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Youth Activist based in Fiji has termed the Draft Constitution issued
by the Interim Government in Fiji as a waste of Energy and Resources,
and has called the Constitution and the Regime's supporters 'Cowards'.
Peter Waqavonovono, one of a very few of Fiji's emerging Youth
Leaders, and a staunch anti-bullying campaigner, has called on the Fiji Interim Government to do the right thing
and either reinstate the 1997 Constitution or allow the process within
the Yash Ghai Draft Constitution to be tabled at a Constitutional
Assembly.
Waqavonovono has also called for Amnesty within the
Bainimarama Draft to be removed:
"IF they feel what they did is right in carrying out the Coup in 2006, why try to protect themselves and the people behind them! Could they be aware that right from the beginning they were partaking in a series of Illegal Activities?""IF this is so, than this Constitution only serves to protect the current Regime and is a collection of paranoid writings from a Regime that does not entertain Dialogue or opposing views".
The concentration of Power in the Bainimarama Draft
is also concerning to Waqavonovono who says that the illegal draft in most likelihood will be made into (illegal) law and cannot be changed because of military rule:
"Young people are not guaranteed a voice and are not recognized in the Bainimarama Draft. I would have wanted to see agencies and platforms created for young people and a specific provision provided for aligning all the different youth groups and upskilling as well as formalizing our current National Youth Council Structure.
Instead we have a Draft that does little to acknowledge youth in Fiji who make up a large percentage of the Fiji population and are active in formal and informal sectors. A good constitution is one that provide avenues for young people to participate and engage their leaders as well as associate freely in groupings"
Waqavonovono says he hopes common sense will prevail "I cannot see myself supporting the Bainimarama
Draft or even considering a living in a Fiji under that illegal Constitution. I
am calling on Fiji Citizens to opening oppose the Draft and demand
radical changes if not than a return to the 1997 Constitution"
Waqavonovono's Youth Groups will be making a submission to the Interim Government.
