Editor,
If what the former publisher of the Fiji Sun newspaper Russel Hunter says is true – and I along with many others think it is – then that must also say a fair bit about Graham Davis, the self-style “independent” journalist from Australian who is currently working as a paid propagandist for the military regime in Fiji.
Hunter says in the first sentence of his short and concise letter : ” I find it incongruous that Graham Davis(Letter 14/1) bangs on about genuine democracy while supporting a regime that crushes dissent using military force, controls the media…,awards major contracts without tender, keeps ministerial salaries (and just about everything else) secret, has trampled on human rights, and routinely harasses trade unionists and rights activists – the sad list goes on” (‘Racial paradigm rules’ , the Australian, 15/1).
If the expatriate Australian wants to side with the military dictatorship that his choice .I don’t respect his choice and many other pro-democracy activist don’t either. But Graham has the right to make the choice he makes. Having made the choice Graham should not go on and on about being an “independent” journalist.
That is being dishonest.
sincerely,
Rajend Naidu
sydney.
Fiji Today FijiTodays Open Forum Blog 
What’s so dishonest about being and honest independent journalist?
As for that Hunter fellow, he is among a long line of rejects that were tossed out of Fiji for one reason or the other, however these rejects all have an axe to grind, I don’t really blame the poor sods.
Even if that Davis fellow is being paid by the regime or by other means, I say good on him for the rest its patently clear it s a case of sour grapes.
When one weighs up the support for the regime as oppose those die hard rejects, it is clear the peoples support for the regime stands at 98.6% and unwavering whereas those who oppose are dropping off lies dying curs.
Sai
Luveni sona crawl back to your farm you qauri qase.
How dare you to question Graham’s independence? Are you one of these losers like Marc Edge sniping from the shadows? Don’t you see that being paid by a communications company hired by my government is the ultimate guarantee of independence? Grubsheet is a shining example of the journalism of hope that we have introduced to replace the endless criticism and bickering that countries such as Australia and New Zealand must endure in their media. Graham epitomises the cooperative approach, his collaboration with my government is founded in his strong believe that the people of Fiji are happy with my benevolent rule.
If is looks like a regime pig, sounds like a regime pig, then it follows…
Yes lets reform even more and abolish Ratu and Adi titles and chiefs or at least grant them to everyone.
lol @ Frankly……..
@ Ratu Sai (Cai) If the support for the illegal regime is 98% of the Fiji population as you claimed then why is there so much restriction in the country with the issuance of various decrees. Isn’t that a sign of fear and lack of confidence in itself. What sour grape you are talking about when in fact the illegal pm is full of sour grape no wonder he illegally took over a government elected by the people, not one forced upon the people by the power of the gun.
ACTU disappointed at Carr’s sympathy for Fiji interim government
Updated 15 January 2013, 12:28 AEST
Australia’s trade union movement is disappointed by Foreign Minister Bob Carr’s sympathetic statements about Fiji. .
Senator Carr says he can see why the military regime rejected elements of the draft, although he believes the jury’s still out on whether the constitutional process it’s undertaking is enough to restore Fiji’s reputation in the eyes of the international community.
Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speaker: Ged Kearney, President Australian Council of Trade Unions
KEARNEY: I’m very disappointed by the Foreign Minister’s response. I do understand that he has had meetings with the regime, but certainly by all accounts, there is an international outcry over the actions of the Bainimarama regime towards the report. A very pre-eminent Professor Yash Ghai chaired the committee that actually put together the report. There was to be consultation, even though we were somewhat sceptical about the lengths of the consultation. We understood there was to be some. And now it’s quite clear that they have no intention whatsoever of returning democracy or human rights to Fiji. And I have to say, that the Australian Government should be outraged at that, given that they supported the initial process, that we have restored some diplomatic connections with Fiji as an independent state and I think that we have to review. I would be hoping that the government would be reviewing its position on Fiji right now.
HILL: Well clearly, that’s not the case, because Mr Carr has said that he’s in fact sympathetic to some of the reasons why the interim government in Fiji gave for making changes to that draft constitution. He says they need to be given more time, so clearly the Australian Government is much more sympathetic to the Fijian interim government than you’d like them to be?
