'Because when ordinary iTaukei villagers were hauled before the courts, broke, frightened, and politically exposed, those loud proclamations about solidarity, vanua, and collective duty evaporated the moment legal fees were mentioned. Indigenous rights, it turned out, were strictly billable by the hour.'
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There is a comforting myth often repeated in Fiji that when iTaukei people are in trouble, iTaukei professionals will rally to their side out of duty, solidarity, and shared identity. It is a beautiful story right up until ilavo (money) enters the room.
When a group of ordinary villagers found themselves dragged into a serious sedition prosecution, abandoned, frightened, and openly admitting to the courts that they could not afford lawyers, the response from much of the iTaukei legal elite was not outrage or assistance. It was a price list.
Some came with excuses, carefully worded fears about 'political pressure', whispered anxieties about upsetting those in power. Others were more honest. They came to the Tavua Courthouse, calculators ready, explaining how much each accused would need to pay. Not to secure justice. Not to defend principle. But to secure a retainer.
This was not pro bono culture. This was disaster capitalism, Fiji-style, profiting from fear, from poverty, and from one’s 'own people'.
And then came the humiliation.
Because when the moment of real courage arrived, it was not an iTaukei lawyer who stepped forward. It was a non-iTaukei lawyer, Aman Ravindra-Singh, who stood on the steps of the High Court, quietly introduced himself, and took on all of them. No negotiations. No invoices. No grandstanding.
For seven years, while others counted fees and clutched reputations, he fought. He absorbed the pressure, the risk, the political hostility without once asking how much money there was. The 'vanua defenders' were nowhere to be seen. The so-called guardians of indigenous legal leadership had subcontracted their conscience to fear and finance.
The irony is almost too neat: those who speak loudest about protecting iTaukei interests were the first to monetise iTaukei suffering, and it took the so-called vulagi to remember what justice is supposed to look like.
History has a way of recording these things. Not the invoices but the silences. Not the excuses but who actually showed up.
If indigenous rights mean anything at all, they must mean more than speeches, slogans, and selective outrage. They must mean standing with your own people when it costs you something. Until then, spare the country the moral lectures. The record is already written, and it isn’t flattering.
As we used to say in the 1970s with the Raiwaqa Revolutionary Army (RRA): 'E sega ni kana na manumanu, sa kania ga na ilavo.'
When a group of ordinary villagers found themselves dragged into a serious sedition prosecution, abandoned, frightened, and openly admitting to the courts that they could not afford lawyers, the response from much of the iTaukei legal elite was not outrage or assistance. It was a price list.
Some came with excuses, carefully worded fears about 'political pressure', whispered anxieties about upsetting those in power. Others were more honest. They came to the Tavua Courthouse, calculators ready, explaining how much each accused would need to pay. Not to secure justice. Not to defend principle. But to secure a retainer.
This was not pro bono culture. This was disaster capitalism, Fiji-style, profiting from fear, from poverty, and from one’s 'own people'.
And then came the humiliation.
Because when the moment of real courage arrived, it was not an iTaukei lawyer who stepped forward. It was a non-iTaukei lawyer, Aman Ravindra-Singh, who stood on the steps of the High Court, quietly introduced himself, and took on all of them. No negotiations. No invoices. No grandstanding.
For seven years, while others counted fees and clutched reputations, he fought. He absorbed the pressure, the risk, the political hostility without once asking how much money there was. The 'vanua defenders' were nowhere to be seen. The so-called guardians of indigenous legal leadership had subcontracted their conscience to fear and finance.
The irony is almost too neat: those who speak loudest about protecting iTaukei interests were the first to monetise iTaukei suffering, and it took the so-called vulagi to remember what justice is supposed to look like.
History has a way of recording these things. Not the invoices but the silences. Not the excuses but who actually showed up.
If indigenous rights mean anything at all, they must mean more than speeches, slogans, and selective outrage. They must mean standing with your own people when it costs you something. Until then, spare the country the moral lectures. The record is already written, and it isn’t flattering.
