Vanua Welcomes Chief With Tears Feedback: wati.talebula@fijisun.com.fj
Emotions ran high as the five districts of Namosi welcomed their chief, Tui Namosi Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, at Veivatuloa Village yesterday.
The five districts of the province are Naqarawai, Wainikoroiluva, Vinuqa, Veivatuloa, and Namosi. Ratu Suliano was released from the Suva Corrections Centre at 1pm. He was accompanied by his traditional advisors who picked him up from Suva.
TRADITIONAL PROTOCOL
Tight traditional protocol was observed. No one was allowed to talk and all mobiles were switched off at the strike of the first lali (drum) beat as he arrived at Veivatuloa. His return was heralded with the beating of the lali, with the tempo in rhythm with his footsteps as he made his way to the village green. The rhythm of the lali is unique, as it is performed exclusively for the Tui Namosi. It is understood that the lali rhythm was the first for Veivatuloa Village, and many witnessed it for the first time.
The people of Namosi turned out in numbers to welcome their chief. A lali was specifically crafted for the traditional welcome.
The unique rhythm of the lali echoed throughout the village as Ratu Suliano walked towards his seat, located in the large shed.
TEARS SHED
His people quietly shed tears as Ratu Suliano walked onto the village green towards the specially erected shed; no one moved but observed silently from their seats.
You could hear a pin drop as the traditional warriors (bati) of Tui
Namosi with their clubs stood guard and watched that no sound was made and nothing moved. They were not afraid to enforce the traditional protocols, even if it means striking someone during a traditional ceremony.
The ceremony had one of the high-profile attendee squirming in pain when a war club suddenly hit his thigh from a warrior. He was heard whispering to someone close to him.
Women were not allowed to sit inside the shed where the traditional ceremony was held but sat solemnly under the trees and inside homes, outside the perimetre where the traditional guards stood. The women only moved and sat inside the shed after the traditional
welcome ceremony to shake hands with Ratu Suliano.
Mata-ni-vanua (spokesperson) of Saliadrau Village, Leone Colaoco, said making the lali was a blessing for him.
“I was at home when I was asked if I could make a lali to welcome our chief, and of course, I agreed but asked if I could get help from some of the young men. We had to find a suitable tree to make the lali. Three types of trees were brought to us, but only the dawa (longan tree) was suitable,” Mr Colaoco said.
“It took us three days to make the lali. This is the third lali I have made. My brother and I are the only ones who can perform the lali rhythm. I taught him the rhythm only for my chief ’s return. “We are so happy that our chief has returned. I am not supposed to be here because one of my legs has been amputated, but because I think of my chief, I am here today. For us, we respect and treasure our chief, and I would not miss today for any reason.”
Villager Toma Vakacokecoke explained the meaning of the lali rhythm.
“For us in Namosi, we have one chief, and he means a lot to us. The rhythm of the lali indicates to the people that our Vunivalu is back. It shows our respect for our chief and how happy we are because we are not orphans anymore,” Mr Vakacokecoke said.
“The return of our chief may not mean a lot to other people, but for us, the people of Namosi, it is the return of our king and our chief, and we welcome him back.”
Regarding his sentence:
In August 2022, Ratu Suliano was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment; 26 months were ordered to be served immediately with a nonparole period of 20 months, while the remaining 10 months are suspended for a period of five years. Ratu Suliano was convicted of a count each of giving false information to a public servant and obtaining financial advantage.
He falsely stated his place of residence as Namosi Village, Namosi, and obtained $38,378.22 in parliamentary allowances.
Last November, his wife, Radini Vanua o’ Nabukebuke, Adi Akeneta Vecena Matanitobua, passed away, and he was released to attend her funeral.
Fiji Corrections Service (FCS)
Ratu Suliano served for 20 months and was released early after remission. FCS Acting Commissioner Salote Panapasa said it was mandated by law to calculate a remission of one-third of the sentence for any term of imprisonment exceeding one month to determine the release date for each prisoner.
She added that FCS is obliged by law to ensure that if a prisoner’s sentence includes a non-parole period fixed by a court, the prisoner must serve the full term of the nonparole period.
“As of January 24, 2024, he has another two months and 21 days remaining until he completes his non-parole period of 20 months. He was released on April 14 after serving 20 months in prison.”