Fiji Teachers Association GS Threatens Cannibalism

Fijian Teachers Association General Secretary Paula Manumanunitoga has threatened critics with being caught and “roasted” in earth ovens in an extraordinary Facebook post.

Manumanunitoga directed the comments at people he accused of attempting to discredit Fiji’s chiefs and questioning their place in the administration of the country.

In the post, he questioned why those he was addressing were in Fiji rather than their “original country”, before stating that “you and your kind” were in Fiji because of the decision by the chiefs to cede the country to Queen Victoria in October 1874.

He then issued the threat:

“SO SHUT THE F*** UP AND JUST MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS BEFORE WE CATCH YOU AND ROAST YOU IN EARTH OVENS!!!!”

Manumanunitoga went on to tell those he was addressing that they were free to “go anywhere” and “do whatever business you like”, but warned them not to disrespect or belittle Fiji’s chiefs.

The reference to catching people and “roasting” them in earth ovens invokes cannibalistic imagery, although Manumanunitoga did not expressly state that anyone would be eaten.

The comments have drawn strong condemnation, including from Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran, who has declared Manumanunitoga “entirely unfit to lead a professional educators’ organisation”.

Kiran has called for his immediate resignation as General Secretary and said the Fijian Teachers Association should remove him from the position if he refuses to step down.

She said threatening language and physical intimidation directed at any community in Fiji were unacceptable and said invoking violence and division in the name of indigenous heritage misrepresented the legacy of Fiji’s traditional chiefs.

Kiran also drew attention to Manumanunitoga’s position within the education sector and his recent advocacy for the physical discipline of children.

The FTA has been pushing for the return of corporal punishment in Fiji’s schools, with Manumanunitoga arguing that teachers need what he has described as “corrective measures” to address behavioural problems among students.

He has previously suggested that even placing a stick or belt on a teacher’s table could act as a deterrent to students, while more recently supporting provisions for “moderate chastisement” during discussions surrounding constitutional reform.

Kiran questioned the contradiction between those calls and the language used by Manumanunitoga himself, saying children required care, strong values and mentorship rather than violence.

Manumanunitoga has since defended his Facebook comments, saying they were directed at people he accused of swearing at and disrespecting Fiji’s chiefs.

He said he was proud to be iTaukei and did not like seeing people disrespect traditional leaders.

Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo has also criticised the comments, saying there was “no place” for such an outburst and calling for maturity in public discussions involving sensitive national issues.