Speaker states that motion to condemn Bulitavu’s statement is admissible

Speaker of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has stated that the motion to condemn SODELPA MP Mosese Bulitavu’s statement is admissible and the motion does not infringe Bulitavu’s rights. 

As the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum got ready to table the motion in the last hour SODELPA MP Niko Nawaikula raised a point of order saying that the motion should not be allowed as the purpose and motive of this motion is to put two communities against each other.

Nawaikula also said that it is inadmissible if the motion is passed and puts into effect being inconsistent with the rights under the constitution which deals with the right of fair trial and freedom of speech.

Nawaikula says if parliament proceeds to make a judgement it would be unfair to Bulitavu. He also raised the issue if the motion contains statement of facts that are unable to be authenticated.

He further says that there is no certainty as to who made this statement.    

Speaker Ratu Epeli Nailatikau says he has sought independent legal advice if a police complaint renders the motion inadmissible. He says the motion is admissible and will continue.

Ratu Epeli says to date there have been no charges laid and the matter is not before the courts.

He also says that Mosese Bulitavu is not an arrested or detained person.

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is now moving the motion that parliament strongly condemns the statements made or published by Mosese Bulitavu in the media, including social media.

Bulitavu said the following :

“Tovo vulagi sega ni vaka iTaukei sega ni vakarisito’

(Translation: This foreign behaviour is not iTaukei, nor Christian) Murder and stabbing in the past were only done by Fijians who are descendants of the indentured labourers from British India and was never part of Fijians who are iTaukei. Indigenous Fijians are now slowly sharing some itovo vulagi (Translation: foreign behavior).

‘Keda na iTaukei eda sega ni dau veidomoni vaka tu oqo me tini ena laba. E tiko na kena itovo

kei na kena ivakarau yavutaki ena vakarokoroko ‘

(Translation: We iTaukei do not engage in romantic relationships like this to the extent where it leads to murder. We have customs and traditions based on respect).

'Isa ko Viti'

“It is not iTaukei to murder if a relationship breaks down because we have our bulubulu custom (tradition of seeking forgiveness).”

“I was brought up in Labasa and it was common to hear an Indo‑Fijian man murder his wife if she is caught in an affair in the cane settlement.”

“These affairs are common amongst married Indo Fijian women in rural areas (A Hindustani [sic] language in Labasa “Qahtai maro” was a slang that the juri (knife emoji) is well sharpen [sic].”

“For iTaukei, assaults on women were common, given their built. In rural Vanualevu communities they use the juri (knife emoji) or patar (stone) was common with Indo‑Fijian boys when we get into a fight. But again it is uncommon or vulagi for iTaukei men to use knives or stones.”

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