( The following story has now been confirmed after doubts were raised about it by Radio Australia and the historian Brij Lal. Details below):
The constitutional submission by members of the former governing party in Fiji – the SDL – calling for the country to be declared a Christian state is surely one of the longest political suicide notes in history. Coming as it does less than a week after the party’s leader, Laisenia Qarase, was jailed for corruption, it’s a fair bet that this document seals the SDL’s fate. It cannot win a multiracial election if these are the policies it takes to the 2014 poll, even in the event that it is permitted to stand. That must now also be in doubt because it’s already abundantly clear that the SDL cannot possibly meet the test of being a multiracial party. What non-indigenous person would be moronic enough to vote for it, let alone join it?
All over Fiji people are shaking their heads. Because it truly beggars belief that any party with pretensions to lead the country can have come up with the provocative document that the SDL submitted to the Constitutional Commission this week. It reeks of racial supremacy and arrogance, appalling religious intolerance and a crude mindset more attuned to the nineteenth century than the 21st. It is as bad as anything proposed by the indigenous supremacists and their chiefly and Methodist patrons after the coups of 1987. And if anything, it’s worse, because the passage of time has done nothing to modify the earnest belief of these people that only the i’Taukei truly have a legitimate place in Fiji. The rest of us are vulagi (visitors) and we’ll bloody well put up with what they have planned for us whether we like it or not. And if we don’t like it, we can leave.
Never mind if you’re a Hindu, Sikh or Muslim, the state religion will be Christianity and Fiji will be governed by Christians and Christian principles. And this in a country where close to 40 per cent of the population isn’t Christian at all. You will also speak Fijian because that will be the only official language. And yes, Fijian not i’Taukei, because only the i’Taukei will be allowed to call themselves Fijian. The rest of us go back to being designated Fiji Islanders. There will be no dual citizenship, no formal recognition of gay rights and the chiefs will be restored to their dominant place in national life, with the sole right to choose the president and vice president.
Welcome to the world an SDL Government has in store for all Fiji citizens, where the minorities are second class citizens again no matter what Frank Bainimarama’s vision was. Incredibly, this is what this political grouping – which recently changed its constitution to admit members of other races – plans to take to the non-negotiable multiracial election of 2014. A return to the tyranny of the majority. Gee fellas. Thanks a million. Where do we sign up, all we Hindus and Muslims, Sikhs and Buddists, Kai Idia, Kailoma and Kai Valagi, gays and lesbians? It’s the new old Fiji and we can hardly wait.
Morbid jokes aside, this is a shocking document for Fijians of all races, not just for its actual content but for what it says about the leadership of the SDL. These were the people who tried to railroad through legislation to free the odious George Speight and his gang, review existing land title in favour of the i’Taukei and introduce the Qoliqoli Bill to make other citizens pay for the use of coastal resources. Whatever the critics say, all this would have passed into law had not Frank Bainimarama abandoned the role of spectator and stormed onto the political playing field in 2006 to crash tackle the SDL Government before it scored these miserable tries against the rest of us.
Yet incredibly, we know now that even these highly contentious plans – enough to trigger yet another coup but this time to assert the rights of all citizens – were just the start. What this submission confirms is that there was much more to come had these racist goons got their way – truly a new dark age that, thank God, Frank Bainimarama prevented. For five and a half years, the regime’s critics have blabbered on about why the 2006 coup wasn’t justified. Yet in one fell swoop, the SDL leadership has given the lie to any notion that the military takeover was unnecessary or premature, that they genuinely intended to share power with the other parties – as they’d agreed – and that the bills Bainimarama objected to were only proposals that might have been eventually modified or abandoned.
No, they were going into law alright. And we now know that after that would have come the Christian state, Fijian as the official language and the rest of us back to square one and the dark days of 1987. Was the restoration of the Sunday observance laws next? What a merry path we’ve been led along by the likes of Brij Lal, Jon Fraenkel, Wadan Narsey, Graham Leung and Imrana Jalal. “Power sharing could have worked but it wasn’t given a chance!” Well now the naked truth is exposed. And whether they were conned or were conning themselves, they certainly tried to con the rest of us that Laisenia Qarase was a cuddly democrat and Frank Bainimarama the evil dictator. These people habitually describe Grubsheet as a misguided apologist for the Bainimarama regime. Yet they are the ones who have been hoodwinked – apologists for indigenous supremacists masquerading as democrats. Don’t take my word for it, dear reader. Judge for yourself your own place in the Fiji envisaged by the SDL.
