Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On*

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 Criminality and  Insanity

The alleged gang rape of a mentally-challenged 12-year old girl brings to mind that we are still not out of the dark ages in Fiji. We live in the 21st Century yet we seem to harbour the Darks Ages in our lives. For some that is.

In this day and age, the convicted have rights. When they are sent to prison  get counseling, three solid meals a day, exercise, a roof over their head, access to facilities, and more. In one of my mate's words – they are pampered.

But what of the victims they  have violated? How many of them have they given  a life sentence? How many of those sexually molested will never  trust a man again for the rest of their lives?  What of the person who is now handicapped because of a violent robbery resulting in the amputation of a limb or the  person so mentally scarred that they can no longer contribute positively to society?

I am part of the Yellow Ribbon Project and I believe in the rehabilitation of our fellow man. But how would you  feel about the  person who has raped your loved one?  What would you like done to the perpetrator?

In the case of the alleged rape of the mentally challenged girl, we read that the village headman, the turaga-ni-koro, is alleged to be part of the group. Incredible!


Softer discipline
We have softened our disciplinary laws in that we no longer can meter out corporal punishment to school children and we are  not allowed to use the  birch  on violent criminals.

What are we, as a sane society, telling our  people? Are we saying that you, the criminal, will not get a hard time if you offend?  What  of the criminally insane, who commits a crime so violent that we go right into the very halls of Hell! And what are we doing to help the victims?

To the perpetrators of the alleged rape of the child, I say that if you are  convicted, you are morally, spiritually and mentally insane.  I look around Fiji and I see hundreds  of churches and places of worship, and I ask, “Are they mere building for show, or places where our God is alive and well?”
We need to relook at our society and tell our people to live exceptional lives. We need to start now or we are complicit  in the violence.

* Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.