Ro Teimumu, John Key and Generalised Accusations

Ro Teimumu Kepa

I'm not sure whether John Key is the best choice as an Fiji Opposition ally.  He has some serious democratic issues to deal with in New Zealand, and he's been accused of bullying and patronising in some of his Pacific dealings. But the points both he and Ro Teimumu have raised in this Fiji Oppositon statement, require answers. Or rather —they would require answers if the accusations were made more specific.  It's hard to answer generalities.  To be heeded outside the circle of their core supporters, the Opposition needs to make these claims specific.

• How, exactly, is the independence of the media, parliament, the civil Service, the police and the judiciary compromised?  Examples, please.

• How is debate stifled? How are civil servants intimidated? Examples are needed. Those so far raised in parliament seem more like nit picking, and the example of the Acting Police Commissioner in this statement is far from convincing. It may have been better to appoint someone other than a military officer but there was nothing illegal in the appointment. And what are the alleged human rights abuses of which he is accused?

Although not directly stated, much has also been made of the influence of the A-G on the PM.  Sayed Khaiyum is a very able, knowledgeable, hard working and forceful character. But if what he is doing is seen as "not good for Fiji", the case  needs to be argued. Relying on advice from an able and knowledgeable person would seem a wise thing to do unless the influence is excessive and  exclusionary.

In sum, generalised accusations, hearsay and rumour are not enough.  This blog would welcome specific comments from Opposition spokespeople and informed readers on the points raised by Ro Teimumu. -- Croz

OFFICE OF

THE OPPOSITION LEADER

Parliament House

SUVA

STATEMENT

[106/18/11/2015]

Ro Teimumu pleased with NZ Prime Minister John Key’s offer of help for Police interim leadership

Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa has welcomed the offer of help from New Zealand Prime Minister Key with Fiji’s transition to a new Police Commissioner.  She urged the Fiji Government to take up the offer for the sake of Fiji’s faltering democracy.

Mr Key said in a Radio New Zealand report that he would have preferred if the out-going Police Commissioner was not replaced with a military commander.

Mr Key said Fiji’s democracy was still in a fragile state and he would hate for it to be eroded.

Recalling Fiji’s history of coups, Mr Key said New Zealand would hate for Fiji to start moving away from democracy and the pillars of independence, including for the Judiciary and the Police, which any decent society relies on. 

 Ro Teimumu was pleased that New Zealand had now realized that Fiji’s democracy has ‘stalled’.  “We still do not have the democratic benefits of full independence of the media, Parliament, Civil Service, Police, Judiciary and other institutions necessary for any democracy,”

she said.

Ro Teimumu said that 12 months on from our first elections in eight years, debate is being stifled, and intimidation of civil servants is openly practised by the Prime Minister and the Attorney General.  The PM had again undermined his own democracy with his arbitrary decision to appoint as Acting Police Commissioner a Military officer who is allegedly accused of human rights abuses.

Ro Teimumu said that people should become more alert to what is really going on in Fiji

 Authorized By:                                  Hon. Ro Teimumu Kepa

West Wing, Level 2

Parliament House

Phone (679) 3225657