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MICK BEDDOES on "Children of Noco": Attempts by some in SODELPA to try to take some credit for this great example of statesmanlike leadership by Rewa is disgusting and deplorable.... But no surprise:

9/5/2017

10 Comments

 

"This is typical of their executive who have used and abused Ro Teimumu Kepa, despite the fact that without her almost half their members in Parliament would not have a seat."

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GRACE AND TOGETHERNESS IN REWA

Perhaps the most momentous development in race relations between the itaukei and Fiji Indian community in our lifetime has just taken place in Noco, Rewa. Yet it has not been given the coverage by our media that is warranted when something of this significance happens. To give credit to the Fiji Times their reportage and analysis of it leads the field. More power to them.

The Rewa clans have taken to their hearts the descendants of the victims of the tragic wrecking of the Syria all those long years ago on Naselai Reef. The ship was filled with passengers from India who had signed up to be indentured labourers on Fiji’s sugar plantations. On a dark night of cruel seas the Syria went aground with the loss of many lives. At great risk to themselves the indigenous people from nearby Noco valiantly did what they could to save terrified victims.

Now, under the leadership of Ratu Isoa Damudamu, the Chief of Noco, and his people, and their paramount Chief Ro Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa, na Marama na Roko Tui Dreketi, the vanua of Rewa has solemnly sealed a pact that makes the relatives of the survivors officially part of the province. They are kai Rewa forever; brothers and sisters and children of this place in Fiji. They are one with the tribes, never to be parted.

The magnitude of this encompasses many virtues such as courage and nobility; a deep level of generosity, caring and humanity as well as kindness, grace and mutual respect. In the words of the Marama, it also represents in a pure form the Christian ethic of loving your neighbor. For our country it is an unprecedented act of unity, multi-racial togetherness and hope for the future, not just for Rewa, but for Fiji.

The embracing of the girmitya and everything it means is worthy of every citizen’s support and respect. All honour should go to the Tui Noco Ratu Isoa Damudamu and his people, as well as to Ro Teimumu who has continued to show great leadership especially separating her political responsibilities from that of her traditional obligations.

Attempts by some in SODELPA to try to take some credit for this great example of statesmanlike leadership by the Vanua of Rewa is disgusting and deplorable. But this is typical of their executive who have used and abused Ro Teimumu Kepa, despite the fact that without her almost half their members in Parliament would not have a seat.

A further observation: I understand the PM was invited to be present at the Rewa ceremony. But he was overseas. Yet he did not bother to send a representative. And what have the coup perpetrators got to say about this? After all part of the justification for committing their capital crimes is the supposed deteriorating race relations. Yet they have nothing to say!

Neither it seems has Fiji ’First’s Geneva rep Nazhat Shameem had anything to say, yet not so long ago she reported to the UN Human Rights Commission that quote

‘it must be noted that racism was institutionalized in Fiji to such an extent that it instilled in a privileged class, a sense of entitlement based on ethnicity and class, and that racist attitudes were ingrained in all communities, which have resulted in mistrust, resentment and suspicion." "Racism in Fiji is often disguised by assertions that a community’s own cultural identity is being submerged under the blanket of national unity. Unquote

Fiji First’s Human Rights Commissioner and Chair of MIDA and Shameem’s loyal defender Ashwin Raj who speaks in terms and with words that the average ‘Joe’ can’t understand, whenever he defends the Government and its official’s racist’s remarks and gestures. Also has nothing to say about this? Their collective silence is deafening!

These so called advocates for better race relations just ‘talk’ about it.

The Tui Noco, Ratu Isoa Damudamu, his people and their Paramount Chief Ro Teimumu Kepa, have done something unprecedented about it.

10 Comments
Chiku
9/5/2017 10:48:11 pm

The collective silence of the mob in the Gangster Government is not surprising. They were never about fostering better race relations in Fiji and all that . They were about installing themselves in power, enjoying the privileges of high positions and self- aggrandisement.
Why would they bother with anything where they are not the main boys on the main dais?

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Refugee
10/5/2017 02:02:28 am

Such sudden and magnanimous act of cultural kindness and generosity must have been a shock to many. Like you said, such niceness, so sincerely and ceremoniously expressed, has indeed, been unprecedented. Perhaps the deeper significance of Ro Kepa’s good-spirited, gesture is yet to sink into some people’s heads and hearts but slowly it will, as things tend to do in Fiji -time.

However, since you brought it up, ‘institutionalized racism’ exists for FACT in Fiji. Why were the Indo-Fijian victims, of severe human rights abuses, the refugees of the Girmit Center, NEVER compensated?? What intelligent answer can you offer that explains their neglect – and the deplorable ‘agriculture scam’ and the ‘vote buying’ by Qarase SDL - shamelessly robbing the rehab funds of the Refugees?? Now, that, in the experiences of our tormented souls and in the intellect of our minds is what we understand as “institutionalized racism”. How can it be anything else?? We place great hopes on HOPE to understand this very basic and real sentiment of ours.

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Mick Beddoes
11/5/2017 03:22:40 am

I’ll take it that your reference to what happened in Rewa recently as being a sudden magnanimous act of cultural kindness and generosity by the people of Noco in Rewa comes from your ignorance of the facts then it is about trying to belittle the significance of their act of kindness.

Contrary to what you believe, the magnanimous act of cultural kindness and generosity displayed by the people and chief of Noco in Rewa recently is a continuation of the same magnanimous act of cultural kindness performed by their ancestors 132 years ago on the night that the Syria ran aground?

