Spotting the Dictators Election Strategy From a Distance As speculation builds on whether elections in Fiji will take place next year, it is interesting to also speculate over Dictator Bainimaramas strategy to win the votes of those he has systematically suppressed this last 7 years. First and foremost, he will not be talking up his military other than to restate his highest regard for it in removing what he regarded as a corrupt government. He will not win this battle of credibility and integrity. Precisely why his opponents must do the opposite and nail him to such a disreputable institution since he led it. For urban, middle class voters of all races, he will zero in on his quest to forcibly Fijianise national identity as if a panacea to unite the races. Sadly, unity does not come just by calling everyone Fijian when values and cultural norms differ considerably. To ignore the existence of differences owing to race is delusional. Much better to acknowledge the differences while building common ground based on those values that are universal and uphold national pride, not by denying the existence of differences. For rural Fijians, he will no doubt capitalise on the vast infrastructural projects and bribes given for development works funded by Chinese loans. This is where he will be most uncertain as Fijians will be happy to receive all the government projects yet bide their time and vote. His opponents will do well to highlight here how he has trashed prominent Fijian institutions such as the GCC, churches, administration of native land etc..Fijians never forget those who perpetrate grievous harm to their pride and dignity or mana as people. Any strategy against Dictator Bainimarama must have the following: - simple and reiterates his illegal and unconstitutional behaviour and actions leading to the present situation; - focused on the costs and lost opportunities to Fiji and its people of his illegal rule; - how things would have been far better for Fiji without his illegal rule - compare and contrast his stated pronouncements against his regimes actions and those of his illegal ministers; - how much he and his cronies have personally benefited from his illegal rule at the expense of ordinary people; - point out his cavalier attitude and disregard for basic human rights; - how Fiji will never shake off its coup culture unless its military fall in under civilian rule. As election date draws near, watch how Dictator Bainimarama will portray himself as the benevolent dictator who came to Fijis rescue when in fact its destruction and moral decay. He will distance himself from the actions of his military in order to curry favour with young people especially, who are sick and tired of being in a dictatorship which suppresses freedom and free speech. I still have faith in the Fijian mindset which will assess what really matters to them in the long run than just the sugar coatings on development projects thrown their way in order to get their votes. More than ever Fijians are being called to decide on their very existence on their own land. You can only pray they will do the right and decent thing and throw Dictator Bainimarama and his party into the dustbin of political history never to rise ever again.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 11:58:23 +0000
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