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Issue No: 893; 28 June 2001
The Government of Australia has praised the Constitution of Fiji. Speaking at the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha's annual convention in
Ba over the weekend, Australian Ambassador, Ms. Susan Boyd stated: The Qarase regime has been trying to amend the Constitution to ensure ethnic Fijian political supremacy in the country. Its two attempts to do this have been thrown back by the courts. Boyd further stated: "there can be no lasting solution for the challenges facing Fiji unless the concept of social justice is accepted by all and enshrined in our constitution and laws. There can be no security for the citizens of Fiji unless social justice is accepted by everyone." She stated that by social justice, "we mean the recognition of the right of every one of us, and of the communities in which we live, to live our lives according to our own customs and our own beliefs so long as these do not impinge on the rights of others to do the same. It means the unfettered right of each of our children to grow up in peace, in a healthy environment and with access to education. It means the right of each of us to develop to our full human potential. It means the right of access by all, on a non-discriminatory basis, to education and employment. It means the application of the law to every citizen on the same basis and the right of every citizen to the full protection of the law." "By the same token, social justice means acceptance of a limit to individual and collective freedoms where these impinge on the well being of the community as a whole." "The principles by which members of your community live enshrine these ideas extremely well." In her speech Boyd condemned the ethnic Indians of Fiji for
speaking "disparagingly" of the values of others. She stated: "I
have heard members of your community speak disparagingly of the values which
drive the behaviour of members of the other dominant community in Fiji. And I
have heard some in the other community speak disparagingly of the values on
which your community is based. There is clearly much room for growth in mutual
understanding. The development of Fiji and the happiness of its citizens
requires respect and accommodation both for communalism and for the right of the
individual, for efforts which enhance the community as a whole and for efforts
which enhance the development of the individuals who make it up." |
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People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands |
