BEATING PHOTOS can't be consigned to SCRAP ALBUM: 'They must have thought I was Indian because they used very foul language against my mother and kept saying they were doing it because I was a 'kai idia'"

14/7/2016

"I was expecting to get a beating because of what we were doing, but what I did not expect was for one of the police officers to pour the boiling water from the kettle over my body."

Jim Knowles (now known as Jim Kusi) while he was admitted in hospital in 2009.

By Felix Chaudhary
Fiji Times
Thursday, July 14, 2016

ONE of the three men caught allegedly cultivating marijuana by a team of police and military officers in 2009 says he still does not understand why they were tortured and then forced to walk for six hours to a village to be transported to hospital.

He also claimed the security forces team used racially derogatory remarks while torturing him because they thought he was a Fijian of Indian descent. Jim Kusi, a resident of Sigatoka, claimed he still had trouble sleeping because of the trauma invoked by the combined police and military squad.

"I had already admitted to them that we were looking after the farm and we were all prepared to go and face court over any charges but what they did to us that evening is something I will never forget," the 47-year-old shared.

"It was sometime in June. Because we were up in the highlands, we had no idea there was an operation to sweep for drug farms. Around dusk as we were preparing to have tea, about seven or eight men attacked us."
"All we could see was police and military uniforms as they began punching and kicking us and using sticks to poke us," Mr Kusi alleges.

"I was expecting to get a beating because of what we were doing, but what I did not expect was for one of the police officers to pour the boiling water from the kettle over my body.

"And while I was screaming in pain, they poked sticks into my back and were laughing as they did it. They must have thought I was Indian because they used very foul language against my mother and kept saying they were doing it because I was a 'kai dia'."

Mr Kusi alleged he and the other two victims were tied up like animals as the beating continued.

"One of the men used burning ember to burn off my long hair while the others laughed. After that they tied our hands together and made us walk for six hours to a village.

"We were taken to hospital and kept isolated from other patients. While I was in hospital, a man came to me with some papers.

"He said they had the right to kill me and do whatever they wanted with me because I was growing drugs.

"He forced me to sign some papers and then I never saw him again," he claimed.

Mr Kusi spent a few weeks in hospital recovering from severe burns, cuts to his back and bruising all over his body before being released. He now stays at home and looks after his four young children.

25 Comments

Tomasi Roko

14/7/2016 02:00:09 am

If indo-Fijians were under the illusion that the army thugs will protect them, think again. They are friends of no one except the money that comes to them. The military is with Bai/Kai today as they r getting a huge slice of the pie. The day that stops, they will find another sleeping mate. When these thugs can turn and abuse their own kind, imagine the fury they can bring on you all. Bai/Kai's grip on the military is getting slimmer by the day. If only one unit revolts, that will bring in the level of destruction that indo-Fijians have never dreamed of. All will be paying the price for one thick heads action of chipping into what Fijians hold dear. Pray that such a time does not come

pita

14/7/2016 02:13:07 am

This is all wrong. In Bai and Kai's new Fiji where race is supposed to be a non issue you have members of the security forces, the so called upholders of the law, not only acting outside of the law to physically and mentally abuse suspects, but also denigrate them for their racial make up.
It's the hallmark of torturers the world over to stereotype and demean their victims before they wrought their evil act on them. In the mind of a Fijian soldier being an Indian is sufficient grounds to abuse him and swear at his mother. I wonder what our idiotic Human Rights Commissioner will do about this?

Peter

14/7/2016 02:58:17 am

Rfmf hasn't changed its philosophy or it's S.O.P regarding the Indian population, no matter which decree is implemented.
They are always going to be made up of Indian haters in all ranks.
When an indigenous child is born here in Fiji,the first words uttered by them is magaichinana kai idia,then in the same breath you will hear jisu noqu jisu.

Samjha

14/7/2016 03:01:07 am

What has John Key , Julie Bishop and the rest of the gang in the international community who were shamelessly prepared to embrace Frank Bainimarama ,the Dictator of Fiji , and his cronies and apparatchiks got to say about this torture and human rights abuse. Will anyone in the establishment international body be recommending prosecution of the torturers in the ICC?

Socho

14/7/2016 03:09:29 am

Jim Kusi is a very lucky man. He is still alive to tell his gruesome tale .
Reverent Thomas Baker wasn't so lucky in an earlier era. I gather after making a meal of him, the natives boiled his boots to have as a wash down.

