FIJI counters delegation's claims at UN Indigenous Rights Conference: Native Fijians rights are not under threat, rights protected in Constitution

23/4/2015

Bai refutes claims

A Fijian government delegation has said in a UN meeting that the indigenous people of Fiji are firmly in control of their destiny.

The 14th session of United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is currently underway at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Permanent Mission’s First Secretary, Gene Bai, advised the Forum that Fiji’s 2013 Constitution is consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

He spoke about the relevant provisions in the Constitution of Fiji that specifically protect the rights of the i-Taukei.

The Forum heard that the i-Taukei enjoy full rights to land, culture, institutions and religion, with all these rights firmly protected within the constitution and the nation’s written laws and regulations.

In no way, the Fijian Delegation affirmed, should these rights of the i-Taukei be perceived to be under threat.

Bai said the constitution affirms that the ownership of all i-Taukei land shall remain with the customary owners and that i-Taukei land can never be alienated by sale or transfer.

He explained that for the first time, the constitution’s Bill of Rights sets out the right to a fair share of royalties for the landowners of any minerals found under their land or under the seabed in which they have customary fishing rights. Source: Fijivillage News

7 Comments

HalfPie

23/4/2015 04:24:25 am

How come the Rajendra Chaudhary didn't sign the statement of support??

Chun Mun

23/4/2015 06:13:07 am

Caucau & Korodrau are Americans, arent they ?

Fools of Paradise

23/4/2015 04:22:34 pm

seriously this is the standard of indigenous rights.native fijians own 90% of the land. what rights you looking for same old story from the coup's . rights to make decisions in government as GCC was given the that mandate to make that decisions. why don't you see that the welfare of your vanua. look after the people who serve you. no one is taking away your vanua bunch of toads. You want Free money , lease your land to those who want to work on it , while you earn the rent. you want rights you have the right to work for your living. no body is taking your land. like the politician who lie about everything and anything making stories , non factual stories spread for votes. "if a politician says he is honest then all bitches are virgins. Oh please you steal and then you say its for the vanua. you make me sick.looking for rights to steal from the tax payers. now you cant so you make noise. drum louder maybe the spiritual being that you so believe in and pray for property every day will shower you with golden rain. Free loaders go steal from your tavele and tovu's not from taxpayers.

splashViti

24/4/2015 03:56:36 am

It shouldn't be such a bad thing to hve a group of people engage and express cultural issues that are peculiar to them, as a part of their identity.

So why shouldn't RC support them even if he understandably does not identify with the values expressed by the group given that he's not a member of that group. However, he seemed well aware that what they were expressing were simply an extension of a right that they are already entitled to as fellow beings and "travellers" (and by that I don't mean "travelling around the world").

We live in a pluralistic society where justice is generally understood, in its broadest sense, as simply the notion of balancing competing interests to arrive at a solution that is deemed equitable and just.

And that is what the 1997 Constitution tried to achieve (the foresight and wisdom of the three wise men) but regrettably, the living document was not given a chance to breath.

And here we are, again.

Chip of the old clay

24/4/2015 04:46:15 am

The only thing Rajendra Chaudhary, like his father. is capable of representing, is Rajendra Chaudhary.

Kavita

24/4/2015 04:54:08 pm

Not quite. The learned members of the group did not think so. And listening to the presentation by their leader Nawaikula , one can be certain that they escalated legitimate and important concerns.

If anything, the inclusion of a non indigenous person in the group tells a lot about the inclusiveness aspect of the group. They chose people who could contribute to their cause. Isn't that the sort of cross cultural concerns and participation our people need to embrace and have it practically adopted as shown in this case?

splashViti

25/4/2015 01:03:30 am

If he's a chip of the old clay, then Rajendra Chaudhary is also capable of representing change.

His acceptance of the invitation to provide moral support to the itaukei delegation speaks volumes of a man who is very capable of drawing upon the lessons of his own past (growing up in his father's shadow), as well as our shared past to transform himself positively and fight for a country that is also part of him.

No one can take that away.

To deny the itaukei delegation invitation would be to deny himself...

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FIJI counters delegation's claims at UN Indigenous Rights Conference: Native Fijians rights are not under threat, rights protected in Constitution

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