I will not stop from speaking out against racism - Raj

The Director of the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, Ashwin Raj says SODELPA Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka’s feeble attempt to impugn and harass Raj on the social media for speaking out against his legacy of institutionalised racism by tagging his cronies, some of whom are notorious for propagating hate speech, will not stop Raj from speaking out against racism.

Raj says this is a man who is promising unfettered human rights and freedoms should he get elected into power, but two decades later continues to struggle with the idea that all in Fiji regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity can enjoy common and equal citizenry and can proudly call themselves Fijians.

Ashwin Raj also says that this is a man who still struggles to tell the truth to the people of Fiji about who his accomplices were in 1987, brags about the 1997 Constitution that promised equality while in reality divided people on the basis of their race and ethnicity.

Sitiveni Rabuka has said in a statement that he is concerned that Ashwin Raj appears to have politicised the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission and the Media Industry Development Authority which should be independent from the government of the day.

Rabuka says the independence of the two bodies from the  Government is critical to the performance of their oversight  role on behalf of the people and taxpayers of Fiji who pay Raj’s  salary as a public officer. 

The SODELPA Leader says Raj should stand up for the people of Fiji.

Rabuka says it is a fact that Fiji is multi‑ethnic and it is  also a fact that each community has particular challenges and  needs, which may differ from other communities needs and  challenges.

The SODELPA Leader says recognising this fact, does not make him a racist, as Raj would like to imply.

Rabuka says he believes in equality, and the right to non‑discrimination.

He says it is unfortunate that Raj thinks one can gloss over ethnicity. Rabuka says we are born into a particular family grouping, a particular ethnic grouping, and we should all be proud of our identity.

He says the people of Fiji recognise the value and importance of their ethnic and cultural identity that enrich our varied multicultural society. Rabuka says each community in Fiji has contributed to the development of the nation.

He questions whether we should forget this and pretend to be  blind.

Rabuka says he agrees it is unfortunate that voters tend to vote along ethnic lines. However he says this will not magically disappear just because Raj wishes it so, or because he may personally support FijiFirst policies.

Rabuka says if Ashwin Raj wants to be a politician, he should  resign and run for office, and let the people make the final judgement on his political views.