Death of democracy by 1,000 cuts

Shazzer & Grubby explains how Democracy in Fiji is dying BY A THOUSAND CUTS
If something is suffering the DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS, lots of small bad things are happening, none of which are fatal in themselves, but which add up to a slow and painful demise.

The Dictator abrogated the constitution in 2009 and ever since he introduced his roadmap to democracy he has quietly made sure there will be no democracy when it comes to the 2014 election.

Little by little he has acted to intimidate, to take away our rights and to create an election process heavily weighted in his favor. The result is that democracy in Fiji is dead before it has even started.

Please see below a list of little cuts; None is fatal on its own but when taken as a whole it shows that the vote on September 17th will not be decided by the people but by Bainimarama and Khaiyum.

The list is not complete. If you have any other little cuts you want to share add them as a comment or send a Private Message to Shazzer & Grubby.

CONSTITUTION
1- The destruction and burning of the Ghai constitution.
2- One of the key things in this, the people’s constitution, was an interim government to take us to elections. The purpose was to stop the regime from abusing its position. Bainimarama was well aware of this abuse and this is why n December 2006 he said no member of his interim cabinet would stand for elections. 
3- Imposition of Bai Kai constitution with no real involvement of the people
4- Independent Public Posts such as Supervisor of Elections appointed by Bai and Kai prior to the elections

ELECTIONS
5 The Minister of Elections is the General Secretary of the Dictators Party
6-The Electoral Commission was appointed by the General Secretary of the Dictator’s Party
7- The Supervisor of Elections was appointed by the General Secretary of the Dictator’s Party
8- The single Constituency was imposed on the people to give an advantage to people with a national profile. The Dictator has the biggest national profile because of his control of the media.
9- The Political Parties Decree killed off all the small parties in Fiji.
10- The Electoral Decree means an independent candidate needs to get about 28,000 votes or 5% to win a seat. Someone in a major party could get 200 votes or less and still get a seat in Parliament
11- STATE PROCEEDINGS (AMENDMENT) DECREE 2012 allows Dictator and Ministers, many of whom will be in the Fiji first Party to commit libel and slander without any liability. Normal rules apply to everyone else.

ABUSE OF GOVERNMENT MONEY
12- The Dictator is using Government money to bribe voters with gym equipment, brush cutters and sewing machine
13- Qorvis the American firm of spin doctors has been advising the dictator on his election campaign though funded by Government
14- Ministry of Information putting all their resources behind promoting Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed Kahiyum; leader and General secretary respectively of the Fiji First Party.
15- Government employees have been collecting signatures for Fiji First party. http://fijilive.com/news/2014/05/pdp-raises-concern-over-abuse-of-office/57816.Fijilive
16- There are numerous reports of soldiers collecting signatures and getting the support of chiefs for the party
17- Prime Minister’s salary remains a secret
18- No Auditor General Reports published
19- Fiji scored ZERO in an international survey on budget transparency. There is no way the people can know how their money was spent by the Dictator.

MEDIA
20- The dismissal of Anish Chand and Satish Narayan from Fiji TV has sent a message to journalists: PISS OFF THE DICTATOR AND LOSE YOUR JOBS
21- Fiji TV is only awarded 6 month licenses to keep it under control
22- Heavy fines for Fiji Times
23- Heavy handed use of Contempt of Court charges
24- Riyaz Khaiyum appointed as CEO of FBC
25- FBC is allowed to operate despite being technically insolvent and unable to pay even the interest on its $20+m loan with FDB
26- Media Industry Decree
27- MIDA acts very quickly to investigate Regime complaints but very slowly to investigate UFDF complaints 
28- Obvious pro regime bias of both FBC and Fiji Sun

SECTORS OF SOCIETY
Students
29- A student had his scholarship terminated for working as a volunteer for an independent candidate
30- A student volunteer for an independent candidate received calls from Police Intelligence. On 27th May Police officer CID7431 Amini Ririko called to ask questions about the political campaign and meetings and at the same time intimidate the volunteer.
31- These actions clearly tell students not to support the opposition or their scholarships and loans will be terminated.

