Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill
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The Reconciliation and Unity Commission was a proposed government body to be set up if the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which was introduced into the Fijian
Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
on 4 May 2005 was passed. The legislation proposed to empower the Commission to grant amnesty to perpetrators of the Fiji coup of 2000, and compensation to victims of it from 19 May 2000 through 15 March 2001. The Fijian President would retain a veto over the granting of amnesty. The Commission was to be appointed by the
President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
on the advice of the
Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
, in consultation with the
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. Its purported objectives were to promote reconciliation in a spirit of tolerance and unity. Attorney-General
Qoriniasi Bale Qoriniasi Babitu Bale (1941 — 21 March 2014) was a lawyer and politician who served twice as Fiji's Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, most recently from 2001 to 2006, when he was deposed in the military coup of 5 December. Like many of ...
announced on 5 July that the bill was likely to be tabled in Parliament in September, but on 10 August,
Manasa Tugia Manasa Tugia is a former Fijian politician, who served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives from 2005 to 2006, and as Chairman of Parliament's Justice, Law, and Order Committee. In the latter role, he coordinated hearings into the ...
, the Chairman of Parliament's Justice, Law and Order Committee, announced that the date would be brought forward to mid-August. On 17 August the House of Representatives voted to approve a request from Tugia to extend the time for the committee to hear submissions on the bill. Tugia said the extension was necessary because
Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
translations of the bill had not yet been legally vetted and distributed, and because the views of important stakeholders had not yet been received. Tugia said submissions received so far revealed diametrically opposed views on how to overcome Fiji's "coup culture." The differences appeared to be over means, not ends. ''"While both sides of the argument clearly want to see a better Fiji freed from the 'coup culture', the two sides have different views on how best this can be achieved,"'' Tugia said. On 18 August, Tugia said that the parliamentary committee needed more money to continue with public consultations on the bill, and said that an application had been lodged with the Ministry of Finance.
Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire. The chief institutions of the organisation are the Co ...
Secretary-General Don McKinnon revealed on 8 September 2005 that Prime Minister Qarase had assured him that significant changes would be made to the bill. Section 5 of the Fijian translation of the bill states that in addition to the Commission, a 22-member Reconciliation Council is to be set up. 20 members were to be chosen by the government, with one member to represent other races; an additional member would represent Fiji's churches. Its task would be to encourage people of all races to live harmoniously together, and to explore ways to promote forgiveness and unity. Persons interfering with the Commission would face a possible fine of five thousand dollars, or up to two years' imprisonment.


Controversial legislation

The now-defunct 1990 Constitution imposed disabilities on the Indian population, who had until recently comprised over half the total population. This caused an exodus of the Indians. A public opinion poll published in the ''
Fiji Times ''The Fiji Times'' is a daily English-language newspaper published in Suva, Fiji. Established in Levuka on 4 September 1869 by George Littleton Griffiths, it is Fiji's oldest newspaper still operating. ''The Fiji Times'' is owned by Motibhai G ...
'' on 21 June showed the bill had more opponents (44%) than supporters (35%). 13% had no opinion. There was a clear ethnic division: the bill was supported by 55% of indigenous Fijians but only 19% of Indo-Fijians, while 29% of indigenous Fijians and 60% of Indo-Fijians opposed it. 10% of indigenous Fijians and 14% of Indo-Fijians said they did not care one way or the other. A
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poll published in the ''Fiji Times'' on 2 July revealed that only 4% of the population have read the bill fully, with a further 16% having read it partially.


Warnings to media, foreigners

On 1 July, government spokesman Apisalome Tudreu angrily accused the media of bias. He blamed lack of objective reporting in the media for the negative public reception to the bill. On 15 July, it was revealed that the government had issued a warning to foreign businessmen and investors not to meddle in Fiji's internal affairs. If they did not keep their political opinions to themselves, said the letter from
Lesi Korovavala Dr. Lesi Korovavala is a former Fijian civil servant, who served as the chief executive officer of the Ministry for Home Affairs. He is a former senior Military officer with a doctorate in military studies, he reached the rank of lieutenant ...
, chief executive officer of the Home Affairs Ministry, they would risk losing their work permits. The warning was sent to the Fiji Employers Federation, which has a powerful corporate membership.