KEARNEY: Yes, I’m very surprised at that response. I mean we know that there were 7,000 submissions given to the drafting of the Bill of Rights that would hopefully restore democracy to Fiji. We know that the Fijian people put a great deal of store in this process. But what we’re seeing now is that the regime’s making it very clear that it pretty much intends to do what it wants to do without any sanction by the people of Fiji, without any consultation, and certainly we are losing all hope that any human rights, particularly trade union rights will actually be restored to that country.
HILL: Well, in that case, if you believe that, then why would you think Mr. Carr will the take the approach that he’s taking. He’d be much more sympathetic and understanding?
KEARNEY: I can’t really comment on why the senator has taken this position, but we will definitely be contacting him to clarify that position and the ACTU will certainly be joining our international trade union colleagues, and indeed, other countries, including our very close neighbours, New Zealand in expressing our grave concern at the position that the government seems to be taking.
HILL: The Australian Trade Union Movement is a very important component of the Australian Labor Party. Bob Carr is a Labor Party Cabinet minister. Could there be any political fallout for this if the unions are taking one approach and the government’s taking completely the opposite on Fiji?
KEARNEY: Eh, I haven’t had the opportunity to discuss this with the government yet, but it’s certainly something that we would like to be very clear about what their stand is. Our position has been very clear all along and the latest actions by the Fijian regime clearly do not give us any hope that our views will actually be allayed about what’s going to happen in Fiji with regards to human rights and trade union rights and we will certainly make that position very clear to the government.
HILL: The ACTU has been very concerned about the situation for trade unionists in Fiji for sometime. You’ve made many public statements. How have you communicated these concerns to Mr. Carr and what has he told you in the past?
KEARNEY: Eh, we have communicated these concerns on many, many occasions. He’s very well aware of the trade unions position on this. We were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt when he started down the pathway of engagement some months ago when he told us that Australia would actually support the Constitution review process that was going underway and we were willing to wait and see if, even though we were sceptical, and we said at the time we were, if this would actually play out as he predicted. We are very sad to say that our worst fears have actually played out, that there was no intention whatsoever of actually carrying through that process with true consultation and the true democratic process. So we’re very disappointed, we’re very disappointed about what’s happened in Fiji. We are somewhat disappointed with the senator’s response to that and we will certainly be discussing that
I think Sai has a bit of a man-crush for Grubbilina. Haven’t you heard Sai? Grubbilina only has eyes for that red-horror that is nesting herself in the MINFO.
I am an independent journalists because I don’t have one employer. I’m a freelancer. So Rajend Naidu completely misunderstands the use of this term. I also find it amusing that he describes me as an Australian when I am actually a Fijian and am writing this in Suva whereas he is in Australia and may well be an Australian citizen for all I know. Most Fijians in Australia usually are. Rajend, I don’t have a problem with you taking an opposing view to me. In fact I allow a lot of people to give me an absolute caning on my own website. It’s called free speech. I’m happy that Bob Carr is starting to see things as I see them. I’ve been going on for long enough about the folly of Australian policy and it’s great to see some common sense finally seeping through. There’s hope for you yet, Rajend.
Ok Graham, so when you refer to yourself as being independent, it really has to do with your employment status and not the content of your editorials? And above all you take offence at this so called misunderstanding in this and not when people say your editorials are quite dependent on the view of the Fiji Govt?!
Forest for the trees GD.
David Rauqe.
@ Graham Davis
The folly of Australian (foreign) policy with regards to the Fiji military regime (your current employer)
has apparently been given a new lease of life by Bob Carr!! And You might have contributed to that!
Graham you insistence does not alter the fact that you are not and independent journalist within the context of your engagement as a propagandist for the military regime and you are certainly not perceived to be one . You will simply have to live with that. You brought that upon yourself. You are ” a freelancer” who has aligned himself to the Fiji military regime. How does that make you an “independent’ journalist? That’s a rather curious definition of “independence”, isn’t it?
Graham you need to get real – on more than one front!
And fast!
The classic book The Elements of Journalism defines independence as “independence from faction” and states that journalists “must maintain an independence from those they cover.” Under this definition, Graham Davis comes nowhere close to qualifying as independent, as he is employed by the Fiji government faction. What he means is that he is a “freelance” journalist because he is not on staff at any journalism organization but instead contracts with different organizations, such as Qorvis Communications and (for now) the Southern Cross Austereo network in Australia.
http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/article/102544/Journalists-Must-Maintain-an-Independence-From-Those-They-Cover.aspx
“Journalistically, the twentieth century can be defined as the struggle for democracy against propaganda.” James Carey, Columbia University
Read the context of Bob Carr’s response. In NO way is he endosing the Regime. So let’s not get carried away. As for Graham Davis; independence means reporting both sides; we will start believing you when you also fight your the rights of the citizens of Fiji which are being trampled by the regime.
