Following Fiji’s vote against the UN resolution calling for truce between Israel and Hamas and condemning all violence against Palestinian and Israeli civilians, human rights activist Shamima Ali says for the first time she feels so much shame for Fiji as the government has voted for genocide.
In an interview with fijivillage News, Ali says she is disappointed and shocked because of what has been done on the international scene after having done so well over the last few decades.
Ali says it would have been easy to vote for peace and cessation of killing on either side and an end to a war that many, including Israelis and Jews, are calling a genocide.
She says our soldiers are known for peacekeeping and asks why is Fiji behaving in this way.
Ali says the NGO Coalition on Human Rights and other NGOs are planning to take action to change the government’s position.
She says they have asked for a permit for a march and will be writing to the Prime Minister and the government to rethink its position on what is happening now as people are getting killed in a genocide.
Ali also says it is also unacceptablethat Fiji has withdrawn its name from the list of nations criticising China's human rights violations of Uyghur and Muslim minorities.
Former Prime Minister and FijiFirst Leader Voreqe Bainimarama says Fiji's vote at the United Nations in favor of war contradicts the nation's long-standing legacy as peacekeepers, a legacy upon which both our reputation and that of the RFMF have been founded.
He says to be clear, this vote was not to support either side of the conflict but a resolution to save thousands of innocent people, including women and children, many of whom have lost everything.
Bainimarama says that was a vote for peace, for a diplomatic resolution, for the end of the suffering of innocent civilians, and most importantly, to send critical humanitarian aid to women and children, which, unfortunately, our current leadership has seen fit to vote against.
The former Prime Minister says this vote goes against the fundamental principles of humanity, peace, and justice that should guide the nation's international policies.
Bainimarama says we have always been a friend to all and an enemy to none.
He says Fiji’s stance has been to keep peace, and now, for the first time, we have broken this stance - an insult to the memories of generations of peacekeepers who have always protected the innocent.
Bainimarama adds thankfully, most of the world has voted for the resolution for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, and he thanks them for this sensible action.
We have sent questions to the Office of the Prime Minister as well as the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lenora Qereqeretabua. They are yet to respond.
