true historical facts have clouded this issue. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Therefore, it is hoped these historical facts give information why Fiji
Indians were hardly present in Fiji Army during the two World Wars.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The question that I pose here is, would Fiji’s history have been
different if the British had encouraged racial balance in the Fijian Military
during the wars? What may be the history of Fiji if Indo-Fijians were
encouraged and even forced to join the army during the two world wars?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The answer perhaps lies in the next question and answer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">Question:</span></b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"> Why developing Third World Countries like Papua New Guinea and India,
despite being so divided on regional, provincial, language, cultural or ethnic
lines have little chance of success of a racially instituted military coup that
Fiji saw?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">Answer:</span></b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"> This is because their military do not have the type of racial, ethnic, traditional,
or religious polarisation that Fiji military has. In those countries the
diverse makeup of the soldiers would thwart, discourage and even prevent
uprising based on racial, religious, Chiefly status or regional superiority.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For argument sake, assume if Fiji military in 1987 had, say 30 to 50
percent Indo-Fijian soldiers distributed equally in all ranks, would Rabuka still
have been able to topple the then Commander and institute a racially and
religious-based coup?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The chances would have been slim and may even have resulted in a mutiny
as comradeship in the military transcends race and religion, and rational
reasoning may have come out against such a treasonous suggestion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOL791VkD9sS0xe0cd9P8s0_4LHXC4HC-2_1q6W-9K-TeQe2AatYyJ-IhP2TOLui8ZhcSJgqFqn40iNyOuDSHt4cNpB9VFubLAsuMqoBU4qVJCWoqBddCFDokBJ7AS3dDI0e8Skv32qSb7/s1909/S6-ARMY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1909" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOL791VkD9sS0xe0cd9P8s0_4LHXC4HC-2_1q6W-9K-TeQe2AatYyJ-IhP2TOLui8ZhcSJgqFqn40iNyOuDSHt4cNpB9VFubLAsuMqoBU4qVJCWoqBddCFDokBJ7AS3dDI0e8Skv32qSb7/w640-h322/S6-ARMY.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Fiji Military is a racially based institution made up of over 95 %
of Itaukei and have been the instrument of political instability since 1987. Before that, Fiji Military was best known for its celebrated Fiji
Military Forces Band. Unfortunately, despite his rhetoric for equality for all Fijians, Frank Bainimarama did nothing to bring any semblance of racial balance in the last 15 years he had control over Fiji.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify;">The bottom-line, to remove coup culture in Fiji is for the military to venture on racial balancing of the Fiji Military forces and encourage
Indo-Fijians to join the military services. There is no shortage of such people
to join, the only problem is that, like in those colonial days, they still are
not taken in, and in turn are blamed for lacking patriotism, and being of lower
stature (built). As if Japanese and Gurkha need the size and physique of
Fijians to be successful soldiers, who need brains as well as brawn.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sadly, even Frank Bainimarama, despite his rhetoric on all of us being
Fijians has been a shocking disappointment. In his control subsequent to
removal of Qarase in 2006, he has not been able to make a dent in his 15 years
control of Fiji, while Khaiyum on the other hand has been able to populate top
positions in Fiji government institution with his “own people”. Indeed, some
see it as a hypocritical stance on singing the songs of equality for all while
still remaining racist or a religious crusader.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I hope Fiji Indian Diaspora around the world will learn the reasons why
they were not represented in the Fiji army during the wars, and still so. They
now have information to rebut any ignorant, uninformed and racists people who
accuse Fiji Indians of any lack of patriotism towards Fiji.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;">E-mail: </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="mailto:thakurjifj@gmail.com."><span style="font-size: 16pt;">thakurjifj@gmail.com.</span></a></span><span style="color: blue; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">[About the author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a
journalist and media commentator and runs his blog site, FIJI PUNDIT, that
tells what others fail to tell. He is a former publisher of Fiji's <i>Daily
Post</i> newspaper, and is based in Auckland, New Zealand. This article
was originally written and published in FIJI PUNDIT blog in 2012 and
is being republished to inform Fiji Indians of the stolen history of Fiji. He
is a Postgraduate of </span></span></b><b><span style="color: #4f4f4f; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Auckland
University of Technology (AUT) and the above is an extract from a project paper
he had done on coup culture in Fiji and was largely from the eminent Fiji
historian, Professor Brij Lal’s work and writings]</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-88912420008011304502021-10-26T10:45:00.001-07:002021-10-26T10:54:47.165-07:00YOU LIVE ONLY ONCE - DO WHAT YOU LOVE DOING WHILE ALIVE: REGRETS ON DEATH BED<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">YOU LIVE ONLY ONCE – DO WHAT YOU LOVE DOING WHILE ALIVE - REGRETS ON
DEATH BED</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Thakur Ranjit Singh</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 18pt;">As I am gearing up to republish this article, news comes in that Japan's
Princess Mako has given up her title and defied odds to marry college
sweetheart. She is living life as she wants. Please read on..</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Covid has changed the course of life - and DEATH. We are dying in large
numbers- with many unfulfilled wishes, hence need for this article to be republished.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16pt;">This is a survey by a worker in Hospice,
palliative care, tending to people who were dying, with little time left.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Even learned sages like Ravan and Bhishm Pitamah in our epics had
regrets during their death, while on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mrityu
Shayya – </i>death bed. </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Many of us have pride in our money, education, materialistic wealth, and
other possessions. </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">SOME ARE SO BUSY EARNING THEIR LIVING THAT THEY FORGET TO LIVE –
AND<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>FORGET ONE DAY THEY WILL DIE.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Here, I summarise the result from that survey of dying people.</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am especially urging our Pundits, Pastors, Priests and Pracharaks to
use this as a subject of their discourse – tell people to do something earthly
before becoming too Godly.</span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Please read to the end… AND LEARN BEFORE DEATH ENGULFS US…………….</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">As we age, we tend to commence viewing life with
greater depth of philosophy. Organising school reunions has been one way to
meet older students we may not have met for many decades.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVVfyXSiupENIZzwkhQ1BAuaideJP7s4dUydz0dgav58c5_bnSJmBAEkKAe_zW3_UNnmE7pq3jdmaswAGP2I1FJtR8ODT6m7pKHNAGT0_HdumIE_gPRCcJk-6BuK9eBsxIcOwFkcK2Rc6/s1711/S1.2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="1711" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVVfyXSiupENIZzwkhQ1BAuaideJP7s4dUydz0dgav58c5_bnSJmBAEkKAe_zW3_UNnmE7pq3jdmaswAGP2I1FJtR8ODT6m7pKHNAGT0_HdumIE_gPRCcJk-6BuK9eBsxIcOwFkcK2Rc6/w640-h326/S1.2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">To those younger ones too engrossed with their career -DO NOT WORK
YOURSELF TO DEATH AT COST OF QUALITY TIME FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILY. You will be
replaced within days of your death in your workplace. But the vacuum you leave
behind in the neglected family will be there forever. So, please, SLOW DOWN
-AND SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR LOVED ONES.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br />Translated in Hindi, this was theme of Bollywood
blockbuster: </span><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">Kal Ho Na Ho</i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"> - </span><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Suno, jiyo, khush raho, muskurao. Kya pata,
kal ho na ho.</i></b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">D.A.V. College, Ba Fiji’s international reunions
have been held biennially respectively in Canada (2015), Auckland (2017) and
Fiji ( 2019). The next one in Brisbane in planned for next year, 2022. In
recognition of age catching up, and death embracing many of our school mates,
the 2017 Auckland reunion had appropriate philosophical theme, urging ageing
mates to listen, live life, be happy, and smile, as unbeknown, there may be no
tomorrow.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">And the latest reunion in Ba, Fiji in 2019,
continued in similar Bollywood theme – you live only once -<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Yeh zindgi na milegi dobaara </i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">In my Ba reunion experience, it appeared many of
our ageing mates from Ba did not reciprocate our desire to meet older students
and share the love we had for our long-separated mates. Many did not seem to
care, because they appear to be too engrossed with life and failed to take
advantage of meeting old mates who may never again come to their hometown in
another DAV reunion in Ba in their lifetime. Life is too short; hence we need
to live life to full.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Older people need to be inspired to enjoy
stress-free life in their twilight years, without giving much thought to what
others may think.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">As I am also part of Waitakere Indian Association
(WIA) Seniors team, I wish to share some thoughts with my Seniors, and ageing school
mates from DAV and Khalsa Colleges in Ba, and friends and relatives in the community
who are sliding down the ladder of life. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Coincidently, I was fortunate to come across a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">NZ Herald</i> article by author Bronnie
Ware, who shared thoughts that I also carry – thoughts coming from death beds
of those at end of their lives.</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTD8bVJ-lHfnIWFpdmotpEpN2_BM0SqQxoXifypPpqisLqy0gPmFo5J0FWsiwOlGq3DzLweB2Z2wPFwmSbJSjIUbE2R7gaxEW18vm1qpLb9IJ9ChOvyi8gSDiRJmcQEQOdm9F7Llt5h94v/s1398/S+1.1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1398" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTD8bVJ-lHfnIWFpdmotpEpN2_BM0SqQxoXifypPpqisLqy0gPmFo5J0FWsiwOlGq3DzLweB2Z2wPFwmSbJSjIUbE2R7gaxEW18vm1qpLb9IJ9ChOvyi8gSDiRJmcQEQOdm9F7Llt5h94v/w400-h239/S+1.1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Epics and history books are full of accounts of those who had
regrets while on death beds. Here, <i>Bhism Pitamah, </i>on his death
bed, <i>mrityu shayya</i>, bed of arrows. He also had regrets if life-
things he should have done differently. This article is to make readers learn
from mistakes and regrets of others.</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Bronnie is an author, an
inspirational speaker and songwriter. She lives in northern New South Wales,
Australia. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">She has worked in palliative care (hospice,
end-of-life care), tending to those people who were dying. She has worked
closely with those having little time to live and noted their most common
regrets in life.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">I wish to share this with younger ones and my elder
friends, so they can learn some lesson and do not die with great deal of
regrets.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Her <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>TOP
FIVE REGRETS OF DYING</u></b> are as follows:</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0cm 7.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 14.4pt; mso-outline-level: 2;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true
to myself, not the life others expected of me.</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">This was "by far the most common regret".</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">"People were astonished by how much power they
had given to the opinions of others - friends or family or society."</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Most people had not honoured even a half
of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had
made, or not made, at times depending on what others expected them to do. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">In Hindi, we say… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">log kya kahenge, </i>what others will say. This is the biggest folly
and fear we have.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Please break away from this and do not care
to what others think.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">SO, LIVE YOUR LIFE, AND TO HELL WITH WHAT OTHERS MAY THINK.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16pt;"></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQS-OPYkfXq_J1qYG_08rilIV4xIQezcCjMucIu6YZxhUQWDi4IVZSjb3wOJ2kcq6nx2anZSwBKYV-sWznJXsmGnD5mWoyUtRngBfyEM-voFiHStZ9imOUvJZqSKh9CKc1tzIvkeNGPgB1/s1577/S+1.3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1577" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQS-OPYkfXq_J1qYG_08rilIV4xIQezcCjMucIu6YZxhUQWDi4IVZSjb3wOJ2kcq6nx2anZSwBKYV-sWznJXsmGnD5mWoyUtRngBfyEM-voFiHStZ9imOUvJZqSKh9CKc1tzIvkeNGPgB1/w640-h372/S+1.3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We all will end here one day. Go ahead, live your life, love, say
and do things you did not do while living. So many have gone regretting things
they did not do. Have courage and do it now-still not too late for many.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Men especially are used to putting too much of
themselves into their jobs – missing treasured family moments, like birthday. Marriages,
anniversaries, family reunions and not
developing other areas of their life. Most men spent so much time at work that
they missed seeing their children grow up and had not spent quality time with
their partners.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">On their death, the employer will fill their
position within days, but the vacuum he leaves in a neglected family remains
for a lifetime. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">This message is for those who are so engrossed in
earning a living, that they forget to live.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">SO,
WORK LESS HARD, CARE FOR YOUR FAMILY<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my
feelings.</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Many had kept their true feelings to
themselves over the years, either to not upset others or could not get courage
to express their feelings. Many people suppressed their feelings in order to
keep peace with others and themselves.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">As a result, they settled for a
second-rate or mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable
of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment
they carried as a result of missed opportunities.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6WTrm2jsh2QQBWLTK48SxFdMtFtFnEX1geVTT0sBfOKV9zUr0J1QupotyJegfyWmz-3axR8zlYI6pZU_mK1LjT_maLPTADCpUPFT3xbvhElb58NiFobVPEGo2dGF_OPpqgDE0Edy3Lj-/s1904/S1.4.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1904" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6WTrm2jsh2QQBWLTK48SxFdMtFtFnEX1geVTT0sBfOKV9zUr0J1QupotyJegfyWmz-3axR8zlYI6pZU_mK1LjT_maLPTADCpUPFT3xbvhElb58NiFobVPEGo2dGF_OPpqgDE0Edy3Lj-/w640-h278/S1.4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It is too late to leave things undone and have realisation of that
mistake when it is too late - and you are on your death bed. Still not too late
for many-go and attend school and family reunions, start living happier,
becoming less grumpy, tell-off somebody who has been bugging you and make most
of it while you can.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br />This is well depicted in </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">Akshay Kumar’s 2003 Bollywood movie, </span><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">Andaaz</i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">,
and this song says it says it…”</span><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">kissi se tum pyaro, toh phil ishaar
karo..kahin na phir der ho jaaye.</i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">. if you love someone, express it,
otherwise it will be too late on the marriage of the loved one to somebody else..
How many times you had such missed opportunities because you failed to express
your feelings?</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">SO, ADMIT “I LOVE YOU” AND HAVE COURAGE TO TELL OFF PEOPLE, AND ALSO
THAT THEY ARE A**HOLES – DON’T BE AFRAID TO UPSET ANYBODY BY SPEAKING YOUR
MIND.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">"Dying people often want to have
some laughter about good old memories. Many had become so caught up in their
own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. This
applies to the ones who fail to attend school or family reunions and fail to keep
in touch, come and meet their old, loved ones and friends.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Unfortunately, many of our Ba friends who
failed to come and meet us, will pass away never having those fun time memories
of schooldays and walking down those memory lanes with us from overseas.<span style="background: white;"> One of the regrets dying people shared with author
Bronnie Ware was wishing they had stayed in touch with their friends, as shared
experiences bring joy.</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">There were many deep regrets about not
giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses
their friends when they are dying.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">"A lot of patients wished they had access to
their old friends, so that they could have a little bit of light
reminiscing."-old memories. But too late when on death bed. Go, ring them
up now.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">It is common for anyone in a busy
lifestyle to let friendships slip, and this they regret on their death beds,
like those missing their school or family reunions.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">SO
ATTEND SCHOOLS AND FAMILY REUNIONS, KEEP IN TOUCH WITH OLD FRIENDS AND RELIVE
YOUNGER DAYS<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></o:p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPS28_Bj0Kl7bcUkZe4VTPI6iCttyGCkcip1Vlg9gsmM_i_Tr37-8d5gCvRCsFhHYFuNNK_ropbgLCSYRfMUnirZIvmHwO96DRyJblIWj-FWYpG163B8fP-h-DNpnr4m1Wh9SsGgFgSDb/s1141/S+1.5.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1141" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPS28_Bj0Kl7bcUkZe4VTPI6iCttyGCkcip1Vlg9gsmM_i_Tr37-8d5gCvRCsFhHYFuNNK_ropbgLCSYRfMUnirZIvmHwO96DRyJblIWj-FWYpG163B8fP-h-DNpnr4m1Wh9SsGgFgSDb/w640-h480/S+1.5.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b>Epics and history books are full of accounts of those who had regrets while on death beds. Here,</b></span></span><i style="color: red; font-size: 13.5pt; font-weight: bold;"> Ravan</i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b>, of Ramayan, regretting what he failed to do while alive. It was too late to realise that while</b></span></span><i style="color: red; font-size: 13.5pt; font-weight: bold;"> </i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b>on his death bed, </b></span></span><i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>Mrityu</b></span><b style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </b><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>Shayya</b></span><b style="font-size: 13.5pt;">. </b></span></i><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b>This article is intended to </b></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>inspire</b></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><b> readers to learn from mistakes and regrets of others.</b></span></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">5. I wish I had let myself be happier.</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">"When people were looking back, they realised
they'd chosen to focus on dramas or problems or challenges, when they could have
actually blessed themselves with more happiness." In family reunions or
gatherings, some dwell on what separates us (conflicts) rather than having
unity, good time and fun. They will feel and act bitter…and regret that action later
on death bed. Be positive, talk on what that unites us.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">This is a surprisingly common one. Many
did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck
in old patterns and habits of being nasty, grumpy, always serious and loud
voiced. They wasted their lives being unhappy this way. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Fear of change had them pretending to
others, and to their selves, that they were content. Some grumpy old ones
always wish to remain that way. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly
and have silliness in their life again.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">This is well-explained by this Hindi
song..<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">khushiyon ki har phool se maine
gumm ka haar piroya, pyaar tamanna ki Jeevan mein, pyaar ko paa ke khoya…jab
tak humne samjha jeevan kya hai..jeevan beet gaya..</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Translated it means…from flowers of happiness I always wove a garland
of grief and sadness, I always wished for affection and love, but always lost
them when</span> I found them. By the time I understood what life was, life had
already gone by.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">When you are on your deathbed, it is too
late. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are
dying. Alas, many do not have opportunity to learn it before death. This
article gives you that opportunity.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">SO, STOP BEING TOO SERIOUS, NASTY OR GRUMPY. HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE -
BLESS YOURSELF WITH MORE OF IT<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">LESSON TO ALL</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Hope this article will at least inspire
one elder, or young one, to change attitude to life, and I will feel blessed.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose
consciously, choose wisely, and choose honestly. Choose happiness – and learn
from others what they failed to do while they had time. Too late when on death
bed.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">You live only once, there is no tomorrow
-learn and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>best wishes for a HAPPY long
life. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO CHANGE……AND ENJOY WHAT IS LEFT OF LIFE</span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">[About the author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist, a community
worker, Trustee of Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ, Secretary of Waitakere Indian
Association (WIA) Seniors, media commentator and speaks truth without fear or
favour. He runs his blog FIJI PUNDIT and comments on issues affecting our
communities. This is one of them. E-mail: </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="mailto:thakurjifj@gmail.com"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">thakurjifj@gmail.com</span></b></a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt;">]</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Tahoma",sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-16211493878424530682021-10-12T13:42:00.000-07:002021-10-12T13:42:20.231-07:00FIJI TIMES PART 4: THE FALL OF CHAUDHRY GOVERNMENT IN 2000 AND ITS ROLE IN THAT<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE FIJI
TIMES 152<sup>nd</sup> ANNIVERSARY – CONCLUDING PART 4 of 4<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE FALL OF
CHAUDHRY GOVERNMENT IN 2000 AND THE ROLE OF FT IN THAT.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thakur
Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PROLOGUE - PART 4<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the CONCLUDING PART of the four-part
series<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on the history of the Fiji Times
(FT). <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">In May 1999,
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry was sworn in as the first Fiji Indian Prime Minister of
Fiji. A year later, an unruly protest march opposing his leadership climaxed in
a renegade soldier-led attempted coup. The rebel Counter-Revolutionary Warfare
soldiers led by a failed businessman, George Speight, took the elected Fiji government
hostage. As was the case with the original coup d’état in May 1987, the
Labour-led Fiji Indian dominated coalition government’s term in office was cut
short by Speight and his ethno-nationalist forces.</span><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The May 2000
attempted coup, the dissolution of Chaudhry government and the lack of popular
uprising to support democracy have been partially attributed to an alleged
irresponsible journalism which put considerable pressure on the fledgling first
Fiji Indian-led government. Claims have been made that the media, particularly
The Fiji Times, played a critical role in this event through the way it
portrayed Chaudhry and his government. Such reporting has been challenged as
having contributed to racial animosity, leading to political disorder.</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Uh_YxMF4VIuNEmPNN4dOLNWA1SO0vrstbf722dOtdD41jCm8scM189doGOdB6DLEV2jOVymBYgpM8eOO_viBxoCbGfDaVep1Ec1z9AAAVKfL1SYLiJR1SFC1CqGNn4CoFNCE8_EOeN6L/s878/S4+-3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="878" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Uh_YxMF4VIuNEmPNN4dOLNWA1SO0vrstbf722dOtdD41jCm8scM189doGOdB6DLEV2jOVymBYgpM8eOO_viBxoCbGfDaVep1Ec1z9AAAVKfL1SYLiJR1SFC1CqGNn4CoFNCE8_EOeN6L/w640-h600/S4+-3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Mahendra Chaudhry, the first Fiji Indian Prime Minister was seen as a socialist and a threat to the business community. He was also regarded as a threat to some "shady" Itaukei politicians who were thoroughly walloped by Peoples Coalition in 1999 election. As an astute Finance man and a former Auditor, Chaudhry was seen as a danger to "unclean" businesses, hence he had to be removed. And the Fiji Times contributed to his fall.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The author, <b>Thakur
Ranjit Singh</b> conducted a post - graduate research on Pacific Islands Media
Association (PIMA) scholarship at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) for
Masters in Communication (MCS) studies in 2009. [One thing to note is that both
PIMA and AUT treated me as a Pacifica Fijian and NOT as and an ‘INDIAN” which
would have disqualified me from this scholarship. Unfortunately this is the
battle we Fiji Indians are still having with NZ authorities for our Pacifika identity.]</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The analysis of
Fiji Times articles between May 1999 leading to political disturbances a year
later were conducted. Some of the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>conclusion of findings from my research were covered in PART 3 of the article.
Here is the concluding part.</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">DISCLAIMER</span></u></b><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">: All reference to FT is to the foreign-owned paper before
localisation in 2010.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All materials and
string of comments are</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> from already published articles and my
research on Master’s Thesis in 2011. [Link provided at the end of article]<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><b><span style="background: white; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">INTRODUCTION</span></u></b><b><u><span style="background: white; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In PART 3, I covered the major conclusions of my research. These, among
others showed inconsistencies in messages from newsrooms where the White
Management and Itaukei “gate-keepers” had conflicting coverage, new tinpot
nationalists were given more space than the government, disrespect for the
office of PM and President, lack of balance in the paper without fair
opportunity for both the parties, and apparent ignorance of paper on proper management,
ignorance about racial balance requirement of Fiji <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Constitution and having a newsroom with 95% paper
content in a flammable racial situation by Itaukei reporters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just reiterating, the topics covered in the research analysis covered
the following:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Election Victory &
Politics , Media Issues, Racial Agitation/Protests, Land, Rajen Chaudhry, Tea
Lady Affair, Baba & Chaudhry Tensions, Clark-Hunter Work Permits,
Constitutional Amendments, Fiji Hardwood and Speight, Industrial Issues, Ganesh
and Chaudhry Houses, Housing Authority, Margaret Wise, Daily Post and Radio
Fiji Ban, Socialism and Sharing Wealth, Punja and Companies, Political
Personalities and Zimbabwe Land Problems.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The conclusion
continues:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE FIJI TIMES – CONCLUDING PART 4 OF 4 PART SERIES:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OBRYfDyckHw4OooXec-FWpLh657eyk6OcGL-SkxxeGKu1rvUXfKo0Syqr1zWqLuSsGCfqfXqDPVPZ3HmrtdhaDWNi1N7Lf4LGTHBmGTO8BwOnMuJO2EYKu10V4gwWT44CUO1LhYz88pX/s1566/S4-+2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1566" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OBRYfDyckHw4OooXec-FWpLh657eyk6OcGL-SkxxeGKu1rvUXfKo0Syqr1zWqLuSsGCfqfXqDPVPZ3HmrtdhaDWNi1N7Lf4LGTHBmGTO8BwOnMuJO2EYKu10V4gwWT44CUO1LhYz88pX/w400-h224/S4-+2.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">The foreign-owned Fiji Times just celebrated 152nd anniversary in Fiji and did not tell what my research revealed. It substantiated that its despise for Indians a century - ago remained in the new millennium. FT showed a racist slant in its news reporting, and contributed to fall of democracy in Fiji in 2000.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Double Standards</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">: There appeared to be double standards of scrutiny and criticism of
different governments by FT. Its zeal and so-called investigative prowess in
unearthing scandals and indulging in muckraking were seen to be inversely
comparable when reporting on Chaudhry’s “Indian” government, compared to Qarase’s
“Fijian” government respectively. While the objective of this paper was not to
determine this question, the difference was so obvious that I was forced to
look at some examples of them where FT showed favourable stance to a “Fijian”
government, bringing into question its media ethics and claims of being a
neutral, independent, and free media. Some of the topics so treated form part
of my subject analysis like Rajendra Chaudhry, Housing Authority, tea - lady
affair, among others. Readers will know more major issues and scandals in
Qarase’s (and Rabuka’s) government occurred on favouritism, nepotism, abuse of
office, personal relationships, and other governance matters. However, they
never got as much microscopic media scrutiny from FT as they did in Peoples
Coalition Government. Such media charges were led by Itaukei<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>journalists, including Margaret Wise, and
others having direct and indirect links with former politicians who lost their
power and livelihood through loss to Peoples Coalition Government.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One such issue directly concerns your truly, me
when I went on Fiji TVs Close Up with SDL Assistant Minister, Simione Kaitani, in
2003, when he accused Chaudhry of committing sedition. On a visit to India in
2003, Chaudhry complained about his treatment in Fiji by authorities. I
challenged Kaitani on his hypocritic stance, and hence went on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM481jp0Ddc">TV 1’s Close up programme</a>. In it, he <b>admitted to committing sedition</b> on National TV. (Watch
it, links given). Instead of reprimand, Qarase promoted him to a fully-fledged
Minister. There was no issue from FT, which, in case of Chaudhry government,
charged like hungry Pitbull dogs and went on witch hunt for even small cases.
