Why hasn’t the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka made any comments on the desecration of the Samabula Shiv Mandir, said the former Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
He said the Prime Minister, who espouses to care for all Fijians, including the Indo-Fijians, is yet to make a statement denouncing this “egregious act of hate.”
“Inconsistent concern and commitment by the Prime Minister about hate speech and discrimination gives rise to, comfort and encouragement radical ethno nationalists who engage the political game of ‘us’ and ‘them’,” said Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.
“If not reigned in and spoken against in the most harshest of terms by our leaders and those in positions of authority, then such acts will only give more oxygen to others who already have or are vulnerable to hate and discrimination.”
The former AG added the desecration of non-Christian places of worship, primarily started when overt and blatant hate was espoused against Indo-Fijians in 1987, to justify the overthrow of the Dr. Bavadra Government.
“This was further fuelled during and after the overthrow of the Coalition Government in 2000, of which Mahendra Chaudry was the Prime Minister.”
“However, we have not to date seen such egregious and daring desecration in broad daylight.”
“There is no doubt that the sentiments, feelings and confidence of the predominantly Indo-Fijian community, who are mainly Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs are trashed and trampled upon every time a bigoted attack of such nature takes place.”
“All those who call Fiji home, irrespective of their socio-economic status, religion, ethnicity, province, denomination, gender, and call Fiji home, must come out and make the strongest possible stand against such bigotry and hate.”