Rumoured Presidential opposition

The ''Fiji Times'' reported on 25 June that in a closed-door meeting with the Prime Minister, President Ratu Josefa Iloilo and
Vice-President A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on t ...
Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, Lord Madraiwiwi Tangatatonga (10 November 1957 – 29 September 2016) was a prominent Fijian lawyer, legal scholar, jurist, and politician. He served as vice-president, and also acting president, of Fiji, and Chief Just ...
had called on him to withdraw the legislation, with the Vice-President, a former Judge, saying that there were serious legal implications to it. The Prime Minister reportedly replied that he would "consider" the request. To date, the ''Times'' report, written by Winikiti Bogidrau, the wife of an army officer, has not been verified, and spokesmen for the President and Prime Minister would not confirm or deny it, but on 27 June, the Fiji Labour Party (FLP) claimed o
its website
to have known of the meeting before the article was published. The FLP further alleged that the Prime Minister had intended to ask the President to use his position as Commander-in-chief of the Military to curb Commodore Bainimarama's public criticism of the bill, and that he was taken aback by the President's request to withdraw the legislation. Former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka on 27 June that the President does not have the authority to force legislation to be withdrawn. In his traditional speech opening Parliament on 1 August, Iloilo said that the government had introduced it for the purpose of fostering unity and stability. He welcomed the public debate, saying that reconciliation was ''"a difficult but necessary process."''


Compromise mooted

On 4 October, Prime Minister Qarase said that significant amendments to the legislation were in the pipeline. Speaking on VitiFM radio and on
Radio Sargam Radio Sargam is a nationwide commercial Hindi FM radio station in Fiji. It is owned by the Communications Fiji Limited (CFL), the company which owns FM96-Fiji, Viti FM, Legend FM and Radio Navtarang. Radio Sargam is broadcasting on three frequen ...
, which is affiliated to th
Fiji Village
news service, Qarase said that the bill would not be withdrawn, but that the amnesty clauses would be given a "makeover" to ensure that the
Constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of Legal entity, entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed. When ...
was not violated and that the independence of law-enforcing agencies was not compromised. ''"There will be changes particularly in the Amnesty provision ... so that the Bill is constitutional and in accordance with the Bill of Rights,"'' Qarase said. ''"Plus it does not interfere with the judiciary, police, and the Director of Public Prosecutions."'' The Prime Minister's move to a more conciliatory position coincided with revelations from Manasa Tugia, a strong supporter of the legislation and the chairman of the parliamentary committee looking into it, that most public submissions received so far had raised concerns about the amnesty clauses in the bill. On 7 October, Tugia said after hearing submissions in five western towns that a large section of the community had expressed disappointment that they had not been consulted about the legislation. They, too, mostly supported the bill's objective of reconciliation, but opposed its amnesty provisions, he said. Attorney-General Bale followed the Prime Minister's cue on 26 October, saying that any responsible government would listen to "sound logical reasoning" obtained from public consultations. He warned, however, that the government would not give in to Military opposition. It was the government, he said, that was the ultimate arbiter on the bill, and while the Military was entitled to its opinion, it was not the government. Bale's comments followed a statement by Military Commander Commodore
Frank Bainimarama Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama (Fijian: ʃoˈsɛia βoˈreŋɡe mbɛiniˈmarama born 27 April 1954) is a Fijian politician and former naval officer who served as the prime minister of Fiji from 2007 until 2022. A member of the FijiFirst ...
that whatever amendments the government might propose, the Military was still opposed to the legislation. Tugia said on 10 November that the Justice Law and Order Committee had completed receiving public submissions on the bill, and were in the process of compiling a report. The presentation, due in two weeks, to parliament would take account of the views of all who made submissions, Tugia said. On 22 November, however, he announced another probable postponement of the tabling of the bill. He and Prime Minister Qarase said that the vast number of submissions might prevent the bill from being tabled for the December Parliamentary session, and that it might have to be postponed till February 2006. Prime Minister Qarase announced on 1 December that the bill would be tabled in Parliament later that day, and that the
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would prepare amendments that would be ready to be processed in Parliament's February 2006 sitting. The bill would not be withdrawn, he insisted on 16 December; to do so would be undemocratic, he considered. In his
New Year New Year is the time or day currently at which a new calendar year begins and the calendar's year count increments by one. Many cultures celebrate the event in some manner. In the Gregorian calendar, the most widely used calendar system to ...
message on 1 January 2006, he declared the bill to be the only way forward for Fiji. The legislation was vitally important for the harmonious and stable development of the country.


