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Volume 2, Issue 4, November 2008 Website: www.ccf.org.fj ISSN: 1996-5281 Political forum agenda should consider ’s long-term problems The Citizens’ Constitutional Forum at least one meeting per week or at least “It’s also vital for the forum to discuss a (CCF) commends the political forum held one meeting every fortnight so that the solution to ending the coup culture. We on 27 October 2008, and reminds that po- purpose can be achieved,” Rev Yabaki said. hope these important issues will be brought litical parties have an ethical responsibility “The political forum also needs to have a up by political party representatives them- to refrain from making negative comments wider agenda. The representatives from selves. We hope the process will not get that could destroy the process. major and long-serving parties especially, side-tracked by petty issues,” Rev Yabaki “CCF reaffirms that the 27 October meet- should take this forum seriously and take said. ing representing 14 political parties in Fiji this as an opportunity to discuss Fiji’s long- The next political forum is due to be held is a positive step forward. Initial reactions standing problems. Political leaders need in early December 2008. The interlocutors from all major political parties was posi- to remember that this is not a business-as- for the forum, Mr Robin Nair and Dr tive,” CCF chief executive Officer, Rev- usual meeting and they need to find a pro- Sitiveni Halapua, will prepare an agenda erend Akuila Yabaki said. gressive solution for Fiji,” Rev Yabaki said. for the December forum, based on the sub- “However, a week later, political parties “It is essential that the leaders refrain from missions received from political parties. and commentators had resumed making playing the race-card at this forum. CCF Meanwhile, three political parties have sent negative statements on dialogue. believes that it is imperative for the forum in their submissions to the President’s Po- “This is worrying as it could lead to a col- to discuss the adoption of an anti-racism litical Dialogue. They are the Soqosoqo lapse of the dialogue process. We also rec- legislation in Fiji, which is part of Fiji’s Vakavulewa ni Taukei (SVT) Party, the ommend that the meetings should be held obligations to the Convention on the Elimi- United Peoples’ Party (UPP), and the sooner to avoid loss of momentum – have nation of All Forms of Racial Discrimina- National Democratic Party. tion (CERD),” Rev Yabaki said. Judgement sets precedent for encouraging future coups The Citizens’ Constitutional Forum gency are still valid under (CCF) expressed serious concern at the Fiji’s 1997 Constitution. dismissal of the Qarase vs Interim Regime The ruling declared that the court case, in a ruling delivered on Octo- President acted in the best ber 9 2008 by the High Court, which de- interests of the nation. clared that the decision by the President His Excellency to appoint CCF Chief Executive Of- an interim government after the military ficer, Rev Akuila Yabaki, takeover of 5 December 2006 was valid. provided an affidavit in sup- port of the case by deposed “CCF is concerned that the ruling sets a Prime Minister Laisenia precedent that could encourage further Qarase. coups in Fiji,” CCF Chair Ms Tessa Mac- kenzie said. Mr Qarase’s coalition gov- ernment was removed dur- CCF is seeking advice from constitutional ing the military takeover of lawyers on the judgement. 5 December 2006. The court ruling affirms that the reserve An appeal against the High Deposed Prime Minister outside the court powers - known as prerogative powers - Court ruling will be heard house at a break due to a bomb threat received during the vested in the President to act in an emer- in March 2009. delivery of the ruling on October 9 2008. Editor’s notes Five-year DFID funding for CCF Good news to our readers - CCF has suc- In September 2008, the UK De- cessfully acquired funding from DFID partment for International De- for five years of activities. velopment (DFID), under its The funding comes amidst uncertain ‘Governance and Transparency times in Fiji’s political situation - the Fund’, commenced funding for High Court delivered a ruling uphold- CCF’s core programme ing the President’s reserve powers; po- ‘Strengthening Fiji’s Democ- litical parties have managed to meet once racy’. for dialogue; the Charter process is be- This funding is part of a world- ing challenged in court; and the media wide Conciliation Resources