Bulitavu’s post

THE social media post by Mosese Bulitavu has provoked strong condemnation by political leaders, human rights groups, Women in Business, the director of the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission and the matter has also been referred to the police.

From my reading of the original Bulitavu post, it is apparent that he had two observations to make.

First, that Indo-Fijians were largely the perpetrators of violence against women using knives and iTaukei have acquired this trait from them.

Second, that Indo-Fijian women had a proclivity to extramarital affairs.

With regards to the first opinion, I believe it is not incorrect to state that historically, and to some extent in the contemporary period, Indo-Fijian males have used knives, and especially cane knives in their disputes, and against women.

The machete, readily available and almost always sharpened, has been a weapon of choice in virtually all the former plantation colonies where Indian indentured labourers were sent.

In Fiji, the ready availability of knives, and cane knives in particular, has meant that iTaukei are also using these weapons.

With regards to infidelity of Indo-Fijian women, Bulitavu has been rightly criticised for being sexist and racist. This is a gross generalisation that is absolutely unacceptable.

Bulitavu has apologised for his indiscreet social media post, and I am inclined to accept his apology and move on.

VIJAY NAIDU

Raiwai, Suva