Tuilaepa: Faleomavaega out of touch with Fiji reality

Apia , Samoa: By Tupuola Terry Tavitai Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is disappointed with recent comments made by American Samoa congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin on the situation in Fiji.

[soia]

There are certain ways for this sort of discussion to take place, But I think Faleomavaega has a point in this issue. The Pacific Island Forum, Australia and New Zealand, and even the United Nation are pushing the issue of democracy at Fiji. We all know that this is an important issue and we want democracy and free elections to take place, but we must also take notice of another silent instigator (China) pushing their own agenda forward. We should be asking Fiji how we can assist in making the democracy process go through expediently. We could loose Fiji on mere technicality.

[what the]

Falemavaeaga is just another yank with a loose tongue. I wonder what to gob on to get such loose tongues???

[soia]

what the wrote:

Falemavaeaga is just another yank with a loose tongue. I wonder what to gob on to get such loose tongues???

Do you have any suggestions on how this case could be worked out?

[Jube]

soia wrote:

<quoted text>Do you have any suggestions on how this case could be worked out?

only way it will work out is total installation of Qarase government without any condition or help Frank and company to rebuild Fiji, election is not the answer

[what the]

lets give it to the people to ellect their government.

dont treat people like idiots or you will end up with a frank in charge.

[Jube]

what the wrote:

lets give it to the people to ellect their government.
dont treat people like idiots or you will end up with a frank in charge.

you have to admit, the electrol system in Fiji has to change before the elections

[soia]

Jube wrote:

<quoted text>you have to admit, the electrol system in Fiji has to change before the elections

what is the problem with the electoral system if I may ask?

[what the]

Jube wrote:

<quoted text>you have to admit, the electrol system in Fiji has to change before the elections

I can only say that frank and ililio have bllod on their hands.

[Masina]

Fiji,rather...Bainarama does need to get its political act together in having elections commence and giving the power back to the People in electing their leader. This power was wrested from the people, and a military government was illegally formulated. Bainarama knows this. All the leaders in the Pacific region and the international community knows this.

Although I do support Faleomavaega and am proud of his efforts to represent American Samoa, and will state that he has done a marvelous job all these years as Delegate at Large, I cannot agree with his recent intermingling and what I will call "meddling" in Fiji's affairs as constructive and positive with regards with our relationship with the United States and its "Allies" in the Pacific...Australia and New Zealand.

First of all Congressman/Delegate At Large Faleomavaega, must remember his position. He is representing the interests and Welfare of the People of American Samoa in Congress. Of course he may chair the committee in Pacific Affairs, but I believe that his POSITION on the matter regarding Fiji, Australia, New Zealand as well as the United States and the tenets of US Foreign Policy in the Pacific Region should be one that he should tread upon with great care.

This is no time for Faleomavaega to "play politics" with regards to the political affairs of other island nations and countries within the pacific region. YES, we Am. Samoa are a part of that Pacific family of islands, HOWEVER Faleomavaega must also realize that it is the United States, the Department of State, the SECRETARY of STATE that becomes the voice in pacific regional affairs, in foreign policy within the Pacific region.

Faleomavaega MUST know that his stance should be one of NEUTRALITY. It doesnt mean that he shouldnt have an opinion, but the question is...will he allow his personal biases to take the forefront and cloud his judgement by PUBLICLY chastaizing our allies in the Pacific??? Does this look good for Am. Samoa? Does this reflect poorly on the United States? You bet it does. If American Samoa, wants to have an opinion about the affairs of other Pacific Island Nations, then it must declare its political status, break away from the United States....join the conglomeration of independent Pacific Island countries,become a member of the PIF get involved directly and not from the sidelines.....OTHERWISE Congressman Faleomavaega, we are going to become just as unpopular as President Bush was in the Iraq war...when you take Am. Samoa's name and involve it in the political affairs of other island nations without the expressed consent of the leaders of our territory and its people. Do we want to go there?? We already have our plate full in American Samoa, we dont need more political debris and repercussions thrown our way.

You are our representative and congressman. You are not the Secretary of State of the United States!

