STANDING UP FOR REWA AND HIS CHIEF: Jese Sikivou's stinging e-mail to SODELPA top brass in defence of Ro Kepa and condemnation of those who have been 'trying to belittle the chiefly seat of Roko Tui Dreketi'

23/9/2015

Fijileaks: We had withheld the e-mail (it is not a LETTER) to allow MP Mosese Bulitavu, one of those accused of undermining Ro Kepa, to focus on his graffiti trial

From: Jese Sikivou <jsikivou@connect.com.fj>

To: nlalabalavu@gmail.com; Anare Jale <anare.jale@gmail.com>; Pio Tabaiwalu <piotab8@gmail.com>; Losena Salabula <losalabula@gmail.com>Au Saka,

Sent: Monday, 21 September 2015, 18:36
Subject: OPINION RE: ALLEGATIONS

This statement is submitted through your kind consideration to Mr. Anare Jale as Chair of the Enquiry regarding the allegations and aspersions cast by gauna vinaka 888 which has been supported by some members of our Parliamentary caucus group.

I am also requesting the General Secretary to convey this message to Rt Sikeli Komaisavai. At the outset, please allow me to say that this statement does not have the prior approval nor the prior knowledge of the Gone Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi.Neither is the statement submitted from the perspective of my appointment as Media & Liaison Officer position nor as Private Secretary to the Roko Tui Dreketi.

This statement is submitted at the behest of the Head of my Mataqali, Ro Dona Takalaiyale, Taukei Navolau, Liuliu ni Sauturaga e Rewa, on behalf of our humble Province.He has requested that we notify you of our very grave concern regarding the treatment and the gross disrespect shown to our Gone Marama Bale, specifically by Mosese Bulitavo and the signatories supporting his baseless allegations as well as their fellow travelers standing in the shadows egging them on.

We take this opportunity to remind you and all of SODELPA that our Gone Marama Bale stood alone and stood tall, in darker more difficult times, publicly challenging the Bainimarama regime on various issues such as the revocation of the Great Council of Chiefs, protesting the Namosi Mining venture waste spillage, the cancellation of the Bose Ko Viti 2009 and even marched ahead of her people to hand deliver to Khaiyum, Rewa’s protests regarding the Bainimarama/Khaiyum constitution and the with withdrawal of the Yash Ghai draft.

The likes of Mosese Bulitavo and his fellow travelers were nowhere to be seen or heard. Even as recently as the Fiji flag protest, they did not stand to be counted.We still clearly recall General Secretary Pio Tabaiwalu asking the Gone Marama Bale to launch SODELPA party and to become its Leader.

At a lunch at the Holiday Inn, I specifically asked him to see a copy of the SODELPA constitution and manifesto so we could determine what he was asking the Gone Marama Bale to endorse and lead. Of course neither of the documents were close to being completed at that time. Yet the Gone Marama Bale put her traditional title and her reputation on the line and launched SODELPA, at a stirring speech delivered at the FTA Hall, which had the regime in a tailspin for two weeks.

That was a hallmark speech that opened the floodgates and freed many people to start to voice their opinions against the regime.Since her involvement on the campaign trail, the personal contributions she makes in terms of sacrifices from the provision of kamunaga to her time and at the cost of her own personal campaign, Ro Dona has asked me to convey that SODELPA has responded with ill-mannered and entitled disposition and never was a mere thank you or acknowledgement received in return.

Even in our darkest hours, when the Gone Marama Bale was arrested in the middle of the night from her chiefly residence, there was no material nor moral support from SDL/SODELPA. May I remind you that she defied the regime to defend the Methodist Church in Fiji & Rotuma and the Vanua. Going into the elections last year, we put to you that no other public figure in Fiji, opposed to the regime, carried the same gravitas and reputation as that of our Gone Marama Bale.

The newly launched SODEPA exploited the Gone Marama Bale’s public goodwill and profile, as a launch pad to catapult itself into the public eye and to maintain a strong position, as the single strongest voice against the regime.And after all that, we have come to a point, where weight and consideration are being accorded to cowardly unsigned allegations of gauna vinaka, as touted from pillar to post in the public square by the likes of Mosese Bulitavo, his shadowy supporters and of all things unholy, the Fiji Sun.

Allow me to close by conveying to you behind this scheming and machinations that the Vanua of Rewa is deeply hurt and disappointed by your cowardly and lowly aspersions and cheap pronouncements and in particular how certain parties have connived to trample and disrespect the traditional chiefly seat of the Roko Tui Dreketi.