There were other scandals in Rabuka and Qarase regimes which were overlooked
but became big issues and raised storms in Chaudhry government and detailed in
my research. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Here is link to that Close Up TV 1 programme, that
was anchored by Riaz Sayed Khaiyum, brother of Fiji’s Attorney General and the
CEO of government-owned Fiji Broadcasting Commission (FBC):</span> <a name="_Hlk85002316"></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM481jp0Ddc"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk85002316;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM481jp0Ddc</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk85002316;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk85002316;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk85002316;"></span>
</span><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></o:p></span></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ax9HjnXeLs6NmpUE5KSSFt9t9WewyxTbthqSe2MRYi_YSycZ2dc0c-2Oa7SHj8wXAwyphRvuRMm9ddqJ29ysyu3NUAfCWeF981NdVd-1MOCtFp6UyWVeFOAZHRcLkOVTnl0ukYU8pkD6/s1781/S4-5.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="1781" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ax9HjnXeLs6NmpUE5KSSFt9t9WewyxTbthqSe2MRYi_YSycZ2dc0c-2Oa7SHj8wXAwyphRvuRMm9ddqJ29ysyu3NUAfCWeF981NdVd-1MOCtFp6UyWVeFOAZHRcLkOVTnl0ukYU8pkD6/w640-h308/S4-5.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I always maintained that the Great Council of Chiefs, the Military and a partisan media had been the greatest threat to democracy in Fiji. While Fiji is on a path to to search for a home-grown solution, we appear to be a long way from it.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Margaret Wise</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">: The question of ethics arises from the role played by the star FT
reporter Margaret Wise whose romance and affair and a child out of wedlock with
Sitiveni Rabuka was already covered in PART 2 of the article, and this was a
common knowledge. The person who placed very sharp scrutiny on others,
especially Chaudhry and his government was unfortunately spared similar
treatment by her employers FT who allowed and apparently encouraged undeserving
and unbridled frenzied attacks on the government in general and Fiji Indians in
particular where she penned many racially divisive stories. The fact that FT
allowed, in fact encouraged such a journalist speaks volumes about ethics and
journalistic standards, or lack of it, in their organisation. Response on PART
3 of my article has perturbed many readers on Facebook as to how come a foreign-owned,
and supposedly respectable media allowed this to happen, under guardianship of
White men. I still am unable to answer this.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Propaganda Model of Media:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> In simple language, this
model in media explains how people are manipulated and influenced, and
how </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">approval <span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">for economic, social, and political policies, both foreign and domestic,
is "manufactured" in the public mind due to this propaganda. In
simple language this means how media dupes and fools public. The theory says
that media is a mere business and does not give two hoots about justice, fair
journalism, support for democracy or acting as a watchdog. It is a business to
earn and grow profits through advertising, wide ownership and having government
favours, among others. Thus, there is a conflict of interest, and therefore media
works as a propaganda for anti-democratic elements.</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OVXAUyb_f4F0Is0AB5z4CM6RmDKm1YZwUmakTJ9olrla4bdSbRz1C5oFdh2aejN3D5P646ImMbQD34fBnw587o1F4VN_EVvGWbatn5CsKgsEXtopSEirV7qPDjIMgGZCXUGsq6bvcWLe/s1095/S4-8.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="1095" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OVXAUyb_f4F0Is0AB5z4CM6RmDKm1YZwUmakTJ9olrla4bdSbRz1C5oFdh2aejN3D5P646ImMbQD34fBnw587o1F4VN_EVvGWbatn5CsKgsEXtopSEirV7qPDjIMgGZCXUGsq6bvcWLe/w640-h502/S4-8.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">While Rabuka was reportedly manipulated by his chiefs to commit treason, it appears the vested -interests ganged up to cut Peoples Coalition Government, by using George Speight as a pawn. Speight, the poor fall guy is still languishing in prison while those behind the fall of democracy are flourishing outside.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As my research required the bearing and relevance
of media theories applicable to FT, it would appear that this one fitted the
bill. FT seemed to gang up with the business community to protect the elite
interests, be that the business or influential chiefs who had lost out to
Chaudhry and were afraid to be exposed. This became especially more crucial
where <a name="_Hlk85003783">Chaudhry was known to despise abuse of office and
power, had a heart for socialism, was an astute finance man and a former
Auditor who could spell many dangers for businesses and politicians who were
not “clean.”<o:p></o:p></a></span></span></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk85003783;"></span>
</span><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This Propaganda Model came into play when Chaudhry
imposed licence on rice and in his social justice speech, announced new
policies on minimum wages and redistribution of wealth. FT’s defence of the
business community and its failure to properly explain and debate the issue
about social democracy showed its leaning and favour towards its advertisers,
politicians, influential Chiefs <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and the
business community. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This provided ample reason why the well-connected
people wished to see the end of Chaudhry regime, lest it hit their bottom-line,
or even gain jail-terms, with the requirement of sharing wealth with the poorer
section of the community and some of their questionable dealings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><a name="_Hlk85003850"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Therefore, it was essential to cut down
Peoples Coalition Government before it became a real threat to the vested
interests, and - to hell with democracy and media ethics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk85003850;"></span>
</span><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 46.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 46.35pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">DISCUSSION<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Was FT solely responsible for downfall of Chaudhry’s
Peoples Coalition Government?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What happened in Fiji cannot be<b> fully</b>
attributed to the actions of George Speight. While FT helped create such an
atmosphere that was ripe for the removal of the government from means other
than democratic, <b>contributory factors</b> from Chaudhry’s style of
leadership hastened the process and discouraged any uprising in support of
democracy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Had Chaudhry been able to build bridges,
especially with the Itaukei community and its institutions, such huge support
for Speight may not have been there. If anything, Itaukei themselves may have
caused an uprising to support democracy. However nothing like that happened
with an insensitive and abrasive style of doing things that was not conducive
to the Fijian/Itaukei way and ethos of getting things done. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByCwFrkGpV2fyc107MkxpldfFB9yrkcmRnpOx12G2ECPwaXXAGR5jb4UzssWyvax-7UxQ_0D8GWqGNKG5hcTEhGOfQCQmk673q77Q5Q-2N_nw2kqLsrTszVWwW9NLi78jmB005vC8ThLX/s1070/S4-+4.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="1070" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByCwFrkGpV2fyc107MkxpldfFB9yrkcmRnpOx12G2ECPwaXXAGR5jb4UzssWyvax-7UxQ_0D8GWqGNKG5hcTEhGOfQCQmk673q77Q5Q-2N_nw2kqLsrTszVWwW9NLi78jmB005vC8ThLX/w640-h514/S4-+4.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He lived to my prediction that Chaudhry's worst enemy was Chaudhry himself. While Speight and Fiji Times contributed to his fall, there were contributory factors on his part, and he fell on his own sword. Fiji lost such a grand opportunity. Just hoping he has leant from his past mistakes and will rise up as a stateman in the next election.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Unpopular decisions taken on the strength of
democracy in a young nation where democracy to the Fijian culture had been
fairly recent, the rapid action based on such mandate was a foolhardy action
which MPC took despite ample warning from all the sources. It has been already
revealed in social media by a reliable source that Chaudhry was cautioned by
the American Embassy intelligence, and personally by the then Ambassador, of
the Speight-type uprising, which he ignored. He even failed to heed warnings of
his Home Affairs Minister and had the recklessness of surrounding himself with undeserving
“Yes, Prime Minister” type of advisors.</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Tinkering with the Constitution, fiddling
with land, appointment of his son and inability to maintain accord within his
coalition-partners led to his early demise which did not see any uprising to
support him.</span><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Perhaps Fiji’s greatest
historian Professor Brij Vilash Lal, banned from his land of birth by Khaiyum
and Bainimarama, summed the win of People’s Coalition well as <b>a Pyrrhic
victory</b>, which is <b>a victory that comes at a great cost, perhaps
making the ordeal to win not worth it</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Final Word<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is little doubt
that the analysis carried out in this research shows that FT did not behave or
operate like a responsible media in a developing nation where the concept of
democracy was still new to the ‘natives’ and FT’s obsession with racial
overtones in its stories divided the nation. All the good things about media
being a uniting force were never seen in FT. If anything FT lived to its accusation
of being anti-Indian since it was established in 1869, as already revealed in
PART 1 of this series of articles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It also lived according
to traits of the Propaganda Model where FT was seen to protect the interest of
the Itaukei political elite and the business community. While no proof has come
to court to substantiate the hands of business community in the fall of People’s
Coalition Government, this research gave enough motives for that and why the
business community wished to see Chaudhry go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">If a percentage were to
be allocated for ease of understanding, then perhaps FT contribution in causing
and giving rise to an environment for the fall of democracy rests at <b>60%
while Chaudhry’s inherent problems contributed to the other 40%.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chaudhry lived to one prediction and fear all had
about him: <b>Chaudhry’s worst enemy was - Chaudhry himself. </b>And as
predicted by some, including your truly, he fell on his own sword.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Despite the passage of
time, the partisan approach of the newspaper towards the elite class has not
changed. Times (pun intended) have changed; from Gillion’s (1977) reporting of
the 1860s to my research covering 2,000 in the new millennium. Even the elites
have changed; from the CSR, the British government and the Europeans to the
indigenous Fijian chiefs, the Fijian elites running the government and the
predominantly Indian business community. What has not changed is the credibility
of the <b>Propaganda Model</b> <b>of Media</b> which remained steadfast in
giving credence to Herman and Chomsky’s (2008) theory on how the media becomes
the lapdog and mouthpiece of the ruling elites - and is mostly interested in making
money. (Does that remind you of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>another print
media and a radio station in Fiji now? I did not say anything!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><a name="_Hlk84835834"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></o:p></span></a></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAhYgxouvV4f86AuPnJbk_m18om_K2FQ-4Qm7mSXn3roCFUMIjmFIfJUQm4gkJ9NVGNptU7d-7tk0EyDgisaSNbo6ZFLaebuLTMZV2yCcHEiUhnRVN428wRbNtVTov1wyb8HnnrjeblCv/s1181/S4-1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1181" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAhYgxouvV4f86AuPnJbk_m18om_K2FQ-4Qm7mSXn3roCFUMIjmFIfJUQm4gkJ9NVGNptU7d-7tk0EyDgisaSNbo6ZFLaebuLTMZV2yCcHEiUhnRVN428wRbNtVTov1wyb8HnnrjeblCv/w640-h460/S4-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>What an irony. The lot Fiji Times was trying to protect ended up owning media in Fiji. <a name="_Hlk85003196" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 32px;"><span>Gujarati community now controls almost 90% of Fiji’s print media. C.J. Patel with Vinod Patel, owns <i>the Fiji Sun</i>, while Moti Bhai now owns FT. Hari Punja has shares in the radio station, Communications Fiji Limited.</span></span></a></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><a name="_Hlk84835834"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></a><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk84835834;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><u>HA HA HA -THE LAST LAUGH<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></span></span></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk84835834;"></span>
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Fiji Times was
forced to abandon Fiji. It has now been bought by the Motibhai Group. What is
interesting here is the media ownership now rests in the hands of exactly those
people who were accused and suspected of supporting the divisive elements in
the removal of Chaudhry’s People’s Coalition Government, which was shifting
towards a socialistic trend. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><a name="_Hlk85003196"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Check the
private media ownership in Fiji, and majority are owned by Gujarati Business
Community. Fiji’s business Indian community, the Gujarati community now
controls almost 90% of Fiji’s print media. C.J. Patel<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with Vinod Patel, owns <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Fiji Sun</i>, while Moti Bhai now owns FT. Hari Punja has shares in
the radio station, Communications Fiji Limited. <o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk85003196;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ha Ha Ha – What an irony in Fiji Media ownership<b>. The elite the Fiji
Times was trying to protect has now ended up controlling Fiji media. </b>What
hope, common people, the Aam Aadmi? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk85003196;"></span>
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>Future research<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While this research
could claim to be the genesis of such a detailed media analysis of a Fiji
media, this also provides a springboard for future research.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The new balance of
media ownership, coupled with the new media decrees, and possibly a
new-media-friendly government in future, would provide rich fodder for an
ongoing research to gauge the transition of Fiji media into a “real” Third
World media. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This author harbours a
wish to carry this research forward with a doctoral thesis in this area, given
appropriate resources. USP or FNU - go ahead, make my day. I am now retired and
would not mind a break in Fiji, with my already rich experience in this area. (Perhaps
my surname does not qualify me for such favours!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is former
publisher of now closed, partly government-owned Daily Post newspaper, a
journalist,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a media commentator,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a community worker in Auckland and runs his
blog FIJI PUNDIT. He did a research on the role of the Fiji Times in
contributing to destabilising of democracy by a partisan<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>newspaper that culminated in Speight’s
attempted coup in 2000. Contents in the four-part articles are largely from his
Masters in Communication (MCS) thesis at Auckland University of Technology
(AUT) in 2011, and already published materials. All reference to Fiji Times is
to the foreign owned entity prior to localisation in 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">E-mail: </span></b><a href="mailto:thakurjifj@gmail.com"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">thakurjifj@gmail.com</span></b></a><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">]<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Link to thesis:</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> </span><a href="https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/handle/10292/2554"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/handle/10292/2554</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span color="windowtext" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Link to Fiji TV Close-up with Kaitani: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM481jp0Ddc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM481jp0Ddc</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span color="windowtext" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span color="windowtext" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span color="windowtext" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-8302327209504899792021-10-07T14:45:00.000-07:002021-10-07T14:45:22.834-07:00FIJI TIMES PART 3 : HOW IT CONTRIBUTED TO FALL OF CHAUDHRY GOVERNMENT IN MAY 2000<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE FIJI
TIMES 152<sup>nd</sup> ANNIVERSARY – PART 3 of 4<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">HOW FT
CONTRIBUTED TO FALL CHAUDHRY GOVERNMENT IN 2000 “SPEIGHT COUP”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thakur
Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PROLOGUE - PART 3<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the THIRD PART continuation of the
four-part series<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on the history of the
Fiji Times (FT). This is from already published articles and my research of
Master’s Thesis – a historical notoriety of a Fiji newspaper never told in this
manner and language. [See link to research at the end of this article]<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">DISCLAIMER</span></u></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">: All reference to FT is to the foreign-owned
paper before localisation in 2010. Hence I do not have any concerns with the
locally - owned FT of 2021. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">INTRODUCTION<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In Part 2, we further showed how “skirt-journalism”, racist and biased
reporting created ethnic issues and negativity against an “Indian” government
of Chaudhry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNFq5rugadgdStoxoPUWoi-Z8WMHGoyqB4L8xCBo38u0ksX-E_4stcfu9TUIEKHh6oPYV_Hc_ojF-bvmdHbdEEOBNKpnCGDj2hvnwbgg9dZW4pceGgpR5zE44Bv-YlWqvRgTUwcNYfoLr/s1648/S3-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1648" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNFq5rugadgdStoxoPUWoi-Z8WMHGoyqB4L8xCBo38u0ksX-E_4stcfu9TUIEKHh6oPYV_Hc_ojF-bvmdHbdEEOBNKpnCGDj2hvnwbgg9dZW4pceGgpR5zE44Bv-YlWqvRgTUwcNYfoLr/w640-h332/S3-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Mahendra Chaudhry (centre top) with three Itaukei people who were behind his removal-directly or indirectly: (L-R) Laisenia Qarase, Sakiasi Butadroka and George Speight.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Part 3 enumerates
extracts of conclusion from my research thesis </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">as part of my Masters in Communisation Studies (Journalism) at Auckland
University of Technology (AUT).</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> It reveals that the leopard did not change
spots even after a century. Subsequent to departure of the white men, they continued
being towel boys and lapdogs of Eastern Chiefs, elite Itaukei, ethnonationalist
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>politicians and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gujarati businesses (has it changed ever?),
and how they contributed to the disturbances by George Speight and the fall of
Fiji’s democracy in 2000. This was mostly done through unbridled and racially
skewed newsroom management with conflicting viewpoint on boundary between good
and fair journalism and racism, favouring your own types. The partisan stance
of FT, with poor internal management shamed journalism - the Fourth Estate. Please
read that here…………..<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE FIJI TIMES - PART 3 (OF 4)<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
Concluding Remarks of my Research<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had conducted
an analysis of the Fiji Times for one year, May 1999 to May 2000, leading to
attempted coup by George Speight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tAlFMQI6bd9zJ_UzcLfBPZBfDRl1dOUzvr_uAVztX535Hm_AJCGj1hXO6qbBXAoKHVZz4NyJr6jYkYJc031UQftpU3Gen1OfGJrM_ArcC9k-IrBNgQShKtjraM-vWMNIEQYr1_6q07ij/s280/1353975359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="280" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tAlFMQI6bd9zJ_UzcLfBPZBfDRl1dOUzvr_uAVztX535Hm_AJCGj1hXO6qbBXAoKHVZz4NyJr6jYkYJc031UQftpU3Gen1OfGJrM_ArcC9k-IrBNgQShKtjraM-vWMNIEQYr1_6q07ij/w400-h313/1353975359.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Mahendra Chaudhry (L) with his captor, George Speight after his release from 56 days captivity in Fiji Parliament building in May-June, 2000.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Almost two thirds (62.8%) of the analysis reported
negatively against People’s Coalition government while less than 10% showed any
warmth towards the government. Only just over a quarter (27.4%) of the items
were of neutral in nature. In fact a reputable and credible media should have
100% balanced, fair, neutral, and impartial reporting. Of the 19 sections
covered, thirteen (68.4%) reported 50% or more negative items while three of
these were above 90%. So, you can see how partisan and unfair FT was. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The sections of media analysis , among others,
covered major issues of interest under Chaudhry government as reported over one
year of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People’s Coalition government
rule. The following topics were covered for analysis in my research:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Election
Victory & Politics , Media Issues, Racial Agitation/Protests, Land, Rajen
Chaudhry, Tea Lady Affair, Baba & Chaudhry Tensions, Clark-Hunter Work Permits,
Constitutional Amendments, Fiji Hardwood and Speight, Industrial Issues, Ganesh
and Chaudhry Houses, Housing Authority, Margaret Wise, Daily Post and Radio
Fiji Ban, Socialism and Sharing Wealth, Punja and Companies, Political
Personalities and Zimbabwe Land Problems.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTVpiNTs2isyQ2FtDLuCJU-5QtfPPB0nVPBI6IFW_mFwZYqAiGP7731o8KksiDkH1w_NtIkY7Bg3jZxTAbGatyQneSh4y5WjTVx42uxkFKw0FNlSRdHwZjC0PASFx_DWAcIhjKqGPRARn/s1445/S3-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="1445" height="44" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTVpiNTs2isyQ2FtDLuCJU-5QtfPPB0nVPBI6IFW_mFwZYqAiGP7731o8KksiDkH1w_NtIkY7Bg3jZxTAbGatyQneSh4y5WjTVx42uxkFKw0FNlSRdHwZjC0PASFx_DWAcIhjKqGPRARn/s320/S3-5.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uEOxKox7bW_51xAHx3Nr1fv_TVas7_c-fQRs3nMG0TjMD3qMnBGsTq683D6_yMGWZQU5WugBTY9koCyxayLEjQxmTpI7_Ggk8YYy4EtOi5UmqCD7KHMzu4fQu_M8QvNIvPpt9Lcvj1qY/s1441/S3+-+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1441" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uEOxKox7bW_51xAHx3Nr1fv_TVas7_c-fQRs3nMG0TjMD3qMnBGsTq683D6_yMGWZQU5WugBTY9koCyxayLEjQxmTpI7_Ggk8YYy4EtOi5UmqCD7KHMzu4fQu_M8QvNIvPpt9Lcvj1qY/w200-h123/S3+-+3.JPG" width="200" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DWmGJfykRYnaSIp2ZTbjlzJXGwb8-gIxs-d4LEFg0XuwfJqmpsqDXf08rJCMv4bJZv0XEr4LUEi7IFL0VmTt1zavbwlma0jhs8HM8wB1-zI30qquvJSW6LHqyl5DgZxKsb5n2GOmnR2J/s407/S3+-+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="407" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DWmGJfykRYnaSIp2ZTbjlzJXGwb8-gIxs-d4LEFg0XuwfJqmpsqDXf08rJCMv4bJZv0XEr4LUEi7IFL0VmTt1zavbwlma0jhs8HM8wB1-zI30qquvJSW6LHqyl5DgZxKsb5n2GOmnR2J/w200-h181/S3+-+4.JPG" width="200" /></a><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHBhMWVyykPU6TsOJKavMWnZUOOBcGhrbsIXJSUocQYkp1ip3d8LVuHxdraJFpS2C3p9CaVFum2Var0GfbyiZveAMzQG6Ik8cobKzGuX0H0nmQmAaIFxnM6LGC0iDmrfVkNdjOOjhH9WM/s1193/S3+-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="1193" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHBhMWVyykPU6TsOJKavMWnZUOOBcGhrbsIXJSUocQYkp1ip3d8LVuHxdraJFpS2C3p9CaVFum2Var0GfbyiZveAMzQG6Ik8cobKzGuX0H0nmQmAaIFxnM6LGC0iDmrfVkNdjOOjhH9WM/s320/S3+-6.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Some Fiji Times headline that Chaudhry government had to endure in its short one-year term.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The trend of reporting showed that for the largest
selling paper in the country, such a large percentage of negative items would
end up affecting people’s perception of the government. However a poll
conducted seven months after election victory revealed that despite so much
negative reporting, </span><b style="font-size: 14pt;">Chaudhry government, reported very advanced positive poll
results</b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">, higher than ever gained by Rabuka government before him. <o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Therefore it would appear that those plotting to
overthrow the government had to act fast before the government became too
popular with the common people. And then began FT’s questionable reporting,
that has been summarised here. If you read my thesis, (link given below) it
also shows photo-shoot of relevant offending articles, photos and headlines
that resulted in assault of democracy in Fiji.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My conclusion makes interesting reading,
especially Fiji Indians will be able to relate to them from a racism
perspectives. In the Newsroom of FT,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>almost 96% of stories and control were by Itaukei editors, journalists,
and controllers of news when the Fiji Indians comprised some 40% of Fiji
population. Read, be shocked, and clap your hands for 152<sup>nd</sup>
anniversary celebrations of the Fiji Times for its contributions to the country:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some of the notable concluding observations from
the content analysis in my research were:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1) </span></span></span></b><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">There was obvious discord </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">between what FT said and advocated in its
editorials, and what appeared in the papers - it failed to walk its talk. There
appeared to be clash, disagreements and
conflict between editorials and news content. It was like one part of you
is trying to make peace between two
persons fighting, while the other part is secretly winking at one of them to
keep on fighting. Or like a proverbial rat in some African traditions, which bites, and at the same
time blows to soothe the pain of its biting. This description aptly
fitted FT on occasions where it appeared to have one view of the editorial
writer while completely opposite stance was seen in the stories appearing in
the news pages. In Hindi, the saying of ..” <i>bagal mein choori, mukh mein
Ram.. </i>which means praising God, while hiding a knife on the side to stab at
an opportune time. This reflected a disagreement between the editorial opinion and
the newsroom. FT failed to practice what it preached. What it advocated and
pontificated in its editorials, it failed to reflect them in its news pages.
What this means is, in its editorial by White men, it was preaching all the
goodness of a fair journalism, while the stories by Itaukei Editor and senior
Itaukei journalists spewed racial venom against a “Fiji Indian” Chaudhry
government.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbNd0V0-FAn2FWjj3_oQOfPD9YAKgfcoSCJSu6sfVoN-qdofnJ00hO-dqzW9FSbAvwxinZjOMXu0zl3K8ggbk94AIM0-BEUf7aK-hSwoVNH0TEsdbWnTS3M5Hz2z7RKvW0x6kNT9wcHzb/s363/FT+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="351" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbNd0V0-FAn2FWjj3_oQOfPD9YAKgfcoSCJSu6sfVoN-qdofnJ00hO-dqzW9FSbAvwxinZjOMXu0zl3K8ggbk94AIM0-BEUf7aK-hSwoVNH0TEsdbWnTS3M5Hz2z7RKvW0x6kNT9wcHzb/w193-h200/FT+4.jpg" width="193" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwTpd6cXQ43F6Oj8QcK0B-e4hGSLfhFIRlddiYdc1Vougr27iFvl06W_plRBEVnATryqtHsg4CC1fk9mga18ecjPoHI5dhh0KL_9C8JUsnEJV2QTaR-fGRCl-iBrHhVA7hyphenhyphenL5fgaA2U-d/s340/FT5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="102" data-original-width="340" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwTpd6cXQ43F6Oj8QcK0B-e4hGSLfhFIRlddiYdc1Vougr27iFvl06W_plRBEVnATryqtHsg4CC1fk9mga18ecjPoHI5dhh0KL_9C8JUsnEJV2QTaR-fGRCl-iBrHhVA7hyphenhyphenL5fgaA2U-d/w320-h96/FT5.jpg" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJ4o3CNqZhAIeVDYRGMyz4AmYAVPyZ5RkvaxQWfyizkzXWNDmysMMHcGzktcK843n4pdwuuRDyc2xvN8-UiVO1fpjYFUciG2mIMbvEbgwUy8fOfCAITkFaHKLwnI9aVdEtgMW_nVhiXJY/s361/FT6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="361" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJ4o3CNqZhAIeVDYRGMyz4AmYAVPyZ5RkvaxQWfyizkzXWNDmysMMHcGzktcK843n4pdwuuRDyc2xvN8-UiVO1fpjYFUciG2mIMbvEbgwUy8fOfCAITkFaHKLwnI9aVdEtgMW_nVhiXJY/w200-h179/FT6.jpg" width="200" /></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDV1WemWwhLppT0aLMEXFdZqMab3qQtUhnqU37sjRBM47DX7l1yJLQYW-PYJkXA_8fwcUMGgZZCmQNFrbqQW7xIxuHeeDEm36ZW4KrNHTq0SWf5v7QwS8FOxJgf1-mReC-ZEGSkggceQN/s1105/FT12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="1105" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDV1WemWwhLppT0aLMEXFdZqMab3qQtUhnqU37sjRBM47DX7l1yJLQYW-PYJkXA_8fwcUMGgZZCmQNFrbqQW7xIxuHeeDEm36ZW4KrNHTq0SWf5v7QwS8FOxJgf1-mReC-ZEGSkggceQN/s320/FT12.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></span></div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Some Fiji Times headline that Chaudhry government had to endure in its short one-year term.<br /><br /></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The lack of coordination between the newspaper
management and the newspaper operations</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">.
