YOU LIVE ONLY ONCE - DO WHAT YOU LOVE DOING WHILE ALIVE: REGRETS ON DEATH BED

 

YOU LIVE ONLY ONCE – DO WHAT YOU LOVE DOING WHILE ALIVE - REGRETS ON DEATH BED

Thakur Ranjit Singh

 

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..

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.

This is a survey by a worker in Hospice, palliative care, tending to people who were dying, with little time left.

Even learned sages like Ravan and Bhishm Pitamah in our epics had regrets during their death, while on Mrityu Shayya – death bed.

Many of us have pride in our money, education, materialistic wealth, and other possessions.

SOME ARE SO BUSY EARNING THEIR LIVING THAT THEY FORGET TO LIVE – AND  FORGET ONE DAY THEY WILL DIE.

Here, I summarise the result from that survey of dying people.

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.

Please read to the end… AND LEARN BEFORE DEATH ENGULFS US…………….

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.

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.

Translated in Hindi, this was theme of Bollywood blockbuster: Kal Ho Na Ho - Suno, jiyo, khush raho, muskurao. Kya pata, kal ho na ho.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.

And the latest reunion in Ba, Fiji in 2019, continued in similar Bollywood theme – you live only once -Yeh zindgi na milegi dobaara

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.

Older people need to be inspired to enjoy stress-free life in their twilight years, without giving much thought to what others may think.

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.

Coincidently, I was fortunate to come across a NZ Herald article by author Bronnie Ware, who shared thoughts that I also carry – thoughts coming from death beds of those at end of their lives.

Epics and history books are full of accounts of those who had regrets while on death beds. Here, Bhism Pitamah, on his death bed, mrityu shayya, 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.

Bronnie is an author, an inspirational speaker and songwriter. She lives in northern New South Wales, Australia. 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.

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.

Her TOP FIVE REGRETS OF DYING are as follows:

 

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was "by far the most common regret".

"People were astonished by how much power they had given to the opinions of others - friends or family or society."

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.

In Hindi, we say… log kya kahenge, what others will say. This is the biggest folly and fear we have.

Please break away from this and do not care to what others think.

SO, LIVE YOUR LIFE, AND TO HELL WITH WHAT OTHERS MAY THINK.

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.

2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.

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.

On their death, the employer will fill their position within days, but the vacuum he leaves in a neglected family remains for a lifetime.

This message is for those who are so engrossed in earning a living, that they forget to live.

SO, WORK LESS HARD, CARE FOR YOUR FAMILY

 

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

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.

 

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.

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.

This is well depicted in  Akshay Kumar’s 2003 Bollywood movie, Andaaz, and this song says it says it…”kissi se tum pyaro, toh phil ishaar karo..kahin na phir der ho jaaye.. 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?

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.

 

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

"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.

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. 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.

There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

"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.

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.

 

SO ATTEND SCHOOLS AND FAMILY REUNIONS, KEEP IN TOUCH WITH OLD FRIENDS AND RELIVE YOUNGER DAYS

 

Epics and history books are full of accounts of those who had regrets while on death beds. Here, Ravan, of Ramayan, regretting what he failed to do while alive. It was too late to realise that while on his death bed, Mrityu Shayya. This article is intended to inspire readers to learn from mistakes and regrets of others.

5. I wish I had let myself be happier.

"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.

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.

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.

This is well-explained by this Hindi song..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..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 I found them. By the time I understood what life was, life had already gone by.

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.

SO, STOP BEING TOO SERIOUS, NASTY OR GRUMPY. HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE - BLESS YOURSELF WITH MORE OF IT

 

LESSON TO ALL

Hope this article will at least inspire one elder, or young one, to change attitude to life, and I will feel blessed.

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.

 

You live only once, there is no tomorrow -learn and  best wishes for a HAPPY long life.

YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO CHANGE……AND ENJOY WHAT IS LEFT OF LIFE

[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: thakurjifj@gmail.com]

FIJI TIMES PART 4: THE FALL OF CHAUDHRY GOVERNMENT IN 2000 AND ITS ROLE IN THAT

 

THE FIJI TIMES 152^nd ANNIVERSARY – CONCLUDING PART 4 of 4

THE FALL OF CHAUDHRY GOVERNMENT IN 2000 AND THE ROLE OF FT IN THAT.

Thakur Ranjit Singh

 

PROLOGUE - PART 4

This is the CONCLUDING PART of the four-part series  on the history of the Fiji Times (FT).

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.

 

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.

 

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.

The author, Thakur Ranjit Singh 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.]

The analysis of Fiji Times articles between May 1999 leading to political disturbances a year later were conducted. Some of the  conclusion of findings from my research were covered in PART 3 of the article. Here is the concluding part.

 

DISCLAIMER: All reference to FT is to the foreign-owned paper before localisation in 2010.  All materials and string of comments are from already published articles and my research on Master’s Thesis in 2011. [Link provided at the end of article]

 

INTRODUCTION

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  Constitution and having a newsroom with 95% paper content in a flammable racial situation by Itaukei reporters.

 

Just reiterating, the topics covered in the research analysis covered the following:

 

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.

The conclusion continues:

THE FIJI TIMES – CONCLUDING PART 4 OF 4 PART SERIES:

 

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.

1) Double Standards: 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  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.

 

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 TV 1’s Close up programme. In it, he admitted to committing sedition 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.

