Stop whitewashing history: PM to Ali
Stop whitewashing history in a desperate bid to win elections, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said while calling out the co-ordinator of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Shamima Ali.
This is after Ms Ali was seen over the weekend with NFP leader Biman Prasad on a visit to the wreck of the Syria memorial at the Nasilai Reef to honour the history of the Girmitiyas.
Mr Bainimarama said Ms Ali could only speak from a neutral standpoint if she stopped fraternising with political parties and being their mouthpiece under the guise of NGO activism.
However, Ms Ali has maintained being apolitical and says she does not show bias.
PM
“If she respects the rule of law, human rights, democracy and good governance then she must respect that there is a democratically elected government in power that must be allowed to complete its term,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“She has been trying to sabotage the FijiFirst Party government for some time now by asking the Attorney-General to resign, making comments about appointments of Acting Prime Minister etc which goes well beyond the scope of an NGO that deals with violence against women.”
While Ms Ali had the right to political expression and the right to join a political party, Mr Bainimarama said she needed to exercise it responsibly and transparently and not under the guise of NGO activism in the surreptitious manner that she had done over the years.
“She needs to look inwards and address concerns of nepotism and cronyism within her own NGO rather than calling for a caretaker government and commenting on the use of election resources,” he said.
“Let the relevant authorities and processes in consonance with our electoral laws determine the steps that need to be taken in relation to elections rather than dictated by an arm chair NGO critic playing to the tune of political parties who don’t have the temerity to take a stance of their own.
“There’s no doubt she is unabashedly fraternizing with the NFP as seen in this post by Nirmal (former Politician Nirmal Singh Cheema), has appeared in their rallies in previous elections.”
Coups
With the exception of 2006 which attempted to erase racism from our public memory, Mr Bainimarama said racism was at the heart of the 1987 and 2000 coups.
“Why is Shamima Ali trying to sanitise history and plunging everyone into collective forgetfulness?”
He said Fijians must never forget the racial hatred fuelled by politicians and coup perpetrators that destroyed the fabric of this country.
“Our future generations need to have an acute sense of historical consciousness that is deeply aware of the damage racism has done to this country and the perilous path to common and equal citizenry.”
FWCC
Responding to the PM, Ms Ali said the Girmit event was not organised by NFP, rather there was an open invitation from FRIEND Fiji for everyone to attend.
“In Fiji we know people, it’s not about political parties. I fraternize with everybody. I work with government so closely. I’m photographed with ministers so often, what does that mean?”
“It’s my freedom of expression and it was an event with the Naivilaca community, FRIEND Fiji and FWCC in the name of better race relations, multiculturalism and multiracialism.
“I know Biman from a long time but it has nothing to do with us fraternising with political parties.”
Ms Ali said FWCC had always been apolitical as they worked towards bringing about changes and holding governments accountable.
“I have been through 3 coups and I have always spoken out holding all governments accountable. The Crisis Centre works within the framework of democracy, rule of law and human rights.”