Solidarity Rally to end torture and violence

Solidarity Rally to end torture and violence

Standing in solidarity in the call to end torture and violence in Fiji, activists from the Citizens’ Constitutional Forum, Fiji Women’s Rights Movement and Drodrolagi Movement staged a peaceful rally at the CCF office compound in Suva this afternoon.

The rally was in support of the public rallies being held simultaneously in Auckland and Wellington to highlight the abuse of human rights in Fiji. It marks a united call for the Fiji government to bring to justice those responsible for the inhumane and degrading treatment of the recaptured prisoners as seen in the shocking video released last week.

The rally and those in New Zealand also highlights the plight of others who have been beaten and tortured by Security Personal since the coup of 2000.

CCF CEO Rev Akuila Yabaki summed up the occasion with this quote:

 “With the Second World War behind him, the German Lutheran pastor, Martin Niemoeller, wrote his now famous confession called “I Didn’t Speak Up”.

“In Germany, the Nazis first came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.  Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.  Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.  Then they came for the Catholics, but I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.  Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak for me.”