Pita

15/7/2016 06:22:33 am

Socho please do not speak on something you know little about. For your information the tabua requesting the mountain men to assisinate Reverant thomas Baker came from Bau

Dekho

14/7/2016 04:08:45 am

I am not at all surprised that Jim Kusi was the target of derogatory racial remarks, anti- Indian scorn and mirth ( because the Fijian military and police thugs thought he was a Kai idia ). I knew all along that coupist Bainimarama's claim about ending racism and creating equal citizenry was a lie that appealed to naive and stupid Indians.
These naive and stupid Indians forget that it is the same military and police that was responsible for the racial abuse of Indians at the time of the Rabuka coup. Leopards do not change their spots.
Just by installing some Bum sucking Indians in his regime Bainimarama has not ended racism and given citizens equality.
Just take a look at the composition of the Fiji military a decade after his takeover.

Welcome Home

14/7/2016 04:15:23 am

So now we appear to understand that historical photos of what is undoubtedly serious abuse amounting to torture are evidence. This evidence and that of women police officers who were either witnesses to or who had relatives abused in 2009, finally after two days in Dialogue broke down through traumatised memory of events. The Dialogue was in February 2010 at Sonaisali funded and facilitated by EU and UN with many NGOs and women's organisations and Crimestoppers participating. The narrative of abuse in the highlands of Navosa only emerged in the sessions convened in small groups by design. This psychological trauma still endures it may be expected by those who witnessed violent and internationally illegal acts. Their Police training would have underlined proper conduct in such operations if any acceptable outcome through due process were to be achieved medium to long term. It will be urgent now for further Dialogues to be arranged in safe and secure locations with expertise sought at international level. UN Women come to mind and FEMLINK who have long term experience.

kev

14/7/2016 06:49:53 am

Qilihio, bainimarama and Khaiyum should step down. It is under their stewardship this happened.

Mele

14/7/2016 08:18:11 am

Outright disgusting are both the torture and the racial tagging. The reality in Fiji is that people have grown up with racism and prejudices. Leaders fuel these.
Under name of political correctness we keep silent. Like we all are silent on the muslim control and domination in Fiji now. Everyone here sees it every day. Everyone talks about it privately, in small groups and now even in churches. But no one dare stand up and condemn such abhorrent practice of Kai and Bai. Two people involved in big big drug cases were freed. both are muslim. Criminals come to Fiji from Pakistan. Ask any immigration officer and he will tell you of interference in their work by Khaiyum. One day this political correctness will cost us a lot.

Alibaba

14/7/2016 10:14:15 am

Mele you condemn racial tagging in one paragraph and then racially profile in another. Did you read the comment by Peter about the kaiviti child. Well that is what you just did. Magaitinana in one breath and jesu in another. Yes their are some Muslims in prominent positions in Fiji. So what their are 80% kaiviti in prominent positions as well why not complain about that. There is a racial imbalance in the army the police and the civil service as a whole. Why not point that out if you are not a racist.

You tell me why cant a tax paying Fijian of any race or color hold high office if the merit is their. Are the Muslims not tax payers. Are they not citizens of this country? People like you disgust me. Its OK when race and religion is used against people you don't like but when it is against people you like suddenly the other guy becomes racist. You are a hypocrite. For your information i do not like ASK and his cronies any more than you do. It is not because of which stupid God they pray to but what they are doing to this country. I will also enlighten you on something else. The coup and i mean all the coups were planned and done by Christian kaiviti. All the beatings of women and men were done by Sunday school God fearing kaiviti that does not mean that my best friend who is a kaiviti and my kaiviti neighbors the 50 staff i employ in my business who are kaviti are all bad people. The point is simple if you are truly not racial than stop pointing out peoples religion or race as the reason why they should not be in office or should not be in power. Point out there deeds that you don't agree with not who they pray to. Dumb.

Welcome Home

14/7/2016 10:32:03 am

Mele: bravely written and you have every right to write of what you know to be so on a daily basis. The date-rape drugs were reliably reported to have been distributed by known citizens. Information was passed to an authoritative place. No idea what became of it. One might suppose "not much"? After all, too much 'paisa/lavo' at stake and far too much misogynistic gymnastics to forfeit. The culture of enforced rape and pillage is now "par for the course" despite protestations to the contrary. Too many courses!

