May 12, 2007

ALERT: Military holds businessman over blogs

Intelligentsiya can confirm that the Fiji military held in detention a prominent businessman for just under 24 hours suspecting him of being a blogger.

Ulai Taoi, the president of the Fiji Indigenous Business Council, was arrested by soldiers on Friday at about 2pm and was released this afternoon after undergoing interrogation at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks.

He has reportedly been mistreated.

Taoi’s arrest came as the military yesterday put pressure on FINTEL, the only international telecommunications gateway for Fiji, to shut down access to blogs critical of the military and its junta.

FINTEL was stalling on shutting down access, implying it would cut internet access to Fiji altogether if the military maintained the pressure.

Another blog is reporting that businessman and journalist Imraz Iqbal (who owns Fiji Living Magazine) was taken up to QEB for yet another dressing down on Thursday by the commander of the 3rd Fiji Infantry Regiment, Tevita Mara. Also taken up to the camp for a "talking to" was ousted SDL minister Losena Salabula, according to Resistfrankscoup.

The attempts to block access to blogs and continuing detentions are blatant dishonouring of the commitments the junta gave to the EU in Brussels last month when they promised not to intimidate or infringe on the rights of Fiji’s people, in return for continuing aid.

We know the EU is watching. Just don't wait until it's too late.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Today's story on the attempted restriction on freedom of speech in Fiji by the military government cost it a group of 32 tourists this morning.
The organiser of the group which had been planning a conference in Fiji reacted to the report in the Melbourne Age by redirecting the conference to Vanuatu (ist choice if airline seats and rooms are available) or Queensland.
Well done Frank - the Vanautu Government should give you a medal for services to its tourism industry!

Anonymous said...

what excuse does the military have now for arresting, without proof, on suspicion of blogging, a man who knows less about computers than his 16 year old daughter?

This has got to stop somewhere. Pita Driti knows less about computers than the man he interrogated. This Junta will not stop their human rights abuses without more pressure from the EU.

Do what u must ridolfi - otherwise, u will continue to hear of human rights violations in our beautiful country.

Anonymous said...

I was in Fiji last year and you a most wonderful people - new and old families, but we will not be back until the government is democratically elected where ALL people of Fiji get a vote. regardless of cultural background

Anonymous said...

Man, this regime is so clumsy!

Anonymous said...

Many people such as myself, from Italy, take careful note of the repressive actions of the self-appointed illegal goverment which claims to known what is best for the people. So why are they afraid of free speech for the people of Fiji, huh? KEEP YOUR FREEDOM TO THINK FOR YOURSELVES.

Anonymous said...

To anon above: you call this blog free speech. This is how freedom of speech is misused for a hidden propanganda. You have to be in Fiji to understand the situation. Ulai was a pro SDL guy. When the FHRC presented its report on the affirmative action, Ulai was furious. He has that handout mentality. So he is bitter when SDL is out. Ulai is a racist and discrminist.

Anonymous said...

BULA. CAN U GUYS PLIZ AND PLIZ. KEREKERE . GIVE A DIRECT ADRESS OF THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY OF HUMAN RIGHTS ADRESS IN THE WORLD..TO PEOPLE SO THEY CAN LODGE THEIR COMPLAIN DIRECT.

OUR POLICE ARE NO LONGER TO BE TRUSTED. THW MURDERS MADAGA NOT SOLVED YET.. OUR FHR NOT TRUSTED ANYMORE. INVESTIGATION STILL GOING ON.. PLIZ PLIZ PUT THE ADRESS TO ALL B LOGSITE.. Vanua lailai taura months and months me ra vesu na yavu kaisi qo mai na keba.. SO GO DIRECT AND REPORT TO THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY, vinaka,

Anonymous said...

To Anon 14/05 9:14 - You mean to say that if someone has a handout mentality then they essentially forfeit their human rights? If they happened to vote SDL last time, they deserve all the violence that the army decides to heap on them. This is exactly the kind of lame, nonsense reasoning that has seen the military hijack Fiji into the political, economic and legal dead-end we are stuck right now!

Anonymous said...

Human rights??? most of the people in this blog don't even know what they are talking about...have you had a look at the discriminatory constitution lately?....where are human rights when Fijian political dominance is ensured in the constitution??

Anonymous said...

To anon above: in the end the Good triumphs over Evil. That is what has happened: RFMF over SDL. Ulai and SDL. Ted Young and SDL. Qarase and SDL. And so on...........

Anonymous said...

keep up the good work freedom fighters,the man in green will eventually go to hell

Anonymous said...

Cant access RFC, any news anyone????

Anonymous said...

How is it that an IT specialists as the Fiji Times calls him, doesnt know how to log into blog? Vinaka na moce boko Fiji Times. But to Mr Taoi, pls take as constructive criticism that the truth will set u free.And advisory body Mr Taoi? How could you sell your Fijian businessfriends like that? Yes well, we understand. You have our sympathies.Take care

Anonymous said...

Easy to sprout about human rights but selective conscience is loathsome. Where were you chief intelligentysia when human rights were being subjugated by Qarase's government?