What emerges from this document is a frightening insight into the psyche of some of our fellow citizens – racist bigots who don’t accept non-indigenous people no matter how many generations their families have been in Fiji. They represent the country at its most backward and inward looking, presenting a blueprint for a nation that looks to its primitive past rather than seeking an honoured role in the modern world. And if these are the views that the SDL leadership are prepared to commit to paper, what other treats do they have in store for Fiji’s minorities that can’t be uttered in mixed racial company, that are spoken only in whispers around the village grog bowl late at night?
The SDL’s patron is one of the three most senior chiefs in Fiji – the Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa. She recently raised the spectre of racial calamity in Fiji. What did she really mean? What fresh hell awaits us if the SDL ever gets into government again? It’s high time for some public explanations. They want the term “sexual orientation” to be removed from the Bill of Rights of the 1997 constitution – the passage that says a person mustn’t be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. Is the racial, cultural and religious orientation of their opponents next?
They also want an end to any multiparty government in future and the adoption of a “winner takes all” system in Fiji. Yes, of course they do. And God help us if it ever comes to pass and the SDL assumes the reins of power again. The only silver lining in this dark cloud is that the “freedom and democracy” cape that these people have used to mask their true agenda has been ripped away to expose the ugly face of racism, fanaticism and intolerance. Their remaining non-indigenous supporters in the diaspora will be aghast, as will the credulous regional media and policy makers in Australia and New Zealand. By going public, the SDL has sounded its death knell.
I agree with you Graham. By the way, some while ago, someone had promised to send you a document he claimed that he had on him about the advantages of dual citizenship and claimed, if I recall, that he had a hand in it. I am more than determined now to apply for one. I wonder if I can have a copy of that document, whoever had posted that comment volunteering to send a copy. Please forward it onto me on the following address:
fijiatheartpatriot@gmail.com
Loloma mada and down with SDL
Graham
SDL’s submission in no different from Somalia, where Islam with be the official religion. And guess who had a hand in drafting that new Constitution of Somalia, which was passed last week – yes, Yash Ghai, chairman of the Fiji Constitutional Review Commission. Here are the main points from the Somali Constitution:
A bill of rights, with everyone declared to be equal, regardless of clan or religion
Islam is the only religion of the state, and no other religion can be propagated in the country
A Truth and Reconciliation Commission is to be established
Torture Watch Fiji has published Ghai’s opening speech to the CRC, in which he concluded:
Finally, I want to share the good news that I received this morning from Mogadisho that at long last the Somalis have a new constitution, approved by the Constituent Assembly yesterday. My wife Jill and I had the honour of helping the Somali Constitution Commission to prepare the draft constitution which eventually but not without amendments by the Assembly has become the supreme law of that troubled land. If Somalia with its manifold problems too complex to imagine has succeeded, surely Fiji will do so.
Vinaka
03 August 2012
Civic Centre,
Suva.
Long live Fiji as a Christian state! No Indo-Fijian was signatory to the Deed of Cession, certainly not dictator Frank Bainimarama’s ancestors – a kai loloma half cast with Indian heritage
Proud Christian”, there is nothing for you to be proud of, and believe me, I say this as the son of a Christian missionary who needs no lessons from you about the true message of Christianity, which is the opposite of your bigotry and hatred.
What you have said here is disgraceful. I can scarcely believe that you would suggest that Fiji follow Somalia – one of the darkest and most lawless hell holes in Africa – in banning the propagation of any religion other than the “state religion”. Which brand of Christianity do you have in mind? Ah, yes, the good old Methodist theocracy that the mad mullahs of the Methodist Church tried to have imposed in 1987. John Wesley, let alone my own father, would be spinning in their graves.
So Fiji is to be the first exclusively Christian state in the world under your blueprint ( aside from the Vatican ) but with a population that includes 32 per cent Hindu, six per cent Muslim and sundry other minor religions. If that’s not the tyranny of the majority then I don’t know what is.
Fortunately, it will never happen, not least because the rest of us will be looking to the “kai loloma ( slip of the pen?) half caste with Indian heritage” – a complete lie – to make sure that it doesn’t. No wonder many people in Fiji fear a return to democracy. The face of the dictatorship is far more attractive to them than the ugly face you present here. Shame on you.