Changes recommended by the parliamentary committee

Manasa Tugia, Chairman of Parliament's Justice, Law, and Order Committee, tabled the committee'
report on the bill
on 1 December. He revealed that the parliamentary committee had received a total of 124 written and 148 oral submissions on the bill. The majority of organizations who presented submissions supported the legislation, he said, but the reverse was true of members of the public. He alleged that many people on both sides of the debate were supporting or opposing something they had not read. He expressed disappointment that few submissions had been received from the Indo-Fijian community. ''"We thought they would come forward to use this opportunity to air their views. But everyone was given a fair opportunity to air their views on the draft Bill,"'' he said. Tugia said that in attempting to reconcile the diametrically opposed views on the bill, the committee had studied similar legislation in countries like
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
, Timor Leste, and the
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, and had borrowed and synthesized elements from them in order to come up with a model for Fiji. A priority was that "necessary reconciliation" should take place between the perpetrators and the victims of the coup, he said. The bill's preamble, which emphasizes the rights of indigenous Fijians, should be deleted, the committee proposed. The committee recommended retaining the most controversial part of the bill, the amnesty clauses, but proposed that they be reworded to clarify ''"that amnesty is to be granted in-line with the constitution and not the through the President as proposed by the Bill".'' It proposed replacing the word ''"offenders"'' with ''"wrongdoers"'' and felt that there should be no blanket amnesty, and that constitutional procedures should be followed scrupulously It called for the exclusion of
murder Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification (jurisprudence), justification or valid excuse (legal), excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person wit ...
,
rape Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without their consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or ag ...
, and other
sexual offences Sex and the law deals with the regulation by law of human sexual activity. Sex laws vary from one place or jurisdiction to another, and have varied over time. Unlawful sexual acts are called sex crimes. Some laws regarding sexual activity are ...
from amnesty under the bill.
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and offences against public order should also be excluded, the committee said, but amnesty could be granted for non-violent crimes like
unlawful assembly Unlawful assembly is a legal term to describe a group of people with the mutual intent of deliberate disturbance of the peace. If the group is about to start an act of disturbance, it is termed a rout; if the disturbance is commenced, it is then ter ...
and illegal demonstrations, committed during the 2000 coup and its aftermath. Persons currently under investigation for coup-related offences could also apply for criminal immunity, on condition of their seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with their victims. In the event of their refusal to answer any question asked by the Reconciliation Commission, the case should be referred directly to the courts, the report proposed. Prime Minister Qarase and Opposition Leader Chaudhry withheld comment pending a study of the proposed changes, but Fiji Law Society President
Graeme Leung Graham Everett Leung is a Fijian lawyer and former president of the Fiji Law Society. He was also chairman of the Electoral Commission (Fiji), Electoral Commission, and was named as judge advocate of a Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit Court Mar ...
cautiously welcomed the committee's recommendations. The society had wanted the amnesty clauses deleted, he said, but the amendments went some way towards allaying their fears. ''"The recommendations make a very good effort at trying to ensure compliance with the Constitution,"'' he said. He commended the committee for telling the government that if it wanted to pass the bill, it was very important to consult the public. Attorney-General Bale said on 15 December that the government was considering the committee's recommendations, and would make a decision before the resumption of Parliament in February 2006. Prime Minister Qarase announced on 11 January 2006 that certain amendments, which he did not specify, had been decided on by the Cabinet, and would be brought before Parliament in the session beginning on 13 February.


Police warnings

Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes spoke out on 16 September to express concern about the tone of the debate over the bill. He was reacting to comments made by Raiwaqa resident Masi Kaumaitotoya that although their leaders did not know it, the masses were preparing for another coup. Hughes said that such threats to stability would not be tolerated, and that "certain individuals" were being closely monitored. Hughes reiterated on 19 September that persons making racist threats needed to be stopped, and called on chiefs and church leaders to counsel such individuals. ''"I can't understand how people who harbour these biases can reconcile their hatred of others with their religious beliefs,"'' he added. On 2 October, Manasa Tugia, the Chairman of the parliamentary committee looking into other bill, said that he would not tolerate
hate speech Hate speech is defined by the ''Cambridge Dictionary'' as "public speech that expresses hate or encourages violence towards a person or group based on something such as race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation". Hate speech is "usually thoug ...
es from persons making parliamentary submissions on the bill, and that all comments would be limited to the bill itself.


