May 22, 2007

Bumbling in the junta jungle…

From Cassandra’s Desk

As a child, your correspondent was a huge fan of Rudyard Kipling's magnificent and unmatched work of pure fantasy, "The Jungle Book".

Among other things, Kipling's detailed life in an orderly and moral jungle, is a far cry from the disorderly and dangerous jungle into which Fiji has been drawn by its bumbling military rulers.

It’s the fantastical nature, not to mention magnitude, of that bumbling that has sparked this Kipling/jungle analogy.

For example, let’s take the futile and self-defeating push by the Fiji junta leadership against freedom bloggers. As events unfolded over the past week or so, the junta's antics started to assume the same exquisitely surreal quality of Kipling's most fantastical imaginings.

On the one hand, the junta's appalling lack of decency or sophistication, demonstrated so graphically and gruesomely by repeated acts of violence towards their fellow citizens. On the other hand, witness the bizarre spectacle of the same strongmen - with the entire civilized world watching - applying the same methods to gain mastery over cyberspace!

It’s a paradox of truly surreal proportions. To “secure” Fiji’s national security, the Fiji Military Forces has decided to launch a war against unknown enemies in unknown (to them) territory - cyberspace. Hurrah! Wow! Gosh! It’s breathtaking.

Yes, one needs to keep one's sense of humour because in the junta jungle, where it can be eerily dark and gloomy, there's naught to laugh about. Like the illumination of a full moon on a cloudless night, the only light to penetrate its dark sinister depths, is the one shone by our Freedom Bloggers. Long may they stay free to blog!

Which evokes more jungle analogies: Fiji's military rulers bark fiercely as they run around in ever-decreasing circles, as happens when a pack of feral dogs in full hunting frenzy suddenly realises that it has lost the scent.

The ruckus continues and only dies down around midnight when our junta hounds succumb to that most basic of all canine (and human) instincts - self-preservation. They suddenly, and in unison, they start baying long and loud at the moon.

For some reason, and beginning with their primitive ancestors, the revealing glow of a full moon, beaming benignly from space, has always instilled fear and panic in feral dogs.

May 17, 2007

Blogging the military silly

FINTEL put out a statement today confirming they were working with the “Home Affairs Ministry”, in reality the military, to ‘study the most effective way’ of blocking certain blogs.

From Fijivillage.com: FINTEL assist military to block anti military sites

“FINTEL Chief Executive Sakaraia Tuilakepa confirms that they are assisting the Ministry to examine the most effective way in addressing their concerns in relation to the blog sites.
Tuilakepa said they have advised the Ministry of alternative options that they could explore to address these concerns without compromising the national access to the entire internet network and without breaching the conditions of FINTEL's license as the international gateway service provider.
RFMF's Land Force Commander, Colonel Pita Driti revealed earlier that the military has identified about 20 people who are behind anti-military internet blog sites.
Colonel Driti said the blog sites are now becoming a concern and the people behind the publication of the materials will be questioned.
Army spokesperson, Major Neumi Leweni also revealed that the RFMF's IT personnel had talks with FINTEL to block the blog sites.”

Here’s something about the blog shenanigans on Fijilive. (No Fijilive, we haven’t gone anywhere!)

But look who’s back! RFC have popped up on the internet again under another name – Why Fiji’s Crying. They are here.


Now for the online security of those within
Fiji who are able to read us:

If you use Gmail log in through Googles secure server at https://mail.google.com/mail to prevent somebody intercepting and reading the messages you send and receive.

Also to get around those FINTEL blocks you could download Torpark, a highly modified version of the Firefox browser including a built-in Tor router to disguise your IP address. You can keep it on your USB and run it on any computer you use. Once you close the program it erases all your surfing information. A bit slow but safe. Find it here.

PRESS RELEASE: Human Rights Violations and the Blog Debate

By Young People Concerned Network, ypcnfiji@gmail.com

The Young Peoples Concerned Network is saddened with the detainment and inhumane
treatment of the President of the Fiji Indigenous Business Council Mr. Ulaiasi Taoi. We are also very concerned that this fate may be faced by other persons suspected of operating anti military sentiments and modes of information.
We understand that Mr Taoi was detained in relation to the numerous blogs that have sprung up resonating anti military and anti government sentiments.
Bloggers must now look very closely at their posted articles and draw a line between the responsible reporting of truth and the use of propaganda.
We are very concerned with the many blogs that have sprung up after the December 5 coup and that have partaken in a personal vendetta to defame prominent people in society.
However we are equally concerned with the detainment of persons at any military installation and the continued abuse and humiliation of people suspected of having objections towards the military and the interim government.
We will do well to remind all people of Fiji of their God given rights to life and freedom from inhumane treatments.
Youths of Fiji will suffer drastically if the impending economic crisis faced by Fiji today is not solved. Foreign Aid and Healthy Bilateral Relations are the cornerstones to rebuilding Fiji and improving the lifestyles of Fiji citizens.
The reports of detainments and human rights violations will not do well for these times and have the potential to deter investors and the Aid Fiji relies on to survive.

We know what you’re up to

Fiji’s military are putting the squeeze on FINTEL to block access to our blogs and possibly to all Google services.

FINTEL briefly blocked Google on Monday and the outcry from customers was immediate.

Intelligentsiya has heard that the military have hired some IT experts to track our blogs and yesterday one of the blogs was taken down briefly - why we haven't been able to substantiate. While Intelligentsiya does not agree with the militant path taken by Resistfrankscoup blog, we detest the interference by the military in trying to stop the Fiji public from reading what’s on it.

Here we also praise Rewa chief Ro Teimumu Kepa for bravely speaking out in our defence against military oppression.

Also a belated welcome back to one of Fiji’s original bloggers, Ms Vakaivosavosa. We need more voices like yours.