[Jube]

Masina wrote:

Fiji,rather...Bainarama does need to get its political act together in having elections commence and giving the power back to the People in electing their leader. This power was wrested from the people, and a military government was illegally formulated. Bainarama knows this. All the leaders in the Pacific region and the international community knows this.
Although I do support Faleomavaega and am proud of his efforts to represent American Samoa, and will state that he has done a marvelous job all these years as Delegate at Large, I cannot agree with his recent intermingling and what I will call "meddling" in Fiji's affairs as constructive and positive with regards with our relationship with the United States and its "Allies" in the Pacific...Australia and New Zealand.
First of all Congressman/Delegate At Large Faleomavaega, must remember his position. He is representing the interests and Welfare of the People of American Samoa in Congress. Of course he may chair the committee in Pacific Affairs, but I believe that his POSITION on the matter regarding Fiji, Australia, New Zealand as well as the United States and the tenets of US Foreign Policy in the Pacific Region should be one that he should tread upon with great care.
This is no time for Faleomavaega to "play politics" with regards to the political affairs of other island nations and countries within the pacific region. YES, we Am. Samoa are a part of that Pacific family of islands, HOWEVER Faleomavaega must also realize that it is the United States, the Department of State, the SECRETARY of STATE that becomes the voice in pacific regional affairs, in foreign policy within the Pacific region.
Faleomavaega MUST know that his stance should be one of NEUTRALITY. It doesnt mean that he shouldnt have an opinion, but the question is...will he allow his personal biases to take the forefront and cloud his judgement by PUBLICLY chastaizing our allies in the Pacific??? Does this look good for Am. Samoa? Does this reflect poorly on the United States? You bet it does. If American Samoa, wants to have an opinion about the affairs of other Pacific Island Nations, then it must declare its political status, break away from the United States....join the conglomeration of independent Pacific Island countries,become a member of the PIF get involved directly and not from the sidelines.....OTHERWISE Congressman Faleomavaega, we are going to become just as unpopular as President Bush was in the Iraq war...when you take Am. Samoa's name and involve it in the political affairs of other island nations without the expressed consent of the leaders of our territory and its people. Do we want to go there?? We already have our plate full in American Samoa, we dont need more political debris and repercussions thrown our way.
You are our representative and congressman. You are not the Secretary of State of the United States!

you are demanding nutrality now, what about when Frank demands that? nobody has the right to poke their nose in fijis affaires, stay out, let people of fiji solve their problem.

[Jube]

Franks government is not illegal, but has been appointed by the president himself, the president that was elected by the people.

[Vaingloriouscoco nut]

He goes all the way to cuddle and get a photo op with frank, but doesn't ask the Fijian people on the street what they think? Were he to do so, he'd get the indonesian stonewall as he got when he was in West Papua, from frank and then we'd see if he would be smiling then in a photo with the dictator. And what's with the provocative remarks that NZ & Aus are making "nasty accusations" against Fiji? What are these "nasty accusations" coz all i've seen and heard is their concerns on the obvious human rights violations, democracy dumping, and military intimidation of dissent, even employment of Mugabe tactics. How can these be "nasty" claims then if the EU, Pacific Forum, individual pacific states, UN, even his paymasters the US, are voicing the very same criticisms?Perhaps the Congressman thinks too highly of his chair title, and is jealous of the leadership of NZ and Aus in the South Pacific. Sounds like he wants USA to become more assertively numero uno huncho in these waters so that his tiny money sucking welfare dependency of the yanks, american samoa, or at least his very own chair title, can start to feel significant in the pacific courtesy of the relationship with uncle sam. Boo hoo, who cares what yankie samoa thinks coz i bet after this, there would be some very strong vetoing of am sam's wish to be an observer at the pacific forum. What a dumb ass grandstanding self important prick who'll go down as the Pacific version of Chamberlain the appeasement fool. He could at least have gotten off his american taxpayer funded ass and gone and consulted with pacific leaders to get their views in lieu of assuming from soundbites and the musings of his own mad cranium whether his pal Darth Frankie has support or not. Total loser.

[soia]

Jube wrote:

<quoted text>you are demanding nutrality now, what about when Frank demands that? nobody has the right to poke their nose in fijis affairs, stay out, let people of fiji solve their problem.

I believe engagement in dialogue is the way forward. We must engage The Fijian government by discussing with them how we can help. I just want to ask "jube" What are the requirements demanded by Frank? Will these requirements affect any human rights issues in Fiji? If "Frank" was given neutrality, will that solve the, democracy and process of having free elections, problem in Fiji?

[POT HOLE PILLAY]

soia wrote:

<quoted text>I believe engagement in dialogue is the way forward. We must engage The Fijian government by discussing with them how we can help. I just want to ask "jube" What are the requirements demanded by Frank? Will these requirements affect any human rights issues in Fiji? If "Frank" was given neutrality, will that solve the, democracy and process of having free elections, problem in Fiji?

FRANK WILL GET NUTURAL SAUSAGE FROM JUBE

[soia]

soia wrote:

<quoted text>I believe engagement in dialogue is the way forward. We must engage The Fijian government by discussing with them how we can help. I just want to ask "jube" What are the requirements demanded by Frank? Will these requirements affect any human rights issues in Fiji? If "Frank" was given neutrality, will that solve the, democracy and process of having free elections, problem in Fiji?

