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FILIPE TUISAWAU’S COMMENTS ARE INCITEFUL AND DIVISIVE The people of Fiji including indigenous Fijians should be concerned about recent comments by Ratu Filipe Tuisawau on various issues such as electoral reforms, land, race and in particular his call on Fijians to use the UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) to stand up against the State. The issue, if not handled wisely, is a recipe for civil unrest. It may be noted that for reasons such as this a number of Fiji’s development partners such as Australia, New Zealand and USA, and others, vehemently tried to oppose the passing of UNDRIP in the United Nations. Ratu Filipe’s comments on race, it would appear, were made to create confusion and fear, and in many ways are inciteful. The “race” card is being used, yet again when national efforts are underway, through the NCBBF and the People’s Charter process, to bring about racial unity and national identity. For Ratu Filipe to claim that the NCBBF is trying to rob indigenous Fijians of their identity is far fetched and mischievous. The Fijian people cannot be robbed of their identity by anybody by any means. The Fijians are proud of their identity and they do not need provincial and communal electoral systems to preserve their identity. The provincial electoral system was only introduced in 1990. He asserts that any move to review the electoral system to make it fairer, more democratic and responsive, will be resisted by indigenous Fijians. He has, in a few words, tried to turn people away from being constructive on an issue of such importance to Fijians and Fiji. He is insulting the intelligence of Fijian people. Land, a very sensitive issue, has been talked about in a manner that will make ignorant people feel that land ownership is being threatened; that the NCBBF discussions on the issue will alienate landowners from their land. This is naïve and misleading, made to create fear and arouse the emotions of ordinary people, in particular the indigenous Fijians. As members of the NCBBF and as indigenous Fijians concerned about Fiji and its future, we abhor and vehemently oppose such cheap political verbosity made to rouse emotions and create unnecessary fear at the expense of constructive debate and dialogue. The NCBBF welcomes constructive and frank dialogue and contributions, made with a clear intention of adding value to the current discussions and debate to get answers to our problems, but, not the type being uttered by Ratu Filipe and others who are obsessed with discrediting the NCBBF and the People’s Charter initiative. On these various issues, we wish to clarify the NCBBF and our own positions on these issues with the hope of setting the records straight. The People’s Charter will support the principles and purpose of the UNDRIP, which is to develop and enhance the standard of life of the indigenous community and to ensure that they are not marginalized. The UNDRIP should be seen as a mechanism to promote the advancement and well being of the indigenous peoples, in particular the disadvantaged and suppressed; however, it should not to be used for blackmailing governments and create division within a state, as being mooted by detractors like Ratu Filipe. This is a key reason why governments like New Zealand, Australia and the United States opposed it vehemently during the debate in the United Nations. We the right thinking people of Fiji should also oppose moves to inculcate such divisive thoughts in our indigenous community. Many of the people of Fiji including institutions like the Electoral Commission and the Boundaries Commission have expressed the need to address some pertinent problems besetting our electoral system. The issue of the need for a reform to Fiji’s electoral system is now under discussion. His Excellency the President has been requested to take action: to convene a forum where all major stakeholders including the political parties will discuss this. The outcome of the forum will determine the way forward. Land has been made a sensitive issue in Fiji; played up as a political football. The NCBBF is only concerned with utilization of land for productive use and not ownership. The solution should be derived from constructive dialogue between all stakeholders, in particular, the landowners and tenants. Indigenous Fijians must play a lead role in ensuring that their land does not lie idle; unused. We should focus our considerations on how we utilize the land resource for productive purposes. And in the discussions, we must focus on ways and means of ensuring a win-win situation between the owners and the users when these are tenants. On race, it must be put on record that the NCBBF is promoting nothing more than tolerance of ethnic diversity based on national unity and national identity. NCBBF acknowledges that ethnic difference is a fact of life but the problem of racism and the lack of national identity are hindrances to Fiji’s development. This is creating unnecessary fears among Fijians and relegating Fiji Indians into second-class citizens. Constructive debates are encouraged to find meaningful solutions. We need to develop a shared national identity. We need to get rid of race based divisive politics and policies, and for that we need among other things, to reform our electoral system. The people of Fiji, in the richness of our diversity, do have the capacity to tackle our problems to lift this country out of the current depressing situation. We need the self belief that we can change our future for the better, for ourselves and for our descendants. We need to agree, as a nation, on how to deal with our problems. We need to chart the way forward as ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION. We also must ensure that we promote our common interest rather than focus mainly on our differences. NCBBF Media Committee: May 13, 2008 |
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