The best about all of this is that the racism of the SDL is now out in the open for all the world to see, especially the Australians and New Zealanders, who’ve been duped into supporting the so-called “freedom and democracy” campaigners in the diaspora. These people are portrayed in the media as innocent Little Red Riding Hoods. But now that they’ve ripped off their capes to reveal the Big Bad Wolves that they really are, their support will collapse. This submission might have been ugly but it was also incredibly stupid. It will destroy the SDL and the pretence that it stands for anything noble at all in Fiji.
Interesting, To be honest we I’taukeis have been living peacefully for all these years… Our culture is our pride… in a I’taukei culture we always care more on how things look and is evident in our rites and customs “Na i rairai ni ka” and its not something that needs to be like the muslim countries does which is killing Christians. We are not extremist, For Fiji as a Christian state is only how things look to us and it’s not a strict entrenched law where no other religion is allowed but christianity, that was not our motive and will never be…. we dont care wether you are a missionary grand son or whatever. This is Fiji before making a comment, first understand what the i’taukei culture is…
Moreover, the muslim, hindus etc have been practising their religion in Fiji… nobody ever stop the Muslim from praying every 1pm and 5am or hindus etc.
Just keep your sh*t to yourself.
You stepped down on our culture.. understand our culture first, that goes to all the Muslim, Hindus etc here… we love you all and that’s the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. So please dont misunderstand us.
Vinaka
You are sick……!
Sorry Graham,
I meant proud christian is sick he should go live in Somalia for a year in see if he will come back alive…He is as sick as the Somalian pirates with his pirate Ideas………not for Viti thanks…….go back to Somalia…we live in peace…and we love to go to the beach on Sundays with our famillies………hooray…and watch this bullshit methodist at the beach………especially the young kids who love life.in Viti…who don’t care about these old methodist pharisees with their bullshit ideology………which is not even founded in the bible to not work on sundays………this idea came from diabolical pharisees not from christ…what laughable crap from this proud christrian…………..! Graham u r on the right track of common good for all Fijians…….God loves everyone…
Deed of Cession actually gave away Fiji to Britain, because the signatories could not pay the debt. Nothing to be proud of that , and therein lies the problem with you and your ilk !!
Proud of something you should really be ashamed of !!
Graham, you ask about SDL membership as follows:
What non-indigenous person would be moronic enough to join it, let alone vote for it?
I put forward the name of Victor Lal, that moronic Christian Indo-Fijian traitor, who will be the first to join up, and sure, other Indo-Fijian Christians.
Victor (Christian) and Lal (Red commie)!
And I could provide other names, as I think of them in my sleep.
Brij Lal is another who should be given honorary status as SDL member. He has been waging a relentless international campaign on behalf of this racist SDL mob. We all knew SDL was wolf in sheep’s hide, but this bumbling professor and so-called Fiji expert could not even see this. This is one naive academic who justifies the saying that academics have their heads in the clouds with no idea about the realities. Brij Lal has a talent for retrospectively writing history. His talents stop there. He should stick to what he knows and not poke his nose in areas he is clearly out of this depth.
FYI:
Victor is not a Christian but a Hindu. Your implication that Christians will join the SDL just by virtue of being a Christian is very wrong I am an Indian Catholic ( Christian) and I know that a true Christian, like a true Hindus will not support any group which substitutes love thy neighbor with hate thy neighbor.
People who hate are, by definition, ungodly, unintelligent people who lap up all the shit that politicians throw at them while spitting in the face of the maker. I don’t think Victor Lal and Brij Lal are haters. But they support hate groups for their own selfish reasons and as such are accomplices of hate. To that extent they are as guilty of hatred.
Grubsheet’s Indo-Fijian racial bigot
Sai baba – I thought the very crusade is to get rid of racial bigotry
No wonder SDL flourishes as birds of feather in the same racial nest like you
– bugger off!
Graham, Viti and others
You chaps should read my posting – I asked the question – why should sdl be condemned for asking for a christian state when somali constitution which yash drafted contains that somalia be an islamic state – re read my comments
SDL’s submission in no different from Somalia, where Islam with be the official religion. And guess who had a hand in drafting that new Constitution of Somalia, which was passed last week – yes, Yash Ghai, chairman of the Fiji Constitutional Review Commission. Here are the main points from the Somali Constitution:
A bill of rights, with everyone declared to be equal, regardless of clan or religion
Islam is the only religion of the state, and no other religion can be propagated in the country
It is very apt to compare Somalia with Fiji since that is the direction Fiji is heading if SDL has its way.