As we used to say in the 1970s with the Raiwaqa Revolutionary Army (RRA): 'E sega ni kana na manumanu, sa kania ga na ilavo.'
Brother Aman Ravindra-Singh, we were indebted to you throughout…
We didn’t know the system of the courts, and we knew we didn’t have the $$$ to pay for a lawyer. Most of us, including me, simply told the court that we would be representing ourselves.
Some of our supporters tried to secure big-name iTaukei lawyers. I won’t name them, but they gave excuses because they were afraid of Khaiyum and Bainimarama’s style of leadership. Some iTaukei lawyers visited us at the Tavua Courthouse and told us how much each of us would have to pay. They were after money.
The first day our case was to be transferred to the Lautoka High Court, we can never forget what happened.
The first two of us to be presented at the Lautoka High Court were climbing up the steps of the courthouse when there stood a man in long black pants and a white long-sleeve shirt, offering his hand for a handshake. What happened next is still beyond comprehension to this day.
In a soft tone, the man asked,
“You from the sedition case in Tavua?”
The two gentlemen answered, “Yes.”
The man then continued,
“I am Aman Ravindra-Singh. I will be representing you and all the others.”
Brother Aman, vinaka vakalevu for standing up and fighting the dictator head-on from day one. You offered your services when all iTaukei lawyers were afraid, while some were only looking for money.
For seven years, you never asked us about money. You never told us what we had to pay you. You kept reminding us that you would fight for our families, our integrity, our freedom, and for clean justice and the rule of law. You knew from the start that we were wrongfully charged. You never backed off - not once.
Khaiyum tried with all his might to put us behind bars, but he could not.
Brother, the little that we collected every time we appeared in court to give you was all we could give. You never told us to do it. We just tried to give something from what little we had.
Isa… thank you so much, Bro.
Editor's Note: We have slightly corrected the text into clear, proper English, without removing anything, without adding anything, and keeping the meaning, emotion, and structure intact. We have only fixed grammar, spelling, punctuation, and flow.
We didn’t know the system of the courts, and we knew we didn’t have the $$$ to pay for a lawyer. Most of us, including me, simply told the court that we would be representing ourselves.
Some of our supporters tried to secure big-name iTaukei lawyers. I won’t name them, but they gave excuses because they were afraid of Khaiyum and Bainimarama’s style of leadership. Some iTaukei lawyers visited us at the Tavua Courthouse and told us how much each of us would have to pay. They were after money.
The first day our case was to be transferred to the Lautoka High Court, we can never forget what happened.
The first two of us to be presented at the Lautoka High Court were climbing up the steps of the courthouse when there stood a man in long black pants and a white long-sleeve shirt, offering his hand for a handshake. What happened next is still beyond comprehension to this day.
In a soft tone, the man asked,
“You from the sedition case in Tavua?”
The two gentlemen answered, “Yes.”
The man then continued,
“I am Aman Ravindra-Singh. I will be representing you and all the others.”
Brother Aman, vinaka vakalevu for standing up and fighting the dictator head-on from day one. You offered your services when all iTaukei lawyers were afraid, while some were only looking for money.
For seven years, you never asked us about money. You never told us what we had to pay you. You kept reminding us that you would fight for our families, our integrity, our freedom, and for clean justice and the rule of law. You knew from the start that we were wrongfully charged. You never backed off - not once.
Khaiyum tried with all his might to put us behind bars, but he could not.
Brother, the little that we collected every time we appeared in court to give you was all we could give. You never told us to do it. We just tried to give something from what little we had.
Isa… thank you so much, Bro.
Editor's Note: We have slightly corrected the text into clear, proper English, without removing anything, without adding anything, and keeping the meaning, emotion, and structure intact. We have only fixed grammar, spelling, punctuation, and flow.
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After years under the shadow of serious criminal charges and a long legal battle, the 26 accused in a sedition case were finally free yesterday following a no-case-to-answer ruling by the High Court in Ba.
