Coupster Bainimarama Expels Leading Academic From Fiji

// November 4th, 2009 // Fiji Coup Coverage

Now illegal Prime Minister of Fiji, Voreqe ‘Coupster’ Bainimarama has totally pissed me off with his detention expulsion of leading academic Dr. Brij Lal from the Fiji Islands.

An Australian academic of Indo-Fijian descent, Brij Lal was detained by the military in Suva yesterday and given 24 hours to leave the country. He had recently spoken out against the regime, saying he was doubtful that democracy would be restored in 2014. The U.S. says it deplores this action, even though Obama was congratulating Fiji on democratic rule just a month ago. Make up your mind America.

Bainimarama, how do you expect your ‘best and brightest’ academics, journalists, solicitors and entrepreneurs to come back home when you keep infringing on freedom of speech by throwing us in jail and deporting us anytime we cast doubt on your (false) promises?

As a wanna-be politician, have you ever heard the phrase “keep your friends close, your enemies closer?”

What are you telling your bright Fijian students studying at foreign universities, hoping and dreaming to serve Fiji one day, when you silence the voice of a leading Fijian academic?

This goes beyond a diplomatic attack on our colonial cousins in Australia. Dr. Brij Lal is an exemplary Indian scholar on the Girmit and Indenture system with profound knowledge Fijian history and the current political situation in Fiji. In fact, he is probably one of the minds to tap in order to lead the country. And now I really hope Dr. Lal publishes a bunch of work against your illegal regime.

Dumb move Coupster.

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3 Responses to “Coupster Bainimarama Expels Leading Academic From Fiji”

  1. anon says:
    November 5, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    Is there some dislosures warranted by Perna Lal, to reveal any connection to Brij Lal?
    That's ok if you want to hide that relationship in the closet.

    Secondly, this issue about "leading" academic is hyperbole. It seems this talking head role of Brij Lal has got him into hot water. Here we have Historian who thinks he knows more about Fiji's future. Like any back seat driver, a good telling off is certainly a sure fire way of putting self declared experts like Brij Lal in his place (which is in the lecture theater).

    While, I don't cordone violence and intimidation; it must be pointed out that Brij Lal was shouting fire in a crowded theater.

    Reply
    • Prerna Lal says:
      November 5, 2009 at 4:55 pm

      Your accusations are completely baseless. Lal is a common Indian last surname. I have never met nor spoken to the guy.

      Dr. Lal is known in academic circles as our best political historian and constitutional scholar. Questioning his credentials and views are stupid unless you are also an intellectual.

      There is something called 'freedom of speech' and kicking out academics for casting doubts on a regime that is frankly and factually illegal is preposterous. You do support violence against academics for speaking their minds if you are defending the actions of my government. Is that the message you want to send to Fijian students studying abroad? Don't come back to Fiji to serve your country because you might get kidnapped and beaten by the military? Shame on you.

      Hiding behind the cloak of anonymity doesn't serve your arguments well.

      Reply
    • Prerna says:
      November 5, 2009 at 12:40 pm

      And please “shouting fire in a crowded theater” is such a false analogy in this case given that he isn’t falsely shouting fire and there is no such theater in Fiji, given the right of free speech has been eliminated under PER. Judge Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. will be rolling in his grave for ever penning those words if he knew it was being use to support complete suppression of opinion and speech.

      Reply

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