Pita

14/7/2016 05:13:43 pm

Alibaba, and what of the Indian domination of the business sector and the economy. The Fijians are not complaining. Greater minds like Nelson Mandela have seen it fit to bring in affirmative action policies empower blacks. Because the concentration of power in the hands of one group is considered dangerous.
Fijians are dominant in the army and the civil service for historical reasons just as Indo Fijians dominate the sugar industry for reasons of history. No body complains.
Fiji Leaks has revealed that Muslim job applicants get special treatment at FNU for the fact they are Muslims. Is that fair Alibaba? The issue Mele is raising is true. There is a perception in Fiji today that Muslims are occupying more and more high and strategic positions and that this is brought about by the concentration of power in the hands of one man, the arrogant narcissist attorney general, Ayed Sayed Khaiyum, If today's headlines were not dominated by radical Islam that has as its doctrine the destruction of other religions there would be no concern in Fiji, So the Khayum factor plus radical Islam is the source of the fears that Mele points out. We may like you disagree Alibaba but we can't deny that the perception exists

Escobar

14/7/2016 05:30:05 pm

All this could have been avoided if guy's had followed the law and plant crops. There's a fijian saying " Ke o basuka na Bai ena Kati iko na gata" that's exactly what happened.

Pita

15/7/2016 06:36:04 am

Escobar, are u speaking to us from the other side? You were supposed to have been killed by security forces in your home country, Colombia leaving behind a drug empire that made you the biggest drug supplier into the United States and one of the top 10 riches men in the world..What can be said in your favour is that you build schools, hospitals and other ifrastructure to help the rural poor that government was unwilling or unable to do. But the way you are speaking to us is more as a military man trying to justify the torture of drug suspects in Navosa. Let me enlighten you that your saying is not a Fijian one at all, its one either you or the military made up to justify your torture driven tactics of poor civilian populations. The question I put to you, is who controls the gata or snake? In a modern democracy all authority resides in Parliament that is occupied by representatives of the people. Own up you believe that the military is above the people and subject to no one but yourselves. Who gave you that authority? You abrogated it by use the guns. You rule the country in the name of the people but by the authority you gave yourself.

Welcome Home

14/7/2016 06:50:05 pm

Planting crops to enhance food security might well have been a sensible if less lucrative option. BUT and it is a Big But: this has happened before. Eye witness report was given specifically on the now familiar trussing of humans like pigs in the aftermath of the clearing out of Parliament in July 2000. Hundreds were allegedly transported in this 'vuaka-like' state in trucks. Severe injuries resulted. So it is not a first instance of such treatment and the propensity for it is now embedded. Therefore, a Trust Deficit in the capacity to professionaly protect civilians in an emergency situation is deemed reasonable. No one doubts the need of the Fijian population to be protected from drug cartels and their overlords but the modus operandi is of the highest and utmost importance. Fifteen years may appear too long a period of time for relevance but in the memory of many it is but yesterday because no catharsis has been achieved through accountability.

Rajend Naidu

14/7/2016 08:28:53 pm

Editor,
Fighting Human Rights Abuse and Injustice : The Zimbabwean Way.
We learn from ' Zimbabwe : Power to the pastor, power to the people as Mawarire walks ' Daily Maverick 14/7 that over 200 lawyers volunteered to represent en masse pastor Evan Mawarire at his court hearing on Wednesday. When the Magistrate Chikwekwe asked who was representing the accused in one voice the lawyers raised their Law Society cards.
Pastor Mawarire was charged for " inciting public violence", a charge that was just minutes before the hearing substituted for the more serious charge of treason. The intention was clear : the regime wanted to put the pastor way behind bars for a long long time.
Belvin Bapato, an attorney said " There is a time when we have to shed our status as lawyers and push for justice as citizens. It does not require a lawyer to see that there is injustice going on here".
He spoke for all the lawyers and the thousands of Zimbabwean people who gathered outside the court, draped in the national flag, to protest the injustice being perpetrated by the State on pastor Mawarire.
Even before the trial Magistrate Chikwekwe refused to enter the court until the riot police were removed from the court.
We learn from Nehanda Radio Updates on # This Flag Evan Mawarire court hearing that the court released Mawarire and Magistrate Chikwekwe said the authorities acted in violation of the constitution by arresting and charging pastor Mawarire.
The ruling mob in Zimbabwe did not think something like this could happen. It has. And a warning about peoples' power has been served on Mugabe's regime.
Oppressed people elsewhere will no doubt draw inspiration from the Zimbabwean lawyers and people on how to take on a repressive regime and win.
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

