15 May 2001

Sir,

It cannot be denied that the majority of Indo-Fijians and indigenous Fijians in our country did not have any chance to avoid becoming racists. Many grew up in racist environments, surrounded by racial discrimination originating from ethnic differences.

Leaders of both these communities have failed to help their people realize they are living in a racist culture and are learning to become racists. Instead of working meticulously to end racism, leaders in Fiji have intentionally ignored this perilous development, just to remain in power.

While many in Fiji still do not realize they have directly or indirectly participated in perpetuating racism, there are those that have directly benefited from living in a racist culture or from practicing and institutionalizing racism.

Racism is found in one form or another in most cultures. There are universal causes for its existence however, with some effort, these causes can be identified and different healing remedies can be implemented wherever racism is in existence.

There are quite a few remedies for racism and, they include: Teaching workshops on overcoming and healing racism, working towards developing an understanding of the causes of racism, exploring and teaching the remedies of racism, publishing and distributing books and articles on healing racism, initiating a national conference on overcoming and healing racism, supporting citizens in taking personal responsibility for healing racism and conducting and supporting research in matters related to healing and overcoming racism through peaceful and non-violent means.

Any leader, government, political or religious organization, which ignores the existence of racism in Fiji or fails to initiate (even one of the many) strategies to help end it, is racist.

Such organizations are guilty of utilizing racism to manipulate the frustrated and under privileged of our society, just to remain in power.

The Qarase regime comfortably fits into the category of such leaderships.

Swadesh B Singh
Nadi, FIJI