THE 2013 Constitution is racist because it intentionally takes away the protection and recognition of indigenous rights, says former parliamentarian Niko Nawaikula.
Mr Nawaikula, president of the NGO “StandWithNiko”, organised a talanoa session at the Fijian Teachers Association Hall in Suva yesterday with the help of supporters and volunteers.
Police had earlier denied his organisation a permit for a public march in Suva intended for yesterday.
“We have gathered here, which is a private place and does not require a permit, to express the same concerns we have against the Constitution,” Mr Nawaikula told the media. “There are many, but for us, indigenous Fijians, it is the racism.
“The racism, which we are sure, we feel was intentional by those who drafted the Constitution, to do so in such a way that totally removed the constitutional recognition of cultural institutions like the Great Council of Chiefs, and group rights like customary laws, and prior and informed consent.”
Mr Nawaikula said these were cornerstones of the 1970 and 1997 constitutions, and every policy of the former colonial government — which have been removed.
“We have been appropriately advised by the Human Rights Committee in Geneva, the last time I attended there in 2012, that doing so was an act of racism.
“So, we wanted to show our concerns against this document, and we know that the document does not belong to us, it does not carry the common will of the people.”
Mr Nawaikula called on the Government to confront the issue honestly.
He said they had gathered a petition addressed to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, explaining their concerns over the 2013 Constitution.