Vote buying from Indo-Fijians or honouring the indentured dead? India ponders building monument in Bainimarama's Kiuva village to "honour" lives of Indian coolies lost in "The Wreck of Syria" on 11 May 1884

THE Indian High Commission is considering building a monument in Tailevu to remember the lives of indentured labourers who died on the ill-fated Syria.

High Commissioner Vinod Kumar visited the two grave sites at Vunivatu Bay along Kiuva Beach and Matanicagi in Tailevu on Saturday where the girmitiya are buried, close to the spot where the slave ship struck a reef.

"We are grateful to the people of Kiuva for offering their land to bury the unfortunate victims that were on board the Syria," Mr Kumar said.

"This was the first time I visited the grave sites and my thoughts were with the victims, the conditions of their travel and their unfortunate end."

The villagers of Kiuva requested that a pathway be built as a trail to the cemeteries at the two sites.

"I will make these requests to the government of India as soon as possible," Mr Kumar said.

"The government of India will have to look at it and make a decision."

Mr Kumar said the villagers also requested assistance for the upgrading of roads in the area but Mr Kumar said this request would be sent to his government later.

"The government of India is thankful to Kiuva Village and other nearby villages for supporting the passengers from the Syria, for helping bring back those who were still alive and also offering their land for the burial of the unfortunate victims."

Village spokesman Seremaia Waqainabete said the trail to the grave sites and the monument were deserving of the victims buried there as they gave up their lives to travel to a foreign country.

"This will recognise their unprecedented contribution to what Fiji is today," he said.

"Their monument will commemorate their sacrifice and allow the dead to rest in peace."

Source: The Fiji Times, Monday, September 30, 2013

Indian High Commissioner to Fiji Vinod Kumar during his visit to Kiuva Village in Tailevu on Saturday

INDIA GAVE THUMPS UP TO  FIJI COUP
“A diplomatic colleague had dinner with Indian High Commissioner Ajay Singh a few days ago.  Singh, who has made no secret of his support for the interim government’s “clean up” effort, described the present Fiji environment as pay-back time.”  Chaudhry’s vindictiveness against the Post and FMF is illustrative, but Singh probably meant “pay back” more broadly against those who supported the 2000 coup that removed the Chaudhry government, and more broadly yet against those who have suppressed ethnic-Indian interests in the past.  We suggested to Singh at the time of the coup that the Indian Government, the world’s biggest democracy, should condemn the RFMF action.  Singh argued that many Indo-Fijians were supportive of Bainimarama’s efforts.  We suggested that any obvious Indo-Fijian enthusiasm for the RFMF would be playing with fire.  Since then there have been many instances of Indo-Fijians complaining to the RFMF about ethnic-Fijians and of RFMF troops then enforcing street justice with no due process.  To date, nothing has exploded into flame, but there is certainly a danger of “pay back” reversing course with tragic consequences.” - The former US Ambassador Larry Dinger re Wikileaks cables.