Elaborating what was said above, the ‘management’, comprised of expatriate
policy and editorial formulators, notably the expatriate publisher and the
editor in chief, <b>Alan Robinson</b>, and <b>Russell Hunter</b> (for part of
the time) respectively. The ‘operations’ or the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fijian(Itaukei) ‘gatekeepers’ comprised of the editor <b>Samisoni
Kakaivalu,</b> his Deputy <b>Netani Rika</b> and the senior Fijian newsroom
team including <b>Margaret Wise</b>, about whom you read in Part 2. Lack of
coordination appears to have stemmed from unbridled newsroom control on the
local staff who coined up the headlines that chose and manufactured stories and
headlines, as had been cited by a researcher<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>where a Fiji Indian journalist at FT admitted that the article she wrote
was completely twisted and the headline was given by a member of the senior
staff. The ‘management’ expatriate executives have to be accountable for what
we found as an environment which gave unbridled ‘gate keeping’ duties to
unqualified, insensitive, and partisan newsroom (Itaukei) staff. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFWZhYbxUUFCaDhBf1fjbqWGecbM6yfg4UeaPY3zA3oyhu9-Uaoeb2HCVzjmVzVaDAZqW1iwKQZKcywmFjrrP_brPQXYd9DZnk8FmaKoMSxNfTQyGyzSYVaSmarTzkVhQzDTSD7dwEyk2/s1019/butadroka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1019" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFWZhYbxUUFCaDhBf1fjbqWGecbM6yfg4UeaPY3zA3oyhu9-Uaoeb2HCVzjmVzVaDAZqW1iwKQZKcywmFjrrP_brPQXYd9DZnk8FmaKoMSxNfTQyGyzSYVaSmarTzkVhQzDTSD7dwEyk2/w200-h146/butadroka.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclJlT-h5JGl9lmO72JRRqTBb_5nWlicuM7uCtbEhFm2_2fcPrQUW3551lCtDhsZ1TcolH7Lp_nd4nwLNGeD4P4kZwDx8ijTNalnjBOHzDh2Jmm381GrHbZ_0AFzKn1UUG05Nm6gMtxf7b/s815/FT+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="815" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclJlT-h5JGl9lmO72JRRqTBb_5nWlicuM7uCtbEhFm2_2fcPrQUW3551lCtDhsZ1TcolH7Lp_nd4nwLNGeD4P4kZwDx8ijTNalnjBOHzDh2Jmm381GrHbZ_0AFzKn1UUG05Nm6gMtxf7b/s320/FT+17.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Tin-Pot ethnonationalist politicians with questionable following and character sprung up overnight and were given more prominence in FT than the ruling government and politicians who had to resort to letters -to-editor to make their point. Sakiasi Butadroka (top) and Taniela Tabu.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>New
groups of militant and nationalist makeshifts (tin-pot) organisations sprung up
overnight</b> to oppose government’s initiatives. Their little-known leaders
with suspect following were given undeserved and unbridled exposure by FT under
the guise of media freedom, despite such utterances bordering on sedition and
hate-speeches, and in clear breach of Media Code of Conduct and Ethics. Every
now and then you would have a tin-pot Itaukei nationalist and questionable
leader, with little credibility and following, rising up and vomiting anti-Fiji
Indian poison, and FT had no hesitation in highlighting verbal diarrhoea and
racists diatribes of such leaders while ignoring clarifications and statements
from the government and officials of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Open disrespect to President and PM</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> - FT provided ample opportunity to any man and
his dog who wished to take a pot shot at the highest seat of the country- the
President and the Prime Minister. A responsible, civilised media, especially in
a developing country divided on racial lines would be expected to exercise
caution and sensitivity. FT committed dereliction of ethics and duties by
permitting and sanctioning such show of disrespect to the leaders of a
developing nation under the guise of media freedom. One is free to be critical
of the politicians of any shades or colour. But when it comes to the SEAT OF
THE COUNTRY, such as the <b>Prime Minister</b> or <b>President</b>, the <b>POSITIONS</b>
command respect, and no credible newspapers would ever allow any dogs of racism
to piss on the highest poles and seats of the nation. Unfortunately, over a
century-old FT allowed this to happen without blinking an eye lid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoISmjfTydYQn0i1yf_y8pF0LWMtfnYPPUYj4AvVK-oNuH-GoB_xj0ujLkjha9mNmZW_om5k5a7bSw5Eh0Sz_9I8fSDi2oIBfAMFtoqyV7wClHijMKi_xX8Q2ZPaIYfBtff73tJhJLxcq/s1242/S3+-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="1242" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoISmjfTydYQn0i1yf_y8pF0LWMtfnYPPUYj4AvVK-oNuH-GoB_xj0ujLkjha9mNmZW_om5k5a7bSw5Eh0Sz_9I8fSDi2oIBfAMFtoqyV7wClHijMKi_xX8Q2ZPaIYfBtff73tJhJLxcq/w640-h442/S3+-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Protest by Indians in Haryana, India, Chaudhry's ancestral land by those raising their voice against his removal in Fiji. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Lack of Balance</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> - The number of important issues where government had to resort to
letters to editor column to tell its side of the story was evident that there
was something grossly amiss in media’s balance and adherence to Code of Conduct
that called for equal opportunity of response. In the analysis, instances were
quoted where the government as well as the members of the general public wrote
in to clarify and inform on issues which was seen as the media’s role. It
appears either FT failed to grasp and inform on issues, or it deliberately
failed in its duty of keeping Fiji well informed to safeguard democracy. Sadly,
FT failed to balance their stories with all sides of views - a strong pillar of
respected journalism. FT clearly displayed its neglect and recklessness of duties
and failed to protect and defend democracy – another strong pillar of any
respectable Fourth Estate (media). It failed to allow the same space and
opportunity to the Government of the day to clarify lies and unsubstantiated
claims by the opposition, ethnonationalist officials of statutory organisations
(read NLTB) and tin-pot nationalist leaders.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0hfo4zYb50Y-VjLuA-K8zdu1g2epQ9F7vICGI84sHJBd8KdX5tVrM0bassAL3jv7KtXZu1bXkcragrekDTQ_8fD0uLCEPdha0abDu5YPvXRsOlHbwwFn3Hzcd-sL7Z09Ih7fApMUAEnQ/s2048/S3-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1513" data-original-width="2048" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0hfo4zYb50Y-VjLuA-K8zdu1g2epQ9F7vICGI84sHJBd8KdX5tVrM0bassAL3jv7KtXZu1bXkcragrekDTQ_8fD0uLCEPdha0abDu5YPvXRsOlHbwwFn3Hzcd-sL7Z09Ih7fApMUAEnQ/w640-h472/S3-8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Mahendra Chaudhry commanded huge respect, especially in cane belt of rural Fiji. He was more popular than any PM before him, hence had to be removed by the ethnonationalist Itaukei agitators before he became too popular. Here Chaudhry (R) is seen, having a word with his ardent supporter and friend from Rarawai, Ba, Fiji, Late Krishna Nand Maharaj.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Failure of FT to recognise lopsided racial mix</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">: In Fiji, it is a Constitutional requirement and
direction (in 1977 Constitution) to grant equitable distribution of civil
service positions at all levels to reflect the country’s demographic makeup. It
seems this escaped the knowledge of FT. That is why it allowed misinformed
viewpoints without trying to point out the anomaly, with extremely high
percentage in Military and civil service with information on land ownership and
other standard statistics. It not only ignored the lopsided racial mix elsewhere
in government, but itself failed to abide by the general principle that the
newsroom should be the mirror of the country. There was marked favour of Itaukei
, not only at all (especially senior) levels <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of its news team, but also in news content reporting<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>where some 95 % of the stories with by lines
were from Itaukei reporters in a racially divided nation with Fiji Indians
comprising some 40% of the population at that time. Over two-thirds of FT
newsroom was populated by Itaukei, and they filed almost all stories, with a
few “balanced” stories coming from Fiji Indian reporters, and they were few and
far in between.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvgXSn39eeGVlOvkKFXdyVBwErd-oHt3u4ebW6nys8bZW-b90ocTRybZIjQZf8iyrjgNzMmTycOWbbtk0dzimmray_1dcUysVy0VVblqTPl6wGTRu3Lmz0d5L4zcKWd8t-uDUI7zl717S/s1535/gettyimages-52010835-2048x2048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1535" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvgXSn39eeGVlOvkKFXdyVBwErd-oHt3u4ebW6nys8bZW-b90ocTRybZIjQZf8iyrjgNzMmTycOWbbtk0dzimmray_1dcUysVy0VVblqTPl6wGTRu3Lmz0d5L4zcKWd8t-uDUI7zl717S/w640-h384/gettyimages-52010835-2048x2048.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Mahendra Chaudhry, when PM( L-R) with President of Fiji Labour Party, Jokepeci Koroi, Fiji's President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and his wife, Vir Mati.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sounds shocking? The balance of conclusion and the
concluding remarks leading to fall of People’s Coalition Government will be
revealed in PART 4 and the final part of this four - part article.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is former
publisher of now closed, partly government-owned Daily Post newspaper, a
journalist,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a media commentator,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a community worker in Auckland and runs his
blog FIJI PUNDIT. He did a research on the role of the Fiji Times in contributing
to destabilising of democracy by a partisan<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>newspaper that culminated in Speight’s attempted coup in 2000. Details
in the articles are largely from his Masters in Communication (MCS) thesis at
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in 2011, and already published material.
All reference to Fiji Times is to the foreign owned entity prior to
localisation in 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">E-mail: <a href="mailto:thakurjifj@gmail.com">thakurjifj@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a name="_Hlk84386773"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">Link to thesis:</span> </a><a href="https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/handle/10292/2554"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk84386773;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/handle/10292/2554</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk84386773;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk84386773;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk84386773;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk84386773;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk84386773;"></span>
</span><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-64289830114102669982021-10-01T16:25:00.000-07:002021-10-01T16:25:36.800-07:00FIJI TIMES PART 2: IT CONTRIBUTED TO FALL OF DEMOCRACY IN FIJI AS A BIASED MEDIA, SUPPORTING UNELECTED CHIEFS<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE FIJI
TIMES 152<sup>nd</sup> ANNIVERSARY – PART 2 of 4<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">HOW FT,
WITH THE CHIEFS, CONTRIBUTED TO FALL OF DEMOCRACY IN FIJI AS A BIASED
MEDIA.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thakur
Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PROLOGUE - PART 2<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is SECOND PART of continuation of the four-part
series<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on the history of the Fiji Times
(FT). This is from already published articles and my research of Master’s
Thesis – a historical notoriety of a Fiji newspaper never told in this manner
and language.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><u><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">DISCLAIMER</span></u></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">: All reference to FT is to the foreign-owned
paper before localisation in 2010. Hence I do not have any concerns with the locally
- owned FT of 2021. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">INTRODUCTION<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In Part 1, we mentioned that <i>The Fiji Times</i> (FT) just
marked<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>152<sup>nd</sup> anniversary and
were in Fiji prior to arrival of first Girmitiyas but remained blind to their
plight and inhumane treatment. In fact they despised and hated them as smelly,
dark-skinned invaders to Fiji and became cheerleaders and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mouthpiece of the British and Australian
colonists and degraded these helpless and defenceless people. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Part 2 here will show that the leopard did not change spots, and after
departure of the white men, they became towel boys and lapdogs of Eastern
Chiefs, elite Itaukei and European and Gujarati businesses, and how they became
a threat to Fiji’s democracy. As I have openly stated before, the greatest
threat to democracy in Fiji came from the Great Council of Chiefs, followed by
a partisan media. Please read that here…………..<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEzkA0CSms_puK0Mc0VuDEycVY47YD3Bq2UlzK3xLugXze5UXxosnQb6Q0e4EZoa0doNccAoWbM6B7lkATQ0YwjkGTdR43_-wr60xeW8SSWlm0xNkDp55Xqe-5liKjfq86kc4YpF1izSw/s921/S2+-+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="874" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEzkA0CSms_puK0Mc0VuDEycVY47YD3Bq2UlzK3xLugXze5UXxosnQb6Q0e4EZoa0doNccAoWbM6B7lkATQ0YwjkGTdR43_-wr60xeW8SSWlm0xNkDp55Xqe-5liKjfq86kc4YpF1izSw/w608-h640/S2+-+4.JPG" width="608" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Sitiveni Rabuka, the coup-maker of 1987, was soundly defeated by Chaudhry in 1999 election. He was having an affair with a key senior reporter of FT, Margaret Wise who was agitating a war with Chaudhry, unethically using FT, while management of FT allowed this rot to continue.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE FIJI TIMES - PART 2 (OF 4)<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Russell
Hunter was refused an extension of his work permit by Chaudhry government which
had a bitter running battle with the media in general and FT in particular. One
notable incident was during the launch of the Fiji Media Council’s Code of
Conduct where the Prime Minister Chaudhry was very critical of reporting
standards and the attitude of FT towards his government and accused it of
“fanning the fires of sedition and racism.” In his speech, Chaudhry had singled
out one particular reporter, <b>Margaret Wise</b> – that, later.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In speaking
about unnecessary and unwarranted coverage given to nationalist union leader
Taniela Tabu, Chaudhry accused The Fiji Times of harbouring an agenda: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.2pt; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There
have been a number of articles on Taniela Tabu breathing fire and brimstone
along racial lines, making all kinds of threats and allegations not backed by
facts. Yet The Fiji Times continues to pose this man whose own credibility is
questionable, having frittered away $4 million of union membership funds that
he can’t explain, as the saviour of the Fijian civil servants… none of the
other media reported anything on his unwarranted ourbursts... It makes me
wonder whether there is not a conspiracy at work here between that particular
reporter and these anti-government elements?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTV0kPcqpfslxxnj40TtbBFa72FtOqCRXIGOIJLcBCNVCpaDQvJf5cdAI4yx2c-FBg2JtZEvhoeRLbC2s9ahoXMZ1GUuB86OmUl8Nro9oRLOYSOSYYIYOhLcEPcq2a_Gnn-1PH-9iaPwX/s871/S2+-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="871" data-original-width="639" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTV0kPcqpfslxxnj40TtbBFa72FtOqCRXIGOIJLcBCNVCpaDQvJf5cdAI4yx2c-FBg2JtZEvhoeRLbC2s9ahoXMZ1GUuB86OmUl8Nro9oRLOYSOSYYIYOhLcEPcq2a_Gnn-1PH-9iaPwX/w294-h400/S2+-5.JPG" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Russell Hunter, Editor-in Chief of Fiji Times, during late 1990, and was denied visa and deported during the Peoples Coalition rule, but joined FT once Chaudhry was displaced as a result of political instability that, as my research shows, was partly contributed by the stance of a biased FT.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></o:p></span></i></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span></i></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Media
commentators Field, Baba and Nabobo-Baba shed additional light on the Wise
story: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.2pt; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
Rupert Murdoch-owned Fiji Times decided, almost by default and as a result of
one particular reporter that they were going to get rid of Chaudhry. Reporter
Margaret Wise tore into Chaudhry with many an unsourced story which the paper
had no qualms about publishing. What was known to the newspaper, but not shared
with readers and now a matter of court record, was that she was also Rabuka’s
lover and had a child by him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">It was Mahendra Chaudhry and his
People’s Coalition Government that soundly walloped Rabuka and his SVT into
oblivion. The unethical sexual relationship between FT’s political star
reporter Margaret Wise and the person who was soundly beaten by Chaudhry,
Sitiveni Rabuka was reported in FT. </span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Michael
Field (2010), in his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Swimming with Sharks
</i>mentioned this:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 2.0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Rabuka fathered a boy with
[Margaret] Wise and then denied it was his. I was often in Fiji at the time,
covering treason and mutiny trials. More than once I would run into Rabuka after
Wise took him to court. ‘ A DNA test revealed Mr Rabuka<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was 99.999 percent [certain] to be the likely
father of the 18-month-old boy,’ the Fiji Times said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 2.0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The court found he was the
father, and he was ordered to pay F$30 a week. (p.179)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 2.0cm; margin-right: 2.0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVrGs5-7f_WPXHaZQNRqGQ2YLQucozQC35opGb9uu7Ilq8yNi8YcfQGrIEISYcfcmAADUSS47d1SFEJS-1AuY69Fzs3QyrIdfVOvI3MokpuPQE2rVSUsdTbDbL4vKhtCSQzGBJMy3e7Tj/s1405/S2+-+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="1405" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVrGs5-7f_WPXHaZQNRqGQ2YLQucozQC35opGb9uu7Ilq8yNi8YcfQGrIEISYcfcmAADUSS47d1SFEJS-1AuY69Fzs3QyrIdfVOvI3MokpuPQE2rVSUsdTbDbL4vKhtCSQzGBJMy3e7Tj/w640-h402/S2+-+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Tin-Pot racist trade unionists and political party leaders, with questionable support and ethics were allowed space by certain reporters of FT to spew racial venom on Chaudhry's Peoples Coalition Government of the day, and management of FT allowed this partisan approach to flourish.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 18.6667px; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The ethical issue that arises here is that when
she was reporting against the Chaudhry government, she was also having an
affair with Rabuka. How would a multinational, Rupert Murdoch’s media allow
such a conflict of interest to exist without any control, and with apparent
knowledge, encouragement, and the blessings from FT management. Why did Alan
Robinson and Russel Hunter allow this unethical media practice to flourish?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is
incidents and situations like this that gave rise to the term “skirt
journalism” that raises ethical and conflict of interest issues. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Another
researcher at USP was also critical of the newspaper which portrayed Speight as
a crusader for the Fijian race, wresting back the power for the Fijian race for
preservation of their future. She also named Margaret Wise, as one of FT
reporters who wrote stories that were aimed at consolidating the myth that the
takeover was an ethnic conflict and not provincial rivalry between the
confederacies. Wise continued to run stories which kept on emphasising inter-ethnic
conflict as the reason. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQnYm1cae4fvJ7Lnkn5yiOLqaw8DOXuO9aS6pgZipj6zpuh70KygEp-gziyJy7AYvFb8iyguli1QV2aiCy4cJt0la4nlDtw3v1UMigNtBWvoySI8RN6qQyam8ehqtqcaLdbS51pAeh0Xd/s1428/S2+-+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="1428" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQnYm1cae4fvJ7Lnkn5yiOLqaw8DOXuO9aS6pgZipj6zpuh70KygEp-gziyJy7AYvFb8iyguli1QV2aiCy4cJt0la4nlDtw3v1UMigNtBWvoySI8RN6qQyam8ehqtqcaLdbS51pAeh0Xd/w640-h390/S2+-+3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Sakiasi Butadroka, who helped displace Ratu Mara's Alliance Government was also used by ethno-nationalist politicians to destabilise Chaudry's Government, and FT allowed them enough space and publicity to do this.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;">Another researcher
in her hypothesis proposed that:</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.2pt; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Fiji
Times represented and reinforced the ruling class ideology in Fiji, a ruling
class who were determined to consolidate political power by promoting the role
of chiefly elite and thereby disguising the tension caused by class relations
in society. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It also
declared that the Speight crisis happened because Fijians did not trust an Indo
Fijian Prime Minister to deliver security of Fijian rights and guarantee of
Fijian leadership. She added that the editor of FT during the crisis was a
Fijian (referred to as indigenous race). The view of the Fijian editor appeared
to have been filtering in the newspapers. <b><span style="color: red;">FT took it
for granted that the Fijian chiefs had legitimacy to provide leadership role in
a crisis situation, ignoring the Indo-Fijians in the process. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This concept
of legitimising the role of non-elected and politically aligned chiefs over all
the people of Fiji matches Herman and Chomsky’s (2008) Propaganda Model theory
which stipulates that media is dependent on the elites and participates in
propaganda campaigns helpful to elite interests. Research analysis showed <b>the
newspaper tended to support not only the business functions but also the ruling
chiefly elite over that of the survival of democracy.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The racial slant of FT<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>supported democracy, as long as the Fijians and the GCC dominated
leadership <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and ruled Fiji.</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FT, while supporting democracy tended
to favour Fijian self-interest over the political system and mandate of the
people. The papers failed to support the huge mandate of the people for return
of Chaudhry to power. <b><span style="color: red;">This was a clear reflection of
the racial skew of the papers’ editor and senior and influential journalists
and their links to the ruling elite who supported Fijian leadership for Fiji.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eTJU5VgfaBQHvhPR-CMOROh90If7YgS077OkQD8eEal90iDKxYhHovH-PmNsJuLGwh5ys6j-ObGE-5wn2oQIBie-kCKu0bmORo73tEjR72TtfbXqnyBGCrL2mMo_GCYNo6Pin2ECaB_H/s1566/S2+-+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1566" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eTJU5VgfaBQHvhPR-CMOROh90If7YgS077OkQD8eEal90iDKxYhHovH-PmNsJuLGwh5ys6j-ObGE-5wn2oQIBie-kCKu0bmORo73tEjR72TtfbXqnyBGCrL2mMo_GCYNo6Pin2ECaB_H/w640-h358/S2+-+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>A free and neutral media in a fledgling democracy, in a developing nation, with racial issues, need to exercise extra care to project itself as a neutral, impartial and balanced Fourth Estate. Unfortunately, as my research substantiates, the foreign-owned FT failed to live up to this expectation, while beating hollowed drums of success in Fiji for 152 years.<br />.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Criticism by
Chaudhry and other researchers and authors concluded that:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.2pt; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">……</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">the FT editor failed to provide any in-depth analysis of the
causes of the political crisis nor related it back to historical events. .…
reinforced the colonial legacy that Fijian chiefs are the rightful rulers of
Fiji, emphasising that Fiji, and this presumably means Fijians, was not ready
for a multiracial constitution.<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
researcher was critical of the standard of the editorials and the paper’s
understanding of the Constitution and their lack of understanding of the
special protection accorded in the 1997 Constitution, the process of Constitutional
change and the inability of any Prime Minister to be able to change things at
their whim, hence the fact that an Indo-Fijian Prime Minister was not a
situation that should agitate the Fijian public.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My
continuing Part 3 will brief you on my research for AUT Thesis, which
substantiated that a partisan, a biased FT contributed to fall of democracy in
Fiji - an irony for a supposedly Fourth Estate to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is former
publisher of now closed, partly government-owned Daily Post newspaper, a
journalist,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a media commentator,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a community worker in Auckland and runs his
blog FIJI PUNDIT. He did a research on the role of the Fiji Times in
contributing to destabilising of democracy by a partisan<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>newspaper that culminated in Speight’s
attempted coup in 2000. Details in the articles are largely from his Masters in
Communication (MCS) thesis at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in 2011,
and from already published materials. E-mail:thakurjifj@gmail.com.]</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-37436430065190367432021-09-24T12:51:00.001-07:002021-10-02T04:15:00.218-07:00FIJI TIMES PART 1: IT DESPISED INDIANS AND SHAMED MEDIA AS A LAPDOG OF THE ELITES<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE FIJI
TIMES 152nd ANNIVERSARY – PART 1<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">WHEN FT
DESPISED INDIANS AND SHAMED MEDIA AS <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> A </span>LAP
DOG OF WHITE COLONISTS & ELITES<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thakur
Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">PROLOGUE - PART 1<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a four-part series of articles on the
history of the Fiji Times, from already published articles and my research as Master’s
Thesis, and never told in this manner and language.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Fiji Times (hereafter referred to as “FT”)
just made a big noise and celebrations about its 152 years in Fiji and praised
and commended itself for its achievements. </span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Many, especially Fiji-Indians in
Fiji and around the world (Diaspora) may have also clapped but failed to know
what FT failed to tell and do as the oldest Fourth Estate in Fiji, which for the
most part, despised Indians.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Those who studied journalism and seen research on
FT would know how it shamed journalism, the Fourth Estate, as the media is referred
to. The Government comprises three arms: <span style="background: white; color: #202124;">executive, legislative and judiciary . These three arms of
government do everything necessary to maintain law and order in the state. </span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124;">And media is an additional important and responsible arm to keep a check on
these three and therefore referred to as THE FOURTH STATE.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><u>DISCLAIMER</u>: All reference
to FT is to the foreign-owned paper before localisation in 2010. Hence I do not
have any concerns with the 2021 FT. If anything, the Fiji Times of today may be
one of the media which stands tall as a respectable Fourth Estate and pride to
journalism in Fiji in very trying times in 2021 where the three arms of the
government appear to be all muddled up and muddied together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">INTRODUCTION<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Fiji Times just marked<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>152<sup>nd</sup>
anniversary as they came to Fiji in 1869, 10 years before arrival of first
indentured Indian labourers (Girmitiyas) from India. Many atrocities, violence,
injustice, breach of human rights and inhumane activities were imposed on these
vulnerable illiterate people from India. Yet, the paper never exercised it role
of the Fourth Estate or its responsibility of journalism to report facts
neutrally, impartially, diligently, and fairly. If anything, they became
mouthpiece of the British and Australian colonists and degraded these helpless
and defenceless people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What appears to be missing is for any children of Girmit to stand up
and reveal all the ills of a White foreign media<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that rarely stood up for their forebear
Girmitiyas, and neither for them nor their children till early<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>21<sup>st</sup> century. Hence FIJI PUNDIT
chose to fill the vacuum, as a duty to my voiceless Girmitiyas who were never
able to defend themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweHsRTcZC4xUr_nbKibn21f1s9FXGEEjq-SouCoUd4iEP33lscf7vLrif0aj_jMakZoI-KAFINAYezLXN4nAOY6hA-lqXSQjr45EDMM6JZw6AOVokYvAlHESZQFj537Dsav6JfGf68AXY/s1408/S-1-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1408" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweHsRTcZC4xUr_nbKibn21f1s9FXGEEjq-SouCoUd4iEP33lscf7vLrif0aj_jMakZoI-KAFINAYezLXN4nAOY6hA-lqXSQjr45EDMM6JZw6AOVokYvAlHESZQFj537Dsav6JfGf68AXY/w640-h396/S-1-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: left;">It started for Girmitiyas in 1879, but the Fiji Times was in Fiji 10 years before, boasting to be there in 1869. Yet, they failed to exercise its role as a responsible media in most of its life in Fiji. And as my 4 part article series will show, their hatred for Indians culminated in contributing to removal of Chaudhry's "Indian Government" in 2000. Keep on reading the series.</b></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">Most of what I say are from </span><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">already published</b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> materials and thesis, and
largely come from my Master’s Thesis at Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
in 2011 , titled: </span><b style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">“THE 2000 SPEIGHT COUP IN FIJI: THE ROLE OF “THE FIJI
TIMES” LEADING TO POLITICAL INSTABILITY”. </b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">I will have link to this research
at end of this article,</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;">and you may access
and have a look at it, and read one year’s FT news that have been photographed
and used in the thesis, and be shocked to see how FT became a mouthpiece of
ethno-nationalists, anti-Chaudhry and anti-Indian brigade .</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">THE FIJI TIMES - PART 1 (OF 4)<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So, let’s begin. We begin by a research by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Padmini Gaunder at Auckland University in
2006. Through historical perspectives, she revealed how FT generated animosity
and tension between the major ethnic groups, leading to ethnic conflict. She
rightfully stated that FT was the only paper for over a century, and it used
its position early to shove<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a wedge
between the races and appeared to represent the ruling class and the elites.
She said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.2pt; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; margin: 10pt 43.2pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This newspaper represented the views and interests of a
small group of vested European commercial interests in the country and
deliberately caused ethnic divisions by influencing the perceptions of
indigenous Fijians towards the immigrant Indians. The newspaper helped to
implant fear in the minds of the indigenous population of domination of the
country by the immigrant community. This fear led to suspicions and slowly it
caused tensions and finally ethnic conflict. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Gaunder states that the racial
divisiveness of the newspaper appeared to have been founded in the history of
FT: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.2pt; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; margin: 10pt 43.2pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Fiji Times had started its anti-Indian propaganda in its
very early days itself, during the indenture period in the colony
(1879-1920).Throughout the indenture period, there was often violence in the
cane fields, resulting sometimes in murders of the overseer by the labourers.
The Fiji Times invariably described these incidents as cold-blooded murder and
depicted the Indians as a mysterious race of criminals to whom violence came
naturally. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.2pt; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; margin: 10pt 43.2pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGvdrQsq11QchHtrPuV8sldrw6V8CrNQ37cJEqkCR0HfyhwoLZViaR_iX9F5OOCCUxBQJQ0KxPe4PYbWrc_AGcdH7ooMHNV67t9NRNFc_gg5_lN0owib3SViTxROAL1s3-jR0HUMgWaA3/s1217/S+4.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1217" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGvdrQsq11QchHtrPuV8sldrw6V8CrNQ37cJEqkCR0HfyhwoLZViaR_iX9F5OOCCUxBQJQ0KxPe4PYbWrc_AGcdH7ooMHNV67t9NRNFc_gg5_lN0owib3SViTxROAL1s3-jR0HUMgWaA3/w640-h450/S+4.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>The voiceless vulnerable Girmitiyas who never had anyone to protect them from ruthlessness of the White men, and even the White Media, Fiji Times. Instead of being a neutral and impartial reporter, it became a bosom-buddy and mouthpiece of the colonists and the elite white settlers.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b></b></div><b><br /></b><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; margin: 10pt 43.2pt 8pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In fact what FT failed to mention and conveniently omitted
was that in most cases, the violence was provoked by the overseers, and this
may be verified by anecdotal oral (verbal) literature from our Girmitiyas who told us
tales of such injustices, brutalities, and violence. This is well documented in
Rajendra Prasad’s <i>TEARS IN PARADISE.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; margin: 10pt 43.2pt 8pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Tears
in Paradise – Suffering and Struggles of Indians in Fiji 1879-2004</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> reveals the horrific treatment of Indian
indentured workers (Girmitiyas) in Fiji by the British from 1879-1919.
