Pacific

Former Fiji minister launches public campaign against draft law

10:16 am on 10 June 2005

A former minister in Fiji's post-coup interim administration has launched a public campaign against the government's Reconciliation and Unity Bill.

The Fiji Times reports that Bernadette Rounds-Ganilau, founder of the group Concerned Citizens Against the Bill, is urging everyone to show their opposition to the Bill by wearing or tying a yellow ribbon.

Ms Ganilau says the people's campaign is against the Bill because they believe it would encourage hatred instead of tolerance and violence instead of accommodation.

She says the Bill will deepen insecurity and nurture conflict.

Ms Ganilau says the yellow ribbon campaign against the Bill has been chosen because she says the colour represents hope, life and good sense.

She says has urged people to wear a yellow ribbon or to display it on their cars, homes, boats, trees, doors and in their villages.

Ms Ganilau, who demonstrated against the Bill when the during the prime minister's second reading of it in parliament, says the yellow ribbon campaign is a call to members of the government to support justice, democracy and good governance.