has faced fresh rounds of intimidation (CR) project supporting part- for being in contempt of court. ners working for change in gov- An optimistic 2009 budget has been de- ernance towards sustainable livered by the interim government prom- peace. ising money for many developments - but CR is an international NGO, CR’s Andy Carl (left) is greeted by CCF Director Prof Vijay where will this money come from? based in London, focused on Naidu at the CCF Retreat held from 10-12 September 2008 at the Lagoon Resort in Deuba, Fiji. In the absence of a parliament, how can worldwide peace building initia- we hold the government accountable for tives. The wider global CR project, of agenda. expenditure and actions? CCF will ad- which the CCF forms a component, pro- • Advocating for the elimination of the vocate on these issues in coming months. motes accountability and responsiveness of race-based electoral system through a legal decision-makers to address the unmet process of constitutional reform. needs and contested issues that give rise to Tutaka - Published by: CCF, 25 Berry Rd, • Promoting non-discrimination in key PO Box 12584, Suva, Fiji. conflict. Masthead design: Jo Uluinaceva social justice legislation, policies, and regu- The global CR project funds peace build- lations, while ensuring that these pro- Template design: Mosmi Bhim ing activities in countries such as Georgia, Editor: Mosmi Bhim grammes redress genuine exclusion rather Contact: [email protected] Sierra Leone, Uganda and South Sudan. than promoting narrow ethnic interests. Ph: (679) 3308379, Fax: (679) 3308380 In Fiji, this funding will enable CCF in: Under this funding, CCF will receive over Printer: Bluebird Printery Ltd • Promoting a cross-party social justice FJ$280,000 per year for five years. Lautoka workshop to build small NGOs capacity A two-day NGOs Capacity - “I am capable to plan a devel- Building workshop was held in opment project using the rights Lautoka from 11-12 November based approach”. 2008. - “I can organize and plan a A total of 33 participants from project now”. different ethnic backgrounds - “I now can see the importance attended the workshop, com- of group organizing for deci- prising 30 female and three sion making, rather than taking male participants. for granted that members On the first day, modules on agree”. Human Rights, Good Govern- - “I can improve the organiza- ance and Citizenship were con- tion and mobilization of my or- ducted. On the second day, ses- ganization”. sions were held on a Rights- Based Approach to Develop- - “I can now see that my organi- ment, and Citizens Organising zation was not well organised, though we have our monthly for Governance. Youth participants from Ba make a presentation after group work. meetings but there was not The session on a Rights-Based tify the stakeholders, duty bearers and ob- much action – there is need to mobilize”. Approach to Development exposed partici- ligations that need to be met in develop- - “I have the confidence to better organize pants to information and key principles of ment projects and the need for the inclu- taking a rights based approach in develop- my organization and do a development sion of vulnerable groups in development project plan considering human rights”. ment activities. Participants discussed the activities. principles of good governance as good de- Attending the workshop were representa- velopment practices and were able to ap- Below are some interesting responses elic- tives from 18 groups, including: ply the concepts of human rights to devel- ited from participants in the session on Tauvegavega Youth & Sports Club, Ba; opment, showing a good grasp of human Citizens’ Organising for Governance: Senivesi WORSED, Lautoka; Upkaar rights concepts. - “To be an effective and successful organi- Mothers Club, Tavua; Soroptimist Inter- Through case studies, they learnt to iden- zation, it needs to be organised and mobi- national, Ba; Veilomani Club, Ba; lized – needs action”. (continued on page 4)