Indenture system (Girmit) under which they were recruited was slavery by
another name. Working and living conditions were so atrocious that Fiji had the
highest rate of suicide in the world and highest rate of infanticide among the
colonies that deployed indentured labour. Yet none of these made it to the
pages of FT because of their selective and racist journalism, which tarnished
Fiji Indians as smelly, dark-skinned invaders.</span></span><span style="color: #404040; font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; margin: 10pt 43.2pt 8pt 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Until 1920, the white settlers regarded Indian and Fijians
(Fijians refer to Itaukei) as dark-skinned people who were inferior to white
settlers. It was only after 1920 and 1921 strikes by Indians that they
befriended the Itaukei and started turning them against the Indians.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.2pt; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; margin: 10pt 43.2pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Fiji Times became their main tool for conveying this
pro-Fijian/anti-Indian stand. It deliberately disseminated, through headlines,
news stories, letters to the editor and editorials news about Indians that
would cause unease in the minds of the Fijians. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.2pt; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; margin: 10pt 43.2pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQfW20sLxhpEWyNlJknAaOKQUzjICg68zEhcbP5wiapJjiqUtvLHJsWTcKhqzFFVkOUCyN6kcvrjZajgZWO4zlSNr0iMxbn4B8d4ux0bPq8cjjA6hCZXRwjtQmlSwOhPq-d99X0ZyTs94/s720/S+3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="720" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQfW20sLxhpEWyNlJknAaOKQUzjICg68zEhcbP5wiapJjiqUtvLHJsWTcKhqzFFVkOUCyN6kcvrjZajgZWO4zlSNr0iMxbn4B8d4ux0bPq8cjjA6hCZXRwjtQmlSwOhPq-d99X0ZyTs94/w640-h560/S+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="background: white; color: red; line-height: 107%;">Pundit Tej Ram
Prem of Sydney enacting a suicide scene at a Girmit play. Fiji had the highest
rate of suicide in the world and highest rate of infanticide among the colonies
that deployed indentured labour. Yet none of these made it to the pages of
FT because of their selective and racist journalism, which tarnished Fiji
Indians as smelly, dark-skinned invaders.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></div><b><br /></b><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A historian and acknowledged author on early Indian history in Fiji,
Dr. K. L Gillion noted similar racial slurs in FT of those early years against
Fiji Indians. Citing an incident in 1922 when an Indian deputation was visiting
Fiji, the following letter appeared in the then Fiji Times and Herald of 1 March
1922: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.2pt; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; margin: 10pt 43.2pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I would say that 99 per cent of the Europeans in Fiji and
the Fijians are loyalists and the handing over of Fiji to evil-smelling,
treacherous, non-educated, garlic-eating Indians would be one of the greatest
crimes in the history of the British Empire and an event which would possibly
meet with some opposition. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;">Gillion (1977) also recorded
instances when the newspaper called for deportation of Indian leaders to India,
used derogatory words against Indians, was accused of reinforcing “apprehension
about Asian penetration of the South Pacific”</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">and expressed contempt on celebrating jubilee, in 1929, of the arrival
of the first Indian settlers and declaring of 15 May as a public holiday. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;">(Even
Frank Bainimarama and Fiji First Government is struggling with request of Fiji
Girmit Foundation NZ of 2015 to declare Girmit Public Holiday, almost a century
after when FT initially opposed it. It seems we have progressed very little,
and still waiting for that to become a reality.)</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"> In the issue of January 29,
1929, The Fiji Times and Herald wrote:</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.2pt; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; margin: 10pt 43.2pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">Fiji does not require
permanent settlers of the Indian type. Her lands, her climate are for Europeans
who can employ what labour they require.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.2pt; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; margin: 10pt 43.2pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"></span></b></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSVDq69EyARMfwW4fweF_6VzuBu3pM3JJzfLiOrLua5nhqPG20SnuoxBg_GwhIATNcXteMrMeAGxrHgnN2Md7PaFbVMop5eqRUSfcTwuY2GvXdRVFmBTW_jEEtONtJGHxkcyL0GLVf2T-/s1006/S+6.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1006" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSVDq69EyARMfwW4fweF_6VzuBu3pM3JJzfLiOrLua5nhqPG20SnuoxBg_GwhIATNcXteMrMeAGxrHgnN2Md7PaFbVMop5eqRUSfcTwuY2GvXdRVFmBTW_jEEtONtJGHxkcyL0GLVf2T-/w640-h544/S+6.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Poor helpless Indian Girmitiyas (indentured labourers) in Fiji were despised by FT through their selective and racist journalism, which tarnished Fiji Indians as smelly, dark-skinned, garlic-eating invaders.</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></b></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These set tones of racial slant of FT. Things do not appear to have
changed in some fourteen decades of its presence in Fiji. The newspaper was
established in Fiji in 1869 – exactly ten years before the arrival of the first
Indian indentured labourers from India. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These helpless labourers went through grave brutalities
and violence at the hands of British and Australian overseers, including the
breach of basic human rights, and flouting of international laws that took
place under the nose of a supposedly free press. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, FT never appeared to
have taken a stand on the injustices meted out to these labourers. There have
been unreported cases about bullying, filthy plantation lines (accommodation)
where labourers were penned like animals, people broken by diseases, the beatings,
and the use of law to subjugate these people:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.2pt; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; margin: 10pt 43.2pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">..</span></span></i><b><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">…the rough young
Australian overseers… used the Indian women…the system of European dominance…
the law courts unconsciously favoured the articulate employer against the
bewildered or ignorant labourer…the Indians remembered the deceit, the
slave-driving drudgery, and the degradation and vice; the CSR, the planters,
and Europeans generally saw the Indians as coloured labour force to be kept under.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.2pt; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; margin: 10pt 43.2pt 8pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b></b></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsBeuBnLYMB8Q-ylTV4QyQAas226J2De7OeQT2onhD9GHkD6uItklrBdEwfe4UejUBRrlUca07ElE-Zaj9FntW0uXfFTKMDsEwdSrLOGsfxHxUnMhvVPBK_-cowPlcGkexhyphenhyphenWkzHrVHqg/s1573/S+7.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1573" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsBeuBnLYMB8Q-ylTV4QyQAas226J2De7OeQT2onhD9GHkD6uItklrBdEwfe4UejUBRrlUca07ElE-Zaj9FntW0uXfFTKMDsEwdSrLOGsfxHxUnMhvVPBK_-cowPlcGkexhyphenhyphenWkzHrVHqg/w640-h352/S+7.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">All this happened under the watch of FT which not only remained silent
and uncritical of the elite, but in fact, became their mouthpiece. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As media
theory of propaganda Model of Media suggests, the media depends on the elite,
remains uncritical of them and in fact participates in propaganda campaigns
helpful to elite interests, who in the old Fiji represented</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR),
the Europeans and the British government. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Things did not seem to have changed
as studies suggests the elites subsequent to Fiji independence in 1970 changed
to the Eastern (Lauan) Chiefs, the elite Itaukei, and the rich business (mostly
Gujarati) community.</span></div></b></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Read in the other three parts how Fiji Times<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>since Independence in 1970 became mouthpiece
of the Chiefs,(read Ratu Mara) elite Itaukei, Lauan Chiefs and rich businesses.
My second part, together with Parts 3 and 4, will reveal the truth in the adage
that leopards do not change colour and tells of the FT post-independence and
how it contributed to destabilising of democracy in Fiji , culminating in
removal of Chaudhry’s Peoples Coalition government in May 2000.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is former publisher
of now closed, partly government-owned Daily Post newspaper, a journalist, a media commentator,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a community worker in Auckland and runs his
blog FIJI PUNDIT. He did a research as part of Masters in Communication (MCS) thesis
at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in 2011. This was on the role of the
Fiji Times in contributing to destabilising of democracy by a partisan<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> media</span> that culminated in Speight’s
attempted coup in 2000. Details in the articles are largely from his thesis
titled: THE 2000 SPEIGHT COUP IN FIJI: THE ROLE OF THE FIJI TIMES LEADING TO
POLITICAL INSTABILITY.</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">E-mail:thakurjifj@gmail.com.]<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">Link to thesis:</span>
<a href="https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/handle/10292/2554"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/handle/10292/2554</span></a><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #404040; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;"><b> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</b></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-79937996427091799142021-09-16T20:06:00.001-07:002021-10-04T18:08:03.004-07:00MASSEY UNIVERSITY BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE, SEEKING TERRORISTS AMONGS HINDUS<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">MASSEY
UNIVERSITY CHALLENGED FOR SPREADING HINDU-</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">HATE UNDER </span></b><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">COVER OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Thakur Ranjit Singh</b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In
my earlier article, you read about my letter of concerns about Hinduphobia at
Massey University. In this article you will get a synopsis of their reply and
my retort to their spin.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Perhaps
what confuses us is that Massey University is seeking terrorist and those spreading hate in the wrong places. They wold have found them if they had looked at solving mystery of who brought down twin towers in New
York, who caused massacre at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, India, and who are
causing human tragedy in Afghanistan. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In
fact they are seeking terrorist at wrong places. If the academics supporting
conference of dismantling Hindutva looked at the real hideout of international
terrorist, many of the mysteries intriguing world leaders on terrorism would
have been solved by now. </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Unfortunately CARE and Massey University are barking
up the wrong tree in search for terrorists. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Please
read on………….<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8JBYCAhLa05RrsL6DeNN3PTr9A3ZQjAC5zZ9DIfXn7a0b4guPVcQjs4Q2jVfIqJb0OwWKP7yXIzuLmOYMcv739UjlFyltR0zNdICu1-xafjgm2V3mXoAt7Cnwr-9-Wp6YRoniUXPJ6nW/s870/S+1-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8JBYCAhLa05RrsL6DeNN3PTr9A3ZQjAC5zZ9DIfXn7a0b4guPVcQjs4Q2jVfIqJb0OwWKP7yXIzuLmOYMcv739UjlFyltR0zNdICu1-xafjgm2V3mXoAt7Cnwr-9-Wp6YRoniUXPJ6nW/w540-h640/S+1-2.JPG" width="540" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable">
<tbody><tr>
<td style="padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">CARE and Massey University have not tried to seek
terrorists in Saudi Arabia, Israel, Pakistan and Afghanistan. They are seeking them in the
wrong place and wrong ideology of a peaceful India, Hinduism and Hindutva
which treats the whole world as one big family.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As
I write this second blog, I wish to bring this anti-Hindu CARE arm of Massey
University under into spotlight.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish to ask Massey University through this
public forum:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The total annual budget of CARE
for the last 5 years<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Names of Foreign Donors for last
5 years<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amount of Foreign donations
above ten thousand dollar ($10,000)<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remuneration paid to Mr Mohan
Dutta for work related to CARE<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Names of Countries visited by Mr
Dutta to carry out his CARE work since his appointment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Number of papers prepared and
presented by Professor Dutta related to Hindus, Hindutva, Hinduism and
Islamophobia<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaLtVkC_CrOWO7JTt28aMpK1ziAmcxyJ93Oya9JUs7mkrn03ebR3Nh8gjlV45FPKbID8qFKFOtj7unNQVUDwDwU94bi8iE6SXJASX3pvOZmES64PMFH3zoJKYRHFliOeyCtjX-ZYzEMHl/s1734/S+2.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1734" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaLtVkC_CrOWO7JTt28aMpK1ziAmcxyJ93Oya9JUs7mkrn03ebR3Nh8gjlV45FPKbID8qFKFOtj7unNQVUDwDwU94bi8iE6SXJASX3pvOZmES64PMFH3zoJKYRHFliOeyCtjX-ZYzEMHl/w640-h334/S+2.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Mystery still surrounds the real brains behind 9/11 terrorism that resulted in the fall of the twin towers. Massey University needs to start looking for hate and terrorism at the right places - and that is not in India, Hinduism or Hindutva.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I
had written to Massey University, expressing concerns at the stance of Massey
University in allowing Hindumisia/Hinduphobia or Hindu hate, disguised as
academic freedom under Massey University’s CARE (Centre for Cultural -centered
Approach to Research and Evaluation). <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This
article provides further development in this fight for our religion.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In
their reply, among others they said the following in a standard letter they
wrote to other critics as well: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b></span></span></span><b><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">CARE was
taking care of Islamophobia by Hindu organisations in NZ to measure hate.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Seventy
universities supported Massey to measure Muslim hate by Hindu organisations,
and they supported a conference.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">More 700
academics around the world wrote in support of conference to dismantle Hindutva,
which they claim is different from Hinduism.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">This
conference was supposed to reveal to the world terrorism and hate spread by
Hindus<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Massey
supports academic freedom, advancement of knowledge, discussion of diverse viewpoints
and encourages independent thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYKFQPsGZ8MNkrG3IfUYK2EvAekqM2qKGC0spu5vtf8JxG8H2QdWsIeRxmKP49brNyrMxJo2nHqdh65Vx-a77EJQ0OIb9RSacVXapfhrX2wtphDIPGqBC7K7vs8feD5OBjYxa96DChp0L/s1830/S+5.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1830" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYKFQPsGZ8MNkrG3IfUYK2EvAekqM2qKGC0spu5vtf8JxG8H2QdWsIeRxmKP49brNyrMxJo2nHqdh65Vx-a77EJQ0OIb9RSacVXapfhrX2wtphDIPGqBC7K7vs8feD5OBjYxa96DChp0L/w640-h302/S+5.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Terrorism and bombing of the Taj Hotel in Mumbai was from a terrorist cell based in Pakistan. Wonder why Massey University are seeking them in India and Hinduism.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I
wrote to Massey University on 16 September 2021, retorting to their claims
contained in their letter, summarised above.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Dear
Professor Stephen Kelly,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thanks
for your reply of the 13<sup>th</sup> instant. I will not accuse you of being
ignorant or not knowing how to respond to diverse individual concerns. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This
is because your office dishes out your communications school’s standard
marketing manual and spin to all those who have written to you raising
different issues on CARE in general, and Professor Dutta in particular. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68n32tRcyIGNE5zzbPhyphenhyphenTWFcgq6Fb4rbESpLkxj8a_qgJBASUti0HMERhTfj3GXMLyJklgeGXWd2p1n0NSetSPa7N-wFvRSbNBebze32msG74XFEMB83sLujmjjxbnlRyYJGLoOpdtug6/s1414/S+7.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1414" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68n32tRcyIGNE5zzbPhyphenhyphenTWFcgq6Fb4rbESpLkxj8a_qgJBASUti0HMERhTfj3GXMLyJklgeGXWd2p1n0NSetSPa7N-wFvRSbNBebze32msG74XFEMB83sLujmjjxbnlRyYJGLoOpdtug6/w640-h386/S+7.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde faces of CARE at Massey University. They are advertised as a communication research that uses culture to promote communication. But in actual fact they have become hub of Hinduphobia, spreading hate. India has never invaded any country and it embraces all as equal in a secular India. Yet, Massey University has targeted India and Hinduism as a place promoting hate and terrorism.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">However,
as an Alumnus, I wish to raise grave concerns about degeneration of my former
institution, where now the safety and fair treatment of Hindu students become
debatable with Massey University openly supporting and encouraging Hindu-hate
sentiments. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In addition, you seem to be populated with so many of your
academics carrying Hindumisia /Hinduphobia mindsets, and hence their academic
impartiality, neutrality and fairness become questionable and dubious. It
therefore raises doubts about credibility of your institution continuing to
remain a trusted international institution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I
am saddened that standards at Massey appear to have deteriorated since I was
there some four decades ago, and it appears to have become a mercenary
institution, supporting those who pay you the highest price.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">If this was not
so, why some 700 leading academics, as you claim, especially from USA and
many with Indian origin, are only concerned about issues with Hindu, Hindutva,
anti-Modi, and anti-Indian sentiments, while there are bigger human rights
issue affecting mankind in the world now?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Please explain, since when has Massey
University usurped and hijacked the objectives and roles of <b>Oxfam</b> and <b>Amnesty
International?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For
your information, the letter I wrote was developed into an article for FIJI
PUNDIT blog which I run , and widely circulated, even to NZ government
Ministers. In the illustrations used, I specifically asked for each Kiwi Hindu
activity, where are there any signs of promoting divisions, terrorism, or
religious violence we are accused of undertaking.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">These , sadly, have been
maliciously, falsely, and sacrilegiously claimed by your Dutta, who you are
providing unqualified support under garb of academic freedom to create
divisions within Hindus and Muslims in NZ. Sadly, and unfortunately, it already
seems to have started working, seeing at least one Kiwi Muslim signatory from Waikato, supporting Dutta
and CARE.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Here
is that link to my article of concerns:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://fijipundit.blogspot.com/2021/09/former-student-writes-to-massey.html"><span style="background: white;">https://fijipundit.blogspot.com/2021/09/former-student-writes-to-massey.html</span></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Your
spin-doctors failed to answer issues that I have raised as a Kiwi Fiji Indian
Hindu, who has been tarnished by Professor Dutta who compares Hindus from Fiji
and Kiwi born Hindus to a political system in India and says Hindu rituals lead
to violence, and therefore, funding agencies need not support us here. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5APoZAXw2qZqNBfgM-VJqimmIAZb9kYrlt5bognTWUrIVeUF8VBuM-zc_iDHeIr-Dl-5Gotm8N6CJSi1rRHvFf6FYmVdY2vZY_jbph-bzGpBm2yspocGU3n5NEbXpk78dO9xD2wbuL6K/s1534/S+3.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="1534" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5APoZAXw2qZqNBfgM-VJqimmIAZb9kYrlt5bognTWUrIVeUF8VBuM-zc_iDHeIr-Dl-5Gotm8N6CJSi1rRHvFf6FYmVdY2vZY_jbph-bzGpBm2yspocGU3n5NEbXpk78dO9xD2wbuL6K/w640-h360/S+3.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Mohan J Dutta - the person in charge of CARE, spreading hate. Massey University is requested to provide his remuneration in CARE, overseas funding for CARE, names of large foreign donors supporting CARE, countries he visited in last five years for CARE activities and papers he presented on Hinduism, Hindutva and Islamophobia. </b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Instead
of emergence of any rethink or consciousness , you merely dish out the standard
circular and spins to all your critics, supporting CARE, most probably authored
by Dutta and like-minded academics in CARE - who do not seem to really care.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Perhaps
you will care (pun intended) to answer why your 700 academic supporters did not
raise other grave human rights abuses and concerns around the world, which
among others, include:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><a name="_Hlk82697435"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">1)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> <b>
</b></span></span><b><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Rise of Islamic terrorism around the world and use
of Madrassas as teaching ground of hatred and fundamentalism.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></a></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">2)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">What happened to the missing Hindus in Pakistan,
who during partition were 10% but now are only 2% of the population?<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">3)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Why have no issues on human rights abuses been
raised, among others, in Philippines shooting criminals, Muslim persecution in
China, Rohingya Muslim treatment in Myanmar, human rights abuse of indigenous
people of West Papua, and treatment of Muslim women in Afghanistan? If Massey
University wishes to be measuring barometer, judge and police for such abuses,
why ONLY INDIA AND HINDUS? <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;">4)<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Repeating - why particular interest only in India
and Hindus? Are university’s overseas funding specifically targeted for
degrading us?</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><b> </b></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-bzj8eLa7IHeyD1E9lS9xHXHVR4ygVTLGBsDbXuGFtj8i9HYOOLXMRpDkwCLobm7wp2xzkkBQ1P_9D_uorOxwVdVSMQ_xKCy0LvNHxVeGzPiVt9EhVpKZqRDmnNw8XqeoG8uzUob_VNw/s1534/S+4.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="1534" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-bzj8eLa7IHeyD1E9lS9xHXHVR4ygVTLGBsDbXuGFtj8i9HYOOLXMRpDkwCLobm7wp2xzkkBQ1P_9D_uorOxwVdVSMQ_xKCy0LvNHxVeGzPiVt9EhVpKZqRDmnNw8XqeoG8uzUob_VNw/w640-h360/S+4.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">While Massey University has its radar on Hindus in India, it completely and selectively neglected to seek violence, terror and hate in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and other countries known as hub of international terrorism.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">
</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">5)</span><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Should not Massey University develop a fairer
conscience to raise voices against greater human atrocities than reportedly done in India, where Muslims have a choice to
freely go to Islamic nations of Pakistan and Bangladesh (formerly West Pakistan
), which were specially separated from India for religious segregation, but
they chose to stay back? Don’t they still have a choice?</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I am not sure what your spin-machine will
produce now, but I am not sitting idle in this case and copying this to
relevant politicians and Ministers, and will also report Massey University to
Human Rights Commission, for breaching our human rights, belittling us and our
beliefs by targeting India and Hindus but ignoring greater concerns elsewhere.
My bewilderment still remains - </span><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">WHY ONLY INDIA AND HINDUS?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: verdana;"></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBOdYOQD5IpK58SWTKXWwf0FGtI5rTir_vBVVcDyXQWvP4RKOwCmHXdgPxdjKfMkI6nY2ribswz-PgUz_0r_MziUbsHxaVXWLWcdoQpLvDH7IcC23FfTP4jwhSwpJHXjIGd2PMRsp-DFa/s625/S-10-TAJ.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="625" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBOdYOQD5IpK58SWTKXWwf0FGtI5rTir_vBVVcDyXQWvP4RKOwCmHXdgPxdjKfMkI6nY2ribswz-PgUz_0r_MziUbsHxaVXWLWcdoQpLvDH7IcC23FfTP4jwhSwpJHXjIGd2PMRsp-DFa/w640-h458/S-10-TAJ.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;"><b>Terrorism at Taj Hotel in Mumbai - should not Dutta, a Professor from India, use CARE to probe the real source of terrorism in India rather than having a sham at Massey University to blame Hinduism and Hindutva for violence and hate? The terrorism at Taj was from Pakistan.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Perhaps you may pass this to Professor Dutta
for a more relevant response to particular individual issues raised, than going
through your public relation (PR) and spin machine.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Awaiting </span><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">targeted and relevant</b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">
responsive answers to issues raised in this letter written with a heavy heart
by a humiliated and shamed Alumnus of Massey University.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Regards and best wishes,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Thakur Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Blogger-FIJI PUNDIT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Ranjit Singh - Massey Alumnus -1984<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Kiwi Fiji Indian Hindu<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8pt;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8pt;"><b><span face=""Tahoma",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">[About
the Author: Thakur Ranjit is a Third Generation Fiji Indian Hindu, now settled
in NZ. He is an Alumni of Massey University from Class of 1984, a journalist, a
media commentator, and runs his blog FIJI PUNDIT. E-mail:thakurjifj@gmail.com]</span><o:p style="font-size: 14pt;"></o:p></span></b></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-17647769616108917632021-09-13T18:31:00.001-07:002021-09-14T13:55:21.491-07:00 FORMER STUDENT WRITES TO MASSEY UNIVERSITY AGAINST ANTI-HINDU PROPAGANDA <p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">FORMER MASSEY UNI STUDENT RAISES VOICE AGAINST HINDUPHOBIA.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">A LETTER TO THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF MASSEY UNIVERSITY</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thakur Ranjit Singh</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Dear Vice Chancellor, </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am writing as an Alumnus of Massey University from School of 1984 and also as a Third Generation
Girmitiya (Indentured labourer) descendant, as I am extremely disappointed that
name of my former institution has been smeared.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am deeply hurt that my former institution appears
to have degenerated so low as to allow itself to be made into an international
Hinduphobia hub by overseas, mostly American, Institutions. I refer to the
white paper authored by Prof. Mohan Dutta as part of the CARE White Paper
Series published by Massey University and has already been brought to your
attention. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1fCsTwwFn3m0YgB68afQbA9GIBPyTcFFJWHI5BOqO51mu9e5c-vUqmkDcBQHQb1kHKYUeA20zIZVQ_qgvvY6CdLV0T2MLzM38QS9IeBVXmHZF1Rt5Mfkrd90OZ7npaz7xj47vv3bjsI2/s1662/S+5.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1662" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1fCsTwwFn3m0YgB68afQbA9GIBPyTcFFJWHI5BOqO51mu9e5c-vUqmkDcBQHQb1kHKYUeA20zIZVQ_qgvvY6CdLV0T2MLzM38QS9IeBVXmHZF1Rt5Mfkrd90OZ7npaz7xj47vv3bjsI2/w640-h326/S+5.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Hindi School Students perform the arts of music and culture they learnt during Waitakere Diwali. How is this Hindu Arts and Culture threat to anybody?</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And I also refer to a support letter endorsed by over 100
like-minded academics from around the world, where his role in his involvement
with anti-India, anti- Modi, anti-Hindu and Hinduphobia, to any sensible
academic, obviously is ultra vires to his responsibilities and role as head of
CARE.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Please note this is being written in an individual
capacity and represents my personal views only, and not any organisation I am
associated with.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I also speak for many
descendants of indentured labourers to Fiji here in New Zealand, who comprise
almost half the “Indian” population here. We need to appreciate that over 85
percent of Fiji Indians are Hindus, and I join our Hindu brothers to strongly
oppose and denounce statements contained in the fallacious, defamatory, and
sacrilegious White paper. His biggest crime is that he has also tarnished Fiji
-Born Hindus with the same brush, strangely, being ignorant of our history.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicccwsbMeJlapllDnPOeeRN528NlJqx7WO0loyrRe5isVMwahHKbEFWDWLw0-VF9DO0OP8piuLWvR-UvMcBx1kbtVZSYqTRHB-VT1TBxZChwN2PRMoMw94dXWMIGzzQSbK0uaYm6GQmH5N/s1439/CROPPED+10.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1439" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicccwsbMeJlapllDnPOeeRN528NlJqx7WO0loyrRe5isVMwahHKbEFWDWLw0-VF9DO0OP8piuLWvR-UvMcBx1kbtVZSYqTRHB-VT1TBxZChwN2PRMoMw94dXWMIGzzQSbK0uaYm6GQmH5N/w640-h344/CROPPED+10.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Graceful dancers very beautifully express their lessons of dancing culture. This is gift of Hinduism to the world. So how can this be deemed threat to anybody.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When Girmit or indenture
to Fiji commenced in 1879 and ended in 1916, we then had a united secular India,
so had no separate East or West Pakistan/ Bangladesh. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thakur Bansi and Barkat
Ali as Girmitiyas (indentured labourers) were all INDIANS,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when they came to Fiji as Jahaji Bhais
(travelling companions in one ship). Their shared misery on the Indenture ships
bound them into inseparable friendship called “Jahaji Bhai”. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">They celebrated Diwali
and Eid together, everybody in the villages were uncle and aunties, with no
animosity and radicalisation, which began after partition of India and
influence of certain Islamic scholars of questionable ideology from Middle East
and other such nations into Fiji, NZ, and other western countries, teaching
division between religion. Professor Dutta is doing exactly the same, in garb
of an academic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2T2H3Tb6ldwXs58ZJVSw2sdF8YSTWvDUhaE-rsBkUtFvLEXTwuThhJ8KeuuN9eELVjwADhGlXx3_mSXwQdZzv693ejI9MJq5g4dNqYOI1ZfLswxSGDtzGIyX4DYt4TdrhsxiGe_40zUdN/s1419/DSC05176+-CROPPED.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1419" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2T2H3Tb6ldwXs58ZJVSw2sdF8YSTWvDUhaE-rsBkUtFvLEXTwuThhJ8KeuuN9eELVjwADhGlXx3_mSXwQdZzv693ejI9MJq5g4dNqYOI1ZfLswxSGDtzGIyX4DYt4TdrhsxiGe_40zUdN/w640-h306/DSC05176+-CROPPED.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Since its inception in 2015, Shri Ram Mandir in Henderson, Auckland has been a hub of religious and community centre and activity. It supports religious discourse, Senior Citizens, promotes networking of youths and ladies, involves in fundraising for much needed community support and helps the vulnerable. So, who in their right sense can deem Hinduism as threat to anybody? In fact they have been praised for adding value to NZ.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Therefore, many Fiji
Indians in NZ or Fiji <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have hardly heard
of term Islamophobia until the terrorism at Christchurch Mosque by an Anglo
Saxon Australian. And Hinduism and Hindutva for them is peaceful following of
the principles of their religion , scriptures, Vedas, to love all in the
principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which regards the whole world as one
family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Therefore Fiji Indian
