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photo: Radio Pacific New Zealand/Chloe Hawkins
A popular Fijian LGBTQIA+ activist and social media influencer was reportedly found dead at her home in Suva on Monday.
Esala Lewamama, whose real name was Ranadi Kei Viti (Queen of Fiji), has reportedly died in a suspected suicide due to cyberbullying.
A Facebook video is making the rounds online showing police placing a body in a body bag and loading it into a police van.
“A 37-year-old man was found dead in his home in Nabua settlement this morning.” fjivillage.com report.
“Police confirmed that the incident happened around 7:30am. They claimed it was a case of suicide.”
Assistant Police Chief Mesakay Waqa said they could not speculate on the circumstances of the victim’s death as that would be part of the investigation process. Fiji Times Report.
RNZ Pacific has contacted Fiji Police for comment.
Following the news of his death, condolences poured in on social media.
“Fijian social media has been out of control for some time now, with blatant personal bullying and malicious exposés becoming the norm on many accounts and large Fijian group sites,” Jon Apted, a prominent Fijian lawyer and media personality, wrote on his Facebook.
“Unfortunately, the Cybersecurity Bill has been forgotten and the Cybersecurity Commission has disappeared from the public stage.
“Sadly, a well-known social media personality has reportedly taken his own life after suffering intense bullying over the past few days.”
Apted said people need to be mindful of what they post and share about others online.
He also called on the Cyber Security Commission to “step up and do its job” and called on the government to ensure the commission had the resources it needed to carry out its role.
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