After all, in 1987, the young Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum was part of the inner circle of Indo-Fijians determined not to be reduced to second-class citizens in the land of their birth - he was one of the bomb-makers while other Indo-Fijians were prepared to meet Rabuka's violence with violence; that was in 1987; in 2006, unlike the Indo-Fijians, the paramount chiefs and church leaders failed to stand up to defend what they claim are their cherished institutions, giving Bainimarama/Khaiyum unfettered space to rule and oppress us for the next eight years!
SPICING up Bainimarama's campaign and falling for non-racial Fiji slogan of Fijifirst Party
Peter Waqavonovono challenges Bainimarama on indigenous rights, defends political parties speaking up on indigenous issues!
"Comments made today by the Fiji First Party Leader and Fiji Prime Minister unelect Frank Bainimarama on the Fiji Labour Party, People's Democratic Party and National Federation Party having a desire to fight for Indigenous Rights must not go unchallenged.
Frank Bainimarama has used this opportunity to once again discredit the plea of the Indigenous People of Fiji and we have spoken through the Peoples Charter and the Yash Ghai Commission, we want our Great Council of Chiefs back, we want more protection of Indigenous Rights, we want a more relevant and feasible platform to raise our issues as Indigenous People and we asked for affirmative actions aimed at alleviating our Indigenous People out of poverty or social insecurity. Frank Bainimarama has blocked our voices and has shoved decrees and a Constitution down our throats, of which he expects us to accept.
Frank Bainimarama has given us a opportunity to now as a nation categorically choose to move into a Democracy, it is no surprise that the people who used the Peoples Charter and Yash Ghai Platforms will once again use this opportunity to speak through their political leaders.
All political parties have the right to demand that Indigenous People are given more protection, to tell political parties that they should only deal with Indians or IndoFijians is Racist and a defeat of the Open, Free and Fair elections Bainimarama is promoting. Bainimarama also choose to name the party leaders of NFP PDP & FLP making reference that they were not Indigenous and so should not speak for the interests of the iTaukei , this is RACISM and he owes these political parties an apology, better still He should just step down if he cant accept that we disagree with he's laws. The regimes Attorney General and General Secretary of the Fiji First Party, also spoke out of line commenting on Great Council of Chiefs using insensitive language to label the pleas of the indigenous people void. This type of insensitivity is a shock to the value and respect we have for the Vanua.
Indigenous People also have a right to join any political party they wish, and to systematically proclaim that SODELPA is a iTaukei Party and call us Racist is a blantant refusal to accept that Indigenous People are wanting change and want to depart from he's style of leadership immediately.
I am the President of the SODELPA Youth Wing, I can assure you we have Fiji Citizens of all ethnicities in our Party. They all are served by the Party equally and they all ascribe to the Party Manifesto and Principles. I also have relatives and close friends standing as candidates and actively supporting other Parties, I am encouraged and don't question their principles and I am happy that they are using their Parties to lobby for solutions to our Indigenous issues. This is Fiji, its a small country and we are still Family. We cannot enter this new chapter of our Democratic History with Lies and unnecessary fear mongering." - Peter Waqavonovono
"Comments made today by the Fiji First Party Leader and Fiji Prime Minister unelect Frank Bainimarama on the Fiji Labour Party, People's Democratic Party and National Federation Party having a desire to fight for Indigenous Rights must not go unchallenged.
Frank Bainimarama has used this opportunity to once again discredit the plea of the Indigenous People of Fiji and we have spoken through the Peoples Charter and the Yash Ghai Commission, we want our Great Council of Chiefs back, we want more protection of Indigenous Rights, we want a more relevant and feasible platform to raise our issues as Indigenous People and we asked for affirmative actions aimed at alleviating our Indigenous People out of poverty or social insecurity. Frank Bainimarama has blocked our voices and has shoved decrees and a Constitution down our throats, of which he expects us to accept.
Frank Bainimarama has given us a opportunity to now as a nation categorically choose to move into a Democracy, it is no surprise that the people who used the Peoples Charter and Yash Ghai Platforms will once again use this opportunity to speak through their political leaders.
All political parties have the right to demand that Indigenous People are given more protection, to tell political parties that they should only deal with Indians or IndoFijians is Racist and a defeat of the Open, Free and Fair elections Bainimarama is promoting. Bainimarama also choose to name the party leaders of NFP PDP & FLP making reference that they were not Indigenous and so should not speak for the interests of the iTaukei , this is RACISM and he owes these political parties an apology, better still He should just step down if he cant accept that we disagree with he's laws. The regimes Attorney General and General Secretary of the Fiji First Party, also spoke out of line commenting on Great Council of Chiefs using insensitive language to label the pleas of the indigenous people void. This type of insensitivity is a shock to the value and respect we have for the Vanua.
Indigenous People also have a right to join any political party they wish, and to systematically proclaim that SODELPA is a iTaukei Party and call us Racist is a blantant refusal to accept that Indigenous People are wanting change and want to depart from he's style of leadership immediately.
I am the President of the SODELPA Youth Wing, I can assure you we have Fiji Citizens of all ethnicities in our Party. They all are served by the Party equally and they all ascribe to the Party Manifesto and Principles. I also have relatives and close friends standing as candidates and actively supporting other Parties, I am encouraged and don't question their principles and I am happy that they are using their Parties to lobby for solutions to our Indigenous issues. This is Fiji, its a small country and we are still Family. We cannot enter this new chapter of our Democratic History with Lies and unnecessary fear mongering." - Peter Waqavonovono