Hindus, who comprise some half of Hindus here in Aotearoa, are very hurt by
Professor Dutta, smearing Fiji Hindus with his divisive views. And in effect
he, supposedly being a Hindu, commits sacrilege against his forebears and brethren
by referring to us as spreading terror and persecuting fellow Muslims in NZ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuw9KJP-RL5J20M_Ajm4XUD_x2YHwglWNRnSk1vQgU4P4myCppMjxkyfPKwQ4f9FYpDndzaOw5OYlKPuMRyvm-8vBXEGQC-Zqn-A82VTbkG35HqgIQ_N9Q7ZoOVPRz5WubrTBsaRQydDOw/s1823/S+4.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1823" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuw9KJP-RL5J20M_Ajm4XUD_x2YHwglWNRnSk1vQgU4P4myCppMjxkyfPKwQ4f9FYpDndzaOw5OYlKPuMRyvm-8vBXEGQC-Zqn-A82VTbkG35HqgIQ_N9Q7ZoOVPRz5WubrTBsaRQydDOw/w640-h300/S+4.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Well-trained young girls performing eye-catching classical dance at Trusts Stadium during Diwali Celebrations. What threat to the society can be seen from promotion of such arts and culture from Hinduism?</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The terror attack by a lone wolf terrorist in Christchurch
on 25 March 2019 came as a complete surprise in a peaceful Aotearoa. This was
not from a Hindu, but a White Supremacist from Australia. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There have been many subsequent anti-Islamic and
Islamophobic statements and actions. They were not from Hindus but White
Supremacists. This can be verified from FIANZ (Federation of Islamic
Associations of NZ) , and Islamic women’s association in NZ. (Anjum Rahman of the women's wing in Waikato, apparently and ironically appears to support Massey University, Mohan Dutta and hence their anti-Hindu sentiments in NZ.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hinduism is the second largest religion in New Zealand with
over 200,000 followers, after Christianity. In some 100 years since they have
been here, Hindus have never ever been mentioned in any activity of terror or
hurt to others that would bring shame to the religion. In effect they have
always been praised for helping NZ and adding colour and diversity to the cultural
landscape and economy of New Zealand. A recent study shows Indians add some $10
b to NZ’s economy, and the sizable portion of that is by Hindus.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Therefore it came as surprise when, Professor Dutta, tasked
to look after a school of health well-being of people, indulges in Hinduphobia -
spreading hate in Aotearoa under cover of Academic Freedom.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEvTgRRHxw9t7x6sKIYQW0sNKTzMMWHR2b8EQMyKr5y5MMaaFdrR-Xfuvub-U3CdXb_E-DHP2IeobWoufGdUp5yOxjOKUupV8H82zd_LAU44l6qA1p8TpzYaUMZVJ40anoqGCHC6XVqdF/s1829/S+7.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1829" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEvTgRRHxw9t7x6sKIYQW0sNKTzMMWHR2b8EQMyKr5y5MMaaFdrR-Xfuvub-U3CdXb_E-DHP2IeobWoufGdUp5yOxjOKUupV8H82zd_LAU44l6qA1p8TpzYaUMZVJ40anoqGCHC6XVqdF/w640-h312/S+7.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>A thrilling Waitakere Holi at Trusts Stadium in Henderson where some 40 per cent of those participating are Anglo-Saxons and non-Hindus, enjoying the all-encompassing Hindu festival of colours. Now, where does any Professor see that as a threat to anybody? Can anybody smell any hate of anybody from any of these Hindu activities in NZ?</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">In the aftermath of as ISIS terror attack by an Islamic
terrorist in Auckland on 4 September 2021, it was revealed that such a person
should have been deported but was allowed to stay in NZ because of NZ laws
being very timid and soft of such criminal elements.</span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This also appears to be the case
with laws on Academic Freedom and hate speech, where Massey University appears
to be used by some anti-India and anti-Modi sentiments as a hub to spread hate,
anti-Hindu, and anti-Modi statements , sheltering under cloak of academic
freedom. As stated above, a letter has come to attention, supported by over 100
USA and overseas, mostly Indian academics, lending support to spread of hate
and misinformation by Dutta in a picturesque Palmerston North. (Anjum <span style="background: white;"></span><o:p>Rahman, a founding member of the New Zealand </o:p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Islamic_Women%27s_Council_(New_Zealand)&action=edit&redlink=1" style="outline-color: rgb(51, 102, 204);" title="Islamic Women's Council (New Zealand) (page does not exist)"><span style="background: white; color: black; text-decoration-line: none;">Islamic
Women's Council</span></a>, is also a sanatory to that letter)<span style="background: white;">.</span></span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;">Dutta mischievously and maliciously misrepresents Hindu community of
Aotearoa by hinting that we are trained to commit violence against other
religions and are brainwashed to become Hindu supremacist. His assertion that
Hindu art and cultural elements promote Islamophobia is laughable if it was not
that nonsensical and ill-informed coming from a person who is supposed to be a
Professor.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>When has celebration of enlightening Diwali festival of lights,
chanting of Gayatri Mantra, celebrating colourful Holi, participating in Yoga, singing
..eeshwar Allah tero naam…, teaching dance, music, arts, and language ever
killed, hurt, or persecuted anybody at all, least of all Muslims, who also
participate happily in our colourful all-inclusive festivals and events? </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I am perturbed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as to why
Professor Dutta took a political belief<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>practised by the ruling party in India and set it against some three
percent population of Hindu population here who call Aotearoa home. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqSTDmBuk89KXRNyye5nuTNoWLhv5MHc1PrxcrcR3sffNX6HzZTjuygri9ZFeA_vCRdSvb9k1Yh-vlmaSqzGxTCz3d2hSZXoQPmp1v51uoA9twOymcH4ozORSefT8NT5x8WfjZuC3HuBh/s1814/S+6.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1814" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqSTDmBuk89KXRNyye5nuTNoWLhv5MHc1PrxcrcR3sffNX6HzZTjuygri9ZFeA_vCRdSvb9k1Yh-vlmaSqzGxTCz3d2hSZXoQPmp1v51uoA9twOymcH4ozORSefT8NT5x8WfjZuC3HuBh/w640-h306/S+6.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The teachings of arts, language, music and culture from Waitakere Hindi School culminates in these colourful students going on stage to display their proud and generous learnings throbbing from Hinduism. Is that seen as a danger or threat to anybody? If anything, it beautifies cultural landscape of Aotearoa. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hindus in
NZ also come from the Indian subcontinent, Fiji, Nepal, Singapore, South
Africa, the Caribbean and other nations. Many of them are second and third
generation Kiwi Hindus. I am surprised why Massey University allows them to be
involved in such a political philosophy as in India. This really bring into
question the reputation and credibility of Massey University where I was almost
four decades ago. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I therefore request Massey University to look at performance,
agitation and actions of Professor Dutta which are obviously ultra vires to his academic role as head of
CARE of Massey University.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Awaiting for your effective action.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Your Faithfully,<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Thakur Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Blogger-FIJI PUNDIT<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Massey Alumni (1984)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kiwi Fiji Indian Hindu<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">
</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">+6421 235 4559<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit is a Third
Generation Fiji Indian Hindu, now settled in NZ. He is an Alumni of Massey
University from Class of 1984, a journalist, a media commentator, and runs his
blog FIJI PUNDIT. </span></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Email: thakurjifj@gmail.com</span></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">]</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-5678192316958897572021-06-18T13:01:00.006-07:002021-06-21T17:21:47.239-07:00A TRIBUTE TO AN ICON OF BA - DIJENDRA (DICK) SINGH<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><b>FORMER BA TOWNCLERK SALUTES FORMER BA MAYOR</b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Guest Writer - Rajendra
Prasad<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><u><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">PROLOGUE BY THAKUR RANJIT SINGH<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We Ba people are sad to lose another icon of Ba, Dick
Singh, coming after recent loss of Daniel Elisha. The second generation
Girmitiya and Rotary Boys of Ba are moving towards twilight of life, but they
leave big achievements and memories, so they never really die. Same is true for
Dijendra Singh, fondly know to all as Dick Singh.</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The photos here<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are by courtesy of FIJI PUNDIT, Thakur Ranjit
Singh who last visited Dick Singh at his Clipcott, Yalalevu, Ba, Fiji home on
21 July 2019 after DAV College, Ba Fiji Reunion in Ba.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Thakur was accompanied
by Sada Sivan Naicker, another former DAV Student, and National President of
TISI Sangam in Fiji. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJH217WnXJPs9x_ti78sAqtH364b0s2UjQCfQcFR4rcakmRmCeMV3FGSw9i_Z7SUh-8Svj7wy3F6oUHib8CSkFM-0LMg76fjkI5FKFVA_TBFEwzscibHIrrC3-ByS8OGpzfhDZQdeoVb0/s848/S+-+7.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="552" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJH217WnXJPs9x_ti78sAqtH364b0s2UjQCfQcFR4rcakmRmCeMV3FGSw9i_Z7SUh-8Svj7wy3F6oUHib8CSkFM-0LMg76fjkI5FKFVA_TBFEwzscibHIrrC3-ByS8OGpzfhDZQdeoVb0/w386-h390/S+-+7.PNG" width="386" /></span></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Salute to DIJENDRA (DICK) SINGH, father of Ba Sports Stadium and initiator of IDC in Fiji </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b></b><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><b><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></o:p></b></b></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The author / writer of this tribute, Rajendra
Prasad is also a former DAV College, Ba<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>student. Dick, apart from all his civic and community work, was also a
stalwart of Arya Samaj in Ba, which initiated and ran Arya Samaj Schools in
Fiji, including DAV. He can rightfully be recognized as Father of Ba Sports
Stadium -Govind Park, and initiator of IDC in Fiji over five decades ago. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></o:p></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgennWgY5WhjmyBv64O1bPcm3U50q6JPMxFeHRlgfqeeUM8g2egRfnQWRWmBi8nrCrpqbDprXMobxgeDKAMumMYD5q9Btf5lOSNKFgcoSURaGozeaeDW8fLq6nBdwA2AmnOyd6i3xYBSrdz/s1825/S-4.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1825" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgennWgY5WhjmyBv64O1bPcm3U50q6JPMxFeHRlgfqeeUM8g2egRfnQWRWmBi8nrCrpqbDprXMobxgeDKAMumMYD5q9Btf5lOSNKFgcoSURaGozeaeDW8fLq6nBdwA2AmnOyd6i3xYBSrdz/w645-h417/S-4.PNG" width="645" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Courtesy visit by two former DAV Students. Thakur Ranjit Singh (right) and Sada Sivan Naicker, National President of TISI Sangam, and former DAV Student visited Dick Singh (left) in July, 2019 after DAV Reunion in Ba. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I, with former Ba residents, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fiji Indian Diaspora and former students of
Arya Samaj Schools salute him. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Shat Shat Naman, Om Satgati, Bare Thakurji…you
are gone….but not forgotten by Ba where you left your mark…………<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></o:p></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0I3I-hEWqv0kYxjBbVwtV5l43wx57WFf6s7G6-qnzaXaejjkgxzGPJ1CzxJppRNjB82YQFtOFBnLsTpFhV0Ug1tQC798SDZrqdqgX_Q5JD8mbrdv6a1RcxJ-9MktTbDh0DFcPW0XP1ge/s1269/S-4+RAJENDRA.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1269" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0I3I-hEWqv0kYxjBbVwtV5l43wx57WFf6s7G6-qnzaXaejjkgxzGPJ1CzxJppRNjB82YQFtOFBnLsTpFhV0Ug1tQC798SDZrqdqgX_Q5JD8mbrdv6a1RcxJ-9MktTbDh0DFcPW0XP1ge/w456-h303/S-4+RAJENDRA.JPG" width="456" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Author Rajendra Prasad, former Ba Town Clerk pays a hearty tribute to one of his former mayors of Ba, Dijendra Singh.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><u><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">TRIBUTE BY RAJENDRA PRASAD<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It is difficult to find words to pay my
heartfelt tribute to my friend Dijendra (Dick) Singh who passed away on
Thursday 17 June 2021. Two weeks ago, he lost his beloved wife Prem and he
himself had not been well for some time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">My association with this great man went back
several decades and I feel privileged that I had the benefit of his wisdom,
knowledge, and guidance to raise the profile of Ba as a premier sporting
district. Dick was a man of vision and enterprise who delighted in taking big
challenges and Govind Park stadium, constructed in 1976, was his crowning
glory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpxjq11TL3FJ9qOF3xXDrK1lYDdfOsAQ8rdmpZQswTZ8jDHR7vv6qgWDJu0VpMN2_WNoU9bmTfU6R3wpWpd9LGv7oqf828qlDbyPlMHbcBc5fMb5gWHKtaxg9SdKDx0wHrscRAt85cNGt/s1600/S-2.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1600" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpxjq11TL3FJ9qOF3xXDrK1lYDdfOsAQ8rdmpZQswTZ8jDHR7vv6qgWDJu0VpMN2_WNoU9bmTfU6R3wpWpd9LGv7oqf828qlDbyPlMHbcBc5fMb5gWHKtaxg9SdKDx0wHrscRAt85cNGt/w585-h350/S-2.PNG" width="585" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Over twenty-year old family photo of Dijendra Singh with his wife Prem Shila Singh, only son, Divesh Singh (back centre), a Computer Engineer, living in Boston, USA with his wife Rima Singh (back right) and only daughter, Devina Singh (back left), living in Sydney.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><o:p><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He was the Mayor of Ba and when he
conceptualized the mammoth stadium project, others demurred but a few, like me,
caught inextricably in the swirl, stood by him. Doubters, detractors, and
saboteurs comprised the majority but with Dick in command, few had the courage
to confront or dissuade him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhichtbAfvVhC2fkh9YW4DltpN3XugZhK8tW0-IJPxZrck3l79efFax1xwN3KIF26nxQHACP_FmRR2YAOhpqvbWTlJo7Ji7aVQSO0vx4z_ScwgmiAc_NUYqphRGe0lGfK7Hyw1EQZ8miA/s1682/S-1.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1682" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhichtbAfvVhC2fkh9YW4DltpN3XugZhK8tW0-IJPxZrck3l79efFax1xwN3KIF26nxQHACP_FmRR2YAOhpqvbWTlJo7Ji7aVQSO0vx4z_ScwgmiAc_NUYqphRGe0lGfK7Hyw1EQZ8miA/w527-h378/S-1.PNG" width="527" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Portrait of Dick Singh's late father, DEO NANDAN SINGH, at his residence in Ba </b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span><br /></span></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He was physically domineering, mentally
agile and a strategic thinker beyond the ordinary. In 1976, he negotiated and
bought exclusive rights for the Council to organize the 1976 IDC tournament for
$29,500. It was a resounding success, beyond and above anyone’s imagination.
The gross income exceeded $160,000, which covered a substantial part of the
loan raised to construct the stadium. What more, the Fiji Football Association
then realized the potential for earning income and adopted Dick’s strategies to
organize future IDC tournaments. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I served Ba as Town Clerk under several
mayors, but Dick was different. His restive spirit meant operating at a
heightened pace and I liked the challenge. He was not driven by public opinion
but by public need, which meant his public perceptions differed from time to
time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7EHMy_RGXnYkJKT_vVMx-MEIoA-8dxFpUjhyYVLHlYmK96z20q0lIL0cKLeGZchtKbMmu1S1b27l5wPgQiAiHtlZTHOS1BvhVoqFlrShfKEe7sKdQQHgr0bCYwFkNjkY4Vl_Kfzp04ap/s1813/S-6.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1813" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7EHMy_RGXnYkJKT_vVMx-MEIoA-8dxFpUjhyYVLHlYmK96z20q0lIL0cKLeGZchtKbMmu1S1b27l5wPgQiAiHtlZTHOS1BvhVoqFlrShfKEe7sKdQQHgr0bCYwFkNjkY4Vl_Kfzp04ap/w563-h367/S-6.PNG" width="563" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Half - a - century old iconic photo of movers and shakers of Ba. Three former Mayors (L-R) Kishore Govind, Dick Singh and Ba Businessman Vinod Patel in conversation with Z.K Dean, Ba Magistrate, while Ba Town Clerk, Rajendra Prasad gives an attentive ear. Govind Park at Ba Sports Stadium was named after Kishore Govind. [One wonders whether it should have been rightly named Singh Park to reflect the contributions of Singhs to Ba and Soccer. ]</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Whenever I returned to Ba, since immigrating
to New Zealand in 1987, visiting him and his wife was always high on the
agenda. In the last few years, Dick’s body was failing but his restive mind
defied the crumbling body, as he spouted on the unfinished projects! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.75pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Rest in peace great soul! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.75pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.75pt;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">[About the Author: Rajendra Prasad is former
Town Clerk of Ba, a founding Trustee of Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ and is author
of two blockbuster books about Fiji’s untold history, told from the heart of the
author: TEARS IN PARADISE and ENSLAVED IN PARADISE]</span><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: -.75pt; margin-right: -.75pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm -0.75pt 8pt;"><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-21414008503906349582021-06-05T17:35:00.000-07:002021-06-05T17:35:02.272-07:00FIJI INDIANS IN NZ SEEK THEIR PACIFICA IDENTITY <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">FIJI INDIANS IN NZ REACH APEX
OF THEIR ADVOCACY FOR SEARCH OF THEIR IDENTILY<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #050505;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Thakur Ranjit Singh</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #050505;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The zenith of Fiji Indians’
organisational leadership in general and their advocacy for identity in
particular was reached in an overflowing Malaeola Community Centre on 7 May
2021, with over 1,600 people. This Mangere, South Auckland venue was the
celebration of 142<sup>nd</sup> Anniversary of FIJI GIRMIT REMEMBRANCE DAY. And
that is the number of years Fiji Indians have been part of the Pacific – and
some six generations on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: large;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #050505; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BYKRJQtse1xpOiQVfBCXZURbaKkYShm086NQhozXP4MOho3QUZ7OMS0Vr0doXgOrc80MA2Aar4CFapT-Bk_lqIuXVucEkd15Sgd4Z539KWqqaEvwE1Dzj9N7jnpVpgIfSvJ_NcmVl861/s2048/S1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BYKRJQtse1xpOiQVfBCXZURbaKkYShm086NQhozXP4MOho3QUZ7OMS0Vr0doXgOrc80MA2Aar4CFapT-Bk_lqIuXVucEkd15Sgd4Z539KWqqaEvwE1Dzj9N7jnpVpgIfSvJ_NcmVl861/w561-h413/S1.jpg" width="561" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ Trustees (L-R) Sardar Harnam Singh Golian, Sam Achary and Krishal Naidu with the Girmit Remembrance Day cake</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After normal salutations and
acknowledgements, that is exactly what Krish Naidu, a youthful President of the
organisers, FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ, advocated. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He very judiciously and
expediently chose the right place and time. This was on the stage overflowing
with Community leaders, diplomats, Government Ministers, Academics, and a
potential National PM, among other politicians in the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>welcome Presidential speech. His advocacy was
emphatic - and he sounded like a confident sure leader . And this could be
summed as the punchlines of the evening: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 43.1pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We
are Pacific people. We are not asking for a favour - we just wish to be
recognised for what we are.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 43.1pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fiji Indians needs to be
acknowledged as part of an inclusive Pacific community where diversity within
the Pacific community is embraced and celebrated. An official recognition is
needed from the government beyond the role of Stats NZ.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 43.1pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 43.1pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In his emphatic and
forceful welcome presentation with a very attentive audience, Krish Naidu
reminded<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that the Ministry for Pacific
Peoples role is to improve outcomes for ALL Pacific Peoples by bringing ALL Pacific
voices, perspectives and understanding into policy. He questioned why Fiji
Indian voice was silenced and ignored. </span></span></p><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 43.1pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 43.1pt 6pt 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He emphasised that to be effective, this
Ministry must also hear voices of ALL Pacific peoples. He championed the view
that Fiji Indians should not be treated as a ceremonial piece. They needed to
be part of official policy framework of Pacific people always, and not merely
when it suits them. He continued:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 43.1pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The taxpayer funded - ministry of
Pacific People is for ALL Pacific People. It is not a ministry for Indigenous Pacific
People alone. This bias - this institutional and structural discrimination - must stop.
And for that, we need real political leadership. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 43.1pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And at that instance, the stage
full of dignitaries and politicians erupted in spontaneous applause at mention
of “<b>need for real political leadership.”</b> And leading them was the
potential National Party Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5gqzNF4VO_9TqOy2VD_4zL166bR70uucDHhIFEGX7EqnmuPWdR9S32aRkA5A_UbyybVcBYGhOgKZivq164_r-d-HtQ8NzS38JhCvB5Y0Og1QuXLJCDiyCfstNcBzQJtASSkEfkz65PfN/s1820/S7-1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="1820" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5gqzNF4VO_9TqOy2VD_4zL166bR70uucDHhIFEGX7EqnmuPWdR9S32aRkA5A_UbyybVcBYGhOgKZivq164_r-d-HtQ8NzS38JhCvB5Y0Og1QuXLJCDiyCfstNcBzQJtASSkEfkz65PfN/w619-h375/S7-1.PNG" width="619" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The stage with some of the dignitaries present on the day: Diplomats, Community Leaders and Politicians listening attentively to the Presidential speech</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Perhaps in body language, the current,
potential, and past National opposition politicians on the stage were taunting
the Labour Party politicians. This is because Labour Party, from the days of
David Lange, were always seen to be close and sympathetic to Fiji</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">in general and Fiji Indians in particular. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And appeals from Fiji Girmit Foundation implied that there appeared to be hints
of dereliction of duties from some sections of the Labour Government, the Ministry
of Pacific Peoples and some sections of the bureaucracy who were collectively
or individually not listening or paying attention to their calls and concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Krish
Naidu also reminded that Fiji Indians</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> also featured
negatively with issues like diabetes, heart disease, mental health, with certain
diseases linked to Fiji and their Pacific lifestyle back in Fiji. He repeated
that real gains for the overall New Zealand health system could only be made if
diversity of all Pacific people were captured, as this was not currently done
by the concerned Ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpt7m_MqJIrOS8SthS4cjd47RaD28HeXCCO0pim9-_sh8tBDclEqmugzHVvOhQqecxwkGfhzjDfFJV0ck8qGSC-OkWp764NVrgLu11i-4fzc3GrtGAoxAKSY5bsfgvjJ6IHj7wKoxIEn0d/s1840/S3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1840" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpt7m_MqJIrOS8SthS4cjd47RaD28HeXCCO0pim9-_sh8tBDclEqmugzHVvOhQqecxwkGfhzjDfFJV0ck8qGSC-OkWp764NVrgLu11i-4fzc3GrtGAoxAKSY5bsfgvjJ6IHj7wKoxIEn0d/w546-h313/S3.PNG" width="546" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Human Rights Commissioner, MENG FOON agrees with the advocacy of Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ for Fiji Indians in NZ to be accepted and recognised as Pacifica People, and be entitled to resources allocated to them as Pacifica People.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Human Rights Commissioner, Meng Foon, who
was a keynote speaker at the function, concurred with stance of Fiji Indian advocacy.
He was hopeful some solution to the issue could be found soon as far as human
rights was concerned:</span></p><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.1pt; margin-right: 43.1pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The commission is here to support anyone in New Zealand who
feel they have been aggrieved or discriminated against. We also support the
fair treatment of all, and this includes in the collection of data which could
impact the fair distribution of resources.</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.1pt; margin-right: 43.1pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 43.1pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: windowtext; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He said Fiji
Indian community in New Zealand have recently expressed its concerns - and this
was a valid one. The Foundation hopes to find a solution within the framework
of human rights and would be approaching them for assistance if no other
solutions are found.</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.1pt; margin-right: 43.1pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 43.1pt; margin-right: 43.1pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;"></p><blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; line-height: 107%; text-align: left;"></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; line-height: 107%; text-align: left;"></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; line-height: 107%; text-align: left;"></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Apart from this crucial issue for Fiji Indians, the
evening was a fitting tribute to memory of legacies and heritage of Fiji
Indians.
A miracle was that it was a free event that was fully funded by the community,
with no external support, overflowing with snacks, refreshments, kava and of
course very sumptuous dinner and desserts..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was through enlightened generosity from businesses and individuals
in their community which collaborated to salute<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Girmitiyas and consequently provided thousands of dollars’ worth of
services in kind. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczsl7OdDG03QqCzq3cwj1bVl6NcCPHddXvQfjOVb1T1CC7JIPu94WGuCoTkyo82rXvGn4QintGJwH3QnAw8r0tFMOrZEJ3hQacNm6mmjZaeYjwNI6tPhSsJ9aoJnih_I6Coy4hOtum5Zb/s1409/S4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1409" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczsl7OdDG03QqCzq3cwj1bVl6NcCPHddXvQfjOVb1T1CC7JIPu94WGuCoTkyo82rXvGn4QintGJwH3QnAw8r0tFMOrZEJ3hQacNm6mmjZaeYjwNI6tPhSsJ9aoJnih_I6Coy4hOtum5Zb/w545-h400/S4.PNG" width="545" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Medal presentation for recognising Fiji Indians over 80 years old for carrying the banner and legacies of Girmit. Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ Trustee, Sam Achary, presenting the recognition medal to one of the ladies. Another lady, Martha Vir, aged 101 was the oldest person to receive Girmit medal. She is originally from Suva and her maternal grandfather was a Girmitiya in Veisaru, Ba,</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">The theme of the evening was aimed at
remembrance and recognition of Girmitiya descendants. Consequently, some 50
Fiji Indians aged over 80 were honoured with </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">commemorative medals as an appreciation for
carrying the flame of the rich Girmit legacy. In addition, the foundation </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">expanded its vision to celebrate and recognize
people and </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">institutions for their
noteworthy contributions, achievements, and services to the community. The
category of awards and recipients for the </span><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Girmit Legacy Awards</i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> included:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCGuaBE4wi5ndqSvYh0LPEWvv6FAzWUsHCzYZHfhUyiIH4asbm8wuHCvEh9QZFIEAiadbwlZmn5-fw9TvjaZOtBGRU4jWefcIXU0ncO0__bF1mnAAZo_5HWfwoS0hA3QJMdSbbDB-mosp/s1823/s+7-3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1823" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCGuaBE4wi5ndqSvYh0LPEWvv6FAzWUsHCzYZHfhUyiIH4asbm8wuHCvEh9QZFIEAiadbwlZmn5-fw9TvjaZOtBGRU4jWefcIXU0ncO0__bF1mnAAZo_5HWfwoS0hA3QJMdSbbDB-mosp/w591-h317/s+7-3.PNG" width="591" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Dr. Farzana Goundar, (left) receiving Fiji Girmit Legacy Award in literature and research about Girmit history. Mandvi Singh, a Lawyer and an inspiring entrepreneur presenting Dr. Goundar the Girmit Literature Award.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Excellence in Community Services and Leadership
(Supreme Award) - <b>Sam Achary </b><a name="_Hlk73855662">(Read a separate
FIJI PUNDIT article)<o:p></o:p></a></span></p>
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk73855662;"></span>
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Excellence in Grassroots Volunteer Award -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>Dinesh Chand </b>(Read a separate FIJI
PUNDIT article)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Contribution to Girmit Literature – <b>Dr. Farzana Gounder</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Contribution to Arts</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: -0.3pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">and</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Culture - </span><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Pooja
Cultural Trust</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Special Appreciation Award – <b>Kashmir Kaur</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuHzWvw5yd1RPDA61iAnXr5CKvhKBqBcSfrIxk6qch4-pTBqkGX8B-ptCYz9GTHImpbeCLEY9aF8x_6XRn_K6QDV3FUAc_e3IueO5A-NAXdCt1H68vFtOHJpY1ybCaQz6hG6hLZCJdSO4/s1818/S2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1818" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuHzWvw5yd1RPDA61iAnXr5CKvhKBqBcSfrIxk6qch4-pTBqkGX8B-ptCYz9GTHImpbeCLEY9aF8x_6XRn_K6QDV3FUAc_e3IueO5A-NAXdCt1H68vFtOHJpY1ybCaQz6hG6hLZCJdSO4/w678-h401/S2.PNG" width="678" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;">Kashmir Kaur (right) was recognised for leading Girmit partnership with her team in Wellington</span><span style="text-align: left;"> in their project ‘Fiji Girmit Exhibition - 100 years of reflections’. This successful event engaged youths and spread awareness of Girmit and raised the issue of our identity. </span>Anji-Naidu Khan, (left), Treasurer of the Foundation presenting Kashmir Kaur special Girmit Recognition Award. </b></div><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b> </b></div></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">The Foundation wished to promote the importance
of 14 May for Fiji Indian Community because it marks the day first Indians arrived
in Fiji, which importantly marks the birth of Fiji Indian identity. And Girmit
marked their foundational history and they do not wish the new generation to be
denied the opportunity to know about their</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">history
- and their rich legacy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmiMrKe8SfeEWzHgVCwu3NNTr4p8aqNag8-jalgAC3vBBM9CdGuUCUr-kfvDi63jTNflOMUcjCJv5y3C9LX6FnFx_dNKO8JybyfrRcmUM2m_xChZSmxrPtq8A4WOntjRF8Igd3AUy5EN7/s1835/S7.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1835" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmiMrKe8SfeEWzHgVCwu3NNTr4p8aqNag8-jalgAC3vBBM9CdGuUCUr-kfvDi63jTNflOMUcjCJv5y3C9LX6FnFx_dNKO8JybyfrRcmUM2m_xChZSmxrPtq8A4WOntjRF8Igd3AUy5EN7/w650-h369/S7.PNG" width="650" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Indian High Commissioner of India in NZ, His Excellency Muktesh Pardeshi (Right) presenting Special Girmit Legacy Award for Contribution to Arts and Culture to POOJA CULTURAL TRUST. Receiving on behalf of Trust is Swatna Lal.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Before 2012, Fiji Indians had
been living in larger numbers in Auckland for over 30 years, but no such event
or organisation were commenced until some visionary unsung heroes initiated
this 9 years ago, and now that seed has grown into a fruit-bearing tree. <b>Fiji
Girmit Foundation NZ</b>, apart from marking the remembrance has grown into an
advocacy body for Fiji Indians and have plans of expansion into<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>other cities and towns of New Zealand.