Alibaba

14/7/2016 09:47:26 pm

Pita i will try and reply to your false assumptions as best as i can. Yes Indians dominate the business sector correct. This is however not of their own choosing. The Indians did not come here to dominate. The fact is Kaiviti are simply not interested in business. No one stops the kaiviti to do business. The same opportunities are open to all of Fiji's people. I am the son of a land less coolie who's father worked for $35 week. From nothing i built a successful business which now employees over 80 people. If i can do it why cant the kaiviti who have all the land in the world do it. THAT IS A QUESTION FOR YOU TO ANSWER.
In fact since the first coup in 1987 till 2006 the playing field via affirmative action was in favor of the kaviti. Everything from loans to trade ready business were given to the kaiviti. Remember the Eimcol saga.That is 20 years of affirmative action under Rabuka and Qarase and what is the result less than 5% of business today is owned by the kaiviti. Who's fault is this. Even today in the guise of Fiji for all, Frank and ASK are giving much more avenues to the kaiviti to succeed than ever before. In fact i am the first to point out that they are doing nothing for the Indian community and most Indians know this.

Now the FNU issue is obviously wrong and no right thinking Fijian will support it. I think it is disgusting and we must raise our voices against this. However is it any different from what Rabuka and Qarase were doing. They too had their kaivatas given preference over others. There were numerous accounts of blatant nepotism under the Rabuka and Qarase administrations. This is called corruption and has nothing to do specifically with race or religion. Granted 2 wrongs do not make a right and that is why we must fight for true democracy and end the last 30 years of poor governance.

While i agree that radical Islam is the greatest threat to humanity at this stage in our history putting it into a Fiji context is wrong and simply based on illogical fears. For your information i am formally of the Muslim faith i am now a hardcore Atheist. Out of all the faiths in the world i dislike Islam the most. However logic dictates that radical Islam is not a threat to Fiji. For one the majority of the Muslims who are radical are Arabs by race. Fiji Muslims are Indians. Second most Muslims in Fiji are only Muslims by definition. Yes they go to the Mosque on Friday but most don't understand anything about their faith. If they did they would leave the faith in the thousands just as it is happening all over the world. Third Muslims in Fiji number only 16% of the total Indian population. If you do the maths that would be about 50,000 people of which a good 60% would be children. Hardly a threat to anyone. In fact Muslims marry more kaiviti than any other faith in Fiji. In fact ASK is married to a kaiviti, Faiyaz Koya was married to a kaiviti, The dude who runs AFL is also married to a part kaiviti. Anyone who says that ASK is a kaiviti hater is incorrect. If i hated a race the last thing i would want is for my legacy which is my children to have the hated blood. In this case ASK's 2 children have half indigenous DNA.
Intermarriage and migration is further diluting this minority group The point is ASK is a Megalomaniac agreed. He is dangerous to Fiji also agreed. He is surrounding himself with people he knows and trusts who happen to be Muslim which is natural as he is a Muslim as well. This is called consolidation of power. In essence he is a corrupt individual and a bad human being. The fact that he is a Muslim is secondary and has nothing to do with his politics or who he is.
It is dangerous to keep adding flame to the fire by suggesting that Islam is trying to take over Fiji. There are those who are to ignorant to know better but people like yourself Pita who obviously have the intellect should contribute to reducing this perception rather than inflaming it.
As a passing comment i note that you suggest that cane farming by Indians is a matter of historical circumstances. If the indigenous populace had taken to cane farming many moons ago Indians would not even be in Fiji and we would not even be having this conversation. Would Fiji and the i-taukei been better off. I guess we will never know now. One thing we can be certain of though is their probably would not have been any coups in Fiji as all the coups were done because the Indian boogieman was either taking over Fiji or Indians were marginalized as per Frank. But then again in most African countries their are no other races to blame and yet their are still coups so who knows. Race and religion should never matter in any circumstances or any context. Never. The fact that it still does simply highlights the fact that most of humanity has a long way to go before they we can be called an advanced society.

Vili

15/7/2016 08:55:58 am

"...that radical Islam is the greatest threat to humanity at this stage in our history putting it into a Fiji context is wrong and simply based on illogical fears." (your words Ali Baba).

Very true. Some people read about radical jihadist warfare in other countries and think it can be implanted in Fiji. Out of ignorance they tar Islam with the actions of these radical extremists who have been rejected by the many 'fatwas' issued by moderate Muslims everywhere.

There is not a remote chance that radical jihadists will be able to establish a 'caliphate' in Fiji. The Muslims in Fiji (as far as I am aware) are not interested in such an objective.

