Farewell Service Held For 4-Month-Old Baby Allegedly Killed By Father

It was a sad day for families and friends who attended the funeral service of the late four-month-old, Suliana Talemaitoga Kunawave yesterday.

The church service was held in the family home at Sukunaivalu Road, Nabua.

Little Suliana would have turned four-months-old on Monday if she had not passed away on Sunday last week.

Baby’s mother, Mereseini Rauluni, 25, said she needed to be strong to forge ahead in life with her other two daughters.

Nabua Methodist Church minister Josefa Sewale told youths at the service that with rights comes responsibilities.

“Be sure that your rights as individuals do not infringe on others, inferior or helpless to you,” Mr Sewale said.

The four-month baby was a victim of domestic violence that continues to increase around the country.

Minister for Women, Mereseini Vuniwaqa earlier this week said that violence against women and children was a regional epidemic that must be curbed.

She said that often its traumatic for children when they witness violence between people they love.

“When we talk about domestic violence, we often forget about the impact on children. Often, its emotional trauma caused to them when they witness violence within their homes between people that they love,” Ms Vuniwaqa said.

Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator Shamima Ali said that counselling was available to all who faced difficult situations like this.

“We sympathise and send our condolences to the family. This is an unfortunate circumstance; however, violence is never an answer to anything or anyone,” Ms Ali said.

The four-month-old was buried at the Lovanilase Cemetery in Suva yesterday.

Edited by Percy Kean

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