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CHIEFS AND COOLIES: Now, NFP jumps on the bandwagon demanding public holiday on 11 November to mark the end of Indian indentured labourers; historically, last Fiji Indian coolie was freed on 1 January 1920

30/4/2016

19 Comments

 

Bainimarama right to reject public holiday but for wrong reason. As we have stated, if we want to mark "Coolie Celebration" - wait until 2020. But there is nothing stopping NFP/ Indo-Fijians from splashing thousands of dollars to celebrate what they consider an historical event in the calendar

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National Federation Party with Tupou Draunidalo and Biman Prasad.

Yesterday at 5:15am · ‪#‎FIJI‬'S SO-CALLED INCLUSIVE, RACE-FREE PRIME MINISTER, FRANK BAINIMARAMA REJECTS ANY COMMEMORATION OF THE ARRIVAL OF INDENTURED LABOURERS IN #FIJI.

The Prime Minister responded and said there will be no 100th anniversary celebrations and described the Motion BY ‪#‎TeamNFP‬ Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad, as a political stunt. He said descendants of Indentured labourers are protected under the 2013 Constitution.

Hon Professor Prasad moved the Motion in this session and not the first session in February because the MPs were suspended as a result of the party's suspension by the Supervisor of Elections. The Motion was also moved in this session (the 2nd session of parliament) to allow for time to plan for events and activities leading up to what he had proposed as a one-off public holiday on November 11 - the day the last ship caring Indentured labourers arrived in Fiji in 1916.

Is the Prime Minister clearly trying to rewrite #Fiji's history and to ignore the indentured history of the ancestors of Fiji Indians - just as he and his Government are trying to rewrite the history of indigenous Fijians??

No public holiday to commemorate 100th anniversary of indentured labourers - PM

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Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said calling on the government to declare a public holiday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the indentured labourers is a political stunt. 

Bainimarama made the comment after NFP Leader Biman Prasad urged the government to declare a public holiday on the 11th of November, 2016 to commemorate the anniversary in recognition of the indentured labourers and their contribution to the developments in Fiji.

Prasad said 60,553 indentured labourers were brought from India between 14th May, 1879 and 11th November 1916. He said 11th November is when the indentured period ended.

The Prime Minister said there will be no public holiday.

He said in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Winston, most of the schools and homes and all other damaged public buildings and infrastructure need immediate and focused attention.
Bainimarama said rebuilding our future is the main priority.

He said as the Shadow Minister for Finance Biman Prasad’s major concern should be to cater for the desperate needs of the ordinary Fijians of all backgrounds.

He said history has shown us that when people suffered greatly because of their ethnicity, the greatest gift we can give them is to restore their dignity, give them the rightful place in the society and treat them as equals.
Bainimarama said the constitution guarantees them general equality, guarantees them equal vote and equal value, and that was the core demand of the NFP leadership in 1950s and 60s and it took the Fiji First government to finally deliver this. Source: Fijivillage News

Fijileaks: We hope to serialize Victor Lal's forthcoming book
The Indian Coolies: Mahatma Gandhi's Outcasts Within
The British Empire, 1834-1920

19 Comments
Sam
30/4/2016 08:00:35 pm

What is this Frank talking about equaiity. We have equal rights in the 1997 constitution. It required power sharing, and that was the best form of equal rights to all communities. Frank got rid of the Constitution in 2009 on Khaiyum's advise. Restore the 1997 Constitution. That is what the Court has decided. Law enforcement agencies and military must ensure that the Court decision is abided by. If the police and military do not do this, then they will also be guilty of treason.

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Jale
30/4/2016 10:04:00 pm

The 1997 constitution did not allow equal suffrage, and equal suffrage is a very important cornerstone of equal citizenry. The 2013 constitution, for the first time, establishes "one vote, one value". In 2014, for the first time, all Fijians qued up in a single line to vote, just like fellow citizens of a nation should.

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Sam
30/4/2016 11:36:08 pm

No Jale, 1997 provided the best representation system for a multiracial country like Fiji - from voting, to formation of Cabinet and the empowerment of the members of the cabinet. It created a genuine democracy, unlike the current fraudulent document where a dictator is created through the voting system. I have done enough of my own reading and investigation to firm up my mind on this. No amount of propaganda will change the facts.

Justice
30/4/2016 11:44:30 pm

Jale agree with you on the notion of one vote one value but in principle that is only a gimmick in ASK constitution. What is the purpose of one vote one value when that same one vote one value leads to dictatorship. Draconian laws enforced on citizens without consultation. Change of flag eithout consultation of citizen. Its better to relinquish such citizenry then to be ruled under dictatorship, fraud, torturer, rapist and self centered govt of BaiKai.

Fraud
2/5/2016 10:10:38 am

The 2013 Khaiyum's Constitution of Khaiyum is a FRAID on our Nation.