Very interesting, a common sense response to the SDL submission. An extremely backward and arrogant approach. But are they completely out of touch with society in Fiji or are there sadly a good number of people that would support such a submission? It gives a terrible name to Fijians, as well as Christians.
Here’s hoping the Labor Party makes a submission so we can see where they are at as well. Fiji needs a strong contender for the 2014 election, but the SDL have shown they are completely unrealistic. They sound like the people of the same flock that are in NZ and Australia masquerading as proponents of a fair democracy.
That proposal by SDL is very unchristian. As a christian who was brought up by methodist parents in suva and consistantly go back to my village I can confidently say I really dont think forcing people to be christian is a christian way. One of Gods greatest gift is free will and we have no authority or base to justify that.
Ive seen how my villagers on a yearly basis have to give donation(soli) to the point their kids cant go to school due to no school fees. They are already poor yet the church asks them for money all the time, at times even at the end of year they have names of people and how much they have left to give on boards for all to see, talkabout name and shame. That is not the christian way.
Now in my village Im trying to help kids with school fees at tertiary levels because most finish high school and go back to the village. Ive been trying to get the message across that education is the key to success. When kids finish high school tertiary/uni is the bridge to employment and with that comes success. Those kids will then help their parents and siblings and after few generations those kids will help the village out.
One thing that I think is key is that if those who are now successfully working to try and help out finanacially for school fees and also every now and again a few words then that will hugely help lift our individual villages which then lift the countries standard of living and economy.
The government needs everybody to help by doing their bid. Sometimes people dont respond to outsiders trying to tell them what to do but one of their own who leads by example telling them how to be better goes a long way.
The country needs everyone working together to better our lives. step by step we’ll climb the ladder and mountain of economic success. We can be the generation that lifts our country from third world to second and also set the foundation for our future generation to take us higher.
We can be a shining beacon to the rest of the pacific even the world, yes were a small country but sometimes big achievements are born out of the smallest inspirations.
Proud christian
Just take good look at all islamic states and see what state of affairs they are in.why dont you declare your province a christian one and leave the rest of fiji out.
@ Tevita Waqa
Obviously you are referring to the province of Rewa which is led by Teimumu and her cabal at ‘Nadudukilagi’ – all hardcore SDL.
This Grubsheet posting has since been reposted on Fiji Today, the most moderate of the blogsites that oppose the government. It has attracted two comments thus far which are worth highlighting only because they demonstrate how mad some of these people are:
Islamic Republic of Iran
Why is it ok to have Islamic states but not Christian states? The attacks on Christianity by khaiyum’s junta and its facist groupie supporters has been a big mistake. Khaiyum is unelected. He is a member of an illegal regime repressing Christianity in Fiji. Why is he not held to account for this? Increasingly it appears the military junta started something they can’t finish? The one group that can clean up this mess in Fiji created by the junta is the Fiji military. It needs to act without delay.
Jamuant
Fiji was ceeded (sic) to the Queen of England. The roots of Christianity in Fiji is traced back to UK. The values and principles of Christ is nothing to decry about. I ask Graham what you are on about ranting and raving about Christ and his teachings? shame on a traitor like you. You may be a 666 evil who is demonse the christian faith but 60% of Fiji people are natives and they love their god. You can go fuck with Allah it does not matter.
Charming people, what?
This is SDL using Christianity to prop up an old, exploitative, parasitic and hegemonic structure which supported PM Qarase, and corrupt cronies like Siti Waleilakeba and Naisoro, disbarred and disgraced lawyer Qoriniasi Bale, and other well-placed educated elites using their privileged positions to milk the system.
Those who know their bible will recall Christ uprooted and dismantled a very similar oppressive structure which consisted of an “unholy alliance” between priests and elites preying on the people.
A similar unchristian structure allowed Qarase and other elites to hog on FHL A-class shares and almost get away with it.
How does the greedy behaviour of Qarase and other Fijian elites fit with the so-called, sharing-caring Fijian communal system? It’s the same old trick – elites talk up culture while in practice do things un-cultural.
With Christianity too it’s all talk no walk.
Talk about Pharisee’s and the Sadducee’s ; post 1987 we saw these big wigs in the Methodist Church, a week after the annual Church Conference, driving around in metallic coloured Pajero’s with tinted windows, bullbars with double spotlights fitted (as if they were out ‘spotlighting’ kangaroos) etc. It was an impressive sight.
