Minister for Local Government, Trade and Tourism Premila Kumar

Opposition MP Mosese Bulitavu has just created history for having no respect for women.

This was the statement made by Minister for Local Government, Trade and Tourism Premila Kumar which contributing to the motion made by the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum for condemning Bulitavu’s comments on social media about women.

Kumar says, unfortunately, Opposition women parliamentarians did not speak against the statement made by Bulitavu.

She also commended the efforts made by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama for being the first leader to condemn Bulitavu.

She adds that it is unfair for Bulitavu to have painted rural women of a particular ethnic community as unfaithful.

“It is an insult to the community that was subjected to so much physical and emotional abuse under the indentured system. Then he flippantly claimed that women in another community are physically abused because of the physical powers of the men of that particular community. If this was not justification for gender-based violence then what was it? Our silence will only encourage racist, bigoted and misogynistic voices.”

While contributing to the motion, Women’s Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa says the statement made by Bulitavu suggests that it is okay for a man to beat or kill a woman especially when she is having an affair.

Women’s Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa

Vuniwaqa says Bulitavu’s statement also portrays that it is not a crime for a man to beat their spouses as a traditional apology will cure it.

She adds that the mentality she is talking about is not the mentality of all men in Fiji.

“That is why all men who do not share the same views as Honorable Bulitavu on that side of the house need to speak up in condemnation of the statements made similarly all women on the other side of the House need to stand up for the over 400,000 women out there. If the men won’t do it, ladies stand up, say something.”

Vuniwaqa says that the statement made by Bulitavu failed him as a lawyer and an MP.