Roko Tui Bau, Ratu Timoci Tavanavanua says as a traditional leader of Tailevu and Kubuna, he denounces and totally rejects the recent comments by the General Secretary of the Fijian Teachers Association, Paula Manumanunitoga.
While speaking in an interview with fijivillage News, Ratu Timoci says the reference by Manumanunitoga to catching people and “roasting” them in earth ovens crosses a line.
He stresses that is not cultural pride, patriotism or respect - it is a threat of violence, and threats should never be normalised.
The Roko Tui Bau says that time is long gone, he rejects this view, and it does not represent the views of the chiefs.
Ratu Timoci says Fiji belongs to all of us who call it home.
He says no ethnic group, family, chiefly title, political affiliation or historical circumstance gives anyone a monopoly on the right to speak about our country's future.
The high chief says we can honour our ancestors without inheriting their conflicts, we can respect our chiefs without surrendering our right to question them, and we can love Fiji without demanding that others remain silent.
Ratu Timoci says apart from all this, where is the biblical principle of "Love thy neighbour."
He says it makes a hypocrisy of our Christian values and principles when one preaches hate under the guise of respect.
The Roko Tui Bau says respect is earned and reciprocated not demanded at the point of a threat.
He adds the cession of Fiji to the British Crown in 1874 is part of our history, and the role of our chiefs in Fiji’s development before and since then is acknowledged.
He also says Fiji’s migrant communities including the girmitya have never known another home.
Ratu Timoci says Fiji is their home and where they belong, they have contributed immeasurably to the development of this country, and nobody should have to apologise for being born in Fiji or for contributing to the country they call home.
He says let us be very clear: respecting our chiefs does not mean placing them above accountability, criticism or public discussion.
The Roko Tui Bau says traditional leadership can and should be respected while still being subject to legitimate questions about its role in a modern democratic nation.
He says it is mistake to think that if someone criticises a chief, it means they are being disrespectful towards our chiefs, the iTaukei.
The chief says sometimes criticism is simply criticism and if the argument is wrong, challenge it with facts and reason, not threats.
He says it is also a concern that Manumanunitoga is a General Secretary of a teachers' organisation and he is wondering what impact his comments are having on the children of this country.