The greater threat to Fiji's national security is that posed by radical i'taukeist' ethno-nationalism ala 1987 led by Rabuka and in 2000 by Speight.

In 2016, ethno-nationalist elements in the 'So Help Me God Party' engineered a 'coup' of sorts against the GB RTD and brought back coupist Rabuka.

We now have a situation where we have radical i'taukeist ethno-nationalists from 1987 and beyond are pitched against the 'progressive' forces on the FFP. It is a battle to the death.

It is i'taukeist politics that is the threat to Fiji's internal stability; not Islamist jihadism

Dark days ahead

15/7/2016 12:40:46 am

Get out of the country as soon as you can.Fiji is not a safe place to live in.These soldiers are the same lot that terrorised the communities of Fiji in every coup of the country's history.If you have the chance and opportunitie at hand grasp it and never let go,board that plane and leave.It certainly isn't a place for ones future or their children's future if these savages are the keepers of the country.This mans testimony should say it all.Fiji will only result into further conflicts that will escalate into more violence.

Pita

15/7/2016 07:13:56 am

Aare Alibaba. your name sake Alibaba and his 40 thieves would find Fiji a paradise with all the lies, deception, and under the table dealings that goes on on a daily basis in our country, I would really like to sit down with you and gently take you through a course of Fijian and Fiji history from the time human kind first stepped on these shores 3600.years ago. This was about the time Moses was leading his people out of Egypt in search of the promise land, Archaeological records show that Fijians have been subjected to attacks, beatings, mass removals and torture for thousands of years. The military is only carrying out their default mode. Christianity and the colonial system of laws backed by superior force brought peace and justice to Fijians. At the time of colonial contact Fijians were caught in an primitive stage of feudalism with essentially a class of chiefs supported by priests on the one hand and commoners or serfs on the other. Violence including cannabilism was the mechanism for social advancement and social control.s The pre contact Fijian is not the same person as today's Fijian.. The Strict colonial order supported by the strict rules of the vanua and Christianity developed a dependency mentality on these three institutions. The Colonial Government forbade Fijians from leaving the village and forbade them from running businesses. The Indians who came to Fiji were not covered by these restrictions, The Fijians were cocooned by colonial rules from participating in the cash economy, the Indians were not. They engaged in petty forms of capitalism and grew from there while the Fijians were held back. When Apolosi Ranawai tried to organise Fijians into using their strength to run their own plantations and shops he was branded a heretic and banished by the colonial government. When the Europeans started to withdrawn from Fiji the Indians were primed to move into the empty seats in the front row. Fijians eseentially are latecomers to business and like latecomers everywhere in post colonial society they are disadvantaged as the best seats in the house are already occupied by descendents of a migrant race. No crime has been committed. Only history created the conditions that one group is backward relative to another. Today people like yourself Alibaba forget history when damning the behaviour of existing kai viti fijians as you describe us. Well run and accountable affirmative action programs are needed to plug the gap, not the decrepit and corrupt programs run by Ratu Mara, Rabuka and Qarase. So there are good historical reasons why Indians are dominant in business and not Fijians. But please do not attach a value judgment on the current generations without understanding the historical processes that led to the current status quo.
Essentially I agree with you on your statement about Fiji Muslims being Indian muslims and peace loving. But remember perhaps the most effective ISIS recruiter and Australfia's most dangerous home grown terrorist, Anil Prakash was a fiji Indian but one born and radicalised in Melbourne. The experience of the development of Islamic radicalisation in the United Kingdom and in Indonesia that for decades practised peaceful Islam like here in Fiji is a useful lesson for us. Radicalisation will come from the educated middle class exposed to various writings especially of the Wahabi school and also it will occur around the Madarasi schools where kids rote learn the Koran. I drink kava regularly with my Muslim friends and I dont see them as being a threat like perhaps Mele does but both the Muslim community in Fiji has a responsibility to work with the rest of Fiji to be vigilant to ensure salafism and wahabism does not infilitrate our country.
As for the complex personality of Khaiyum I leave that for another day. As it will take up space that this blog site will not be able to accommodate. My final advice to you Alibaba, is please remove the anger from within you, and resist the urge to attribute blame and instead of asking Who ask How? How is it so?

Vili

15/7/2016 09:32:37 am

Pita...me dua tale vei iko na bilo sosoko ka sinai.

Anil Prakash was not Fiji born. He was born in Cambodia and was killed in a US drone strike. He has no connexion whatsoever to Fiji.

You are the typical of the closet i'taukeist ethno-nationalist, who are prepared to blame everyone else but themselves/ourselves for Fiji's problems.

