beyond apathy: a critical look at youth participation in the 2014 elections in fiji
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“ Today we are witnessing a significant lack of trust of youth in the traditional institutions of democracy. No sustainable and inclusive democracy can be built without youth.” Joan Sawe , Acting Secretary General, International IDEA. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
BEYOND APATHY:A CRITICAL LOOK AT YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN THE 2014
ELECTIONS IN FIJI
“Today we are witnessing a significant lack of trust of youth in the traditional institutions of democracy. No sustainable and inclusive democracy can be built without youth.”
Joan Sawe,Acting Secretary General, International
IDEA
Romitesh KANTUSP
DEMOGRAPHICS554,000 registered voters
43 % - 240,000 <35 years
28% - 155,000 1st time voters
SOURCE: Fiji Times, 17th June 2014
Many 1st time voters do not know any other leader apart from Bainimarama
Narrative set – “old politicians” “corrupt” “self Interested”
Pre-Election environment – not conducive to free & fair elections Media restrictions Freedom of expression and assembly
FIJI YOUTH FOR DEMOCRACY
Stated in February 2013
12 youth activists – USP, FWRM, CCF, Femlink 3 members administer “Letters to the Editor Uncensored”
Facebook page
Organized 4 panel discussions at USP
Organized informal gatherings of youths to discuss topical issues
Organized a petition against the regimes draft constitution
Took part in protests – ascension of 2013 Govt Constitution, 2014 Budget
Using Social Media
Intimidation
2014 West Papua event –at USP
“BE THE CHANGE” Campaign
32 year old
Progressive, feminist activist, Indo-Fijian
Educated – Law degree
Declared intention to stand in mid 2013
Resigned Dec 2013
CAMPAIGN 100 % youths Human rights/Feminist perspective Transformational leadership
Using social media (Facebook) to canvass people’s views on issues apart from the traditional methods (community visits, door-to-door)
Challenges5 % threshold – same for political parties
1000 signatures, 1000$ deposit
1 nation-wide constituency, financial and logistical challenges
Rhetoric of some analysts – Wadan Narsey
Harassment/Bullying
Intimidation
CONCLUSION Despite the intimidation, youths in Fiji remain resilient
There is a need to translate their rhetoric on social media into action
“Young people are interested in public affairs, in politics with a capital P. They may not be interested in political
parties but they are interested in the issues. The challenge is to find ways to communicate the information in a way that young people can
understand and relate to. It is not that we are apathetic; we are just not asked the right
question.”
Lars Johansson, Sweden. 1999 International IDEA Democracy Forum