Parliamentary vote delayed

Prime Minister Qarase announced on 18 January that the tabling of the legislation for final parliamentary approval was being postponed until further notice, pending "consultations." This move followed an extraordinary week which had seen unusual troop and naval deployments, rumours of a possible coup, and the dismissal of a senior Army officer for alleged insubordination, culminating in a meeting at
Government House Government House is the name of many of the official residences of governors-general, governors and lieutenant-governors in the Commonwealth and the remaining colonies of the British Empire. The name is also used in some other countries. Gover ...
(the official residence of the President between the Prime Minister and the
Military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
Commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama (an implacable opponent of the bill), under the auspices of Vice-President Ratu Jone Madraiwiwi. In a statement issued after the meeting, Madraiwiwi said that the Prime Minister had agreed to consider the grievances of the Military and to consult them about possible changes to the legislation. On the 18th, the Prime Minister went further and said that the process of consulting everybody could take a long time, and that it could no longer be guaranteed that the legislation would be passed in time for the 2006 parliamentary election. The same was true of other controversial bills opposed by the Military, including legislation defining indigenous fishing rights and establishing a separate indigenous court system, Qarase said.
Jioji Kotobalavu Jioji Kotobalavu was Fiji civil servant. He was the Chief Executive Officer in the Prime Minister's office, (CEO PMO) but was dismissed on 7 December 2006 by the military junta which had seized power on 5 December. He received his formal noti ...
, the Chief Executive Officer of the Prime Minister's Department, said that the bill was being revised, and that the Military would be briefed when the revision had been completed. On 8 February 2006, it was announced that the bill had been shelved because of insufficient time to prepare the necessary amendments, but Prime Minister Qarase denied this. The bill had not been shelved, and would not be, he insisted, but it would not be voted upon by the present session of Parliament. Opposition Leader
Mahendra Chaudhry Mahendra Pal Chaudhry ( hif, महेन्द्र पाल चौधरी; born 9 February 1942) is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party. Following a historic election in which he defeated the long-time former lead ...
welcomed the postponement of the bill, but said that his wish was to see it "completely withdrawn," while Fijian Political Party General Secretary
Ema Druavesi Ema Druavesi is a former Fijian trade unionist and politician. Druavesi was born in Suva and educated at the Fiji Institute of Technology. She worked as a laboratory assistant at the University of the South Pacific and in 1982 became president of ...
(another opponent of the bill) said that the whole process had been a waste of taxpayers' money. The postponement was condemned by Ropate Sivo, a member of the executive of the Conservative Alliance (CAMV), the government's coalition partner, and by
New Nationalist Party The New Nationalist Party was a small, far-right political party founded by former members of the British National Party (BNP) in 2006. It was based in the West Midlands and its most prominent member was the former BNP member Sharon Ebanks. Earl ...
leader
Saula Telawa Saula Telawa was a Fijians, Fijian nationalism, nationalist politician who served as President of the now-defunct New Nationalist Party (Fiji), New Nationalist Party, which advocated Fijians, indigenous Fijian paramountcy. He also championed the e ...
. To shelve the bill was to ''"betray the trust of the common Fijian people,"'' Sivo said. ''"All those heroes in jail from George Speight down have had their hopes of freedom dashed because of this,"'' he protested. He called the setback a slap in the face for CAMV supporters in Vanua Levu and northern
Tailevu Tailevu is one of the 14 provinces of Fiji. Overview One of the eight provinces based in Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island, Tailevu's 755 square kilometers occupy the south-eastern fringe of the island along with some central areas. At the 2017 ...
, and warned the government to be careful, as repercussions would follow. Telawa, for his part, called on the Prime Minister to resign, saying that he had failed the Fijian people. With the announcement that Parliament would be dissolved on 17 March 2006 pending a general election from 6–13 May, the bill is effectively shelved. Any reintroduction of the bill will depend on the outcome of the election. Military spokesman
Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...
Orisi Rabukawaqa Orisi Rabukawaqa is a Fijian career soldier. By early 2006, he held the rank of lieutenant colonel and was one of two official spokesmen for the Military, the other being Major Neumi Leweni. In his role as spokesman, Rabukawaqa articulated a numb ...
said on 3 March that the Military was still opposed to the bill, and warned any winner of the general election against reintroducing it.
Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei The Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei (SVT), occasionally known in English as Fijian Political Party, was a party which dominated the politics of Fiji in the 1990s and was the mainstay of coalition governments from 1992 to 1999. Origins The party ...
Party (SVT) General Secretary
Ema Druavesi Ema Druavesi is a former Fijian trade unionist and politician. Druavesi was born in Suva and educated at the Fiji Institute of Technology. She worked as a laboratory assistant at the University of the South Pacific and in 1982 became president of ...
and her
National Federation Party The National Federation Party is a Fijian political party founded by A. D. Patel, A.D. Patel in November 1968, as a merger of the Federation Party and the National Democratic Party (Fiji, 1960s), National Democratic Party. Though it claimed to ...
counterpart,
Pramod Rae Pramod Kumar Rae (born 27 October 1951) is a Fijian trade unionist and political organizer of Indian descent. He was born in Suva and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree and Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of the South ...
, said that the time and money invested by the government in the bill had been a waste, with Rae adding that it had caused a great deal of division in Fijian society.


