I feel I wasted my vote voting for this Govt – Concerned citizen

A huge number of supporters turned up at the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Office in Suva to show their solidarity with the people of Gaza.

Students, representatives of NGOs and concerned citizens took part in the peaceful protest that was held at the FWCC compound.

Concerned citizen, Nazeem Kasim says he voted for this government because he believed in genuine democracy so that we can be finally free from the 16-years of dictatorship but it does not feel like it.

Kasim says he feels he wasted his vote voting for this government because people don’t get the right to do what they want that would normally be allowed in a democratic government.

He highlighted that the statement from the government that Israel has the right to defend itself is upsetting because Israel is the oppressor and they are the ones violating human rights.

He also says in his opinion, the government denying them the right to march this Saturday shows that the authorities, the Ministers and the Police are siding with the people who threaten to instigate communal disorder.

Social Empowerment and Education Program (SEEP) Executive Director Chantelle Khan says one of the things they would like to do is to work with the churches in the country.

She says it is quite difficult at the moment but they are urging Christian denominations to come out with their statements.

Khan says they will also be holding another march on the 16th of this month but if that march is not approved by the Government, they will come up with another plan on how they should show solidarity on that particular day.

She adds the cancellation of the march this Saturday was not about the security of the nation but it was about Police doing their job and providing safe passage for protesters.

Khan also assured all members of the public that the NGO coalition will also be standing in solidarity for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Dr Moshmi Bhin, who is a lecturer at USP, says she commented on Pita Driti’s post on Facebook which was inflammatory and basically incited people to take action on the march.

Bhin says she received a lot of threats from that comment but it did not deter her from continuing to push for the ceasefire in Gaza.

Palestinian national Dareen Khattab acknowledged the huge number of supporters that turned up today to show their solidarity with Palestine.

She says this gave her hope that truth will prevail.

The group also had a moment of silence for the victims of the Israel and Hamas war.