The first prosecution witness in the sedition trial of The Fiji Times and others, has said that the letter written by Josaia Waqabaca which was published in the Nai Lalakai newspaper referred to different ways of cooking and changing a government.
Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs Naipote Katonitabua confirmed that according to his translation, Waqabaca has said: ‘Our counter step will be no different than a pot lit on fire. The pot will need to feel the heat to have its contents cooked and only then will we know how it tastes like. The spices are ready as there are many ways to cook through firewood, stove, gas or lovo. This is also how a government can be changed - either through a coup or elections. This is the picture we are about to see.’
Fiji Times lawyer Wylie Clarke then put up another translation to Katonitabua that ‘its rather like cooking in a pot using firewood since the pot needs to feel the heat from the firewood for the contents to be cooked so we may experience the taste when it is well cooked.’
Fiji Times lawyer Wylie Clarke
Katonitabua disagreed with Clarke’s translation.
Clarke then read his translation of another bit of Waqabaca’s letter which says ‘all of its spices and flavoring are ready so we can realise cooking is something else we are good at.’
Katonitabua again did not agree with Clarke’s translation.
Clarke then translated that ‘so it is with changing government - it can be done by a coup, an election or by the direct command of our decision maker, God.’
Katonitabua said that he does not agree that is the correct translation from Waqabaca’s letter.
Katonitabua said that there is no reference to God and there is a reference to an invisible decision maker.
Clarke then put to Katonitabua whether all this letter was trying to do was to say that it was a mistake for the government to abolish the Great Council of Chiefs.
Katonitabua said that the government has made a decision.
Clarke then asked whether the government will not change its position.
Katonitabua confirmed in court that the position will not change.
Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs, Naipote Katonitabua
During the re-examination by Assistant DPP, Lee Burney, Katonitabua read the translation of Waqabaca’s article which says ‘the Muslims are not the indigenous of this country. It is a people that have invaded other nations, for example Bangladesh, India, where they killed, raped and abused their women and children.’
When asked by Burney, Katonitabua said that the statement by Waqabaca was not humorous in any way.
Burney further asked Katonitabua what was his feelings about the particular paragraph in the article.
Katonitabua said it’s about some sensitive statements against the Muslims and experiences that is quite a serious problem and can create insecurity between ethnic groups.
Burney asked why Katonitabua said that was an incitement to political upheaval.
Katonitabua said looking at the history of Fiji, it brings back the dark days of Fiji - the dark days of cannibalism which was practiced by our forefathers before Christianity.
Katonitabua said that the major concerns in the Nai Lalakai letter was land, land being taken away, government’s position on the GCC and the iTaukei community.
When asked on what religion and ethnicity is being referred to in the Nai Lalakai letter, Katonitabua said it is referring to the Muslims and the hardships of the iTaukei community.
He says this is what the iTaukei Affairs Ministry has been receiving from the iTaukei community - which is the fear and insecurity of the iTaukei through the dissemination of this information.
Fiji Times Limited, Publisher Hank Arts and Contributor, Josaia Waqabaca have pleaded not guilty to sedition while Fiji Times Editor Fred Wesley and Nai Lalakai Editor Anare Ravula have pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting sedition.
It is alleged that Fiji Times printed the Nai Lalakai newspaper which contained an article which had content with a seditious intention to promote feelings of ill will and hostility between classes of the population.
The case continues before High Court Judge, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe today.
