Lands and Mineral Resources Minister Filimoni Vosarogo has accused Unity Fiji Leader Savenaca Narube of spreading a false and irresponsible narrative by claiming Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka used the CRC report to create fear and uncertainty over race and religion for political gain.
Vosarogo says contrary to Narube’s claims, Rabuka did not spread hate, fear or threaten any community when he addressed the nation on the Constitutional Review Commission report.
He says the Prime Minister did precisely the opposite, with his first message being an appeal for all Fijians to remain calm in response to racial and religious rhetoric already being pushed online.
Vosarogo says Narube has now chosen to claim that Rabuka deliberately used the CRC report to spread fear and uncertainty on race and religion for political gain.
He says nothing could be further from the truth and describes it as shocking that such a serious allegation was published on Unity Fiji’s official pages without evidence to support it.
Vosarogo says Narube’s comments are highly irresponsible, particularly given the sensitivity of race and religion in Fiji and the responsibility that comes with political leadership.
He says the irony is that Rabuka had specifically appealed to political leaders to be responsible with their words and not turn the national discussion surrounding the CRC report into a political, racial or religious battle.
Vosarogo says Narube has responded by doing exactly what political leaders were being asked not to do.
He also responds to Narube’s statement that there is no need to fracture Fiji again, saying Narube is right about that but needs to follow his own advice.
Vosarogo claims that through what he describes as false and irresponsible comments, Narube himself appears to be attempting to fracture the nation.
He is urging people to read Rabuka’s original message for themselves and make their own judgement on what the Prime Minister said.
Vosarogo says there is already enough misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric circulating in Fiji without political leaders adding to it.
He says political leaders can disagree, criticise each other, debate issues and offer different visions for Fiji, but there must be a line when it comes to dragging race and religion into political attacks based on claims that are not true.
Vosarogo says Fiji deserves political discourse that is robust but responsible, and those seeking to lead the country have a duty to contribute to that standard rather than undermine it.
