MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2011
It won't be surprising come 10 Oct 11, he won't be speaking at the celebration!
NZ Indo-Fijians angry at plans for coup maker Rabuka to speak at Independence celebrations
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| NOT WANTED: Rabuka. |
Rabuka was invited by organiser Pio Wong - the former Chief of Staff of the RFMF when Rabuka carried out his two military coups in 1987. Wong is now living in Auckland.
Wong (pictured left) told the Indian Weekender that “Fiji Day is being celebrated on such a big scale for the first time, and we want to make it memorable.”
Wong (pictured left) told the Indian Weekender that “Fiji Day is being celebrated on such a big scale for the first time, and we want to make it memorable.”
But members of the Indian community are outraged at the thought of Rabuka being allowed to speak at the celebrations, on their behalf.
Online messages range from disgust to anger.
Comment Two: Why should he talk about us Indians. He created havoc in the than Peaceful loving country. He murdered the adage FIJI THE WAY THE WORLD SHOULD BE. How many innocent mothers and sisters (Indians) were raped; women were told to give birth under gun point so his soldiers could watch.
Comment Three: Mr Rabuka U stay in Fiji. Fiji was my home. Just because of you I am in NZ, my parents in Canada and till last last year my late brother was in Fiji. I can still remember the days of killing animals from Muneweni - poor Indian farmers just watched your army slaughtering their animals.
Comment Four: He shouldn't talk on behalf of Indians 'cos he created major fear. People lost jobs and had to leave such a beautiful country. I don't think so!
Comment Five: Totally against it. He shouldn't be speaking for Fiji Indians. I hate that man so much. How come he is in NZ and there are rugby players who have not been granted visa to play sports here; this is ridiculous. People who will go and listen to the bullshit he is going to speak, I believe are the most pathetic and foolish Indians."
Former Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will be the keyote speaker at a mega-scale Fiji Independence Day celebration to be held in October in Auckland.
Organiser Pio Wong has confirmed to the Indian Weekender that Rabuka will grace the occasion marking the 41st anniversary of Fiji’s independence from British rule.
The day-long affair has been made even more special with the presence of Maori royalty - the Maori King will be chief guest at the function which is planned to coincide with the Rugby World Cup.
The day which will feature traditional i-Taukei and Indo-Fijian presentations, children’s sports, food stalls, etc, is being organised by the Maranatha Outreach Fellowship, headed by Pio Wong.
Wong, as many will remember, was Chief of Staff of the Royal Fiji Military Forces when Lieutenant-Colonel Rabuka carried out his two military coups in 1987. He has since been living in Auckland.
Mr Wong told Indian Weekender all Fiji peoples were invited to the special event to be held on October 8 at the Netball Waitakere Te Pai Centre, in Henderson.
“Fiji Day is being celebrated on such a big scale for the first time, and we want to make it memorable.”
Opening with dedication and flagraising ceremony at 8am, the celebration takes a formal turn at around 2pm when the Maori King arrives, and stays on until dinner at 8pm.
The Fiji style banquet dinner is expected to seat 800 people. One hundred tables of eight per table are to be sold at $500 per table, Wong said.
The Maori King, Kiingi Tuheitia, will be accorded traditional i-Taukei welcome ceremony followed by an Indo-Fijian welcome and garlanding ceremony.
The event will be MC’d by Dr Steven Ratuva, former University of the South Pacific academic and political commentator, who is now based in Auckland.
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