 

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): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM481jp0Ddc

 

 

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.

2) Margaret Wise: 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.

 

3) Propaganda Model of Media: In simple language, this model in media explains how people are manipulated and influenced, and how approval 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.

 

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.

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 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.”

 

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  and the business community.

 

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.

 

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.

 

DISCUSSION

Was FT solely responsible for downfall of Chaudhry’s Peoples Coalition Government?

What happened in Fiji cannot be fully 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, contributory factors from Chaudhry’s style of leadership hastened the process and discouraged any uprising in support of democracy.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 a Pyrrhic victory, which is a victory that comes at a great cost, perhaps making the ordeal to win not worth it.

 

Final Word

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.

 

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.

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 60% while Chaudhry’s inherent problems contributed to the other 40%.

Chaudhry lived to one prediction and fear all had about him: Chaudhry’s worst enemy was - Chaudhry himself. And as predicted by some, including your truly, he fell on his own sword.

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 Propaganda Model of Media 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  another print media and a radio station in Fiji now? I did not say anything!)

 

What an irony. The lot Fiji Times was trying to protect ended up owning media in Fiji. Gujarati community now controls almost 90% of Fiji’s print media. C.J. Patel  with Vinod Patel, owns the Fiji Sun, while Moti Bhai now owns FT. Hari Punja has shares in the radio station, Communications Fiji Limited.

 HA HA HA -THE LAST LAUGH

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.

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  with Vinod Patel, owns the Fiji Sun, while Moti Bhai now owns FT. Hari Punja has shares in the radio station, Communications Fiji Limited.

Ha Ha Ha – What an irony in Fiji Media ownership. The elite the Fiji Times was trying to protect has now ended up controlling Fiji media. What hope, common people, the Aam Aadmi?

 Future research

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.

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.

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!)

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is former publisher of now closed, partly government-owned Daily Post newspaper, a journalist,  a media commentator,  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  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.

E-mail: thakurjifj@gmail.com]

 

Link to thesis: https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/handle/10292/2554

Link to Fiji TV Close-up with Kaitani: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM481jp0Ddc

 

 

 

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FIJI TIMES PART 3 : HOW IT CONTRIBUTED TO FALL OF CHAUDHRY GOVERNMENT IN MAY 2000

 

THE FIJI TIMES 152^nd ANNIVERSARY – PART 3 of 4

HOW FT CONTRIBUTED TO FALL CHAUDHRY GOVERNMENT IN 2000 “SPEIGHT COUP”.

Thakur Ranjit Singh

PROLOGUE - PART 3

This is the THIRD PART continuation of the four-part series  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]

DISCLAIMER: 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.

 

INTRODUCTION

In Part 2, we further showed how “skirt-journalism”, racist and biased reporting created ethnic issues and negativity against an “Indian” government of Chaudhry. 

 

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.

Part 3 enumerates extracts of conclusion from my research thesis as part of my Masters in Communisation Studies (Journalism) at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). 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  politicians and  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…………..

 

THE FIJI TIMES - PART 3 (OF 4)

 

The Concluding Remarks of my Research

 

I had conducted an analysis of the Fiji Times for one year, May 1999 to May 2000, leading to attempted coup by George Speight.

 

Mahendra Chaudhry (L) with his captor, George Speight after his release from 56 days captivity in Fiji Parliament building in May-June, 2000.

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.

The sections of media analysis , among others, covered major issues of interest under Chaudhry government as reported over one year of  People’s Coalition government rule. The following topics were covered for analysis in my research:

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.

Some Fiji Times headline that Chaudhry government had to endure in its short one-year term.

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, Chaudhry government, reported very advanced positive poll results, higher than ever gained by Rabuka government before him.

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.

My conclusion makes interesting reading, especially Fiji Indians will be able to relate to them from a racism perspectives. In the Newsroom of FT,  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^nd anniversary celebrations of the Fiji Times for its contributions to the country:

Some of the notable concluding observations from the content analysis in my research were:

1) There was obvious discord 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 ..” bagal mein choori, mukh mein Ram.. 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.

Some Fiji Times headline that Chaudhry government had to endure in its short one-year term.

2)  The lack of coordination between the newspaper management and the newspaper operations. Elaborating what was said above, the ‘management’, comprised of expatriate policy and editorial formulators, notably the expatriate publisher and the editor in chief, Alan Robinson, and Russell Hunter (for part of the time) respectively. The ‘operations’ or the  Fijian(Itaukei) ‘gatekeepers’ comprised of the editor Samisoni Kakaivalu, his Deputy Netani Rika and the senior Fijian newsroom team including Margaret Wise, 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  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.

 

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.

3)   New groups of militant and nationalist makeshifts (tin-pot) organisations sprung up overnight 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.

 

4)  Open disrespect to President and PM - 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 Prime Minister or President, the POSITIONS 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.

 

Protest by Indians in Haryana, India, Chaudhry's ancestral land by those raising their voice against his removal in Fiji. 

5)  Lack of Balance - 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.

 

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.

6)  Failure of FT to recognise lopsided racial mix: 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  of its news team, but also in news content reporting  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.

 

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.

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.

 

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is former publisher of now closed, partly government-owned Daily Post newspaper, a journalist,  a media commentator,  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  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.

E-mail: thakurjifj@gmail.com

Link to thesis: https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/handle/10292/2554

 

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