2 Tutaka Volume 2, Issue 4, November 2008 Education team travels to Ba, Tavua, Ra The Education team travelled to the West Tavualevu Community and conducted its first three workshops in Hall, attracted 41 male Ba, Tavua, and Rakiraki for 2008. and female participants. The one-day Human Rights and Good This included two Indo- Governance workshop was conducted in Fijian female partici- Ba Town at Koronubu House, to a mixed pants. The session on group of 31 participants, including 22 youth. Citizenship generated new learning in Tavua. The session on Good Governance gener- ated self-reflections in Ba. “This was a new concept to majority of the partici- “When asked what they would do differ- pants whereby many ently, majority of the participants in Ba said thought that Fijians were that they would become accountable and the only citizens of Fiji, transparent leaders, they will always try to through a misconceived do the right things all the time, provide understanding of the good service to the community, be a more concept based on race. A responsible employee, and be good and ac- citation of the definition tive community members,” CCF Commu- in the 1997 Constitution nity and Field Officer Ms Sereima Participants at the Tavualevu Community Hall, Tavua, enact a clarified the legal mean- role play on leadership issues. Lutubula comments. ing,” Ms Lutubula said. In Tavua, the workshop held at the In fact, one participant reflected that, they would do after learning from the “Now when I see other races, workshop were: promote and practice good especially Indians, we are governance principles at the work place and equal, and must respect village level; be transparent and account- them”. Another said, “Citi- able at work, be a good leader and a good zenship concept will help me citizen, and take part in the community by to live and work with other attending meetings. races and to respect them”. The workshops in Ba and Tavua were or- In Rakiraki, the workshop ganised through the assistance of Mr Jone held at the Navuavua Village Baravilala, Ba Provincial Youth Coordina- Hall attracted 22 male and fe- tor. The workshop in Rakiraki was organ- male participants, which in- ised through the assistance of Ms Amelia cludes one Indo-Fijian male Ravu, Assistant Roko, Ra Province. participant. Further information on the Grassroots At the Tavua workshop from left: CCF Community and Education Workshops can be obtained Field Officer Ms Sereima Lutubula, Communications and Participants in Rakiraki felt Advocacy Officer Mosmi Bhim and Ba Provincial Council that with regards to Good from Ms Lutubula on email: Youth Coordinatior Mr Jone Baravilala. Governance, some things [email protected] CCF conducts first human rights workshop in Hindi The first workshop to be conducted by Bangladesh, raised questions in relation to at the Valelevu Village in Batinikama, CCF almost wholly in the Hindi language, human rights. These included issues of Labasa. This workshop attracted 26 male was held in Bulileka, Labasa on 22 Septem- expiry of land leases, lack of medicines and and female participants and most of the ber. health services, access to higher education, sessions were conducted in the Fijian lan- A total of 33 women – of which 28 were and lack of job opportunities, which guage. Indo-Fijian and five indigenous Fijian - at- showed the importance of improvement of In the Valelevu workshop, a lot of interest tended the one-day training on basic good basic needs as a priority in life. was shown in human rights in relation to governance, human rights and citizenship Questions were raised on why the govern- religion and culture. The coups were cited concepts. ment was not assisting in the provision of as a human rights violation that was very The participants showed satisfactory level basic amenities. upsetting to most participants. of understanding of the Universal Decla- Workshop Coordinator Sereima Lutubula A third workshop in the North was held ration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the recommends the need to link human rights at the Viani Village in Savusavu. The Bill of Rights in Fiji’s 1997 Constitution. and good governance to social, cultural and workshop attracted 38 male and female par- Although slow to grasp the concepts in economic development aspirations of the ticipants and the sessions were conducted English, the translation into their vernacu- learners. in the vernacular Fijian language. lar language, Hindi, and the sighting of the “There is a need for grassroots communi- The three North workshops were organ- UDHR and a simplified Hindi version of ties to understand the government proc- ised through the assistance of Ms Paulini the 1997 Constitution helped in quicker esses and mechanisms in making laws and Waqaniboro, who is a Labasa Town Coun- learning. the budget,” Ms Lutubula commented. cillor and is also the President of the North- Participants from nearby Bulileka and A second workshop in the North was held ern Multi-Cultural Initiative (NOMCI).

