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Re-emergence of sacrilege in Fiji is a serious concern |
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Written by Philip Lee, WACC Deputy Director of Programs
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Wednesday, 19 January 2011 15:05 |
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The Citizens’ Constitutional Forum (CCF) in Fiji, a WACC partner, is calling on the people of Fiji to respect the values and practices of people from different religious groups. |
“Fiji is a country where people from many different racial and religious groups have been living together for the past century. This has been possible because there has been respect, tolerance and non-interference with the cultural and religious values of others,” said Rev Akuila Yabaki, CCF Chief Executive Officer.
WACC is currently seeking financial support for a project aimed at remedying a lack of understanding in some segments of Fiji’s population that freedom of belief is essential for peace and harmony in the region. The project involves the production of 3,000 copies of a booklet on ‘Freedom of Religion and Belief as a Foundation for Peace’, in English, Fijian and Hindi.
In a press statement released on 19 January, Yabaki said, “We deplore the actions of thieves who stole Hindu religious deity statues from a family residence in Valelevu. This is a violation of the Right to Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion, and also the Right to Own Property.”
Rev Yabaki is further calling on religious organizations, as well as parents and community leaders, to create greater awareness of human rights among children and community members.
“An increased knowledge of human rights can create better understanding and respect for the religious and cultural practices that are different from yours,” Rev Yabaki said. “Government should step-up the activities to create racial and religious tolerance if it is indeed committed to multiculturalism.”
CCF is concerned that Police Crime Statistics do not register sacrilege as a category of crime anymore, even though it is classified as a separate, serious offence under the Crimes Decree. Failure to monitor sacrilege or categories of specific hate crimes allows them to go unnoticed and gurantees they will happen again.
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