Not in our names
9 Sep, 2025
STATEMENT
It has been widely reported in the Fiji media that an entourage of 17 government officials and spouses led by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will officially establish a residential Fijian embassy in Jerusalem later in September. Minister for Information Lynda Tabuya and Home Affairs Minister, Pio Tikoduadua will accompany the PM.
The Coalition Government appears to be callously ignoring the unfolding famine and mass starvation in Gaza that is being deliberately orchestrated by the state of Israel. This very same Fiji government previously defended the destruction, killings, and maiming of scores of thousands of innocent civilians -70% women and children- by Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Recently two pre-eminent World Elders, Mary Robinson (former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) and Helen Clark (former Prime Minister of Aotearoa-New Zealand and former Head of UNDP) visited Rafah Crossing into Gaza from Egypt. They witnessed how Israel was preventing the flow of food, water, and medicine to the suffering people of Gaza. Mary Robinson reported:
“What we heard and witnessed left no doubt: this obstruction of aid is a deliberate policy of the Israeli government. This is not the chaos of war, nor the result of an environmental disaster. It is intentional – and it is driving what I believe is an unfolding genocide.”
Prime Minster Rabuka, Lynda Tabuya and Pio Tikoduadua have made rather unconvincing arguments regarding the opening of a Fijian residential embassy in Jerusalem amid the unfolding genocide in Gaza. Rabuka’s claim that he is building a bridge with Israel is vacuous. Tabuya’s assertion that she’ll provide detailed information regarding the shameful event is farcical. As for Israel training our security personnel which is Tikoduadua’s justification for the visit -God forbid!
Whether they like it or not, in the eyes of the world, Fiji will be seen as a country that supports the apartheid and pariah state of Israel, and its genocide in Gaza.
The NGO Coalition on Human Rights reiterates its ‘NOT IN OUR NAME’ opposition to Fiji’s defence of Israel at the International Court of Justice in the case brought by the Republic of South Africa that Israel was committing genocide and declare our strongest NOT IN OUR NAME opposition to the establishment of the Fijian Embassy in Jerusalem.
Neither action reflects the wishes of all citizens of Fiji. It does not reflect well on Fiji for the present Coalition Government to be effectively supporting Israel’s genocide in Palestine.
Shamima Ali, Chair of the NGO Coalition on Human Rights in Fiji
Members of the Fiji NGO Coalition on Human Rights are Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (Chair), Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, Citizens’ Constitutional Forum, femLINKpacific, Social Empowerment and Education Program, and Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality Fiji. Additionally, Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) is an observer. For more information or questions reach out to NGOCHR Chair Shamima Ali: fwcc.shamima@gmail.com