Tui savu

Tui savu
Re-evaluating the Fijian Chiefly system
April 30, 2009 by Free Fiji

It is an accepted fact; that no culture in the world remains stagnate, but constantly undergoes changes and at times turbulent transformations. The Fijian chiefly system is no exemption. Roko Tui Bau has previously warned hereditary chiefs in Fiji they can no longer sit back on their laurels and rely on their birth right alone, but need to work hard, prove themselves and earn the respect of their people.

This fact is much more apparent today when ordinary Fijians are returning to Fiji with Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate degrees and have so much more impact, wealth and influence than their own hereditary chiefs, who at times view them with deep suspicion because they feel threatened.

Chiefly disputes are becoming quite common today especially when lease monies are attached to titles; however the basis of adjucation as to who is the rightful owner of the title is from out dated records stored with the Native Lands Commission, which is frozen in perpetuity, whist Fijian culture has undergone so much transformations, making the NLC Records (Tukutuku Raraba) virtually obsolete and irrelevant.

The issue of freeing up more native lands for development is something very dear to native Fijians and shrouded in mystic, but this needs to be re-evaluated and our presumptions tested to see whether they are relevant and addressing the needs of modern Fijians today.

The hereditary chiefly system should be re-evaluated as well to allow qualified ordinary Fijians into traditional positions of authority as well, something akin to the House of Lords in the UK. The chiefly system should be reviewed with conditions imposed by law making hereditary chief unfit to hold office if they cannot fulfil this condition/s causing the title to pass onto the next most suited candidate or their title be stripped from them because of some disqualifying act.

For instance, conditions making a hereditary chief unfit to hold a title would be but not limited to; bankruptcy; previous criminal convictions, mental instability, brings disrepute to the title, country, trouble maker, etc. People who cannot pass these conditions should be deemed not worthy to hold and/or retain hereditary positions in Fiji.

For instance, in my recent articles, I have reverted to calling President Josefa Iloilo, Minister Epeli Nailatikau, Minister Epeli Ganilau and Colonel Ului Mara without using their hereditary ‘Ratu’ titles because in my opinion, they are unworthy and have forfeited their right to any hereditary chiefly position in Fiji.

My opinion is based on their committing treason against the lawful Qarase Government through their greediness, selfishness and hunger for power, which has brought about this great calamity, lawlessness, human rights abuses, poverty, unemployment, etc on the innocent peoples of Fiji.

The chiefly hereditary system in Fiji, if it is to remain relevant, the cornerstone and the beacon of hope for the ordinary Fijian peoples in the future, then it must be transformed and ensure only good, upright, moral and worthy leaders are eligible for these hereditary chiefly titles and if there is none available, then they should elect someone else who commands the most respect.

Too radical you say……….I don’t think so because we cannot continue living in the past and repeating the same mistakes in the future!

Tui Savu.
President.
Solivakasama Worldwide Movement.

President calls for a Coalition of the Willing from the US, UN, EU, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
April 22, 2009 by Free Fiji
The situation in Fiji today is totally untenable and no foreign government, regional or international body including non governmental organisations can legally and morally continue to treat Fiji’s illegal junta with kid’s gloves. Who are we trying to kid?



Both the Australian & NZ Governments are trying to shy away from imposing further sanctions claiming it will only further disadvantage the innocent victims, yet it knows full well of the intimidation, corruption, militarisation of the civil service and rule of the gun happening in Fiji at this very moment.



The UN is guilty of double standards by condemning the illegal abrogation of the 1997 Constitution by the Fijian Military on one hand, yet on the other hand allows itself to be represented by the same illegal soldiers taking part in UN Peacekeeping duties to other parts of the world!



The US too is not absolved from it share of double standards as well because whilst its Secretary of State Ms. Clinton condemns Josefa Iloilo’s illegal abrogation of the 1997 Constitution, it too continues to allow these same illegal soldiers to be part of its US-led MFO (Multi Forces Observers) in Sinai.



I challenge the US, UN, EU, UK, Australia and NZ Governments to act justly, responsibly and condemn Fiji’s illegal junta not only with words, but reinforced with smart sanctions.



For example, it could impose smart sanctions such as refusing Josefa Iloilo to come to Australia for his regular Medical Treatment, withdrawing of Aid, withdrawal of Military troops seconded by the illegal Fiji Military to the UN and US led Forces; criminalise all its citizens who have sworn illegal oaths to the illegal Fijian junta, travel bans on everyone connected with this illegal junta, etc. This is the only language a rouge government knows, which is a well known fact, so why pretend otherwise?



The innocent victims in Fiji are already being disadvantaged whether sanctions are imposed or not, so it makes very little difference to them, however if smart sanctions are not taken against the illegal Fijian junta now, then their miseries and woes will only turn into despair. The innocent victims can accept short term suffering if it sees hope at the end of the tunnel, but will wallow in despair, if they see no hope, as in the current situation.



I urge the US, UN, EU, UK, Australia and NZ on behalf of the Solivakasama Worldwide Movement to be part of its Coalition of the willing and act together to topple the illegal junta in Fiji, restore democracy and the rule of law in Fiji now and not wait until it is too late to intervene.



Tui Savu.

Solivakasama Worldwide Movement.

President.

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