Support for the bill

The bill had the strong support of Prime Minister Qarase,
Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exec ...
Qoriniasi Bale, and other members of the ruling
coalition A coalition is a group formed when two or more people or groups temporarily work together to achieve a common goal. The term is most frequently used to denote a formation of power in political or economical spaces. Formation According to ''A Gui ...
. It was warmly welcomed by imprisoned coup instigator George Speight. The name ''"Blue Ribbon campaign"'' came from the blue ribbons promoted by the ruling United Fiji Party, which promoted the legislation. Other supporters included: * The
Methodist Church Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related Christian denomination, denominations of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John W ...
, to which some two-thirds of ethnic Fijians belong. * Former Chief Justice Sir Timoci Tuivaga. * Former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. * Jaiwant Krishna of the
Labasa Chamber of Commerce Labasa (pronounced ) is a town in Fiji with a population of 27,949 at the most recent census held in 2007. Labasa is located in Macuata Province, in the north-eastern part of the island of Vanua Levu, and is the largest town on the island. Th ...
. * Joe Vala Cakau, former publicity director of the Fijian Political Party. * Ratu Amenatave Rabona Ravoka, a Bua chief. * The
Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party The Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party (NVTLP) was a Fijian political party which championed Fijian ethnic nationalism. It was led by Iliesa Duvuloco, while Viliame Savu served as the party's president. Founding and ideology The party was ...
, including General Secretary
Iliesa Duvuloco Iliesa Duvuloco (19481September 2017) was a real estate businessman and a former Fijian politician and leader of the Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party. He was involved in the 2000 coup d'état and jailed for 18 months. Duvuloco formed the Natio ...
and 2001 election candidates Soane Tobewaqiri and
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. * Ratu Aca Soqosoqo, a
Kadavu Kadavu may refer to: * Kadavu Island, the fourth largest island in Fiji * Kadavu Group, an archipelago in Fiji including Kadavu Island * Kadavu Province, a province of Fiji including Kadavu Group * Kadavu Airport or Vunisea Airport, an airport on K ...
chief. *
Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
Adi Litia Cakobau. * The
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of all fourteen Provinces, as well as of the Dependency of Rotuma. * The Vugalei Landowners Association (Chief Ratu Netava Tagi). * Kelepi Lesi, Vice-President of the Catholic League. *
Jale Baba Jale Baba in Lautoka is a Fijian businessman and political organizer. A forestry graduate of the Australian National University, he worked for Fiji Pine Limited for more than 20 years, before leaving in 1999 to start his own company- Baba Fo ...
, Director of the ruling United Fiji Party. *
Timoci Silatolu Timoci Qiolevu Silatolu, sometimes known by his chiefly title of '' Ratu,'' is a former Fijian politician. A telecommunications engineer by profession, he originates from the Chiefly village of Lomanikoro in the province of Rewa. He is married to S ...
, former politician imprisoned for his involvement in the coup. * Kitione Vuataki, lawyer. * The '' Soqosoqo Vakamarama i Taukei'' women's organization (though apparently with some dissenters). * The Great Council of Chiefs. *
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Kenro Ino of
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.


Opposition to the bill

Most politicians outside of the government came out against the proposed legislation, along with the Military and a number of business and professional organizations. The campaign came to be known as the ''"Yellow Ribbon Campaign"'', from the yellow ribbons that many opponents of the bill wore around their wrists in public.


Politicians and chiefs

*
Mahendra Chaudhry Mahendra Pal Chaudhry ( hif, महेन्द्र पाल चौधरी; born 9 February 1942) is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party. Following a historic election in which he defeated the long-time former lead ...
, Opposition Leader and former Prime Minister. *
Mick Beddoes Mick Malcolm Millis Beddoes, widely known as Mick Beddoes, is a Fijian politician and businessman from Nadi, who led the United Peoples Party (formerly the United General Party) from 2000 to 2013, and was the Leader of the Opposition at the time ...
, leader of the United Peoples Party. * Ratu Epeli Ganilau, founder of the National Alliance Party former Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs. * Adi Ateca Ganilau, wife of Ratu Epeli Ganilau and daughter of former President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. * Senator Adi Koila Nailatikau, younger sister of Adi Ateca Ganilau. *
Dorsami Naidu Dorsami Naidu is a Fijian lawyer and former politician. On 29 July 2005, he announced his intention to resign as President of the National Federation Party (NFP) at the party conference on 31 July. Naidu took over the leadership of the NFP, onc ...
, former President of the National Federation Party (NFP). *Ema Druavesi, Secretary of the Fijian Political Party. *
Krishna Datt Krishna Datt, last name sometimes spelt as ''Dutt'', is a Fijian politician of Indian descent. Datt served as Principal of Suva Grammar School, where he participated in the national teachers' strikes in 1985, which launched his political career wi ...
, a Labour Party parliamentarian and former Cabinet Minister. *
Meli Waqa Meli may refer to: People with the surname * Angelo Meli (1897–1969), American mobster * Francis Meli (born 1979), New Zealand rugby league player * Giovanni Meli (1740–1815), Italian poet * Mangi Meli, Tanzanian royalty People with the given ...
, Secretary of the National Alliance Party. *
Filipe Bole Filipe Nagera Bole CBE, CF (23 August 1936 – 19 June 2019) was a Fijian politician who hailed from the village of Mualevu on the island of Vanua Balavu in the Lau Group. He had a reputation as one of Fiji's few politicians untainted by scan ...
, former
Foreign Minister A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...
. * Ratu Aisea Katonivere, the
Paramount Chief A paramount chief is the English-language designation for the highest-level political leader in a regional or local polity or country administered politically with a chief-based system. This term is used occasionally in anthropological and arch ...
of Macuata Province. * Senator
James Ah Koy Sir James Michael Ah Koy, , ( zh, 何志美; born November 30, 1936) is a Fijian businessman, politician, and diplomat of Chinese and Fijian descent. He is Executive Chairman of Kelton Investments, the IT service provider Datec Group Ltd., Hono ...
. * Senivalati Naitala of the Ra Fiji Cane Growers Council. * Adi Ema Tagicakibau, a Minister in the deposed People's Coalition government.


