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RNZ News
6 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
'Hate and discrimination': Temple attack sparks outrage in Fiji's Indo-Fijian community
Damages to the Shiv Temple in the capital Suva. Photo: Screengrab / The Fiji Times Fiji's former attorney-general claims attacks on the Indo-Fijian community are on the rise and the government is largely ignoring them. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made the scathing comment after the historic Samabula Shiv Temple in Suva was vandalised on Friday. The incident - which saw 100-year-old idols destroyed - has sparked outrage amongst religious organisations and politicians alike. A 28-year-old man has been charged with one count of alleged sacrilege and one count of throwing an object. Local media report that Samuela Tawake made his first court appearance on Monday and has been transferred to the Chief Magistrate for psychiatric evaluation. He has been remanded in custody, and the case adjourned to 28 July. Samuela Tawase made his first appearance before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad in the Suva Magistrate's Court on Monday afternoon. 14 July 2025 Photo: Screengrab / The Fiji Times A video was said to have gone viral on Facebook showing a man on a rampage, smashing all of the deities in the sanctum, including one of Lord Shiva. Police commissioner Rusiate Tudravu has expressed concern about the hateful rhetoric surrounding the incident and has called for calm. Tudravu said police investigations would determine the motive behind the attack and baseless speculation only aggravated the situation. The Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji is demanding the government step up protection for places of worship and strengthen laws around sacrilege. Sabha president Dhirendra Nand said a man reportedly scaled the temple fence, pryed open a door and destroyed all sacred idols in the sanctum with an iron bar, before trying to assault the caretaker. Nand said the spiritual and emotional damage caused to the Hindu community, who make up around 24 percent of the population , was immeasurable and had left thousands of devotees across Fiji deeply hurt. The Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji has also strongly condemned the vandalism , describing it as "deeply disturbing." "The Arya Sabha views such actions as criminal and an attack on the fundamental principles of religious freedom, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence that form the foundation of Fiji's multicultural society," it said in a statement. Sayed-Khaiyum said in a Facebook post on Sunday said that the desecration was "the act of an individual, possibly radicalised to execute religious hatred with purpose." He questioned why Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has yet to make a statement denouncing this "egregious act of hate." "Inconsistent concern and commitment by the Prime Minister about hate speech and discrimination gives rise to, comfort and encouragement radical ethno nationalists who engage the political game of 'us' and 'them'," Sayed-Khaiyum wrote. "If not reined in and spoken against in the harshest of terms by our leaders and those in positions of authority, then such acts will only give more oxygen to others who already have or are vulnerable to hate and discrimination." Sayed-Khaiyum said the desecration of non-Christian places of worship started when "overt and blatant hate was espoused against Indo-Fijians in 1987, to justify the overthrow of the (Timoci) Bavadra government," he wrote. "This was further fuelled during and after the overthrow of the Coalition government in 2000 when Mahendra Chaudhry was elected as the first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister." Sayed-Khaiyum said that the rise in attacks against Indo-Fijians is being "increasingly accepted as the norm under the current leadership. "A number of attacks on places of worship are not even reported because many in the Indo-Fijian community have lost hope that anything will be done." One of Fiji's deputy prime ministers Biman Prasad told podcaster RonCast that such sacrilege had occurred in the past and should be condemned. He said the suspect's motives were unclear and it was up to the police to determine them. In a Facebook post, Labour leader Chaudhry said the rise in such incidents demanded collective action and heightened awareness from all stakeholders. However, the former prime minister urged the public not to interpret the attack as a sign of growing religious intolerance in Fiji. While it was natural for Hindus to feel outraged, Friday's incident appeared to have involved an individual with mental impairment, he wrote. "Any attack on a temple causing destruction of sacred scriptures and statues leaves deep scars and can be divisive in a multi-religious society. "We encourage a proactive approach, including improved surveillance, community vigilance and collaboration with law enforcement agencies to safeguard our sacred spaces from further acts of desecration and hate crimes," The Vishva Hindu Parishad Fiji has also strongly denounced the "heinous desecration" of sacred idols at the temple. The national president Jay Dayaal stated that any act of sacrilege and religious intolerance is "deplorable and must be condemned in the strongest terms." "Hate crimes are fuelled by religious prejudices, bigotry, stereotypes and supremacist ideologies. This is an anathema to a multi-cultural society like Fiji," Dayaal said. Opposition MP Virendra Lal called for religious tolerance from all sectors of society. "I have faith that the police will ensure justice is served because our god idols were destroyed. They are sacred to us," he said. Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs also condemned the action, with its chairman labelling the attack as "senseless destruction", according to The Fiji Times . RNZ Pacific has reached out to Rabuka's office for comment.