Where did they get their money from? From the proceeds of the annual Conference and ‘soli’ etc by the poor and great unwashed.
Later one of the most voiceferous campaigners for Methodism to be declared the state religion, was appointed to the Senate by LQ.
Seems like they are at it again with their tacit support of Teimumu and the SDL.
Thats democracy (Fiji style) I guess
The Methodist Church has just announced an increase in membership levy ‘to meet the growing expenses of the Church’!
Ya, more ‘soli’s’ to be imposed upon the ‘great unwashed’ to maintain the lifestyles of the Pharisee’s and Sadducee’s doing God’s good work.
Dig deeper folks lest your place in Kingdom of Heaven will be lost.
Graham
You shouldnt be jumping up and down as if a kangaroo has got into your pants. SDL submission is aimed that the Methodist voters, who have been victimised since the coup because of the behaviour of a few of their leaders.
@ Graham
FYI Teimumu Kepa is currently in Sydney on a fundraising drive from the pro-democracy mob there. The funds are to be used for the SDL campaign, which includes paying for the preparation of their submission to the Constitutional Commission as well as for grassroots campaigning as per their agenda.
By doing so she has simply taken a leaf out of the activities of the Tamil diaspora in Oz.
She was seen at Church on Sunday with her advisors from ‘Nadudukilagi’
Graham
If it’s true that
Ro Teimumu is soliciting for soli in Australia should’nt this be reported to the authorities in Australia since it is against immigration laws. Maybe the media can report it .
@ Peter Reese
Teimumu does that in the US as well where on one of her trips there she left her adult daughter behind as an overstayer.
The fundraising are done under cover of ‘Rewa Day’ or ‘Burebasaga Day’ etc over which she presides sitting in a high chair covered in fine mats and tapa whilst all her ‘subjects’ there converge upon her in a conga line, crawling forward on all fours to present her with envelopes stuffed with cash for her to take back. Her advisors sit on the floor beside her in typical Fijian fashion saying ‘vinaka, vinaka na soli’ (thank you for the gifts).
It is fundraising in the traditional way i.e. they are gifts and are not subject to tax etc so they do not need a license to carry on that acitivity
@ Anonymous:
Thank’s very much for the info. Very useful indeed.
Isn’t it interesting how she touts her unflinching love for Fiji but leaves her daughter behind in the US?.
So which church/religion does Roko Teimumu belong to? And who are her advisors?
“Election expert”, poor Methodists. Victimised? It’s nothing to what they have inflicted on everyone else politically over the years by inciting racial and religious prejudice. So now they want Fiji to be a theocracy, for them to be the state church.
I can tell you that hundreds of thousands of kangaroos are jumping up and down in their pants over this one.
Proud Christian?
Events which occurred during the year 2000 coup, when I lived in Lautoka, made me embarrassed to be a Christian.
On TV, one could see “Christians” marching through Suva, burning and looting, while singing Christian hymns. I did my level best to urge Christian leaders to use the media immediately to condemn that behavior and state that it must stop at once. I did so my making a list of all the facsimile numbers I could find for Christian organizations and sent each one a fax. I got NO replies and NO action was taken as a result.
Although I believe that the majority of Christian leaders in Fiji were opposed to the burning and looting in Suva, not even one had the guts to speak up against it and make an effort to get it stopped. Christianity is supposed to support love, fairness, and justice, but unfortunately, it often falls far short of doing so as evidenced by the burning and looting in Suva and by the failure of Christian leaders to do anything to stop it.
During colonial times, in many churches in Fiji, if the locals were permitted to enter at all, they had to sit in back while the white colonists sat in front. Had I been in Fiji at that time, even though I am white, I would have either sat in back or invited locals to sit in front, and pointed out in no uncertain terms that discrimination against the locals was wrong and unChristian.
Here in the southern parts of the U. S., until the 1960s, many churches would not permit black Americans to be members or even enter except to do the cleaning. Schools and other institutions were segregated by race, and those which blacks were permitted to attend were greatly inferior. Even drinking fountains were racially segregated. Yet, there are people here who insist that the U. S. was founded as a Christian nation and should be declared to be a Christian nation. In actual fact, the Founding Fathers were strongly in favor of separation of church and state and said so.
