Prime Minister: Remember 1987

Comments made by Sitiveni Rabuka in 2004 to international media that only an indigenous Fijian can be Fiji’s Prime Minister is coming back to haunt him.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama reminded Indo-Fijians, who have no recollection of 1987, about the atrocities the Indo-Fijian community faced as a direct result of Mr Rabuka’s 1987 coup.

He said The People’s Alliance Party leader had made his views well known through his actions and comments.

Mr Bainimarama said his own actions of 2006 was to provide a level playing field for all Fijians, which started with identifying every Fijian citizen as Fijian, while Mr Rabuka’s actions of 1987 was against an entire community, the Indo-Fijian community because of their ethnicity.

“Our young population must be made aware of these, especially the young Indo-Fijians, who did not know that what the military did in 2006 was to bring about an even playing field and get rid of the corruption in our midst.

“Rabuka’s coup was a racist coup. Not only did the Indo-Fijians suffer greatly but the whole iTaukei community was left behind in education and development. The result of his action was to create a racist mindset in Fiji and create a gulf between the Indo-Fijians and the iTaukei, pitting them against each other. This again reared its ugly head in 2000.

“And for Biman Prasad marrying up with Rabuka, it is shameful and disgraceful,” he said.

Mr Bainimarama further said: “They should be ashamed of themselves especially when they are seen to be selling the Indo-Fijians who suffered greatly under torture during the events of 1987. A lot of Indo-Fijians left the country with their families because of that, leaving behind their homes and farms.”

Questions sent to Mr Rabuka yesterday remain unanswered when this edition went to press.

However, National Federation Party (NFP) leader, Biman Prasad, said: “I will not bother to respond to such racist filth being spewed by the Prime Minister and shamelessly promoted by the Government rag, Fiji Sun.”

Fijians:

Mr Bainimarama said the Indo-Fijian community could proudly identify themselves as Fijians, because of the FijiFirst Government.

“Let’s not be gullible. Open our eyes and see what FijiFirst has done for the nation in terms of development and changes for all. We are not tired at all. On the contrary, we’re ready to rock and roll.

“Our people must understand that a vote for Biman is a vote for Rabuka and likewise a vote for Rabuka is a vote for Biman.”

2004 interview:

On September 8, 2004, Mr Rabuka was quoted by Radio New Zealand Pacific saying “Fiji needs to have an indigenous Fijian as prime minister for now because the country needs to avoid what happened in the 1999 general elections.”

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