Archaic perhaps, but they still discuss, debate, and vote on things.
As for the media, they can say whatever they want, and the foreign media is not known for cultural sensitivity. Aussies and Kiwis have been confused for years because they have in one case indigenous who are largely marginalized, and in the other indigenous who have their own name and don't need a colonial name like "New Zealand", "New South Wales", "New Guinea", etc.
What we are talking about here is the plight of indigenous people and the various ways in which colonials and diasporics marginalized them, knowingly or not. The UN has recognized this. In fact, India is one of the worst offenders. I have heard that on average a culture and indigenous language disappears every day there. This is what you get from a backward racist nation with money and guns.
Are you aware, too, that Fiji has a constitution?
People don't need to listen to a little runt like Samy holding forth about his Master's feces with an army of mercenary guns behind him and then Voreqe saying that the "Charter of the People" will be implemented whether the People want it or not. It will be interesting to see the propaganda and tricks he uses to try to pretend that his $4 million bribe Charter has the support of a majority of the People of Fiji. That would take an internationally supervised referendum or election by the existing constitutional rules. I have not heard much about HOW the Voice of the People is to be heard. Most likely the Charter will be taken around to a number of settlements known to be supportive or intimidated, and while the TV cameras roll, a wall of Green soldiers will be visible with their guns in the background, hidden from the cameras. In other words, it has already been decided that Chaudhry will win the election, the military for an emergency coup any time he starts to lose, the majority of the People will have nothing to say about it, and the few who control the guns will be paid off. No one will be fooled, but no one will do anything about it until later when they get fed up and then the assassinations, ambushes, accidental deaths, and deaths by mysterious causes will start. The tactics Chaudhry, Voreqe, and Kati Mara use merely set the stage for the next coup. The only stabilizing factor is the Constitution, but they seem inclined to ignore it, and I doubt Voreqe and Kati Mara have even read it. They don't need to read, they just take orders and act on impulse in a way that bolsters their self-image. They don't understand and don't care to understand things like social good and economic progress because these things are not subject to the command mentality and they don't need them to support their handful of goons with guns who keep the rest of the People subdued, poverty stricken, and unaware of the opportunities open to free human beings.

Last Edited By: gdevreal 08/06/08 11:42:22. Edited 2 times.