Some of the early Christian settlers to colonial America came to escape religious persecution. It’s not that they were opposed to persecution; rather, they did not want to be the ones who were persecuted. So, in the colonies, at the earliest opportunity, they persecuted other Christians who believed somewhat differently from themselves.
In the Middle Ages, people were burned alive at the stake if their beliefs were different from those of the church that held political power; there was no separation of church and state.
When church and state are too closely related, the result for each is evil; both become corrupted. For that, and other reasons as well, church and state must be kept separate. Exactly where to draw the line between the two is the subject of considerable controversy. Perhaps Christian churches, mosques, and other religious organizations should point out social injustices and state that means must be found to rectify them, but other than that, they should stay completely out of politics.
Vinaka Fred. I remember hearing a story shortly after the Suva riots about a God fearing and fearless iTaukei pastor of a very large and popular church in Suva. He was so shaken and upset by all of the events he witnessed, he stood up in front of his congregation on the Sunday after the riots, and directly asked his congregation to come forward and confess if they had taken part, for they had committed terrible sins for which they would have to account for on judgement day. Many of his members stood up and left his church for good. God has blessed his church and his ministry since that Sunday, and he has not had to look back since.
I’ve come to the point of being more concerned with how people treat each other than with what they believe. In all religions, one can find kind, loving, and generous people. Also, in all religions, one can find unkind, hateful, and selfish people. Quite honestly, I think that God is more concerned about fairness and justice than in accurate belief.
FRE
Good post Frank.
Lot of merit in your views..
Boy did Grahams article stired a honets nest and we see the true colours of those who purport to be Christains! I wonder which Bible they quoting & reading from from Old or New Testament? The Fijians love to talk about kicking races out of Fiji and making Fiji for the Fijians but you can bet your bottom dollar those that are harping about it most likely have already taken off an now writing from their cosy homes in Aussie! That won’t be too difficult for Graham to figure out. Graham you carry on with your articles Bro because now more than ever you will begin to see the plans to destabilise Fiji and it will be coming from those living overseas with their PM Qarase in jail and a few more to follw soon! The likes of Mere Samisoni are now before the courts because of their failed attempt to burn Suva. If only those that are now showing so much courage against Graham could have stood up to Rabuka in the first place we would most likely never ever heard of a Voreqe? A least the Muslims in other countries are dying for a cause our mob are dying from no cause, if its the coups culture they up against itss kinda bera right now-you should have opened your big mouths years ago!
the pro-democracy mob and Qarase apologists are not only in Oz (led by Daunitutu and his strategic advisors in Baleidrokadroka, Fraenkel and Brij Lal) they are also in the US (led by fatty Loru Tawawili and con man Tevita Korodrau) and in NZ (led by dole bludger Sai Lealea etc).
To resolve all this, please send all Indians out of the country and settle them some where else. If the Feejeean people think that Indians pose a risk, even if they own 83% of the land. This is the best way forward, enough if enough for the so called christain state!!
Moce
What non-indigenous person would be moronic enough to join it, let alone vote for it?
Graham,there is always a few.
George Shiu Raj was a member of the SDL.
Prospective members are Victor Lal, Brig Lal ( not related to Victor) and Wadan Narsey from the University
SDL , the Ant- Christ Political party.
intent on bringing Christianity into disrepute.
Christ does not need Fiji ….only Fijians that are called.
Christ does not need this offering, take it back 2000 years to the temple.
To be expected since the regime made the point of starting at ground zero, rather than just dealing with Parliment and a couple of other issues from the 1997 Constitution.
So stupid, to go back and re-hash, but no doubt done for political reasons and now they are at it hammer and tongs, crucifixes, bananas, coconuts, fish, and all.
Where can we read the submissions? Is there a link?
Graham,
Can you write an article calling for FHL shares to be open to all and sundry – Frank cant harp on a non-racial Fiji, abolish the Great Council of Chiefs, and yet keep the FHL shares off the reach of non-itaukei Fijians. I dont see SDL wanting Fiji to be a Christian state and the Frank regime wanting to keep FHL a preserve of native Fijians:
I thought the dictator wants a non-racial Fiji – so why we cant invest or buy shares in FHL
Investing in FHL
Who
Investing in FHL, the listed company is only open to indigenous Fijians. But the Fijian Holdings Unit Trust is open to all other races including non-residents.
Requirements
You need to bring your I Vola ni kawa bula extract which can be obtained from the Native Lands Commission’s office located at the Bose Levu Vakaturaga Complex, 84 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Nasese, Suva, Fiji.
