Nationalists oppose Constitution awareness program
PEOPLE'S COALITION GOVERNMENT, FIJI Issue No: 427 30 January 2001
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The nationalists have opposed the education of ethnic Fijians on the provisions of the 1997 Constitution.
According to a report, the Citizens Constitutional Forum had 180 copies of a booklet on the 1997 Constitution dumped in
a water drum by the leader of the Nationalist Party Saula Talewa. The booklet (Nomu Yavu no Vakavulewa Nomu Dodonu),
written in indigenous Fijian language, was left for the villagers at the village hall in Tavua after permission was
granted by the chief of the village. But when the team returned from distributing the booklets in town, they found the
booklets in the barrel of water.
CCF's Rev. Akuila Yabaki was quoted in today's Fiji Sun as saying: "Talewa's intention obviously was to prevent them
being read by villagers of Tavua. The booklets are for distribution to help ordinary citizens to know their rights and
the provisions in the 1997 Constitution. Saula Talewa has rendered himself unsuitable to lead a political party of any
kind". Yabaki has lodged a report to the police.
Talewa claims to be the leader of the Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party.
END