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ENDORSEMENT OF NON-NEGOTIABLE PRINCIPLES
There has been certain non-negotiable principles placed regarding submissions towards our Constitution. The RFMF fully endorses the non-negotiable Principles and values including the following:
(i) common and equal citizenry
(ii) a secular state
(iii) the removal of systematic corruption
(iv) an independent judiciary
(v) elimination of discrimination
(vi) good and transparent governance
(vii) social justice
(viii) one person, one vote, one value
(ix) the elimination of ethnic voting
(x) proportional representation, and
(xi) voting age of 18 years.
Australian BOB Carr Reserved Seats in Parliament for the RFMF: 'No, We Don't Want It'
Questions have been asked as to “what future role will the RFMF have in the government?” Not long ago, during the visit by the Ministerial Contact Group, in raising the same question, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr alluded to the “Reserved Seats in Parliament for the RFMF”. Until that day, the issue had not crossed our mind, but the comments of the Honorable Minister made us think! “Was the allocation of the reserved seats in Parliament an option for the RFMF” If so, Should the same be provisioned in our new constitution. The State of Turkey, Egypt has such provision and has been very successful in implementing such laws – why not Fiji?. To allay any fears or concerns regarding RFMF having reserved seats in parliament, the RFMF calls for no such allocation or provisions. The RFMF will not have and does not call for any special positions in Parliament. However, the RFMF will monitor the ongoing situation in the Parliament and in Fiji, ensuring that what it had adopted since 2006, and through the People’s Charter, is fully implemented.
Questions have been asked as to “what future role will the RFMF have in the government?” Not long ago, during the visit by the Ministerial Contact Group, in raising the same question, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Bob Carr alluded to the “Reserved Seats in Parliament for the RFMF”. Until that day, the issue had not crossed our mind, but the comments of the Honorable Minister made us think! “Was the allocation of the reserved seats in Parliament an option for the RFMF” If so, Should the same be provisioned in our new constitution. The State of Turkey, Egypt has such provision and has been very successful in implementing such laws – why not Fiji?. To allay any fears or concerns regarding RFMF having reserved seats in parliament, the RFMF calls for no such allocation or provisions. The RFMF will not have and does not call for any special positions in Parliament. However, the RFMF will monitor the ongoing situation in the Parliament and in Fiji, ensuring that what it had adopted since 2006, and through the People’s Charter, is fully implemented.
Past Constitution Have Been Racist & Discriminatory.
*The most striking feature of our past three Constitutions is its racial promotion.
The electoral process was commonly through ethnic voting, with little regards to multiculturalism. As a result, candidates were chosen on communal preferences which afforded no opportunity to the voters to choose or vote for the ideal candidate, irrespective of race, religion or status within our community.
*Ethnicity has been the trump card used by many politicians to fuel, fear, mistrust and dissent within our communities. This ploy has been very successful and has become the order of business as elections draw near.
*The issue of land is always been brought to the fore of any campaign manifesto, knowing that land affects all communities either as a landowner or a lease holder.
*In 2005 and 2006, such racial and discriminatory adoption of laws through our past constitution was more evident through the proposal of the following policies by the last Governments:
a. Promotion of Reconciliation Tolerance & Unity Bill 2005;
b. Qoliqoli Bill 2006( Bill No. 12 of 2006); and,
c. Indigenous Claims Tribunal Bill (Bill No. 11 of 2006).
*These instruments were not only deemed to be unconstitutional, controversial but extremist in nature, its promotion, its inception, would not have brought about peace and stability that was sought in Fiji.
*The bills had the potential to create conflicts in the itaukei race which woud be disastrous for Fiji as a Nation.
*The bills were deviously constructed to capture the minds of the itaukei that it was ideal for them. In reality, it was a quest to buy votes for political expediency and supremacy, for now and into the future.
*Our past constitutions also failed to recognize outstanding aspirations of the people which have now been adequately presented through the non negotiable principles for our new constitution.
*Matters of common and equal citizenry, secular state, independent judiciary, social justice, one person & one vote, and voting age of 18 years and others are realised.
*These inclusions will undoubtedly remove the hurdles that had been long placed to bring about racial disunity.
*The most striking feature of our past three Constitutions is its racial promotion.
The electoral process was commonly through ethnic voting, with little regards to multiculturalism. As a result, candidates were chosen on communal preferences which afforded no opportunity to the voters to choose or vote for the ideal candidate, irrespective of race, religion or status within our community.
*Ethnicity has been the trump card used by many politicians to fuel, fear, mistrust and dissent within our communities. This ploy has been very successful and has become the order of business as elections draw near.
*The issue of land is always been brought to the fore of any campaign manifesto, knowing that land affects all communities either as a landowner or a lease holder.
*In 2005 and 2006, such racial and discriminatory adoption of laws through our past constitution was more evident through the proposal of the following policies by the last Governments:
a. Promotion of Reconciliation Tolerance & Unity Bill 2005;
b. Qoliqoli Bill 2006( Bill No. 12 of 2006); and,
c. Indigenous Claims Tribunal Bill (Bill No. 11 of 2006).
*These instruments were not only deemed to be unconstitutional, controversial but extremist in nature, its promotion, its inception, would not have brought about peace and stability that was sought in Fiji.
*The bills had the potential to create conflicts in the itaukei race which woud be disastrous for Fiji as a Nation.
*The bills were deviously constructed to capture the minds of the itaukei that it was ideal for them. In reality, it was a quest to buy votes for political expediency and supremacy, for now and into the future.
*Our past constitutions also failed to recognize outstanding aspirations of the people which have now been adequately presented through the non negotiable principles for our new constitution.
*Matters of common and equal citizenry, secular state, independent judiciary, social justice, one person & one vote, and voting age of 18 years and others are realised.
*These inclusions will undoubtedly remove the hurdles that had been long placed to bring about racial disunity.