I just read with interest an article about opinions on the issue in Fiji. Maybe we should look at experts view on things and how we can add to it.

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2008...

[soia]

Vaingloriouscoconut wrote:

"He goes all the way to cuddle and get a photo op with frank, but doesn't ask the Fijian people on the street what they think?”

I think Eni did the right thing by going directly to the source. Frank by all means is the leader of this military regime. If we want to know why they decided to take the actions they are in we want to know exactly from the leaders who are in charge.

“And what's with the provocative remarks that NZ & Aus are making "nasty accusations" against Fiji?”

Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin was suggesting that maybe the pressure they have placed on the Fijian government are not working. Maybe Australia and New Zealand should reassess their confrontational tactics in this matter. The Fijian elections they've had in the past had ended up in military coups. What have we (the world) done to help Fiji in these situations.

“Perhaps the Congressman thinks too highly of his chair title, and is jealous of the leadership of NZ and Aus in the South Pacific.”

The people of American Samoa elected Eni to be their representative in the U.S. Congress. He has been appointed to oversee United States interest in issues that includes most Pacific Countries and I believe Fiji as well. If Eni wants the United States to take an active role in the Pacific, I think it will be for the best and all Pacific Island countries should thank him for that. As regards to American Samoa as a wefare whatever, it is sad to hear time and time again this jealousy especially from our pacific islanders.

“Boo hoo,who cares what yankie samoa thinks coz i bet after this, there would be some very strong vetoing of am sam's wish to be an observer at the pacific forum.”

American Samoa has every right to be a part of this Forum. We are located in the Pacific. The Forum would have an advantage by having American Samoa as a member, especially American Samoa's relationship with the United States. To say that there would be some strong vetoing of American Samoa would only to question as to the reason why.

“He could at least have gotten off his american taxpayer funded ass and gone and consulted with pacific leaders”

Maybe that is what these Pacific Island leaders should do, rather than demanding something of which seems not to be working. PIF leaders should be engaging in a direct dialogue with the Military regime and see how they can assist in moving the Democratic process forward.

[Vaingloriouscoco nut]

Soia, going to frank to hear his view shows how dumb and stupid faleomavaega is in the first place because of course any politician worth his salt would assume that frank would justify the tears out of his eyes for his regime's criminal acts with whatever excuse and promise of rectification. The bottom line is that a coup is a coup, and his own perpetrations to date is a big wrong that cannot make a right, period.
You still haven't told me what the 'nasty accusations' are because Kiwi/Oz pressure doesn't cut it. They were in dialogue with frank for some two years to restore democracy but he did not see the light of his own very heavyhanded ways and so they are making him feel the heat. How can you say pressure isn't working when it's early time yet to see the results other than frank's blusterings. Suspension from the forum, travel bans, aid cuts, containment action - these are the things you do with a pariah state ruled by a generalissimo. A talkfest and handholding is not to be equated with the Pacific Way coz that's outright appeasement. Results will come soon enough . More likely, the 'nasty accusations' are the actual injustices suffered by the Fijian people at the hands of generalissimo frank as actually empiracally attested to by reliable sources on the ground with all five senses working, a brain, and a will and ability to scribe down a report. Still a stupid sweeping statement like that bellowed out of left field surely undestates some ill feeling, jealousy, inferiority complex (?) towards the kiwis and aussies.
Frank's assertions that he did the coup to weed out deficiencies in the constitution, to rid Fiji of racism is just a smokescreen, a diversionary tactic, the big lie to legitimize his naked grab for power. How do you square his egregrious actions to date with his ethereal aims? You can't because the man's playing hitler, and your dumb ass congressman faleomavaega is playing the role of neil chamberlain, the hoodwinked self satisfied politician who thinks he's achieved some breakthrough, but as only time will tell, achieved only heartbreak. Never judge a policy by its intentions but by its effects and so far the effects are proving disastrous for Fiji - frank only has himself to blame. Yes there has been a legacy of coups, and there has been a history of racial tension, but that's not franks place to deal with these issues except a government mandated by the people to strive to solve this. His government was adjudged illegal by the court of appeal, with advice for the president to provide for a caretaker government to take Fiji forward until the next elections. We all know how the judiciary was mauled in response and a charade that fooled no one was played out with frankie returning to power via puppetrocy. If a government is chosen again by a majority that favours indigenous Fijian domination who are we to argue? That is the choice of the people and the prerogative of the people, not the military. The people get the government they elected and want, just as the people of Gaza elected the terrorist Hamas but hey....that's who they want in power and so like it or not they are the legitimate authority courtesy of the voice of the majority. The problems are a legacy of british colonialism that is another matter. Please tell me dearly what concrete steps Darth Frankie has taken towards his Martin Luther King Promiseland? Forget the People's Charter rubbish which didn't include consultation from parties he unilaterally stonewalled. This man has had 2 years and he wants another 5 years? Why so long?

