More questions on Rabuka’s trip to India

Questions still remain although Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed speculation that he went to India recently for medical reasons.

They include his repudiation of his The People’s Alliance general secretary Sakiasi Ditoka’s statement that he was invited for talks with the Indian Military Attache.

This was a debacle in public relations exercise and exposed a big weakness in the party’s communication apparatus.

What is not clear is whether it was deliberate or unintentional the idea that the Indian trip was a private one and should not be made public.

Mr Rabuka, Mr Ditoka and the party hierarchy have now learned that in politics, especially at the height of an election campaign, their activities, private and public, are open to public scrutiny on the principles of accountability and transparency.

They and all their colleagues, especially those who are contesting the election, should accept that they are public figures.

This is by virtue of the fact that they are parading themselves as aspiring representatives of the people. It applies to all politicians and the parties they represent.

Mr Rabuka, Mr Ditoka & Co made the blunder when they failed to put out a media release before the trip began.

It should have said simply that Mr Rabuka would be travelling to India for medical reasons and be expected back in two weeks.

To pre-empt questions from the inquisitive minds, the statement could say that he needed a checkup on a knee that was operated on some years ago.

Politicians and political parties must learn that whatever they say or don’t say will be scrutinised.

A media release would have helped to difuse tension, lessen controversy, speculation and suspicion.

Mr Rabuka and The PA did exactly what they accused the FijiFirst Government of doing in the controversy over Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s trip to Melbourne, Australia to have his heart operation. This is hypocrisy.

But it highlights a serious defect in its communication system.

When Mr Rabuka refutes Mr Ditoka’s statement it is not a good look.

It implies a disconnect in the communication between Mr Rabuka and his administrative team.

What is still a mystery is where Mr Ditoka got his information from about Mr Rabuka being invited by the Indian Military Attache. Did he make it up to keep the media at bay or did he get it wrong when he was informed Mr Rabuka would meet up his with old military associates? Mr Ditoka’s statement sparked a media frenzy.

The Indian High Commission in Suva and the Indian Military Attache in Canberra, Australia knew nothing about an invitation.

How come Mr Ditoka was not aware of the medical reasons for the trip or was he trying to hide that too because of their criticism of Mr Bainimarama’s medical trip?

Mr Rabuka said his trip was privately sponsored but he declined to release details. Was the subject so sensitive that he withheld details?

Were the sponsors local or foreign and did they request privacy? These questions are important because people want to know the background of people Mr Rabuka is dealing with. They are matters of public interest.

Mr Rabuka said he was accorded the protocols of a former head of government while in India.

“The protocol people would have probably been notified of my visa application and they were at the airport to meet me and accorded the proper protocol for a former head of government all the way to the hotel and during my trips around Delhi,” he said.

While the Indian High Commission in Suva said Mr Mr Rabuka did not apply for his visa to it but got an electronic visa, it did not say that it was aware that Mr Rabuka would be accorded the protocols as a former head of government.

Until all these questions are answered, what happened before and after the knee checkup remains a mystery and will not go away.