Religious organizations

* The
Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratindhi Sabha Fiji Shree may refer to: * Sri, an honorific commonly used in the Indian subcontinent * Shree (Hindustani raga), the Hindustani classical music scale * Shree (Carnatic raga), the Carnatic music scale * Sri (Odissi raga), the Odissi classical music scal ...
(a
Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
organization; President
Surendra Kumar Surendra is an Indian masculine given name. Notable people with this name include: * Surendra (actor/singer) * Surendra Bhave * Surendra Chaturvedi * Surendra Dubey * Surendra Gambhir * Surendra Hiranandani * Surendra Jain * Surendra Jha 'Suman ...
). * The Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, (another Hindu organization; President
Kamlesh Arya Kamlesh or Kamalesh is a given name which may refer to: * Kamlesh Khunti, British physician *Kamlesh Kumari (died 2001), police constable who thwarted a terrorist attack on the Parliament of India; posthumous recipient of the Ashoka Chakra Award, I ...
). *
Archbishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
Petero Mataca Petero Mataca (28 April 1933 – 30 June 2014) born at Cawaci, on Ovalau Island, served as the Roman Catholic archbishop of Suva, Fiji until his resignation in 2012. Biography After his education at St. John's College, Cawaci, he was o ...
of the
Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
*
The Salvation Army The Salvation Army (TSA) is a Protestant church and an international charitable organisation headquartered in London, England. The organisation reports a worldwide membership of over 1.7million, comprising soldiers, officers and adherents col ...
(Regional Commander
Major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
Gordon Daly). * The Jesus Christ Apostolic Church (General Secretary Esala Tuibua). * Paula Baba, a Lay Columban missionary. * Rev. Josateki Koroi, the former President of the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma. * The Council of Interfaith Search Fiji (spokeswoman Tessa MacKenzie). * Moti Chand Maharaj, a Hindu priest. *
Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The group reports a worldwide membership of approximately 8.7 million adherents involved in ...
spokesman Taito Tabaleka.


