FWCC condemns bullying tactics

14 February 2008

Press Release

The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre has questioned what it considers the high- handed and bullying tactics taken against the Executive Director of its sister organization the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement. “From our perspective, it is a clear example of intimidation through a formal process – Ms Buadromo made statements similar to that made by other groups and individuals, yet she was singled out and brought before the Court of Appeal. We see this as obvious intimidation of a vocal women’s organization that provides a formidable force in the whole debate surrounding the rule of law issue in Fiji”, said Edwina Kotoisuva, Acting Coordinator of the FWCC.

“It is worrying for us when we look at the way in which things have been happening since December 5 2006. The visible and obvious violations may not be happening but there is an insidious use of formal processes to victimize and intimidate those who speak out’, said Kotoisuva. The FWCC says that it supports the stand taken by FWRM regarding recent appointments and their views in relation to Jocelynne Scutt. “These concerns have been raised by other organizations and individuals and as a feminist women’s organization, we believe the process of calling Ms Buadromo into Court was about asserting power and control – the use of authority to say “Let’s put this young woman in her place”.

The FWCC goes on to say that we cannot claim gender equality merely by looking at appointments of women, we need to analyse whether the processes applied by the women in power are just and fair and works according to the rule of law.