On that night the people of Noco, risked their lives to go out to the wreck and save the surviving passengers, it continued with them sheltering and feeding those who survived for more than a month and they defied colonial directives to bury all 52 of the dead in a mass grave and instead gave each person the dignity of their own burial and for the past 132 years they have tendered those graves. And now, the current generation of Noco villagers along with their Chief and Paramount Chief and the people of Rewa have extended this kindness to now absorb into their Vanua all of the decedents of those survivors.

This is not the action that one associates with ‘institutionalized racism’ this is all about the good will, kindness and generosity of the people, on an ongoing basis over generations.

The two points you raise as examples of ‘institutionalized racism’ are the human rights abuses against Indo-Fijians who were refugees of the Girmit Canter and the Agricultural scam.

But the truth of the matter is the Indo –Fijians are not the only victims of abuse suffered at the hands of the ‘usurpers’ of our democracy. Citizens from every community in Fiji have ‘suffered’ in one way or another as a result of coups, more than 19 families mourn the loss of their loved ones who were killed at the hands of our oppressors and the only people who have been compensated for the destruction bought about by coups, have been the usurpers themselves and their aiders and abettors.

I have always believed that the attacks on our Indo-Fijian cousins during the coups were planned to create a perception that they were ‘racially based’ when we all know the coups have only ever been about power and control.

I share your view about compensation, however I believe that all victims of coups must be heard and compensated, because everyone has paid a price for opposing coups and many of us are still paying today.

These wounds we all carry sit just below the surface and it will remain there until we all realize that unless we deal with the errors of our pass in a comprehensive way, we will never have closure and nor will we be rid of coups.

For as long as we reward the wrong doers with lavish salaries and leadership roles, and a lifetime guarantee never to have to answer for their crimes against our people. We promote the best incentive for any other officer waiting in the wings to ‘strike’ again, because in 2 of our 3 coups, the usurpers have become the Prime Minister’s. And today the same 2 are contesting to be PM yet again? Is this the best that we can do? Surely not.

I believe the momentous move by the people of Rewa will help resolve in a more meaningful and permanent way race relations in Fiji, because this act by the people of Noco was not ‘politically motivated’ it started 132 years ago and it came from the heart, and when the heart is involved, there will always be HOPE!

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Mota Uday
11/5/2017 12:45:38 pm

Areh...Bad-dose has again, totally missed the point. There is no way can anyone, only an idiot like Bad-Dose, can read Rufugee as ‘belittling’ the efforts of the Rewa high chiefs.

It was Bad-dose who mentioned ‘institutionalized racism’ first. The point Refugee made and I agree, the Racism is real and was the only reason why Qarase was buying votes – and doing the agriculture scam was because he is a racist and a crook. Big talk Bad-dose –you sound very ignorant. ‘Racism’ when institutionalized like that is called ‘institutionalized racism’ and only the ‘Racists and/or ignorant like Baddose would like to DENY that fact.

Refugee
11/5/2017 11:42:41 pm

Your response is rather sanctimonious but so telling of our very misplaced Hopes. My comments cannot, in any way, be construed to infer disrespect to the High Chiefs and the People of Rewa. I am amazed how you jumped to such foolish and cruel conclusion, Mr. Beddoes.

Indeed, reading the story and Ro Kepa’s speech on Fiji leaks (5/5 ), I was very touched and I wrote ;

“Vinaka, Vinaka Vaka Levu, Ro Teimumu Kepa. You made me cry, but a happy heartfelt cry. God bless you. God bless, bless, bless, YOU and all your people. Thank You and Dhane Bhat.”

So Mr. Beddoes, let’s be very clear about one thing – you owe me an apology!! Come-on, be a Man.

Tomasi Tabanidalo
10/5/2017 06:08:19 am

Our Indo-Fijian brothers and sisters deserve a sense of belonging in Fiji. rabuka and his cakaudrove racists cohorts naiqama and aseri radrodro are a thorn in the good deeds by Ro Teimumu and the good intended Rewa province. I'm hoping that my clansman from Nadro/Navosa can follow suit. Well done Rewa and the Noco clan. May god be with you in this heavenly deed.

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Tomasi Lewenidalo link
10/5/2017 08:24:51 pm

Now that, Tomasi Tabanidalo, is another form of racism. Don't go praising the Marama Bale Roko Tuidreketi when you yourself seem to harbouring hatred towards your countrymen. Any form of racism, racialism or discrimination cannot be tolerated if this nation need to move forward and you have failed miserably. You are just as bad as what you think of those you have mentioned in your post above.

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Welcome Home
10/5/2017 09:36:53 am

..."Principled and brave enough". Are we? Dr Wadan Narsey's words. This is what is required to reinstall the Rule of Law not only in Fiji but also in the Mighty United States of America. The entire world is succumbing to corruption through greed. Only now (Why NOW?) is appropriate language applied to issues which have plagued us for years. Why is only one in ten in the RFMF female? Why is Fiji not availed of a Civil Defence Force with an equality of men and women and leadership open to the best qualified and most able person? As yet another Cyclone with a female name approaches surely we are asking ourselves? Principled leadership 'no matter what' is the only answer. Use the imagination given to us for this specific purpose.

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El Chapo
10/5/2017 04:58:08 pm

Mic bedoes is also trying to take credit for this kind gesture.

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Bahuki
12/5/2017 07:08:12 am

Talk about how peaceful it is when its the "vanua" itself acknowledging girmitya descendants without any interference or influence from government itself.

Despite institutionalized racism, this gesture by Rewa is a big contrast to that very complicated issue.

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