Other organizations and individuals

* The Fiji Law Society (President
Graeme Leung Graham Everett Leung is a Fijian lawyer and former president of the Fiji Law Society. He was also chairman of the Electoral Commission (Fiji), Electoral Commission, and was named as judge advocate of a Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit Court Mar ...
). * The
Citizens Constitutional Forum Citizenship is a "relationship between an individual and a state to which the individual owes allegiance and in turn is entitled to its protection". Each state determines the conditions under which it will recognize persons as its citizens, and ...
(Director Rev.
Akuila Yabaki Akuila Yabaki is a Fijian human rights activist and Methodist Church, Methodist clergyman. He is currently the Executive Director of the Citizens Constitutional Forum (Fiji), Citizens Constitutional Forum, a pro-democracy organization. Yabaki w ...
). *
Shamima Ali Shamima Ali is a Fijian political activist of Indian descent. As of July 2015, she is the Coordinator of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre (FWCC), a post she has held for many years. She has also been a member of the Fiji Human Rights Commission (FH ...
and Edwina Kotoisuva of the
Fiji Women's Crisis Centre The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre (FWCC) is a non-government organization (NGO) in Fiji. Established in 1984, it offers counselling and legal, medical, and practical support to woman and children victims of violence in Fiji. History The Women's Cri ...
. * Dr
Shaista Shameem Shaista Shameem, a Fijian lawyer, the director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission (FHRC) from 2002 to 2007, and its director and chairperson from 2007 to 2009. A graduate of the University of the South Pacific, she holds a PhD in Sociology from ...
of the
Fiji Human Rights Commission The Fiji Human Rights Commission (FHRC) was created by presidential decree in 2009, succeeding the entity of the same name established as an independent statutory body under the 1997 Constitution of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. The 1997 Co ...
. * Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes. * The
Fiji Institute of Accountants Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...
. * Ravesi Johnson of the women's organization ''Soqosoqo Vakamarama i Taukei.'' *
Kallu Dhani Ram Kallu Dhani Ram (born 6 July 1923) is the General Secretary of the oldest farmers union in Fiji, the Fiji Kisan Sangh. He has been one of the few people who has been involved with the Sangh since being inspired to join it by its founder, Ayodhya Pr ...
, General Secretary of the
Kisan Sangh Kisan Sangh was the first farmers' union formed in Fiji on 27 November 1937. This was the result of one man's determination to improve the plight of Fiji's Indian cane farmers. Ayodhya Prasad had arrived from India in 1929, and after a stint as ...
cane-growers' association. * Economist
Wadan Narsey , settlement_type = Commune and town , image_skyline = OuadaneOldTown1.jpg , imagesize = , image_caption = Old tower, Ouadane , image_flag = , im ...
. *
Gregory Allen Greg Allen may refer to: * Greg Allen (rugby league) (1947–2009), Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s * Greg Allen (baseball) (born 1993), American Major League Baseball outfielder * Greg Allen (American football) (born 196 ...
, the former Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions. * William Parkinson of
Communications Fiji Limited Communication (from la, communicare, meaning "to share" or "to be in relation with") is usually defined as the transmission of information. The term may also refer to the message communicated through such transmissions or the field of inquir ...
, a broadcasting company, said on 15 June that the government had left it too late to consult the public about the legislation. If reconciliation was the purpose of the bill, he said, the public should have a sense of ownership over it. The amnesty provisions would tear the nation apart, he said, rather than foster reconciliation. * Samisoni Kakaivalu, editor of the Fiji Times. *
Suliana Siwatibau Suliana Siwatibau () is a former Fijian political activist, who served as the Chairperson of the Pacific Centre for Public Integrity (PCPI) as of January 2007. She has also chaired the Coalition for Democracy and Peace. Relations with the Qa ...
of Concerned Mothers Group Against the Bill. * Dr
Biman Prasad Biman Prasad is a Fijian politician and economist who has served as the leader of the National Federation Party since 2014, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance since 2022. Early life and education Prasad was born in Dreketi in Va ...
, Associate Professor of Economics at the
University of the South Pacific The University of the South Pacific (USP) is a public university, public research university with locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. Established in 1968, the university is organised as an intergovernmental organisation and ...
. * The Fiji Women's Lawyers Association (President Ulamila Fa-Tuituku). * The
Concerned Citizens against the Unity Bill ''Concerned: The Half-Life and Death of Gordon Frohman'' is a webcomic by Christopher C. Livingston that parodies the first-person shooter video game ''Half-Life 2''. The comic is illustrated with screenshots of characters posed using ''Garry's ...
, a coalition of groups opposed to the legislation. Prominent members include Senator Felix Anthony and Mrs
Bernadette Ganilau Rose Lavenia Bernadette Rounds Ganilau, born July 5, 1951 as Lavenia Bernadette Rounds, is a Fijian writer, broadcaster, and politician, who served as Minister for Labour, Minister for Tourism, Industrial Relations, Productivity and Environment ...
, sister-in-law of the National Alliance Party founder. * Sharon Baghwan-Rolls of the National Council of Women. *
Selina Kuruleca Selina Kuruleca is a Fijian psychotherapist and commentator. She has been regularly quoted by media outlets in Fiji on a wide variety of issues, such as the controversial Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill promoted by the government of P ...
, a
psychotherapist Psychotherapy (also psychological therapy, talk therapy, or talking therapy) is the use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome pro ...
. *
Maciu Navakasuasua Maciu Navakasuasua is a Fijian public figure and former political organizer. An explosives expert, Navakasuasua said that on behalf of the Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party, an extremist party which advocated the "repatriation" to India of Indo-F ...
, coup-convict turned informant. * The Military (Commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama).


Foreign governments and organizations

*
New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
's then
Foreign Minister A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...
,
Phil Goff Philip Bruce Goff (born 22 June 1953) is a New Zealand politician. He was a member of the New Zealand Parliament from 1981 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 2016. He served as leader of the Labour Party and leader of the Opposition between 11 No ...
. * Susan Boyd, Australia's former High Commissioner to Fiji. * The
Law Association for Asia and the Pacific Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
(LAWASIA). * John North of the Australian Law Council. * Former
Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
Sir Geoffrey Palmer Sir Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer (born 21 April 1942) is a New Zealand lawyer, legal academic, and former politician, who was a member of Parliament from 1979 to 1990. He served as the 33rd prime minister of New Zealand for a little over a ...
of New Zealand. * The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. * Glenn Martin of the
Bar Association of Queensland Bar or BAR may refer to: Food and drink * Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages * Candy bar * Chocolate bar Science and technology * Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment * Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud * Bar ( ...
. * The International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers Union (ICEM).


