HIS
EXCELLENCY RATU EPELI NAILATIKAU
CF, KStJ,
LVO, OBE (Mil),CSM, MSD
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ADDRESS
AT THE THANKSGIVING SERVICE FOR THE RELEASE OF OUR 45 PEACEKEEPERS
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ANZ
Stadium 16th
September, 2014
SUVA 4.35p.m.
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The
Honourable Prime Minister,
Honourable
Ministers,
The
Representatives of the Religious Groups and Faith-Based Organizations
present
Your
Excellencies, the Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
Members
of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished
Guests,
Ladies
and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls.
Good
afternoon, nisa bula vinaka, salaam alaykum, namaste.
We
gather together as a nation today to give thanks to Almighty God for
the release of our 45 brave peacekeepers, who were detained for two
weeks by a militant group in Syria.
Our
prayers for their safe return have been answered. They are free and
back safely with their comrades on duty with the United Nations
Disengagement Observer Force on the Golan Heights.
We
rejoice as a nation that God enveloped them in his love to protect
them and give them strength during their ordeal.
We
also rejoice that God also enveloped their captors in his love, and
guided them away from harming our men.
We
are hearing remarkable stories from our soldiers of the bond they
formed with their captors, hardened men, in one of the most
unforgiving places on earth.That bond had nothing to do with politics
or the cause that this group was trying to advance when the group
took our men.
It
was the basic bond of human beings interacting on an hourly and daily
basis and coming to realize that they share a common humanity.
Let
us ask ourselves this question:
Why
were some of the people who seized our loved ones crying when they
released them? How could the hostage takers have formed such an
emotional attachment?
I
believe there are three answers:
Our
men had come to the Middle East to keep the peace, not as combatants.
They are good men – honest, open and courageous; and they carry
with them the bula spirit that Fijians take from our beloved nation
across the world - of friendliness, Humility, Consideration for
others and Love.
I
also believe that God was with our soldiers, giving them the inner
strength to confront their ordeal, to display their own character,
discipline and strength, to empathize with their captors and engage
with them in a way that perhaps they never expected.
And
I believe that God was also with the militants. God shined his light
into their hearts and turned their anger into compassion.
We
also pray for them today and ask that they be granted peace, along
with every person in that troubled part of the world.
God
was also with us here in Fiji and especially with the families and
friends of our men, whose anxiety and distress can only be imagined
but who inspired us all with their own courage and fortitude.
Many
of you are here with us today, naturally relieved and grateful that
your loved ones are safe. We pay tribute to the dignity with which
you faced your ordeal.
You,
more than anyone, know in your hearts that God was with you,
enveloping you in his comfort and love.
Your
prayers have been answered, along with the prayers of our entire
nation. Which is why we gather today in grateful thanks for God’s
mercy.
We
also rededicate ourselves as Fijians to our service to the global
community through the United Nations to act as peacekeepers wherever
and whenever it is necessary to keep the peace.
For
some 36 years now, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces has answered
the call to send the men and women of Fiji to those parts of the
world riven by conflict and strife to act as a buffer between the
warring factions.
It
is the most noble of missions – to protect vulnerable, ordinary
people caught up in these conflicts on behalf of every nation – the
global family to which Fiji belongs.
It
is Fiji’s contribution to the world, not to wage war but to keep
the peace. And nothing that has happened in the past two weeks will
alter our commitment to that mission.
We
serve with pride and we will continue to serve.
As
the Prime Minister said when our men were released, Fiji already
stands tall and proud in the world.
But
because of their example, we stand that much taller and that much
prouder as we gather together today.
And
during this poignant moment of thanksgiving and reflection we should
also remember those men and women of Fiji who have served in and are
still serving in Lebanon, Sinai, Iraq, Syria, Timor Leste, Sudan,
Dafur, Liberia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Cambodia, and in the Solomon Islands.