The ruling was delivered by High Court Judge Justice Samuela Qica. The accused are Pita Camaimoala Vatatawa, Samoni Nacolawa, Mosese Tawake, Ilaitia Korolawa, Timoci Nacolatabisa, Jese Vatusumu, Penasio Manasa Luqa, Joseva Caucau, Isireli Serewai, Rokoua Duatini, Qalitia Lomavatu Vakacegu, Inoke Navunilagi, Tomasi Madigibuli, Vosavosa Tunakoro, Maciu Uto, Vetaia Dale, Temesi Waqa, Sevanaia Qaranivalu, Apimeleki Wailomo, Josua Naluvou, Marika Qalo, Manueli Nadakula, Tevita Damudamu, Sanaila Qariqama, Tomasi Navimalumu and Peceli Nayadra.
They were represented by lawyers Mark Anthony and Robert Bancod, along with other legal associates.
According to the information filed by the State, the accused were jointly charged with between one and three counts of sedition, contrary to section 67(1) of the Crimes Act 2009, and with additional counts of urging political violence, contrary to section 65(1) of the Act.
The State alleged that the first to sixth accused, between January 1 and July 31, 2015, in Rakiraki, committed acts with seditious intent by bringing into hatred or contempt, or exciting disaffection against, the Government of Fiji as established by law.
It was further alleged that the seventh to tenth accused, during the same period and location, acted with seditious intent by serving as drivers for ministers of what was described as an unelected government.
Counts three and four related to allegations that the first to eleventh accused attended meetings where they intentionally urged others to overthrow the Government of Fiji by force or violence.
Count five alleged that the fifth to 26th accused participated in training activities for the purpose of overthrowing the Government by force or violence, and in doing so urged others to commit such acts.
Justice Qica ruled that there was no case to answer on all five counts.
All accused were acquitted and discharged and are at liberty forthwith. The State has 30 days to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal. Source: The Fiji Sun, 22 Janaury 2026
The ruling was delivered by High Court Judge Justice Samuela Qica. The accused are Pita Camaimoala Vatatawa, Samoni Nacolawa, Mosese Tawake, Ilaitia Korolawa, Timoci Nacolatabisa, Jese Vatusumu, Penasio Manasa Luqa, Joseva Caucau, Isireli Serewai, Rokoua Duatini, Qalitia Lomavatu Vakacegu, Inoke Navunilagi, Tomasi Madigibuli, Vosavosa Tunakoro, Maciu Uto, Vetaia Dale, Temesi Waqa, Sevanaia Qaranivalu, Apimeleki Wailomo, Josua Naluvou, Marika Qalo, Manueli Nadakula, Tevita Damudamu, Sanaila Qariqama, Tomasi Navimalumu and Peceli Nayadra.
They were represented by lawyers Mark Anthony and Robert Bancod, along with other legal associates.
According to the information filed by the State, the accused were jointly charged with between one and three counts of sedition, contrary to section 67(1) of the Crimes Act 2009, and with additional counts of urging political violence, contrary to section 65(1) of the Act.
The State alleged that the first to sixth accused, between January 1 and July 31, 2015, in Rakiraki, committed acts with seditious intent by bringing into hatred or contempt, or exciting disaffection against, the Government of Fiji as established by law.
It was further alleged that the seventh to tenth accused, during the same period and location, acted with seditious intent by serving as drivers for ministers of what was described as an unelected government.
Counts three and four related to allegations that the first to eleventh accused attended meetings where they intentionally urged others to overthrow the Government of Fiji by force or violence.
Count five alleged that the fifth to 26th accused participated in training activities for the purpose of overthrowing the Government by force or violence, and in doing so urged others to commit such acts.
Justice Qica ruled that there was no case to answer on all five counts.
All accused were acquitted and discharged and are at liberty forthwith. The State has 30 days to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal. Source: The Fiji Sun, 22 Janaury 2026
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