Suliana Siwatibau
Encyclopedia
Suliana Siwatibau is a Fiji
an political activist, who serves as the Chairperson of the Pacific Centre for Public Integrity (PCPI) as of January 2007. She also chairs the Coalition for Democracy and Peace.
proposed by the government of Laisenia Qarase
in early 2005, to make provision for amnesty
to be granted to persons convicted of involvement in the coup of 2000. She said on 16 June 2005 that the widespread opposition to the legislation was motivated not only by its contents, but also because of what she said was the government's unwillingness to proceed with its development in a transparent and consultative process. Opposing amnesty for perpetrators of political crimes, she called instead for more direct compensation of the victims of such crimes. "I do not see why they want to claim for compensation when this could be done through the Ministry of Labour on the workmen's compensation of something like F$
20,000," she said.
Siwatibau expressed concern that the legislation threatens the independence of the judiciary. She also said she was alarmed that it would have a corrupting effect on the minds and character of the future generation, which would threaten the future stability and prosperity of the nation. Children, she said, should not be exposed to this "coup culture."
Reacting to the decision of the Great Council of Chiefs
to endorse the bill, Siwatibau said on 29 July that had not been given enough time to deliberate on the matter. Over four fifths of the Great Council members are delegates of the country's fourteen Provincial Councils
, which all endorsed the bill - something which came as no surprise to Siwatibau as they had been briefed only by the government and were required to make a decision on the spot, without being given the opportunity to hear alternative viewpoints. At the very least, she said the Provincial Councils should have been given a Fijian
translation of the bill.
for having executed a military coup
on 5 December. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=53348
in the Lomaiviti
archipelago, Siwatibau was married to the late academic leader and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific
, Savenaca Siwatibau
, from 1966 till his death in 2003. They had three sons - Simione Ramacake, Ropate Rakula, and Atunaisa Taleasiga - and one daughter, Asenaca Tania Tuivanuavou.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an political activist, who serves as the Chairperson of the Pacific Centre for Public Integrity (PCPI) as of January 2007. She also chairs the Coalition for Democracy and Peace.
Relations with the Qarase government
Siwatibau led a group called Concerned Mothers Group Against the Bill in opposition to controversial legislationReconciliation and Unity Commission (Fiji)
The Reconciliation and Unity Commission is a proposed government body to be set up if the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which was introduced into the Fijian Parliament on 4 May 2005 is passed...
proposed by the government of Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase is a Fijian political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment...
in early 2005, to make provision for amnesty
Amnesty
Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
to be granted to persons convicted of involvement in the coup of 2000. She said on 16 June 2005 that the widespread opposition to the legislation was motivated not only by its contents, but also because of what she said was the government's unwillingness to proceed with its development in a transparent and consultative process. Opposing amnesty for perpetrators of political crimes, she called instead for more direct compensation of the victims of such crimes. "I do not see why they want to claim for compensation when this could be done through the Ministry of Labour on the workmen's compensation of something like F$
Fijian dollar
The dollar has been the currency of Fiji since 1969 and was also the currency between 1867 and 1873. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively FJ$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
20,000," she said.
Siwatibau expressed concern that the legislation threatens the independence of the judiciary. She also said she was alarmed that it would have a corrupting effect on the minds and character of the future generation, which would threaten the future stability and prosperity of the nation. Children, she said, should not be exposed to this "coup culture."
Reacting to the decision of the Great Council of Chiefs
Great Council of Chiefs (Fiji)
The Great Council of Chiefs is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. In April 2007 the council was suspended, due to an unworkable relationship with Frank Bainimarama, leader of an "interim government" which came to power through a military coup in December 2006...
to endorse the bill, Siwatibau said on 29 July that had not been given enough time to deliberate on the matter. Over four fifths of the Great Council members are delegates of the country's fourteen Provincial Councils
Local government of Fiji
Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions, which are further subdivided into fourteen provinces; the self-governing island of Rotuma and its dependencies lie outside any of the four divisions. Each division is headed by a Commissioner, appointed by the Fijian government...
, which all endorsed the bill - something which came as no surprise to Siwatibau as they had been briefed only by the government and were required to make a decision on the spot, without being given the opportunity to hear alternative viewpoints. At the very least, she said the Provincial Councils should have been given a Fijian
Fijian language
Fijian is an Austronesian language of the Malayo-Polynesian family spoken in Fiji. It has 450,000 first-language speakers, which is less than half the population of Fiji, but another 200,000 speak it as a second language...
translation of the bill.
The 2006 coup
In late 2006 she condemned the Republic of Fiji Military ForcesMilitary of Fiji
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces are the military of the Pacific island nation of Fiji. With a total manpower of 3,500 active soldiers and 6,000 reservists, it is one of the smallest militaries in the world. However, most of its surrounding island nations have no militaries at all...
for having executed a military coup
2006 Fijian coup d'état
The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis....
on 5 December. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=53348
Personal life
A native of Moturiki IslandMoturiki
Moturiki is an island belonging to Fiji's Lomaiviti Archipelago. Covering an area of 10.4 square kilometers, it is situated at 17.45° South and 178.44° East....
in the Lomaiviti
Lomaiviti
The Lomaiviti archipelago of Fiji consists of seven main islands and a number of smaller ones. They cover a total area of 411 square kilometers, and had a population of 16,461 at the most recent census in 2007...
archipelago, Siwatibau was married to the late academic leader and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
, Savenaca Siwatibau
Savenaca Siwatibau
Savenaca Siwatibau was a Fijian academic leader and civil service administrator.The son of Isaac Driver and Adi Asenaca Mairara, Siwatibau was born on 4 November 1940 in Tukavesi Village in Taveuni, Cakaudrove Province, but grew up in Buca, the village of his mother, who was of chiefly rank...
, from 1966 till his death in 2003. They had three sons - Simione Ramacake, Ropate Rakula, and Atunaisa Taleasiga - and one daughter, Asenaca Tania Tuivanuavou.