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

YPCN Fiji seeks youth festival support

FT - Tuesday, March 10, 2009

The Young People's Concerned Network is calling on youth activists and organisations throughout the Pacific to support and attend the Fiji Pacific Youth Festival to be held in July.

In the middle of last year, members of the YPCN impressed on the Ministry of Youth, the Fiji Pacific Youth Forum Alumni that Fiji host the 2009 Pacific Youth Festival.

"We see this opportunity as a time where activists in Fiji and abroad can share knowledge and an avenue that will promote youth activism in Fiji and unite the youths of this nation," said YPCN vice-president Peter Waqavonovono.

"Apart from the benefits to our economy, the Pacific Youth Festival will do more to allow the young people of the Pacific access to Fiji-based strategies and solutions to engaging youth and building capacity.

"This is also an opportune time for networks like ourselves to explain our experiences and visions of youth activism in Fiji.

"We encourage youth delegations from around the Pacific to come and join us, as well as share with us your experiences."

YPCN is drafting a letter that will be sent to individual Pacific Island governments asking that they not disturb or hinder the process of involving youth at the Pacific Youth Festival 2009.

Tahiti hosted the Pacific Youth Festival in 2006 in Papeete.

10/03/2009 9:26 AM

Email us : ypcn.sec@gmail.com