SUVA,
FIJI ISLANDS
Sunday
14th October, 2012
 |
| Maelin Pickering Bhagwan with children Francisco-Xavier and Antonia Bhagwan outside the GCC Complex in Suva on Satuday 13/10/12 after making her submission to the Constitution Commission |
Maelin
Bhagwan, a high school teacher presented a submission in Suva on Saturday
(13/10/12) on behalf of her husband Rev. James Bhagwan, who is currently a
post-graduate student in Korea.
In
a 12-page submission, Mrs. Bhagwan presented proposals concerning the issues of
Common Identity; Common Language; Citizenship; Religious Tolerance and Human
Rights; Participation in Decision-making; and Religion and the State.
The
submission included proposals for:
A
common identity - All citizens of Fiji to be known as Fijians with the
historical Identity of indigenous Fijians and Rotuma and resettled Ocean
Islanders to be maintained through the use of Kai Viti, Kai Rotuma, Kai Rabi.
Common
language - Vosa Vaka Viti be the National Language of Fiji, while English,
Fiji-Hindi, Rotuman and Vosa Vaka Viti be classified as Official Languages of
Fiji. Vosa Vaka Viti to be compulsory subject at all registered educational
institutions. (Up to Certificate of Proficiency level.)
In
making her family’s submission, Mrs Bhagwan called for a mechanism in which all
Fijians regardless of their heritage may be able to part of the Vanua, as
members of the community, with equal responsibility and recognition.
“We
believe that we who are born and raised here, or who have adopted Fiji as their
home, must have a place within the Vanua,” she said.
“At
the same time, and further to our submission on Provincial Identity, we humbly
ask not only your consideration, but through your good offices, that the
traditional leaders of the Vanua reconsider their understanding of both who
they consider themselves leaders of and who constitutes the Vanua.?
“My husband and I are
both from Rewa. My husband’s forefathers settled in Vuci and I have maternal
links to Lomanikoro. My husband is also vasu i Macuata. While we teach our
children about their diverse ethnic and cultural heritage, at the same time we
want them to also be Fiji’s children and have their links to Rewa and Macuata
recognised. We want them to know and understand who and what their vanua is,
who their high chief, and understand what that means for them.”
“This is not just for
the minorities who have some blood ties to the Kai Viti. We believe that this
is important for all Fijians regardless of ethnic background as it adds to
social cohesion through a sense of belonging and commitment to the wider
community. “
“All chiefs should be
encouraged to practice inclusive leadership of all people in their villages,
districts and provinces. This, we believe, will not only help in the
development of common identity and common or national culture, but also benefit
the Vanua as many more people will be able to contribute to development and
stewardship of its resources.”
The
submission also addressed the issues of Human Rights and Religious Tolerance,
calling for the Strengthening of the Obudsman’s Office, affirmation of the Bill
of Rights in the 1997 Constitution and the maintaining of a Human Rights
Commission along with the establishment of two new commissions: A Fiji
Interreligious Council comprising all faith based organisations and registered
religious groups; and a Commission for Reconciliation and Peacebuilding to focus
on restorative justice issues.
On
the issue of Religion and State, Rev. and Mrs. Bhagwan proposed that the
commission look at the option of Civil Religion. “Civil
religion is comprised of a sacred system of beliefs, myths, symbols, and
ceremonies that give meaning to the concepts of "nation" and
"state." Civil religion presents an understanding of a society's role
in history and each person's role as a citizen. In other words, a civil religion is an expression of the cohesion of
the nation. It transcends denominational, ethnic and provincial boundaries.”
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