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Fiji PM Rabuka will block Bainimarama's comeback, says political commentator
Rabuka and Bainimarama, in January 2018 Photo: Fijian Government/Facebook An Indigenous political commentator believes that Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will make sure his predecessor Frank Bainimarama cannot contest next year's general election. The convicted former Prime Minister Bainimarama originally seized power in a military coup in 2006 and is appealing his corruption conviction in the Court of Appeal in July. Bainimarama's right-hand man, former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, told RNZ Pacific last week that there is a groundswell of support for the former PM, which would pave the way for him to stand. "People want him back," Sayed-Khaiyum said. However, Canterbury University's distinguished professor Steven Ratuva said Bainimarama faces significant legal barriers. "Rabuka, his arch-rival, will make sure that his conviction is not quashed, plus he is facing two more criminal charges," he said. "Not only that, but the 2013 Constitution disqualified him from contesting an election within eight years of a conviction." Bainimarama was the highest-polling candidate in the 2022 elections, receiving over 29 percent (136,829) of total votes. In response to Sayed-Khaiyum's comments, Rabuka said Bainimarama cannot contest the 2026 election. He told local media that even if Bainimarama's conviction were quashed by the Appeal Court, there are other cases against him in a lower court. "Popularity is not an issue or criterion to stand in elections," he was quoted as saying by FijiLive . "There are more people than [Bainimarama] who cannot stand because of their conviction." When asked if Ratuva thought Bainimarama posed any threat to the ruling People's Alliance Party (PAP), he said: "He might, but the question is, does he have enough political clout and support to make a comeback? "That's a question that has to be tested in the election itself if he is ever able to contest one." He said that while Bainimarama was once very popular in Fiji, his current status is unclear. "People will claim there's a lot of support for him, but that still has to be tested. "There has been a lot of criticism of the current government, and that would have diverted people's preferences away from [the ruling PAP] in the next election. "It is going to be an interesting election in terms of the way in which the votes will go," Ratuva said. "Relaunching his FijiFirst Party, which was deregistered in July last year, would be a big ask for Bainimarama." He said whether that cohesion exists remains to be seen. "It would take a significant amount of energy to bring the party together again. Perhaps under a different guise, a different name, a reinvention. But I think [it] would be a huge struggle," he said. Seven parties have registered to contest the election so far, and a further 15 proposed parties are yet to gain enough support to register, according to the Fijian Elections Office. Ratuva said this will mean the vote is even more fragmented. "When there is controversy around how the government is being run, you're bound to see a lot of parties trying to take advantage and fill the void." "However, many of them will not prove viable. Whoever wins the election will have to form a coalition with two, three, or more smaller parties," he added. Bainimarama was head of Fiji's military in 2006 when he staged the country's fourth coup in 20 years. He deposed the late Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and became Prime Minister in 2007. Bainimarama returned Fiji to democracy with a general election in 2014, when his FijiFirst Party had a landslide victory. However, his administration was accused of being dictatorial due to allegations of bullying, intimidation of opponents, human rights abuses, and suppression of the media. He won the elections for a second time in 2018, but only managed to secure a little over 50 percent of the total votes to lead a majority government. Bainimarama attempted to consolidate his power as the longest-serving Fiji Prime Minister in 2022, while going up against his arch rival, Rabuka, a former military strongman and coup maker himself. However, despite being the largest party in parliament, he failed to secure the majority of seats and a coalition government was needed. The result hinged on kingmaker Viliame Gavoka, then the leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa). Sodelpa chose to enter into a coalition with Rabuka's PAP and the National Federation Party, ousting Bainimarama and ending his 16-year reign. Bainimarama resigned from parliament in March 2023 after copping a three year suspension for sedition. He was jailed in May last year, alongside the former police chief Sitiveni Qiliho, for perverting the course of justice. However, he was released from prison last November, just six months into his one-year sentence, following a comprehensive review by the Fiji Corrections Service.