Christchurch already has a chapter while Palmerston North, Wellington, Dunedin and
even Queenstown are expected to have theirs within this year with support of
the Foundation in Auckland.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Fiji Indians now stand united
and are enlightened about their stolen history and feel proud of their history,
rich legacies, and heritage. And this, among others is the reason why they do
so well as migrants and rarely, if ever make it into negative statistics. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: large;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwwkSaUxo6TLSWtA5vCFS0vHDLITJqAGJWoRjvhCcso8kOxewD8vuYZVqzVQcG-ACRTlxOWABVjgkIEOY6YUQr5k_aWTeOH8Y97eexB-qwkpUWpZVhZvCGTv9Vo3zc-WkkcPBl2gWE9cf/s1768/S7-2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1768" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwwkSaUxo6TLSWtA5vCFS0vHDLITJqAGJWoRjvhCcso8kOxewD8vuYZVqzVQcG-ACRTlxOWABVjgkIEOY6YUQr5k_aWTeOH8Y97eexB-qwkpUWpZVhZvCGTv9Vo3zc-WkkcPBl2gWE9cf/w583-h361/S7-2.PNG" width="583" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>The overflowing response and audience at Malaeola Community Hall during Fiji Girmit Remembrance Day on 7 May 2021 in Mangere, Auckland, New Zealand.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Over the years, FIJI GIRMIT
FOUNDATION NZ has grown from strength to strength, and culminated in the crowning
glory in this memorable event on 7 May 2021 in Auckland. The crowning glory of
the Foundation was realized by the vision of current trustees, very unlike in
many other organizations when the baton was passed to the new generation led by
the current youthful Trustee, Krish Naidu to manage and organise future Girmit
events - and they rocked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We salute the Trustees, the Executives,
and the organising committee of nine-year-old FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ for
bringing such a huge, memorable, and noteworthy Remembrance Day in New Zealand.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Our only hope remains for a
similar event to be emulated by almost forty-year-old Fiji Girmit Council on
the soils where Girmit began - Fiji. And hoping following in the footsteps of
elder Trustees of Foundation in NZ, the ageing Trustees of Fiji Girmit Council
can pass the baton to the new generation to see Girmit Legacy continued on
Fijian soils.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">[About the Author:
Thakur Ranjit Singh is a founding Trustee of Fiji Girmit Foundation, a
journalist, a media commentator and blogger at FIJI PUNDIT. </span></b><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">He has a
passion for his forebears and Girmit Legacy and has written many articles on them. This is not a
press release of the Foundation but an independent journalistic observation. E-mail:
</span></b><a href="mailto:thakurjifj@gmail.com"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">thakurjifj@gmail.com</span></b></a><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">]</span></b></span><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-18244323282002750012021-06-01T22:12:00.006-07:002021-06-01T22:15:18.376-07:00OFFICE FOR SENIORS HUI CALLS FOR DIVERSITY AND MULTICULTURALISM IN NZ POLICY-MAKING PROCESS<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">AN ETHNIC WORKSHOP CALLS FOR DIVERSITY AND MULTICULTURAL INPUT IN
STRATEGIES AFFECTING THEM</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Thakur
Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></strong></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoQuote" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="font-style: normal;">[</span></strong><strong><span style="font-style: normal;">A hui/workshop called in collaboration by the Office of
Seniors and The Asian network Inc (TANI) overwhelmingly called for ethnic voices
to be heard in policies and strategies affecting them. The ethnic
elders/kaumatuas lamented remote control implementation by those lacking understanding,
empathy, social appropriateness, and cultural sensitivities <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from mainstream bureaucrats sitting in
Wellington.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This hui in Auckland provided a grand opportunity to hear from the “horses
‘mouths”, metaphorically speaking. It is hoped the collated outcomes would be
effectively utilised, rather than being just another talk shop , that some<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>seniors felt such workshops have degenerated into.<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="font-style: normal;">We are thankful to Wellington for their support and appreciative to the
Office of Seniors, Joint Venture and TANI. Please read on for a media
perspective…..</span></strong><strong><span style="font-style: normal;">]</span></strong><strong><span style="font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></strong></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDv8Idku3cvuEjKW9pJUMiOFxrv5_ASe1V1beDoN14VF0xIs6ygVr4So80pUbXefvolKigXwWEy2xFMEOGx0ASgZ4UQ5ZI6rmPA6DP_1ssWxIlDSdy6g3qyOQ9jqASsjQiubeQdN3_QXvd/s1671/S-2.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1671" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDv8Idku3cvuEjKW9pJUMiOFxrv5_ASe1V1beDoN14VF0xIs6ygVr4So80pUbXefvolKigXwWEy2xFMEOGx0ASgZ4UQ5ZI6rmPA6DP_1ssWxIlDSdy6g3qyOQ9jqASsjQiubeQdN3_QXvd/w537-h305/S-2.PNG" width="537" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p></blockquote><blockquote><p class="MsoQuote" style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></o:p></span></strong></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDv8Idku3cvuEjKW9pJUMiOFxrv5_ASe1V1beDoN14VF0xIs6ygVr4So80pUbXefvolKigXwWEy2xFMEOGx0ASgZ4UQ5ZI6rmPA6DP_1ssWxIlDSdy6g3qyOQ9jqASsjQiubeQdN3_QXvd/s1671/S-2.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>The people behind the workshop. (L-R) VISHAL RISHI, Director, The Asian Network Incorporated (TANI), DIANE TURNER, Director, Office for Seniors and SARAH from Joint Venture.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">As
<b>Kaumatua Uncle Harding </b>commenced his opening Karakia and blessings, one could
feel the cold wintery air seeping through a few partly - open windows into the
Beeson and Henderson Rooms of O<span style="color: black;">nehunga Community
Centre in Auckland.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">This was heralding Aucklanders some cold news on the first day of
official winter on 1 June 2021. </span>Uncle Harding, who was born in a small,
picturesque settlement in Hokianga, Northland, however <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>set a warm tone for the day with a very
inspiring and energetic talk.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></o:p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMFTcuCq-z0vvzX4R-yqmP1PqZpWtAAfqyUW6pJFI3kN8LD0v_3IB2EJ7a0y8FPzE_YgTgPVKaGB0EhDGJXzivDZQVXou4-b28oIic6dUPw5y07H3OV0HPhcIiJhjVVNvrhPInkgdcizu/s1809/s-9.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1809" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMFTcuCq-z0vvzX4R-yqmP1PqZpWtAAfqyUW6pJFI3kN8LD0v_3IB2EJ7a0y8FPzE_YgTgPVKaGB0EhDGJXzivDZQVXou4-b28oIic6dUPw5y07H3OV0HPhcIiJhjVVNvrhPInkgdcizu/w578-h323/s-9.PNG" width="578" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b><br />Karakia and Blessings being presented by Kaumatua UNCLE HARDING</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This
was the venue for a collaboration hui (workshop) organised by The Asian Network
Inc. (TANI) with the Office for Seniors<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and Joint Venture <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>where a phenomenally
successful and fruitful strategy consultation took place. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">This
gathering included over fifty community leaders and elders of various depths
and lengths which reflected diversity of Aotearoa.</span><a name="_Hlk73517045" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">And
the workshop was equally blessed with the presence of Director of Office for
Seniors, </span><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Diane Turner </b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">and </span><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Sarah </b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">from Joint Venture, both of whom
flew in from Wellington for this important consultative event. TANI’s Director,
</span><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Vishal Rishi </b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">was thankful for their presence, and thanked all for taking time
out on the first cold day of winter to attend this important forum.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTE7JoMuRJcc-FiUtdDepExwF0FvYHO2LcpcEeGHXm1ZBSs6mSf3_y_sQxqw3fMrn-PWhbjWwhK7PJ3il8xaVGEu6CDLNJBItzKzU0S3xwlm9vOLF3HY7LuLdLksDdJjRFaaSpcPHrNjC/s1832/S-3.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1832" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTE7JoMuRJcc-FiUtdDepExwF0FvYHO2LcpcEeGHXm1ZBSs6mSf3_y_sQxqw3fMrn-PWhbjWwhK7PJ3il8xaVGEu6CDLNJBItzKzU0S3xwlm9vOLF3HY7LuLdLksDdJjRFaaSpcPHrNjC/w543-h283/S-3.PNG" width="543" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b><br />The Multiracial Kaumatuas/Elders</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The hui was intended
to hear the voices of key ethnic and migrant communities and learn from their <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wisdom to contribute to the National Strategy
and Action Plans. These strategies are meant to support Kaumatua/older people
to enjoy their life without any family harm in Aotearoa. And the gathering went
a long away in assuring that. The hui took <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the form of a facilitated interactive workshop
and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>focused on what needed to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>happen to eliminate family violence and elder
abuse in our communities, especially ethnic and diverse ones. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMi2KYlImq9kzDTPCLiABXw0h3QxZDYyGE7nj_d9RRPtu2SQxbYFV8SHtHePh3p9pZeobb875hSRpxsejufdubPx5u9aAT0r38XjfXaYYfdQuUpTRowuKKBNCkJVH1uaRclX4pj9qVFmq/s1815/S-5.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="1815" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMi2KYlImq9kzDTPCLiABXw0h3QxZDYyGE7nj_d9RRPtu2SQxbYFV8SHtHePh3p9pZeobb875hSRpxsejufdubPx5u9aAT0r38XjfXaYYfdQuUpTRowuKKBNCkJVH1uaRclX4pj9qVFmq/w557-h294/S-5.PNG" width="557" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Presentation being made to the Multiracial Kaumatuas/Elders<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Representatives
from Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Korean, Bangladeshi and Fiji were represented
along with a number of service providers.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hui provided an opportunity to the ethnic
community leaders to have their say in the Vision, it's principles and key
seven action areas of the strategy. The message there was that there appeared
to be a lack of ethnic and diverse views in implementing things for those who
needed to have an input in methodologies in the first place. Hence we were
honoured to address that shortcoming. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq34HTKxh-BzKfwXsu9agOfwUM6wkz5I2rSv4ock-FEj10w4ROTTnf7A8Gy-qQ5GcVyyuTuopUOF0-ndo_WTMUy4meGtSRoNB8iR1___ARwrszViBJfe8JZSRFzoyTCO34tTuqbSUrJGzy/s1269/s-10.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="1269" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq34HTKxh-BzKfwXsu9agOfwUM6wkz5I2rSv4ock-FEj10w4ROTTnf7A8Gy-qQ5GcVyyuTuopUOF0-ndo_WTMUy4meGtSRoNB8iR1___ARwrszViBJfe8JZSRFzoyTCO34tTuqbSUrJGzy/w479-h318/s-10.PNG" width="479" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>VISHAL RISHI, TANI Director (left) with SARGEANT GURPREET ARORA, Family Harm Partnership Liaison Officer, NZ Police.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> Vishal
Rishi , Director of </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">The Asian Network Inc. (TANI) </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">said:</span></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></b></p><blockquote><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We will hold more of similar
huis or workshops in the future as ethnic communities’ voices are still missing
from a number of national initiatives and there are not enough resources
allocated to ethnic communities according to the population size. TANI has been
actively advocating for putting more resources in prevention spectrum of health
rather than an abundance at bottom of the cliff.</span></span></b></blockquote><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This
view was also echoed by participants who called for more workshops , seminar,
and education campaign for prevention of issues at source. The voices called to
attack the symptoms from voices of those who were affected rather than
receiving cures from “outsiders”. Among other things it was also suggested to
work with Te Whare Tapa Wha Model and recognise and incorporate the principles
of the Treaty of Waitangi.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07In-eazf49F5DgaHpfOlfcOUgE1dEjf09QRv_csTeRjifuVKnTwDLPKPgpKeK_cYuo3p2KzjGoN9mRN1lV6Se2ZzJw3rM7dg8LJ3s5_rKtqNMUqxBTTYFeR0jY1LxnVYFqkPnnsnXiy0/s1824/S-7.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1824" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07In-eazf49F5DgaHpfOlfcOUgE1dEjf09QRv_csTeRjifuVKnTwDLPKPgpKeK_cYuo3p2KzjGoN9mRN1lV6Se2ZzJw3rM7dg8LJ3s5_rKtqNMUqxBTTYFeR0jY1LxnVYFqkPnnsnXiy0/w562-h370/S-7.PNG" width="562" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;">Presentation being made to the Multiracial Kaumatuas/Elders by Vishal Rishi<br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;">While
the workshop notes are being collated by the workshop team, I hazard to present
some advance points which I noted as a journalist. These are not exhaustive and
are not necessarily official position of the workshop but are mere journalistic
observations to raise awareness, our concerns and interest in such initiatives.</span></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIY1v9aRfI2TxOS-nUcRfXJrBLJqcv0EdC68a9iazYAUHm77vCL4QtuHub1rVOy8Vk7CbCXW4CUnLseai69Je6u8Xtpgts3hxDrmeaTjmB4iR2zh_kQTyEp2fhqvtgVrjA2Zzw0x7Jlbo/s1830/S-8.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1830" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIY1v9aRfI2TxOS-nUcRfXJrBLJqcv0EdC68a9iazYAUHm77vCL4QtuHub1rVOy8Vk7CbCXW4CUnLseai69Je6u8Xtpgts3hxDrmeaTjmB4iR2zh_kQTyEp2fhqvtgVrjA2Zzw0x7Jlbo/w555-h323/S-8.PNG" width="555" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: verdana; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;">Presentation being made to the audience by DIANE TURNER from Office for Seniors<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">It
was observed that in trying to increase the focus on prevention, among others,
it was needed to create awareness through culturally appropriate methodology
and language , with community led approach, supported by ethnic and social
media.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVOX7ksvPopUQABqNyT8qr-Gr_-JdJ4W-94vOMOR7rqi_GYSKHT7awcsItz8ttux_-deJXzHvOx349wWN7rc8BLKz5TgU5Yo8o7EaT1LDUtvh0IM9yG9xZqEmcUska3hdkFy8eKDPWgGu/s3648/20210601_133403.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVOX7ksvPopUQABqNyT8qr-Gr_-JdJ4W-94vOMOR7rqi_GYSKHT7awcsItz8ttux_-deJXzHvOx349wWN7rc8BLKz5TgU5Yo8o7EaT1LDUtvh0IM9yG9xZqEmcUska3hdkFy8eKDPWgGu/w483-h345/20210601_133403.jpg" width="483" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;">VISHAL RISHI with representatives from Kashmiri Association and Pakistan Association of New Zealand. </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><o:p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"></o:p></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">It
was heard that government responses could be improved through coordination and
cooperation within various community organisations working as a team rather
than as competitors. It was also recommended, among others, that workforce
needed to be strengthened to respond to family harm through recruitment,
training, and promotion of diverse multi-cultural staff. At the same time, the
mainstream social workers needed to be educated and coached in cultural and
religious appropriateness and sensitivities to provide</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">efficient, but more importantly, effective
services. And such changes , as past experience has shown, could be brought by
lobbying through community organisations.</span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjfo2ca_6BeqObEOhQukEwy3PY1vRCOLxlBP-mFZLVFDovWKGVL87Xfuq3rzlLnIrOW8KBmhIEMRiN6qCyL8DSqFXZPLicdIYQjJ0P3stVuxOhmlLrJ_3pX7LhOGMMLlx-aq14oV5i_0O/s1599/IMG-20210601-WA0029.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1599" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjfo2ca_6BeqObEOhQukEwy3PY1vRCOLxlBP-mFZLVFDovWKGVL87Xfuq3rzlLnIrOW8KBmhIEMRiN6qCyL8DSqFXZPLicdIYQjJ0P3stVuxOhmlLrJ_3pX7LhOGMMLlx-aq14oV5i_0O/w576-h372/IMG-20210601-WA0029.jpg" width="576" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><br />Hui in progress under watchful eye of DIANE TURNER</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">The
manifest or main reasons for this hui is to develop out vision framework and
strategic action plans which are being collated. However, the latent and
perhaps the greater side-line or hidden functions of such workshops is to bring
remarkably diverse and often isolated community leaders in a room where they
make personal contacts to work in collaboration with their various respective
organisations.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">Same
thing happened with my Waitakere Indian Association Seniors and Fiji Girmit
Foundation NZ hats which I wore, to organise some community-based workshops
with contacts that were made. Similar developments also eventuated with others.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></o:p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7T63kwLS4kZQ3Ms-nKFbqCFjBCXT-XpZqwAc1Smaep6dKh1X-HE0ncTQY1_R4HfTvTe5YDfqDoXKppM25GPB7Q19QCHUa6akWKHJWZXkuKDpHUYGTByze7DGZMTbDbRlOxKGgGsZi4HM/s4032/20210601_121908.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: red;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="573" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7T63kwLS4kZQ3Ms-nKFbqCFjBCXT-XpZqwAc1Smaep6dKh1X-HE0ncTQY1_R4HfTvTe5YDfqDoXKppM25GPB7Q19QCHUa6akWKHJWZXkuKDpHUYGTByze7DGZMTbDbRlOxKGgGsZi4HM/w540-h573/20210601_121908.jpg" width="540" /></span></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Two ladies who flew in from Wellington to a road-clogged Auckland to make this workshop possible (L-R) DIANE TURNER and SARAH</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We
are therefore thankful to the Office for Seniors and TANI for these very
fruitful and productive opportunities. Indeed a day well spent and would
further prove rewarding from the final output. Vinaka.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">[About
the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist, Secretary of Waitakere Indian
Association Seniors, and a Founding Trustee of FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ. He is
a volunteer grassroots community journalist, who covers community, especially
ethnic, Indian, Pacifica and Fiji Indian issues generally overlooked and
ignored by the mainstream media, generally lacking diversity, empathy and
sensitivity. Thakur runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT which endeavours to fill this
vacuum]</span><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-7321079972979250242021-05-28T04:53:00.000-07:002021-05-28T04:53:24.126-07:00SAMOA - A MODEL OF PACIFIC DEMOCRACY? <p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">SAMOA - A MODEL OF PACIFIC
DEMOCRACY?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Thakur
Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Prologue<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Fiji
has had its share of political uncertainties and instability. Some of this has
been exaggerated by the ridiculing of Bainimarama by the Samoan Prime Minister
and satire and sensational news stories written by some Samoan journalists on
Fiji’s political adversity. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Samoa has been trying to cash in on Fiji’s handicap
by attempting to step into the economic, transportation and regional leadership
shoes that Fiji had carved out over the past three to four decades. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">With the
amplification and browbeating of failure of democracy in Fiji, Samoa had consequently
been projected as a model of Pacific democracy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">However,
this myth has been shattered now in the aftermath of upheavals in Samoan Democracy</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This
article is over a decade old and was initially published in the blog <i>The
Pacific Scoop</i> in December 2009. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It
is coverage of the Pacific Islands Political Studies Association’s (PIPSA) 11<sup>th</sup>
conference held on 3 December 2009 at Fale Pasifika, University of Auckland.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Two
Samoan academics and a former Samoan diplomat and a former member of the ruling
party took turns in revealing what was wrong with the Samoan model of democracy
which Samoans were reluctant to discuss openly in publicly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And
this was very evident by the forced withdrawal of this article soon after
publication. It had to be withdrawn within days because the Samoans who raised
the issues got cold feet once they got pressure from “outside” and did not want
that published. To protect them after such a long time, I am republishing it
with hidden names to protect their identity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rfee5JSCNy-iUg6jZLnxKbjBQ2JlUMLrvMp05TFTOrwB10sXibL2iTXG0_tq72gY5U7xPJ6WUL-hDvpZKGyD0boiNkoH2_OB7X1vTF2bbRzUP2PVs9sZqYzlIr2mQgK3zpN5hLWCPlXN/s1784/TUILEPA+CARTOON.jpg+-S-1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1784" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rfee5JSCNy-iUg6jZLnxKbjBQ2JlUMLrvMp05TFTOrwB10sXibL2iTXG0_tq72gY5U7xPJ6WUL-hDvpZKGyD0boiNkoH2_OB7X1vTF2bbRzUP2PVs9sZqYzlIr2mQgK3zpN5hLWCPlXN/w625-h314/TUILEPA+CARTOON.jpg+-S-1.PNG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><h4><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>Samoan Prime Minister, <a name="_Hlk73083867" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 36px;">Tuilaepa</span></a><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 36px;"> Sailele Malielegaoi, as seen by NZ Herald Cartoonist on the day of the large red moon on 26 May, 2021 ( NZ Herald Cartoon)</span></span><span style="line-height: 36px; text-align: left;"> </span></b></span></h4></td></tr></tbody></table></span></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Samoa’s
pride in being leaders promoting democracy, equality and social justice in the
Pacific just now remains a shadow. Let’s revisit the problems that were
unearthed over a decade ago, but those speakers were not bold enough to publicly
uphold their opposition to a wanting democracy in Samoa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The
Conference<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">On plenary session on democracy in Samoa, a doctoral student and
Samoan academic Fiu (real name hidden) spoke on <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Temokalasi ma le fa’amatai</i>: A true democracy or dictatorship in
disguise?<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;">Fiu quoted other
Samoan leaders who had likened their Prime Minister, </span><a name="_Hlk73083867"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Tuilaepa</span></b></a><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Sailele Malielegaoi</span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;">
to Hitler. He cited incidents of Prime Minister ignoring the wishes and
petitions of Apia people to stop proposed gas pipes being laid through their
townships and the changing of the roads where changes were brought about
without proper consultation or informing the people. Fiu told the conference
that:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></span></b></p><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Former opposition leader Asiata
Saleimoa Va’ai wrote that history shows that political parties in the past who
have dominated governments for many years have often become dictatorial and
communist in their ways, giving the examples of Mugabe in Zimbabwe, Hussein in
Iraq and of course Hitler in Germany. This he says is becoming the case with
Tuilaepa and Samoa.</span></b></blockquote><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /><p> </p><o:p></o:p></span></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBi0fsZ1ht2CxDe7aK1QlotH5WelEqKt7fhubwc7kMr_DN8dZo8aksXQ80PPDI7pv7UWH2MlZxsLUoEe4GjvsLiX9EbeS9Aj5e39Mtcc_MnVUB2ImO1T6-hDsOs6D8IB_Kfy7cny9C-IJ/s1825/TENT+SWEARING+IN-+S-3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1825" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBi0fsZ1ht2CxDe7aK1QlotH5WelEqKt7fhubwc7kMr_DN8dZo8aksXQ80PPDI7pv7UWH2MlZxsLUoEe4GjvsLiX9EbeS9Aj5e39Mtcc_MnVUB2ImO1T6-hDsOs6D8IB_Kfy7cny9C-IJ/w604-h430/TENT+SWEARING+IN-+S-3.PNG" width="604" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Samoa's democratically elected first lady incoming PM was locked outside Parliament by existing PM Tuilaepa, who ignored people's and court verdict to transfer power.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The question was posed
whether these comparisons were justified and whether Samoa was under
dictatorship or still had a semblance of democracy.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This was answered by the
fact that the word “democracy” did not exist in the two most recognised
published Samoan dictionaries. Despite the long history of chiefly authority in
Samoa, universal suffrage was introduced only in 1990 when all were eligible to
vote, whereas, before that only the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">matai</i>
were allowed to vote.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Fiu cites an
experience of his recent trip back home where while all appeared to be well
post the road change, the road switch debacle has resulted in another ongoing
battle between the people of Samoa and the Government at a lower scale. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Supposedly for the safety of Samoans, the government has passed a law<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that all pubs and clubs must close<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at 10pm while the business concerns have
objected, saying most money was made after 10pm. A strange compromise was
allowed which permitted establishments to open till midnight on Fridays and
Saturdays, however all music, DJs bands etc must still be turned off at 10pm.
While this could hardly be classed as a compromise, the sad part was that there
was nothing much the business owners could do about it, illustrating the lack
of democratic procedure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3jY7fFoD5l07AmdS67ZMB7BhfLGlVK_aVNq4kSmdw8mEJwd88_h05FJkrFZhJB9qJAm-5YSFwxWdmZu8mFmp7BoQhBHnDHCEZVOLb6gwK_qP7ywxNy4-DIDKb4KwB1nH3FIUNC9dOunB/s1600/Frank-Bainimarama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1038" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3jY7fFoD5l07AmdS67ZMB7BhfLGlVK_aVNq4kSmdw8mEJwd88_h05FJkrFZhJB9qJAm-5YSFwxWdmZu8mFmp7BoQhBHnDHCEZVOLb6gwK_qP7ywxNy4-DIDKb4KwB1nH3FIUNC9dOunB/w343-h409/Frank-Bainimarama.jpg" width="343" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">Fiji's PM who has been at the receiving end and butt of jokes of Samoan PM who never ceased to humiliate Bainimarama for not respecting democracy. Now Tuilaepa has become butt of jokes for doing exactly what he used to accuse Fijian PM of doing</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Fiu further reported
that according to former Samoalive news editor, Cherelle Jackson, the gist of complaint
of the people was not on the actual road switch, but rather the way government
went about implementing the changes, completely ignoring and disregarding the
voice of the people. It appeared that there was no sign of democracy having
taken place during the process.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Savea Sanoa Malifa,
who had written in the Samoa Observer likening the Prime Minister with Hitler,
said that the PM already had complete control over Samoa. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></span></b></p><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He already owns Parliament, Cabinet, the Public Service, the
Church, the business community, all the villages and their happy, itching
mayors as well, the public media and the little boys and girls there jumping
eagerly to his command - in fact, the man owns practically the whole country-
when one man “owns practically the whole country”… and not necessarily under
the will of the people, chances are they are a dictator.</span></b></blockquote><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It was observed that in
absence of an opposition party, Samoa had become a one-party state, contrary to
what the Westminster system defines democracy as. It was felt that the Human
Rights Protection Party (HRPP) completely dominated the Parliament, hence
anything they say goes. National University of Samoa Vice Chancellor, Leapai
Professor Asofou So’o was quoted as saying that:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></span></b></p><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">a disadvantage of the party system
is that, when the party in government obtains too much power and has been in
power for a long time, parliamentary opposition is rendered meaningless.</span></b></blockquote><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This point is
illustrated by comparison of Samoan government since the introduction of
universal suffrage in 1990 with other long well-established democracies. The
available data shows that in the two decades between 1990 and 2009:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">United States of
America had 4 governments and 4 Presidents<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Great Britain had
4 governments and 4 Prime Ministers<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Australia had 3
governments and 4 Prime Ministers<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">New Zealand had 4
governments and 6 Prime Ministers<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Compared to all
these, Samoa had ONLY 1 government and ONLY 2 Prime Ministers.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Despite Fiji not being
a model democracy and despite its current government being periodically
ridiculed by Samoan Prime Minister, Fiji had seen more changes than Samoa, with
two constitutions, 4 Prime Ministers, four governments and ..er...two coups.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4MSIs3GLq2pZFUUA2EzjxyRymVtaE65_VKs_ioV0xxrqsw6dMc3I-NG-LC75VQBOuOwT1hjwzCH41QaQFll4WTGZUn_sXK-xWw8K00UAjb4otMcK7y-fJwKe2pnKmi67-dEmI68vdCC8/s800/Tuilaepa-Sailele-Malielegaoi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4MSIs3GLq2pZFUUA2EzjxyRymVtaE65_VKs_ioV0xxrqsw6dMc3I-NG-LC75VQBOuOwT1hjwzCH41QaQFll4WTGZUn_sXK-xWw8K00UAjb4otMcK7y-fJwKe2pnKmi67-dEmI68vdCC8/s320/Tuilaepa-Sailele-Malielegaoi.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nOQRZXQgf2mvRQ8vaARmUIL9GCFznPqclgh72eiGx4LH24yZ6ThdoMW-5HvkoEKnfkHohY2BUUQC-yWy5Pqd_sNR6OBX7jxfRFg4TMORppPbDy_DUK-6ZB90-y-GFf9HogWsqu7Tj9Gu/s800/frank+bainimarama-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nOQRZXQgf2mvRQ8vaARmUIL9GCFznPqclgh72eiGx4LH24yZ6ThdoMW-5HvkoEKnfkHohY2BUUQC-yWy5Pqd_sNR6OBX7jxfRFg4TMORppPbDy_DUK-6ZB90-y-GFf9HogWsqu7Tj9Gu/s320/frank+bainimarama-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Fiji has been dubbed a failed democracy by some academics for failing the ultimate test of democracy - SMOOTH TRANSITION OF POWER. Now Samoa, an ardent critic of Fiji remains accused of failing that test. Ironically, Samoan PM Tuilaepa (top) has always been critical of Bainimarama ( above) for not allowing that transition. Now he himself stands accused of doing exactly the same.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="line-height: 150%;">Conclusion</span></u></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In his concluding remarks Fiu summed up his presentation as
follows, which is best presented in full:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></span></b></p><blockquote><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In concluding, democracy is a
clouded concept in Samoa. At the national level, there exists a government that
has in general adhered to democratic practices however there have been instances
of lately where they have ignored the democratic process in order to implement
things they know full well would have probably never passed had they given the
people a democratic say. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The irony of all this is that the
flagship of so-called democracy, the government, has in recent times displayed
obvious anti democratic behaviour, and dare I say, have indeed been rather
dictatorial in the running of the country… they only listen when it suits or
benefits them. Other than that, the order of the day seems to be dictatorship.</span></span></b></p></blockquote><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcctRHjyezK4yCbZnGzCGc-QF9dpnk-3w693NUqm_1biDSDbeV_8DOX6TR3mrZkpXjuEGtjQHSV3S7aTyJeDwpPJeeulb08ePPvxgAi1wj7ANzvRYc2tw4R7qj7uvEb8Z5Vm-LuIOxt-b/s1659/lady+pm+-S.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1659" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcctRHjyezK4yCbZnGzCGc-QF9dpnk-3w693NUqm_1biDSDbeV_8DOX6TR3mrZkpXjuEGtjQHSV3S7aTyJeDwpPJeeulb08ePPvxgAi1wj7ANzvRYc2tw4R7qj7uvEb8Z5Vm-LuIOxt-b/w512-h331/lady+pm+-S.PNG" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; text-align: start;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana;"><b style="font-size: 18px;">Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, the first Lady incoming PM of Samoa has guts and resolve to unseat a party which had "stolen" democracy from Samoans for some four decades. But she is denied smooth transition of power by the sitting PM who had been masquerading as a disciple of </b><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>democracy</b></span><b style="font-size: 18px;">.</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><blockquote>At the village level, indigenous
democracy is thriving. Although from an outsider’s point of view, the matai
system seems very dictatorial as well as being a body that suppresses
individual rights.</blockquote></span></span></b></div><p></p><blockquote>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Despite the inconsistencies of
democracy at national and village level, the one constant is that at the end of
the day, barring a military takeover, it is the people that choose their
leaders, their Prime Minister, their matai etc, and this process regardless of
how other decision have been made, will inevitably be democratic. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Democracy will prevail and if people
feel they have not been listened to initially, nature and society work in such
mysterious ways that eventually they WILL be heard. I am predicting that the
voices of the Samoan people will be heard at the next elections, and that the
road switch issue may actually be the undoing of the HRPP party. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Although throughout the past and
present, democracy has at times appeared nonexistent, democracy in the end will
prevail, and as the cliché goes, “will have the last laugh”............ But
then again, anything can happen in Samoa. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><u><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Epilogue<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Despite
Fiu’s prediction, nothing changed in the 11 years since this conference in
Auckland, and Fiu would be a professor by now and may recognise his
presentation, which 11 years ago, he was too scared to have it published.