CHIEFS
32- Abolition of the GCC
33- Threats of no development in Chiefs provinces if they do not cooperate with the regime.
34- Ro Temumu taken to QEB for questioning and kept overnight in a cell.

OPPOSITION POLITICIANS
35- Opposition Political opponents have been targeted
36- Qarase convicted of a trumped up charge and unable to take part in elections
37- Chaudhry convicted of an offence for which he was earlier cleared by a Government Inquiry to stop him from standing in the election

UNIONS
38- Union Leaders forced to leave unions to stand in elections
39- Union Leaders have been beaten

BUSINESS
40- Businessmen who oppose regime are targeted by FRCA and FICAC
41- Mahendra Patel was convicted on a trumped up charge to send a message to the business community
42- State Owned Enterprises only employ Regime Yes Men

SERVICES
43- Police have had their independence removed by serving under army officers for 7 years.
44- No investigation into Police Brutality
45- Soldiers have been shown time and time again if you show any doubts in the dictator or the regime you will be removed
46- No investigation into military brutality
47- Driti conviction important for 2 reasons. 1- Send a message to soldiers about opposing the dictator. 2- To stop him from standing in the elections and collecting a significant military vote.

ACADEMIA
48- Appointing regime stooges as Vice Chancellors
49- Pushing out critical academics
50- Refusal to foster critical enquiry
51- Universities readily giving propaganda to regime leaders (Bai and Krai)
52- Controlling questions in debates. When the Indonesian delegation gave a talk on West Papua students were warned not to ask questions or demonstrate in any way; even student clothing was censored.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS 
53- Fiji Institute of Accountants has neve once questioned Government accountability.
54- FIA has never asked for publication of Auditor General Reports
55- FIA has never questioned Government about its ZERO score in budget transparency survey.
56- Fiji Law Society has never questioned any regime judge decisions
57- Never questioned judge appointments
58- Never supported unfounded attacks on member lawyers

RELIGION
59- The Methodist Church has been persecuted from 2006
60- Chiefs have been forced to keep quiet.
61- The Muslim League is totally subservient to Khaiyum
62- Sanatan Dharam is totally subservient to Khaiyum

DECREES
63- State Proceedings Decree
64- Essential Industries Decree
65- Media Industry Development Decree
66- Fiji Constitution Amendment Act 1997 Revocation Decree 2009 means no decree can be challenged in the courts
67- Public Emergency Regulations
68- Political Parties Decree
69- Electoral Decree
70- All these decrees have abuse our rights. Some openly some hidden
71- NO DECREE CAN BE CHALLENGED IN THE COURTS, even after the election.

JUDICIARY
72- Clearly under the control of the Regime
73- Judges handpicked for cases
74- Madigan picked to convict Brigadier Driti. The Assessors unanimously said NOT GUILTY. Madigan overruled. 
75- No decrees can be challenged in the courts
76- CJ under the influence of Khaiyum
77- DPP under the influence of Khaiyum
78- FICAC under the control of Khaiyum

PROVINCIAL COUNCILS
79- The Chairman’s used to be elected by the members. Now they are appointed by the Dictator
80- Provinces that do not support the Dictator do not get infrastructure Development Work

DEVELOPMENT
81- Development is dependent on provinces and villages support of the Regime

MILITARY IN GOVERNMENT
82- Soldiers have been appointed into many civilian roles. They follow the orders of their commander the dictator and not their civilian bosses.
83- Special treatment for soldiers and dictators relatives in Govt. A permanent Secretary cannot have a criminal record. This was waived for Francis Killer Kean ex commander of the navy

CONTROL OF SPORTS
84- Rugby is the biggest male sport; netball is the biggest female sport. Both are controlled by Bainimarama, they provide him with great campaign opportunities and platforms.

Congratulations you have made it to the bottom and are obviously very interested in Democracy.

As you can see democracy in Fiji is reaching a critical condition. Already we are in Intensive Care.

Murray McCully and Julie Bishop please take note Fiji is not advancing towards democracy. There have been grand gestures, an electoral commission, an electoral decree a supervisor of elections. But all are controlled by 1 man the GENERAL SECRETARY of FIJI FIRST, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum. You already know this, so pull your finger out!