Peter Waqavonovono
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Peter Waqavonovono is a youth advocate and pro-democracy activist in Fiji and is a member of the Young People Concerned Network. He is known for his work with NGOs and youth groups in Fiji's rural provinces and support for indigenous education and affirmative action.
Waqavonovono is a direct descendant of the chiefly mataqali of Koroicumu which with the families of the Matailakeba, Vatuwaqa, and Naivi make up the Lauan Chiefly family of Vuanirewa. Peter is a great grandchild of a former Tui Lau Roko Uluilakeba III and Adi Silipa Raikoro. However Peter like other offspring of illegitimate marriages within the Vuanirewa clan does not carry any chiefly titles. Native Lands Registry titles however hold Peter as Jonetani Tevita Uluilakeba [1]
Waqavonovono attended Marist Primary School and Suva Grammar High School in Nasese Suva (1998 to 2002). There, he initiated the Suva Secondary Schools Student Council Conference and founded the now dormant Secondary School Students Association. The Council lobbied for the removal of corporal punishment from schools and for laws protecting the rights of the ‘student child’. In 1999, Waqavonovono and three others were suspended for one week for campaigning against teachers who physically abused students; the decision was overturned when the accusations were proven so.[citation needed] Waqavonovono served as Student Council President from 2001 to 2002 and served as Head Boy in 2000 and 2001. He received the top honors in History, English and in 2002 received the Top Student Award.
In 2004, Waqavonovono was chosen to represent Fiji at the International Youth Parliament in Sydney, Australia, and was invited in September 2006 for a review conference of the IYP held in India.
Peter was allowed to sit as youth representative in the drafting of the controversial ‘Affirmative Action Papers’. Peter Waqavonovono and two others were the brain child behind the Education Affirmative Action Bill with requested considerable amounts of income be pumped into the education of young men and women of Indigenous blood and that Village schools be brought up to par with Urban Schools. The Bill was classified as racist as it favored indigenous children more than the other ethnic races of Fiji.[citation needed]
In 2002, Peter Waqavonovono spoke of the creation of Provincial Youth Forums and the Nation Youth Parliament at an Oratory Contest in Suva. He was invited by the Government to discuss his ideas and help create Fiji’s First Fiji Youth Parliament, which has convened every year.
Peter Waqavonovono has since attended the University of the South Pacific and is a graduate of Law. He is currently studying Politics at the same university.
Peter Waqavonovono has since 2005, campaigned against military involvement in national domestic politics. And is an active member of the Young Peoples Concerned Network. The YPCN was begun by three disgruntled youths, Fipe Tuitubou, Tura Lewai and Peter Waqavonovono and was meant to voice youth ideas and issues on Militaries insistence that the Government listen to their demands.
On the 5th of December 2006, Frank Bainimarama of the Fiji Military Forces took power in a coup de tat and declared himself as the President of Fiji Islands.
Peter Waqavonovono and the YPCN erected a Democracy Shrine in Vugalei Lami in protest to the Removal of a Democratically Elected Government. The Shrine was Destroyed on the 18th of December by Soldiers of the RFMF.[citation needed]
Peter and a few others went back to the venue three hours later and resurrected the Shrine. Peter was detained on the 19th of December for one hour by the military forces and told to stop actively campaigning against the military. Peter continued his opposition.[citation needed]
On the 20th of December 2006, Peter Waqavonovono along with other members of the YPCN gathered outside the venue of the Great Council of Chiefs meeting (the meeting was to decide on the future of Fiji after the military coup). these were Jackie Koroi, Unaisi Dumaru, Tura Lewai and Peter Waqavonvono. The Flag Bearers were arrested and further detained for a period of 12 hours at the Raiwaqa Police Station. They were charged for unlawful assembly.[citation needed]
On the 24th of December 2006, Peter Waqavonvono was taken from his home with 5 other vocal and influential pro-democracy supporters and detained at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks. Peter suffered bruising and injuries and had to flee the capital for his safety. the pro-democracy advocates who were detained on that night were [[Image:Jackie Koroi of the YPCN, Virisila Buadromo of the FWRM, Laisa Digitaki of SDL, Imraz Iqbal of SDL, and Peter.]][citation needed]
Since than Peter has continued to fight against the injustice suffered by youths in Fiji after the December 5 coup, were a majority of youths have had their human rights violated. The Death of a youth drug peddler Sakuisa Rabaka at the hands of the military was a case that Peter has taken to task to seek proper justice and has helped stop the abuse of youths in Fiji by the military of Fiji.[citation needed]
