Yes - people should get the "full story" before writing comments... I am of Indo-Fijian descent. Some of the stuff portrayed in NZ media is not true. Things are actually worse than ever in Fiji, but the alternative would have been even worse.

Nicholas...i have worked in Fiji for many years, especially under the racist and corrupt qarase. Anything is better than the SDL govt. So yes i have been there and done that. Therefore my support for Voreqe is not unfounded. What is your criticism based on. And don't just say democracy. Fiji never had democracy.

Amigo, you say that the only people complaining about their rights are corrupt politicians and their 'gang' of lawyers and journalists... but you do realise that nobody is allowed to complain right? Whether it's a fatal beating or just being locked in jail for saying the wrong thing.. Aren't you lucky to live in a country where you can say what you like about the government? Why exactly are you living here anyway amigo? Why not move to Fiji and get paid $3 an hour and you can sing all day about how amazing Bainimarama is?

Dave, sounds like you have done some good research there.

You might want to send Bainimarama a copy of your thesis once you are done. Its small things, like a semi independent analysis of intentions vs actions, that would probably get a smart man thinking about his position a bit more.

I've spent the last couple of years writing a thesis on Frank and the 2006 coup. To summarise the essential questions that need to be asked are: Are Franks Intentions Honourable - Is what he's tying to do needed and 'good' for Fiji? Extensive Analysis Shows: Yes, Definitely. Therefore it is not his intentions but his methodology that is the problem. He is a military man through and through, doesn't know about compromise. He views any hindrance to his vision as an enemy that needs to be suppressed, thus suppressing the media, alienating the church, chiefs, and every foreign aid partner. So ultimately is the cost worth it? Resoundingly NO! Regardless of how good his ideas and intentions are because of how he gone about things - Poverty has gone through the roof, the sugar industry which was on the verge of collapse now seems inevitable, tourism and investment dollars have plummeted. Moreover, the fact remains that he is trying to ram electoral and other constitutional reforms through, that even though analysis shows are good ideas and needed, they will not be accepted by Fijians in the long term because of how it was forced upon them. It is a sad and desperate situation with no quick fix solution and unfortunately, what Oz, Nz & others are doing are only making things worse for those 'on the ground'.

Hmmmm Reading this it sounds familiar...Castro. Living in Miami and with a lot of Cuban friends, this is how it started there. Lets see where this goes and hopefully it can be stopped before it's too late.

The regime here is still afraid of its control and that it perceives some kinds of threats to its control and so it continues to retain these restrictions. What it tells the world is that the regime is not confident of its control and second, it is not in a position to argue its case with critics.

The Fiji situation is hard to judge now. NZers tend to have a very one sided view of how a democracy works and the things it takes for one to work (oh yeah, I am also a NZer!). One of those is that the people need to be ready for it and need to be able to understand it. In NZ, democracy is excellent as it gives the people what they need and want and have adapted to through the English and our own political reforms centuries in the making. Not so elsewhere.

If you remember and understand Churchill's quote "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried", then you are on your way to understanding.

If you have traveled and particularly lived in places with different political systems you will understand that sometime a benevolent dictator is exactly what is required. That's what Singapore had for a good 30 or more years and it worked out excellently for them.

I don't know Fiji as I have never lived there. If the military is putting itself and it's cohorts above the law though (by saying they can institute capital punishment with no trial/justice system), it will only be a matter of time before someone abuses that right. Then there could be a revolution. But if Bainimarama institutes his own justice on those that do wrong, including his own military, it might not be so bad. Watch this space I guess...

Oh yes i am very serious Nicholas. Voreqe is the best thing to happen to Fiji since the first coups of 1987. Do some 'homework'. You might be surprised by what you find out instead of getting all your information from the media.

You can't be serious amigo, bainimarama is doing nothing but plunging Fiji into deeper poverty for his own selfish reasons. He's drunk on power and has never had any intention of doing anything positive for the people of Fiji.