Koila Nailatikau Quotes

"(Unless all coup perpetrators) are brought before the courts, Fiji cannot put to rest the ghosts of the coup." (May 7, 2005)

I believe that Fiji is at the cross roads. We should all be proud of our traditions and our rich multi-cultural heritage.

As long as those responsible are still lurking in the shadows and this culture of silence remains, then certain sections of the community will remain insecure, intimidated and live in fear.

We must speak with fairness, responsibility and goodwill toward all ethnic groups.

Why weren't the victims involved in the consultations prior to the formulation of this Bill?

The absence of all these values (marriage commitment, parental authority, and grandparent-grandchild relationships) is one of the main reasons for why our societies are faced by these violent criminal offences. As legislators, our primary role is to ensure the freedom and rights of every citizen of this country are protected.

"I feel that the rule of law must be upheld. I simply will not accept any apology until justice is done." (October 2004)

Reconciliation cannot eventuate or materialise until the proper legal procedures have been followed, that is without interference from external forces.

"For all I know this has come very late in the day and it's a bit too late … Had my father been here, I believe he would have respected and upheld the rule of law." (May 7, 2005)

To put it in simple English, you break the law, you commit a crime, you do the time.

If we succumb to pardoning these men, then we are sabotaging and undermining our own ability to act without fear or favour. We reap what we sow. We will sow a culture of coups for our children. We must therefore, uphold the Rule of Law and Justice.

Personally, I feel that if the Lau Provincial Council votes for this Bill it means that they are supporting the amnesty clause, which is what the whole Bill is about. Do they understand that what they are actually doing is agreeing in principle to the removal of the late Turaga na Tui Nayau and condoning the coup perpetrators who were the very thugs who removed the Tui Nayau and brought anarchy to Fiji in the year 2000.

"I spoke on this in Senate and I'll say it again — why wasn't this Bill brought about when my parents, the late Tui Nayau and Roko Tui Dreketi, were still alive?" (July 21, 2005)

These (prostitution, pedophilia, and child abuse) are of concern to us and it is important that while we advertise tourism, we should also educate our people in keeping a close vigil on what is happening as the side effect of tourism.

"I have one question for the Government, why can't it function without the coup perpetrators?" (July 21, 2005)