Vinaka Vakalevu

Jese Sikivou

From Fijileaks Archives

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/chieftaincy-versus-democracy-as-the-role-of-chiefs-in-national-politics-heats-up-in-parliament-between-bainimarama-and-sodelpa-mps-fijileaks-reproduces-victor-lals-analysis-during-the-speight-coup

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/the-great-council-of-chiefs

17 Comments

Alby

24/9/2015 03:07:51 pm

It's what happens when the assumption is made that a hereditary tile is all you need to lead a political party.

Fiji is full of Crooks

24/9/2015 03:17:14 pm

1. How is he standing for REWA ?

2. Chiefs should be willing to give up their chiefly titles if they want to go into politics. In politics you are subject to criticism, right or wrong.

3. If the heat is too much, Ro Kepa should get out of the kitchen !!

Histori

24/9/2015 03:38:53 pm

Of all things unholy, "The Fiji Sun". Excellent and spot on. Get your act together Sodelpa. Your supporters deserve more.

rajend naidu

24/9/2015 05:46:20 pm

Editor,
The Holy Father Sets The Bar On Good Leadership
After politely knocking sense into the minds and hearts of the rich and powerful political class in Washington on what they must do to make a better America and a better world the Pope turned down a fancy dinner to go and feed the poor and homeless.
He leads by his personal example of humility and simplicity with his feet firmly on the ground among the ordinary people.
Hope the political leadership in America and around the world will learn from the Pope's example.
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

TRADITIONAL VERSUS PROFESSIONAL

24/9/2015 07:18:00 pm

Bula Victor. Yes we have all seen the letter from Jese, but some of us through the Fiji Sun. Jese is due his credit for standing up to his chief Not to undermine that traditional status, I just hope we will all be reminded that Ro Teimumu was not the only person publicly resisting the Regime in the last 8 years! The rest of us and our own Chiefs have also been doing their own resistance! Ro Teimumu for example has been able to be strong because she had the likes of Savenaca Kamikamica, and Adi Litia Qionibaravi advising her and writing the letter she took to AG from the people of Rewa for example! I believe a lot of people work behind the scenes and we have basically allowed Ro Teimumu to take the credit all these years! But alas we have all soon realised that it is a thankless job from her. We have all gotten to realise that whenever she is in troube with something, she then calls us and has no problem asking her to do something for her as if it was our duties to do so at her beck and call! Well, Rewa can always have her again as their own party Leader next time around because most of us are certainly not joining that band wagon. I believe the word is.... We have had enough! Vinaka vakalevu Victor for allowing these part of our political discourse to be discovered. The egoistic part of traditional politics that often forgets the professional arena demands nothing but the best of us. Including all MP's who have been individually voted into parliament by people who believed in them personally! I take my hat off to Mosese and the MP's who have chosen to stand up for the principles of real democracy and not be subjected to Ro Teimumu's bullies and 'you can go out that door' attitude that she has consistently and shamelessly displayed towards Caucus from day 1! God Bless Democracy!

King Rat

24/9/2015 08:24:13 pm

This is indeed and example of the confusion that exists in i'taukei society between the traditional viz a viz the modern.

What did the learned Dr Rusiate Nayacakalou say about the idea that traditional forms of leadership can exist in parallel with modern egalitarian forms of political contest? He described the idea as being a 'monstrous nonsense'. Someone should point that out to Jese Sikivou, who has crossed over from his traditional spokesman role into the real cut & thrust world of democratic politics.

You cant have the two systems operating in tandem. Nayacakalou told us that. If we want real democracy, then Democracy has to be the only game in town. Otherwise, you will have sections of the i'taukei society remaining confused and vulnerable to coup behaviour to right perceived wrongs in the current system.

Lets not forget, that in 1987 when it suited certain members of i'taukei society, democracy was labelled a 'foreign flower'.

Mrs Kepa should return to her traditional leadership role serving the 'Vanua of Rewa'.

Jese Sikivou

24/9/2015 10:38:03 pm

With all due respect to the learned, departed Dr. Nayacakalou, we are choosing how we will participate in this so called democracy. In the absence of a mutually agreed to definition, that is how we are going to engage and that is our " democratic" right. I hope the irony of the regime we live under does not completely escape you.

King Rat

25/9/2015 11:32:56 am

Vinaka Jese for your response. I agree that we need a 'mutually agreed definition' of democracy and that it is indeed one's democratic right to engage in such a debate. And I think it is important that we do engage in a 'robust' debate on this issue, which should start in Parliament and filter down to all levels. We need a national consensus on this important issue.

Until we do, we (i'taukei society especially) will continue to suffer from the state of confusion resulting from a conflict of mutually exclusive values between 'Traditional' (quasi-feudal) and 'Non Traditional' (egalitarian, participatory etc) forms of politics. That is the point I am trying to make in my post above.

Nayacakalou thinks that the two forms of leadership cannot co-exist.