You will also need to fill in a buying order form, available online under share registry services. Forms can also be obtained from FHLS Brokers at Ground Floor, Ra Marama Building, 91 Gordon Street, Suva.
Hmmm….did anyone actually bother to verify that this was the official SDL submission?
Cin Cin, there appears to be some doubt about this and Grubsheet is seeking further clarification. This posting was based on a detailed story carried on Fiji Village by Communications Fiji Limited News Director Vijay Narayan – one of the country’s foremost journalists – and confirmed to Grubsheet by two other sources in Suva. The Fiji Village story is still on its website.
I note that Radio Australia is quoting “someone in the SDL office in Suva” as saying that the party’s official submission to the Constitutional Commission is yet to be made. It also quotes the historian Brij Lal saying that while one or several SDL officials may have made these comments to the Constitutional Commission, he doubts whether it was their official submission.
If the original story is wrong – and there is no call for a Christian state and the other provisions reported here – it will be retracted. If it is not the official submission but SDL officials were nonetheless making these comments at the Commission hearings, it will be modified.
Well, this is what happens when the likes of you (Graham) and Walsh jump with any story remotely linked to SDL. Yes, I soldier was charged with rape, and that did not follow that Frank is a rapist also. SDL is yet to make any submission to the Ghai Commission.
We don’t know what happened yet so this is hardly me jumping on a story. More like you jumping on me. As I said, we await further clarification.
The original Fiji Village news piece was posted soon after 5.00pm on Monday afternoon. It is still on the Fiji Village website, which means it hasn’t been retracted by Vijay Narayan. Other people I have contacted in Suva also believe it to be true.
It was a full 24 hours before Radio Australia reported a denial that any official submission had been made from an unnamed person in the SDL office in Suva to an inquiry made by reporter Bruce Hill. So the story ran the entire length of yesterday in the Fiji media without any attempt by the SDL locally to deny the substance. What does that suggest?
None of what has happened thus far indicates that the calls for a Christian state and the other provisions aren’t SDL policy. Merely that the official submission to the Constitutional Commission may not yet have been lodged. Two things are possible: 1/ that the contents of the official submission have been leaked to Fiji Village. 2/ that one of more SDL figures made these comments to the Constitutional Commission in advance of the presentation of the official document.
This fundamentals of this story will only be wrong if the SDL issues a statement saying that it does NOT want a Christian state, does NOT want “Fijian” to be the official national language, does NOT want the term Fijian to be the preserve of the i’Taukei, does NOT oppose dual citizenship and does NOT want the clause of sexual orientation removed from the 1997 constitution.
If this is the true position, then I will be the first to modify or retract. Let’s see what happens.
@ LSD
Well this is what happens when the likes of you (LSD) jump up to defend the SDL from any story even remotely against the SDL.
You claim that the SDL has yet to make a submission to the Ghai Commission.
Yet Graham is able to confirm their attendance but also publish their submission in the latest story.
Mate, next time you open your big mouth, try and obtain the facts first.
Ulukau levu.
Isa lei, so many people who had nothing to do with the so-called SDL fascists calling for Christian state were allowed to be maligned by Graham, especially by Peni Loma and Sai baba – attacking Victor Lal and others, questioning their political leanings and Christian beliefs etc. Isa – but atleast it brought into open the real racial bigots like Loma and Sai baba!
“What non-indigenous person would be moronic enough to join it, let alone vote for it?”
Rajesh Singh.
@ Warpath,
A very good question, please follow the links and you will realise for some history will repeat itself. Let us not throw stones at our i-Taukei brothers alone..you will be surprised….that was then and I believe it will happen again…..you must have heard of “profit before people”…..FYI I’ve just cut and paste some parts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soqosoqo_Duavata_ni_Lewenivanua#Indian_candidates
“The Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (occasionally known as the United Fiji Party but usually known by the acronym SDL) is a political party in Fiji. It was founded in 2001 by Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase as a power base
SDL National Director Jale Baba announced on 11 September 2005 that the party would contest all 71 parliamentary seats in the 2006 election
Baba announced On 4 January 2006 that 43 Indo-Fijians had been shortlisted
“We look after the interests of all. We are strongly pro-Fijian but not exclusive. We do not restrict membership to other communities. Programs are there for everyone.”