Perhaps he may be bold enough to come out now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It
took a long time, but it seems democracy will now have the last laugh at the situation
in Samoa now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And
Karma is at work with Samoa’s PM <b>Tuilaepa</b> who always took pot -shots and
ridiculed <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fiji’s Bainimarama for playing
with democracy in the past.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He now finds himself in a deeper chasm of arrogance
and has himself become a dictatorial “Hitler” who needs to re-check his use-by
date.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Like the tsunami, the
change may come with little warning, it has taken long, although preliminary warning
shots had been fired in Auckland over a decade ago in this Pacific (PIPSA) conference.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Samoans now await
change that they have been craving for decades.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-right: 1.4pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a former Publisher of <i>Fiji
Daily Post</i> newspaper, and a Pacifica Fiji Indian recipient of Pacific Islands
Media Association (PIMA) and AUT postgraduate scholarship at AUT where he completed
Masters in Communication Studies (MCS) with honours. When he wrote this article
in 2009, he was still a postgraduate student at AUT, and attended the
conference on behalf of Pacific Media
Centre (PMC). He currently is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>retired
and runs his blog FIJI PUNDIT.]<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-65919095543777863522021-05-23T20:43:00.000-07:002021-05-23T20:43:56.280-07:00BOOK REVIEW: SATENDRA SINGH’S (JAI FIJI’S) “ VIDHWA - THE DARING WIDOW"<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">BOOK REVIEW: SATENDRA SINGH’S (JAI FIJI’S) “ VIDHWA -The
daring Widow<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">By Guest Writer: RAJENDRA PRASAD<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">[Originally from Vaqia, Ba, Fiji, he is author of “<i>Tears
in Paradise</i>” and “<i>Enslaved in Paradise</i>”] <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I am
indeed privileged and honoured to do a book review of a fellow villager budding
writer Satendra Singh (Jai Fiji) from my neighbouring birth village, rustic and
dusty Rarawai, Golflinks, Ba in shadows of Rarawai Sugar Mill. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qPshImY5VF5wUMiHGuECeYlF959lYnU98mzZ1YYFOc_Lc6A-8JPXoSlcspIwGODiNZfYJ1A9hbchBOQwjG4maeZIdep8KXV-ar-tERRgwSxG0mexJ_vAyqTLPL67QunjNWZVsQqVAdIK/s1060/S-2+VIDHWA.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="1060" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qPshImY5VF5wUMiHGuECeYlF959lYnU98mzZ1YYFOc_Lc6A-8JPXoSlcspIwGODiNZfYJ1A9hbchBOQwjG4maeZIdep8KXV-ar-tERRgwSxG0mexJ_vAyqTLPL67QunjNWZVsQqVAdIK/w614-h630/S-2+VIDHWA.JPG" width="614" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>The Vidhwa is stripped of all happiness and dressing in colours after death of her husband in some Hindu Communities. She stands very distinctly rejected and "uncoloured" in crown of other colourfully-dressed married woman? Isn't it time modern educated women should start sending those outdated modes and practices to trash bins, and rewrite future of Widows from viewpoint of women - educated women?</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And
that is not the reason for my review to be partial in anyway. In fact, this is
a salute to this budding writer, who, like me, has taken this mammoth challenge,
a common villager, <i>aam aadmi</i>, who has not been to a university, but
writes from heart that is very readable. </span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And that is done in a climate where we have dwindling book readers, with the new generation busy with their modern gadgets
and phone technologies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_cs7MSOIZY0BnIK8IQUnK8TiJ0kC_BJziHcHDJqbOuZZjY3jo2VdjVv9O9-OIbikYVAKEPCOUrTgflLZxk2A_b_AV0Mx4XcBI87Y8FqslICx0GmyXT22lbHjML7RZDdPwHWgh7GHHCGf/s1269/S-4+RAJENDRA.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1269" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_cs7MSOIZY0BnIK8IQUnK8TiJ0kC_BJziHcHDJqbOuZZjY3jo2VdjVv9O9-OIbikYVAKEPCOUrTgflLZxk2A_b_AV0Mx4XcBI87Y8FqslICx0GmyXT22lbHjML7RZDdPwHWgh7GHHCGf/w436-h339/S-4+RAJENDRA.JPG" width="436" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Guest Writer, RAJENDRA PRASAD, who kindly agreed to read the book and write this review for FIJI PUNDIT. He is a renowned author of Tears in Paradise and Enslaved in Paradise</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Recognising
such a constraint, he has written short books which are packed with action,
drama, emotion, and suspense. The other advantage of such amateur writers is
that they do not write boring academic pieces but the thoughts flow deep from
their real-life experiences. Such is the case with <i>VIDHWA</i> too.</span></span></b></span></b></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 150%;">Vidhwa </span></i></b><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">(widow)
is an apt title for this book and author, Stan, F.J (pseudonym) acutely knows
the Hindu societal norms and practices, which were meant to destroy, if not,
hurt and humiliate the widows. In this, <i>Vidhwa</i> could be referred to as
‘double jeopardy’, noting that the central character suffers the loss of
husband and, in a cruel twist, she is held responsible for it. In such
circumstances, some lives are lost through suicide when victims choose it as
the ultimate option to escape sustained familial and public humiliation. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6b6JiO6Cdjz98k6e6PuHjOJ2lxfA3JTuMHxReQQuH9yh4HG-p0gaZW3MViyFahbCCDjAoAw2W6rNmRPSuRcRX1ok6SKpAxTW1h8nNxUCEeY9LP-yMtWB6oxrUYBCqIB6teqfi-Mm2N_EU/s1255/PHIL+-S-2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1255" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6b6JiO6Cdjz98k6e6PuHjOJ2lxfA3JTuMHxReQQuH9yh4HG-p0gaZW3MViyFahbCCDjAoAw2W6rNmRPSuRcRX1ok6SKpAxTW1h8nNxUCEeY9LP-yMtWB6oxrUYBCqIB6teqfi-Mm2N_EU/w434-h299/PHIL+-S-2.JPG" width="434" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">The launch of VIDHWA in Auckland by Labour Minister Phil Twyford (right) at GIRMIT REMEMBRANCE DAY in Auckland on 7 May, 2021 . President of FIJI GIRMMIT FOUNDATION NZ, Krish Naidu is with him after the launch. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like his first book, TEARS OF
A FATHER, this book is also rooted in the community, echoing its societal
oddities.</span></span></span></b></span></b></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It also touches on very deep
hypocrisy <i>– pakhand</i> prevalent in our people. They project
themselves as deeply religious but their walks differ markedly from their talks
wherein the villains gain approbation as virtuous. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-G_Yk30TZ2LSK-VeO_lc2C30Ia9cQF_B4yau2GaSdLvMr03nRUyvG-jZlvp_EkXlN-lWZE7FKIRMoAbSTx-ALsV5kVKkpeTLYItZEvzjwJrOGKB5BtN22Po58wABv552NofnzujA50qTM/s616/S-4+snipped-SATENDRA.JPG" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="522" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-G_Yk30TZ2LSK-VeO_lc2C30Ia9cQF_B4yau2GaSdLvMr03nRUyvG-jZlvp_EkXlN-lWZE7FKIRMoAbSTx-ALsV5kVKkpeTLYItZEvzjwJrOGKB5BtN22Po58wABv552NofnzujA50qTM/w415-h444/S-4+snipped-SATENDRA.JPG" width="415" /></a><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCAx8WUMvqcQprMKyYgmQ8rwe8G887PgOhV93zSH_Ik4DGKbo0lruqM3kti8kB0FtEw0PY43pliznwvkUI4YMgU8OJvwX6QQYWjvL-00ZD70AEZtUkF12-Bk_a1tSgLkzZkLj3C5H3CjA/s905/S+4-muddo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="905" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCAx8WUMvqcQprMKyYgmQ8rwe8G887PgOhV93zSH_Ik4DGKbo0lruqM3kti8kB0FtEw0PY43pliznwvkUI4YMgU8OJvwX6QQYWjvL-00ZD70AEZtUkF12-Bk_a1tSgLkzZkLj3C5H3CjA/w366-h297/S+4-muddo.JPG" width="366" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">STAN - the Author, SATENDRA SINGH (JAI FIJI) - the two faces: In his younger days in Fiji (top) and how he looks now (above)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;">Vidhwa</span></i></b><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> also
exposes the multifaced people, the colour-changing chameleons,(<i>girgit,
bistuia</i>) who comprise our society. It movingly captures the local village
politics and how some rich and influential people use their wealth and influence
to hurt or exploit common people who stand up for their rights. It is not all grisly
and gruesome, as the author, seemingly, also captures high school knowledge and
experiences to sprinkle his story with variety that includes romance and
mystery, including contemporary news on drugs and the mystery of missing
girls. </span></b></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></b></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3cpPWa1M36vzqzJuWVwCfGm6nF9I-YoQB3TgPIdTFx4xOCi2j0czZDKhZxK4q6RdoCFfEMU_NpKElq5fpbHBP9riMvsljD4PAr8h8nplZQp8NPyQHS1carPxFEYqEnVVpn6U-CbscNYC/s867/S-S+VIDHWA.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="867" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3cpPWa1M36vzqzJuWVwCfGm6nF9I-YoQB3TgPIdTFx4xOCi2j0czZDKhZxK4q6RdoCFfEMU_NpKElq5fpbHBP9riMvsljD4PAr8h8nplZQp8NPyQHS1carPxFEYqEnVVpn6U-CbscNYC/w482-h412/S-S+VIDHWA.JPG" width="482" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b style="color: red; font-size: large;">A best dressed Hindu widow is stripped off her fashion and beautiful clothes upon death of husband. Why is her present and future determined by a man? Why aren't similar reciprocating atrocities and discrimination bestowed on widower husbands who are ready to re-marry before the flames and embers of the pyre (chita) of their wives have cooled? Were script-writers of Hindu scriptures very male-</b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>chauvinists</b></span><b style="color: red; font-size: large;">, with no real-life experience, always putting down women?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The story line very ably
weaves all these into an ending which is very interesting and would sound like
a Bollywood plot. But the plot insinuates that righteousness and truth are the
ultimate victors and strongly endorses respect for women who have been the
victims of decadent societal norms that afflicted every generation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Fortunately,
they belonged to a bygone era, though the society is not completely rid of it. These
societal beliefs and practices were conceived in a less enlightened era but
entrenched itself so strongly that that its residual effects touched every
generation. The author aptly captures the depravities associated with such
beliefs and practices, which may not make as much sense to today’s educated and
enlightened generation, but they do provide a healthy forum for introspection
and reflection. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">There
are sparks of brilliance throughout the book, which perhaps captures author’s disgust
of some of the beliefs and practices introduced to demean, demonize, and
destroy women’s social standing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9latLpsvBRL95PXOZg4Da3-B92WfIzgOaQzalP7COVfAmF8J-w8Q3wrDabDpDVogdxcOBngySA5LdUujV0fsoVymNzu_9WDhOIHdIbkW_veZWNSoVCme79cKAggnhV5SOMFBSE7EfLpsP/s893/S-5.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="817" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9latLpsvBRL95PXOZg4Da3-B92WfIzgOaQzalP7COVfAmF8J-w8Q3wrDabDpDVogdxcOBngySA5LdUujV0fsoVymNzu_9WDhOIHdIbkW_veZWNSoVCme79cKAggnhV5SOMFBSE7EfLpsP/w428-h419/S-5.JPG" width="428" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>VIDHWA -THE DARING WIDOW</i> - The Book Cover.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;">Vidhwa</span></i></b><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">,
based in Fiji, has target audience and the author weaves through intricately to
keep the reader enthralled and engrossed to the end.</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">[About
the Author: Rajendra Prasad is the author of two historically-enlightening books on Fiji, TEARS IN PARADISE –
Suffering and Struggles of Indians in Fiji 1879-2004) and ENSLAVED IN PARADISE –
A history of Mammoth Betrayals of Fijians by British, Chiefs and Leaders in
Fiji 1876-2006.He is a Foundation Trustee of FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ, and a former Ba Town Clerk. He now
resides in Auckland. Those wishing to acquire these books can e-mail Thakur Ranjit Singh at: thakurjifj@gmail.com</span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> or inbox message to him on Facebook]</span></span></b></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-79526397118459936582021-05-21T21:12:00.002-07:002021-05-21T21:12:49.515-07:00DINESH CHAND: A GRASSROOTS SPIRITUAL HUMANITARIAN, RISING FOR THE POOR IN THE COMMUNITY <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">DINESH CHAND - A GRASSROOTS SPIRITUAL HUMANITARIAN,
RISING FOR THE POOR IN THE COMMUNITY<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Thakur
Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.95pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 5.95pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">There was a moment of surprise in the
overflowing Malaeola<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Community Centre
when a name for the GIRMIT LEGACY AWARD was announced. This was at FIJI GIRMIT
FOUNDATION NZ- organized 142<sup>nd</sup> Anniversary of Fiji Girmit
Remembrance Day ON 7 May 2021. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.95pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 5.95pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <br /></span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.95pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 5.95pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYECrrPuP_uku0qfo0RhRACDp5eTjK5jcAvWuuLug18AQvDg4THZ_PRm_pMbK96P8EZ0Mki-PPwGL7DfS0-GWWx3q1VfDTOFtfFkO6FE5oMemXfrNUR7n3Ko8UgU0NTIPY6e4sHkG_NPo/s1273/S-11-HANDLEBAR+MUSTACHE.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1273" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYECrrPuP_uku0qfo0RhRACDp5eTjK5jcAvWuuLug18AQvDg4THZ_PRm_pMbK96P8EZ0Mki-PPwGL7DfS0-GWWx3q1VfDTOFtfFkO6FE5oMemXfrNUR7n3Ko8UgU0NTIPY6e4sHkG_NPo/w400-h307/S-11-HANDLEBAR+MUSTACHE.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>A modest DINESH CHAND, the recipient of Fiji Girmit Legacy Award - <span style="line-height: 36px;">EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEER. Note his distinct</span> handlebar moustache.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">The MC Bipin Shankar’s voice boomed, echoed,
and resonated </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">through the very elaborate
and efficient sound system and state-of the art two huge digital screens provided
with the courtesy of Neil HDEV:<o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.95pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 5.95pt; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"></span></b></span></p><blockquote><p align="left" class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;">The Foundation </span></b><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>felt that there was a vacuum in our awards
system in New Zealand because many individual awards out there are given to
those who are already paid to do what they do, hence such awards sound hollow
and pointless. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><b>Anybody getting any funding and paying themselves handsomely and distributing or using leftover for others are not necessarily great.</b></span></span></p><p align="left" class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><b>Great are those from normal
walks of life, a common man, an “</b></span><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">aam aadmi”</span></b><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;">, one who takes own time and use own resources, beyond call of
duties, without any support or funding or even any wish to be applauded - but
keeps on doing that extra bit for the vulnerable in the community. And doing that for decades.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Therefore, this year the Foundation decided to add an award
to recognize such an individual for selfless service. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;">And that</span></b><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEER
AWARD. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And that deserving individual, ladies and gentlemen, is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DINESH CHAND</span></span></b></p></blockquote><p> </p><p align="left" class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And this was the moment of surprise. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">We all expected somebody in suit and tie walking up
from the VIP seating area. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="left" class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHU9d9ZffY5QdbTQ_70srCuh7pI4cQcBra7S1GALtCTaxczCwH5a6z_9bGHJiZFuZkQEFClB2Ko7K4OdBLUnM8aJysRjWT2XGTzvomvQdKVqNeeZ9eZ13QF_Qve7Ifm-Lv34NwPOx4v3L/s1279/S-3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1279" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHU9d9ZffY5QdbTQ_70srCuh7pI4cQcBra7S1GALtCTaxczCwH5a6z_9bGHJiZFuZkQEFClB2Ko7K4OdBLUnM8aJysRjWT2XGTzvomvQdKVqNeeZ9eZ13QF_Qve7Ifm-Lv34NwPOx4v3L/w531-h458/S-3.JPG" width="531" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">MC Bipin Shankar (left), with Award Recipient, Dinesh Chand, who was given the Legacy Award by Jennifer Khan - Janif, a Trustee of FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Lo and behold, that was not so. But a very modestly,
but nicely - dressed volunteer videographer who has been shooting the
activities of the event, handed his big, sophisticated video camera to a friend,
and stepped onto the stage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And this, ladies, and gentlemen, was DINESH CHAND -
one of us, but very much more than many of us, our busy videographer of the
event, better known in the community as DJ DINESH. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A tall, big, and handsome
man, with a distinctive handlebar moustache was smiling to receive his very
deserving, and long overdue award. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkL960mav63MLEhvIQhkMoFzlw9cIC3tfN_weCQzKmcQEDG8MpxW9E1HwvhLxT01fbxCsf5gdlO-iDuvj-ziIl7dHoMDwMM758Y_AY6FdA6tnyos0Bgbi9t0_YAqle3w-queJG84RgVJG/s1235/S-1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1235" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkL960mav63MLEhvIQhkMoFzlw9cIC3tfN_weCQzKmcQEDG8MpxW9E1HwvhLxT01fbxCsf5gdlO-iDuvj-ziIl7dHoMDwMM758Y_AY6FdA6tnyos0Bgbi9t0_YAqle3w-queJG84RgVJG/w429-h303/S-1.JPG" width="429" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Dinesh Chand, with his Girmit Legacy Award and wth his tell-tale handlebar moustache, in front of FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ banner.</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">But bigger is his heart – a great deal
bigger than his pockets, but still he has been spending the little he has and
sharing with the less fortunate in our community.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The citation of his award was long because of the many
good things he has been doing for the community. It read:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></span></b></p><blockquote><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">There is great deal more he has been delivering as a
philanthropic, spiritual human being, without any support from anywhere,
completely on a voluntary basis, that many do not know about. There is a long
list.</span></span></b></p></blockquote><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FIzmvt3m7Np8S0CEX96eF6JLep2SzCl0M0vZdqJVXRFesF24rZN_CWrqqLWa5BjhP7q9iVRPo4Ze6yiYTJ0Y2PwIThp6jKwxwse3V76TgEPeLhg96gSvrjL8pm2lLqc0jlAb6sE42a1u/s1277/S-4+BOOK+DISTRIBUTION.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="1277" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FIzmvt3m7Np8S0CEX96eF6JLep2SzCl0M0vZdqJVXRFesF24rZN_CWrqqLWa5BjhP7q9iVRPo4Ze6yiYTJ0Y2PwIThp6jKwxwse3V76TgEPeLhg96gSvrjL8pm2lLqc0jlAb6sE42a1u/w489-h342/S-4+BOOK+DISTRIBUTION.JPG" width="489" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Dinesh Chand, with library books, distributed in various Fiji schools</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p> <b style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">1)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><b style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Helping underprivileged children of Fiji, by
providing books, stationery, bags, shoes, and school uniforms.</span></b></p><p></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p></p><blockquote><b style="font-size: x-large; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></b></blockquote><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 61.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">2)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Sending wheelchairs, walkers, walking sticks
to disabled people in Fiji.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 61.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">3)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Providing free transport to vulnerable people
of South Auckland to doctors, hospitals, WINZ and other similar needs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 61.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">4)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">During COVID lockdown, he worked with Fiji
Girmit Foundation NZ with shopping, getting prescriptions to people without,
delivering food parcels to disabled people and shopping and drop - off to
people in isolation. Recently, he has started taking elderly to funerals.</span></b></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 61.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><blockquote><p></p><blockquote><b style="font-size: x-large; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></b></blockquote><p></p><blockquote><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;"> </span></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><b><i><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
<p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YKOR9JqNT8ZS4XUZ48ZNb8efQZj6hXseXCUx3ySZloodhapc7mwsYDhacJ7BIyioDOkIIw4AFVM7iQ5iUXGKHafAZu-W_4SwqwCQOJJA2R-V6ZeitrxbcPM1wscOQA2aJvJsOvbFGreZ/s1279/S-7+FAMILY+PHOTO.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1279" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YKOR9JqNT8ZS4XUZ48ZNb8efQZj6hXseXCUx3ySZloodhapc7mwsYDhacJ7BIyioDOkIIw4AFVM7iQ5iUXGKHafAZu-W_4SwqwCQOJJA2R-V6ZeitrxbcPM1wscOQA2aJvJsOvbFGreZ/w540-h368/S-7+FAMILY+PHOTO.JPG" width="540" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The family photo (montage) of Dinesh Chand</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And
the list goes on…and on…and on. He is blessed with wife Geeta Chand who he
calls his pillar of strength, and has 4 children, who all are grown up now.</span></span><p></p><p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In
the past decade, he had been spending much time in Fiji while bringing us all
the news, documentary, and current affairs of Fiji on Triangle TV as a
Freelance TV Program Producer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This
TV closed in 2011. The programmes he brought were, among others, – <i>Jharokha</i>
NZ (Windows), <i>Dehatee Darsan</i> (View of the Rural)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and <i>Bhakti Sagar</i> (Religious).</span></span></p><p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large; text-indent: 0cm;">I
personally remember doing a Fiji Girmit programme with him in 2008, but because
technology was on VHS tapes and not digital, those unfortunately could not be
saved.</span></p>
<p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Like
the situation of another recipient of Girmit Legacy Award, Sam Achary, Dinesh
also left Fiji in search of better opportunities after coup of 1987. He is from
a rustic, dusty village of Wairabetia, almost halfway between Lautoka and Nadi
Airport.</span></span></p><p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">However, he is well-rooted in my home-village of Rarawai, Dam, Ba,
Fiji where his mother comes from and where he spent great deal of his childhood
at his Grandfather’s (Nana’s) place. His parents now reside in Calgary, Canada,
and they would be proud of his son.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfeRdCgUZhE_imlpAETixVPBqLGWBJMjHc_ODH5yl7ovpF3oTFb_9JYjpP_cw_eCFikrIihenvVaAav04BRs88HfOyiqX6HEtWN2KcMoEIF_ZCkj0G6gxBF9K0DgcPQQt4wmuqG72H8tC/s894/S+-13+DINESH+PARENTS+2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="552" height="573" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfeRdCgUZhE_imlpAETixVPBqLGWBJMjHc_ODH5yl7ovpF3oTFb_9JYjpP_cw_eCFikrIihenvVaAav04BRs88HfOyiqX6HEtWN2KcMoEIF_ZCkj0G6gxBF9K0DgcPQQt4wmuqG72H8tC/w400-h573/S+-13+DINESH+PARENTS+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>The proud parents of Dinesh Chand, Mr. and Mrs. Shashi Pal, <br />who reside in Calgary, Canada. They are overjoyed with</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b> achievements of their son.</b></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></b></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Dinesh
arrived in NZ in 1988, just out of his teens as a young man of 21, with very
modest cash to carry him through. He has very impressive work history and real
-life experience which appear to have made him into a philanthropic donor, a
compassionate servant of the poor and a grassroots person. </span></span></p><p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He has been
unnoticed doing things for poorer in our community. Unnoticed till now when
Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ wishes to reveal such individuals amongst us to
inspire others into doing selfless<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>service. </span></span></p><p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Arriving at a tender age, through his real-life experience, and
with diverse work experience and an aptitude to help others, he is now
developed into a mature person with even a matured compassion for the
vulnerable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt 18pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">His
colourful career, among others, included being a paints salesman, a dispatch clerk, a team leader, an Uber driver, a taxi driver, a courier operator, a
night club proprietor, a transport operator, freelance Tv reporter and work stretched
from Auckland to Wellington with frequent trips to Fiji for TV programmes. </span></span></p><p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt 18pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt 18pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">But
ultimately, he settled for what he was doing on the night of receiving his
award - videography, shooting video for events. As a Multi DJ, he also runs DJ
programme for dance and parties, and has very advanced knowledge of music for
all occasions and tastes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 12.25pt; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Achievement" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 12.25pt; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 12.25pt 3pt 0cm; mso-list: none; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> A</span>part from earning a living, he spends
much time also living for others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He shared a heart-touching story about a homeless lady and an abandoned
boy:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLP-23WAmEYw0psTs1iWSEHEnPJOs0KfsGAlSX4hjEus8-QeMAKL9FWZLQnHXD-oLqNw262XmSuO9yry-GlM3SRlJt6KU9AFdDXasOvtIojiZOi9IDqAZ5bXr6m0Un3-71xiX-Us2_odP/s1279/S-9+TULSI+AMMA.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1279" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLP-23WAmEYw0psTs1iWSEHEnPJOs0KfsGAlSX4hjEus8-QeMAKL9FWZLQnHXD-oLqNw262XmSuO9yry-GlM3SRlJt6KU9AFdDXasOvtIojiZOi9IDqAZ5bXr6m0Un3-71xiX-Us2_odP/w554-h431/S-9+TULSI+AMMA.JPG" width="554" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Dinesh Chand with the homeless Ba market vendor, Tulsi Amma, who he helped in 2004. She passed away in 2009,.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><blockquote><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I helped a lady from Ba – Tulsi
Amma. She was a market vendor and sleeping under the stall. This was during my
TV days in Fiji in 2004. I moved her to a 1-bedroom flat and paid for her
expenses till her death in 2009. When she died, the Ba Police called me as I
was registered as her next of kin. I flew from NZ to manage and attend her
funeral.</span></span></b></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sY-RBmcQYV4HbGpXTuvDHF_IhPVjcyuzoE_57OceG43s-42MPFBy1CYz9J5cedqqTn6e52gVq6K-Ou3NsD5I6LpnvJdmqGWzwbzHZmUhzvy3nXvmGwRX8euAKwygEL5DELMTIr5Q-K2Y/s890/S-3+-ABANDONED+SON.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="697" height="555" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sY-RBmcQYV4HbGpXTuvDHF_IhPVjcyuzoE_57OceG43s-42MPFBy1CYz9J5cedqqTn6e52gVq6K-Ou3NsD5I6LpnvJdmqGWzwbzHZmUhzvy3nXvmGwRX8euAKwygEL5DELMTIr5Q-K2Y/w411-h555/S-3+-ABANDONED+SON.JPG" width="411" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The abandoned destitute child, Dewa Nand, who Dinesh Chand adopted, and </b><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">saw him through school and Teachers College till he graduated. </b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /> </b></span><p></p><blockquote><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;">In 2005, a young Fiji Indian boy
was left in </span></b><b><span style="background: rgb(228, 230, 235); color: black; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;">Waidradra Village, Navua </span></b><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;">by his father, who promised the
villagers he would return. But he never came back for his son. I adopted him as
a son,</span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"> named Dewa Nand, who later changed his
name to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><b><span style="background: rgb(228, 230, 235); color: #050505; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;">Sakaraia Anisikau Raicalo.
