Posted by vaka on August 31, 2000 at 12:25:59:
To: Maori Independence Site , Ralph Nader I am a United States citizen and I am writing to urge I am writing to urge the United Nations Security I am writing to urge the United Nations Security I am writing to urge the United Nations High I am writing to express that I fully recognize Fiji's I am writing to express that I have been appalled at I think everyone can agree that the taking of hostages In the early months of 2000, Mr. Chaudhry had I believe Fiji's indigenous people should have the Again, I fully recognize Fiji's Interim Government, Respectfully,
Subject: -[Tino Rangatiratanga]- NO Sanctions against Fiji - PLEASE spread
the show of support
Dear Sir or Madam:
the United States Government and others to abandon all
active sanctions and any considerations of further
ones against Fiji, whether 'smart' or otherwise, in an
effort to halt any further tensions among all of
Fiji?s citizen's.
Council to request all nations to distance themselves
from sanctioning Fiji, as it?s interim government and
Great Council of Chiefs are openly making every
possible effort to restore peace amongst it?s
citizens, and not to further it?s tensions. I am also
writing to urge the UN Security Council to ask that
all nations acknowledge that Mahendra Chaudhry is no
longer the Prime Minister of Fiji, as he was lawfully
relieved of his official duties by Fiji?s then
President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, on Saturday 27 May,
based on section 106 of the 1997 Fijian Constitution
which, on that day, was still active.
Council to ask all nations, the Commonwealth and the
European Commission to question Mr. Chaudhry?s motives
when he is requesting nations to impose sanctions on
Fiji. Mr. Chaudhry seems to be revealing vengeful
tendencies, and not the tendencies of a leader who
wishes for peace and security of his country. He has
yet to explain to the citizens of Fiji about his
secret trust fund operate contrary to Fiji?s financial
regulations. He has yet to explain to all of Fiji?s
citizens why he made his son his paid private
secretary and why he used public funds to renovate his
private home. He has yet to explain the games he
played with the land and land rights of the indigenous
Fijian people, the devious delays regarding the return
of their Schedule A & B lands, the determination to
impose on Land Use Commission upon them, and his
dealings about their mahogany reserves.
Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to move
towards the Standard-Setting for all indigenous
peoples of the world, as outlined in the General
Assembly resolution 50/157 of 21 December 1995. As it
states, the draft declaration covers rights and
freedoms of indigenous people, including but not
limited to ownership, possession or use of indigenous
lands, participation in the political, economic and
social life of the States concerned, in particular in
matters which may affect indigenous peoples lives and
destinies, self-government or autonomy in matters
relating to indigenous peoples internal and local
affairs, and the honoring of treaties and agreements
concluded with indigenous peoples. Also, I fully
support the International Decade of the World's
Indigenous People (1995-2004), and pray that the lives
of all indigenous people are greatly improved by it's
efforts. I applaud the U.N.'s definition of indigenous
or aboriginal people: "Indigenous or aboriginal
peoples are so-called because they were living on
their lands before settlers came from elsewhere, they
are the descendants - according to one definition - of
those who inhabited a country or geographical region
at the time when people of different cultures or
ethnic origins arrived, the new arrivals later
becoming dominant through conquest, occupation,
settlement or other means." I agree with and
appreciate this definition, even though I cannot
consider myself to be indigenous to anywhere, due to
my being a product of many ancestries.
Interim Government, including it's Great Council of
Chiefs, as it's current and true governing body. The
installment of the Interim Government was obviously
not an easy task, nor an easy decision. However, they
have proven their transparency of intentions and
efforts to restore peace and democracy to Fiji, as
well as the review of the 1997 Fijian Constitution to
make every effort in seeing that the events of May
19th are never repeated.
the manner in which various world governments and
organizations have chosen to react to the political
problems in Fiji, both before and after May 19th of
this year.
is a frightening situation in which there is never an
easy rescue or resolution. It seems that it is an act
which usually results from an intense sense of
desperation. In Fiji and elsewhere, I hope it will be
avoided in the future. In Fiji on May 19th, it might
have been avoided had the then Prime Minister,
Mahendra Chaudhry chosen to immediately acknowledge
and openly address the frustrations which were
expressed first through questioning and then through
protest marches prior to his government being taken
hostage. Prior to May 19th, Fiji had statistically
become one of the least violent countries in the
world. Having that in mind, Mr. Chaudhry would have
been wise to recognize that the concerns of the
indigenous must have been very real considering they
would go so far as to organize protests and marches.
Instead, he created a pressure cooker by not
addressing the issues while simultaneously he would
not allow the approval of any further protest permits.
As a government leader, he should have addressed their
issues immediately, which in turn would have halted
the citizens want of further protests to express their
frustrations, protests which create further tensions.
It seems clear now that by Mr. Chaudhry?s attempting
to silence the concerns of Fiji?s people, the pressure
cooker exploded and the revolt was born.
mentioned in the Fiji media that he was strongly
considering opening Fiji land ownership to
non-indigenous people - a plight which in other areas
of the world has historically and clearly led to
further economical hardship on it's indigenous
peoples. Because the concerns of Fiji's indigenous
people were not immediately taken seriously, Mr.