The SDL launched an Indian wing on 23 March 2006. Seventy supporters attended the public launch at Namaka, Nadi, with Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, a Cabinet Minister and Tui Namosi (Paramount Chief of Namosi) as the chief speaker. Matanitobua praised the Indo-Fijian contribution to Fiji, and asked them to support the SDL to move Fiji forward.
Citing confidentiality rules, Baba refused to name them, but said they were all Indo-Fijians, bringing to 48 the number of ethnic Indians who would stand in the primary elections to choose SDL candidates in the third week of February. All told, 321 sought nomination for the 71 constituencies.”
Can bloggers on this site refrain using “the Fijians” in anti-Sdl postings as it suggests that all Fijians are SDL supporters and have no diversity
in their thinking and behavior.
No all Chiefs signed the deed of Cession some only made and X and others had their hands held for them to be “coached” into signing as they neither could read, write or speak in English! Than there were the real Chiefs who got forgotten! But thats another lesson in ‘lawaki ca” lingo!
@ Varanitabua
and your point being ?
Cession was a bad idea.?
Itaukei at that time could have fought it out against foreigners, unbound by law, and prevailed.
That if that had happened we would not now have this situation of dealing with imposter Chiefs, according to you.
and my ancestor was a mighty land owner and pissed it all away on alcohol.
I am just glad that he was only an alcoholic,and not a measels victim, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.
@ Mongrel
You said: “Itaukei at that time could have fought it out against foreigners, unbound by law, and prevailed”
Read Fiji history my friend and learn. The taukei were fractured along tribal lines and their method of battle was the ambush and skirmish. The chiefs fought amongst each other and could not form a united front. Not all chiefs signed the Deed of Cession – what does that tell you? The taukei at the time had no supply of weapons or ammo to sustain a campaign against the settlers. Sure one or two settlers were killed and eaten by taukei back then but on the whole they lacked the leadership and resources to fight a drawn out campaign.
If in doubt read Joske’s account of Gordon’s ‘little war’. Read also Fergus Clunie’s book on Fijian warfare & weapons of war. Rev Tippet’s article on the Fijian methods of warfare is also illuminationg. Reading these works will change your view on taukei capability at the time to mount a nation-wide campaign against settlers
Mongrel my point is just that when someone holds your hand for you to sign are you really signing the document or is an X marks the spot good enough also!
Bula Graham
Thank you very much for your very informative blog site and I’m sure every person against or for Frank B’s “regime” gets a taste of reality when they logon to Grubsheet.
I for one am sceptical about whether or not Fiji be declared a Christian state? On the brighter side it would be good to see Fiji honoring the Almighty and confirming that we are for him. Middle Eastern muslim states practise their religious beliefs where churches cant even be built but tolerate other religious gatherings at halls, hotel conference rooms, etc. But definitely some people would take advantage & personnel gain from this and may cause uproar when legislated. However it does not go to say I’m against other religions in Fiji. This is my personnel view.
As far as gay rights is concerned this MUST NOT be tolerated in Fiji. This is an abormination which is totally & outrightly against humane & religious beliefs, especially in Fiji. I ask again as to why must this be recognised in Fiji? Is it because we must respect others rights? or has it become acceptable to society to tolerate such things? I cannot believe however that a Christian denomination in the Pacific is considering having gay leaders (Isaiah 5:20).
Thanks again for Mr.D for your website and I hope I havent offended anyone on my personal views
Vinaka.
JD.
seems like you and your “friends” are on the warpath because of something that may NOT have been the whole truth. SDL has since rejected this lie. let the Fijians control their own destiny. they were there first and they are still there now.
Losalini, there was a simple way out here but the SDl didn’t take it. It could have said ” no, we don’t support a Christian state in Fiji or any of these other measures”. They didn’t. Instead they tried to spin it into an irrelevant dispute over whether or not what was said was “the official submission”.
Yes, Fijians will control their destiny. But not the Fijians you are referring to, the i’Taukei. They may be the First Fijians but they are only one section of the country and have no right to trample on the religious and political rights of others.
If the Indo-Fijians ( I’d imagine you call them Indians ) had still been in the majority, was it their right to advocate a Hindu state? Imagine the outcry. And yet the Christian equivalent is what the SDL wants to impose on Fiji. It’s unacceptable and will never happen.
Jesus said: “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what it God’s”. The business of running a country is Caesar’s. The practice of living a Christian life of love and tolerance is God’s. They must be kept separate in a multi-faith country like Fiji.