Racial hatred is the biggest barrier to peaceful coexistence in our nation – Naupoto

FijiFirst MP and former RFMF Commander Viliame Naupoto says the FijiFirst Party stands for equal citizenry, and they will continue to fight for equality for all inside and outside parliament.

While responding to the President’s address, Naupoto says it was sickening for him when FijiFirst MP Naisa Tuinaceva was used as an example that the words that were spoken publicly in a Government organized public consultation on Local Government on 25th September 2023 to highlight this problem of racial hatred rearing its ugly head again.

He says the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad accused him of inciting racial disharmony.

Naupoto says he and others in Parliament have seen the result of racial hatred when it manifests into physical violence and racial hatred is the biggest barrier to harmonious and peaceful coexistence in our multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious nation.

The former RFMF Commander also supported the call by SODELPA MP Aseri Radrodro for Fiji to withdraw its position at the International Court of Justice to support Israel's occupation and actions in Gaza.

He says this position harms Fiji’s international reputation as a peacekeeping nation that is committed to lasting peace in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world.

Naupoto says only by being neutral will we be seen as credible by the parties to the conflict, and Fiji’s explicit support to one party to the conflict has diminished and compromised our peacekeeping reputation and high standing not only in the Middle East but worldwide, and especially in the Global South.

The FijiFirst MP reminds the Government that they will be criticised and asked tough questions by them as they will not shy away from their job.

He also highlighted that the situation on law and order in the country demands some urgent attention and there is a growing lack of confidence in our Police Force, both in their capacity to do their law enforcement work and in the integrity within the force.