Calls for moderation

In the midst of the strident public statements both for and against the proposed legislation, a number of voices have taken more nuanced positions, or have called for moderation and mutual understanding. *
Meli Bogileka Ratu Meli Bogileka is a Fijian politician. He was the Secretary of the People's National Party (PNP) up to its decision to merge into the Party of National Unity (PANU) on 5 March 2006. This merger, an affair complicated by several about-turn ...
, General secretary of the People's National Party. *
Alexander Downer Alexander John Gosse Downer (born 9 September 1951) is an Australian former politician and diplomat who was leader of the Liberal Party from 1994 to 1995, Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1996 to 2007, and High Commissioner to the United King ...
,
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
n
Foreign Minister A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...
. * Eliki Lalauvaki of the Fiji Brethren Assemblies Partnership. * Militoni Leweniqila, an executive member of the
Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei The Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei (SVT), occasionally known in English as Fijian Political Party, was a party which dominated the politics of Fiji in the 1990s and was the mainstay of coalition governments from 1992 to 1999. Origins The party ...
Party (SVT) * Santal Maharaj of the New Zealand-based
Fiji Human Rights Groups (NZ) Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...
. * Don McKinnon, Secretary-General of the
Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire. The chief institutions of the organisation are the Co ...
. * Ratu Sairusi Nagagavoka,
Paramount Chief A paramount chief is the English-language designation for the highest-level political leader in a regional or local polity or country administered politically with a chief-based system. This term is used occasionally in anthropological and arch ...
of Ba District in Ba Province. * Ratu Seru Seruvakula, Chairman of the Nasautoka sub-district of the Wainibuka district of Tailevu Province. * Jack Simpson, director of Prison Fellowship Fiji. * Ame Tugaue, General Secretary of the Methodist Church. * The
Assemblies of God The Assemblies of God (AG), officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 144 autonomous self-governing national groupings of churches that together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination."Assemblies of God". ...
. * Taito Waradi, president of the
Fijian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fijian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Fiji * The Fijians, persons from Fiji, or of Fijian descent. For more information about the Fijian people, see: ** Demographics of Fiji ** Culture of Fiji * The Fijian language ...
. * An anonymous
chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boa ...
from Ba Province. * Ratu Josaia Duacia, Paramount Chief of Sikituru in Ba Province.


2006 military coup

On 13 May 2005, Bainimarama spoke out against the proposal, calling it "Reconciliation bull" and vowing that he and the military would oppose the legislation, which detractors say is a sham to grant amnesty to supporters of the present government who played roles in the coup. His attack on the legislation, which continued unremittingly throughout May and into June, further strained his already tense relationship with the government. On 5 June, Bainimarama reiterated his opposition to the proposed reconciliation commission, and said that if the government continued to "bulldoze" it through Parliament, he would be forced to "open up." He did not elaborate on what he meant by that. On 11 July, Bainimarama issued one of his strongest-worded challenges yet to the government, saying that it was forcing the country into the same anarchy as in 2000. The Reconciliation and Unity Bill would never allow the country to live in peace, he said. In an eight-page statement, he warned that the Military was would take decisive action against any "destabilisers" - among whom he named Attorney-General Bale and Ministry of Reconciliation Chief Executive Apisalome Tudreu. "The military will dish out the same fate we dealt George Speight and his group to anyone whom we think deserves this treatment," Bainimarama said. He said that he would arrest and put on trial anyone who threatened the stability of Fiji. In late November 2006, Bainimarama handed down a list of demands to Qarase, one of which was the withdrawal of three controversial bills, including the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill. On 5 December, Bainimarama overthrew the government. Addressing the media to explain his actions, he stated that the Reconciliation Bill had to be prevented as it would have "undermined the Constitution". He later added that, if the SDL party returned to power, he would tolerate it only as long as it did not attempt to re-introduce the Bill. "If you do it, I'll remove you," he warned."On my terms: Bainimarama points way ahead"
''Fiji Times'', June 1, 2008


Disinterested positions

A few Fijian citizens considered the debate over the controversial legislation to be an irrelevance, or otherwise refused to comment on it. * Business tycoon
Hari Punja Hari Punja, OF, OBE (born 1936) is an Indo-Fijian businessman and Chairman of Hari Punja Group of Companies. Hari Punja and Sons Limited is a very diversified (and probably the largest) company in Fiji. Hari Punja was born in Cuvu, Sigatoka, ...
said on 15 July that the bill was the least of his worries. Of far greater concern to him was the government's failure to resolve a trade dispute with the government of
Vanuatu Vanuatu ( or ; ), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (french: link=no, République de Vanuatu; bi, Ripablik blong Vanuatu), is an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is east of no ...
, which has negatively affected Punja's own business interests. * Former Opposition Leader
Jai Ram Reddy Jai Ram Reddy, CF (12 May 1937 – 29 August 2022) was an Indo-Fijian politician, who had a distinguished career in both the legislative and judicial branches of the Fijian government. In 1998, he received Fiji's highest honour, the Companion ...
, now a
judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...
serving on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, refused to answer questions about the bill that were put to him on 23 August 2005, saying that he considered it improper for him, as a judge, to comment on political issues. ''"I am a judge and I am away from politics,"'' he said.


References


External links


Text of the proposed bill, on the Fiji Times website

Report of the Parliamentary Sector Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Order
{{Truth and Reconciliation Commission 2005 in Fiji History of Fiji Politics of Fiji Truth and reconciliation commissions