[Vaingloriouscoco nut]

And, sorry to say this, but there is nothing to be jealous of in being a colonial welfare dependency state. I know you have your tuna canneries and.....oh..... that's about it, and even that might be gone soon, as yankie sam doesn't have much else going for it in tourism like the bigger independent samoa, Fiji, Cooks, Tahiti, Vanuatu etc - but an island state that has a government that spends within its means, in lieu of continually petitioning the yanks for more and more dole outs, that can trade its way to prosperity alongside remittances, that doesn't give the yanks a black eye with human trafficking and labour abuse indictments, that can just generally go about its business with the nationalistic pride and confidence to do it alone free of the colonial umbilical chord -that's something to be proud of, very proud of, not jealous. Am sam has become a byword for; a joke; corruption; malfeance; insignificance; obesity; and that word again - chronic welfarism, and i'll leave it at that.
NZ and Oz are on the same page with USA in terms of democracy promotion and regional stability and so I'm dead cert hilary clinton, who has a namesake attachment to our own Everest conquerer......not, will give more weight to their much more logical stick stance than the misguided carrot bellowing of a grandstanding, non voting delegate upstart from am sam who may have lots of experience representing the views of yankie sas to US Congress, but that's about it. I think faleomavaega is trying toooooo hard to make am sam more relevant to his colonial paymasters, by acting as a needless conduit for information on the pacific that the obama admininstation can get ego free from oz, nz, samoa, fiji itself, tonga - real n actual members of the pacific forum.

[soia]

Vaingloriouscoconut wrote:

forum.

We can argue for weeks on the situation if Fiji, but the fact remains Mr. Frank is in charge. N.Zealand, Australia, and the PIF have all given Fiji a thumbs down. Now, Fiji has been suspended from the forum. My question is what will be the next step? I do not support the military regime and their way of suppressing the public's opinion as had been mention in some articles. I also do not support any effort by this regime to reform the constitution to favor any one side. But I do believe that dealing with Fijis problem will take more than two years as you have mention. The situation in Iraq took a lot of dialogues between the three factions( Sunnis, Shiites, and the Kurds) to form the current government. I do believe it will take another decade or even more to see peace and quiet in Iraq. If Australia and New Zealand really wants democracy in Fiji, they must really engage in a dialogue with them. I do not like this sanctions idea as a means to punish Fiji. Their tactics might work, but will it really solve the problem? It will not solve anything.
I do not know your intentions here. We consider ourselves Americans. Our forefathers chose this path for our islands over a hundred years ago. I am glad for our neighbor independent country of Samoa and their progress. They have chosen this path for themselves. We do support each other on the paths we took. The intentions as if trying to create a friction and belittle our representative is a mere act of jealousy. I remember reading in the Congressman's response he was asked by the Secretary of State for his opinion on the matter. So there is your answer on the congressman's relevance to the matter at hand.

[Vaingloriouscoco nut]

The immediate problem facing fiji and the pacific is a tyrannical dictatorship – mode of government. Frank can harp on all he wants about the Fijian-Indian/Indigenous Fijian question, but while this is a valid issue, we must not buy the red hearing and get bogged into this secondary matter, which due to its complexity will require long discussion and so frank is sooooo counting on this, but to justify his own ulterior motive of long tenure in power. The real pressing issue on the table right now is his right to govern. So far, his manner of governing - not too surprising when he is an undemocratically installed military dictator where behavior is in line with script – this is what needs to be addressed first. The forum is taking the right action as it knows what the primary problem here is, which your johnny come lately goody too shoes Faleomavaega is blindsided by: the very spectre of a non elected tyrannical authoritarian state being allowed to fester and achieve a measure of longevity in the pacific. This could and will lead to regional instability long term and that’s why the forum has intensified the dialogue from the erstwhile entreaties to return to democracy, to the now; win or lose? You will lose, sooner or later mate. This needs to be dealt with first because so long as his regime is illegitimate and outrageous, any changes implemented by frank, however effective and far reaching, however noble intentioned, will be open to challenge by some later government that is democratically elected, and if its racially motivated party in government,(who can know the mind of the people or stop the will of the people, except by gun) not in agreement with changes, they can undo the changes. They can rightly look back to this time in Fijian history of political-judicial chaos and challenge frank’s mandate to effect change because he had no mandate, and I mean the mandate of the people, not the president whose own behaviour in this charade will be studied for many years yet. So we are also trying to avert more problems down the line. The need now is for frank to be out, not frank to change into suit and tie from military fatigues because he is still the same person, the same generalissimo calling the shots.