Chaudhry came across as arrogant, and himself racially
biased, in his committed work towards accomplishing
land ownership for non-indigenous Fijians, whether for
professional, political or private development. Fiji
has had a land lease system in place specifically to
protect the basic indigenous land rights of the
various Fijian mataqali, or clans. I fully support
it's continuation and I believe it would be a tragedy
if it were ever to be abandoned. The grassroot
indigenous Fijian people have grown up on their
ancestral lands and have a tie to Fiji's land that no
outsiders, born in Fiji or elsewhere, could ever
duplicate. Their ancestors are buried on their family
lands, and their history, way of life and culture are
in many ways tied directly to the land. I feel that
they should forever be the only ones allowed to own
Fiji's land. In fact, it is not unrealistic, that
only indigenous should own their ancestral lands.
Sighting and quoting the Revised Constitution of
American Samoa: "Section 3. Policy protective
legislation. It shall be the policy of the Government
of American Samoa to protect persons of Samoan
ancestry against alienation of their lands and the
destruction of the Samoan way of life and language,
contrary to their best interests. Such legislation as
may be necessary may be enacted to protect the lands,
customs, culture, and traditional Samoan family
organization of persons of Samoan ancestry, and to
encourage business enterprises by such persons. No
change in the law respecting the alienation or
transfer of land or any interest therein, shall be
effective unless the same be approved by two
successive legislatures by a two-thirds vote of the
entire membership of each house and by the Governor."
It is outlined quite clearly, however I also I feel
that indigenous people should be the only ones allowed
to vote on the issues that effect their indigenous
rights and lands. It is similarly stated by the U.N.
draft for indigenous rights and standards: ?As it
states, the draft declaration covers rights and
freedoms of indigenous people, including but not
limited to?self-government or autonomy in matters
relating to indigenous peoples internal and local
affairs?. Non-indigenous people, as their population
grows and they begin to dominate in numbers, could
vote in the favor of the non-indigenous. It would be
an unfair attack on the small and distinct indigenous
populations who cannot out vote due to their smaller
and dwindling numbers. The issue of indigenous land
rights should not be an unrealistic issue for any
indigenous people who are struggling with this very
subject in many parts of the world today. It should
also not be something that indigenous people should
feel threatened by due to the political, professional
or private agenda's of anyone holding a high position
in government, as Mr. Chaudhry had done when he
suggested that Fiji's ancestral lands might be sold to
non-indigenous buyers.
right to continue their assembly of, and confidence
in, their Great Council of Chiefs, even as a higher
authority than their elected government, as it had
been in their ancestral days and is still a matter of
culture and respect for them in which many take as
seriously as their religion. Just as I would never
ask someone to adjust their religion to fit politics,
I would never ask someone to adjust their indigenous
culture or heritage to fit politics. I feel that if
Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs chooses to allow only
indigenous in their government's high seats, or any
government seats which may pertain directly to the
indigenous peoples lives, lands, destinies, and/or
internal and locals affairs, then it should be their
right to do so. The Interim Fijian Government has made
itself quite clear that they are moving towards the
restoration of a constitution and government, both of
which will be installed through an election process,
which will take place within the next 3 years. Is that
not a specific move to restore democracy? It is
unrealistic to assume that restoring Mr. Chaudhry's
government would restore peace or that it would
resolve existing and very real indigenous issues,
especially since, prior to the events of May 19th, Mr.
Chaudhry would not listen to the concerns when they
were initially addressed, nor even when they escalated
into protests. It is also unrealistic to assume that
the restoration of the 1997 Fijian Constitution would
restore peace and resolve the issues at hand,
considering the unrest which resulted under it?s basis
for governing. The Interim Government and Great
Council of Chiefs has stated that it will be reviewed,
again, to insure that the events of May 19th are not
repeated.
including it's Great Council of Chiefs, as it's
current and true governing body. As a U.S. citizen, I
urge the United States Government and others to
abandon all active sanctions and/or considerations of
further ones, 'smart' or otherwise, so that Fiji's
tensions among all of it's citizen's do not escalate
further, and so that Fiji?s Interim Government may
proceed with restoring peace and democracy in Fiji. I
urge the U.N. Security Council to ask all nations to
refrain from sanctioning Fiji in any way, again, so
that Fiji's tensions among all of it's citizen's do
not escalate further. I urge the U.N. Security Council
to ask all nations, the Commonwealth and the European
Commission to question the motives of Mahendra
Chaudhry when he is requesting that they impose
sanctions on Fiji, as he has not yet come clean with
Fiji?s citizens regarding his illegal activities and
oppressive behaviors which occurred during his active
term as their Prime Minister. I urge the U.N.'s High
Commissioner for Human Rights to continue working
towards making the fragile rights of indigenous
peoples throughout the world into rights of steel and
mountainous rock which cannot be legally or otherwise
skirted aside, overlooked, swept under the rug or
looked at as unrealistic notions, especially by the
government leaders that run them.
Leigh Cagilaba
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