Insensitive, unethical and bad politics.
Renowned Fijian academic Professor Steven Ratuva used these words to describe the Opposition’s consistent reference to the 1987 military coup and the events that happened in the aftermath in Parliament.
The University of Canterbury Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies director said the military and civil upheavals of 1987, 2000 and 2006 had left many people in the country psychologically traumatised in various degrees.
He said politicians should now be talking about healing, reconciliation, unity, wellbeing and progress rather than engaging in divisive political brinksmanship to win political points.
He said the reality of the matter was that both sides of the divide had been affected by the events of 1987, 2000 and 2006 and the focus should now be on reconciliation, forgiveness and healing.
“Invoking bitter past memories, especially the 1987 coup, is an insensitive and counterproductive tactic because it has the potential to re-traumatise people,” Prof Ratuva said.
“Using the anguish, trauma and psychological suffering of others as tool of political leveraging is unethical and bad politics.
“The series of past coups have left many people in the country psychologically traumatised in various degrees — this includes both coup victims and supporters, politicians, military personnel, police officers, civil servants, children and others all around the country.
“Politicians should now be talking about healing, reconciliation, unity, wellbeing and progress rather than engaging in divisive political brinkmanship to win political points.”
Mr Ratuva was responding to comments made by Opposition parliamentarian Premila Kumar in relation to hosting Girmit Day public holiday on May 14 and the ensuing war of words between the Opposition and coalition MPs.
Even Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali has urged politicians to move on and “to stop opening old wounds, and re-traumatising the survivors”.
“This is a new era after 16 years of oppression so please let us heal rather than open old wounds,” she said in an article published last week by The Fiji Times.
