International body’s report on Fiji way off the mark

Humanists International ( HI), which has given Fiji a poor rating, is way off the mark.

In its Freedom of Thought Report for this month it makes a number of assertions that are not correct. This HI Report was written from a eurocentric viewpoint. The author obviously has very little idea of the reality on the ground in Fiji.

HI is the global representative body of the humanist movement, uniting a diversity of non-religious organisations and individuals.

Its members and associates include humanist, rationalist, secular, ethical, culture, atheist and freethought organisations all over the world.

Christian-Hindu

HI: The Christian-Hindu divide is a great cause of religious tension. That assessment is based on 2019 reports of acts of vandalism of Hindu temples and mosques and the coups.

FACT: Christians and Hindus peacefully co-exist. They are thriving under our secular state which provides the right to people to freely exercise their faith as long as they are within the bounds of the law.

While break-ins at some temples are viewed by some as sacriliege and signs of religious intolerance, these are isolated cases.

There is no evidence to say they are religiously motivated and are widely spread.

Some Christian churches have also been broken into and items stolen. The hunt for cash appears to be the motivation.

There was tension after the 1987, 2000 and 2006 coups but the situation has improved considerably under the 2013 Constitution which guarantees equal rights and freedom of religion.

LGBTI+ rights HI: LGBTI+ people continue to face discrimination within Fijian society. HI bases this statement on the Government policy on no same sex marriage. FACT:

The country has come a long way on LGBTI rights. There was a time during the SDL Government reign when gay men were arrested and locked up for alleged homosexual activities. Homosexual sex was decriminalised under the Crimes Act 2009.

Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu is on record as saying that Police would protect the safety and security of members of the LGBTQI community. They enjoy equal rights with everyone else. When it comes to same sex marriage only 29 countries in the world have legalised it.

They include the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Portugal, Argentina, Denmark, Uruguay, New Zealand, France, Brazil, England, Wales, Scotland, Luxembourg, Finland, Ireland, Greenland, United States, Colombia, Germany, Malta, Australia, Taiwan, Ecuador and Costa Rica.

As far as Fiji is concerned the majority of people are uncomfortable about same-sex marriage. If there was a referendum now they would oppose it. Many Fijians still believe that marriage is a union between a man and a woman.

Women’s rights

HI: iTaukei (traditional Fijian) women are frequently excluded from formal inheritance rights to customary land, tend to have no rights to land other than those permitted by their fathers or husbands, and do not customarily receive land rents.

According to UN Women violence against women is widespread in Fiji, 66 per cent of women have experienced physical abuse; 26 per cent have been beaten while pregnant; 48 per cent of married women have been forced into sex by their husbands; 13 per cent of women have been otherwise raped. FACT:

Women members of the landowning mataqali (clan) also receive their share of the lease money. Everyone, including children, is given his or her share. It is equally divided. Women also have a say in the lease of their land.

On domestic violence we now have a “no drop” policy in place. It means Police and prosecutors must bring all domestic violence cases to court. The Government has a zero tolerance policy on domestic violence.

Freedom of expression HI: Media freedom organisations report that the Government has at its disposal a raft of draconian measures in order to stifle criticism, such as the 2010 Media Industry Development Decree. FACT:

The Fijian media has enjoyed media freedom and freedom of expression is alive and well in the opinion sections of the two daily newspapers and other mainstream media. Freedom of assembly HI: Freedom House reports that: “Respect for assembly rights worsened in 2019. The constitution gives the Government wide atitude to prohibit protests, including on the basis of public safety and morality. The opposition National Federation Party was denied a permit for a march in October. FACT:

It is very important that Police and the Fiji Roads Authority must assess all applications for marches to ensure that the safety of the people and property is protected. There was one so called peaceful protest on May 19th, 2000 and we all remember how it ended. It ended up in looting and the next thing we saw was that Suva City was burning.