A heavily doctored video interview of Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama designed to discredit him has been circulated on social media by SODELPA Member of Parliament Mosese Bulitavu.

The 10 minute 31 second video, which Mr Bulitavu shared on a number of forums, has been edited out of a one hour and seven-minute interview in 2014 conducted by journalist Stanley Simpson for Fiji One’s Close Up programme.

SODELPA general secretary Adi Litia Qionibaravi did not respond to questions on the motive behind the spreading of the edited video and whether the party follows any ethics during campaigns.

The edited video has gone viral on social media and on one forum when questions were raised about its authenticity, Mr Bulitavu did not deny that it was an edited version. Instead of setting the record straight, he attacked Mr Bainimarama and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

A professional video editor, who has worked for both major television companies in Fiji, has also given his expert opinion on the video.

Mohammed Faiyaz Khan worked in video editing with Fiji One from 2003 till 2011 after which he joined FBC TV, was yesterday asked by the Fiji Sun to review the video for the newspaper and give his expert opinion on it.

Mr Khan said: “The video has clearly been edited. There are jumps in between frames and there is also lip sync noted.”

He explained that lip sync meant what was heard on audio was different from what Mr Bainimarama was saying.

Mr Khan further explained that the audio was not consistent and the video was abrupt – all signs of a poorly edited video. He also explained that attempts were made to string words together to form a sentence.

Response to the video

The doctored video was viewed more than 32,000 times before this edition went to print.

Every person who pointed out that the video was fake was attacked by Mr Bulitavu who further claimed that “truth hurts”.

Mr Bulitavu was ridiculed on social media but did not accept that the video he had posted up was fake and had been heavily edited.

There have also been reports that similar videos have been made on CDs and spread in villages and communities in an attempt to discredit Mr Bainimarama.

When questioned about his motive by the Fiji Sun, Mr Bulitavu, who is a lawyer by profession and has practised law in Fiji, apart from spending four years in Parliament as a Member of Parliament, claimed he believed the video was original.

“It was shared to me as it was on social media already. Who produced it and what is their motive is unknown? I gave my views on what I watched believing it was the original. I have not shared it to the villages. Everyone watched it and gave their views too,” he said.

He further added: “… are you the PM’s spokesperson now?”

He further said he thought editing meant making the clip smaller.

The video shows Mr Bainimarama not responding to questions posed by the journalist when in fact his response had been edited out.

It also shows that Mr Bainimarama said “forget about iTaukei rights” putting the comment out of context and portrayed Mr Bainimarama as saying he did not care for the rights of the iTaukei people.

The doctored video also shows Mr Bainimarama as saying that if FijiFirst wins, people will not be able to pray to Jesus. In fact, the original video shows that Mr Bainimarama was explaining that during campaigning in 2014, some political parties had spread lies that a secular state meant that people would not be able to pray to Jesus.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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