Hey Marc, the journalism of hope practised in Fiji is an entirely new category of journalism that defies conventional textbook definitions. The new set of rules includes provisions that allow anyone to call themselves professional, independent, honest, dignified, distinct etc as long as they do not bicker and criticise our visionary rule and our most benevolent dictatorship. 98.84 % of the population support my rule because of its high level of relative benevolence. Croz a world famous champion of fair and unbiased support for my rule has recently elaborated on the situation quite eloquently. Compare my rule with Assad’s and you will immediately understand what this is all about. We have only killed and tortured a handful of people, we have thrown out some rejects as yourself because they could not accept the new rules of the game and we have moved the country forward to a point of no return to the old style freedom of expression mantra that led to negativism and relentless scrutiny of government. Bob Carr has seen the light and so has McCully of New Zealand, both principled man of great vision. They understand that the Fijian population is not ready for western style government and they support the legality of military takeovers and by strong man.
The Fiji Broadcasting Corporation says a new decree will come into force today regulating the registration of political parties.
This is in line with last week’s announcement by the interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who spoke about the changes to the constitutional process.
FBC News says the elections minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has been expected to make an announcement this morning.
The new decree to regulate political parties comes amid trade union plans to launch a new party for the elections promised for next year.
According to the website Fijilive, one politician, Pramod Rae, suspects all existing parties might be eliminated.
The decree is part of a regime process which will see the production of a new constitution that will again have significant New Zealand input.
After dumping the draft it commissioned last year, the interim government said last week that it had commissioned a new draft from the Solicitor General’s Office, which is run by Christopher Pryde of New Zealand.
The 1997 constitution abrogated by the regime four years ago was produced by a team led by New Zealander Sir Paul Reeves.
News Content © Radio New Zealand International
PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand
@ Frankly Bananas
so the suppoort is down from 99.8% to 98.84% eh!
Better watch it boyo
it might drop to 0.01% by the time ereection comes around
Graham, what you do is no better than paid advertising for the regime, portrayed as independent criticism and praise.
You should include a disclaimer for your articles, perhaps along the following lines: “This is paid advertising for the Military Dictatorship of Fiji, paid for by and without the permission of, the taxpayers of Fiji.”
You are only convincing yourself of your own veracity – anyone with their eyes open and enough brain to count past 2 knows that despite your claims, the regime has always promised too much and delivered nothing.
@ Graham Davis
Graham now that you have an expert opinion on what constitutes “independent” within the context of journalism (@ Marc Edge) I hope you will give up the pretense and just get on with the job – of propagandizing for the military regime! I have no problem with that. I see that as an intellectual challenge – to contest the view advanced by you and other regime propagandist. You do your job and we – the critics – will do ours. That’s fair go!
Davis is gay puppet of Sharon and Khaiyum.
Rajen
Are your views clouded by your experience with the Social Welfare Dept?
While Graham offers himself as the sideshow in the Bainimarama circus for now, the illegal law team of the regime are having sleepless nights trying to make their alternative draft constitution credible!! Folks we are not out of the woods by a long haul…….there is another humurous twist to this journey that is simmering in the horizon. All parties, local and international are keenly watching with interest and all will be also laughing over what this so-called “independent propagandist” will be spewing! Its a shame he is unlawfully getting paid for it……and he doesnt even care.
Rajend Naidu, who the fuck are you? I’ve never heard of you and now I can’t get away from your BS. Are you sure this isn’t Marc Edge doing his usual thing of creating multiple personalities to run his agenda? Because that’s what he did at USP. Let’s have a CV from you Rajend and proof of who you are.
@ More truth and MUCH MORE bullshit telling wallah
You want to know “who the fuck” I am ask Muttifala . He seems to know who I am. But I don’t know any Muttifala and I don’t know any “More truth telling” fala. Any guess what : it’s not important!!
Calm down, Noob. And watch your language!