Sa tu ga oqori o Rabuka. Me cava tale mo kauti ira mai kina na Musulmani?

Mataboko!

Welcome Home

15/7/2016 10:33:32 am

Could not agree with you less concerning radical Islam's chances in Fiji. Nothing should be ruled out whenever instability and violence reign with impunity enhanced by serial immunity. In 2005 a particular Madrassa based near Labasa was found to have direct contact with financing through an imam with Yemeni connections. The then Minister for Defence and Security confirmed to us directly that the aforesaid Imam had been detained in Singapore with a considerable sum of unexplained and undeclared US dollars on him. He spoke Arabic and English. He was observed speaking Arabic en route to Savusavu in 2005 on the car ferry by its Fijian born owner (who spoke fluent Fijian, Hindi and some Urdu in addition to English). There can be no certitude these days about terrorism nor its provenance nor its next most likely nesting place. "The price of Freedom is eternal vigilance". Watch the Nice attack aftermath and consider Indonesia and the Philippines: not so far away really? To say nothing about Pakistan.

Pita

15/7/2016 11:13:38 am

Ratu Vili
I did not raise the issue of Muslims on this site. Please read the preceding posts. It was raised by Mele and this attracted a heated response from Alibaba. I was the third party to enter the fray . It reminds me of the affrays in various rubbish halls of my youth. But my respects to Alibaba that we can conduct a debate on issues, without playing the man. Important topics can be discussed here in a constructive manner that Bai and Kai's restrictive media laws will not allow in Fiji mainstream media.
As for Anil Prakash, he was born in Melbourne from an Indo Fijian father and a Cambodian mother, reared and radicalised in Melbourne and because of his high public profile in the west through his recruiting videos was killed in Iraq by a drone strike a few months ago. You should get your facts right, Vili. I will gladly drink your biggest bilo of yaqona if you can prove me wrong, and please read all posts before taking pot shots at commentators
As for your's and the military's belief that the biggest threat to Fiji is ethnic nationalism that is an ambiguous term, even a ludicrous oxymoron. It's a sociological fact the all peoples have notions of insider and outsider groups. It's the same for tribalism as it is for feelings of racial composition, it is the politicians who manipulate these fears who are the culprits. Ratu Sukuna, Ratu Mara, Rabuka, Butadroka, and Rev Lasaro are among many who have all been guilty of this. On the other hand writers such as the late Dr Ahmed Ali have described the notion of jangali Kai Viti being used by Indo Fijian leaders over time to rally Indian voters. Sidfiq Koya, Jai Ram Reddy and Chaudry could manipulate the fears of the Indian peasantry with their rhetoric and fears, So Vili don't try to act like a smart Alec. Open your mind to other explanations and read the fine print first before you start crucify those who's views you disagree with.

Alibaba

16/7/2016 12:01:03 am

Bula Pita.

For your information i am not filled with anger. I am for all intends and purposes a very calm and cool person. What i am concerned about is the use of race and religion to identify human beings and the persons character and deeds be it good or bad being tainted with which color or dumb God he or she prays too. This is dangerous very very dangerous. if you look at the world now i would calculate that about 80% of the worlds conflicts is because of this intolerance and labeling we do as a species. It starts at home when parents start saying to little John that oh his friend Ram is a Hindu or his friend Ali is a Muslim. We create labels for people and before you know it little John is no longer looking at people as people but as Muslims or Hindus or whatever.

We in Fiji have had our petty differences based on cultures however by and large our society is really the way the world should be despite ASK and Bai. We in the business world know that one of the worst days for business is the day of Eid for instance as no one shops. Everybody is at someones place having the sweets etc. Point being everyone has a Muslim Christian or Hindu friend in Fiji and we accord equal respect to each faith. Even a Atheist like me respects this aspect of religious life in Fiji.Why destroy this with false and bigoted propaganda which is really a product of hateful ignorant fools.Fiji is a safe and tolerant country and we should ensure that it stays this way forever. ASK is an ass the biggest one at that however the dislike for him must be confined to him as a person not how he says God. Bigotry no matter what the justification must never be tolerated and from your posts i would think that you will agree.

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

BEATING PHOTOS can't be consigned to SCRAP ALBUM: 'They must have thought I was Indian because they used very foul language against my mother and kept saying they were doing it because I was a 'kai idia'"

"I was expecting to get a beating because of what we were doing, but what I did not expect was for one of the police officers to pour the boiling water from the kettle over my body."

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