Asenaca Caucau
Adi Asenaca Coboiverata Caucau, generally known simply as Adi Asenaca Caucau, is a Fijian politician. She served as Minister For Women and Minister for Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation from 2001 to 2006, when she became Minister of State for Housing. She held this post, and continued to represent the Tailevu South Lomaiviti Open Constituency in the House of Representatives until 5 December 2006, when the Military of Fiji staged a coup d'état and removed her government from office. She had first won the seat for the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party (SDL) in the parliamentary election of September 2001.
Political controversies
Caucau is one of Fiji's most colourful politicians. A flamboyant figure, she is sometimes careless with her words and her outspokenness has frequently generated controversy. She has defended herself by claiming that journalists have often unfairly quoted her "out of context."
"Indo-Fijians are like weeds"
On July 28, 2002, addressing Parliament, Caucau stated:
- "A priest warned me that we must keep a careful and guarded watch over fellow Indo-Fijians because they are like weeds. They tend to push to grab to take over the land and the nation. [...] [T]his is what we, the indigenous people have proven and believe is the design of the foreigners [vulagi]."[1]
The term vulagi is a common slur against
Qarase refused to rebuke her publicly, saying that ruling on the propriety of her comments was the Parliamentary Speaker's prerogative, not his. "He decides whatever goes in the House and I have left the matter with him," Qarase said. Former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, however, condemned her remarks and called on the Prime Minister to discipline her. "Caucau's statements were irresponsible and unbecoming, especially from a woman who prays before making a statement," Rabuka said. He called on her to apologise to the Indo-Fijian community. Responding to calls for an apology, Caucau insisted that she saw nothing offensive about her statement. "I am simply stating a fact and it was not meant to be racist", she told the media.[2]
Disagreements with the Military
On 14 April 2003,
Call for journalists to be "responsible"
Caucau, who worked as journalist herself whilst pursuing her university studies in
Human trafficking allegations
Caucau found herself embroiled in controversy when she claimed at a workshop on violence against children on 27 September 2005 that fathers throughout Fiji have been selling their daughters into prostitution in a "readily available" human trafficking market. Her allegations came on top of claims by
"Beggars are well-off"
Caucau made headlines again on 7 November 2005, claiming that many beggars were imposters, and were in fact professionals with homes, food and shelter.
Clash with Cakobau
The decision of the SDL Party to renominate Caucau for the
Arrested in the United States
In July 2008, Caucau was arrested in the United States and charged with having committed an "assault with a deadly weapon" in San Francisco after hitting a man with a shoe.[6][7][8] The charge was dismissed in August 2008.[9]
Christian
Caucau is the daughter of the
Caucau's religious convictions strongly flavour her social views. She has spoken out strongly in favour of campaigns to discourage premarital sex, claiming that single mothers are among the most vulnerable members of society and are frequently abused. She has also strongly opposed calls from some quarters to legalize prostitution, saying that it corrupts morals. In early October 2004, she claimed about half of all Members of Parliament were clients of prostitutes, but refused to name any names.
References
- ^ a b NGO Coalition of Human Rights, "Commentary on the Fiji Government Report", February 2003, in Papers on Racial Discrimination, vol.1, p.240
- ^ "Christian Fijian Minister: Indians are Weeds" Archived October 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Caribbean New Yorker, August 5, 2002
- ^ a b "Beggars are well off, says Fiji minister". RNZ. 8 November 2005. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "Fiji minister dismisses reports on poverty". RNZ. 30 November 2005. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "10% of population who squat are thieves, says Fijian government minister". RNZ. 28 September 2006. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "Ex-SDL minister to face US court" Archived 2011-05-19 at the Wayback Machine, Fijilive, July 30, 2008
- ^ "US court sets trial date for Fiji ex-minister" Archived 2011-05-19 at the Wayback Machine, Fijilive, August 3, 2008
- ^ "Ousted Fiji minister on assault charge in US". RNZ. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
- ^ "US court dimisses assault case against ousted Fiji minister Caucau". RNZ. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2023.