Young People's Concerned Network FIJI

YPCN Fiji - The Voice of our Future

In Memorium

RABAKA - WE REMEMBER

Rabaka

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YPCN's response to today's report 24 Mar, 09- of Fiji's interim Police Commissioner Teleni saying that Youth's should put their lives in order "as they are the cause of disorder and that they should reflect a life like his"

*The problem in Fiji is not youth.

Teleni should look within his own house first . For one ,why did he not allow a treason complaint against him to be investigated? He is a product of militarisation & his recent comments &utterances have been unprofessional. Police Commissioners dont get up on podiums and tells youths they are the cause of Disorder and claim that they should practice his form of Christianity to be in order. That is not the role of a Police Commissioner.

Teleni has gone on record forcing his religious ideology upon other non-Christians in the police force.

He has done nothing about the countless number of Fiji citizens who get arrested & tortured everyday for nothing.

He does nothing about the rising terrorism targeted at pro-democracy activists

Who is Teleni to lecture youth? Perhaps Youth should be asking Teleni who was the cause of Fiji's cause of disorder?

Youths did not make the 4 coups this country has faced.

Youths did not kick out newspaper publishers, journalists and ambassadors out of Fiji.

Youths did not threaten activists through the media.

Youths did not make a mockery of the judiciary.

But Teleni is not capable of getting his facts straight. Current youth leaders would make better leaders in the police force and demonstrate a commitment to human rights and multiculturalism better than he has.

Youths can also better advise each other. Youths of today are not stupid. They know what they need to equip themselves with for a sustainable future and they are leading community initiatives around Fiji.

They dont need to be lectured by a 'product of militarisation'.

Press Release: Youth of Fiji sidelined in Rabaka release

DThe YPCN is disappointed with the release of men who were convicted for the death of Sakuisa Rabaka, a young man from Lautoka. The Release of the nine Soldiers and a police officer found of manslaughter is crime in itself.

The YPCN has since 2007 pushed for better standards for youth and inclusion as well as protection of young people in Fiji. We have used the memory of Rabaka as the corner stone of our work and fuel for our passion.

When Rabaka was admitted at the CWM hospital, Suva, a delegation of YPCN members visited the Rabaka and his family. We also argued that young people should not be detained just for been youth, as was the case at that time. We lobbied with many stakeholders even the than interim government for the immediate halt of youth hate crimes organised by the security forces.

Recently, we have been made aware that the murderers of Sakuisa Rabaka have been released over a Community Services Order and are in society. This is totally unfair, and speaks volumes of the value for youth in Fiji by those in authority.

The coup of 2006 was done in name of corruption and the release of coup sympathizers from prisons in Fiji has part of the coup agenda led by Voreqe Bainimarama. Now the leaders are releasing 9 murderers after 4 weeks in prison. How hypocritical and biased.

Young people who provided testimony in the Rabaka Trail are also directly in harms way, with four weeks been little time for any manslaughter prisoner to come to terms with anger and closure on emotions. The many youths who have been detained by the 9 Youth Killers will also brace themselves for sleepless nights. People convicted of youth hate crimes, must also be seriously dealt with and not allowed to roam our streets four weeks after they were convicted, for the death of a young Fiji Citizen.

Why are they different?

This is a human right violation and a miscarriage of justice. This act has made a mockery of the Justice System and placed even less trust the leadership of this country.

And than we have Pacific Island Prime Ministers of the Solomons and Tuvalu offering support to the Dictatorship we have. Is this the system they support, a system that strikes fear and intimidation into the lives of their own citizens. We call on the Leaders of the Pacific to get real with Fiji, and see the real picture and unite in means to progressively take us back to a Democracy. We owe this to the memory of Sakuisa Rabaka, our hero and the reason youth activism needs to continue under these strange circumstances.

For more information & details, contact YPCN Fiji

Press Release - Peter Recognised as World Human Rights Defender

Bula Vinaka,

It is with great pleasure that I offer the press release attached from Frontline International, the international federation for the protection of human rights defenders.

Where our president of the YPCN Peter Waqavonovono has been honored for his contributions to the area of Human Rights in Fiji and acknowledging the hardships he has faced as a youth activist and a human right defender in Fiji. He is the only Pacific Islander amidst a list of 100 Activists from around the World who all have been acknowledged and recognized for their work in the area of Human Rights.

Peter and other Human Rights Defenders were acknowledged in Ireland in ceremonies that brought together seasoned activists and heads of International Organisations. Guests at the ceremony were UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navanethern Pillay, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin T.D., and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Ms. Margaret Sekkagya ( they all are quoted in the press release attached from Frontline Defenders)

Once again, we are overjoyed with this boost to our network and the work of Peter Waqavonovono and is a kick start to our celebrations for the International Year of Youth commencing August 12 2010 to August to August 11 2011.

Throughout the day, various youth activists and human rights activists in Fiji have sent there congratulatory messages to the network and Peter. Our network is keen to use this wonderful opportunity to continue to highlight and support the efforts of youth progression in Fiji.

To find out more about Frontline International, please visit http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/about/frontline

In Solidarity

Tomasi Tora

YPCN Press Officer

ypcn.sec@gmail.com

16/02/2010 11:56 AM

Email us : ypcn.sec@gmail.com