Tutaka Volume 2, Issue 4, November 2008 3 Robben Island - a powerful symbol of freedom By Rev Akuila Yabaki son that no matter how much In the afternoon of Wednesday, anger one might have on those 8th October, the participants of that oppressed him or her, there the World Association of Chris- is a chance for forgiveness and tian Communication (WACC) that you can live together as Congress meeting in Cape one.” Town, South Africa took the trip Robben Island wasn’t only a no- of a lifetime to the heart of South torious prison. As we queued at Africa’s freedom, Robben Island. the jetty to board the ferry, we In the warmth of the afternoon could read on the walls about the sun after a morning of cold island’s history; between 1845 breezes, participants lined up at and 1931 it was a place where lep- the Mandela Gateway to board ers and the critically ill were the ferry for the island. Beaming quarantined. It became a military Rev Akuila Yabaki pictured here approaching Robben Island. with anticipation of what was in camp from 1939 to 1959, and a prison in 1960 up until 1991. store, they wandered out of the freedom other using tennis balls, among many other of the ferry to the gates of the prison that extraordinary means. From a dumping place of lepers to a noto- rious prison, Robben Island has always had was Nelson Mandela’s home for 18 years. “This speaks of the power of the human a dark side. But not any longer. Now it is a Dennis Smith, from Nicaragua, newly spirit to keep going and find a way despite haven of peace as the oppressor and the elected President of WACC said the prison all the odds to overcome hardships,” she oppressed are working together to give represents the horror of what power can said. peace and freedom a chance. do between those with a tight grip on it The experience of the tour was enhanced No wonder one of the ferries that takes and those excluded from it. by the fact that almost all the tour guides people there is named “Sikhululekile’”– “But it also shows us the strength of the at the prison are ex-prisoners. How do they whose literal meaning is “We are free human soul to survive even where there is manage to work in a place that brought so now.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu in his little hope and finally to forgive and for- much misery to them? Does it bring them opening address at the same Congress ech- get,” he said. “The history of this prison hallucinations at night? teaches us that human beings can forgive oed the same sentiment, “.. . our freedom “No,” said Kgotso Dede Ntsoelengoe, one is your freedom”. those that might have been extremely cruel of the tour guides, who was imprisoned in - WACC Congress 2008 met in Cape Town, to them.” 1984 at the age of 14 and could have served South Africa on 6-12 October. 300 people at- A journalist from Canada, Rebekah Cheva- time until November of 2009 but he was tended. As member of WACC Pacific, Rev. lier, said she was struck by the way the released with the rest of the political pris- Yabaki was part of the Pacific delegation. prisoners were able to communicate to each oners in 1991. “I find my stay here as a les- New legal officer joins CCF team Capacity building Queensland in 2002 after completing (continued from page 2) her law degree at the Bond Univer- sity on the Gold Coast. Kate has worked as an associate to the Federal Magistrates Court of Aus- tralia and as solicitor at Legal Aid Queensland and Australian Govern- ment Solicitor. Her expertise includes family law, do- mestic violence, child protection, child support and administrative law. Kate has always had a keen interest in human rights law and is studying A tangled mass . . . group activity on Citizens towards a Masters in International Organising for Governance. Law at the Australian National Uni- Lomavata Women’s Club, Lautoka; Ministry versity (ANU) in Canberra. of Youth, Lautoka; Tavua Youth Club; Whilst working in Brisbane, she also Vakabuli Women’s Club, Lautoka; Women of volunteered her time to assist the Nemaiah’s Heart, Lautoka; Senior Citizens Ba Kate Schuetze during a welcome party. Annerley Women’s Legal Service by Community; Lautoka Women’s Council Kate Schuetze recently joined CCF as a providing free legal advice on a regu- HART; Red Cross Society, Lautoka; Vatamai Legal Officer. lar basis. Kate is very excited to join Women’s Club, Lautoka; Mua ira Women’s Club, Tavua; Ba Women’s Forum; DORCAS, Kate is an AVI volunteer and was admit- the team at CCF and hopes she will Lautoka; and Namoli Women’s Club, Lautoka. ted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of make a positive contribution.

8 Tutaka Volume 2, Issue 4, November 2008