Rev. Akuila Yabaki argues Fiji must rid itself of its coup culture through seeking an egalitarian, non-race-based constitution. Click here for a full report in Pacific Scoop by Thakur Ranjit Singh.
To read Akuila's "From Paramountcy to Equality" download from Mediafire by clicking here.
To read Akuila's "From Paramountcy to Equality" download from Mediafire by clicking here.
One person commenting on the article said: "I have lived in Fiji for 20 years. This sums everything up. NZ and AUST politicians should read and act accordingly on this sensible and true statement..."
Extracts from the report on his talks in Auckland
- The constitution should not be allowed to give legitimacy to a race-based politics and elections in this modern world. Removing the race-based politics would endanger support for political parties; hence their narrow political vested interest was the cause of reluctance in supporting this process, especially the Methodist Church and Qarase’s SDL Party.
- The rationale for militarisation at the positions of power was to increase efficiency by removing bureaucracy that had been stifling progress. The coup culture could only be discussed by discussing the military make up and involving them in the discussions.
- The National Charter for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF) was a good document with 11 pillars to carve a roadmap for Fiji that was supposed to have been done through a parliamentary process.
- The process of involving the civil society had commenced and the citizen diplomacy had started, involving community and the civil society. However dialogue at the political level had not commenced as there was a need for a genuine desire to change and move the country forward.
- When questioned on anything positive coming out of Fiji, Yabaki said that school bus fares had been made free while the budget had been well-received by all sections of the community. Roads were being opened up, they were also kept in good order and the administration was now coming to the people and there appeared to be a change in the traditional bureaucratic civil service mentality.
- On the New Zealand government stand on Fiji, Yabaki said that NZ had not succeeded as answers needed to come from Fiji, therefore more conciliatory policies would help inculcate and enhance democracy in Fiji.
- His main message on Fiji was to do what was best for Fiji. He pleaded to all, especially to politicians and even foreign governments to appreciate and realise that they were dealing with the military and hence they needed to find a window of opportunity to make a difference for the better future for democracy in Fiji. Photo: Cafe Pacific .
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3 comments:
A fine article. Mind you, In nearly 40 years of observing, working in and travelling through Fiji, I think that the 'ethnic divide' is too often a smoke screen for the elites to siphon off as much as they can. For instance, when the Native Lands Commission was doing its 40 years of work, the elites who ran the NLC made sure that they got extraordinary benefits (to wit: How did Ratu Mara get land in central Vanua Levu when he and his family had no ties to that place; and similar takings of land in other parts of the country that were not claimed by any mataqali). Don't get me wrong, I've worked with a number of good--and some great--chiefs in Fiji: People who were looking after their kinsmen's welfare at least as much as they were looking after their own. And probably more who exceeded that minimum (such as the late Ratu Ratavo Lalabalavu) and looked after their kinsmen than they did themselves. It is important to remember that, anywhere in the world, the rich (the elite) are statistically not different from the average person---except that they have money and/or position to act out their fantasies. It is elites, whether chiefly or business elites, whether Indian, Fijian, European or others, who play the ethnic card in order to get more or in order to not lose more. This elitists' squabbles prompts strife for everyone. Loloma, C.
Agree - the elite have far too often used the differences to drive a wedge for their own benefits.
The 2 communities can be brought closer nut instead the politicians and their backers have tried to drive them further apart.
All manner of power struggles exist in Fiji. They work on a variety of levels. That is why they must be constantly known, understood and taken into full account whenever the people are to be consulted. Politicians of every hue have failed Fiji and their constituents' interests. They failed them because they refused to see "A Big Picture" and in the main their knowledge of the wider world was also circumscribed. This must all end. Rev Akuila Yabaki - who has been reviled for his views - fully understands this multiplicity of interests and their interaction. Pay heed.
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