Mosese Bulitavu
Fijian politician
Mosese Drecala Bulitavu is a Fijian politician and Member of the Parliament of Fiji. He is a member of the FijiFirst party.
In October 2011 Bulitavu was charged with sedition for graffiting billboards with anti-government slogans.[1][2] In March 2018 Bulitavu was convicted,[3] and subsequently sentenced to more than two years' jail.[4] The conviction was overturned on appeal, and a retrial ordered in August 2018.[5] The prosecution was discontinued in 2019.[6]
Bulitavu ran in the 2014 elections as a SODELPA candidate, winning 6276 votes, making him the 4th highest-polling SODELPA candidate.[7] He was re-elected in the 2018 election,[8] winning 5342 votes.[9]
On 4 July 2019, Bulitavu made racist statements on his Facebook page that stabbing and killing was something the iTaukei community learned from the 'vulagi', those who were brought in from India.[10] Bulitavu was subsequently condemned by Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama[11] and by other members of the SODELPA party,[12] and was subsequently questioned by police over allegations of hate speech.[13][14]
In August 2021, SODELPA sought to have Bulitavu's seat declared vacant for supporting the government budget and the iTaukei Land Trust Act (Bill No. 17).[15][16] The Court of Disputed Returns dismissed the party's case.[17]
In June 2022, Bulitavu announced that he might leave SODELPA for the 2022 general election.[18] SODELPA general secretary Lenaitasi Duru confirmed in October 2022 that Bulitavu was still a SODELPA member, and that he had unsuccessfully sought the party's nomination.[19] On 30 October, Bulitavu was named as part of the FijiFirst candidate list.[20] He won reelection with 631 votes,[9] ranking 25th out of FijiFirst's 26 elected seats.[21] FijiFirst went into opposition after the opposition parties, including SODELPA, formed a coalition government.[22]
References
- ^ "Fiji: Five Remanded On Sedition Charges". Pacific.Scoop. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ^ "Graffiti Trial Update: Defence lawyer wants Suva court to vacate hearing date of his client - the Sri Lankan born Kiwi citizen Jagath Karunaratne". Fijileaks. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ^ "Bulitavu, Karunaratne convicted". Fiji Times. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- ^ "Seditious duo jailed for two years". Fiji Times. 30 April 2018.
- ^ Jessica Savike (24 August 2018). "Retrial ordered in Bulitavu, Karunaratne sedition case". Fiji Times. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "Mosese Bulitavu, Jagath Karunaratne Are 'Free At Last'". Fiji Sun. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "Bulitavu Ready For Action". Fiji Sun. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ^ Talebula Kate (18 November 2018). "2018 General Election: SODELPA secures 21 seats". Fiji Times. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ a b Vakasukawaqa, Arieta (27 December 2022). "Bulitavu hopeful of change in 6 months". FijiTimes. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ Jyoti Pratibha (5 July 2019). "SODELPA MP Mosese Bulitavu Uses Stabbing Incident to Make Racist Statement". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "PM Bainimarama blasts Bulitavu, says Fijians will not tolerate division". FBC News. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ Nemani Delaibatiki (8 July 2019). "Leading SODELPA Members Attack Bulitavu". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ "Fiji police question opposition MP". RNZ. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ Avinesh Gopal (13 July 2019). "Police Question SODELPA MP Bulitavu". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
- ^ Narayan, Vijay (6 August 2021). "SODELPA advises the Speaker that Mosese Bulitavu's seat in Parliament be deemed vacant while moves underway to expel him from the party". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ Kumar, Ashna (1 September 2021). "SODELPA Claims Against Its MP Bulitavu To Be Heard On September 6". fijisun.com.fj. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ Turagaiviu, Elenoa (10 September 2021). "Court strikes out case against Bulitavu". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ Waqairadovu, Apenisa (8 June 2022). "Bulitavu confirms leaving SODELPA, looks for new party". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ Vakasukawaqa, Arieta (22 October 2022). "Bulitavu praises party – 'FijiFirst government has done more for iTaukei people'". FijiTimes. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ Kumar, Kreetika (30 October 2022). "Bulitavu, Damodar join FijiFirst as Bolaira also named". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ Singh, Indira (18 December 2022). "Top 55 confirmed". FBC. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ Vakasukawaqa, Arieta (24 December 2022). "2022 General Election: Bulitavu glad to be back in Opposition". FijiTimes. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- v
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FijiFirst
- Frank Bainimarama (2014–present)
- Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum (2014–present)
- Frank Bainimarama
- Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
- Mahendra Reddy
- Rosy Akbar
- Ifereimi Waqainabete
- Selai Adimaitoga
- Veena Bhatnagar
- Joeli Cawaki
- Mohammed Dean
- Iliesa Delana
- Lorna Eden
- Salik Ram Govind
- Jioji Konrote
- Inoke Kubuabola
- Jilila Kumar
- Brij Lal
- Jiko Luveni
- Alivereti Nabulivou
- Ruveni Nadalo
- Alipate Nagata
- Osea Naiqamu
- Timoci Natuva
- Mataiasi Akauola Niumataiwalu
- Alexander O'Connor
- Sanjit Patel
- Howard Politini Jnr
- Vijendra Prakash
- Netani Rika
- Neil Sharma
- Rohit Sharma
- Jale Sigarara
- Balmindra Singh
- Ashneel Sudhakar
- Pio Tikoduadua
- Laisenia Tuitubou
- Jone Usamate
- George Vegnathan
- Samuela Vunivalu
- Mereseini Vuniwaqa
- Inia Seruiratu
- Jone Usamate
- Faiyaz Koya
- Parveen Bala
- Alvikh Maharaj
- Ioane Naivalurua
- Mosese Bulitavu
- Aliki Bia
- Naisa Tuinaceva
- Hem Chand
- Sanjay Kirpal
- Semi Koroilavesau
- Penioni Ravunawa
- Premila Kumar
- Shalen Kumar
- Ketan Lal
- Virendra Lal
- Joseph Nand
- Vijay Nath
- Viliame Naupoto
- Josaia Niudamu
- Viam Pillay
- Alipate Tuicolo
- Rinesh Sharma
- Sachida Nand