Dekho
1/5/2016 06:48:32 am

The Fiji Indian coolie was freed by the British colonial rulers in 1920 but today many Fiji Indians remain slaves to the propaganda of the local national rulers and voluntarily surrender their freedom and rights .The coolie Indians fought to be free from colonial oppression. The free Indians of today have no problem living under dictatorial rule. What a shame.

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Thinker
1/5/2016 07:23:25 am

The motion put in Parliament by NFP was rejected because Bai knew come 2018, this will get political millage for NFP.
Bai has no problem with this special holiday BUT it should not have come from NFP.

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Leave PayChor
2/5/2016 07:13:31 pm

Bai has no problem-o with special holidays - He cashes it in!

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Musa
1/5/2016 08:07:47 am

Yes Sam, it did create an interesting, "genuine" democracy under which, Laisenia Qarase, only after a forced hand via the court assigned token ministries to Labour. Too bad your "readings" did not include the local newspaper where this wanton defilement of otherwise good intentions was well publicized. Or were you anxiously keen on seeing a Ministry of National Parks (how many national parks - if any do we have in Fiji again?)

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Sam
1/5/2016 10:56:11 am

Democracy needs space and time. Demons decided not to give time to Qarase and Labour to work this out. I say it still was far better than the dictatorship we have now. Fijians are humiliated on a daily basis by Khaiyum. Indians are humiliated likewise by Frank. The rest of the cabinet ministers are decorative pieces only, running to the commands of Kai.

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Chiku
1/5/2016 09:11:24 am

Today's Fiji Indian more interested in Bollyhood films and touring shows than Girmit history - their own history. Many have not bothered to educate themselves about the blood, sweat and tears - the struggles and sacrifices - of the Girmitiyas to lay the foundation for the future generations of Fiji Indians. So what's a " coolie celebration " for?

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Samjha
1/5/2016 10:13:37 am

Will the Meijhis, the Tappoos, the Punjas, the Motibhais be celebrating " coolie celebration" as well? Perhaps not given their different history. They'd probably concentrate on selling Girmitiya souvenir and making good money from the celebration .

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maropito
2/5/2016 01:40:42 am

Aree Samjha you don't know that the Meijhis, the Tappoos, the Punjas, the Motibhais grandfather or great great grandfather were not in the coolie line. So...

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Jia
1/5/2016 08:37:02 pm

The TV footage of Frank, our Prime Minister so casually dressed in shorts and bula shirt, laughing loudly and saying: "Ka mago?, aur paisa manga?" to a very very old man approaching him after Cyclone Winston, is firmly planted in my mind. What kind of PM will laugh at victims of the worst cyclone to hit Fiji? So is the contempt this man has for ordinary people. His contempt for Indians is just as high as his contempt for Fijian Chiefs and Khaiyum’s concept for Hindus. No constitution can save a country from such shallow leaders.

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Welcome Home
2/5/2016 05:05:31 am

It is difficult to imagine how or why there should be any grounds for further celebration when in April 2016 we learn from Office of DPP there were 26 victims of 57 separate serious sexual assaults. These sexual assaults included a defilement and 10 cases of Abduction for the Purpose of Rape. A 6 month old baby was sexually assaulted by the biological father. Charges have been proferred. However, these are the reported cases. Something is seriously awry in the psyche of a society looking for cause for celebration in such circumstances. A lack of imagination of this magnitude beggars belief.

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Jhumka
2/5/2016 08:00:36 am

Just saw on TV that USP celebrated academic freedom day. VC Rajesh Chandra came out very strongly. He said academics who want to be politicians can do so by choice. But they can't use the USP's prestige, resources and protection for their electoral campaign. He was clearly taking a shot at Biman Prasad and Wadan Narsey. To be fair, the VC does have a point. But whether fijileaks will publish this is another matter.

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Welcome Home
3/5/2016 04:28:38 am

In view of the Lusaka Inter Parliamentary Meeting held in Zambia and the comment made concerning 'Gender Slander', it might now be an appropriate time to consider what effect the frequent use of demeaning and disgusting language may contribute towards the ever increasing incidence of violent sexual attacks upon women, girls and babies as young as six months. When uttered by persons of rank or standing they may constitute an incitement or at least an encouragement to act. In any event, they nurture a climate of permissive and offensive degradation. The April 2016 statistics from Office of DPP are staggering. If the VC of USP is serious about the new-found Academic Freedom of the institution, an immediate and serious study is required on the Gender Slander contribution to sexual violence in Fiji. It should be multi-disciplinary, relentlessly searching and broad in reach and of the highest priority. No time to waste.

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Sam
3/5/2016 09:57:29 am

Hahaha. USP Maharaja and Dictaror (ala USP Vice Chancellor and President) wont sanction this as the finding will point so many fingers at the national dictators, both Bai and Kai. Record is ample that both have solid track records of abusing females. (In case its not known, ask Kai's first wife why she dumped Kai).

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Another Thought
3/5/2016 09:20:26 am

What about celebrating , day Christianity was accepted by indigenous people and end of cannibalism day in Fiji.

Who knows there are curses not cleared on Fiji after the eating of Thomas Baker that needs to be re-visited.

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