Some of them have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Tomorrow,
we also embark proudly on a landmark event in the life of our nation
– the first genuinely democratic election in our history, based on
equal votes of equal value.
Let
us also dedicate ourselves today to conducting an election that is
free and fair in an atmosphere of tolerance and goodwill.
As
your president i urge you all to exercise your democratic right. It
is your vote and no-one else’s. Do not be intimidated by threats of
violence or actual violence.
I
urge all political parties and their supporters not to intimidate
anyone or engage in any untoward activity.
Democracy
is about allowing all individuals to vote freely without fear or
favour. We must all accept the will of the people but still unify as
a nation.
YourExcellencies,
ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we have much to be grateful for
as a nation.
Our
beautiful surroundings, our abundant natural resources, and the rich
diversity of our people.
Let
us re-dedicate ourselves before God today to remain unified as a
nation and to follow his example of love.
May
God bless our peacekeepers and their families, may God bless us all
as we strive to become a better nation.
May
God bless Fiji.
Thank
you, vinakavakalevu, sukria, bahootdhanyavaad.
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8 comments:
Thanks Croz
Any insights into how much ransom was paid to the Islamic terrorists for the release of the Fijian military who surrendered to them? Reading through the regime presidents comments gives very good insights into the lack of success by the UN in any area of conflict over the last period of time. Considerable effort will be needed by the UN in future to identify more capable and courageous troops like the Filipinos if terrorism is to be defeated. Finally congratulations to the US, Australia and other democratic nations who are currently attacking islamic jihadists as we speak.
Who cares how much ransom was paid? (if indeed it was). As long as our soldiers were released unharmed, that's all that matters.
Ano @ 10:06pm Hey buster, UNDOF is a UN Observer Mission that was set up under Chap 6 of the UN Charter. Do you understand what that means?
You have obviously not been a soldier nor have you served in a UN Peacekeeping operation under Chap 6, otherwise you would have understood the difference between that and war fighting. They are two different situations with two different criteria defining success. In the former the exercise of RESTRAINT and the application of MINIMUM FORCE is its defining feature. Not so in normal combat operations where commanders are free to create the conditions under which they operate. Its like taking the rules of soccer and applying it in a game of rugby.
The Filipinos have since decided to pull out of UNDOF after realizing their application of war fighting principles (which resulted in the deaths of three Al Nusra militants) has made them targets of future acts of retribution from Al Nusra. Thats the end of their involvement in UN peacekeeping. They may have won the battle, but THEY LOST THE WAR.
I made these points in an earlier posting on the hostage crisi in UNDOF. Go back and read it
Anon @ 12:45 star ga o iko
This is a wonderful speech. Makes me very proud to be Fijian, especially at this time. Vinaka Your Excellency!
Might pay for you to research the different mandates under which different U.N missions operate under. UN has quite a comprehensive online page that explains this. It's peacekeeping not conventinal warfare-huge difference kemuni.
Kalougata tiko.
Ratu Nite ni bula. Se'u meu tukuna beka: "Muju cola vina na Maheki". Io, sa Naita mada ga o kemuni na turaga ni Burebasaga.
Daru qase ni vuli tu eke (Lamont High School, Gladstone). Keirau veikilai kei Turaga Mataqali o Vili (Bill Wadely) - mining engineer mai Rockhampton.
I speak a lot to my kaivata who is ex RFMF (maybe before your time) about these issues. I tap into his ideas on warfighting and peacekeeping etc and I am heavily influenced by his thinking. I have seen his name already mentioned here. I think you will know who I mean.
My interest is based on this broad idea of the 'Role of the Military in Fiji Society' especially in the democracy that will ensue after today's elections. You could say that it is a scholarly interest as I have not served. This explains my regular phone discussions with my kaivata here in Oz.
Please continue to provide your insights as it helps us understand more.
O au saka na nomuni tamata vakarorogo!
Great speech straight from the heart, including the heart of the people of Fiji. "God" mentioned no less than ten times.
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