I </span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;">paid all school and College fees and
living expenses that saw him graduate from Lautoka Teachers College with </span></b><b><span style="background: rgb(228, 230, 235); color: #050505; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;">Bachelor of Education </span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;">as a high school teacher.</span></b></span></p></blockquote><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGQh-S8h2hBEssOgZK4tcd0BGYMQzoAd5-iRgoDAG0gelXhkdiCiwgw-y4wvwu9m7z2fRTT_sfWh1HagBPPi9kjsAUXurttbCsBX6ZLJZVkuVGMfHpQChMVgfiRioEhtW3hyphenhyphen_n360GGDk/s892/S-6+GRADUATED+SON.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="759" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGQh-S8h2hBEssOgZK4tcd0BGYMQzoAd5-iRgoDAG0gelXhkdiCiwgw-y4wvwu9m7z2fRTT_sfWh1HagBPPi9kjsAUXurttbCsBX6ZLJZVkuVGMfHpQChMVgfiRioEhtW3hyphenhyphen_n360GGDk/w432-h488/S-6+GRADUATED+SON.JPG" width="432" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;">Dewa Nand, the once abandoned adopted son of Dinesh Chand, took on an Itaukei (Fijian) </span></b></span><b style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">name of <span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: rgb(228, 230, 235); line-height: 36px;">Sakaraia Anisikau Raicalo. He is seen as a grown up graduate from Lautoka Teachers College in Fiji.</span></span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span><p><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"></span></b><b><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #404040;">He also helps people in other ways through other agencies he heads or
works with. He is President of NZ branch of Yaadein Vision, a charitable organization which extends its helping arm to Fiji. This includes</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> equipping schools and making improvements.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Yaadein Vision has provided water reticulation, bus shelters, thousands of
schoolbooks, computers, faxes, and scanners, 100 new wheelchairs, power
generation and has sponsored 1000 students at 50 schools. He has also linked up
with Friends of Fiji Heart Foundation to help them and publicize the good they
do through TV documentaries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2icJdtoyIrJs4AciWL5cKYFFbdAiAqRUc82IID3XtcilcK8Fqqv4P2ZQQr3Gb_oVqhLWmyq7bts15qD6vjyuqFmOXT3VIxkpFV6uoQNm-TRKI7QqmOYsSZV57-4_TV80ww-F1Pna8rCRR/s829/S-5+BUS+SHELTER.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="829" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2icJdtoyIrJs4AciWL5cKYFFbdAiAqRUc82IID3XtcilcK8Fqqv4P2ZQQr3Gb_oVqhLWmyq7bts15qD6vjyuqFmOXT3VIxkpFV6uoQNm-TRKI7QqmOYsSZV57-4_TV80ww-F1Pna8rCRR/w471-h397/S-5+BUS+SHELTER.JPG" width="471" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A bus shelter being built in Fiji by Dinesh Chand as part of a project of Yaadein Vision</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></b></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-large; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Closer to home, Dinesh has been at the forefront of
advocating on suicides and mental health issues facing the community in New
Zealand. In August 2020 he led a talanoa (hui, discussion) sessions by getting
the community together to acknowledge we have a problem. A number of positive
initiatives have since come out of that and will be taken on board in
progressing that issue which Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ has on its radar.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">And nobody can stop him from the
good he does. His next project, among others, include</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> sending a 20-foot
container of disability goods to Western Disabled People’s Association in
Lautoka, Fiji. Dinesh would really love others to help and sponsor all the good
that he does. He plans to venture into fund-raising<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>dinner and dance family nite, and hopes,
others, after reading his story, will be motivated to help.</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3flPLpZgj5n7Lstl0xqq3tGDdnwpD59QJmCrqzzf6VqL05dSe-JU6PHUuJK5DszQp1NL2E3bn3qWNz7gQdNxqux3aM-2hHxyz0W_daEpS3GIdCK_nJbOKpludVRLh3YbIHK1TbJSNTpAM/s1277/S-2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1277" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3flPLpZgj5n7Lstl0xqq3tGDdnwpD59QJmCrqzzf6VqL05dSe-JU6PHUuJK5DszQp1NL2E3bn3qWNz7gQdNxqux3aM-2hHxyz0W_daEpS3GIdCK_nJbOKpludVRLh3YbIHK1TbJSNTpAM/w395-h304/S-2.JPG" width="395" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b> Dinesh Chand with FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ TRUSTEE, Jennifer Khan-Janif, who presented him the award at an overflowing Malaeola Community Centre on 7 May 2021 </b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #404040; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br />A big salutation for such an individual
whose exceptional deeds for humanity would inspire others. He may not visit
Mandirs, Temples or religious activities, he does not feed milk and food to dead
statues, but believes in service to the living who need those food and help.
Hinduism says the best good a human can do is to do “parr hitt”, service to
humanity and creatures of God. He does exactly that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #404040; line-height: 150%;">I normally use poems to pass
messages to community. In Sam Achary’s writings, I mentioned the poem “<b>IF</b>”.
In Dinesh Chand’s case, I use my secondary school, DAV College, Ba’s famous poem,
Leigh Hunt’s “<b>ABOU BEN ADHEM”</b>. This was taught by the then principal,
Satendra Singh. </span><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 150%;">The message of this
poem is that the people who love their fellow men will be blessed and
loved by God himself ... The poem ultimately argues
that love of humankind is love of God - because people are
God's creation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In
essence, the poem is saying that anyone who claims to love God,
without putting this into practice first through a love for their
fellow human beings, does not really love God at all. I certainly
hope that so - called religious people can comprehend this simple message.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I
am not sure if Dinesh has ever read this poem, in fact he does not have to.
This is because he unselfishly and unconsciously walks in these footsteps,
because he shows his love for God by loving humankind and creatures of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Indeed,
we are stirred and motivated by this lover of humans. And he remains simple,
modest common man, armed with a video camera,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>but a heart full of love for his fellow citizens. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Dinesh
Chand, MULTI DJ remains a very worthy recipient of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fiji Girmit Legacy Award for excellence in
volunteer service to the community. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">You
make us proud. Aayushmaan Bhava-remain blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 150%;">[</span></b><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is one of the initiators and a
Founding Trustee of FIJI GIRMIT FOUNDATION NZ. The seeds were planted in 2012
with some visionary community leaders, fruiting in 2021 with over 1,500
overflowing audience in Auckland Girmit Day. He is a journalist and runs his
blog, FIJI PUNDIT. He normally writes in-depth articles on Fiji Indian
community leaders that are overlooked or ignored by the mainstream and side
stream media. E-mail: thakurjifj@gmail.com]</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">END</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p align="left" class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p><br /><p></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-87949263140405492842021-01-23T12:03:00.002-08:002021-08-13T22:05:13.635-07:00SALUTING THE REAL UNSUNG HEROES OF INDIA INDEPENDENCE: REMOVING LIES WE HAVE BEEN TOLD<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">SALUTING UNSUNG HEROES OF BHARAT INDEPENDENCE: HOW
DESERVING ARE CREDITS TO NEHRU AND GANDHI?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thakur Ranjit Singh<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On India Independence or Republic Day, as
you raise the tricolour, Indian flag <i>Tiranga</i>, remember many unsung
heroes and freedom fighters who fought for Bharat Azaadi-India Independence, long before
Nehru and Gandhi.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Please give salutation to
our heroes like MANGAL PANDEY, SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE, SARDAR BHAGAT SINGH,
CHANDRA SHEKHAR AZAAD, SHIVARAM RAJGURU, SUKHDEV THAPAR, and JHAANSI KI RANI,
among others who Indian history appear to have side-lined or ignored.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Are Nehru and Gandhi
deserving of the credits we give to them? Or they merely stole credits from these
earlier heroes who gave their lives for Bharat Mata….Please read on………<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span> </span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span>As a child of third
generation Fiji Indian growing up in Fiji in 1960s, we were falsely made to
believe that India got its Independence because of Mahatma Gandhi and
Jawaharlal Nehru. Songs were made which said the Angrez or British were chased
away with Gandhi’s laathi (walking stick) and Nehru was instrumental in
achieving India’s Independence. </span><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIa-Dss_FQtWrPMsdDldw7b6kGbOJncjcSQMLeo-Rhu-nWnEwDQhR16bC0zcZMKScT1jdi49N-n41Whj2nnbmVUbnVYxasWHAoYrH4R89DMi-_SgKZU2jqxGgiDAotkS5-7rt0A3uCG_Lh/s753/S-1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="753" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIa-Dss_FQtWrPMsdDldw7b6kGbOJncjcSQMLeo-Rhu-nWnEwDQhR16bC0zcZMKScT1jdi49N-n41Whj2nnbmVUbnVYxasWHAoYrH4R89DMi-_SgKZU2jqxGgiDAotkS5-7rt0A3uCG_Lh/w640-h362/S-1.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Subhash Chandra Bose - a very bold Indian freedom fighter who seem to have mysteriously disappeared. he had laid very firm paths to India's freedom from British</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">However, from an early
age, I suspected that Gandhi and Nehru took credit from other freedom fighters
who started this fight and movement for India independence long before these
two came into the picture.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Tahoma",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">While growing up, we were
told the glories of Nehru Chaachaa (uncle) who was very favorite with children. Children’s
programmes of 60s and 70s glorified Nehru as universal uncle of India, Chaachaa Nehru – a very loving person. The question whether he was Chaachaa Nehru or Chaccha (Please decipher the difference!)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Tahoma",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Tahoma",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Indeed, also very loving
to British honey trap, Lady Edna Mountbatten, aunty (Mami) of the heir to British
throne, Prince Charles. British spy agency M16 recruited this bed-hopping wife
of viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten to use her as a honey-trap to distract and
neutralize Nehru who was negotiating independence for India. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFG7G5DhvwkTkQSOvNUqw6yw-bhu7eSQVfAfcd3njOpJmHh_dRcvXWaSpDmSL6_sV905xlL3Suxb6nvb203pCwp434e9DRHJS1l05HfAw_-O2FmlP0s3zBcG_qO8ssGXGf0b13kyw9ZISr/s1277/S-3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1277" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFG7G5DhvwkTkQSOvNUqw6yw-bhu7eSQVfAfcd3njOpJmHh_dRcvXWaSpDmSL6_sV905xlL3Suxb6nvb203pCwp434e9DRHJS1l05HfAw_-O2FmlP0s3zBcG_qO8ssGXGf0b13kyw9ZISr/w640-h452/S-3.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>SARDAR BHAGAT SINGH, perhaps one of India's most celebrated freedom fighters on whom at least seven Bollywood movies have been made.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In simple crude language,
I have said so many times, while Nehru was (screwing) having an extramarital
love affair with this British honey-trap, the British screwed India. This
resulted in an easier partition, the pains of which are still felt today, with
very ungrateful neighbors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Nehru, a known womanizer,
never deserved to be given that honour of Chaachaa of the children of India. This
was the biggest lie - and neither was he instrumental in bringing Azaadi or independence to
Bharat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Fight for India
independence was like a long marathon relay run, where batons are passed by the
starter runners to consecutive runners in front. And in case of victory, the
glory goes to the whole team and not to the last few runners.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQkwbBI5MaBtxrTrU0E_PIMvSjPxzGxxvbUD8j8ZiZhePb-adExaOh172u96c54xyKnGhtpcBwYp_UOOwVBxatlfJvCvkQ3dXmzQisxFJT2zlpw2Vd-CzNZ1VBG5Q7EDJzMuH69J1W0Ks/s745/S-2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="745" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQkwbBI5MaBtxrTrU0E_PIMvSjPxzGxxvbUD8j8ZiZhePb-adExaOh172u96c54xyKnGhtpcBwYp_UOOwVBxatlfJvCvkQ3dXmzQisxFJT2zlpw2Vd-CzNZ1VBG5Q7EDJzMuH69J1W0Ks/w640-h360/S-2.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>MANGAL PANDEY started his freedom fight a century before India's independence.</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But exactly the opposite
happened in case of India where the last people in the Independence relay,
Nehru and Gandhi, undeservingly and wrongly took the credit from those early
freedom fighters who started the battle many decades before, and were ignored
by media and history, in favour of the last persons holding the baton. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Nehru made some poor
decisions which still affect India today, and gave India very undeserving
legacy of dynastic leadership still affecting India today, with a very wanting history
of Congress rule. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">While Mahatma Gandhi may
have gained international accolades, applause and status for his quotations and
views on non-violence, at home in India he is still found a wanting leader who
made some crucial errors of omission and commission. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">He could have intervened
and saved Shaheed Bhagat Singh from hanging, but maintained silence. And the
biggest blunder was to favour a womanizer and undeserving Nehru as Prime
Minister instead of a dedicated and charismatic leader <b>Sardar Patel</b> after India
Independence in 1945. And today India is poorer for those very unfortunate judgmental
errors of Gandhi.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLRuG5Z8_aW1h3ZvDgPXv88wDYcdmmOHHzPRcArB16WrutRTFlmpJNLq4deNp8clBLGvKRkp745qqg4aZZ5x7RHsu0f4FkrjwjYBvSOZGcktHk-_By5mezZeRfNMpder4DJK09uZ5OeaR/s837/S-5.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="837" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLRuG5Z8_aW1h3ZvDgPXv88wDYcdmmOHHzPRcArB16WrutRTFlmpJNLq4deNp8clBLGvKRkp745qqg4aZZ5x7RHsu0f4FkrjwjYBvSOZGcktHk-_By5mezZeRfNMpder4DJK09uZ5OeaR/w400-h304/S-5.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-vnTO3QjDs0XJBb7FvLQm4sZA2pzAOtaKL3S0F-Q6nc-pRv0tfHIFBezaW-CXEXrW08zrkMQ0XaiM-vBaWPkzq_HHHCLqfl8VK1c01kajxqA6-uJTaFFwyfV_F0B6PNwCUVW7gSY7HVa/s1279/S-4.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1279" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-vnTO3QjDs0XJBb7FvLQm4sZA2pzAOtaKL3S0F-Q6nc-pRv0tfHIFBezaW-CXEXrW08zrkMQ0XaiM-vBaWPkzq_HHHCLqfl8VK1c01kajxqA6-uJTaFFwyfV_F0B6PNwCUVW7gSY7HVa/w640-h386/S-4.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH (centre) and his fellow freedom fighters, Chandrashekar Azaad and Rajguru. Mahatma Gandhi wielded great power and influence with British but failed to plead for their lives when they were hanged.</span></b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I was lucky to have known
about some early freedom fighters. As my Aaja (paternal grandfather) Bansi
descended from a Rajput family of Prithvi Raj Chauhan and coming from
Rajasthan, he was very interested in India’s fight for freedom. He played Shaheed
Bhagat Singh’s play on his 78 RPM (rounds-per -minute) key-winding gramophone
record (plate Baja) when I was growing up. And I knew the earlier freedom fighters
fought and gave their lives for Bharat while credit has been wrongly taken by
Nehru and Gandhi.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And Nehru and Gandhi
never gave India the good transition and succession after independence in 1945,
with very nepotistic decisions.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Unfortunately, Nehru Dynasty and Congress
legacy has left India bereft of dignity and many things Nehru promised over
seven decades ago. For some seventy years after Independence, Congress
leadership left a great deal to be desired in India -and we are poorer for that
dereliction of duties by succeeding dynastic Nehru-Gandhi leadership in the
Congress Party.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thank God for the Lion of
Gujarat, Narendra Modi, who is seen as an incarnation who will rid India of the
vices that have been nurtured by India's past corrupt, distracted and wanting
leadership. Bharat needed a Hindu nationalist leadership movement that has been
long overdue. It appears to have been delivered now.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 43.2pt; margin-top: 10.0pt; margin: 10pt 43.2pt 8pt 0cm; text-align: left;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span>And that work shall continue under a credible
leadership that took 70 years in coming. And we are proud that India today is
in better hands than ever been so, under Narendra Modi. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span>And shall we pray that
he will be able to wrest back the dignity India once commanded domestically and
internationally. The economic development of the last 70 years have not
trickled down to the common people. There is a lot more that needs to be done,
where social justice needs to be delivered to ALL the Indians. </span><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_Q19f8fNVPdS-3cuf4y5LZMLl5N7v4uJsOKnm5PGOMI3dSc0qTRR1VLAxuMOLkVCDbGxBfVC-PL_W92nIO4PSESjtqe6wkT1hNhyAiZX3j8UeodgVZLoixxSMk8tGzgDwJZDJtMxXId6/s692/NARENDRA+MODI-CROPPED.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="663" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_Q19f8fNVPdS-3cuf4y5LZMLl5N7v4uJsOKnm5PGOMI3dSc0qTRR1VLAxuMOLkVCDbGxBfVC-PL_W92nIO4PSESjtqe6wkT1hNhyAiZX3j8UeodgVZLoixxSMk8tGzgDwJZDJtMxXId6/w614-h640/NARENDRA+MODI-CROPPED.jpg" width="614" /></a><br /><br /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">NARENDRA MODI-THE LION OF GUJARAT - the leader on who India has its hopes and his visionary succession plans for leadership which both Nehru and Gandhi lacked. </span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span>
And as we raise the </span><i>Tiranga</i><span>, the tricolour flag of India on its Independence or Republic Day, we pledge to emulate the dreams of our freedom fighters who
brought freedom to India and salute many committed and respectable heroes who
outnumber many Nehru's and Gandhi's, and who paved the path for an independent
BHARAT long before them.<o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />
<a name="_Hlk62133442">Nehru and Gandhi merely walked on the path paved by many
unsung heroes and freedom fighters before them, some notable ones, among others
being <b>MANGAL PANDEY, SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE, SARDAR BHAGAT SINGH, CHANDRA SHEKHAR
AZAAD, SHIVARAM RAJGURU, SUKHDEV THAPAR, and JHAANSI KI RANI </b>who Indian history
appear to have side-lined.<o:p></o:p></a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk62133442;"><span><br />
</span></span><span>SHAT
SHAT NAMAN-SALUTATIONS TO ALL PAST GREAT UNSUNG HEROES OF INDIA’s FIGHT FOR
FREEDOM<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="background: white;">JAI HIND</span></i><span style="background: white;"> -
BHARAT MAA KO PRANAAM </span><span><br />
<br /><b>
[ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Thakur Ranjit Singh, based in Auckland, New Zealand, is a
third generation Fiji Indian. He was born in Fiji Islands. His Aaja, paternal grandfather,
Bansi came as an indentured labourer to Fiji in 1915 from Karouli, Rajasthan,
India. Thakur is a media commentator and a journalist who runs his blog, FIJI
PUNDIT. E-mail: <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="mailto:thakurjifj@gmail.com">thakurjifj@gmail.com</a></span>]<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Tahoma",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""Tahoma",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207937644965682419.post-20800704698751004462020-09-21T18:26:00.000-07:002020-09-21T18:26:51.985-07:00GUNJAN SAXENA: THE NEED FOR FEMINIST FATHERS TO EMPOWER THEIR DAUGHTERS<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b><i>GUNJAN SAXENA-THE KARGIL GIRL</i>: THE NEED FOR FEMINIST FATHERS TO EMPOWER THEIR DAUGHTERS</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Thakur Ranjit Singh</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">FIJI PUNDIT does not normally do film reviews, unless it touches my heart and some raw nerves. Gunjan Saxena – The Kargil Girl did exactly that.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“GUNJAN SAXENA (<b>Janhvi Kapoor</b>) is a <b>Yash Raj </b>biopic (biography) of one of India's first woman combat aviator, an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer who flew helicopter missions in the 1999 Kargil war and is attributed to saving some 1,000 (thousand) lives. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>Flight Lieutenants Gunjan Saxena</b> and <b>Srividya Rajan</b> paved the way for others to follow. In 1999, Gunjan, a helicopter pilot at 24, became India's first woman combat aviator to fly Cheetah helicopters in the Kargil war zone. She was tasked with medical evacuations, supply drops, and mapping enemy position duties.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1279" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Pwm26XCHEV9ZPPgn3ieHzoZa7HvvaqK_R4ZgUMyauUQhR6O233288HxhuqP-gkUYuOvhtpcQloMu7I3_hyUGC5wFownDxWLI6kmUrt5sPyEgxsCwivyO2m0wC5blVqkY8Ap8ziZ5JmY4/w646-h409/S-1.JPG" width="646" /></div><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena, very ably played by a cool and childlike JANHVI KAPOOR. This movie proves that with determination and a supportive father, sky is the limit for daughters with a resolve to succeed. </span></b><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The movie wages war against male chauvinistic patriarchal mind-set and discrimination against women. Here, the brother insists that his sister would suit as a stewardess and the mum worrying when her girl will find time to marry. She finds a friend in her supportive father who silently fights for her in every way possible. That is what I call a feminist father who empowers his daughters.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The movie starts with a shot in a passenger airliner where a child Gunjan wishes to have a window seat and the brother denies it. An understanding stewardess sees her interest and takes her to the flight deck which fascinates her and child decides to become a pilot.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">It reminds me of my daughter, <b>Ragni Singh Chand</b> (still retains father’s surname after marriage) who, like me, enjoyed reading Perry Mason’s courtroom tales in Earl Stanley Gardiner books of 1970s. She wished to be a lawyer from a very young age. And like Gunjan, she was lucky to have a feminist father, empowering her to reach her goals.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip03gYFaeCWvESViFNogdkIc3z36qSmrfhw0ZyQdIK7hdwhESnUghPd-a8sN6LAhdfuZv9VAREBWjtMgZr2aXAgw6lZUDnU-Cp6sAhdPVtiblQdGV9z-_A7UIGkpxj9IJzAxuCDwZI7sZC/s1279/S-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1279" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip03gYFaeCWvESViFNogdkIc3z36qSmrfhw0ZyQdIK7hdwhESnUghPd-a8sN6LAhdfuZv9VAREBWjtMgZr2aXAgw6lZUDnU-Cp6sAhdPVtiblQdGV9z-_A7UIGkpxj9IJzAxuCDwZI7sZC/w640-h376/S-3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: red; line-height: 107%;"><b><p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b style="font-family: verdana;">PANKAJ TRIPATHI (father) with daughter JANHVI KAPOOR bonding together. All daughters need a feminist father to empower and help fulfill dreams of their daughters.</b></p></b></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Being in Fiji, to study law in New Zealand does not come cheap in 1999 and early 2000, but I did my best to see her graduate with Masters in Law from Waikato University, with the aim of one day sitting on the bench of High Court of New Zealand. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">However, Gunjan was in a conservative parochial India, fighting her own battles at the same time, in a male- oriented establishment in Air Force, where females were zero, and not meant to be, hence there were no female toilets or changing rooms.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Despite anti- <b>Karan Johar</b> and the debates of nepotism in Bollywood, this is one inspirational movie about empowering our daughters. This is the story of Flight Lieutenant Gunjan and not about daughter of <b>Sridevi </b>and <b>Boney Kapoor</b> or sister of <b>Arjun Kapoor</b> or niece of <b>Anil Kapoor</b>. Therefore I recommend all mothers and grandparents to see this movie with the family to inspire their daughters to reach for the sky. I have recommended my daughter Ragni to show this movie to my granddaughter <b>Rania Chand,</b> and inspire her to fight all odds in a male - dominated society.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">If you think this is a war movie with all gore, blood and shouting divisive slogans on India and Pakistan, you are wrong. Despite all the main characters being soldiers, it is still about what it is being a woman in a man’s world trying to make space in a man’s dominated fields. This is not about war alone, but about a woman what she wants and can do that any man can do. This film is about war, but the scenes are not showing killing machines but the rescue operations by these human beings who are saving lives.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaJW7XBBIV38CRpyqq3KyFGGsk6-L3QAo4dE6KkuLqLJsnG8jSBkZuC00jnKCKHBNRu50ubItmNVhFZyomaCSAB0Al9Ju2O_xBmXlKHeFwQj27ALT_y8Fh8D3ybDxhy5HgZGF799rpEqr/s1278/S-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1278" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaJW7XBBIV38CRpyqq3KyFGGsk6-L3QAo4dE6KkuLqLJsnG8jSBkZuC00jnKCKHBNRu50ubItmNVhFZyomaCSAB0Al9Ju2O_xBmXlKHeFwQj27ALT_y8Fh8D3ybDxhy5HgZGF799rpEqr/w640-h374/S-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><p><b><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">WOMAN AT WORK:Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena, in action with Cheetah Helicopter</span></b></p><p>This movie is about sexual discrimination, and the fight by a gallant woman to reach for the sky. While there have been many Bollywood movies on and around sexual violence, rarely have we seen one which tells the tales of social conditioning in women's career choices, casual misogyny and extreme discrimination at the workplace with such accuracy and detail. </p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Gunjan Saxena appears to have been well researched, which should tell you all you need to know about empathy. You do not have to belong to a marginalised social group (a female) to develop an understanding of their concerns. You just need to listen and observe without prejudice, arrogance, the persecution and discrimination that affects so many in India and worldwide.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Unlike other Bollywood war movies, this one treats the war scenes almost like procedural, which in itself is a quiet reminder that defence personnel in reality are human beings at work, not speechifying Hindi film heroes, who shout chest-thumping hatred against the enemy country.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This movie recount an individual's personal story, staying determinedly intimate even in war scenes. It is not only about one remarkable woman, but about every remarkable woman that ever lived.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl</i> is a very inspiring and watchable movie about sexual discrimination on our daughters. It is a deeply moving tale of a feminist father and his gutsy daughter who fights all odds to reach her childhood dreams of reaching for the sky.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pT46-Eu3oSoctKeOEZf9GenWt2ZhVUfcYoxzlIkuLv8H6PiuEmKfW6r8YAynObWR0jeUgjUYA3cB2taMWsdHrzo-lgdenCSYkNA6gvSw0NO1gUtZpXC6gC2gt6bkWLC1OW4V3rNzU5PA/s1278/S-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1278" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pT46-Eu3oSoctKeOEZf9GenWt2ZhVUfcYoxzlIkuLv8H6PiuEmKfW6r8YAynObWR0jeUgjUYA3cB2taMWsdHrzo-lgdenCSYkNA6gvSw0NO1gUtZpXC6gC2gt6bkWLC1OW4V3rNzU5PA/w640-h456/S-4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: red; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>While this may be a war movie, it however is largerly about sexual discrimination at work againt women in a male-oriented society. This movie very ably demonstrates that, with a very supportive father, a daughter can reach up to the sky. Very inspirational for females.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Hope our male-oriented society can learn that male chauvinism and discrimination are threat to progress and human development. And your own daughters and loved ones could be victims of this short-sighted prejudice. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Hope we will be fairer, sensible and more compassionate to make a difference to the discriminated women in workplaces - and in everyday real lives. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And more than anywhere, this is still very relevant in modern India today.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><b>[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is an Auckland journalist and a media commentator, and runs his blog FIJI PUNDIT. He is originally from Fiji. E-mail: thakurji@xtra.co.nz]</b></span></p><div><br /></div>Fiji Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560047572368435567noreply@blogger.com0