I often wonder whether the GMB's foray into national politics under the 2013 Constitution was a wise move. It has cost her and her Vanua; the latter being justifiably unhappy at her being dragged into the smoky backroom political machinations of the 'So Help Me God' Party.

Thats why I think she should return to her traditional role at the apex of the Burebasaga confederacy and the Vanua of Rewa. If she did, then she would not have to cop all this. But at then of the day, its her personal choice and she has to take both the good and the bad (costs and benefits to herself and to the Vanua) of her decision.

Ni vakacegu

Jese Sikivou

24/9/2015 10:32:02 pm

Factual correction. The draft Adi Litia and Savenaca posted was not the document delivered to Khaiyum. They did not draft that document. Rewa's submission was put together by Niko Nawaikula, Roko Seni Draunidalo, Tomasi Vakatora with a minor contribution from me. It was signed by the Gone Marama Bale and all of our Turaga Taukei. The version those two posted was in all caps, bolded and signed by exactly no one. You make false and dangerous assumptions, don't get it twisted. Stop hiding behind pseudonyms, come out and declare your colors. If you don't want to do something, just say so. What professionalism are you referring to? The unprofessional unsigned allegations have all been replied to and documented. But go ahead and fake it until you think you made it.

Traditional versus Professional

24/9/2015 11:30:59 pm

Thank you for your clarifications Jese. You could very well be right. But you need to objectively re-evaluate the contributions of people when you say those two! After-all, those two seem to be the go to people more often than to others when the kitchen gets too hot for the Lady. I guess for someone like her, she feels special when people like yourself have to rush to her side to defend her all the time. I wonder if we were to reveal the trouble most of us went to, during campaigns to get her to be where she is. I leave it at that. Just be reminded that she was not the only one standing up to resist the Regime! The Turaga the Tui Cakau has been resisting from 2006! He refused to meet Frank when he came to Taveuni so Frank had to insist upon entering Somosomo village under the ruse of visiting the new water treatment plant! The Turaga Qaranivalu refused to seek traditional forgiveness eventhough it could have saved him from jail! The Turaga na Ratu did not rush to Franks side eventhough he was flaunting the invitation card so openly. How did they refuse??? THEY DID NOT ALLOW THEIR VANUA TO ENTERTAIN FRank! They denounced his actions and Ratu Timoci summed it up at Nausori! So my dear....check your facts again and be the bigger person here! She has gone off course and unless you are still sleeping...the notes above and on social media should tell you that her following has withered! People are waking up to the real her!

Jese Sikivou

25/9/2015 01:49:07 am

Make a long story short, what is your name? Otherwise you're just prattling on hiding behind your keyboard. Cowardly attacks from those hiding in the shadows. I'm done with you, NEXT!

Osea Malamalanitabua link

27/9/2015 02:09:26 am

Well said Jese Sikivou Rewa and the Vanua Burebahaga is the Economic Power-House.King Rat and Traditional verses Professional you are both on Confused.Com. No were ubiubi...aule muru moce.

KAMA link

27/9/2015 12:36:03 pm

Jese Sikivou - Vinaka Saka

Vaka e matailelevu jikoga mai o Traditional Vs Professional .

Sa obvious dina mai o koya.

Ane Wainiqolo

28/9/2015 12:16:46 am

Ni bula balavu saka tiko na Gone Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi.

Bahuki

28/9/2015 08:19:43 pm

Spot on with the Fiji Snub as "of all things unholy" there Mr. Sikivou, a very big thank you for that.

The resilience of Na Gone Marama Bale is high commendable that not even naysayers can stop her from whatever she aims to achieve, regardless of what it is.

Now SODELPA needs to greatly sort out its differences and pull itself together if it intends to continue challenging Frankie and his cronies in parliament from the opposition's bench.

Bahuki

29/9/2015 08:20:22 pm

Frankly, Jese Sikivou just summed it up pretty much, especially the Fiji Snub.

Couldn't have said it better.

Dave

7/10/2015 09:56:38 pm

SODELPA needs a complete overhaul. The party is neither social, nor democratic nor liberal but a parochial racist party ill-suited for a modern multiracial Fiji. The party is a sore loser which can't accept the fact it was soundly beaten at the last election. It claims its candidates won more votes than the winning FFP candidates but fails to realise that Fiji's electoral system is no longer based on first-past-the-post system but on proportional voting. it is prepared to question the impartiality of the international observer group because the election result did not go its way and it has not produced one iota of evidence of vote rigging by the winning party. The present leadership lacks dynamism and ability to inspire confidence among its supporters. For the leader to continue to depend on advice from a person who led a disastrous election campaign as well as depend on a failed politician is a sure recipe for continued failure. The leader, mickey and this cheekyboy must go and be replaced by a more enlightened and dynamic team.

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