DVD Tries To Reinvent Rabuka As Alternative Prime Minister
The DVD, sold for $10, is also a fundraising tool for a party that projects itself as the alternative government but needs more money to match the might of FijiFirst on the campaign trail.
SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka tries to reinvent himself in a new DVD that has been widely circulated. It is mostly targeted at the 18-40 year-old group – some were not born then while others were not old enough to understand Mr Rabuka’s military coups of 1987.
It also focuses on undecided voters who are still trying to make up their mind on who to vote for.
The DVD titled My Story & My Vision for
2018 and Beyond – covers his family and cultural roots, education at Queen Victoria School, military career, 1987 coups, political career, his sporting exploits in rugby and athletics and his terms as Prime Minister under the SVT Government.
The DVD, sold for $10, is also a fundraising tool for a party that projects itself as the alternative government, but needs more money to match the might of FijiFirst on the campaign trail.
Mr Rabuka may not be able to visit every iTaukei village before the election. The DVD gives the villagers the opportunity to listen to him. And that may be working for him because SODELPA has jumped back to 26 per cent after it slipped in its rating in the preferred party stakes.
The same ploy was used in 2014 to great effect in Vanua Levu and in other parts of Fiji.
The DVD paints a good picture of Mr Rabuka as he tells his story and vision while others gave a positive feeback on his career. But there is no mention of the National Bank of Fiji collapse under MrRabuka when he outlined his economic performance under the SVT Government.
SVT Record
The former SDL members in SODELPA are understood to feel uneasy about the constant reference to SVT with little or no mention of the SDL Government under Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.
The only reference to SDL was when Mr Rabuka said FijiFirst Government was always ridiculing and criticising past governments such as SDL, SVT and the Alliance.
Indigenous Rights
Mr Rabuka has clearly come out to advocate indigenous rights even though they are guaranteed under the 2013 Constitution.
He said we must accept and embrace indigenous rights as human rights. He added the indigenous rights must be recognised and accepted in all facets of economic development.
“All human rights are equal and indivisible,” he said.
The Constitution guaranties equal rights and common citizenry. Obviously he does not accept Fijian as a common name. He said a SODELPA Government would restore the Bose Levu Vakaturaga (BLV or Great Council of Chiefs) as part of his indigenous policy under the ILO Convention 169.
He said this was part of his vision for a multiracial, united and progressive Fiji where we could all live in peace and harmony.
He said this was his conviction and Christian faith and “will not waver or be shaken”.
“I will continue to embrace my vision with understanding, compassion and consistency.”
As Mr Rabuka makes these statements, he is obviously banking on many today, not knowing events of the past.